Distribution and characterization of vanilloid receptors in the rat stomach.

The cloned vanilloid receptor-1 (VR1) is recognized as a common molecular target for protons, noxious heat, and vanilloids. The presence of VR1 in the dorsal root, trigeminal, and nodose ganglia has been firmly established, but it is unclear in the gut, despite this VR1 may be important for gastric mucosal homeostasis. In this study we used an antibody and a radioligand to show the distribution of vanilloid receptors (VRs) in rat stomach and to characterize it. The deafferentiation of capsaicin-sensitive nerves in rats was induced by consecutive injections of capsaicin. VR1-immunopositive nerve endings were predominantly found in the mucous neck cells of the proliferation zone, and around blood vessels in the submucosa. Radioreceptor assay using [3H]-resiniferatoxin (RTX) revealed the existence of high affinity and single-class binding site in the membrane fractions of the mucosa. Capsaicin completely inhibited the specific binding of [3H]-RTX. Both the VR1 immunoreactivity and the receptor density of [3H]-RTX binding sites significantly reduced by the application of capsaicin for prolonged periods of time in the mucosa of rats. Our results indicate that VRs are expressed in the rat stomach, and suggest that they may be involved in mucosal protection by increasing cell proliferation and blood flow.

Effect of FRG-8813, a new-type histamine H(2)-receptor antagonist, on the recurrence of gastric ulcer after healing by drug treatment in rats.

We investigated the recurrence of ulcers in rats after treatment with FRG-8813, (+/-)-2-(furfurylsulfinyl)-N-[4- [4-(piperidinomethyl)-2-pyridyl] oxy-(Z)-2-butenyl] acetamide, a novel histamine H(2)-receptor antagonist. Chronic gastric ulcers were induced by serosa-searing with a hot metal bar, and the ulcer healing and recurrence after treatment with FRG-8813 or famotidine were evaluated by endoscopy for 160 days. At the dose of 30 mg/kg p. o., once daily, the treatment with FRG-8813 or famotidine for 60 days, which was stopped earlier if the ulcer had healed, accelerated the ulcer healing significantly. A subsequent follow-up study on the healed rats showed that the cumulative recurrence rate of rats healed by FRG-8813 was lower than that of naturally healed rats or rats healed by famotidine. In many cases of rats healed by FRG-8813, the regenerated mucosa was normal in contrast with the control of famotidine-healed animals. The mucosal regeneration index of the gastric ulcer after 10 days' administration of FRG-8813 was significantly higher than that obtained with famotidine. After cessation of the treatment with famotidine for 7 days, rebound hyperacidity was induced; but such rebound did not occur with FRG-8813. Considering the low recurrence rate of ulcers after FRG-8813 treatment, we suggest that FRG-8813 treatment may provide additional benefits in peptic ulcer therapy.