I1-imidazoline receptor/α2-adrenoceptor mediated gastroprotection

Introduction: Rilmenidine is a widely used centrally acting antihypertensive agent. Its antihypertensive action is due to stimulation of central I1-imidazoline receptor/α2-adrenoceptor. Since our previous experiments showed that activation of central α2-adrenoceptors resulted in gastroprotective effect against different types of gastric mucosal damage we aimed to examine the effect of rilmenidine on experimental gastric ulcer. Methods: Gastric damage was induced by ethanol. Rilmenidine was injected either intraperitoneally (ip.) or intracerebroventricularly (icv.) 20 and 10min resp., before the ethanol challenge…