Pharmacological analysis of the receptors mediating the gastroprotective effect of agmatine in the rat

Introduction: Our previous results suggested that centrally injected agmatine (an endogenous ligand of the imidazoline receptors) induces gastric mucosal protection in the rat, and both central I1 receptors and α2-adrenoceptors are involved in it. It is also well established that the endogenous opioid system has an important role in the regulation of different gastrointestinal functions and several lines of evidence suggest an interaction between agmatine and the opioid system. Aims: 1. To analyse, which α2-adrenoceptor subtypes mediate the effect of agmatine. 2. To investigate, whether the endogenous opioid sys…