Abstract
Elcatonin is a newly synthetized peptide that prevents experimental ulcer formation. In this study, we examined the influence of elcatonin on endogenous prostaglandin biosynthesis by the gastric mucosa with respect to its antiulcer activity. Control levels of PGE2 generation for the fundic and antral mucosa were 302 .+-. 12 and 465 .+-. 28 ng/g tissue/min, respectively. Pretreatment with elcatonin resulted in a dose-dependent increment in gastric mucosal PGE2 generation. We conclude that the antiulcer effect of elcatonin is probably due to its ability to enhance endogenous prostaglandin synthesis in the gastric mucosa.