Colloidal bismuth subcitrate evokes adaptive cytoprotection in rat gastric mucosa.

The 6-keto-prostaglandin-F1 alpha content (as the stable break-down product of prostacyclin) of rat antral and fundic gastric, as well as of duodenal mucosa, significantly increases after 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg orally administered colloidal bismuth subcitrate treatment. The results indicate that (i) colloidal bismuth subcitrate-induced stimulation of endogenous prostacyclin content ("adaptive cytoprotection") of rat gastroduodenal mucosa may contribute to its therapeutic effect; (ii) the effect of colloidal bismuth subcitrate is not due exclusively to the bismuth content of the molecule, but seems to be connected with the structure of colloidal bismuth subcitrate itself; (iii) the effect seems to be dose-dependent, showing a dose-response relationship.