Anti‐ulcer Effect of Bromocriptine on Indomethacin‐induced Gastric Damage in Rats

The anti-ulcer and gastroprotective effects of bromocriptine were studied in rats. Intraperitoneal administration of bromocriptine (2, 4 and 8 mg kg−1), a dopamine receptor agonist, which also acts on α-adrenoceptors, prevented indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats dose-dependently. This protective effect was significantly blocked by the D1-receptor antagonist, SCH 23390 (1 mg kg−1, i.p.), the D2-receptor antagonist, sulpride (0.5 mg kg−1, i.p.) and the α2-receptor antagonist, yohimbine (5 mg kg−1, i.p.), suggesting that the effect of bromocriptine is mediated through dopamine receptors and α-adrenoceptors. We propose that the anti-ulcer effect of bromocriptine may be due to a decrease in acid secretion and gastric motility through activation of α2-adrenoceptors and dopamine D1 receptors.