Gastroduodenal Mucosal Protection Induced by Dehydroleucodine: Mucus Secretion and Role of Monoamines

In previous work we have demonstrated thatdehydroleucodine (DhL) prevents gastric damage inducedby necrosis-inducing agents such as absolute ethanol(EtOH). In this study we examine the effects of DhL on gastroduodenal morphology and monoaminelevels by histological and biochemical methods,respectively, as an approach to elucidating thecytoprotective mechanism of the drug. Histologicalevidence shows that DhL prevents formation of gastroduodenalmucosal lesions induced by EtOH and that this protectiveeffect is related to the ability of the drug tostimulate mucus production. DhL itself does not affect the tissue concentration of NE, DA and 5-HT.However, it prevents the depletion of DA and 5-HTprovoked by EtOH. We propose that the abundant mucoidblanket secreted after treatment with DhL acts as adiffusion barrier against EtOH. It is also possible thatDhL could act as a “cell stabilizer,” byinhibiting the degranulation of cells containingmonoamines.