Effect of nitrofurans on duodenal ulceration induced by cysteamine or indometacin

The present experiments examined the protective effect of the nitrofuran drugs, furazolidone (FZ) and nitrofurazone (NF), on duodenal ulceration induced by cysteamine or indometacin in rats. FZ at oral doses of 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg for 2 consecutive days significantly reduced, in a dose-dependent manner, the incidence and extent of cysteamine-induced ulceration. However, oral NF (100 mg/kg) given for 2 consecutive days had no significant effect on duodenal ulceration. The duodenal mucus content of rats was not significantly affected by either FZ or cysteamine treatments. FZ at an oral dose of 100 mg/kg for 2 consecutive days significantly reduced the incidence and extent of indometacin-induced ulceration. Smaller doses of 25 or 50 mg/kg had no significant effects.