Ranitidine and somatostatin for prophylaxis of stress ulcer in rats

Abstract

The effects of somatostatin and ranitidine on prophylaxis of stress ulcer are compared using three experimental groups of rats: Sham group, ranitidine group, and somatostatin group. Gastric mucosal damage index was measured in each group and Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis. Statistically, there was not any difference between the sham and the ranitidine groups (p > 0.05), but the mucosal damage index in the somatostatin group was significantly lower then in the sham and the ranitidine groups (p < 0.01). Somatostatin seems to be a more effective drug than ranitidine for the prophylaxis of stress ulcers.