A Comparison of the Inhibitory Effect of Omeprazole And Nifedipine on Histamine – And Carbachol – Induced Gastric Acid Secretion

Abstract

The present study was carried out to determine the effect of the gastric acid inhibitors, nifedipine (a calcium channel blocker) and omeprazole, (a proton pump inhibitor), on histamine-stimulated and carbachol stimulated gastric acid secretion in rats. Thirty intact male Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the study. The rats were divided into six groups, which were given different treatments of histamine, carbachol, omeprazole and nifedipine.

The results showed that histamine and carbachol treatment caused a significant increase in gastric acidity from basal values confirming stimulation of gastric acid secretion by these drugs. Gastric acidity was reduced after treatment with nifedipine and omeprazole. However, subsequent treatment with histamine and carbachol in the same animals resulted in significant increases in acidity, showing a recovery from the inhibitory effect of nifedipine and omeprazole.

These results imply that nifedipine and omeprazole are strong gastric acid blockers but whose effects can be reversed by exogenous secretagogue treatment.


Keywords: Gastric acid inhibition

NQJHM Vol. 15 (1) 2005: pp. 46-49