Gastric ulcer - healing promoting activity of cobalt chloride in rats.

Abstract

Background: Gastric ulcer develops when aggressive factors overcome protective factors in the gastrointestinal tract. Cobalt chloride is used in the manufacturing of vitamin B12, essential for folate and fatty acid metabolism. Information regarding probable effects of Cobalt Chloride on Ulcer healing is void despite its vast use which this study addresses. Method: 70 Male Wistar rats (150-180g, n= 10) were used and induced with ulcer using acetic acid (excluding control) before grouping: Groups 1- Control, 2 - ulcer alone, 3 and 4 were ulcerated treated with 62 and 25mg/kg b.w of Cobalt chloride (CoCI2); 5, 6 and 7 were ulcerated treated with 1,40 and 30mg/kg b.w of Misoprostol, Cimetidine and Omeprazole respectively for 2 weeks. Gastric acid secretion, ulcer scores and histopathology of ulcerated areas were evaluated on days 7, 14 and 21. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and considered significant at p<0.05. Result: This study revealed significant decrease in gastric acid secretion (and pH) of control (0.65±0.02) and treatment groups - high (0.86±0.01) and low (0.85±0.02) CoCl2, compared to ulcer untreated (1.22±0.04) by day 7 post ulceration. A significant decrease in ulcer index of treatment group (high and low CoCl2) by day 7(90.18% and 91.21%) respectively and complete healing day 14 was observed. Histological evaluations of CoCl2 treated group revealed intact epithelium with normal glands by days 7 and post ulceration. There was no ulcer reformation in examined stomach, by day 21 (day 7 post 25mg/kg b.w CoCl2, treatment). Conclusion: Probably, Cobalt chloride exerts its anti-ulcerogenic property by stimulating gastric protective activities.