LAUSR

The review considers the data on physiological and pharmacological effects of glucocorticoids on the gastric mucosa and focus on the gastroprotective role of stress-produced glucocorticoids as well as on the transformation of physiological gastroprotective effects of glucocorticoids to pathological proulcerogenic consequences. The results of experimental studies on re-evaluation of the traditional notion that stressproduced glucocorticoids are ulcerogenic led us to opposite conclusion suggested that these hormones play an important role in maintenance of the gastric mucosal integrity. Exogenous glucocorticoids may exert both gastroprotective and proulcerogenic effects. Initially gastroprotective effect of dexamethasone but not corticosterone, cortisol or prednisolone can be transformed to proulcerogenic one. The most significant factor for the transformation is the prolongation of its action rather the dose. Gastrointestinal injury can be accompanied by changes of somatic pain sensitivity and glucocorticoids contribute to these changes playing physiological and pathological role.