Abstract

Glucocorticoids may have dual action on the gastric mucosa: gastroprotective and ulcerogenic. In this article, we review the data which suggested that an initial action of endogenous glucocorticoids, including stress-produced ones as well as exogenous glucocorticoids is gastroprotective and consider possible mechanisms of the conversion of physiological gastroprotective action of glucocorticoid hormones to their pathological ulcerogenic effect.

Keywords: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis, glucocorticoids, dexamethasone, gastric mucosa, stress, indomethacin, injury, gastroprotection.