Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) in the rat gastric mucosa: immunolocalization and facilitation of pepsin/pepsinogen secretion.

1. Agonists of protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) trigger neurally mediated mucus secretion accompanied by mucosal cytoprotection in the stomach. The present study immunolocalized PAR-2 in the rat gastric mucosa and examined if PAR-2 could modulate pepsin/pepsinogen secretion in rats.