Rioprostil (2-decarboxy-2-hydroxymethyl-15-deoxy-16RS-hydroxy-16-methyl prostaglandin (PG)E1) is a potent orally active inhibitor of gastric acid secretion in both rats and dogs. It prevents gastric lesions in rats induced by ethanol, acetylsalicylic acid, strong acid, strong base, hypertonic saline and thermal injury at doses 100 times less than its antisecretory dose. The cytoprotective effect of rioprostil can be observed when given 4 min before challenge with ethanol and measured 60 min later. The peak antiulcer effect is observed when rioprostil is given 30 min before ethanol challenge and the oral ED50 is 1.93 (1.74-2.15) micrograms/kg. Rioprostil possesses weak PGE-like activity in an isolated tissue cascade, no contragestational activity in rats, hamsters or rabbits, and no remarkable cardiovascular or pulmonary activity in dogs. The animal pharmacology of this compound suggests that it should be useful in the treatment or prophylaxis of peptic ulcer disease and gastric lesions associated with noxious irritants such as ethanol and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.