The protective effect of cimetidine, ranitidine and a newer H2-receptor antagonist, mifentidine (proposed INN), on models of gastric and duodenal damage, caused by activation of H2 receptors, was studied. Gastric erosions were induced in rats by intravenous dimaprit (100 mg/kg) while duodenal damage was investigated in guinea pigs following subcutaneous administration of dimaprit (2 mg/kg, 6 doses). All the compounds reduced or abolished gastric and duodenal damage in rats and guinea pigs, mifentidine being more potent than both cimetidine and ranitidine. The antiulcer effect of the H2-receptor antagonists was related to the dose and to their ability to inhibit dimaprit-induced gastric acid secretion. The duration of action proved to be different for the three compounds. According to the two dosing schedules adopted to evaluate the duration of action, mifentidine, compared to cimetidine and ranitidine, required considerably lower oral dosages to display its protective effect.