title: Nitric oxide synthase induction and cytoprotection of rat gastric mucosa from injury by ethanol.
abstract: The present study determined the effects of nitric oxide (NO) synthase induction on ethanol-mediated damage to rat gastric mucosa. NO synthase activity was determined by [14C]arginine conversion to radiolabeled citrulline. Ca(2+)-independent NO synthase activity was determined by citrulline formation in the presence of EGTA (1 mM) in the incubation mixture. Intraluminal ethanol administration (2 mL; 40% w/v) to control rats resulted in an increase in mucosal damage characterized as vasocongestion and hemorrhagic necrosis and a reduction in Ca(2+)-dependent NO synthase activity. Administration of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 3 mg/kg i.v.) augmented Ca(2+)-independent NO synthase activity (determined 4 h later) and reduced damage in response to intraluminal ethanol instillation. Ethanol treatment did not significantly affect induction of NO synthase activity. Dexamethasone pretreatment (1 mg/kg i.v. 2 h before LPS administration) reduced both Ca(2+)-independent NO synthase activity and the gastroprotective effect of LPS against ethanol-mediated mucosal injury. Likewise, concurrent administration of the NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (10 mg/kg s.c.) inhibited the gastroprotection associated with LPS treatment, an effect abolished by pretreatment with the NO substrate L-arginine (300 mg/kg s.c.). Indomethacin (5 mg/kg i.v.) was ineffective in suppressing LPS-mediated gastroprotection. These results suggest that while Ca(2+)-dependent NO formation is inhibited by ethanol treatment, the inducible Ca(2+)-independent NO synthase plays a role in LPS-mediated gastroprotection against ethanol-mediated damage to the gastric mucosa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Tepperman
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Soper
mesh_terms: D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli; D000431:Ethanol; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D000431:Ethanol; D003907:Dexamethasone; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D002118:Calcium