title: Cytoprotective action of L-arginine against HCl-induced gastric injury in rats: involvement of nitric oxide?
abstract: We examined the cytoprotective effect of L-arginine on gastric damage induced by 0.6 N HCl in rats and investigated whether the mechanism of this action is related to the nitric oxide (NO)-mediated protection. The animals were given 0.6 N HCl by gavage and killed 1 hr later. L-Arginine (100, 300 and 750 mg/kg) given p.o. 30 min before HCl treatment prevented these lesions in a dose-dependent manner, but had no effect when given i.v. (200 mg/kg). Similar effects were observed by D-arginine but not by an equimolar dose of mannitol. This effect of L-arginine (p.o.) was attenuated significantly by prior administration of indomethacin (5 mg/kg, s.c.) but not by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (5 mg/kg, i.v.), the NO synthase inhibitor. Both L- and D-arginine produced a reduction in potential difference (PD), inhibition of gastric motility, and increases of luminal pH and mucosal blood flow when they were given intragastrically. Indomethacin significantly mitigated these changes induced by L-arginine except PD reduction, while L-NAME showed significant inhibition only against the increased pH response. We conclude that L-arginine given p.o. exhibits gastric cytoprotection against HCl-induced damage in rats, probably by acting as a mild irritant. The mechanism of this action may appear through "adaptive cytoprotection" mediated by endogenous prostaglandins and does not involve the NO-mediated protective pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Pharmacology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohuchi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okabe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D007213:Indomethacin