title: The influence of BPC 157 on nitric oxide agonist and antagonist induced lesions in broiler chicks.
abstract: We describe the effects of nitric oxide (NO) agonists and antagonists and the influence of a novel organoprotective pentadecapeptide BPC 157, on the development of pulmonary hypertension syndrome and tissue lesions in chicks. Acute toxicity, which includes single dose application of saline (1 mL intraperitoneally (i.p.)), BPC 157 (10 micrograms/kg bw), L-NAME (NO antagonist, doses 50, 100, 150 mg/kg bw) and L-arginine (NO agonist/100 mg/kg bw with their combination L-NAME + BPC 157; L-NAME + L-arginine) was investigated. In this experiment pathohistological examination of the spleen, heart, liver and lungs and hematological analysis was conducted. In the chronic toxicity experiment, the animals were treated daily for 5 weeks with L-NAME (10 mg/kg bw), L-arginine (100 mg/kg bw), BPC 157 (10 micrograms/kg bw) and their combinations (L-NAME + BPC 157; L-NAME + BPC 157; L-NAME + L-arginine) i.p. Seven animals from each group, including controls (saline 1 mL i.p.) were killed every week. Application of L-NAME caused pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) in the treated chicks, which was prevented by the simultaneous application of L-arginine and BPC 157. Pathohistological examination of both acute and chronic toxicity revealed that L-NAME caused severe tissue damage (myocardial and hepatic cell necrosis, necrosis of the lymphoid cells in the spleen) while L-arginine provoked predominantly congestion, edema and hemorrhages in all organs. The effect of L-NAME was successfully inhibited by the application of L-arginine and BPC 157 but the latter substance did not cause any tissue or organ damage. Hematological analysis shows significant hemoglobin and leukocyte number decrease in the L-NAME-treated groups of chicks.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Department of General Pathology and Pathological Morphology, Heinzelova.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Grabarevic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tisljar
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Artukovic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bratulic
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dzaja
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seiwerth
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sikiric
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peric
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Geres
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001120:Arginine / Q000633:toxicity; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000633:toxicity; D009336:Necrosis; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000819:agonists* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011506:Proteins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C083833:BPC 157; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester