N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methylester is protective against ethanol-induced gastric damage in cholestatic rats.
In this study the effect of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibition on ethanol-induced gastric damage was evaluated in bile duct-ligated, sham-operated and unoperated rats. The animals were injected intraperitoneally with saline, L-arginine (200 mg/kg) or N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) in doses of 5, 15 and 30 mg/kg, 30 min before ethanol administration. The animals were killed 1 h after ethanol administration and their stomachs were removed for measurement of gastric mucosal damage. The results showed that L-NAME significantly enhanced the development of gastric mucosal lesions in sham-operated and unoperated rats, while in bile duct-ligated animals, L-NAME decreased and L-arginine enhanced the potentiation of ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage. The plasma level of nitrite and nitrate was also measured and was significantly higher in bile duct-ligated rats than in control groups. The results suggest that inhibition of NO synthase with L-NAME has different effects on ethanol-induced gastric damage in cholestatic groups and in normal rats and that these effects can be explained by overproduction of NO in bile duct-ligated animals.
Nahavandi
A
A
Department of Physiology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran.
Dehpour
A R
AR
Mani
A R
AR
Homayounfar
H
H
Abdoli
A
A
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000601:surgery; D002779:Cholestasis; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004357:Drug Synergism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats
D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000431:Ethanol; D001120:Arginine; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester