title: Ghrelin protects against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats: studies on the mechanisms of action.
abstract: Ghrelin, the endogenous ligand for GH secretagogue receptors, has been reported to influence acid gastric secretion and motility, but its potential gastroprotective effect is unknown. The aims of this study were 1) to examine the effects of central and peripheral administration of ghrelin on ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in conscious rats, and 2) to investigate the possible roles of nitric oxide (NO), vagal nerve, and sensory fibers in the gastric effects of ghrelin. Ghrelin was administered either intracerebroventricularly or sc 30 min before ethanol, and mucosal lesions were examined macroscopically. Additionally, rats were either treated with the inhibitor of NO synthesis N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or underwent bilateral cervical vagotomy or capsaicin-induced sensory denervation. Conventional histology and immunohistochemistry for ghrelin, gastrin, and somatostatin were performed on gastric specimens from representative rats. Central ghrelin (4-4,000 ng/rat) dose-dependently reduced ethanol-induced gastric ulcers by 39-77%. Subcutaneous ghrelin administration (80 micro g/kg) reduced ulcer depth only. L-NAME and capsaicin, but not vagotomy, prevented the gastroprotective effect of central ghrelin (4000 ng/rat). This is the first evidence that ghrelin exerts a potent central gastroprotective activity against ethanol-induced lesions. The gastroprotective effect of ghrelin is mediated by endogenous NO release and requires the integrity of sensory nerve fibers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Chemotherapy, and Medical Toxicology, University of Milan, 20129 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sibilia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rindi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pagani
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rapetti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torsello
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Campanini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deghenghi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Netti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003714:Denervation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D005755:Gastrins / Q000032:analysis; D054439:Ghrelin; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000032:analysis; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014628:Vagotomy
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005755:Gastrins; D054439:Ghrelin; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000431:Ethanol; D013004:Somatostatin; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D002211:Capsaicin; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester