Gastric mucosal blood flow changes in Helicobacter pylori infection and NSAID-induced gastric injury.
BACKGROUND
The impact of H. pylori infection on gastric mucosal blood flow and NSAID-induced gastric damage is unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of H. pylori infection on gastric mucosal blood flow, both at basal conditions and after NSAID exposure, and its relation with mucosal damage and nitric oxide production.


METHODS
Gastric mucosal blood flow, nitric oxide production and gastric damage were assessed in time after H. pylori SS1 or E. coli inoculation in mice. Experiments were conducted in basal conditions or after oral exposure to indomethacin (20 mg/kg).


RESULTS
H. pylori infected mice exhibited a significant increase in gastric blood flow and gastric nitric oxide production 1 week after infection, but those parameters returned to basal levels by 4 weeks. NSAID challenge elicited a similar reduction in gastric blood flow [25-35%] in H. pylori-infected and control animals. However, only 1 week H. pylori-infected mice, which exhibited a significant baseline hyperemia, were able to maintain gastric blood flow values within the normal range after NSAID exposure. NSAID-induced gastric damage was increased in H. pylori-infected mice by 4 weeks, but not 1 week after infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Underlying H. pylori infection aggravates acute NSAID-induced gastric damage. However, at early phases, gastric hyperemia associated with increased nitric oxide production may exert some protective role.
Elizalde
J Ignasi
JI
Gastroenterology Department, Institut Clinic de Malalties Digestives, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
Mendez
Asuncion
A
Gomez
Julia
J
del Rivero
Maria
M
Gironella
Meritxell
M
Closa
Daniel
D
Quintero
Enrique
E
Pique
Josep M
JM
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D005756:Gastritis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D012039:Regional Blood Flow
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D009195:Peroxidase; D007213:Indomethacin