title: [The effects of L-tryptophan and pentoxiphylline on stress ulcer].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is well known that stress leads to the formation of gastric mucosal lesions. Free oxygen radicals play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammation and tissue damage. It was observed that L-tryptophan has a positive effect on gastric mucosal damage in ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibition of free oxygen radicals. The protective effect of pentoxifylline was shown in gastric mucosal damage induced by ischemia - reperfusion or the application of some topical agents. We performed an experimental study to determine whether intragastric L-tryprophan and intramuscular pentoxifylline protect gastric mucosal damage that is induced by immobility stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty rats were immobilized and divided into four groups. No treatment was made in the first group; in group 2,3 and 4, L-tryptophan, pentoxifylline and L-tryptophan + pentoxifylline were administered, respectively. The gastric lesions were assessed macroscopically and microscopically two hours following treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the second and fourth groups, the lesion surface area and average mucosal damage were fewer in comparison to the control group (p<0,03). Moreover, an histopatologically improvement in the surface epithelium was observed in these groups. The average lesion score also reduced significantly (p<0,03) only in the L-tryptophan group. On the other hand, no statistically significant improvement was observed in the pentoxifylline group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a result, it was concluded that L-tryptophan could play a protective role in the gastric mucosal damage associated with stress.
authors.affiliation: Firat Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Firat Tip Merkezi, Genel Cerrahi AD, Elazig, Turkey. nbulbuller@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nurullah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bülbüller
authors.forename: M Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Akkuş
authors.forename: Y Selim
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Ilhan
authors.forename: Feridun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baysal
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ozercan
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aygen
authors.forename: Cüneyt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kirkil
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D007103:Immobilization; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D014364:Tryptophan; D010431:Pentoxifylline