Roles of nitric oxide in protective effect of berberine in ethanol-induced gastric ulcer mice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protective effects of berberine on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice.


METHODS
Gastric ulcers were induced by oral ingestion of ethanol. Nitric oxide (NO) content was measured, and mRNA expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
The ulcer index (UI) at 1 h, 2 h, 3 h and 6 h after oral administration of ethanol was 23.8+/-1.4, 23.3+/-2.2, 22.3+/-1.2 and 20.8+/-1.1, respectively. The UI in the berberine-treated groups (5 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) was less than the control group. The content of NO in the control group was 73.3+/-7.3 microL/L, 94.0+/-9.2 microL/L, 109.6+/-6.4 microL/L and 138.2+/-10.2 microL/L in gastric juice and 5.8+/-1.1 micromol/g protein, 8.3+/-1.1 micromol/g protein, 9.8+/-1.1 micromol/g protein and 11.9+/-1.2 micromol/g protein in gastric tissue at 1 h, 2 h, 3 h and 6 h, respectively, after the oral administration of ethanol. The content of NO in the berberine-treated groups (5 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) was higher than the control group at 1 h after the oral administration of ethanol (P<0.05), and was lower at 6 h (P<0.05). Analysis by RT-PCR showed that expression of eNOS was inhibited but iNOS expression was enhanced by ethanol. However, the expression of eNOS could be enhanced and iNOS expression could be inhibited by berberine (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Berberine could significantly protect gastric mucosa from damage by ethanol. This effect may be related to the increased expression of eNOS mRNA and inhibited expression of iNOS mRNA.
Pan
Long-rui
LR
Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Tang
Qiang
Q
Fu
Qin
Q
Hu
Ben-rong
BR
Xiang
Ji-zhou
JZ
Qian
Jia-qing
JQ
D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000378:metabolism; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D020011:Protective Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001599:Berberine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000431:Ethanol; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III