The role of erythropoietin in the protection of gastric mucosa from indometacin-induced gastric injury and its relationship with oxidant and antioxidant parameters in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Erythropoietin has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activity. We wanted to evaluate its activity in preventing damage to the gastric mucosa.


METHODS
We examined the protective effect of erythropoietin on indometacin-induced gastric mucosa damage in the rat stomach and compared its potency with that of famotidine. We also measured effects on oxidant and antioxidant parameters in the rat stomach.


RESULTS
Famotidine and erythropoietin 2500 and 5000 IU/kg reduced the ulcer area by 98%, 31% and 58%, respectively, compared with the indometacin group. Superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione level were decreased and myeloperoxidase activity increased in the indometacin group compared with healthy rats. Famotidine and erythropoietin at all doses increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels significantly compared with the indometacin group. Myeloperoxidase activity was decreased by erythropoietin and famotidine.


CONCLUSIONS
These results support the view that erythropoietin counteracts the effects of indometacin in inducing gastric ulcer and could be used as a an antiulcer compound. Its antiulcer effect is less potent than that of famotidine. The antiulcerogenic effects of erythropoietin may be related to its intrinsic ability to sustain the activities of free-radical scavenging enzymes and the bioavailability of glutathione.
Albayrak
Fatih
F
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
Odabasoglu
Fehmi
F
Halici
Zekai
Z
Polat
Beyzagul
B
Dursun
Hakan
H
Uyanik
Abdullah
A
Bayir
Yasin
Y
Koc
Feride
F
Suleyman
Halis
H
Albayrak
Yavuz
Y
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000633:toxicity; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015738:Famotidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants; D004921:Erythropoietin; D015738:Famotidine; D009195:Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D007213:Indomethacin