title: Endothelin and neonatal capsaicin regulate gastric resistance to injury in BDL rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between primary afferent neurons, endothelin (ET) and the role of its receptors on ethanol-induced gastric damage in cirrhotic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cirrhosis and portal hypertension were induced in rats by bile duct ligation (BDL) while controls had a sham operation. The association between ET and afferent neurons on the gastric mucosa was evaluated by capsaicin treatment in newborn rats, the use of ET agonists or antagonists, gastric ET-1 and -3 mRNA and synthetic capacity. Ethanol-induced damage was assessed using ex vivo gastric chamber experiments. Gastric blood flow was measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ET-3 and an ET(B) receptor antagonist significantly reduced the extent of ethanol-induced gastric damage in BDL rats. Gastric ET-1 and -3 levels were 30% higher in BDL rats compared to control rats. Capsaicin treatment restored the gastric resistance and blood flow responses to topical application of ethanol in BDL rats and ET-1 and -3 production to levels observed in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the reduced resistance of the gastric mucosa of cirrhotic rats to ethanol-induced injury is a phenomenon modulated by ET through the ET(B) receptor and by sensory afferent neurons.
authors.affiliation: Paula RS Câmara, Fernando AB Suassuna, Department of Medicine, Potiguar University, RN 59056-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula Rs
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Câmara
authors.forename: Gerson Jn
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ferraz
authors.forename: Licio A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Velloso
authors.forename: José Murilo R
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zeitune
authors.forename: Fernando Ab
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Suassuna
authors.forename: Jose Geraldo P
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ferraz
keywords: Cirrhosis; Endothelins; Gastropathy; Portal hypertension; Tachykinins