Role of Mucus in Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Gastric Mucosal Injury in Rats
J. Mojžiš, R. Hegedüšová, L. Mirossay
Department of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, P.J. Šafarik University, Košice,
Slovak Republic
Received June 10, 1999
Accepted March 10, 2000
Summary
Gastric mucus plays an important role in gastric mucosal
protection. Apart from its “barrier” function, it has been demonstrated that
mucus protects gastric epithelial cells against toxic oxygen metabolites derived
from the xanthine/ xanthine oxidase system. In this study, we investigated the
effect of malotilate and sucralfate (mucus production stimulators) and N-acetylcysteine
(mucolytic agent) on ischemia/reperfusion-induced gastric mucosal injury.
Gastric ischemia was induced by 30 min clamping of the coeliac artery followed
by 30 min of reperfusion. The mucus content was determined by the Alcian blue
method. Sucralfate (100 mg/kg), malotilate (100 mg/kg), and N-acetylcysteine
(100 mg/kg) were given orally 30 min before surgery. Both sucralfate and
malotilate increased the mucus production in control rats. On the other hand, N-acetylcysteine
significantly decreased mucus content in control (sham) group. A significant
decrease of mucus content was found in the control and the N-acetylcysteine
pretreated group during the period of ischemia. On the other hand, sucralfate
and malotilate prevented the decrease the content of mucus during ischemia. A
similar result can be seen after ischemia/reperfusion. In the control group and
N-acetylcysteine pretreated group a significant decrease of adherent mucus
content was found. However, sucralfate and malotilate increased mucus production
(sucralfate significantly). Sucralfate and malotilate also significantly
protected the gastric mucosa against ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury.
However, N-acetylcysteine significantly increased gastric mucosal injury after
ischemia/reperfusion. These results suggest that gastric mucus may be involved
in the protection of gastric mucosa after ischemia/reperfusion.
Key words
Ischemia/reperfusion · Gastric mucus ·
Sucralfate · Malotilate ·
N-acetylcysteine
Reprint requests
Assoc. Prof. Ján
Mojžiš, Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, P.J. Šafarik
University, Tr. SNP 1, 040 66 Košice, Slovak Republic. E-mail: mojzis@central.medic.upjs.sk
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