Physiol. Res. 49: 441-446, 2000

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


© 2000 by the Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences