Role of nitric oxide in stress-induced gastric damage in cholestatic rats

ABSTRACT

In this study the effect of nitric oxide synthesis inhibition on stress-induced gastric damage was evaluated in bile.duct ligated sham operated and unoperated rats. Animals were injected intraperitoneally with N g nitro-L-arginine methylester [L-NAME] 40 mgl/kg, L-arginine, 200 mg/kg or saline, 30 min before water-immersion stress. One hour after water immersion, the animals were killed and tneir stomachs were removed for measurement of gastric mucosal damage The results showed that L-NAME significantly enhances the development of gastric mucosal lesion in sharm operated and unoperated rats, while in bile duct ligated animals L-NAME decreases and L-arginine enhances the potentiation of stress-induced gastric mucosal damage. The results suggest that inhibition of nitric oxide synthase with L-NAME has different effects on stress-induced gastric damage in cholestatic rats compared with normal animals