Protection of ghrelin postconditioning on hypoxia/reoxygenation in gastric epithelial cells

Role of NRF2 in protection of the gastrointestinal tract against oxidative stress

The gastrointestinal tract is exposed to a variety of noxious factors, such as Helicobacter pylori, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gastric acid, ischemia-reperfusion, and mental stresses. Theses stressors generate free radicals within gastrointestinal tissues, causing organ injury and functional disturbance. Although the gastrointestinal tract can withstand such oxidative stresses to some extent by enhancing its antioxidant system via nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-Kelch-like erythroid cell-derived protein with CNC homology-associated protein 1-mediated pathways, acute or chronic exposure to oxidative stress can cause several gastrointestinal tract disorders, such as inflammation, ulcers, cancers, and various functional disturbances. Recent studies have demonstrated that some natural compounds and drugs can upregulate the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-mediated antioxidant system, ameliorating or preventing these disorders. Although these compounds may be useful as chemopreventive agents, sufficient evidence for their clinical efficacy has not yet been provided. In addition, it is important to note that excessive nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 stimulation can be harmful to human health, especially from the standpoint of tumor biology.

Protective effect of histamine microinjected into the cerebellar fastigial nucleus on stress-induced gastric mucosal damage in rats

AIMS

We investigated the effffects and the possible mechanism of microinjection of histamine into cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN) on stress-induced gastric mucosal damage (SGMD) in rats. The effect of microinjection of histamine into FN on SGMD was observed.

METHODS

The model of SGMD was established by restraint and water (21 ± 1°C)-immersion (RWI) for 3 h in rats. The gastric mucosal damage index indicated the severity of SGMD. Western blotting was performed to assess gastric mucosal cell apoptosis and proliferation.

RESULTS

We observed that histamine microinjection into the FN markedly attenuated SGMD in a dose-dependent manner, and was prevented by pre-treatment with the ranitidine (a selective histamine H2 receptor antagonist) into the FN. The effect of histamine was abolished by pre-treatment with 3-MPA (a glutamic acid decarboxylase antagonist) into the FN. There was a decrease in the discharge frequency of greater splanchnic nerve, and an increase in gastric mucosal blood flow after histamine injection into the FN. Additionally, anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative factors of gastric mucosa might be involved in this process.

CONCLUSION

The exogenous histamine in FN participates in the regulation of SGMD, and our results may help to provide new ideas on the treatment of gastroenterological diseases.