Ghrelin accelerates the healing of oral ulcers in non-sialoadenectomized and sialoadenectomized rats.

UNLABELLED: Ghrelin exhibits protective and therapeutic effect in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of ghrelin administration on the healing of oral ulcers in rats with intact salivary gland and in sialoadenectomized rats. Gingival and lingual ulcers were induced by acetic acid. After induction of ulcers, rats were treated with saline or ghrelin for six days. In rats with intact salivary glands and induction of oral ulcers, administration of ghrelin significantly increased the healing rate of these ulcers. This result was associated with a significant increase in mucosal blood flow and cell proliferation, and a decrease in concentration of pro-inflammatory interleukin-1ß in gingival and lingual mucosa. Sialoadenectomy decreased cell proliferation and increased concentration of pro-inflammatory interleukin-1ß in oral mucosa, as well as reduced the healing rate of gingival and lingual ulcers. Administration of ghrelin reversed deleterious effect of sialoadenectomy and increased the healing rate of oral ulcers above a value observed in rats with intact salivary glands. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with ghrelin accelerates healing of oral ulcers in salivary glands-intact rat, as well as in rats with reduced salivary secretion evoked by sialoadenectomy. Mechanisms of beneficial effects of ghrelin administration involve an increase in mucosal blood flow and cell proliferation, as well as a reduction in local inflammation.

Role of sensory nerves in gastroprotective effect of anandamide in rats.

Previous studies have shown that stimulation of cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor protects the gastric mucosa against stress-induced lesion. Aim of the present study was to examine the influence of anandamide on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system in gastric mucosa and the role of sensory nerves in gastroprotective effects of cannabinoids. Studies were performed on rats with intact or ablated sensory nerves (by neurotoxic doses of capsaicin). Gastric lesions were induced by water immersion and restrain stress (WRS). Anandamide was administered at the dose of 0.3, 1.5 or 3.0 µmol/kg, 30 min before exposure to WRS. CB1 receptor antagonist, AM251 (4.0 µmol/kg) was administered 40 min before WRS. WRS induced gastric lesions associated with the decrease in gastric blood flow, mucosal DNA synthesis and mucosal activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Serum level of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and mucosal level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) were increased. Administration of anandamide reduced the ulcers area, generation of MDA+4-HNE and serum level of IL-1ß, and this effect was associated with the reduction in the WRS-induced decrease in gastric mucosal blood flow, mucosal DNA synthesis and SOD activity. Ablation of sensory nerves increased the area of ulcers, serum level of IL-1ß and mucosal content of MDA+4-HNE, whereas mucosal DNA synthesis, SOD activity and blood flow were additionally decreased. In rats with ablation of sensory nerves, administration of anandamide at the high doses (1.5 and 3.0 µmol/kg) partly reduced deleterious effect of WRS on gastric mucosa, but this effect was weaker than in animals with intact sensory nerves. Low dose of anandamide (0.3 µmol/kg) was ineffective in the protection of gastric mucosa against the WRS-induced lesions in rats with ablation of sensory nerves. In rats with intact sensory nerves and exposed to WRS, administration of AM251 exhibited deleterious effect. In rats with ablation of sensory nerves and exposed to WRS, AM251 failed to affect mucosal injury in the stomach. We conclude that anandamide reduces the mucosal oxidative stress and exhibits gastroprotective effect against WRS-induced ulcers. These effects are partly mediated by sensory nerves.

Immunohistochemical expression of FGF-2, PDGF-A, VEGF and TGF beta RII in the pancreas in the course of ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute pancreatitis.

UNLABELLED: Acute pancreatitis leads to pancreatic damage followed by subsequent regeneration. The aim of our study was to evaluate the presence of growth factors in the course of spontaneous pancreatic regeneration after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced pancreatitis. METHODS: In rats, I/R was evoked by clamping of splenic artery for 30 min followed by reperfusion. Rats were sacrificed 1, 5, 12 h or 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 or 21 days after removal of vascular clips. Pancreatic blood flow (PBF), plasma lipase, interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-10, pancreatic cells proliferation and morphological signs of pancreatitis were determined. Pancreatic presence of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor-A (PDGF-A) and transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor (TGFbeta RII) was detected by immunohistochemisty. RESULTS: Exposure to I/R led to the development of acute necrotizing pancreatitis followed by regeneration. Morphological features showed maximal pancreatic damage between the 1(st) and 2(nd) day of reperfusion. It was correlated with a maximal increase in plasma lipase, and pro-inflammatory IL-1beta concentration, as well as, a reduction in PBF and pancreatic DNA synthesis. I/R increased FGF-2 content in pancreatic acinar cells between the 12(th) and 24(th) h, and between 5(th) and 9(th) day of reperfusion. At the 2(nd) day the presence of FGF-2 in pancreatic acinar cells was reduced. After I/R PDGF-A appeared in pancreatic vessels from the 12(th) h to 5 (th) day of reperfusion. PDGF-A was not observed in pancreatic acinar cells in the control or in I/R group. In pancreatic ducts, the presence of PDGF-A was reduced between the 1(st) and 3(rd), and between 7(th) and 9(th) day of reperfusion. In acinar cells, VEGF content was increased after I/R at the time between the 1(st) and 24(th) h, and between 3(rd) and 7(th) day of reperfusion. At the 2(nd) day of reperfusion, VEGF was not detected in the pancreatic acinar cells. Moreover, VEGF was found in the inflammatory infiltration, in the tubular complexes between the 2(nd) and 5(th) day, and in granulation tissue at the 9(th) day of reperfusion. In pancreatic acinar cells, I/R caused an increase in TGFbeta RII presence between the 5(th) and 24(th) h, and between 7(th) and 9(th) day of reperfusion. Between the 2(nd) and 5(th) day of reperfusion the acinar presence of TGFbeta RII was reduced. In the pancreatic ducts, the presence of TGFbeta RII was increased after I/R from the 1(st) h to 9(th) day of observation. Four weeks after induction of acute pancreatitis, the pancreatic regeneration was completed and the presence of growth factors tested returned to control value. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of FGF, VEGF, PDGF-A and TGFbeta RII is modified in the course of I/R-induced acute pancreatitis. Maximal content of FGF, VEGF and TGFbeta RII has been observed in early stage of pancreatic regeneration suggesting the involvement these factors in pancreatic recovery.

Influence of central and peripheral administration of pancreatic polypeptide on gastric mucosa growth.

UNLABELLED: Previous studies have shown that pancreatic polypeptide (PP) inhibits exocrine pancreatic secretion. The aim of present study was to determine the influence of PP administration on gastric growth and blood flow. METHODS: Study was performed on regularly fed, fasted or fasted and subsequently refed rats. Rats were treated with saline (intraperitoneally - i.p.), caerulein (0.24 nmol/kg/dose, i.p.), pentagastrin (0.38 micromol/kg/dose, i.p.) or PP (5 nmol/kg/dose, i.p. or 10 pmol/dose intracerebroventricularly - i.c.v.). Saline, caerulein, pentagastrin and PP were administered alone or in combination, 3 times daily during last 48 h of experiment. RESULTS: Treatment with pentagastrin increased gastric mucosa weight, mucosal DNA synthesis and gastric blood flow in all group tested. Intraperitoneal and i.c.v administration of PP alone reduced mucosal DNA synthesis in regularly fed and refed animals, and decreased gastric blood flow in refed animals. Combination of PP i.p. or i.c.v plus pentagastrin significantly reduced the pentagastrin-evoked increase in gastric mucosa weight, gastric DNA synthesis and gastric blood flow in fasted animals, as well as regularly fed animals. In refed animals, influence of PP administration on the pentagastrin-evoked increase in gastric mucosa weight was weak and statistically insignificant, but still i.p or i.c.v administration of PP significantly reduced gastric blood flow and mucosal DNA synthesis in this group of animals. Administration of caerulein caused weak, but significant increase in gastric DNA synthesis, gastric mucosa weight and gastric blood flow in fasted rats. In regularly fed animals, caerulein significantly increased only gastric DNA synthesis and gastric blood flow. In fasted animals with subsequent refeeding, caerulein was without effect on parameters tested in the stomach. Neither i.p. nor i.c.v administration of PP affected the caerulein-evoked effects in the stomach. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral and central administration of PP inhibits food- and pentagastrin-stimulated growth of gastric mucosa. Similar effects of low central doses of PP as the high peripheral doses of PP suggests a crucial role of the central nervous system in the inhibitory effect of PP on gastric mucosa growth.