Protective effects of L-Arginine and pentoxifylline on mucosal barrier in ischemia-reperfusion induced gastric injury in rats

Aim: To determine the effects L-Arginine (L-Arg) and pentoxifylline (Ptx) on mucosal barrier in ischemia-reperfusion (IR) induced gastric injury in rats. Method: Twenty-eight males, adult Wistar Albino rats (200-250 g) were used in the study. The rats were anesthetized by ketamine hydrokloride. Laparotomy only was applied in control group (n=7). In other three groups, coeliac artery was occluded for a period of 30 minutes followed by a reperfusion period of 60 minutes. No drug was given in IR group (n=7). In Ptx+IR group (n=7), 50 mg/kg Ptx was administered intraperitoneally before reperfusion. In L-Arg+IR group (n=7), 3 mg/kg/minute L-Arginine was increased immediately before refursion. The amounts of mucus and phospholipid were determined by Corne and Baur's methods. Ulcer index was measured via counting macroscopical petechial hemorrhage. Results: Mucus and phospholipid levels in gastric mucosa were significantly lower in IR group compared to control group (p<0.01). The amount of phospholipid was significantly higher in both Ptx+IR and L-Arg+IR groups when compared to those of IR group (p<0.01), while there were no significant differences between Ptx+IR and L-Arg+IR and IR group in terms of mucus amount (p>0.05). Phospholipid level was significantly higher in L-Arg+IR group when compared to Ptx+IR group (p<0.01), while there was no significant difference between these two groups from the point of mucus amount (p>0.05). Ulcer index was significantly higher in IR group than Ptx+IR and L-Arg+IR groups (p<0.05, p<0.01). Conclusion: Gastric IR breaks mucosal barrier through significantly decreased mucus and phospholipid levels and results in gastric mucosal damage via increased ulcer index. Ptx and L-Arg diminish barrier breakage and mucosal damage induced by IR. L-Arg seems to protect the gastric mucosal barrier better than Ptx does.