Role of endothelin 1 in hemorrhagic shock-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats

Abstract

Background/Aims: Gastric microcirculatory disturbances are involved in the pathogenesis of stress ulcers; however, vasomodulators regulating this process are not fully understood. This study was conducted to investigate the role of endothelin 1 (ET-1) in hemorrhagic shock-induced gastric mucosal damage in rats. Methods: ET-1 contents in plasma and gastric mucosa were measured and gastric mucosal damage was evaluated during a control period, 60 minutes of ischemia, 15 minutes of reperfusion, and 30 minutes of postreperfusion. Next, effects of BQ-123, an endothelina receptor antagonist, on the gastric mucosal damage and hemodynamics were studied. Results: Both plasma and mucosal ET-1 significantly increased after ischemia and reperfusion compared with the control values, but only mucosal ET-1 continued to increase after reperfusion, leading to the development of gastric mucosal damage. BQ-123, administered just before reperfusion, reduced mucosal damage in the postreperfusion period dose-dependently and improved mean gastric mucosal blood flow and mucosal hemoglobin oxygen saturation during the 30-minute postreperfusion period. Conclusions: These results suggest that endogenous ET-1 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hemorrhagic shock-induced gastric mucosal damage through impairment of mucosal microcirculation. Further, endothelina antagonists may have therapeutic benefits for shock-induced gastric mucosal damage.