Protective effect of N,N’‐dimethylthiourea against stress‐induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats |
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| Authors: | Yoshiji Ohta Koji Yashiro Takashi Kobayashi Kazuo Inui Junji Yoshino |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Chemistry, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan;2. Department of Internal Medicine, Second Teaching Hospital, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan;3. Dainagoya building Central Clinic, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan |
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| Abstract: | In the present study, we examined the protective effect of N,N’‐dimethylthiourea (DMTU), a scavenger of hydroxyl radical ( ), against water‐immersion restraint stress (WIRS)‐induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats. When male Wistar rats fasted for 24 h were exposed to WIRS for 3 h, gastric mucosal lesions occurred with increases in the levels of gastric mucosal myeloperoxidase (MPO), an index of tissue neutrophil infiltration, pro‐inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1beta), lipid peroxide (LPO), and nitrite/nitrate (NOx), an index of nitric oxide synthesis, and decreases in the levels of gastric mucosal nonprotein SH and vitamin C and gastric adherent mucus. DMTU (1, 2.5, or 5 mmol/kg) administered orally at 0.5 h before the onset of WIRS reduced the severity of gastric mucosal lesions with attenuation of the changes in the levels of gastric mucosal MPO, pro‐inflammatory cytokines, LPO, NOx, nonprotein SH, and vitamin C and gastric adherent mucus found at 3 h after the onset of WIRS in a dose‐dependent manner. Serum levels of corticosterone and glucose, which are indices of stress responses, increased in rats exposed to WIRS for 3 h, but DMTU pre‐administered at any dose had no effect on these increases. These results indicate that DMTU protects against WIRS‐induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats by exerting its antioxidant action including  scavenging and its anti‐inflammatory action without affecting the stress response. |
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| Keywords: | gastric mucosal lesions inflammation N,N’ ‐dimethylthiourea oxidative stress water‐immersion restraint stress (rats) |
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), against water‐immersion restraint stress (WIRS)‐induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats. When male Wistar rats fasted for 24 h were exposed to WIRS for 3 h, gastric mucosal lesions occurred with increases in the levels of gastric mucosal myeloperoxidase (MPO), an index of tissue neutrophil infiltration, pro‐inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1beta), lipid peroxide (LPO), and nitrite/nitrate (NOx), an index of nitric oxide synthesis, and decreases in the levels of gastric mucosal nonprotein SH and vitamin C and gastric adherent mucus. DMTU (1, 2.5, or 5 mmol/kg) administered orally at 0.5 h before the onset of WIRS reduced the severity of gastric mucosal lesions with attenuation of the changes in the levels of gastric mucosal MPO, pro‐inflammatory cytokines, LPO, NOx, nonprotein SH, and vitamin C and gastric adherent mucus found at 3 h after the onset of WIRS in a dose‐dependent manner. Serum levels of corticosterone and glucose, which are indices of stress responses, increased in rats exposed to WIRS for 3 h, but DMTU pre‐administered at any dose had no effect on these increases. These results indicate that DMTU protects against WIRS‐induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats by exerting its antioxidant action including 
scavenging and its anti‐inflammatory action without affecting the stress response.