| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022472 | Regulatory Peptides | 2013 | 8 Pages |
Background and objectiveSome short peptides have recently been reported to exhibit gastroprotective properties but the role of NO-synthase system in these mechanisms still leaves much to be elucidated. That is why the purpose of our study was to explore the gastroprotective effect of the hexapeptide Arg–α-Asp–Lys–Val–Tyr–Arg (thymohexin) under conditions of the modeling of iNOS activity.Materials and methodsThe studies were performed on 80 outbred male rats. Gastric lesions were induced with epinephrine (2 mg/kg) or indomethacin (30 mg/kg). Fifteen minutes before the exposure to ulcerogens rats were pretreated with thymohexin alone and combined with l-arginine or aminoguanidine. Twenty-four hours later gastric mucosa damage, l-arginine/NOS/NO system, processes of lipoperoxidation, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity were assessed.ResultsThymohexin markedly attenuated both epinephrine- and indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in rats, decreasing the area and score of mucosal lesions (p < 0.05), iNOS activity (p < 0.05) and malonic dialdehyde content (p < 0.05) in gastric mucosa. The cytoprotective effect of thymohexin was significantly enhanced by l-arginine and aminoguanidine. The combination of thymohexin and l-arginine was superior to that with aminoguanidine.ConclusionsThymohexin protects gastric mucosa against epinephrine- and indomethacin-induced gastric lesions in rats. Thymohexin-induced gastroprotection is probably mediated by inhibition of iNOS and decrease of the oxidative damage in gastric mucosa.
► Thymohexin attenuates epinephrine- and indomethacin-induced gastric lesions in rats. ► Thymohexin decreases iNOS activity and lipoperoxidation processes in gastric mucosa. ► Cytoprotective effect of thymohexin is enhanced by l-arginine and aminoguanidine. ► Combination of thymohexin and l-arginine is superior to that with aminoguanidine. ► Thymohexin may be perspective for gastroprotective purposes.
