The central and peripheral adrenergic systems are involved in the regulation of gastric secretion but little is known about the role of α- and β-adrenoceptors in gastroprotection. In this study, acute gastric lesions were produced by an intragastric (i.g.) application of 100% ethanol and gastric blood flow (GBF) was determined by H2-gas clearance technique in rats with or without i.g. or intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of α- or β-adrenoceptor agonists or antagonists. Phenylephrine, α1-adrenergic agonist, and clonidine, α2-agonist, significantly augmented the ethanol-induced lesions while decreasing the GBF and these effects were reversed by the blockade of α1-adrenoceptors with prazosin and α2-adrenoceptors with yohimbine. In contrast, isoproterenol (ISO) (0.01-10 mg/kg i.g.), β-adrenoceptor agonist, reduced dose-dependently ethanol-induced mucosal injury and this effect was accompanied by an elevation of the GBF similarly as after epidermal growth factor (EGF) (100 μg/kg·h s.c.) or after classic protective agent, 16,16-dimethyl-PGE2 (PGE2) (10 μg/kg i.g.). The pretreatment with β-antagonist, propranolol, diminished the protective and hyperemic effects of ISO and EGF but failed to affect those induced by PGE2. Suppression of nitric oxide (NO) synthase activity by L-NAME or sensory denervation with capsaicin attenuated significantly the ISO- and EGF-induced gastroprotection and elevation of GBF, whereas the inhibition of PG biosynthesis by indomethacin remained without any significant effect. Adrenal medullectomy or chemical sympathectomy by 6-hydroxydopamine by itself failed to influence significantly the ethanol-induced damage but completely abolished the protective and hyperemic effects of EGF being without any influence on those induced by PGE2. ISO combined with EGF, restored the protective and hyperemic effects of this peptide in medullectomized rats. We conclude that (1) local activation of β-adrenoceptors by ISO affords protection and elevation of GBF, both these effects being mediated by arginine-NO pathway and sensory nerves and (2) sympathetic system and adrenal medulla contribute to the protective and hyperemic activity of EGF.

Journal Section:
Original Paper
Keywords:
Cytoprotection, Gastric blood flow, Adrenergic receptors, Isoproterenol, Epidermal growth factor, Adrenal glands
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© 1997 S. Karger AG, Basel
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1997
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