THE INFLUENCE OF BPC-157 ON NITRIC-OXIDE AGONIST AND ANTAGONIST-INDUCED LESIONS IN BROILER CHICKS

We describe the effects of nitric oxide (NO) agonists and antagonists and the influence of a novel organoprotective pentadecapeptide BPC 157 , on the development of pulmonary hypertension syndrome and tissue les ions in chicks. Acute toxicity, which includes single dose application of saline (1 mt intraperitoneally tip)), BPC 157 (10 mu g/kg bw), L-N AME (NO antagonist, doses 50, 100, 150 mg/kg bw) and L-arginine (NO ag onist /100 mg/kg bw with their combination L-NAME + BPC 157; L-NAME L-arginine) was investigated. In this experiment pathohistological exa mination of the spleen, heart, liver and lungs and hematological analy sis was conducted. In the chronic toxicity experiment, the animals wer e treated daily for 5 weeks with L-NAME (10 mg/kg bw), L-arginine (100 mg/kg bw), BPC 157 (10 mu g/kg bw) and their combinations (L-NAME + B PC 157; L-NAME + L-arginine) ip. Seven animals from each group, includ ing controls (saline 1 mt ip) were killed every week. Application of L -NAME caused pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) in the treated chic ks, which was prevented by the simultaneous application of L-arginine and BPC 157. Pathohistological examination of both acute and chronic t oxicity revealed that L-NAME caused severe tissue damage (myocardial a nd hepatic cell necrosis, necrosis of the lymphoid cells in the spleen ) while L-arginine provoked predominantly congestion, edema and hemorr hages in all organs. The effect of L-NAME was successfully inhibited b y the application of L-arginine and BPC 157 but the latter substance d id not cause any tissue or organ damage. Hematological analysis shows significant hemoglobin and leukocyte number decrease in the L-NAME-tre ated groups of chicks.