EFFECT OF NITRIC-OXIDE ON HYDROGEN PEROXIDE-INDUCED DAMAGE IN ISOLATED RABBIT GASTRIC GLANDS

The present study aims at investigating the effects of nitric oxide (N O) on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced damage in isolated rabbit gastr ic glands. NO synthesis modulators such as L-arginine and N-G-nitro-L- arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and an NO donor, sodium nitroprusside, were added to isolated rabbit gastric glands exposed to H2O2, generate d by glucose oxidase acting on beta-D-glucose. As a result, glucose/gl ucose oxidase caused an increase in lipid peroxide production and decr eases in reduced glutathione (GSH) content, GSH peroxidase activity, n itrite release, and mucus secretion in gastric glands. The alterations in lipid peroxide production, GSH content, and mucus secretion were p revented by pretreatment with L-arginine, a substrate for NO synthase and sodium nitroprusside, but not by L-NAME. In conclusion, NO protect s gastric glands from H2O2 by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and mainta ining cellular GSH content and mucus secretion.