The role of lipid peroxidation on gastric mucosal lesions induced by water-immersion-restraint stress in rats

This study was designed to determine the effect of water-immersion-restrain t stress (WIRS) and pretreatment by reduced glutathione on both the product ion of gastric mucosal lesions and the content of gastric mucosal phosphati dylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH). Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into con trol and treatment groups (treated with reduced glutathione before stress). After graded durations of WIRS, the macroscopic ulcer index (UI) was measu red and the PCOOH content was examined by a chemiluminescence-high performa nce liquid chromatography assay. The UI in the control group increased sign ificantly in a time-dependent fashion, Elevation of the PCOOH level was obs erved in combination with the UI for up to 2 h of WIRS, but then showed a d eclining tendency. Pretreatment with reduced glutathione significantly lowe red both the UI and the PCOOH level. Lipid peroxidation is probably involve d in the pathogenesis of gastric injury induced by WIRS at least in the ear ly phases. However, in the late phases, other mechanisms causing gastric mu cosal lesions may also be involved. We therefore believe this study to be t he first to accurately and quantitatively assess the degree of lipid peroxi dation in the gastric mucosa as a result of stress.