Free radicals and antioxidant status following pylorus ligation induced gastric mucosal injury in rats.

The present investigation was undertaken to suggest the involvement of free radicals in the pathogenesis of pyloric ligation induced ulcers in rats. Lipid peroxidation product (MDA), antioxidant contents and secretory activity have been studied in the rat stomach at different time intervals after pylorus ligation induced ulcers. A time-dependent increase in the peptic activity, free and total acid content in the gastric juice was observed. MDA level, myeloperoxidase (a neutrophil maker) and catalase activity in the rat stomach homogenate were augmented 2, 4 and 19 h after pylorus ligation. While a significant and time-dependent decrease in the glutathione content, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity was observed after pyloric ligation. An increase in the acid and pepsin content in the gastric juice in N-ethyl maleamide (GSH depletor) or aminotriazole (catalase inhibitor) pretreated animals, further suggests that depletion in the antioxidant levels enhance ulceration. Thus the results obtained have shown alterations in the antioxidant status following ulceration, indicating that free radicals seems to be associated with the pylorus ligation induced ulceration in rats.