Alcohol scavenges nitric oxide in gastric lumen

Fish oil ameliorates ethanol-induced gastric injury in rat by modulating gene related to apoptosis

Gastric ulcers are a type of digestive disease that can severely affect a person's quality of life. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of fish oil on ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats, with the purpose of providing more comprehensive information on the topic. The study looked at various factors such as gastric ulcer index, and nitric oxide (NO) levels in stomach tissue. To investigate apoptosis, the mRNA levels of Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspase 3 were analyzed. The results showed that fish oil can reduce gastric acidity and the gastric ulcer index in cases of ethanol-induced gastric ulcers. It was found that fish oil can increase NO levels and improve the anti-apoptotic system by increasing the expression of Bcl-2 while decreasing the expression of Bax and Caspase 3. In general, the study demonstrates that fish oil can protect the stomach from ethanol-induced damage by reducing the apoptosis pathway via nitric oxide.

Dietary Nitrate from Plant Foods: A Conditionally Essential Nutrient for Cardiovascular Health

Under specific conditions, such as catabolic stress or systemic inflammation, endogenous nutrient production becomes insufficient and exogenous supplementation (for example, through dietary intake) is required. Herein, we propose consideration of a dietary nitrate from plant foods as a conditionally essential nutrient for cardiovascular health based on its role in nitric oxide homeostasis. Nitrate derived from plant foods may function as a conditionally essential nutrient, whereas nitrate obtained from other dietary sources, such as drinking water and cured/processed meats, warrants separate consideration because of the associated health risks. We have surveyed the literature and summarized epidemiological evidence regarding the effect of dietary nitrate on cardiovascular disease and risk factors. Meta-analyses and population-based observational studies have consistently demonstrated an inverse association of dietary nitrate with blood pressure and cardiovascular disease outcomes. Considering the available evidence, we suggest 2 different approaches to providing dietary guidance on nitrate from plant-based dietary sources as a nutrient: the Dietary Reference Intakes developed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and the dietary guidelines evaluated by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Ultimately, this proposal underscores the need for food-based dietary guidelines to capture the complex and context-dependent relationships between nutrients, particularly dietary nitrate, and health.

Levels of MDA and SOD in acute gastric mucosal injury in rats exposed to positive acceleration

AIM: To determine the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in acute gastric mucosal injury in rats exposed to positive acceleration (+Gz), observe the impact of +Gz exposure on gastric mucosal injury, and clarify the role of oxygen free radicals in this process.

METHODS: Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: A (ethanol), B (ethanol with +5Gz exposure), and C (ethanol with +10Gz exposure). All rats were intragastrically given ethanol (0.4 mL/100 mg) after 24 h of fasting and water deprivation for 12 h. One hour after ethanol administration, group A did not undergo +Gz, while groups B and C were continuously exposed to +5Gz and +10Gz for 3 minutes, respectively. Immediately after +Gz exposure, gastric tissue samples were taken to observe gastric mucosal injury by light microscopy. The indexes of gastric mucosal injury were calculated, and the contents of MDA and SOD in the gastric mucosa were determined by ELISA.

RESULTS: Gastric mucosal injury was observed in all the groups, and gastric mucosal injury was most severe in group C, followed by groups B and A. Group A had mildest gastric mucosal injury. Group B showed visible gastric mucosal congestion, edema and scattered bleeding spots, and light microscopy revealed acute inflammatory cell infiltration. The indexes of gastric mucosal injury were significantly higher in group B than in group A (naked eye: 23.654 ± 9.678 vs 11.410 ± 3.742; light microscopy: 5.000 ± 1.054 vs 3.800 ± 1.399; both P < 0.05). Group C had heaviest gastric mucosal injury. Diffuse gastric mucosal congestion, edema, erosion and many bleeding spots were visible, and light microscopy revealed disorderly arranged gland structure, interstitial congestion, erosion, and acute inflammatory cell infiltration. The indexes of gastric mucosal injury were significantly higher in group C than in groups A and B (naked eye: 49.080 ± 10.254, light microscopy: 9.400 ± 2.011; all P < 0.05). Compared with group A, the content of MDA in the gastric mucosa did not rise significantly in group B (0.255 ± 0.074 vs 0.235 ± 0.044, P > 0.05); however, MDA content in group C (0.376 ± 0.084) was significantly higher than those in groups A and B (both P < 0.05). The content of SOD in the gastric mucosa was significantly lower in group C than in groups A and B (8.852 ± 1.001 vs 10.000 ± 1.067, 10.694 ± 0.965, P < 0.05), although no significant difference was observed between the latter two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: +Gz exposure aggravates acute gastric mucosal injury in rats possibly by altering the contents of MDA and SOD in gastric tissue.

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Formation of ethyl nitrite in vivo after ethanol administration

The purpose of the current study was to ascertain whether ethyl nitrite could be detected in vitro from the reaction of ethanol with peroxynitrite, as well as after administration of ethanol to mice. Ethyl nitrite analyte was determined by using gas chromatography--mass spectrometry with headspace analysis with the use of a solid-phase microextraction device. Peroxynitrite was allowed to react with ethanol under a variety of conditions in vitro. Ethyl nitrite was generated when peroxynitrite was allowed to react with ethanol. Male, inbred short-sleep mice were injected intraperitoneally with either ethanol [5.2 g/kg; 15.0% (weight/volume) ethanol in saline] or a 50:50 mixture of deuterium-labeled ethanol (D5-ethanol) and ethanol. Blood samples, as well as whole brain and liver sections, were obtained from mice 30 min later for determination of ethanol, D5-ethanol, ethyl nitrite, and deuterium-labeled ethyl nitrite (D5-ethyl nitrite). Time courses for the appearance of ethyl nitrite in blood samples, as well as in whole brain and liver sections, obtained from mice were carried out. After ethanol administration, ethyl nitrite was detected and quantitated in mouse blood, brain, and liver. A small fraction of ethyl nitrite was present. When a 50:50 mixture of ethanol and D5-ethanol was given to animals, both ethyl nitrite and D5-ethyl nitrite were found in blood and brain in approximately the same ratio as that of ethanol and D5-ethanol. The level of D5-ethyl nitrite in liver was more than twice that of ethyl nitrite, indicating a possible isotope effect in the metabolism of ethyl nitrite. Ethyl nitrite is a new metabolite of ethanol in vivo. The mechanism of ethyl nitrite formation is most likely the reaction of ethanol with peroxynitrite generated in vivo from nitric oxide.