Zhang J, Xie PY, Li H, Shuai XW, Wang C. Protective effects of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway against acute esophagitis in rats.
Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2008;
16:2204-2210. [DOI:
10.11569/wcjd.v16.i20.2204]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the effects of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) on levels of cytokines, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) activities and on the degree of acute esophagitis in rats, and to determine whether CAP has protective effects against experimental esophagitis in rats.
METHODS: Acute esophagitis was induced by perfusion of 0.1 mol/L hydrochloric acid with pepsin in the lower part of the esophagus. Forty SD rats were randomly assigned to five groups. Group 1 served as a normal saline-treated control (NS group), while in group 2 the distal esophagus was exposed to acidified pepsin for 2 h (AP group). In the other three groups, animals were subjected to sham surgery (SHAM group) or bilateral cervical vagotomy alone (VTM group) or with electrical stimulation before and after acid perfusion (VNS group). The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and activities of ChAT and NOS in the esophageal tissues were determined. Esophageal injury was assessed by macroscopic and microscopic examination.
RESULTS: The levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and activities of ChAT and NOS in the esophageal tissues increased after acid perfusion. Compared to the SHAM group, vagus nerve electrical stimulation inhibited the release of TNF-α (135.6 ± 11.6 vs 200.0 ± 20.5, P < 0.05), IL-6 (166.9 ± 44.3 vs 305.6 ± 16.5, P < 0.05) and the degree of esophagitis, while the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was not affected. Conversely, vagotomy resulted in an elevated severity of esophagitis, associated with significant increase of TNF-α (283.8 ± 33.6 vs 200.0 ± 20.5, P < 0.05) and IL-6 (515.1 ± 77.1 vs 305.6 ± 16.5, P < 0.01) levels and decrease of NOS activity. The esophagitis score was significantly higher in acid treatment group than that in NS group (P < 0.01). The macroscopic and microscopic scores increased in VTM group compared with that in SHAM group (P < 0.01 and 0.05). The esophagitis score was decreased markedly in VNS group compared with that in VTM group (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide evidence for the involvement of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in modulating inflammation and injury during experimental esophagitis.
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