L-arginine protects against ethylene glycol-induced gastric mucosal damage in rats: immunohistochemical and electron microscopic study

Authors : Samah KANDEEL, Thoryaa ELDEEB, Ehsan SALAH, Nafisa ELBAKARY, Naglaa SARHAN

Pages : 342-349

Doi:10.3906/biy-1203-42

View : 20 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 2013-12-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Ethylene glycol is an alcohol widely used in industry as an antifreeze. It affects the normal gastric mucosal defense mechanisms, inducing surface ulcerations. L-arginine is a precursor of nitric oxide that exhibits multiple biological properties; among them is the acceleration of wound healing, especially in the stomach. Caspase-3 immunohistochemistry, and semithin and ultrathin section examinations were used to investigate the possible protective effect of L-arginine on ethylene glycol-induced gastric mucosal damage in rats. Three animal groups were used: group A insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(control group);, group B insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(received 3.3 mL/kg ethylene glycol for 2 weeks);, and group C insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(received 200 mg/kg of L-arginine and 3.3 mL/kg ethylene glycol for 2 weeks);. By examination, group B showed significant increases in caspase-3 positive cells in comparison to the control, semithin sections revealed surface disruption and ulcerations, and ultrathin sections showed multiple pathological changes in cells lining the gastric mucosal glands. In group C significant decreases in caspase-3 positive cells were encountered and the other pathological findings in group B were found to be reversed. Therefore, we conclude that ethylene glycol-induced damage to the gastric mucosa could be prevented by L-arginine administration.
Keywords : Key words Ethylene glycol, L arginine, stomach, caspase 3, immunohistochemistry, ultrastructure, rat