缺血预处理对肢体缺血/再灌注大鼠胃粘膜损伤的保护效应

目的：观察肢体缺血再灌注（LI／R）对胃粘膜的损伤作用及缺血预处理对其影响,探讨胃粘膜损伤的机制及缺血预处理（IPC）的作用机理。方法：观察并测定肢体缺血4h再灌注4h后以及应用肢体缺血预处理干预后各组胃粘膜损伤指数,胃结合粘液量;检测胃粘膜中髓过氧化物酶（MPO）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、丙二醛（MDA）、黄嘌呤氧化酶（XOD）含量的变化以及血浆中乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）的含量变化。结果：大鼠LI／R后胃粘膜损伤指数增加;胃结合粘液量较对照组显著下降;胃粘膜中MPO、MDA、XOD的值均较对照组增加,血浆中LDH的含量亦较对照组显著增加,胃粘膜组织中SOD的酶活力下降;IPC组与LIR组对比,胃结合粘液量较LIR组显著增加：胃粘膜损伤指数、胃粘膜中MPO的含量、以及胃粘膜中MDA、XOD、LDH均较LI／R组明显降低;胃粘膜中SOD酶活力增强。结论：LI／R作为应激原可引起胃粘膜损伤,导致应激性溃疡的发生;自由基在肢体缺血再／灌注后继发胃粘膜损伤过程中发挥作用。缺血预处理可减轻肢体缺血再灌注后的胃粘膜损伤,其作用机制可能是通过减少自由基的产生而发挥其保护作用。     

巯基物质在氧自由基损伤离体胃粘膜细胞中的作用

本文用离体胃粘膜细胞研究了细胞内流基物质在活性氧诱发细胞损伤中的作用。实验采用pronase-EDTA法分离大鼠胃粘膜细胞并进行短期孵育,以黄嘌呤氧化酶(XO)-黄嘌呤(X)系统产生氧自由基损伤细胞。实验结果表明,用XO-X损伤胃粘膜细胞时,细胞存活率显著降低,乳酸脱氨酶(LDH)漏出量增多,同时细胞内非蛋白质巯基(NPSH)和蛋白质巯基(PSH)含量均不同程度地下降;N-乙基顺丁烯二酰亚胺(NEM)在耗竭细胞内NPSH和PSH的同时,引起细胞死亡和LDH漏出增加,这一作用与NEM的作用时间和浓度是显著依从关系;在细胞孵育液中预先加入含-SH的化合物还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)或半胱胺,可剂量依赖性地减轻XO-X引起的细胞损伤。上述结果提示,胃粘膜细胞内的巯基物质在自身防御机制中具有重要作用,氧自由基损伤胃粘膜细胞的机制之一可能与破坏细胞内巯基的稳态有夫。     

大鼠实验性乙醇胃粘膜损伤中一氧化氮合成酶和内皮素合量的变化及意义

目的 :探讨一氧化氮和内皮素在急性乙醇胃粘膜损伤中的作用及其相互关系。方法 :采用大鼠乙醇胃粘膜损伤模型 ,测定其胃粘膜内一氧化氮合成酶 (NOS)和内皮素 (ET)含量并观察其胃粘膜病理变化。结果 :随着乙醇作用时间延长和胃粘膜损伤的加重 ,胃粘膜内ET含量显著上升 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,而NOS的含量显著下降 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,两者呈负相关。结论 :胃粘膜内ET释放增加和NOS活性下降参与了急性乙醇胃粘膜损伤的病理生理过程。     

大鼠实验性乙醇胃粘膜损伤中一氧化氮合成酶和内皮素合量 …

目的：探讨一氧化氮和内皮素在急性乙醇胃膜损伤中的作用及其相互关系。方法：采用大鼠乙醇胃粘膜损伤模型,测定其胃粘膜内一氧化合成酶（ＮＯＳ）和内皮素（ＥＴ）含量并观察其胃膜病理变化。结果：随着乙醇作用时间延长和胃粘膜损伤和加重,胃粘膜内ＥＴ含显著上升,而ＮＯＳ的含量显著下降,两者呈负相产在。结论：胃粘膜内ＥＴ释放增加和ＮＯＳ活性下降参与了急性乙醇胃粘膜损伤的病理生理过程。     

乙醇对胃粘膜的损伤及牛磺酸的保护作用

为了探讨乙醇性胃粘膜损伤和牛磺酸对其保护作用的机制,将４０只ＳＤ大鼠分为对照组、乙醇损伤组和牛磺酸保护组,观察其胃粘膜中内皮素（ＥＴ）、一氧化氮合成酶（ＮＯＳ）、生长抑素（ＳＳ）和血管活性肠肽（ＶＩＰ）的变化。结果如下：（１）随着乙醇作用时间延长、粘膜的损伤加重,胃粘膜内ＥＴ含量显著上升,而ＮＯＳ、ＳＳ和ＶＩＰ含量显著下降;（２）牛磺酸可显著减轻乙醇性胃粘膜损伤,抑制ＥＴ释放,增加ＮＯＳ活性和ＳＳ、ＶＩＰ的含量。上述结果表示,ＥＴ、ＮＯＳ、ＳＳ和ＶＩＰ的变化参与了乙醇性胃粘膜损伤的病理生理过程;牛磺酸对乙醇性胃粘膜损伤具有保护作用,可能与其调节胃粘膜内ＥＴ、ＮＯＳ、ＳＳ和ＶＩＰ的释放与活性有关。     

巯基物质在消炎痛诱发大鼠胃粘膜损伤中的作用

本工作研究了巯基物质在消炎痛引起大鼠胃粘膜损伤中的可能作用。在胃粘膜损伤发生过程中、胃粘膜内非蛋白及蛋白结合的巯基物质含量均无明显降低。虽然半胱胺灌胃(132或264μmol)或皮下注射(132μmol)后均明显抑制消炎痛溃疡的发生,其抑制率分别为82％,92％和75％,但同样具有巯基的半胱氨酸却无保护作用。半胱胺(132μmol)皮下注射可使消炎痛大鼠胃酸分泌抑制46％,而灌胃则无此作用。两种途径给予的半胱胺均不影响胃壁结合粘液的分泌。这些结果表明,胃粘膜内巯基物质似不参与消炎痛的致溃疡过程。半胱胺在此种模型上虽有强烈的细胞保护作用,但似乎不是由于其分子上所带的巯基所致。因此,巯基物质在消炎痛引起的胃粘膜损伤模型上没有细胞保护作用。     

一氧化氮/内皮素在大鼠胃粘膜损伤中的作用及电针的调整效应

用酒精灌胃引起大鼠胃粘膜损伤模型,观察内皮衍生因子（ＮＯ／ＥＴ）的含量变化和电针对胃粘膜损伤调整作用,结果发现：酒精灌胃后,胃粘膜血流量（ＧＭＢＦ）、跨壁电位差,血ＮＯ含量降低（Ｐ〈０．０１）,血浆ＥＴ含量和胃粘膜损伤指数（ＬＩ）增高（Ｐ〈０．０１）。Ｌ－精氨酸（Ｌ－Ａｒｇ）或硝普钠（ＳＮＰ）灌注预处理后（ｉｖ）,ＮＯ含量和ＧＭＢＦ明显升高（Ｐ〈０．０１）,ＥＴ含量和ＬＩ指数下降（Ｐ〈０．０１）。     

甘肃鼢鼠哈氏腺组织结构及其抗氧化能力

为探讨甘肃鼢鼠(Myospalax cansus)哈氏腺的结构特征及其在低氧应激下的抗氧化能力,用组织解剖学方法观察甘肃鼢鼠哈氏腺整体及其显微结构,分光光度计测定哈氏腺低氧应激前、后超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性及丙二醛(MDA)含量。结果显示,甘肃鼢鼠哈氏腺肥大,包围在眼周,位于颧骨下的颞窝,为管泡状腺体,由柱状细胞构成,依胞质中分泌物含量分为厚细胞和薄细胞。常氧下,甘肃鼢鼠超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性显著高于SD大鼠(Rattus norvegicus),但谷胱甘肽还原酶活性显著低于SD大鼠;在低氧应激4 h后,甘肃鼢鼠超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性迅速升高,显著高于SD大鼠,谷胱甘肽还原酶的活性在低氧2、4和6 h无显著性变化,但均显著低于SD大鼠;在低氧8 h后,甘肃鼢鼠谷胱甘肽还原酶的活性较低氧2~6 h显著升高。甘肃鼢鼠丙二醛含量在常氧和低氧应激中均显著低于SD大鼠。结果说明,甘肃鼢鼠在低氧应激后,哈氏腺通过提高抗氧化酶超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性,清除低氧诱导产生的多余自由基,谷胱甘肽还原酶在抗氧化中不起主要作用。地下鼠甘肃鼢鼠抗氧化模式与地面鼠明显不同。     

氧自由基在应激性胃溃疡中的发病学意义

本工作研究了氧自由基在大鼠冷冻束缚应激性胃溃疡中的发病学意义。实验结果如下:(1)以超氧自由基清除剂超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)或羟自由基清除剂二甲亚砜和甘露醇预先处理大鼠,均可显著地减轻胃粘膜损伤;(2)应激时,胃粘膜内的脂质过氧化分解产物丙二醛的含量显著升高;(3)组织化学的研究显示,胃粘膜层含有丰富的黄嘌呤氧化酶,其活性在应激时明显升高,预先用别嘌呤醇处理大鼠以抑制黄嘌呤氧化酶的活性,可使胃粘膜损伤显著减轻。上述结果提示,氧自由基是应激性胃溃疡的重要致病因子,而黄嘌呤氧化酶活性的升高似可能为应激时氧自由基生成增加的重要原因。     

白介素－1β对大鼠应激性胃粘膜损伤的保护作用

本工作观察了人重组白介素１β（ＩＬ－１β）对大鼠束缚冷冻应激造成的胃粘膜损伤的影响。外周给予ＩＬ－１β后能防止胃粘膜损伤的形成,呈剂量依从关系。ＩＬ－１片段１６３－１７１对应激性胃粘膜损伤无明显影响。但巯基物质耗竭剂Ｎ－乙烯顺丁烯二酰亚胺（Ｎ－ｅｔｈｙｌｍａｌｅｉｍｉｄｅ）能部分阻断ＩＬ－１β的作用。应激３ｈ后胃粘膜蛋白质和非蛋白质巯基含量明显降低,而ＩＬ－１β能防止巯基含量的下降。ＩＬ－１β也能减少应激造成的胃粘膜脂质过氧化产物丙二醛（ｍｏｌｏｎｄｉａｙｌｄｅｈｙｄｅ）的含量。提示ＩＬ－１β能明显减轻大鼠应激性胃粘膜损伤程度,其机制可能与胃粘膜内源性巯基物质有关。     

生长抑素对胃粘膜的保护作用可能与清除自由基有关

本文观察到生长抑素对大鼠冷冻－束缚应激性胃粘膜损伤具有明显的保护作用,同时显著地抑制应激引起的胃粘膜丙二醛含量的升高。应激时大鼠胃粘膜内黄嘌呤氧化酶的生增高,同时谷胱甙肽过氧化物酶的活性降低,但超氧化物歧化酶的活性未见明显变化,生长抑素预处理可使应激时ＧＳＨ－ＰＸ活性的降低恢复到正常水平,但对ＸＯ和ＳＯＤ未见明显影响。上述结果提示,生长抑素对应激性胃粘膜损伤的保护作用似与增强胃粘膜对自由基的清除有     

Effects of Oxicam Inhibitors of Cyclooxygenase on Oxidative Stress Generation in Rat Gastric Mucosa. A Comparative Study

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), members of the same family with a different cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition selectivity, meloxicam, preferent COX-2 inhibitor, and piroxicam, preferent COX-1 inhibitor, on oxygen radical generation in rat gastric mucosa. Therefore, the activity of oxidative stress-related enzymes such as xanthine oxidase (XO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) homeostasis were studied in rats. Gastric prostaglandins (PG) were also assessed as a measure of COX-1 inhibition. Both oxicams produced a similar extent of the gastric mucosal damage and a significant decrease in PGE 2 synthesis, however only piroxicam induced an increase of both myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- &#102 content in the gastric mucosa, indicating that neutrophil-derived free radicals were involved in gastric injury. Furthermore, both compounds reduced SOD activity and increased XO activity in gastric mucosa. Our results also revealed modifications in GSH metabolism: although glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activity was unaffected by meloxicam or piroxicam administration, both glutathione reductase (GSSG-rd) activity and total GSH content were significantly decreased after dosing. These results suggest that under our experimental conditions, meloxicam, preferential COX-2 inhibitor causes rates of gastric lesion in rats comparable to those seen with the traditional NSAID piroxicam, preferential COX-1 inhibitor. In addition to suppression of systemic COX activity, oxygen radicals, probably derived via the XO, and neutrophils play an important role in the production of damage induced by both oxicams. Moreover, the decrease in SOD activity and changes in glutathione homeostasis in gastric mucosa may also contribute to pathogenesis of meloxicam- or piroxicam-induced gastropathy.     

Effects of oxicam inhibitors of cyclooxygenase on oxidative stress generation in rat gastric mucosa. A comparative study

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), members of the same family with a different cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition selectivity, meloxicam, preferent COX-2 inhibitor, and piroxicam, preferent COX-1 inhibitor, on oxygen radical generation in rat gastric mucosa. Therefore, the activity of oxidative stress-related enzymes such as xanthine oxidase (XO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) homeostasis were studied in rats. Gastric prostaglandins (PG) were also assessed as a measure of COX-1 inhibition. Both oxicams produced a similar extent of the gastric mucosal damage and a significant decrease in PGE2 synthesis, however only piroxicam induced an increase of both myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha content in the gastric mucosa, indicating that neutrophil-derived free radicals were involved in gastric injury. Furthermore, both compounds reduced SOD activity and increased XO activity in gastric mucosa. Our results also revealed modifications in GSH metabolism: although glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activity was unaffected by meloxicam or piroxicam administration, both glutathione reductase (GSSG-rd) activity and total GSH content were significantly decreased after dosing. These results suggest that under our experimental conditions, meloxicam, preferential COX-2 inhibitor causes rates of gastric lesion in rats comparable to those seen with the traditional NSAID piroxicam, preferential COX-1 inhibitor. In addition to suppression of systemic COX activity, oxygen radicals, probably derived via the XO, and neutrophils play an important role in the production of damage induced by both oxicams. Moreover, the decrease in SOD activity and changes in glutathione homeostasis in gastric mucosa may also contribute to pathogenesis of meloxicam- or piroxicam-induced gastropathy.     

Changes in ascorbate, glutathione, and related enzyme activities during thidiazuron-induced bud break of apple

The changes of ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid, and glutathione content and related enzyme activities were studied in apple buds during dormancy and thidiazuron-induced bud break. An increase in ascorbic acid, reduced form of glutathione (GSH), total glutathione, total non-protein thiol (NPSH) and non-glutathione thiol (RSH) occurred as a result of induction by thidiazuron during bud break, whereas dehydroascorbic acid and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) decreased during the same period. Thidiazuron also enhanced the ratio of GSH/GSSG, and activities of ascorbate free radical reductase (AFR; EC 1.6.5.4), ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11). dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR; EC 1.8.5.1) and glutathione reductase (GR; EC 1.6.4.2). The ascorbic acid content and the activities of AFR, ascorbate peroxidase, and DHAR peaked when buds were in the side green or green tip stage just prior to the start of rapid expansion, and declined thereafter. The GSH, NPSH, RSH, ratio of GSH/GSSG, and activities of GR increased steadily during bud development.     

Gastroprotective and Anti-oxidative Properties of Ascorbic Acid on Indomethacin-induced Gastric Injuries in Rats

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the etiology of indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal damage. This study investigated ascorbic acid (vitamin C)'s protective effects against oxidative gastric mucosal damage induced by indomethacin. Ascorbic acid is a powerful antioxidant because it can donate a hydrogen atom and form a relatively stable ascorbyl free radical. We have investigated alterations in the levels of myeloperoxidase, antioxidant system enzymes (glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase), lipid peroxidation and glutathione, as markers for ulceration process following oral administration of ascorbic acid, famotidine, lansoprazole, and ranitidine in rats with indomethacin-induced ulcers. In the present study, we found that (1) ascorbic acid, famotidine, lansoprazole and ranitidine reduced the development of indomethacin-induced gastric damages; (2) the administration of indomethacin caused a significant decrease in the levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione, and an increase in the lipid peroxidation level; (3) the administration of ascorbic acid reversed the trend, inducing a significant increase of these enzymes' levels and a reduction in lipid peroxidation level in tissues; and (4) catalase, glutathione reductase and myeloperoxidase activities, increased by indomethacin, were found to be lower in the ascorbic acid, famotidine, lansoprazole and ranitidine-treated groups. The results indicate that the gastroprotective properties of ascorbic acid could be related to its positive effects on the antioxidant system and myeloperoxidase activity in indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers in rats.     

Gastroprotective effect of Terminalia arjuna bark on diclofenac sodium induced gastric ulcer

AIM: The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of Terminalia arjuna (TA) on diclofenac sodium induced gastric ulcer in experimental rats. METHODS: Animals were induced for gastric ulcer with diclofenac sodium (DIC) (80mg/kg bodyweight in water, orally) and treated orally with TA in various doses ranging from 100mg/kg bodyweight to 500mg/kg bodyweight. The effective dose was 400mg/kg bodyweight, since this dose elicited a maximum reduction in lesion index. The gastroprotective effect of TA was assessed from volume of gastric juice, pH, free and total acidity, pepsin concentration, acid output in gastric juice, the levels of non-protein sulfhydryls (NP-SH), lipid peroxide (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), and activities of enzymic antioxidants--super oxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in gastric mucosa. The levels of DNA, protein bound carbohydrate complexes--hexose, hexoseamine, sialic acid, fucose in gastric mucosa and gastric juice and the levels of RNA in gastric mucosa were assessed. The stomach tissues were used for adherent mucus content and also for the histological examination. RESULTS: A significant reduction in lesion index was observed in ulcer induced animals treated with TA (DIC+TA) compared to ulcerated rats (DIC). A significant increase was observed in pH, NP-SH, GSH, enzymic antioxidants, protein bound carbohydrate complexes, adherent mucus content, nucleic acids with a significant decrease in volume of gastric juice, free and total acidity, pepsin concentration, acid output, LPO levels and MPO activities in DIC+TA rats compared to DIC rats. Histological studies confirmed the gastroprotective activity of TA. CONCLUSION: From the data presented in this study it could be concluded that T. arjuna acts as an gastroprotective agent probably due to its free radical scavenging activity and cytoprotective nature.     

The protective action of melatonin on indomethacin-induced gastric and testicular oxidative stress in rats

Reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation play a role in the pathogenesis induced by the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin. Melatonin (MLT) protection against indomethacin-induced oxidative tissue injury was investigated in gastric mucosa and testis of rats. MLT was administered intragastrically (i.g.) 30 min before the administration to fasted rats of 20 mg indomethacin/kg rat given i.g.. The area of gastric lesion as well as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were found to be significantly increased 4 h after administration of indomethacin in rat gastric mucosa and testis indicating acute oxidative injury. MLT pretreatment reduced gastric lesion area to 80% of the indomethacin-treated rats and reduced the rise in TBARS concentration. MLT treatment reduced the LDH activity increase in testis but not in gastric mucosa. In indomethacin-treated rats, both the cytosolic Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) and mitochondrial Mn-SOD activities were significantly diminished in gastric mucosa as well as the total SOD activity in testis. In addition, glutathione (GSH) content in both tissues was markedly decreased following indomethacin treatment. Pretreatment with MLT significantly ameliorated both the inhibition of SOD activity and the decreased GSH content in both tissues. Thus, these results show the effective antiperoxidative and preventive actions of MLT against indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal damage and testicular oxidative injury and we propose that this action might be relevant for its use with other free radical generating drugs.     

Species-related variations in antioxidant components of gastric and duodenal mucosa

Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant profiles of the gastric and duodenal mucosa of rat, rabbit, cat and pig were investigated and found to exhibit significant variations. Rat gastric and duodenal mucosa exhibited the highest levels of basal glutathione of the various tissues examined. The highest activity of glutathione reductase was found in the gastric and duodenal mucosa of rat as compared with that in these tissues from the other species. The gastric mucosa of cat and pig showed similar activities of glutathione peroxidase, which was significantly lower than those in rat or rabbit gastric mucosa. The activity of this antioxidant enzyme was similar in rat, rabbit and pig duodenal mucosa and lower than that in cat duodenal mucosa. Strong correlations were found between activities of the functionally coupled antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in gastric but not in duodenal mucosa. The activity of superoxide dismutase showed negligible regional or species-related variations in activity.     

Free radical activity, antioxidant enzyme, and glutathione changes with muscle stretch injury in rabbits.

The present study investigated changes in rate of free radical production, antioxidant enzyme activity, and glutathione status immediately after and 24 h after acute muscle stretch injury in 18 male New Zealand White rabbits. There was no change in free radical production in injured muscles, compared with noninjured controls, immediately after injury (time 0; P = 0.782). However, at 24 h postinjury, there was a 25% increase in free radical production in the injured muscles. Overall, there was an interaction (time and treatment) effect (P = 0.005) for free radical production. Antioxidant enzyme activity demonstrated a treatment (injured vs. control) and interaction effect for both glutathione peroxidase (P = 0.015) and glutathione reductase (P = 0.041). There was no evidence of lipid peroxidation damage, as measured by muscle malondialdehyde content. An interaction effect occurred for both reduced glutathione (P = 0.008) and total glutathione (P = 0.015). Morphological analysis (hematoxylin and eosin staining) showed significant polymorphonuclear cell infiltration of the damaged region at 24 h postinjury. We conclude that acute mechanical muscle stretch injury results in increased free radical production within 24 h after injury. Antioxidant enzyme and glutathione systems also appear to be affected during this early postinjury period.     

Role of L-arginine in ibuprofen-induced oxidative stress and neutrophil infiltration in gastric mucosa

It has been proposed that neutrophil and oxygen dependent microvascular injuries may be important prime events in gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). l-arginine (l-ARG) is an essential amino acid which participates in many important biochemical reactions associated to the normal physiology of the organism. In these experimentations, we studied the role of l-ARG, aminoacid precursor of NO synthesis, on ibuprofen (IB) induced gastric lesions, and also on the inflammatory and oxidative mechanisms related to mucosal damage. Oral administration of IB (100 mg kg^-1), produced severe damage on gastric mucosa, which was more important after 6 h test-period, and was accompanied by a significant increment in myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, as index of neutrophil activation, as well as lipid peroxidation (LP) levels and xanthine oxidase (XO) activity. However, no changes were observed in total mucosal glutathione (tGSH), nor glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Simultaneous treatment with equimolar doses of l-ARG (oral and i.p.), considerably reduced the number and intensity of lesions, and at the same time (6 h) the maximum protection was also observed. In addition, l-ARG inhibited the IB-induced LP and XO enhancement, but did not produce changes in leukocyte infiltration, tGSH, GSH-Px and SOD activity. These findings suggest that (1) l-ARG protective effect on gastric mucosa against IB-induced mucosal lesions could be explained by a local effect and also might be due to the systemic action of the aminoacid; (2) the active oxygen species, derived both from XO and activated neutrophils, could play a role in the pathogenesis of gastric injury induced by IB, (3) l-ARG exhibit a protective effect against IB-induced mucosal damage, probably through the inhibition of oxidative stress derived via xanthine-XO, but it does not block the oxygen free radical production through polymorphe nuclear leukocytes.