Korean J Gastrointest Motil.  2001 Nov;7(2):175-180.

The Significance of Lipid Peroxidation and Glutathione in Reflux Esophagitis of Rats

• Park HJ
• Kim JH
• Kim HY
• Jung JK
• Lee SI
• Park IS

Abstract

The role of oxygen-derived free radicals has been studied in acute gastric and esophageal mucosal injury.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to determine whether acid reflux causes oxidative stress in the esophageal mucosa and to investigate the correlation between mucosal glutathione (GSH) levels as an endogenous free radical scavenger and lipid peroxidation.
METHODS
Eight-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats with a bodyweight of 250-300 g were used for the experiments. Acid reflux was caused by pyloric ligation. The sham operation included a midline laparotomy and served as controls. After 24 hr all rats were killed and esophageal samples were taken for measurement of gross mucosal injury and mucosal GSH level. Lipid peroxidation which is a marker of oxidative stress was determined by measuring the formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) spectrophotometrically.
RESULTS
Severe mucosal damage was noted in reflux group. TBARS level was 6 times greater in reflux group compared to the control group (p < 0.05), while GSH level was 4 times less in reflux group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Increase of TBARS level and decrease of GSH level showed a strong correlation to the gross findings of esophageal mucosal damage in reflux esophagitis.
CONCLUSIONS
Oxygen-derived free radicals are of pathophysiologic importance in esophagitis caused by acid reflux.

Keyword

Reflux esophagitis; Free radical; Glutathione; Lipid peroxidation

MeSH Terms

Animals
Esophagitis
Esophagitis, Peptic*
Free Radicals
Glutathione*
Humans
Laparotomy
Ligation
Lipid Peroxidation*
Male
Mucous Membrane
Oxidative Stress
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
Free Radicals
Glutathione
Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances