[Expression of endothelin-1 and nitric oxide synthase mRNA in gastric mucosa of rats with cirrhosis and portal hypertensive gastropathy after disconnective operations].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide synthase(NOS) gene in gastric mucosa in the rats with cirrhosis and portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) after disconnective operation.

METHODS

Wistar rats were divided into three groups: normal (n = 12), cirrhosis and PHG (n = 12), and post-disconnective (n = 12). The rat models were induced by intraperitonal injection of thiocetamide for 16 weeks. The third group rats were reared for 3 months after the operations. ET-1 and NOS mRNA from the gastric mucosa of the three groups were measured quantitatively by Dot blot technique.

RESULTS

ET-1 mRNA decreased in the PHG rats as compared to the nomal rats (P < 0.01). Further decrease was found in the post-disconnective rats (P < 0.01). NOS mRNA increased slightly in the PHG rats (P > 0.05) and increased obviously in the post-disconnective rats (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

After the cirrhosis and PHG rats were subjected to disconnective operations, ET-1 was insufficient and NOS was too much in the gastric mucosa. These resulted in the gastric mucosal vessel dilatation. The imbalance of ET/NO proportion could partly attribute to rebleeding after disconnection.