[Chronic anemia protects against gastric damage by alcohol and aspirin. The role of the toxic radicals and lipid peroxidation].

The effects of chronic anemia on gastric damage induced by ethanol or aspirin have been investigated in rats. The role of free radicals and lipid peroxidation in that circumstance was also assessed. Chronic anemia was induced by replacement of 1.5 ml of blood by a plasma expander during 5 days. Under anesthesia, the stomach was perfused with 100% ethanol or acidified aspirin during 30 minutes. Thereafter, the rats were sacrificed, the stomachs removed and analyzed planimetrically for macroscopic damage. In addition, gastric tissue was collected and homogenized for assessment of toxic free radicals generation by chemoluminicense and lipid peroxidation by measuring reactive species of thiobarbituric acid (TBA-RS). Chronic anemia significantly protected against damage induced by ethanol or aspirin. The rate of toxic free radicals and the TBA-RS in the gastric mucosa was significantly reduced by anemia, either under ethanol or aspirin injury. It is concluded that anemia offers a general protection against gastric mucosal damage and that this protection is in part mediated by limitations on lipid peroxidation and toxic free radicals generation.