Abstract

The mechanisms of gastric hyperemic response during vagally mediated acid secretion induced by YM-14673, an analog of thyrotropin-releasing hormone, were investigated in urethane-anesthetized rats. The stomach was mounted on an ex vivo chamber and perfused with saline, and gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) was measured using a laser Doppler flowmeter, simultaneously with acid secretion. The i.v. injection of YM-14673 (0.1 ∼ 1 mg/kg) increased both GMBF and acid secretion in a dose-dependent manner, and these responses persisted during a 90-min test period. The increases in GMBF and acid secretion induced by YM-14673 (0.3 mg/kg) were totally abolished by either bilateral vagotomy or atropine. Sensory ablation by capsaicin also significantly attenuated GMBF response without affecting acid secretion. On the other hand, N^G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), but not d-NAME, significantly attenuated the increase in GMBF in an l-arginine-sensitive manner, although acid secretion was slightly augmented; in particular, gastric hyperemic response during the first 30 min (early period) was almost totally abolished. In contrast, omeprazole significantly attenuated GMBF response only in the late period, although it completely inhibited acid secretion in response to YM-14673. Combined treatment of omeprazole and l-NAME totally abolished hyperemic responses induced by YM-14673 during the test period. YM-14673 significantly elevated the release of nitrite and nitrate into the gastric lumen, and this response was inhibited by either atropine or l-NAME. These results suggest that YM-14673 increases GMBF as well as acid secretion, mediated by vagal-cholinergic pathways, and that gastric hyperemia is further regulated by two distinct mechanisms. The response in the early period is independent of acid secretion and mediated mainly by nitric oxide, whereas that in the later period occurs in association with acid secretion and may be mediated by nitric oxide and sensory neurons.