EN
Reactive oxygen species are known to be derived from NADPH oxidase in several tissues. Angiotensin II was suggested to be involved in the activation of NADPH oxidase; however, its role in the gastric mucosa is unclear. We examined the roles of angiotensin II receptor and NADPH oxidase in ischemia/reperfusion-induced gastric damage in rats. Under urethane anesthesia, male Sprague-Dawley rat stomachs were mounted in an ex-vivo chamber, had 100 mM HCl applied to them, and then a catheter was passed through the femoral vein. Ischemia/reperfusion was accompanied by blood collection and reperfusion through the catheter. Losartan, candesartan, valsartan, which are AT1 receptor blockers (ARB); PD123319, an AT2 receptor blocker; enalapril, an ACE inhibitor; or diphenylene iodonium, a NADPH oxidase inhibitor, was given i.v. 10 mins, and ß-NADPH, a NADPH oxidase substrate, was given i.v. 5 mins before reperfusion. The gastric damage by ischemia/reperfusion was attenuated by treatment with any of ARB or enalapril, but was not affected by PD123319. The increase in gastric H2O2 production and microvascular permeability by ischemia/reperfusion was also suppressed by treatment with any of ARB or enalapril. In rat gastric mucosa, the NADPH oxidase subunit p47phox was detected. Additionally, diphenylene iodonium had similar effects to ARB against ischemia/reperfusion-caused gastric damage, increased H2O2 production, and microvascular permeability. Ischemia/reperfusion activated NADPH oxidase in the gastric mucosa, and the activation was significantly attenuated by treatment with losartan or diphenylene iodonium. These results suggest that ischemia/reperfusion generated reactive oxygen species are derived from NADPH oxidase activation via AT1 receptor in rat stomachs.