Role of nitric oxide in development of experimental acid reflux esophagitis in rabbits

    HAN Yong, WANG Yunª²Jie, LIU Kun

    Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710038, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To evaluate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the development of experimental acid reflux esophagitis (ARE) in rabbits. METHODS: The ARE model was established by 30ª²min perfusion of 0.1 mol/L hydrochloric acid (1 mL/min) 5cm above the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) for 4 consecutive days (96 h). The mucosal pathological changes of LES were observed and the LES pressure and nitric oxide concentrations were measured in the esophageal tissue at 48 h and 96 h after the perfusion, respectively. RESULTS: Significant inflammatory changes were observed in the esophageal mucosa after the hydrochloric acid perfusion(48 and 96 h), and the LES pressure decreased significantly following the hydrochloric acid perfusion(96 h). Nitric oxide levels in animal models after the perfusion (48 and 96 h) increased markedly when compared with controls [(0.65¡À0.12) vs (0.28¡À0.11)¦Ìmol/g, P<0.05]; [(0.83¡À0.26) vs (0.31¡À0.09) ¦Ìmol/g, P<0.05], respectively. CONCLUSION: The LES pressure was reduced significantly and nitric oxide concentrations increased markedly in the esophageal tissues following the hydrochloric acid perfusion. It is suggested that nitric oxide may play an important role in the development of acid reflux esophagitis in rabbits. ......