comparison between tocotrienol and omeprazole on gastric growth factors in stress-exposed rats

• Published in: World journal of gastroenterology : WJG Vol. 23; no. 32; pp. 5887 - 5894
• Main Authors: Nur Azlina, Mohd Fahami, Qodriyah, Hj Mohd Saad, Chua, Kien Hui, Kamisah, Yusof
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Baishideng Publishing Group Inc 28-08-2017
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Ulcer Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Ulcer Agents - therapeutic use; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Basic Study; Disease Models, Animal; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 - metabolism; Gastric Acid - secretion; Gastric Mucosa - drug effects; Gastric Mucosa - metabolism; Humans; Male; Neovascularization, Physiologic - drug effects; Omeprazole - pharmacology; Omeprazole - therapeutic use; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Restraint, Physical; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Stomach Ulcer - drug therapy; Stomach Ulcer - etiology; Stomach Ulcer - pathology; Stress, Psychological - complications; Tocotrienols - pharmacology; Tocotrienols - therapeutic use; Transforming Growth Factor alpha - metabolism; Up-Regulation; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; Omeprazole; Tocotrienol; Growth factors; Gastric ulcers; Restraint-stress
• ISSN: 1007-9327; 2219-2840
• DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i32.5887

AIM To investigate and compare the effects of tocotrienol and omeprazole on gastric growth factors in rats exposed to water-immersion restraint stress(WIRS).METHODS Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups of seven rats. The two control groups were administered vitamin-free palm oil(vehicle) and the two treatment groups were given omeprazole(20 mg/kg) or tocotrienol(60 mg/kg) by oral gavage. After 28 d of treatment, rats from one control group and both treated groups were subjected to WIRS one time for 3.5 h. Gastric lesions were measured and gastric tissues were obtained to measure vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), epidermal growth factor(EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor(b FGF), and transforming growth factor-alpha(TGF-α) m RNA expression. RESULTS Rats exposed to WIRS for 3.5 h demonstrated the presence of considerable ulcers in the form of gastric erosion. The lesion index in the stressed control(S) group was increased(P < 0.001) compared to the tocotrienol treated and omeprazole treated groups. Stress led to a decrease in gastric VEGF(P < 0.001), b FGF(P < 0.001) and TGF-α(P < 0.001) m RNA levels and caused an increase in EGF m RNA(P < 0.001) that was statistically significant compared to the nonstressed control group. Although both treatment agents exerted similar ulcer reducing ability, only treatment with tocotrienol led to increased expression of VEGF(P = 0.008), b FGF(P = 0.001) and TGF-α(P = 0.002) m RNA.CONCLUSION Tocotrienol provides gastroprotective effects in WIRSinduced ulcers. Compared to omeprazole, tocotrienol exerts a similar protective effect, albeit through multiple mechanisms of protection, particularly through up-regulation of growth factors that assist in repair of gastric tissue injuries.