The role of apelin in the healing of water-immersion and restraint stress-induced gastric damage

• Published in: The journal of physiological sciences Vol. 67; no. 3; pp. 373 - 385
• Main Authors: Birsen, İlknur, Gemici, Burcu, Acar, Nuray, Üstünel, İsmail, İzgüt-Uysal, V Nimet
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Springer 01-05-2017; BioMed Central; Springer Japan
• Subjects: Animals; Apelin; Blood flow; Dehydration - metabolism; Dehydration - physiopathology; Gastric Mucosa - metabolism; Gastric Mucosa - physiopathology; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit - metabolism; Hypoxia-inducible factors; Immersion; Immersion - physiopathology; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - metabolism; Male; Malondialdehyde; Malondialdehyde - metabolism; Mucosa; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Original Paper; Prostaglandin E2; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Restraint, Physical - physiology; Rodents; Stomach - physiopathology; Stress, Physiological - physiology; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; Water; Water - metabolism; F13A; Lesion; Gastric mucosa; Apelin; Water immersion and restraint stress
• ISSN: 1880-6546; 1880-6562
• DOI: 10.1007/s12576-016-0469-9

The objective of this study was to explore the role of apelin in the healing of gastric lesions induced by stress. Male Wistar rats were exposed to water immersion and restraint stress (WIRS) for 6 h with or without the apelin receptor antagonist F13A. The rats were killed on the 1st, 3rd, 5th or 10th day after the end of stress induction. Apelin and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression was increased on the 1st day after the end of stress exposure and was decreased daily thereafter. However, F13A retarded the healing of gastric lesions by preventing the improvement of mucosal blood flow, prostaglandin E
production and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in rats exposed to WIRS. Additionally, F13A increased the gastric 4-hydroxynonenol + malondialdehyde content on the 1st and 3rd days after the end of stress induction but did not affect the change in gastric mucosal nitric oxide levels. In conclusion, apelin may be a regulatory protein involved in the healing mechanism of stress-induced gastric damage.