Basic Research
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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 14, 2007; 13(6): 874-881
Published online Feb 14, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i6.874
Effects of hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei on apoptosis and proliferation of gastric mucosal cells induced by ischemia/reperfusion in rats
Li Li, Yong-Mei Zhang, Wei-Li Qiao, Lin Wang, Jian-Fu Zhang
Li Li, Department of Pathophysiology, Xuzhou Medical College, 84 West Huaihai Road, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu Province, China
Yong-Mei Zhang, Wei-Li Qiao, Jian-Fu Zhang, Department of Physiology, Xuzhou Medical College, 84 West Huaihai Road, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu Province, China
Yong-Mei Zhang, Jian-Fu Zhang, Department of Neurobiology; Xuzhou Medical College, 84 West Huaihai Road, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu Province, China
Lin Wang, Department of Histology and Embryology, Xuzhou Medical College, 84 West Huaihai Road, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30370533, 30570671 and the Edu-cational Department Science Research Foundation of Jiangsu Province, No. 99KJB310005, 05KJB310134
Correspondence to: Professor Jian-Fu Zhang, Department of Physiology, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu Province, China. jfzhang@xzmc.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-516-85748461 Fax: +86-516-83262004
Received: October 23, 2006
Revised: December 1, 2006
Accepted: December 29, 2006
Published online: February 14, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effects of electrical stimulation of hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei (PVN) on gastric mucosal cellular apoptosis and proliferation induced by gastric ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

METHODS: For different experimental purposes, stimulating electrode plantation or electrolytic destruction of the PVN was applied, then the animals’ GI/R injury model was established by clamping the celiac artery for 30 min and allowing reperfusing the artery for 30 min, 1 h, 3 h or 6 h respectively. Then histological, immunohistochemistry methods were used to assess the gastric mucosal damage index, the gastric mucosal cellular apoptosis and proliferation at different times.

RESULTS: The electrical stimulation of PVN significantly attenuated the GI/R injury at 30 min, 1 h and 3 h after reperfusion. The electrical stimulation of PVN decreased gastric mucosal apoptosis and increased gastric mucosal proliferation. The electrolytic destruction of the PVN could eliminate the protective effects of electrical stimulation of PVN on GI/R injury. These results indicated that the PVN participated in the regulation of GI/R injury as a specific area in the brain, exerting protective effects against the GI/R injury, and the protection was associated with the inhibition of cellular apoptosis and the promotion of gastric mucosal proliferation.

CONCLUSION: Stimulating PVN significantly inhibits the gastric mucosal cellular apoptosis and promots gastric mucosal cellular proliferation. This may explain the protective mechanisms of electrical stimulation of PVN against GI/R injury.

Keywords: Hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei, Gastric ischemia/reperfusion, Proliferation, Apoptosis