The effects of HIF-1α on acute alcoholic injury of gastric mucosa in rat

Objective To investigate the effects of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) on acute alcoholic injury of gastric mucosa in rats. Methods Sixty SD rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n=15 each):experiment group Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and control group. The rats in experiment group Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ were administered by gastric lavage with 30%,65% and 100% ethanol respectively, and the rats in control group were administered by gastric lavage with normal saline at same volume. Animals were sacrificed at 2 h after gastric lavage, and the sample of total stomach dissection was taken to observe macroscopically the surface conditions of gastric mucosa.The ulcer index (UI) of gastric mucosa was evaluated by gross examination.The degree of tissue inflammation was observed after HE staining.The expression of HIF-1α mRNA was analyzed by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods,and the expression of HIF-1α protein was determined by Western blot. Results The gastric mucosa of rats in experiment groups had hyperaemia,edema,erosion and ulceration,while had no change in control group by gross examination.The samples of experiment groups showed inflammatory response,while no inflammatory infiltration by microscopic examination in control grop.The UI in control group and experiment group Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ were 0.47±0.52, 9.27±2.49,11.07±2.71 and 28.6±3.11 respectively,and there were significant differences between control group and experiment groups (all P005).The degree of gastric mucous injury was exacerbated, and the expressions of HIF-1α mRNA and protein increased in proportion to the increase of alcohol concentration (P005 or P001). Conclusions The degree of ethanol induced gastric mucous injury is exacerbated,and the expression of HIF-1α increases with the increase of alcohol concentration.HIF-1α could play an important role in ethanol induced gastric mucous injury.