[Protective effects of sufentanil pretreatment against acute gastric mucosal lesion in rats and its relationship with acid-sensing ion channels].

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of sufentanil pretreatment on acute gastric mucosal lesion and its impact on the expression of acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3) in thoracic dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons in rats with water immersion-restraint stress (WIRS). METHODS:Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups, namely the normal control group (n=6), WIRS group (n=12) and sufentanil pretreatment group (n=6). Gastric mucosal lesion was induced by WIRS, and after 6 h of WIRS, the gastric tissues were excised and observed under microscope, with the ulcer index (UI) calculated. The expression of ASIC3 in the DRG neurons was detected by immunofluorescence assay, and the ASIC3 mRNA expression by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS:Compared with the normal control group, the rats in the WIRS group showed obvious gastric injury with increased UI and extensive expression of ASIC3 in the DRG neurons. Sufentanil pretreatment of the rats subjected to WIRS significantly alleviated the gastric mucosal injury, lowered the UI, and reduced ASIC3 mRNA expression in thoracic DRG neurons. CONCLUSION:ASIC3 is involved in the development of acute gastric mucosal lesion, and sufentanil pretreatment offers protection of gastric mucosa by inhibiting the expression of ASIC3.