Protective Effect of Wheat Peptides Against Small Intestinal Damage Induced by Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Rats

Abstract Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were able to produce tissue damage and oxidative stress in animal models of small intestinal damage. In this study, the putative protective effect of wheat peptides was evaluated in a NSAID-induced small intestinal damage model in rats, different doses of wheat peptides or distilled water were administered daily by intragastric administration for 30 d until small intestinal damage was caused. Before sacrificing, NSAIDs (aspirin and indomethacin) or physiological saline were infused into the digestive tract twice. Wheat peptides administration reduced edema and small intestinal damage, and significantly decreased the level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in mucous membrane of small intestine. Oxidative stress was significantly increased after NSAID infusion and was reduced by wheat peptides. Wheat peptides increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in mucous membrane of small intestine. μ-Opioid receptor mRNA expression decreased more significantly in wheat peptides treated rats than in the model control group. Overall, the results suggest that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs induced small intestinal damage in rats and wheat peptides administration may be an effective tool for protecting small intestinal tissue against NSAID-induced small intestinal damage and oxidative stress.