Effect of macrolide antibiotics on nitric oxide level, superoxide dismutase activity in erythrocyte of the guinea pigs with experimental otitis media with effusion

摘要

Although the long-term administrations of macrolide antibiotics are effective for diffuse panbronchiolitis, otitis media with effusion (OME), and some other diseases, the mechanisms are fully understood. To elucidate the mechanisms of possible effects of macrolide antibiotics on erythrocyte nitric oxide (NO·) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in experimental OME, we evaluated the effect of macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin, azithromycin, roxithromycin, and clarithromycin) using an experimental guinea pigs otitis media model. Inflammatory diseases are associated with increased production of NO· due to activation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase pathway. NO· is produced in increased amounts in inflammatory conditions and may cause tissue injury by reacting with superoxide to yield peroxynitrite, a powerful toxin. SOD scavenges superoxide and inhibits the formation of peroxynitrite. Erythrocyte NO· levels were significantly lower while erythrocyte SOD activities were significantly higher in control, erythromycin-treated, azithromycin-treated, roxithromycintreated, and clarithromycin-treated groups than in the experimental group. In conclusion, we found that four macrolide antibiotics, roxithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, and azithromycin, reduce the production of NO·, which is a proinflammatory mediator, and SOD activity.