[Studies on restraint ulcers in rats in conditions of acute copper deficiency]

In the present experiment, we have investigated the impact of the acute copper deficiency on the pathogenesis of stress ulcers' formation in rats during cold-restraint stress. A powdered milk diet, lasting for 5 days, causes a significantly decrease of stomach copper content in rat, comparing to content in rats receiving standard laboratory diet. The severity of mucosal disturbances, expressed as total number and area of stress ulcers, is most prominent in animals receiving hypocupric diet. Their treatment with Ranitidine extends the morphological disturbances in the stomach mucosa and produces highest level of lipid peroxidation and lowest activity of superoxide dismutase in the stomach compared to the other groups. In conclusion, the appropriate copper balance plays an essential role for the natural resistance of the stomach mucosa and Ranitidine, in conditions of acute copper deficiency, makes deeper the disturbances produced by stress.