Stress ulceration in rats: impact of prior stress experience

The role of prior stress experience on the response of the organism to a later stressor has been studied in terms of the extent of gastric ulceration induced by the second stressor. These studies have focused largely on effects of prior stress (shock, restraint, activity) on the ulceration developing under later restraint and activity stress. The studies indicate that prior exposure to restraint stress provides some protection against later restraint ulcer development. Using shock as the prior stressor, the effects on later restraint stress are determined by the particular characteristics of the shock (controllability and predictability), and by contextual factors. Studies are lacking on the significance of these characteristics of shock for later activity stress ulcers. Further studies are required therefore on the significance of psychological characteristics of the prestress, and on the effects of these prestressors at different stages of the life cycle. The identification of these factors, and a clearer picture of the protective and exacerbating effect of prior stress will allow us to explore the physiological (central and peripheral) mechanisms underlying ulcer development and ulcer susceptibility.