Stress-rest cyclicity in the pathogenesis of restraint-induced stress gastric ulcers in rats

Temporal patterns of stress and rest have been shown to influence extent of shock-induced pathology. In the present study, the influence of stress-rest cycles was studied on amount of gastric ulceration after two forms of immobilization stress in rats. In Experiment 1, rats were subjected to different patterns of cold supine restraint interspersed with rest periods. A single 180 minute exposure produced more extensive ulceration than did a series of six 30 minute stress periods interspersed with 30 minute rest periods in the home cage. Different results were found in Experiment 2 using the stress of restraint in water and stress/rest patterns parallel to those used in Experiment 1. Previous reports have suggested that a "priming" stress might activate mechanisms protective against gastric ulceration. This was also investigated in Experiment 2 when animals were subjected to either a single 150 minute stress period, a 30 minute priming exposure to the same stressor 150 minutes prior to a 150 minute second exposure, or a 30 minute priming exposure 30 minutes prior to a 150 minute second exposure. No evidence was found for protective effects. In fact, a priming stress 30 minutes prior to final exposure enhanced ulceration. The studies provide some supporting evidence for the role of cycles in determining extent of stress pathology. Such data must be accounted for in any description of the mechanisms of stress-related ulceration.