Stress ulcer in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats

Physiol Behav. 1986;36(4):699-705. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(86)90357-4.

Abstract

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their normotensive progenitors, the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, were tested in the open-field arena and subsequently exposed to either cold-restraint stress or activity-stress. SHR rats were more active and judged less fearful in the open-field test. Changes in core body temperature, and adrenal and thymus weights did not differentiate between SHR and WKY rats in the cold-restraint procedure. A significant adrenal hypertrophy was observed for SHR rats in the activity-stress procedure. WKY rats were more susceptible to stress ulcer in both the cold-restraint and the activity-stress procedures. While running-wheel activity had been considered an important etiological variable for activity-stress ulcer, the lower activity demonstrated by the ulcer-prone WKY rats suggested that genetic variables might be more relevant to stress ulcer disease.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Glands / anatomy & histology
  • Animals
  • Body Temperature
  • Cold Temperature
  • Habituation, Psychophysiologic
  • Male
  • Motor Activity*
  • Organ Size
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred SHR
  • Rats, Inbred WKY
  • Restraint, Physical
  • Species Specificity
  • Stomach Ulcer / etiology*
  • Stress, Psychological / complications*
  • Thymus Gland / anatomy & histology