Autonomic drug effects and gastric secretion in a new experimental model of stress ulcers in rats

A psychological procedure which does not involve the application of physical stimulation was used to produce gastric ulcers experimentally. Ulceration was induced in rats by exposing the animals to the aggressive attacks of rats treated with 6-hydroxy-dopamine (6-OHDA). Gastric secretion and the effects of autonomic drugs on ulcer formation were investigated. Atropine methylbromide did not significantly inhibit the occurrence of erosions. Phentolamine or hexamethonium bromide significantly inhibited the production of erosions, and combined administration of an anticholinergic agents and alpha-blocking agent led to a complete inhibition, with no notable behavioral change. In case of pylorus ligation, gastric secretion during exposure to attack of 6-OHDA-treated rats was significantly less than that in the controls. We suggest that the sympathetic nervous system plays an important role in the production of gastric erosions, as induced by the methods reported in this study.