Corticosterone increase inhibits stress-induced gastric erosions in rats

Abstract

The role of glucocorticoids released in response to stress in the pathogenesis of stress-induced gastric erosions has been reevaluated. Gastric erosions elicited in male rats by 3-h cold-restraint or water-restraint stresses were studied after acute reduction of corticosterone release or occupation of glucocorticoid receptors by the antagonist RU-38486 during stress. Stress-induced corticosterone production was reduced by creating a lesion on the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) 4 days before stress as well as by pretreatment with a rabbit antiserum to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) 30 min before stress. RU-38486 (10 mg/kg po) was administered 20 min before and 60 min after the onset of stress. Corticosterone for replacement was injected 15 min before the onset of stress to mimic stress-induced corticosterone response. Plasma corticosterone levels were measured by fluorometry or RIA. Gastric erosions were quantitated by measuring the area of damage. Four days after PVN lesion, stress-induced corticosterone release was decreased and gastric erosions were increased. Injecting corticosterone significantly attenuated the effect of PVN lesion on gastric erosions. The ACTH antiserum inhibited corticosteroid secretion in response to stress and markedly increased gastric erosions. The administration of the glucocorticoid/progesterone antagonist RU-38486 significantly potentiated the formation of stress-induced gastric erosions. These observations support the suggestion that glucocorticoids released during stress have a gastroprotective action rather than an ulcerogenic effect as was generally accepted.

The stimuli-specific role of vasopressin in the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis response to stress

“…Serial blood samples were taken before (0 min) and during (30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 min) the stress. The appearance of gastric erosion was visualised by opening the stomach at the end of the 4 h examination period (Filaretova et al 1998). For this experiment, a Wistar control group was also used to confirm stressor efficacy to induce ulcers.…”

Maternal-Neonatal Pheromone/Interomone Added to Cat Litter Improves Litter Box Use and Reduces Aggression in Pair-Housed Cats

“…Aggression in pair-housed cats is a serious concern for cat welfare. Chronic stress resulting from aggression and social anxiety can cause gastric ulcers, immunosuppression, and marked alteration of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (Biondi, 2001;De Goeij, Dijkstra, & Tilders, 1992;Filaretova, Filaretov, & Makara, 1998). In a home with a resident cat, introduction of a novel cat is known to cause stress and displays of aggression in some cases (Landsberg et al, 1999;Levine et al, 2005).…”

Regular swimming before the induction of ulcer ameliorates oxidative gastric damage in rats: The anxiolytic effect of exercise

“…Although corticosteroids were indicated as ulcerogenic hormones in some studies [41], other studies have attributed a modulatory role for endogenous glucocorticoids in protecting against stress-or aspirin-induced gastric damage [42,43]. Physical exercise, as a powerful stressor with physical, psychological, and physiological effects, is proposed to have a modifying role on the circulating levels of cortisol [44,45].…”