Effect of deprivation duration and prefeeding on gastric stress erosions in the rat

Abstract

To assess the potentiating effects of food deprivation on gastric stress erosions, rats were food deprived for 9, 18, 48 or 144 hr and then subjected to cold-restraint. Comparison of each of these groups with a stressed, but nondeprived control group, revealed no significant differences in gastric erosions. It was suggested that many of the control animals, though not deprived, may not have had full stomachs during the stress and this may have masked the true potentiating effects of deprivation. In a second experiment, rats were divided into two groups and deprived, respectively, for 18 and 48 hr. These groups were subdivided and for 1 hr preceding stress, half were given food. This prefeeding significantly reduced glandular erosion scores, and there was a significant inverse relationship within the prefed groups between the amount of weight gained over the prefeeding hour and the subsequent erosion level. It was concluded that the potentiation of stress erosions by food deprivation occurs by virtue of the empty stomach associated with the deprivation rather than other concomitant changes. With respect to ruminal effects, nonstressed groups deprived for 48 and 144 hr allowed the conclusion that prolonged deprivation (144 hr) produces minor glandular effects but extensive damage to the rumen.