Physical and psychological stress have similar effects on gastric acid and pepsin secretions in rat

Stress is one of the most important health and social problems. Previous studies have demonstrated stress influence on the clinical course of a number of gastrointestinal diseases, but its physical and psychological effects on gastric acid and pepsin secretions are largely unknown. 48 male wistar rats weighing 200-250 gr were used in this study. Animals were divided into 6 groups (n=8); Control, Physical stress, Psychological stress, L-NAME+ Physical stress and L-NAME+ Psychological stress groups. In this study, electrical shock generated in a communication box was used as physical shock and the emotional stress was as psychological stress. Gastric juice was collected by washout technique. Acid output was also measured by digital titrator. Gastric pepsin and nitric oxide (NO) metabolites were quantified using Anson and Griess micro assay methods respectively. Basal and stimulated gastric acid and pepsin in physical and psychological stress groups were significantly more than others. NO metabolites level of gastric tissue in physical and psychological stress groups (286.9 ± 5.8, 287.7 ± 5.7 μmol/gr weight wet tissue, respectively) were significantly more than other groups. But no significant differences among basal and stimulated gastric acid, pepsin and NO metabolites level were seen in physical and psychological stress groups.