Gastric mucosal protection during restraint stress: histologically identifiable gastric mucosal glycosaminoglycan content in albino rats.

Male albino rats were subjected to restraint stress for 20 h following 24 h fasting. Tissues from oxyntic and pyloric gland areas of the stomach were processed and stained by the PAS technique to assess the glycosaminoglycan content of the gastric mucosa. The result was compared with that of control rats. A significant reduction in PAS positive materials in both oxyntic and pyloric gland areas of gastric mucosa was observed following 20 h restraint stress. The study indicates the significant role of gastric mucosal glycosaminoglycans in the protection of gastric mucosa against ulcers that develop under restraint stress.