Roles of gastric acid secretion and motility in gastric mucosal lesion formation induced by water-immersion stress in rats.

The roles of gastric acid and motility in gastric mucosal lesion formation induced by water-immersion stress were studied pharmacologically in rats. Gastric acid secretion and motility increased markedly during water-immersion, and mucosal lesions were formed. Cimetidine inhibited the increase in gastric acid secretion, but papaverine inhibited the increases in both acid secretion and motility. Both agents prevented the formation of mucosal lesions. In acid perfused rats, the increase in motility and lesion formation induced by water-immersion stress were prevented by papaverine, but not by cimetidine. These results suggest that the increases in both acid secretion and motility play important roles in the formation of mucosal lesions induced by water-immersion stress in rats.