Differential effects of intracisternal neurotensin and bombesin on stress- and ethanol-induced gastric ulcers.

This study evaluated the effect of intracisternal (I.C.) administration of the brain and gastrointestinal peptides neurotensin (NT) and bombesin (BOM) on the acute development of gastric ulcers induced by cold-restraint stress (CRS) and ethanol in rats. The results of this study can be summarized as follows: In confirmation of previous observations I.C. NT (30 micrograms) and BOM (1 microgram) significantly reduced gastric ulcer incidence and severity induced by 3h of CRS. The results of the ethanol preparation indicate that although I.C. BOM (1 microgram) significantly (P less than 0.05) increased intraluminal gastric pH and mucus, it did not prevent gastric ulcer formation. NT (30 micrograms), by contrast, was totally inactive in this ethanol model. These findings support a role for brain NT and BOM in protection against psycho-behavioral, but not chemical forms of ulcer-producing stress.