Histamine receptor blockade (H2) versus inhibition of histamine synthesis in stress ulceration in rats.

Cold and restraint stress in rats induced gastric mucosa lesions, increased gastric mucosa histidine decarboxylase activity and elevated hypothalamic content. Cimetidine did not modify the biochemical effects induced by stress but partially protected against gastric ulceration. alpha-Fluoromethyl histidine inhibited the increase of histidine decarboxylase activity in the gastric mucosa, inhibited the rise of hypothalamic histamine content and decreased the incidence of gastric lesions to the same extent as did cimetidine.