Nicotine and ascorbic acid effects on cold-restraint ulcers in rats.

Rats were orally administered 1-ascorbic acid, nicotine 1-ascorbic acid and nicotine, or distilled water for 10 days. Following this treatment they were fasted for 24 h and then restrained in a cold environment for 2 h. Nicotine alone produced significantly more gastric ulcers than any other treatment. 1-Ascorbic acid increased ulceration relative to controls. The combined effects of 1-ascorbic acid and nicotine resulted in reduced ulcer incidence and severity. It appears that l-ascorbic acid and nicotine do not act synergistically to augment stress-induced gastric ulcer.