Spontaneous gastric erosions and ulcerations in BB Wistar rats.

One hundred thirty-four BB Wistar diabetic rats, 31 nondiabetic siblings, and 30 Wistar rats were necropsied. Gastric erosions and ulcers were observed in 43 (32.1%) of the diabetic rats and three (9.7%) of their nondiabetic siblings. None of the Wistar rats showed evidence of gastric mucosal injury. Lesions were most frequently found in the thick-walled, glandular portion of the stomach and were morphologically consistent with stress ulcers. BB Wistar rats may be valuable for studies on gastric stress ulcers.