The influence of body temperature on the production of ulcers of restraint in the rat.

It has been observed that gastric ulceration after restraint in rats is accompanied by a marked drop in body temperature. This investigation seeks to determine whether hypothermia is causally related to the restraint ulcer. Experimental animals were restrained for 18 hr while rectal temperatures were monitored with a telethermometer probe. Body temperatures of rats restrained at room temperature fell 5.0 degrees C in the first 5 hr. Gastric ulceration in this group was 100%. When body temperatures were mainatined at 38 degrees C, only 26% developed ulcers. Ulcer induction is not only accompanied by a marked temperature drop, but prevention of this phenomenon reduces the incidence of ulcers.