Somatic pain sensitivity of conscious rats with chronic gastric ulcers

: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of gastric ulcers on somatic nociception in conscious rats. The formation of kissing gastric ulcers was induced by luminal application of 60% acetic. Somatic pain sensitivity was tested by tail flick latency. Application of acetic acid resulted in gastric ulcer formation, somatic hyperalgesia and the appearance of typical signs of chronic stress (a long-lasting increase of plasma corticosterone level, adrenal gland hypertrophy and thymus gland involution). Natural healing of gastric ulcers was accompanied by restoration of pain sensitivity and attenuation of typical signs of chronic stress. Both natural healing of gastric ulcers and restoration of pain sensitivity were prevented by daily indomethacin administration. The results suggest that the formation of chronic gastric ulcers may trigger somatic hypersensitivity.