MORPHOLOGICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS OF THE GASTRIC MUCOSA INDUCED BY EXPERIMENTAL ACUTE STRESS IN ANIMAL MODELS
Keywords:
experimental stress, gastric mucosa, morphological changes, Water Immersion Restraint Stress (WIRS), histology, ischemia, mucosal barrier, stress ulcers.Abstract
This study investigates the profound morphological and histological changes in the gastric mucosa triggered by experimental acute stress. While the physiological responses to stress are well-documented, the precise microstructural alterations in the stomach require continuous exploration to develop targeted cytoprotective therapies. Using a Water Immersion Restraint Stress (WIRS) model on Wistar rats, we analyzed the gastric tissue through histological and morphometric techniques. The findings reveal significant mucosal degradation, including severe hyperemia, microvascular thrombosis, epithelial desquamation, and hemorrhagic erosions in the stress-subjected group compared to the control. The study underscores the critical role of ischemia and compromised mucosal microcirculation in the pathogenesis of stress-induced gastric lesions, emphasizing the need for prophylactic pharmacological interventions.
References
1. Filaretova, L. P., et al. (2020). The role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical system in the protection of the gastric mucosa against stress-induced injury. Autonomic Neuroscience, 226, 102660.
2. Oates, P. J., & Hakkinen, J. P. (1988). Studies on the mechanism of ethanol-induced gastric damage in rats. Gastroenterology, 94(1), 10-21. (Referenced for foundational methodologies in mucosal damage assessment).
3. Cho, C. H. (2001). Current concepts in the pathogenesis of stress-induced gastric ulcer. Chinese Journal of Digestive Diseases, 2(1), 3-7.
4. Tarnawski, A. S., & Ahluwalia, A. (2012). Molecular mechanisms of epithelial regeneration and neovascularization during healing of gastric and esophageal ulcers. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 18(33), 5101-5109.
5. Konturek, P. C., et al. (2006). Stress and the gut: pathophysiology, clinical consequences, diagnostic approach and treatment options. Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 57(12), 43-56.
