Development of gastric ulcers in rats following stress termination.

Observed gastric ulcer formation in groups of female albino Charles River unrestrained rats (N = 123) sacrificed at varying intervals following the end of a single, 6-hr shock-stress session. Significant ulcer production was not found unless Ss experienced a minimum of 2 hr poststress rest prior to sacrifice. Findings with appropriate control groups implicate the sudden reversal from stressful to "safe" (home cage) conditions, rather than delay per se, as the major ulcerogenic factor. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)