RESTRAINT STRESS IN BIOMEDICAL-RESEARCH - AN UPDATE

Since the publication of our initial review of restraint stress in 198 6, much work has continued with this technique, either as a tool for t he investigation of other pharmacological, physiological, or pathologi c phenomena or with restraint stress itself serving as the object of t he study. As we noted in 1986, the major use of restraint has been for the induction of stress responses in animals and, more specifically, for the investigation of drug effects, particularly as they affect typ ical stress-related pathology-gastrointestinal, neuroendocrine, and im munological agents have been extensively studied. In compiling this up date on restraint stress and its effects, we noted an increasing empha sis on central nervous system mechanisms in peripheral disease, especi ally gastrointestinal disease. In particular, many CNS-active agents h ave been tested for their effects on gastric and duodenal lesion forma tion and gastric secretion, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, noradrenergic, serotonergic, dopaminergic, and peptiderg ic compounds. Some of these agents are especially active in the gastro intestinal tract even when administered centrally, further solidifying the concept of a brain-gut axis. The present update includes studies of: methods and procedures, prerestraint manipulations, postrestraint/ healing effects, and drug effects. In addition, a current bibliography of reports that have employed restraint is included.