Pre-treatment with mild whole-body heating prevents gastric ulcer induced by restraint and water-immersion stress in rats

The purpose of this study was to assess the preventive effect of pre-mild w hole-body heating (WBH) on gastric ulcer induced by restraint and water-imm ersion stress. The ulcer index and ulcer area ratio in rats exposed to rest raint and water-immersion stress were significantly decreased (p < 0.05 for both) after pre-treatment with mild WBH, compared with non-pre-treated rat s. Mortality of rats among the pre-treated with mild WBH (0%) was lower tha n in the control group (33%). The concentration of HSP 70f in the stomach ( both fundic and pyloric mucosal areas) of rats pre-treated with mild WBH wa s significantly higher than in animals exposed to restraint and water-immer sion stress alone (p < 0.05) before exposed to stress, but was not signific antly higher immediaely after stress or 1 or 3 days later. The HSP 70f cont ent of peripheral lymphocytes was increased by the pre-treatment with mild WBH. These results suggest that HSP 70f induced by pre-treatment with mild hyperthermia protects against more severe stress due to restraint and water -immersion, thereby preventing gastric ulcer formation. Pretreatment with m ild WBH is the safest cytoprotective method through the accumulation of HSP 70f. The concentration of HSP 70f in peripheral lymphocytes may be a usefu l clinical laboratory indicator for assessing the level of HSP 70f as havin g cytoprotective activity.