Sleep deprivation increase the expression of inducible heat shock protein 70 in rat gastric mucosa

AIM To investigate if sleep deprivation is able to increase the expression of inducible heat shock protein 70 in gastric mucosa and its possible role in mucosal defense. METHODS Rats for sleep disruption were placed inside a computerized rotatin g drum, gastric mucosa was taken from rats with 1, 3 and 7 d sleep deprivat ion. RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to determi ne the expression of heat shock protein 70. Ethanol ( 500 mL.L-1.i.g.) was used to induce gastric mucosa damage. RESULTS RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunostaining confirmed that the slee p deprivation as a stress resulted in significantly greater expression of i nducible heat shock protein 70 in gastric mucosa of rats. After the 500mL.L -1 ethanol challenge, the ulcer area found in the rats with 7 d sleep depri vation ( 19.15 +/- 4.2) mm(2) was significantly lower (P <0.01) than the co rresponding control (53.7 +/- 8.1) mm(2). CONCLUSION Sleep deprivation as a stress, in addition to lowering the gastr ic mucosal barrier, is able to stimulate the expression of inducible heat s hock protein 70 in gastric mucosa of rats, the heat shock protein 70 may pl ay an important role in gastric mucosal protection.