Physiology & Behavior, Vol. 21, pp. 705--709. Pergamon Press and Brain Research Publ., 1978. Printed in the U.S.A.
The Effect of Visual Deprivation on Gastrointestinal Ulceration H . S C H A P I R O , H. D. M c D O U G A L ,
I. A L B E R T A N D D. H. B O O N E
Department o f Anatomical Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, The Department of Psychology Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia and the Veterans Administration Hospital, Hampton, VA ( R e c e i v e d 8 S e p t e m b e r 1977) SCHAPIRO, H., H. D. McDOUGAL, I. ALBERT AND D. H. BOONE. The effect of visual deprivation on gastrointestinal ulceration. PHYSIOL. BEHAV. 21(5) 705-709, 1978.--Visual deprivation reduced the incidence of perforated ulcers and increased the survival time of dogs subjected to the Exalto-Mann-Williamson ulcer and reduced both the time of onset and the degree of ulceration in rats subjected either to the Shay ulcer or to the restraint-cold ulcer procedure.
Exalto-Mann-Williamson ulcer
Restraint-cold ulcer
T H E R E have been numerous studies on psychogenic influences that modify human and canine gastric secretion, however, few studies could be found on the effect of sensory deprivation on gastric functions. Recently, Schapiro and associates reported a reduced canine gastric secretion following permanent visual deprivation [23], auditory and vestibular deprivation [24] and olfactory deprivation [25] and temporary visual deprivation [26]. These data demonstrated that the interruption of an afferent input reduced gastric secretion, a sensitive barometer of the external environment and suggested that the reduced vagal activity might have its origin in the central nervous system. A series of experiments were therefore initiated to study the effects of sensory deprivation on peptic ulcer formation in dogs and rats. In the dog, the Exalto-Mann-Williamson surgical procedure [ 13,19] was used because of it~ uniformity in producing small bowel ulcerations. In the rat, two different procedures (Shay Technic and cold-restraint) to induce stomach ulcers were used because different mechanisms are involved in the ulcer production. METHOD AND RESULTS
Dogs Dogs were used in these experiments for the following reasons: (1) In our original studies [23-26] on the effects of sensory deprivation on gastric functions, the canine preparation was utilized and this would allow us to compare our data, and (2) Gastrointestinal ulceration can be uniformly induced in this species. Sixteen mongrel dogs weighing between 18-24 kgm were used. Seven of these dogs had their vision permanently impaired by cutting the optic nerves bilaterally [23] and 4 weeks later the Exalto-Mann-Williamson ulcer producing procedure [ 13,19] was performed. This technic diverts the alkaline biliary, pancreatic and duodenal secretions into the ileum so
Shay ulcer
Visual deprivation
that a gastric hypersecretion occurs which is not readily buffered when it reaches the gastrojejunal anastomosis. The remaining 9 dogs served as controls and were only subjected to the Exalto-Mann-Williamson procedure [13,19]. All the dogs were weighed every 7 days and observed daily until the termination of the experiment. A post mortem examination was carded out on each dog. The nine control dogs lost more than 30% of their body weight and all died of perforated jejunal ulcers located within 2 cm of the gastrojejunal anastomosis within 7 days after they stopped eating. The mean survival time of the control dogs was 38 -+ 10 days. The seven blinded dogs lost more than 40% of their weight and all were sacrificed 7 days after they stopped eating. The mean day at which these animals were sacrificed was 49 -+ 4 days or a 20% increase in the time interval (p
The Effect of Visual Deprivation on Gastrointestinal Ulceration H . S C H A P I R O , H. D. M c D O U G A L ,
I. A L B E R T A N D D. H. B O O N E
Department o f Anatomical Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, The Department of Psychology Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia and the Veterans Administration Hospital, Hampton, VA ( R e c e i v e d 8 S e p t e m b e r 1977) SCHAPIRO, H., H. D. McDOUGAL, I. ALBERT AND D. H. BOONE. The effect of visual deprivation on gastrointestinal ulceration. PHYSIOL. BEHAV. 21(5) 705-709, 1978.--Visual deprivation reduced the incidence of perforated ulcers and increased the survival time of dogs subjected to the Exalto-Mann-Williamson ulcer and reduced both the time of onset and the degree of ulceration in rats subjected either to the Shay ulcer or to the restraint-cold ulcer procedure.
Exalto-Mann-Williamson ulcer
Restraint-cold ulcer
T H E R E have been numerous studies on psychogenic influences that modify human and canine gastric secretion, however, few studies could be found on the effect of sensory deprivation on gastric functions. Recently, Schapiro and associates reported a reduced canine gastric secretion following permanent visual deprivation [23], auditory and vestibular deprivation [24] and olfactory deprivation [25] and temporary visual deprivation [26]. These data demonstrated that the interruption of an afferent input reduced gastric secretion, a sensitive barometer of the external environment and suggested that the reduced vagal activity might have its origin in the central nervous system. A series of experiments were therefore initiated to study the effects of sensory deprivation on peptic ulcer formation in dogs and rats. In the dog, the Exalto-Mann-Williamson surgical procedure [ 13,19] was used because of it~ uniformity in producing small bowel ulcerations. In the rat, two different procedures (Shay Technic and cold-restraint) to induce stomach ulcers were used because different mechanisms are involved in the ulcer production. METHOD AND RESULTS
Dogs Dogs were used in these experiments for the following reasons: (1) In our original studies [23-26] on the effects of sensory deprivation on gastric functions, the canine preparation was utilized and this would allow us to compare our data, and (2) Gastrointestinal ulceration can be uniformly induced in this species. Sixteen mongrel dogs weighing between 18-24 kgm were used. Seven of these dogs had their vision permanently impaired by cutting the optic nerves bilaterally [23] and 4 weeks later the Exalto-Mann-Williamson ulcer producing procedure [ 13,19] was performed. This technic diverts the alkaline biliary, pancreatic and duodenal secretions into the ileum so
Shay ulcer
Visual deprivation
that a gastric hypersecretion occurs which is not readily buffered when it reaches the gastrojejunal anastomosis. The remaining 9 dogs served as controls and were only subjected to the Exalto-Mann-Williamson procedure [13,19]. All the dogs were weighed every 7 days and observed daily until the termination of the experiment. A post mortem examination was carded out on each dog. The nine control dogs lost more than 30% of their body weight and all died of perforated jejunal ulcers located within 2 cm of the gastrojejunal anastomosis within 7 days after they stopped eating. The mean survival time of the control dogs was 38 -+ 10 days. The seven blinded dogs lost more than 40% of their weight and all were sacrificed 7 days after they stopped eating. The mean day at which these animals were sacrificed was 49 -+ 4 days or a 20% increase in the time interval (p
