Gastric, duodenal, and pancreatic somatostatin-like immunoreactivity during hypovolemic shock.

Because hypovolemic shock is known to cause gastric ulcers in animals and human beings, we investigated the tissue levels of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) in the gastric corpus and antrum, duodenum, and pancreas during hypovolemic shock in rats. We studied male Wistar rats (N = 10 each) 15 min, 2 hr, and 12 hr after hypovolemic shock and compared results to a control group (N = 15). Two rats in both 2-hr and 12-hr groups showed gastric ulcers: three corporal and one antral. One animal developed multiple ulcers. In the gastric corpus and antrum and in the duodenum, tissue SLI showed significant decrease 15 min and 2 hr after shock. Gastric SLI remained low, whereas duodenal SLI recovered and rose above control level at 12 hr. Pancreatic SLI showed no significant changes during hypovolemic shock. Gastric tissue SLI levels that were significantly lower after shock than those of normal controls may have contributed to the peptic ulcer disease induced by hypovolemic shock in this experimental model.