RESUMO
This work aimed to study the effect of certain pharmacological agents [6-hydroxydopamine [6HD], metyrapone and naloxone]] on plasma adrenal hormones [corticosterone, epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine], brain and mucosal somatostatin and prostaglandin E2 [PGE2] as well as mucosal beta-endorphin in rats exposed to restraint stress. The specific actions of the different drugs used in this study helped to delineate the relative contribution of the different components in the pathogenesis of stress ulceration. The sympatho-adrenal medullary activity appears to be protective and neutralize the ulcerogenic effects involving the vagal activation and opioid mechanisms. Meanwhile, the adreno-cortical activity through the glucocorticoids appear to offer a permissive role in ulcer development