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Susceptibility of the colon to psychological stress‐induced changes is increased by exposure to previous inflammation
Author(s) -
Santiago Olga I,
Cruz Myrella L,
Cuevas Marielly,
Appleyard Caroline B
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.1189.2
Subject(s) - colitis , inflammation , medicine , irritable bowel syndrome , gastroenterology , immune system , lactobacillus , cytokine , exacerbation , histology , immunology , bacteria , biology , genetics
Stress has been associated with exacerbation of symptoms in disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome. AIM: To determine the effects of prior inflammation on subsequent stress‐induced changes in colonic cytokine and bacterial levels. METHODS: Four groups of female rats were used: normal (untreated); control‐WAS (water avoidance stress: for 3 hrs, during 3 consecutive days); control‐colitis, animals received trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS 30mg in 50% ETOH ic) to induce an acute colitis which was allowed to heal for 2 weeks; and colitis‐WAS, the animals received TNBS as above, then WAS 2 weeks later. All animals were evaluated for weight change, macroscopic damage and histology. Colonic tissues were inoculated on blood, MacConkey or lactobacillus agar. Colonic tissue levels of IL‐10, IL‐4 and TGF were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Stress increased weight loss in animals that previously had colitis compared to controls (p<0.05). These animals also showed increased macroscopic and microscopic damage, and mast cell numbers. Colitis‐WAS had the lowest levels of lactobacillus, but little change in total bacterial load. Colitis‐WAS had decreased levels of IL‐4 and IL‐10, and increased levels of TGF compared with control‐WAS. CONCLUSION: Previous inflammation increases the susceptibility of the colon to subsequent stress, with alterations in the microflora and immune response. F31 DK074378 & 2G12RR03050