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Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) Expression in an Animal Model of Visceral Hypersensitivity
Author(s) -
Mecca Andrew,
ElAyache Nadine,
Galligan James
Publication year - 2015
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.29.1_supplement.849.3
Subject(s) - corticotropin releasing hormone , hormone , medicine , endocrinology
Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) is an important mediator of the neuroendocrine stress response in many mammals, and has been implicated in stress‐induced behavioral disorders such as anxiety and depression. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) that is often associated with stress‐related behavioral disorders, which suggests dysfunctions in the neural circuitry between the brain and the gut. Both serotonin (5‐HT) and CRH signaling may be altered in IBS patients. We studied serotonin transporter (SERT) gene knockout rats to determine if there is a difference in CRH protein expression compared to wildtype (WT) controls at the level of sensory afferent neurons. CRH protein expression in sensory neurons of SERT KO and wildtype female rats was visualized in lumbar and sacral dorsal root ganglia (DRG) using immunohistochemistry techniques. We found that female SERT KO rats display increased CRH protein expression in sensory neurons compared to female wildtypes, and increased CRH in small‐diameter neurons may play a role in visceral hypersensitivity; an abdominal pain symptom characteristic of IBS.