title: Stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity in female rats is estrogen-dependent and involves tachykinin NK1 receptors.
abstract: Hormonal cycling may be related to a higher incidence of pain syndrome in female. As tachykinins are pivotal in stress-induced colonic dysfunction, we investigated whether ovarian steroids influence stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity to rectal distension (RD) in female rats and further, whether this influence involves NK1 receptors. Female Wistar rats, either intact or ovariectomized (OVX), were equipped for abdominal muscle electromyography and submitted to 2-h partial restraint stress (PRS) or sham-PRS. First, the effect of PRS was evaluated in intact rats. Second, abdominal response to RD was recorded in OVX rats treated with either, progesterone, 17beta-estradiol, 17beta-estradiol-plus-progesterone, or vehicle, in both basal and PRS conditions. Third, the NK1 receptor-antagonist, SR140333, was tested in PRS-intact and PRS-OVX rats under 17beta-estradiol or 17beta-estradiol-plus-progesterone treatment. PRS induced visceral hypersensitivity to RD and this effect was prevented by ovariectomy. OVX rats treated with 17beta-estradiol or 17beta-estradiol-plus-progesterone, but not progesterone alone, exhibited visceral hypersensitivity after PRS similar to that of intact rats. Both stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity in intact rats and the hormonally-restored visceral hyper-responsiveness of OVX rats were antagonized by SR140333. It is concluded, therefore, that stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity in female rats is estrogens-dependent and mediated through NK1 receptor activation.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Neuro-Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, 180 chemin de Tournefeuille, B.P. 3, 31931 Toulouse, France Ecole Supérieure d'Agriculture de Purpan, 31076 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bradesi
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eutamene
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia-Villar
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fioramonti
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bueno
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000379:methods; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism*; D017833:Visceral Afferents / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1