[Effects of Jiaweisinisan on gastric mucosal ultrastructure and brain-gut axis in a rat model of chronic psychological stress].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of Jiaweisinisan (JWSNS), a traditional Chinese herbal medicinal recipe, on gastric mucosal ultrastructure and brain-gut axis in rat models of chronic psychological stress and elucidate the mechanism of JWSNS for ameliorating stress-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction.


METHODS
Sixty rats were randomly assigned into normal control group, model group, 3 JWSNS groups (high, moderate, and small doses), and omeprazole group (n=10). Rat models of chronic psychological stress were established by random stressful stimulations, and following the corresponding interventions, plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol (CORT) levels were detected using radioimmunoassay, and the mRNA expressions of gastrin receptor in the gastric tissue (GASR) and vasoactive intestinal peptide II receptor (VIPR2) in the jejunal tissue were examined using RT-PCR. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to examine the ultrastructural changes in the gastric mucosa tissue cells of the glandular stomach area and alterations in the intercellular junctions.


RESULTS
Electron microscopy revealed obvious damages in gastric mucosal epithelial cell organelles and nuclei in the model rats. These damages were ameliorated after treatments with JWSNS and omeprazole. Compared with the model group, the 3 JWSNS groups and omeprazole group all showed significantly lowered plasma ACTH and CORT levels, increased gastrin receptor mRNA expression and decreased jejunal VIPR2 mRNA expression (P<0.05 or 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
JWSNS can obviously ameliorate the pathologies of the gastric mucosa cells, regulate the state of brain-gut axis, and modulate the gastric gastrin receptor and jejunal VIPR2 mRNA expressions in rats with chronic psychological stress.
Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China. xiehc_2004@yeah.net
Huichen
H
Xie
Fen
F
Liu
Qiang
Q
Yang
Changchu
C
Xiong
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000097:blood; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007583:Jejunum / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin / Q000378:metabolism; D051239:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000473:pathology*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin; D051239:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Type II; C495511:Vipr2 protein, rat; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone