title: Nesfatin-1/NUCB2 in the amygdala influences visceral sensitivity via glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors in male maternal separation rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nesfatin-1, a recently identified satiety molecule derived from nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2), is associated with visceral hypersensitivity in rats and is expressed in the amygdala. We tested the hypothesis that nesfatin-1 expression in the amygdala is involved in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) visceral hypersensitivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  An animal model of IBS-like visceral hypersensitivity was established using maternal separation (MS) during postnatal days 2-16. The role of nesfatin-1 in the amygdala on visceral sensitivity was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rats subjected to MS showed a significantly increased mean abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) score and electromyographic (EMG) activity at 40, 60, and 80 mmHg colorectal distension. Plasma concentrations of nesfatin-1 and corticosterone were significantly higher than in non-handled (NH) rats. mRNA and protein expression of nesfatin-1/NUCB2 in the amygdala were increased in MS rats, but not in NH rats. In MS rats, AWR scores and EMG activity were significantly decreased after anti-nesfatin-1/NUCB2 injection. In normal rats, mean AWR score, EMG activity, and corticosterone expression were significantly increased after nesfatin-1 injection into the amygdala. Nesfatin-1-induced visceral hypersensitivity was abolished following application of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated expression of nesfatin-1/NUCB2 in the amygdala in MS rats suggests a potential role in the pathogenesis of visceral hypersensitivity, which could potentially take place via activation of GR and MR signaling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.|Third People's Hospital of Zigong, Zigong, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: X-P
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sha
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of PET/CT, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. litiannv@126.com.
authors.forename: T-N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: R-R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: M-D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. ligakur@yahoo.com.cn.
authors.forename: X-L
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008426:Maternal Deprivation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D059265:Visceral Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C000630652:Nucb1 protein, rat; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid
keywords: amygdala; irritable bowel syndrome; maternal separation; nesfatin-1; visceral hypersensitivity