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Vagal gut-brain signaling mediates amygdaloid plasticity, affect, and pain in a functional dyspepsia model

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is associated with chronic gastrointestinal distress and with anxiety and depression. Here, we hypothesized that aberrant gastric signals, transmitted by the vagus nerve, may alter key brain regions modulating affective and pain behavior. Using a previously validated rat mo...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Cordner, Zachary A., Li, Qian, Liu, Liansheng, Tamashiro, Kellie L., Bhargava, Aditi, Moran, Timothy H., Pasricha, Pankaj Jay
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: American Society for Clinical Investigation 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8026195/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33591956
http://dx.doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.144046
Descripción
Sumario:Functional dyspepsia (FD) is associated with chronic gastrointestinal distress and with anxiety and depression. Here, we hypothesized that aberrant gastric signals, transmitted by the vagus nerve, may alter key brain regions modulating affective and pain behavior. Using a previously validated rat model of FD characterized by gastric hypersensitivity, depression-like behavior, and anxiety-like behavior, we found that vagal activity — in response to gastric distention — was increased in FD rats. The FD phenotype was associated with gastric mast cell hyperplasia and increased expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor (Crh) and decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor genes in the central amygdala. Subdiaphragmatic vagotomy reversed these changes and restored affective behavior to that of controls. Vagotomy partially attenuated pain responses to gastric distention, which may be mediated by central reflexes in the periaqueductal gray, as determined by local injection of lidocaine. Ketotifen, a mast cell stabilizer, reduced vagal hypersensitivity, normalized affective behavior, and attenuated gastric hyperalgesia. In conclusion, vagal activity, partially driven by gastric mast cells, induces long-lasting changes in Crh signaling in the amygdala that may be responsible for enhanced pain and enhanced anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. Together, these results support a “bottom-up” pathway involving the gut-brain axis in the pathogenesis of both gastric pain and psychiatric comorbidity in FD.