A central amygdala input to the dorsal vagal complex controls gastric motility in mice under restraint stress

Background/aims: Psychological and physiological stress can cause gastrointestinal motility disorders. Acupuncture has a benign regulatory effect on gastrointestinal motility. However, the mechanisms underlying these processes remain unclear. Methods: Herein, we established a gastric motility disorder (GMD) model in the context of restraint stress (RS) and irregular feeding. The activity of emotional center—central amygdala (CeA) GABAergic neurons and gastrointestinal center—dorsal vagal complex (DVC) neurons were recorded by electrophysiology. Virus tracing and patch clamp analysis of the anatomical and functional connection between the CeA(GABA) → dorsal vagal complex pathways were performed. Optogenetics inhibiting or activating CeA(GABA) neurons or the CeA(GABA) → dorsal vagal complex pathway were used to detect changes in gastric function. Results: We found that restraint stress induced delayed gastric emptying and decreased gastric motility and food intake. Simultaneously, restraint stress activated CeA GABAergic neurons, inhibiting dorsal vagal complex neurons, with electroacupuncture (EA) reversing this phenomenon. In addition, we identified an inhibitory pathway in which CeA GABAergic neurons project into the dorsal vagal complex. Furthermore, the use of optogenetic approaches inhibited CeA(GABA) neurons and the CeA(GABA) → dorsal vagal complex pathway in gastric motility disorder mice, which enhanced gastric movement and gastric emptying, whereas activation of the CeA(GABA) and CeA(GABA) → dorsal vagal complex pathway mimicked the symptoms of weakened gastric movement and delayed gastric emptying in naïve mice. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the CeA(GABA) → dorsal vagal complex pathway may be involved in regulating gastric dysmotility under restraint stress conditions, and partially reveals the mechanism of electroacupuncture.