Influence of trimebutine on inflammation- and stress-induced hyperalgesia to rectal distension in rats.

The effects of trimebutine and its major metabolite, N-desmethyltrimebutine on inflammation- and stress-induced rectal hyperalgesia have been evaluated in rats fitted with electrodes implanted in the longitudinal striated muscle of the abdomen. Intermittent rectal distension was performed before and 3 days after induction of rectal inflammation by local infusion of trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (in ethanol). Stress consisted of 2h partial restraint and rectal distension was performed before and 30min after the end of the partial restraint session. The animals were treated intraperitoneally with trimebutine or desmethyltrimebutine (5, 10 or 20mgkg(-1)) or vehicle 15min before rectal distension. Naloxone (1mgkg(-1)) or saline was injected subcutaneously before trimebutine and desmethyltrimebutine. Before treatment trimebutine at the highest dose (20mgkg(-1)) reduced the abdominal response to rectal distension for the highest volume of distension (1.6mL) whereas desmethyltrimebutine was inactive. After rectocolitis the abdominal response to rectal distension was enhanced and trimebutine at 5mgkg(-1) reduced and at 10 mgkg(-1) suppressed inflammation-induced hyperalgesia, an effect reversed by naloxone. Desmethyltrimebutine was inactive. Stress-induced hypersensitivity was attenuated or suppressed, or both, by trimebutine and desmethyltrimebutine at doses of 5, 10 or 20mgkg(-l); greater efficacy was observed for desmethyltrimebutine and the effects were not reversed by naloxone. It was concluded that trimebutine and desmethyltrimebutine are active against inflammation- and stress-induced rectal hyperalgesia but act differently. The effect of trimebutine on inflammation-induced hyperalgesia is mediated through opioid receptors.

Stress-induced enhancement of colitis in rats: CRF and arginine vasopressin are not involved.

Because exacerbation of colitis seems to be associated with stress, we proposed evaluating the influence of stress and the involvement of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) on experimental colitis in rats. Partial restraint stress was applied during 4 consecutive days, before or after intracolonic 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNB) instillation (15 mg) in rats. Finally, two groups of rats were centrally injected with alpha-helical CRF-(9-41) (5 micrograms) or AVP antagonist (5 micrograms) before each session of stress. Stress was applied before or right after TNB enhanced colitis, with an increase in macroscopic and histological scores and myeloperoxidase activity, alpha-Helical CRF-(9-41) or AVP antagonist had no effect on TNB-induced colitis but enhanced the effects of stress on colitis. These results show that stress may exacerbate experimental colitis in rats and that CRF and AVP are not responsible for this effect.

Stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity to rectal distension in rats: role of CRF and mast cells.

BACKGROUND: Psychological factors have long been implicated in the aetiology of irritable bowel syndrome often associated with abdominal pain. This work was designed to study, in rats, the influence of partial restraint stress on the abdominal cramps induced by rectal distension and to determine the role of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) and mast cells degranulation in this response. METHODS: Abdominal contractions were electromyographically recorded. Thirty minutes after stress or intracerebroventricular CRF, rectal distension was performed by inflation of a balloon (0.4-1.2 mL). alpha-helical CRF9-41 or doxantrazole were administered centrally (15 min) and intraperitoneally (30 min), respectively, before stress. Histamine release and the number of mast cells were determined in colonic pieces from stressed and control rats. RESULTS: Stress and CRF enhanced the number of abdominal cramps evoked by rectal distension without affecting rectal compliance. alpha-helical CRF9-41 and doxantrazole antagonized the stress and CRF-induced enhancement of abdominal cramps. Stress increased the colonic histamine content whereas the number of colonic mast cells was unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Stress enhances abdominal contractions in response to rectal distension in rats via pathways involving central CRF and intestinal mast cells.

Reversal of CRF- and dopamine-induced stimulation of colonic motility by CCK and igmesine (JO 1784) in the rat.

1. The role of dopamine in the genesis of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF)- and emotional stress (ES)-induced stimulation of colonic motility, as well as the mechanism of antagonistic action of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8s) and igmesine (alpha sigma receptor ligand, formerly JO 1784) on dopamine-induced colonic hypermotility, have been investigated in the rat. 2. ES and i.c.v. injection of CRF (0.5 microgram kg-1) increased the frequency of colonic spike bursts by 63% and 114%, respectively. Prior i.c.v. administration of (+)-SCH 23390 (a D1 receptor antagonist, 10 micrograms kg-1) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the CRF- and ES-induced increase in colonic spike burst; whereas, sulpiride (a D2 receptor antagonist, 10 micrograms kg-1) blocked the CRF-induced stimulation of colonic spike bursts but had no effect on the colonic response to stress. 3. I.c.v. injection of dopamine (100 micrograms kg-1), increased colonic spike burst frequency by 54%. (+)-SKF 38393 (5 micrograms kg-1), a selective D1 receptor agonist, and quinpirole (5 micrograms kg-1), a selective D2 receptor agonist, increased colonic spike burst frequency by 71% and 70% respectively. CCK-8s (0.1 microgram kg-1) and igmesine (0.1 microgram kg-1) injected i.c.v. completely prevented the stimulatory effects of dopamine, (+)-SKF 38393 and quinpirole. 4. Previous i.c.v. injection of devazepide, a CCKA receptor antagonist, (10 micrograms kg-1) antagonized the inhibitory effects of both CCK-8s and igmesine injected i.c.v. on dopamine-induced colonic hyperkinesia. 5. These results show that CRF stimulates colonic motility through activation of central dopaminergic mechanisms in response to stress; furthermore, CCK-8s inhibits dopamine-induced colonic hyperkinesia through a mechanism involving D1 and D2 receptors. The sigma receptor ligand igmesine, blocks the CRF and ES-induced colonic hyperactivity via an interaction with central CCK mechanisms.

Comparative involvement of 5-HT1, 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptors in stress-induced colonic motor alterations in rats.

The role of 5-HT1, 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptors in the genesis of colonic motor alterations induced by emotional stress was evaluated in rats equipped with implanted nickel/chrome electrodes on the proximal colon and a catheter into the lateral ventricle of the brain. In control rats the frequency of colonic spike bursts increased from 7.6 +/- 1.3 to 16.8 +/- 1.3 per 10 min when the rats were placed in a test cage in which they had previously received electric footshocks. I.p. injection of methysergide (0.1 mg/kg) reduced by 54% the emotional stress-induced increase of colonic spike burst frequency, while a higher dosage (1 mg/kg) of methysergide had no effect. The i.p. injection of ketanserin (a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, 0.1 and 1 mg/kg) or granisetron (a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, 0.1 and 1 mg/kg) had no effect on emotional stress-induced colonic hyperkinesia. The i.p. injection of the 5-HT1A receptor agonists, buspirone (1 mg/kg) or 8-OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino(tetralin) (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg) or benzodiazepine (clonazepam, 1 mg/kg) significantly reduced or suppressed the emotional stress-induced increase of colonic spike bursts. Injected i.c.v., buspirone, but not 8-OH-DPAT, also reduced the emotional stress-induced hyperkinesia. Pretreatment with devazepide receptor (1 microgram/kg) antagonized the inhibitory effects of buspirone and 8-OH-DPAT injected i.p. on emotional stress-induced colonic hyperkinesia but did not alter the effects of clonazepam (1 mg/kg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)