Stress and the gastrointestinal tract

Area of Science:

• Neurogastroenterology
• Stress Physiology
• Immunology

Background:

• Stress acutely threatens homeostasis, triggering adaptive responses influencing the gastrointestinal tract.
• The brain-gut axis, involving bidirectional communication via the nervous system, is central to stress responses.
• The central stress circuitry, including the hypothalamus and amygdala, orchestrates the stress response, impacting visceral functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the mechanisms by which stress affects gastrointestinal function.
• To explore the role of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and its receptors in mediating stress-induced visceral changes.
• To investigate the impact of stress on intestinal permeability, immune responses, and susceptibility to inflammation.

Main Methods:

• Review of the literature on stress, the brain-gut axis, and gastrointestinal physiology.
• Examination of the roles of central stress circuitry, CRF, and its receptor subtypes (R1 and R2).
• Discussion of stress-induced alterations in intestinal permeability, mast cell activation, and fluid absorption.

Main Results:

• Stress activates the central stress circuitry, leading to altered colonic motility and gastric emptying via CRF.
• CRF receptor antagonists can block stress-induced visceral responses.
• Stress increases intestinal permeability, promotes mast cell degranulation, reverses electrolyte absorption, and heightens susceptibility to inflammation.

Conclusions:

• Stress profoundly impacts gastrointestinal function through complex neural and hormonal pathways.
• The brain-gut axis plays a critical role in mediating the physiological and pathological effects of stress on the digestive system.
• Understanding these interactions opens new therapeutic avenues for gastrointestinal diseases linked to stress.