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Evolving pathophysiological model of functional gastrointestinal disorders: implications for treatment
Emeran A Mayer1, Bruce D Naliboff, Lin Chang
1UCLA/CURE Neuroenteric Disease Program, Department of Medicine, Physiology and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90073, USA. emayer@ucla.edu
The European Journal of Surgery. Supplement. : = Acta Chirurgica. Supplement
|September 8, 2005
Summary
Psychological and physical stressors impact gut function via the emotional motor system. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) patients exhibit heightened responses, suggesting new drug targets for visceral disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neurogastroenterology
- Psychoneuroimmunology
- Visceral pain research
Background:
- Stress significantly impacts gut function and brain-gut interactions through the emotional motor system.
- This system influences autonomic, neuroendocrine, attentional, and pain responses.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterized by an overactive emotional motor system affecting gut responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of the emotional motor system in stress-induced gut dysfunction.
- To investigate the exaggerated responsiveness in IBS patients.
- To explore the utility of animal models for understanding functional visceral disorders.
Main Methods:
- Review of physiological mechanisms linking stress, emotion, and gut function.
- Analysis of altered brain-gut signaling in IBS.
- Development and validation of animal models for functional visceral disorders.
Main Results:
- The emotional motor system mediates stress effects on gut motility, epithelial function, and visceral perception.
- IBS patients demonstrate amplified responses in this system.
- Animal models show promise in replicating key features of functional visceral disorders.
Conclusions:
- The emotional motor system is a key player in stress-related gut issues and IBS.
- Animal models offer valuable insights for developing novel therapeutic strategies.
- Future drug development can target both peripheral and central nervous system mechanisms.