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Sensitization and conditioning as contributors to gastrointestinal vulnerability
J Bruce Overmier1, Robert Murison, Anne-Marita Milde
1Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota / Elliott Hall, 75 East River Rd., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. psyjbo@umn.edu
Autonomic Neuroscience : Basic & Clinical
|February 16, 2006
Summary
Past stress and psychological threat increase gastrointestinal disorder vulnerability. Studies show stress sensitizes the stomach and colon, impacting ulcer and inflammatory bowel disease models in rats.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gastroenterology
- Psychology
Background:
- Psychological stress and conditioned threat responses can impact physiological systems.
- Stress-induced gastrointestinal disorders are a significant health concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of unconditioned and conditioned stress on animal models of gastrointestinal disorders.
- To explore the mechanisms underlying stress-induced gastric and colonic vulnerability.
Main Methods:
- Utilized rat models to study stress effects on gastric erosions (ulcer model) and colonic erosions/intestinal permeability (inflammatory bowel disease model).
- Manipulated stressor predictability and controllability to assess their influence on stress responses.
- Investigated the role of corticoids and opioid/endorphin systems.
Main Results:
- Unconditioned stress experiences sensitized the stomach to erosion induction, an effect not mediated by corticoids but potentially by opioids.
- Stress-induced sensitization was reduced by providing rats with control or prediction of electric shocks.
- Conditioned stress responses also increased gastric vulnerability.
- Similar stress effects were observed in colonic erosion and intestinal permeability models.
Conclusions:
- Psychological context, including past trauma and current threat, significantly increases vulnerability to gastrointestinal disorders.
- Stress impacts both upper (gastric) and lower (colonic) gastrointestinal tract integrity.
- Predictability and control over stressors can mitigate stress-induced gastrointestinal damage.