Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
05:08
A TNBS-Induced Rodent Model to Study the Pathogenic Role of Mechanical Stress in Crohn's Disease
Published on: March 1, 2022
Neuromuscular changes in a rat model of colitis
Mariona Aulí1, Yasmin Nasser2, Winnie Ho2
1Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
Autonomic Neuroscience : Basic & Clinical
|June 7, 2008
Summary
Trichinella spiralis infection in rats causes colitis, leading to impaired gut motility and reduced nitric oxide synthase (NOS) neurons in the myenteric plexus. These neuromuscular changes are key to understanding the condition.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
Background:
- Trichinella spiralis infection induces colitis in rats, mimicking human ulcerative colitis with mucosal inflammation.
- The enteric nervous system, including the myenteric (MP) and submucosal plexuses (SMP), plays a crucial role in regulating gastrointestinal function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional and neurochemical alterations in the MP and SMP during T. spiralis-induced colitis.
- To identify specific neuronal changes contributing to the observed gastrointestinal dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Rats were infected with T. spiralis, and physiological parameters (body weight, stool consistency, myeloperoxidase activity) were measured.
- In vitro contractility studies of colonic muscle strips were performed.
- Immunohistochemistry was used to assess neuronal populations and neurotransmitter markers (NOS, Substance P, calretinin, calbindin, choline acetyltransferase, calcitonin gene-related peptide) in the MP and SMP.
Main Results:
- Infected rats exhibited reduced body weight, altered stool, and increased inflammation.
- Colonic muscle contractility and spontaneous motor activity were significantly impaired.
- A notable decrease in nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-immunoreactive neurons in the MP was observed, correlating with reduced motility.
- Reduced Substance P innervation of submucosal blood vessels and decreased submucosal calretinin and calbindin neurons were also found.
Conclusions:
- T. spiralis-induced colitis leads to significant neuromuscular adaptations in the rat gut.
- The reduction in NOS-expressing neurons in the myenteric plexus is a key factor underlying the observed motility deficits.
- These findings highlight the complex interplay between parasitic infection, inflammation, and enteric nervous system function.
