Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026

In vitro Functional Characterization of Mouse Colorectal Afferent Endings
Published on: January 21, 2015
Symptoms in patients with ulcerative colitis in remission are associated with visceral hypersensitivity and mast cell
Eduard A van Hoboken1, Annemieke Y Thijssen, Rob Verhaaren
1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Objective:
Patients with ulcerative colitis in remission (UCR) frequently report irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms. Recent studies have pointed to the role of mast cells in mediating visceral hypersensitivity in IBS. We hypothesized that visceral hypersensitivity is frequently present in patients with UCR and is related to the quantity and activity of mast cells in the sigmoid mucosa.
Material And Methods:
A group of 17 controls and 19 patients with UCR were studied. Rectal compliance and perception were measured by electronic barostat. Sigmoid biopsies were taken to quantify the amount of mast cells, degranulating mast cells and mast cells in close proximity to mucosal nerve endings.
Results:
Visceroperception significantly increased in UCR (p < 0.05) versus controls. Rectal perception correlated positively with IBS-like symptoms in UCR (r = 0.969; p < 0.05). The amount of mucosal mast cells (per 100 crypts) was significantly increased in UCR versus controls: 228 ± 20 versus 163 ± 18 (p < 0.05). In the UCR patients a higher percentage of mucosal mast cells was in close proximity to nerve endings (58 ± 4 vs. 38 ± 3% in controls; p < 0.05) or was degranulating (40 ± 7 vs. 16 ± 4% in controls; p < 0.05). There was a significant but weak correlation between quantity of mucosal mast cells and pain perception (r = 0.32; p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Rectal hypersensitivity is associated with mucosal presence and activation of mast cells and with IBS-like symptoms in patients with UCR.
Related Concept Videos
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Introduction
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...
