The multicomponent medication Spascupreel attenuates stress-induced gut dysfunction in rats

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Pharmacology
• Stress Physiology

Background:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent global disorder characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits.
• The complex pathophysiology and patient heterogeneity make IBS treatment challenging.
• Multicomponent medications like Spascupreel (SP-11) may simultaneously modulate multiple pathophysiological pathways involved in IBS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of oral SP-11 on stress-induced peripheral and central functional changes in a rat model of IBS.
• To assess SP-11's impact on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, visceral pain, gut permeability, and gut transit time.

Main Methods:

• Wistar rats were orally administered SP-11 or saline for 4 days prior to a 2-hour partial restraint stress (PRS) procedure.
• Central and peripheral stress responses were evaluated post-PRS, including HPA axis activation (ACTH, corticosterone), visceral sensitivity, gut permeability, colonic mast cell activity, and gut transit time.

Main Results:

• SP-11 treatment significantly reduced HPA axis activation following PRS.
• Gut-level effects included decreased colonic hypersensitivity, normalized gut transit time acceleration, and reduced mast cell sensitization.
• A trend towards reduced gut hyperpermeability was also observed with SP-11 treatment.

Conclusions:

• Oral SP-11 effectively mitigated stress-induced IBS signs in a rat model.
• The observed effects on the HPA axis and gut function, coupled with good tolerability, position SP-11 as a potential innovative treatment for IBS management.