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Updated: May 22, 2025
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DNBS/TNBS Colitis Models: Providing Insights Into Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Effects of Dietary Fat
Published on: February 27, 2014
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Colitis can reduce the cingulate cortex neuronal density in rats
Fazel Isapanah Amlashi1,2, Sima Besharat1, Mehrdad Jahanshahi3
1Golestan Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, GolestanUniversity of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
BMC Gastroenterology
|March 14, 2025
Summary
Colitis significantly reduces neuronal density in the rat brain's cingulate cortex and amygdala. These central nervous system changes may contribute to altered pain perception in inflammatory bowel disease.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gastroenterology
- Pain Research
Background:
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is associated with central nervous system (CNS) changes, potentially affecting pain pathways.
- Hyperalgesia and hypersensitivity are common symptoms in IBD patients, suggesting a neurological component.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of colitis on neuronal density in specific brain regions.
- To examine neuronal density in the cingulate cortex (CC) and amygdala in an animal model of colitis.
Main Methods:
- Colitis was induced in male Wistar rats using acetic acid.
- Brain tissue was analyzed 14 days post-induction.
- Neuronal density in the cingulate cortex (CC1, CC2) and amygdala was assessed using cresyl violet staining and microscopy.
Main Results:
- Significantly decreased neuronal density was observed in CC1 and CC2 in rats with colitis compared to controls (p < 0.001).
- The amygdala also showed reduced neuronal density bilaterally in the colitis group, although not statistically significant (p > 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Colitis leads to a reduction in neuronal density in both cortical areas and the amygdala.
- Damage to the cingulate cortex, involved in pain suppression, may influence the cognitive and sensory aspects of pain in IBD.
