J Korean Med Sci.  2011 Feb;26(2):279-283. 10.3346/jkms.2011.26.2.279.

Role of Corticotrophin-releasing Factor in the Stress-induced Dilation of Esophageal Intercellular Spaces

• Cho YJ
• Kim JH
• Yim HE
• Lee DM
• Im SK
• Lee KJ

• KMID: 1782119
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2011.26.2.279

Abstract

Corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) plays a major role in coordinating stress responses. We aimed to test whether blocking endogenous CRF activity can prevent the stress-induced dilation of intercellular spaces in esophageal mucosa. Eighteen adult male rats were divided into 3 groups: 1) a non-stressed group (the non-stressed group), 2) a saline-pretreated stressed group (the stressed group), 3) and an astressin-pretreated stressed group (the astressin group). Immediately after completing the experiments according to the protocol, distal esophageal segments were obtained. Intercellular space diameters of esophageal mucosa were measured by transmission electron microscopy. Blood was sampled for the measurement of plasma cortisol levels. Mucosal intercellular spaces were significantly greater in the stressed group than in the non-stressed group. Mucosal intercellular spaces of the astressin group were significantly smaller than those of the stressed group. Plasma cortisol levels in the stressed group were significantly higher than in the non-stressed group. Pretreatment with astressin tended to decrease plasma cortisol levels. Acute stress in rats enlarges esophageal intercellular spaces, and this stress-induced alteration appears to be mediated by CRF. Our results suggest that CRF may play a role in the pathophysiology of reflux-induced symptoms or mucosal damage.

Keyword

Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Esophagus; Extracellular Space; Stress

MeSH Terms

Animals
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism/pharmacology
Esophagus/anatomy & histology/*drug effects
Extracellular Space/*drug effects
Hydrocortisone/blood
Male
Mucous Membrane/anatomy & histology/*drug effects
Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology
Peptide Fragments/*pharmacology
Rats
Rats, Wistar
*Stress, Psychological/blood/physiopathology

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Transmission electron microscopy of esophageal mucosa (× 4,000 magnification). Intercellular spaces were measured in the saline-pretreated stressed rat (A), the saline-pretreated non-stressed rat (B) and the astressin-pretreated stressed rat (C). On each field 10 transect lines were randomly drawn across areas of intercellular spaces.

• 

  Fig. 2 Comparison of intercellular space diameters in esophageal mucosa. The mean intercellular space diameter in the saline-pretreated stressed group is significantly greater than in the non-stressed group (*P < 0.001). The mean intercellular space diameter in the astressin-pretreated stressed group is significantly lower than in the stressed group. The mean intercellular space diameters in the non-stressed and astressin-pretreated stressed groups are similar.

• 

  Fig. 3 Comparison of plasma cortisol levels. Plasma cortisol levels in the saline-pretreated stressed group are significantly higher than in the non-stressed group (*P < 0.05). Plasma cortisol levels tended to be lower in the astressin-pretreated stressed group than in the saline-pretreated stressed group (P = 0.08).

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