J Korean Med Sci.  2010 Sep;25(9):1330-1335. 10.3346/jkms.2010.25.9.1330.

Stress-induced Alterations in Mast Cell Numbers and Proteinase-activated Receptor-2 Expression of the Colon: Role of Corticotrophin-releasing Factor

• Kim DH
• Cho YJ
• Kim JH
• Kim YB
• Lee KJ

• KMID: 1785913
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2010.25.9.1330

Abstract

This study was performed in order to assess whether acute stress can increase mast cell and enterochromaffin (EC) cell numbers, and proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) expression in the rat colon. In addition, we aimed to investigate the involvement of corticotrophin-releasing factor in these stress-related alterations. Eighteen adult rats were divided into 3 experimental groups: 1) a saline-pretreated non-stressed group, 2) a saline-pretreated stressed group, and 3) an astressin-pretreated stressed group. The numbers of mast cells, EC cells, and PAR2-positive cells were counted in 6 high power fields. In proximal colonic segments, mast cell numbers of stressed rats tended to be higher than those of non-stressed rats, and their PAR2-positive cell numbers were significantly higher than those of non-stressed rats. In distal colonic segments, mast cell numbers and PAR2-positive cell numbers of stressed rats were significantly higher than those of non-stressed rats. Mast cell and PAR2-positive cell numbers of astressin-pretreated stressed rats were significantly lower than those of saline-pretreated stressed rats. EC cell numbers did not differ among the three experimental groups. Acute stress in rats increases mast cell numbers and mucosal PAR2 expression in the colon. These stress-related alterations seem to be mediated by release of corticotrophin-releasing factor.

Keyword

Corticotropin-releasing Factor; Enterochromaffin Cells; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Mast cells; Receptor, PAR-2; Stress

MeSH Terms

Animals
Colon/*metabolism
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism/pharmacology/*physiology
Enterochromaffin Cells/cytology
Male
Mast Cells/*cytology/immunology/metabolism
Peptide Fragments/pharmacology
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Receptor, PAR-2/*metabolism
Restraint, Physical
*Stress, Physiological

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Staining of mast cells, EC cells, and PAR2-positive cells (magnification, ×400). Toluidine blue stain was performed in order to identify mast cells (A), and immunostaining using anti-chromogranin A antibodies for EC cells (B) and anti-PAR2 antibodies for PAR2 protein expression (C) was carried out.

• 

  Fig. 2 Comparison of mast cell numbers in colonic segments. In proximal colonic segments, mast cell numbers of stressed rats tended to be higher than those of non-stressed rats, and mast cell numbers of astressin-pretreated stressed rats were significantly lower than those of saline-pretreated stressed rats (*P=0.05) (A). In distal colonic segments, mast cell numbers of stressed rats were significantly higher than those of non-stressed rats (*P=0.04), and mast cell numbers of astressin-pretreated stressed rats were significantly lower than those of saline-pretreated stressed rats (†P=0.01) (B).

• 

  Fig. 3 Comparison of EC cell numbers in colonic segments. No significant differences in EC cell numbers among the three experimental groups were observed, both in the proximal colonic segments (A) and in the distal colonic segments (B).

• 

  Fig. 4 Comparison of PAR2-positive cell numbers in colonic segments. In proximal colonic segments, PAR2-positive cell numbers of stressed rats were significantly higher than those of non-stressed rats (*P=0.02), and PAR2-positive cell numbers of the astressin-pretreated stressed group were significantly lower than those of the saline-pretreated stressed group (†P=0.02) (A). In distal colonic segments, PAR2-positive cell numbers of stressed rats were significantly higher than those of non-stressed rats (*P=0.01), and PAR2-positive cell numbers of the astressin-pretreated stressed group were significantly lower than those in the saline-pretreated stressed group (†P=0.02) (B).

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