Effect of curcumin on 5-hydroxytryptamine and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in irritable bowel syndrome rats / 中华神经医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) from the aspect of brain-gut interaction and find out the efficacy and mechanism of curcumin on IBS.Methods Forty-eight rats were chosen in our study,and divided into 6 groups (n=8):normal group,IBS model group,IBS+curcumin treatment groups (10,20 and 40 mg/kg of curcumin via intragastric administration 1 h before model inducement) and IBS+imipramine treatment group (10 mg/kg,via intraperitoneal injection 30 min before model inducement); IBS rat models were established by chronic and acute stress; treatments in each group were given for a consecutive 21 days.The depression-like behaviors and gut hypersensitivity of the rats in all the groups were detected.The expressions of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the cerebral cortex and ileum were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Western blotting,respectively.Results The sucrose consumption of IBS rat had been significantly reduced and the intestinal viscera sensitivity was obviously elevated in the IBS model group as compared with those in the normal group (P＜0.05); as compared with those in the normal control group,the expression of 5-HT significantly decreased inthe cerebral cortex of IBS modelgroup (P＜0.05),but opposite presentations were noted in the ileum (P＜0.05).As compared with that in the normal group,the BDNF expression in the brain frontal cortex was significantly decreased but obviously increased in the ileum (P＜0.05).High doses of curcumin (40 mg/kg treatment groups) improved the behavior ofIBS rats,and reversed the levels of 5-HT in the cerebral cortex and ileum,with significant difference (P＜0.05); besides,they could significantly reverse the BDNF level in the cerebral cortex and ileum,with significant difference (P＜0.05).Conclusion IBS rat models have abnormal expressions of 5-HT and 5-HIAA,and BDNF in the brain-gut system,which indicates that alterations of brain-gut exist during IBS; curcumin can improve the behavior changes and regulate the expression of serotonin and BDNF in IBS rats.