Isomalto-oligosaccharides ameliorate visceral hyperalgesia with repair damage of ileal epithelial ultrastructure in rats.

Xiucai Fang,Liming Zhu,Hongtao Dou,Shaomei Han,Shenghua Zha,David D Roberts,Fangyi Liu,Dan Huang,Haiwei Xin,Hong Zhang,Guijun Fei,Meiyun Ke,Weida Wang

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0175276

Abstract

BackgroundTreatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with probiotics has achieved effectiveness to a certain extent. Whether prebiotics will work is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of the prebiotic isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMO) on visceral hypersensitivity (VHS) in rats and to explore potential mechanism.MethodsWater avoidance stress (WAS) was used to induce VHS in rats. The score for the abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) was determined while colorectal distension and compared between VHS group and control group in order to validate VHS preparation. Rats with VHS were then divided into an IMO-treated group (intragastric 5% IMO, 2 mL/d, 14 days) and a water-control group (intragastric water). After treatment, AWR score and intestinal transit rate (ITR) were determined, stool culture was performed, the ultrastructure of the ileum epithelium was observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and serum cytokines were measured.ResultsWAS significantly increased AWR score responding to colorectal distension, and lowered the pain threshold. IMO treatment improved VHS with a reduction in AWR score on graded colorectal distension and an increase in pain threshold. SEM showed damages on the ileal epithelial ultrastructure in VHS rats, which was attenuated by IMO treatment. ITR, fecal microbiota and serum cytokine levels were comparable among control group, water-control group, and IMO-treated rats.ConclusionIn this randomized placebo-controlled study, the results showed that IMO ameliorated WAS-induced visceral hyperalgesia in rats, this effect may be attributed to the repair of damages on intestinal epithelial ultrastructure.

Highlights

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a physiological-psychological-social disease, and its etiology is related to genetics, foods, infection, and mental factors
scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed damages on the ileal epithelial ultrastructure in visceral hypersensitivity (VHS) rats, which was attenuated by IMO treatment
The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ’author contributions’ section. In this randomized placebo-controlled study, the results showed that IMO ameliorated Water avoidance stress (WAS)-induced visceral hyperalgesia in rats, this effect may be attributed to the repair of damages on intestinal epithelial ultrastructure

Summary

Introduction

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a physiological-psychological-social disease, and its etiology is related to genetics, foods, infection, and mental factors. The pathogenesis of IBS has been ascribed to visceral hypersensitivity (VHS), gastrointestinal dysmotility, and dysfunction of the brain-gut axis. Treatment approaches in IBS are mainly focused on symptoms management through lifestyle modification, psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. These conventional pharmacological treatments include antispasmodics, antidiarrheals, or laxatives and bulking agents, 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonists, 5-HT4 receptor agonists, antibiotics, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and probiotics. Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with probiotics has achieved effectiveness to a certain extent. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of the prebiotic isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMO) on visceral hypersensitivity (VHS) in rats and to explore potential mechanism

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