Stress-induced enhancement of colitis in rats: crf and vasopressin are not involved. Gu[acute]e, Mich[grave]ele, Cathy Bonbonne, Jean Fioramonti, Jean Mor[acute]e, Chantal Del Rio-Lach[grave]eze, Christine Com[acute]era, Jean Louis Junien, and Lionel Bu[acute]eno. Department of Pharmacology, INRA, 180, chemin de Tournefeuille, BP 3, 31931 Toulouse cedex, France, Institut de Recherches Jouveinal, Fresnes, France, Ferring Laboratoires, Gentilly, France
APStracts 3:0201G, 1996.
Since exacerbation of colitis seems to be associated with stress, we proposed to evaluate the influence of stress and the involvement of corticotropin releasing factor and vasopressin on experimental colitis in rats. Partial restraint stress was applied during 4 consecutive days, before or after intracolonic trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid instillation (15 mg) in rats. Finally,2 groups of rats were centrally injected with [alpha]-helical CRF9-41 (5 [mu]g) or vasopressin antagonist (5 [mu]g) before each session of stress. Stress applied before or right after trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid enhanced colitis with increase in macroscopic and histological scores and myeloperoxidase activity. [alpha]-helical CRF9-41 or vasopressin antagonist had no effect on TNB-induced colitis but enhanced the effects of stress on colitis. These results show that stress may exacerbate the experimental colitis in rats and that corticotropin releasing factor and vasopressin are not responsible for this effect.

Received 10 April 1996; accepted in final form 30 August 1996.
APS Manuscript Number G133-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Gastrointest. Liver
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 7 October 1996