brain activation in response to visceral stimulation in rats with amygdala implants of corticosterone an fmri study在老鼠大脑活动在内脏刺激杏仁体植入皮质甾酮的功能磁共振成像研究.pdfVIP

Brain Activation in Response to Visceral Stimulation in Rats with Amygdala Implants of Corticosterone: An fMRI Study 2 2 3 4 Anthony C. Johnson , Brent Myers , Jelena Lazovic , Rheal Towner , Beverley Greenwood-Van Meerveld1,2* 1VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America, 2 Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America, 3 Biological Imaging Center, Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America, 4 Advanced Magnetic Resonance Center, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America Abstract Background: Although visceral pain of gastrointestinal (GI) origin is the major complaint in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) it remains poorly understood. Brain imaging studies suggest a defect in brain-gut communication in IBS with a greater activation of central arousal circuits including the amygdala. Previously, we found that stereotaxic implantation of corticosterone (CORT) onto the amygdala in rats induced anxiety and colonic hypersensitivity. In the present study we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify specific brain sites activated in a rat model characterized by anxiety and colonic hypersensitivity. Methodology/Principal Findings: Anesthetized male rats received micropellets (30 mg each) of either CORT or cholesterol (CHOL), to serve as a control, implanted stereotaxically on the dorsal margin of each amygdala. Seven days later, rats were anesthetized and placed in the fMRI magnet (7T). A series of isobaric colorectal balloon distensions (CRD - 90s ‘off’, 30s ‘on’, 8 r