The effect of chronic restraint stress on esophageal visceral sensitivity and significance of stress-induced esophageal inflammation and oxidative stress in a murine model

To discuss the effect of chronic restraint stress (CRS) on esophageal hypersensitivity and inflammation, as well as the impact of oxidative stress in a murine model. 20 male SPF mice were randomly divided into two groups, CRS and normal control(NC) group. Then the mice in CRS group were submitted to 2 h per day of restraint stress for a period of 14 days. For the rest of the time, mice in both groups were given free drinking and eating in the same environment. Histopathological changes of esophageal tissue were observed using HE staining and analyzed by histological damaging score. The esophageal expression levels of transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV-1) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4(NOX-4) were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Further more, protein expression level of TRPV-1 was also observed by Western blotting. In addition, mRNA expression levels of TRPV-1, oxidant/antioxidant enzymes and related cytokines in esophageal tissues were detected by real time PCR.