Enterochromaffin cell hyperplasia and decreased serotonin transporter in a mouse model of postinfectious bowel dysfunction

Patients with postinfective irritable bowel syndrome and Trichinella spiralis‐infected mice share many features including visceral hypersensitivity and disordered motility. We assessed enterochromaffin (EC) numbers and serotonin transporter (SERT) using National Institute of Health (NIH) female mice studied for up to 56 days post‐T. spiralis infection. The effects of steroid treatment and the T‐cell dependence of the observed responses were assessed by infection of hydrocortisone‐treated or T‐cell receptor knock out [TCR (β×δ) KO] animals. Enterochromaffin cell density in uninfected animals increased from duodenum 10.0 cells mm−2 (5.9–41.0) to colon 61.8. (46.3–162) cells mm−2P