FUNCTIONAL GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF EXPERIMENTAL MODELS OF STRESS

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common worldwide, occurring in about 40% of the population, more commonly in women than men, and decreasing with age. Today, the influence of stress on the clinical course of inflammatory bowel diseases and FGIDs, which include functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome, is well recognized. Experimental models of stress in rodents provide important insights into gastrointestinal dysfunction and are used to investigate the mechanisms of stress-induced alterations. In this study, we analyzed gastric and intestinal motility, visceral sensitivity, and hormonal changes in rats subjected to restraint stress, water-immersion stress, and social defeat. The results showed that different stress models differentially affected gastrointestinal function, suggesting distinct underlying mechanisms. Restraint stress mainly influenced motility, while social stress had a stronger impact on visceral hypersensitivity. These findings help to better understand the pathophysiology of stress-related FGIDs and identify potential therapeutic targets.