Dexpanthenol attenuates anxiety-like behaviors and inflammatory factors in a rat model of acetic acid-induced colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease often associated with gastrointestinal symptoms and behavioral disorders such as anxiety. Given the established role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in gut–brain axis dysregulation, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of dexpanthenol (DEX) on anxiety-like behaviors and inflammatory responses in a rat model of acetic acid (A.A)-induced colitis. Thirty-two rats were randomly assigned to four groups ( n = 8): control (saline), DEX 500 (dexpanthenol, 500 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), A.A (4% acetic acid, intracolonic), and A.A + DEX 500 (4% acetic acid plus dexpanthenol, 500 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). Anxiety-like behaviors were assessed using the open field, elevated plus maze, and light–dark box tests. Levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) were measured in serum, colon, and hippocampal tissues. Rats with acetic acid-induced colitis exhibited significant anxiety-like behaviors, accompanied by increased IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels in the colon, serum, and hippocampus. Treatment with dexpanthenol attenuated anxiety-like behaviors and significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine levels in both peripheral and central tissues. The present study demonstrates that dexpanthenol improves anxiety-like behaviors in experimental colitis and is associated with reduced inflammatory responses in the colon, serum, and hippocampus. These findings indicate that colitis-associated behavioral alterations are accompanied by inflammatory changes, and warrant further mechanistic investigations to clarify the underlying mechanisms.