Journal article
Serotonin availability in rat colon is reduced during a Western diet model of obesity
American Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, Vol.303(3), pp.G424-G434
2012
Abstract
Constipation and slowed transit are associated with diet-induced obesity, although the mechanisms by which this occurs are unclear. Enterochromaffin (EC) cells within the intestinal epithelium respond to mechanical stimulation with the release of serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)], which promotes transit. Thus our aim was to characterize 5-HT availability in the rat colon of a physiologically relevant model of diet-induced obesity. EC cell numbers were determined immunohistochemically in chow-fed (CF) and Western diet-fed (WD) rats, while electrochemical methods were used to measure mechanically evoked (peak) and steady-state (SS) 5-HT levels. Fluoxetine was used to block the 5-HT reuptake transporter (SERT), and the levels of mRNA for tryptophan hydroxylase 1 and SERT were determined by quantitative PCR, and SERT protein was determined by Western blot. In WD rats, there was a significant decrease in the total number of EC cells per crypt (0.86±0.06 and 0.71±0.05 in CF and WD, respectively), which was supported by a reduction in the levels of 5-HT in WD rats (2.9±1.0 and 10.5±2.6 μM at SS and peak, respectively) compared with CF rats (7.3±0.4 and 18.4±3.4 μM at SS and peak, respectively). SERT-dependent uptake of 5-HT was unchanged, which was supported by a lack of change in SERT protein levels. In WD rats, there was no change in tryptophan hydroxylase 1 mRNA but an increase in SERT mRNA. In conclusion, our data show that foods typical of a WD are associated with decreased 5-HT availability in rat colon. Decreased 5-HT availability is driven primarily by a reduction in the numbers and/or 5-HT content of EC cells, which are likely to be associated with decreased intestinal motility in vivo. © 2012 the American Physiological Society.
Details
- Title
- Serotonin availability in rat colon is reduced during a Western diet model of obesity
- Authors
- R L Bertrand (Author) - University of New South WalesS Senadheera (Author) - University of New South WalesA Tanoto (Author) - University of New South WalesK L Tan (Author) - University of New South WalesL Howitt (Author) - University of New South WalesH Chen (Author) - University of Technology SydneyT V Murphy (Author) - University of New South WalesShaun L Sandow (Author) - University of New South WalesLu Liu (Author) - University of New South WalesP P Bertrand (Author) - University of New South Wales
- Publication details
- American Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, Vol.303(3), pp.G424-G434
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Date published
- 2012
- DOI
- 10.1152/ajpgi.00048.2012
- ISSN
- 0193-1857
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Biomedicine; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99448614602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Gastroenterology & Hepatology
- Physiology
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