Vagal afferent input from the acid-challenged rat stomach to the brainstem: Enhancement by interleukin-1β

Abstract Exposure of the gastric mucosa to back-diffusing concentrations of HCl (0.25 M, pH 0.51) stimulates vagal afferent input to the brainstem. Here we have examined whether pretreatment of rats with the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α causes sensitization of vagal afferent pathways to HCl. Rats were pretreated i.p. with interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (10 μg/kg) or their vehicle (sterile saline) 24, 48 and 96 h before intragastric administration of HCl (0.25 M, 1 ml/100 g). Activation of neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii was visualized by c-Fos immunohistochemistry 2 h after the HCl challenge. I.p. administration of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α alone induced c-Fos in the brainstem, an effect that was gone after 24 h. At this time, however, the effect of HCl to cause expression of c-Fos in the nucleus tractus solitarii was significantly enhanced by pretreatment with interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α. The sensitizing effect of i.p.-administered interleukin-1β was sustained for more than 48 h and prevented by the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist anakinra. Intracisternal administration of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (100 ng) failed to amplify the HCl-evoked expression of c-Fos in the brainstem. These results show that peripheral administration of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α induces prolonged sensitization of vagal afferent pathways to gastric HCl challenge. This effect seems to arise from a peripheral action on vagal afferents and may be of relevance to gastric chemonociception.