Gastroenterology

BACKGROUND: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder characterized by visceral hypersensitivity and increased intestinal permeability. Stressful events can affect the onset and course of IBS. In rats, stress also induces visceral hypersensitivity and gut hyperpermeability. Mucoprotectant agents such as gelatin tannate and xyloglucan, have been shown to provide protection to the intestinal mucosa and to exert anti-diarrheal effects. On the other hand, prebiotics exert beneficial effect on the gut via a bifidogenic effect into the colon. Therefore, the aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of an acute vs a chronic treatment of a compound containing mucoprotectants (xyloglycan (XYL), pea proteins and tannins from grape (PPT) and a prebiotic (xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) on visceral hypersensitivity and gut hyperpermeability induced by an acute stress in rat.