When we think about stress, we usually think about symptoms such as headaches or trouble sleeping. However, chronic stress can also affect something many people don’t immediately consider: the gut. Scientists are consistently studying the communication system between the digestive tract and the brain. Disruptions in this system have been associated with mood disorders, inflammation, and digestive problems. One molecule that may play an important role in this connection is Reelin.
Reelin is a protein known to support cell movement and tissue renewal in various parts of the body. It is primarily known for its role in brain development and supporting healthy brain structure, but recent studies have found Reelin outside of the brain, such as in the small intestine. Since chronic stress hormones can alter gut structures and function, scientists have studied whether Reelin may be involved in how stress harms the intestinal lining.
The communication system between the digestive tract and the brain plays an important role in the proper functioning of the body.
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In a recent study from various Canadian universities, researchers used male rats to investigate changes to Reelin levels in the small intestine during prolonged stress. Additionally, they tested to see whether injecting extra Reelin could reverse stress-related damage. To best mimic chronic stress, rats were given daily injections of corticoestrone (a stress hormone) for three weeks. The animals were divided into four groups: stress hormone plus Reelin, stress hormone without Reelin, Reelin alone, or no treatment.
After the treatment period, the rats’ small intestines were examined. Reelin levels and cell death (apoptosis) were measured, focusing specifically on the tips of the intestinal villi, the hair-like projections in the small intestine. In the rats exposed to the stress hormone but no Reelin, the number of Reelin-producing cells and apoptotic cells was significantly lower, indicating that stress had disrupted the gut’s normal renewal process.
A single injection of Reelin in stressed rats, though, was found to restore Reelin-positive cells and return apoptosis to normal levels. Days later, these effects were still seen, indicating that the benefits were not just temporary.
These findings suggest that Reelin may help protect the gut lining when experiencing chronic stress and can become a promising target for future treatments addressing stress-related digestive disorders and even depression.
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