Diosmectite treatment reduces stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity but does not affect the gut microbiota in rats

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of diosmectite on visceral hypersensitivity and intestinal transit in a rat chronic stress model and on the faecal microbiota. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar rats (175-225 g: n=10) were randomized into four groups: diosmectite/control. diosmectite/stress, vehicle/control, and vehicle/stress. Diosmectite (500 mg/kg. PO) was administered for five days for assessment of visceral hypersensitivity and intestinal transit and for three weeks for assessment of faecal microbiota. The stress procedure was a daily chronic passive water avoidance session. Intestinal transit was evaluated by faecal output in the hour following the last stress session. Visceral sensitivity in response to colorectal distension (CRD) was assessed at baseline and 30 min after the last stress session. In another group of rats. faecal material was collected before and after treatment with diosmectite or vehicle: genomic DNA was extracted and sequenced to characterize the faecal microbiota. RESULTS: Under nonstressed conditions, diosmectite treatment did not modify intestinal transit compared to the vehicle group (p=0.33). After the stress procedure. a trend towards reduction in stress-induced stool production was observed with diosmectite compared to vehicle (6.3 +/- 1.1 vs. 4.9 +/- 1.2 respectively: p=0.38). In the control condition. the number of CRD-evoked abdominal contractions was 20 +/- 4 after diosmectite and 24 +/- 2 after vehicle (p=0.75). In the stressed condition, the number of contractions increased to 34.4 +/- 2.4 after vehicle (p<0.05 compared to control). Stress-related hypersensitivity was attenuated after diosmectite treatment (26.9 +/- 2.2; p<0.05 compared to vehicle). No relevant changes were observed in the faecal microbiotic profile after treatment with diosmectite or vehicle. CONCLUSIONS: Diosmectite treatment attenuates stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity: this effect may contribute to the therapeutic effect of diosmectite in IBS in humans.