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SUMMARY Background

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Background: Psychological stress and increased permeability are implicated as contributing factors in the initiation and worsening of gastrointestinal diseases. A link between stress and intestinal permeability has been shown in animal models as well as in human small intestine, but stress effects on the human colorectal mucosal barrier has not been reported.Objective: To investigate the potential effects of acute psychological stress on colorectal mucosal barrier function and to explore stress-induced molecular events in the rectal mucosa under healthy conditions. Methods: Endoscopic biopsies were taken from the rectosigmoid region of healthy volunteers, who had been subjected to dichotomous listening stress and after a control session, respectively. Paracellular and transcellular permeability were assessed in modified Ussing chambers. RNA expression (microarray technology confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction) and biological pathway analysis were used to investigate the local mucosal response to acute stress.Results: Dichotomous listening stress induced a subjective and objective stress response, and significantly increased paracellular but not transcellular permeability.