Effects of Improved Sleep and Gastric Vagotomy on Serum Inflammatory Mediators in Peptic Ulcer Rats.

OBJECTIVE

Vagotomy is a method used to treat peptic ulcers, but its mechanism of action in terms of inflammatory mediators and neurophysiology remains unclear. This study investigates the effects of vagotomy and improved sleep on serum inflammatory mediators in rats.

METHODS

One hundred and eighty healthy rats were allocated into five groups, each consisting of 36 rats: control, sleep disturbance, ulcer, improved sleep and vagotomy. They underwent various treatments, including sleep deprivation, ulcer induction with acetic acid, and vagotomy. We measured gastric vagal nerve activity, gastric acid secretion, and serum inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α), comparing these parameters across groups.

RESULTS

Gastric acid secretion was elevated in the sleep disturbance and ulcer group but decreased in the improved sleep group (p < 0.01). Gastric vagal nerve activity was heightened in the sleep disturbance and ulcer group, with some improvement in the improved sleep group. Serum inflammatory mediators' mRNA expression was increased in both the ulcer and sleep disturbance group, while it decreased in the improved sleep and vagotomy group (p < 0.01). The vagotomy group showed no significant inflammation in the gastric mucosa, while some recovery was observed in the ulcer area's mucosa in the improved sleep group.

CONCLUSION

Improved sleep can enhance vagal nerve excitability, decrease inflammatory mediator release, and support the healing of peptic ulcers.