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Pain-related functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are characterized by visceral hypersensitivity (VHS) associated with alterations in the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Since human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) modulate microbiota, gut and brain, we investigated whether HMOs impact VHS, and explored the role of gut microbiota. To induce VHS, C57BL/6JRj mice received hourly water avoidance stress (WAS) sessions for 10 d, or antibiotics (ATB) for 12 d. Challenged and unchallenged (Sham) animals were fed AIN93M diet (Cont) or AIN93M containing 1% of a 6-HMO mix (HMO6). VHS was assessed by monitoring the visceromotor response to colorectal distension. Fecal microbiome was analyzed by shotgun metagenomics. The effect of HMO6 sub-blends on VHS and nociceptive pathways was further tested using the WAS model. In mice fed Cont, WAS and ATB increased the visceromotor response to distension. HMO6 decreased WAS-mediated electromyographic rise at most distension volumes and overall Area Under Curve (AUC=6.12±0.50 in WAS/HMO6 vs. 9.46±0.50 in WAS/Cont; P<.0001). In contrast, VHS in ATB animals was not improved by HMO6. In WAS, HMO6 promoted most microbiota taxa and several functional pathways associated with low VHS and decreased those associated with high VHS. Among the sub-blends, 2'FL+DFL and LNT+6'SL reduced visceromotor response close to Sham/Cont values and modulated serotoninergic and CGRPα-related pathways. This research further substantiates the capacity of HMOs to modulate the microbiota-gut-brain communication and identifies mitigation of abdominal pain as a new HMO benefit. Ultimately, our findings suggest the value of specific HMO blends to alleviate pain associated FGIDs such as infantile colic or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Narcotic bowel syndrome (NBS) is a subset of opioid bowel dysfunctions that results from prolonged treatment with narcotics and is characterized by chronic abdominal pain. NBS is under-recognized and its molecular mechanisms are unknown. We aimed to (1) develop a rat model of NBS and (2) to investigate its peripheral and central neurobiological mechanisms. Methods: Male Wistar rats were given a slow-release emulsion that did or did not contain morphine (10 mg/kg) for 8 days. Visceral sensitivity to colorectal distension (CRD) was evaluated during and after multiple administrations of morphine or vehicle (controls). The effects of minocycline (a microglia inhibitor), nor-binaltorphimine (a κ-opioid antagonist), and doxantrazole (a mast-cell inhibitor) were observed on morphine-induced visceral hyperalgesia. Levels of OX-42, P-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, rat mast cell protease II, and protein gene product 9.5 were assessed at different spinal segments (lumbar 6 to sacral 1) or colonic mucosa by immunohistochemistry. Results: On day 8 of morphine administration, rats developed visceral hyperalgesia to CRD (incipient response) that lasted for 8 more days (delayed response). Minocycline reduced the incipient morphine-induced hypersensitivity response to CRD whereas nor-binaltorphimine and doxantrazole antagonized the delayed hyperalgesia. Levels of OX-42 and P-p38 increased in the spinal sections, whereas rat mast cell protease II and protein gene product 9.5 increased in the colonic mucosa of rats that were given morphine compared with controls. Conclusions: We developed a rat model of narcotic bowel-like syndrome and showed that spinal microglia activation mediates the development of morphine-induced visceral hyperalgesia; peripheral neuroimmune activation and spinal dynorphin release represent an important mechanism in the delayed and long-lasting morphine-induced colonic hypersensitivity response to CRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]