Exposure to continuous darkness ameliorates gastric and colonic inflammation in the rat: both receptor and non-receptor-mediated processes.

Background And Aim: Melatonin is a hormone involved in the transduction of photoperiodic information, and appears to modulate a variety of neural and endocrine functions. The present study was designed to determine the impact of continuous darkness (CD) on acute gastric and colonic inflammation and the involvement of melatonin receptors in the darkness-related alterations in oxidant gut injury.

Methods: Rats were housed either in CD or in standardized light/dark (12/12 h) cycles for 15 days before the induction of colitis or gastric ulcer.

Enterogastric brake in rats with segmental bowel resection: role of capsaicin-sensitive nerves.

1. Unabsorbed nutrients in the distal gut inhibit upper gastrointestinal motility. 2.