The intestinal microbiota modulates the visceral sensitivity involved in IBS induced by restraint combined with tail clustering.

Objective: To compare three common stimuli that induce emotional stress to identify the optimal method for establishing an animal model that aligns with the clinical pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and to explore the gut microbiota mechanisms underlying IBS development.

Methods: Thirty-six SPF-grade female Kunming mice were randomly divided into four groups: the normal control (NC) group, the restraint stress (BM) group, the tail clamp stress (CTM) group, and the restraint combined with tail clamp stress (BCTM) group, with 9 mice in each group. The NC group was fed normally without any stimulation.