Research Progress on the Relationship Between Gastrointestinal Diseases and Neural Nuclei in Animal Models.

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are manifestations of abnormal brain-gut interactions, which are closely related to brain functions. Systematic sorting of the central mechanisms related to GI functions is of great clinical significance for preventing and treating GI disorders. We therefore conducted a literature search in the PubMed and Web of Science databases, spanning publications from January, 1975 to March 31, 2025. A total of 398 articles were retrieved, with three of these identified through supplementary searches. After screening, 56 animal studies were included for analysis. The findings indicate that central regulation of GI function is primarily mediated by the frontal and cingulate cortices. Subcortical nuclei appear to be more strongly associated with GI activity than cortical regions, particularly nuclei within the hypothalamus, brainstem, hippocampal gyrus, central amygdala, and thalamus. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis plays a crucial role in the regulation of GI function via neuroendocrine pathways and has been extensively studied. However, most studies to date have focused on individual brain regions or specific nuclei, with limited investigation into integrated neural circuits or axis-level mechanisms. Recent advances in neuroscience techniques have paved the way for future studies to more comprehensively investigate cortical-subcortical brainstem multilevel neural circuits and cross-organ regulation of central-GI interactions, contributing to a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms of GI-brain interactions.