Abstract: Objective To study the effect of Jiaweisinisan (JWSNS), a traditional Chinese herbal medicinal recipe, on gastric
mucosal ultrastructure and brain-gut axis in rat models of chronic psychological stress and elucidate the mechanism of JWSNS
for ameliorating stress-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction. Methods Sixty rats were randomly assigned into normal control
group, model group, 3 JWSNS groups (high, moderate, and small doses), and omeprazole group (n=10). Rat models of chronic
psychological stress were established by random stressful stimulations, and following the corresponding interventions, plasma
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol (CORT) levels were detected using radioimmunoassay, and the mRNA
expressions of gastrin receptor in the gastric tissue (GASR) and vasoactive intestinal peptide II receptor (VIPR2) in the jejunal
tissue were examined using RT-PCR. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to examine the ultrastructural changes
in the gastric mucosa tissue cells of the glandular stomach area and alterations in the intercellular junctions. Results Electron
microscopy revealed obvious damages in gastric mucosal epithelial cell organelles and nuclei in the model rats. These
damages were ameliorated after treatments with JWSNS and omeprazole. Compared with the model group, the 3 JWSNS
groups and omeprazole group all showed significantly lowered plasma ACTH and CORT levels, increased gastrin receptor
mRNA expression and decreased jejunal VIPR2 mRNA expression (P<0.05 or 0.01). Conclusion JWSNS can obviously
ameliorate the pathologies of the gastric mucosa cells, regulate the state of brain-gut axis, and modulate the gastric gastrin
receptor and jejunal VIPR2 mRNAexpressions in rats with chronic psychological stress.