Study of Ghrelin gene expression level in gastric and colon tissue of male wistar rats under chronic immobilized stress condition and Spinach hydro alcoholic extract treatment

Immobilization stress is one of the factors affecting the physiological functions of the body and endocrine system. Ghrelin is a multifaceted gut hormone which activates its receptor, growth hormone secretagogue receptor and has stimulatory effects on food intake, fat deposition and growth hormone release. Because of the high levels of antioxidants and flavonoids, spinach might be modulating the effects of stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of chronic immobilization stress and spinach hydroalcoholic extract on the ghrelin gene expression in gastric and intestinal tissues of Wistar rats under chronic stress. 30 rats in 6 groups, including control, the stress group, the experimental group with stress and 200, 400 mg/Kg doses of spinach extracts treatment. All rats freely had rodent s food and water. After 6 weeks’ rats were dissected and their gastric and colon tissues were used for RNA extraction. After cDNA synthesized gene expression level investigated by Quantitative real-time PCR. Immobilization stress increased the expression of the ghrelin gene in the clone tissue, but there was no significant change in the expression of ghrelin gene in the gastric tissue. Spinach extract at 200 mg/Kg dose in the gastric and intestinal tissue caused a significant reduction in ghrelin gene expression.Increasing the ghrelin gene expression in the clonal tissue may affect the intestinal movement and cause various diseases such as constipation. Spinach as a plant with antioxidant compounds might be to reduce the stress side effects.