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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Nov 26.
Published in final edited form as: Gastroenterol Pol. 2010;17(2):89–97.

TABLE II.

Modulation of the brain-gut axis by ovarian hormones

Level of the brain-gut axis Estrogen Progesterone
Central nervous system analgesic or hyperalgesic effect (42)

excitatory action on neurons (46)

estrogen-induced increase in the number of µ-opioid receptors (43)

enhancement of serotonergic postsynaptic responsiveness in the brain (57)

central interaction with CRF signaling pathways - modulation of stress responsiveness (68)

influence on neuronal plasticity-related processes (48)		 activation of the y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, major inhibitory receptors in the brain (50)
Autonomic nervous system attenuation of sympathetic responsiveness (62) reduced cholinergic responsiveness (5)
Enteric nervous system//immune system expression of estrogen receptors in enteric neurons - regulation of neurogenic reflexes (48)

enhancement of visceral signaling following colonic inflammation (56)

augmentation of mast cell secretion (76)

effects on both pro- and anti- inflammatory pathways (73)

peripheral interaction with CRF signaling pathways - modulation of colonic motor and sensory responses to stress (68)		 inhibitiont of gastrointestinal motility (52)

inhibition of visceral signaling following colonic inflammation (56)

inhibition of mast cell degranulation (77)

CRF - corticotropin-releasing factor