Alterations in serotonin, transient receptor potential channels and protease-activated receptors in rats with irritable bowel syndrome attenuated by Shugan decoction

AIM:To determine the molecular mechanisms of Shugan decoction(SGD) in the regulation of colonic motility and visceral hyperalgesia(VHL) in irritable bowel syndrome(IBS).METHODS:The chemical compounds contained in SGD were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography.A rat model of IBS was induced by chronic water avoidance stress(WAS).The number of fecal pellets was counted after WAS and the pain pressure threshold was measured by colorectal distension.Morphological changes in colonic mucosa were detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining.The contents of tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-αin colonic tissue and calcitonin-gene-related peptide(CGRP)in serum were measured by ELISA.The protein expression of serotonin[5-hydroxytryptamide(5-HT)],serotonin transporter(SERT),chromogranin A(Cg A)and CGRP incolon tissue was measured by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS:SGD inhibited colonic motility dysfunction and VHL in rats with IBS.Blockers of transient receptor potential(TRP)vanilloid 1(TRPV1)(Ruthenium Red)and TRP ankyrin-1(TRPA1)(HC-030031)and activator of protease-activated receptor(PAR)4 increased the pain pressure threshold,whereas activators of PAR2and TRPV4 decreased the pain pressure threshold in rats with IBS.The effect of SGD on pain pressure threshold in these rats was abolished by activators of TRPV1(capsaicin),TRPV4(RN1747),TRPA1(Polygodial)and PAR2(AC55541).In addition,CGRP levels in serum and colonic tissue were both increased in these rats.TNF-αlevel in colonic tissue was also significantly upregulated.However,the levels of 5-HT,SERT and Cg A in colonic tissue were decreased.All these pathological changes in rats with IBS were attenuated by SGD.CONCLUSION:SGD alleviated VHL and attenuated colon motility in IBS,partly by regulating TRPV1,TRPV4,TRPA1,PAR2,5-HT,Cg A and SERT,and reducing CGRP and TNF-αlevel.

Shugan-decoction relieves visceral hyperalgesia and reduces TRPV1 and SP colon expression

AIM:To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Shugan-decoction(SGD)on visceral hyperalgesia and colon gene expressions using a rat model.METHODS:Ninety-six adult male Wistar rats were randomized into six equal groups for assessment of SGD effects on psychological stress-induced changes using the classic water avoidance stress(WAS)test.Untreated model rats were exposed to chronic(1 h/d for 10 d consecutive)WAS conditions;experimental treatment model rats were administered with intragastric SGD at1 h before WAS on consecutive days 4-10(low-dose:0.1g/mL;mid-dose:0.2 g/mL;high-dose:0.4 g/mL);control treatment model rats were similarly administered with the irritable bowel syndrome drug,dicetel(0.0042g/mL);untreated normal control rats received no drug and were not subjected to the WAS test.At the end of the 10-d WAS testing period,a semi-quantitative measurement of visceral sensitivity was made by assessing the abdominal withdrawal reflex(AWR)to colorectal balloon-induced distension(at 5 mmHg increments)to determine the pain pressure threshold(PPT,evidenced by pain behavior).Subsequently,the animals were sacrificed and colonic tissues collected for assessment of changes in expressions of proteins related to visceral hypersensitivity(transient receptor potential vanilloid 1,TRPV1)and sustained visceral hyperalgesia(substance P,SP)by immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction.Inter-group differences were assessed by paired t test or repeated measures analysis of variance.RESULTS:The WAS test successfully induced visceral hypersensitivity,as evidenced by a significantly reduced AWR pressure in the untreated model group as compared to the untreated normal control group(190.4±3.48 mmHg vs 224.0±4.99 mmHg,P<0.001).SGD treatments at mid-dose and high-dose and the dicetel treatment significantly increased the WAS-reduced PPT(212.5±2.54,216.5±3.50 and 217.7±2.83 mmHg respectively,all P<0.001);however,the low-dose SGD treatment produced no significant effect on the WAS-reduced PPT(198.3±1.78 mmHg,P>0.05).These trends corresponded to the differential expressions observed for both TRPV1 protein(mid-dose:1.64±0.08 and high-dose:1.69±0.12 vs untreated model:3.65±0.32,P<0.001)and mRNA(0.44±0.16 and0.15±0.03 vs 1.39±0.15,P<0.001)and SP protein(0.99±0.20 and 1.03±0.23 vs 2.03±0.12,P<0.01)and mRNA(1.64±0.19 and 1.32±0.14 vs 2.60±0.33,P<0.05).These differential expressions of TRPV1 and SP related to mid-and high-dose SGD treatments were statistically similar to the changes induced by dicetel treatment.No signs of overt damage to the rat system were observed for any of the SGD dosages.CONCLUSION:Shugan-decoction can reduce chronic stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity in rats,and the regulatory mechanism may involve mediating the expressions of TRPV1 and SP in colon tissues.

Effects of initiating time and dosage of Panax notoginseng on mucosal microvascular injury in experimental colitis

AIM To investigate the effects of Panax notoginseng(PN) on microvascular injury in colitis, its mechanisms, initial administration time and dosage.METHODS Dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)-or iodoacetamide(IA)-induced rat colitis models were used to evaluate and investigate the effects of ethanol extract of PN on microvascular injuries and their related mechanisms. PN administration was initiated at 3 and 7 d after the model was established at doses of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0g/kg for 7 d. The severity of colitis was evaluated by disease activity index(DAI). The pathological lesions were observed under a microscope. Microvessel density(MVD) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Vascular permeability was evaluated using the Evans blue method. The serum concentrations of cytokines, including vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)A121, VEGFA165, interleukin(IL)-4, IL-6, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α, were detected by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. Myeloperoxidase(MPO) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) were measured to evaluate the level of oxidative stress. Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor(HIF)-1α protein was detected by western blotting.RESULTS Obvious colonic inflammation and injuries of mucosa and microvessels were observed in DSS-and IA-induced colitis groups. DAI scores, serum concentrations of VEGFA121, VEGFA165, VEGFA165/VEGFA121, IL-6 and TNF-α, and concentrations of MPO and HIF-1α in the colon were significantly higher while serum concentrations of IL-4 and IL-10 and MVD in colon were significantly lower in the colitis model groups than in the normal control group. PN promoted repair of injuries of colonic mucosa and microvessels, attenuated inflammation, and decreased DAI scores in rats with colitis. PN also decreased the serum concentrations of VEGFA121, VEGFA165, VEGFA165/VEGFA121, IL-6 and TNF-α, and concentrations of MPO and HIF-1α in the colon, and increased the serum concentrations of IL-4 and IL-10 as well as the concentration of SOD in the colon. The efficacy of PN was dosage dependent. In addition, DAI scores in the group administered PN on day 3 were significantly lower than in the group administered PN on day 7.CONCLUSION PN repairs vascular injury in experimental colitis via attenuating inflammation and oxidative stress in the colonic mucosa. Efficacy is related to initial administration time and dose.

Animal models of cathartic colon

The incidence of cathartic colon has been increasing,but satisfactory treatments are still lacking.In order to study the pathological mechanisms of the disorder and identify effective treatment methods,researchers have established different animal models of cathartic colon.This minireview briefly summarizes several common cathartic colon animal models,induced with anthraquinone laxatives such as rhubarb,total anthraquinone,rhein,and emodin,or induced with diphenylmethane laxatives such as phenolphthalein.The advantages and limitations of these models are evaluated and analyzed.We hope that this review will facilitate the selection of suitable models and improve relevant modeling methods.We anticipate the development of more convenient and stable models that can reflect the characteristics of cathartic colon in humans,and serve as useful tools for further studies.