J Neurogastroenterol Motil.  2018 Jul;24(3):479-489. 10.5056/jnm17093.

Effects of Fengliao-Changweikang in Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Rats and Its Mechanism Involving Colonic Motility

• Jia M
• Lu X
• Wang Z
• Zhao L
• Zhang S

• KMID: 2417393
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5056/jnm17093

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
This study was designed to investigate the effect of Fengliao-Changweikang (FLCWK) in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) rats and explore its underlying mechanisms.
METHODS
IBS-D model rats were induced by neonatal maternal separation (NMS) combined with restraint stress (RS). In in vivo experiments, the model rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: NMS + RS, FLCWK (low dose, middle dose, and high dose), and pinaverium bromide. The normal control (no handling) rats were classified as the NH group. The therapeutic effect of FLCWK was evaluated by fecal characteristics, electromyographic response and abdominal withdrawal reflex scores. In in vitro experiments, the model rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: NMS + RS, FLCWK (middle dose), and no handling rats were used as the NH group. The differences in basic tension and ACh-induced tension of isolated colonic longitudinal smooth muscle strips (CLSMs) among the 3 groups were observed. In addition, different inhibitors (nifedipine, TMB-8, L-NAME, methylene blue, and 4-AP) were pretreated to explore the underlying mechanisms.
RESULTS
In in vivo experiments, fecal characteristics, electromyographic response, and abdominal withdrawal reflex scores significantly improved in the FLCWK group, compared with the NMS + RS group. In in vitro experiments, the basic tension and ACh-induced tension of CLSMs in IBS-D rats were significantly inhibited by FLCWK. After pre-treatment with different inhibitors, the ACh-induced tension of CLSMs in each group showed no significant difference.
CONCLUSIONS
FLCWK manifested curative effect in IBS-D rats by inhibiting colonic contraction. The underlying mechanisms may be related to regulatory pathway of nitric oxide/cGMP/Ca2+ and specific potassium channels.

Keyword

Gastrointestinal motility; Herbal medicine; Irritable bowel syndrome; Nitric oxide; Potassium channels

MeSH Terms

Animals
Colon*
Gastrointestinal Motility
Herbal Medicine
In Vitro Techniques
Irritable Bowel Syndrome*
Methylene Blue
Muscle, Smooth
NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester
Nitric Oxide
Potassium Channels
Rats*
Reflex
Methylene Blue
NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester
Nitric Oxide
Potassium Channels