title: Simotang enhances gastrointestinal motility, motilin and cholecystokinin expression in chronically stressed mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of Simotang (Decoction of Four Powered Drugs) on gastrointestinal motility, motilin and cholecystokinin expression in chronically stressed mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty mice were randomly divided into control group, stress group (model group), mosapride group and Simotang group, 10 in each group. A variety of unpredictable stimulations were used to induce chronic stress in mice. Then, the mice were treated with distilled water, mosapride or Simotang for 7 d. Gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion function were detected. Serum level of motilin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of cholecystokinin (CCK) in intestine, spinal cord and brain of mice was detected by immunohistochemistry and semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Simotang improved the gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion in chronically stressed mice. Furthermore, the serum motilin level was significantly higher and the expression levels of CCK-positive cells and genes were significantly lower in intestine, spinal cord and brain of Simotang group than in those of model group (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in serum motilin level and expression levels of CCK-positive cells and genes between the mosapride and Simotang groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simotang enhances the gastrointestinal motility in chronically stressed mice by regulating the serum motilin level and the expression of cholecystokinin.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410007, Hunan Province, China. lby1203@sina.com
authors.forename: Guang-Xian
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Bai-Yan
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Xue-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fu-Ling
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D009037:Motilin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D009025:Morpholines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009037:Motilin; D002766:Cholecystokinin; C062720:mosapride