title: Effects of berberine on rat jejunal motility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate berberine-induced bidirectional regulation on the contractility of jejunum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Different low and high contractile states of isolated jejunal segment from rat were established to investigate the effects of berberine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stimulatory effects on jejunal segment were exerted by berberine in six low contractile states and inhibitory effects were produced on jejunal segment in six high contractile states. The effects of berberine on myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) mRNA expression, MLCK protein content, and myosin phosphorylation in jejunum were also bidirectional. Bidirectional regulation was not observed in the presence of tetrodotoxin. No regulatory effects of berberine on jejunal contractility were observed in the presence of verapamil. The stimulatory effects of berberine on jejunal contractility were blocked by atropine. The inhibitory effects of berberine on jejunal contractility were abolished by phentolamine, propranolol and L-NG-nitro-arginine, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Berberine-induced bidirectional regulation needed the presence of the enteric nervous system, and depended on the influx of extracellular Ca(2+) , related to the cholinergic system while jejunum was in low contractile states, and related to the adrenergic system and nitric oxide relaxing mechanism while jejunum was in high contractile states. The results suggested the potential clinical implication of berberine for alternating-type irritable bowel syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
authors.forename: Da-Peng
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yong-Jian
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Bo-Chao
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Fang-Fei
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ze-Yao
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D018663:Adrenergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028142:Berberis / Q000737:chemistry; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017615:Enteric Nervous System; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009219:Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018663:Adrenergic Agents; D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001599:Berberine; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D001285:Atropine; D001120:Arginine; D011433:Propranolol; D014700:Verapamil; D009219:Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase; D009218:Myosins; D002118:Calcium