title: Intragastric infusion of rikkunshito (kampo) induces proximal stomach relaxation in conscious dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Abnormal proximal gastric relaxation is one of the causes of functional dyspepsia. The purpose of this study is to use a barostat in conscious dogs to determine the effects of rikkunshito, which is considered to have beneficial effects on functional dyspepsia, on the proximal stomach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight beagles were used. A gastrocutaneous fistula and force transducers were surgically implanted in the middle corpus and gastric antrum and duodenum, respectively. After a recovery period, a plastic bag was inserted through the gastrocutaneous fistula and the proximal stomach was distended using a barostat. First, four dogs were used to investigate the pressure-volume relation in the fasted and postprandial phases. Second, the stomachs of four different dogs were continuously distended at minimal distending pressure +2 mmHg, and 5 min later were infused with warmed liquid rikkunshito (2 g/20 mL) or water through the gastrocutaneous fistula. Finally, changes in the proximal gastric volume and gastrointestinal motility were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proximal stomach was significantly more pliable in the postprandial phase than in the fasted phase. The proximal gastric volume increased immediately after liquid infusion under constant pressure in both phases and duodenal motility was accelerated. The effect of rikkunshito was significantly greater and lasted longer than that of water. No significant difference between the effects during the fasted or postprandial phase and no change in the gastric antrum motility were observed when rikkunshito was infused.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that rikkunshito accelerates duodenal motility and relaxes the proximal stomach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Japan. Electronic address: furukawa@med.kawasaki-m.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Naohiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manabe
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kase
authors.forename: Tomohisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kusunoki
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haruma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000187:drug effects*; D004285:Dogs; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C084136:liu-jun-zi-tang
keywords: Barostat; Proximal gastric relaxation; Rikkunshito