title: Implantable Colonic Electrical Stimulation Improves Gastrointestinal Transit and Defecation in a Canine Constipation Model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Colonic electrical stimulation (CES) may have a therapeutic potential for slow transit constipation (STC). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of implantable CES on gastrointestinal transit and defecation, and explore its mechanisms in a canine STC model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two pairs of electrodes were implanted in each of the proximal colon and rectosigmoid junction (RSJ). Parameters were individualized according to the symptoms of the stimulated dogs. In the STC model, gastrointestinal transit and defecation were assessed to evaluate the effects of double-site CES, and of double-site CES combined with atropine or N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) in a crossover design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individualized parameters varied among the animals. The CES significantly shortened gastrointestinal transit time (GITT) and colonic transit time (CTT) compared with sham CES (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Compared with sham CES, the CES also exhibited significantly higher stool frequency and stool consistency score (p = 0.018 and p = 0.001, respectively). Co-treatment with atropine or L-NNA blocked the effects of CES on GITT, CTT, and stool consistency. The stool frequency increased by CES, however, only reduced by co-treatment with L-NNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This double-site implantable CES can improve the gastrointestinal transit and defecation in a canine STC model, possibly by activating the cholinergic and nitrergic pathways. The CES mode used in this study may be proven feasible in treating STC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.|Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yanmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.|Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shukun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yanli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Tsinghua Chang Gung Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Rishena Technology Development Co. Ltd., Changzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D003106:Colon / Q000502:physiology*; D003248:Constipation / Q000150:complications* / Q000662:veterinary*; D003672:Defecation / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D019335:Nitroarginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D019335:Nitroarginine; D001285:Atropine
keywords: Colonic electrical stimulation; defecation; gastrointestinal transit; individualized parameter; slow transit constipation