title: Total Glucosides of Paeony Promote Intestinal Motility in Slow Transit Constipation Rats through Amelioration of Interstitial Cells of Cajal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Using an atropine-diphenoxylate-induced slow transit constipation (STC) model, this study explored the effects of the total glucosides of paeony (TGP) in the treatment of STC and the possible mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective experimental animal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The constipation model was set up in rats with an oral gavage of atropine-diphenoxylate and then treated with the TGP. The volume and moisture content of the faeces were observed and the intestinal kinetic power was evaluated. Meanwhile, the colorimetric method and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were employed to determine the changes of nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), vasoative intestinal peptide (VIP) and the P substance (SP) in the serum, respectively. The protein expressions of c-kit and stem cell factor (SCF) were assessed by immunohistochemical analysis and western blot, respectively, and the mRNA level of c-kit was measured by a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TGP attenuated STC responses in terms of an increase in the fecal volume and moisture content, an enhancement of intestinal transit rate and the reduction of NO, NOS and VIP in the serum. In addition, the c-kit, a labeling of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) increased at both protein and mRNA levels. SCF, which serves as a ligand of c-kit also increased at protein level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis of our data indicated that the TGP could obviously attenuate STC through improving the function of ICC and blocking the inhibitory neurotransmitters such as NO, NOS and VIP.
authors.affiliation: Center of Analysis and Testing, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Feiye
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Library of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yongsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory animal center, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Fangming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jinjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Guanqun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D005960:Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056885:Interstitial Cells of Cajal / Q000378:metabolism*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000097:blood; D029596:Paeonia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013373:Substance P / Q000097:blood; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005960:Glucosides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit