ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of exogenous glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)on colon glial cells in slow transit constipation (STC ) rats,and to explore the optimal concentration of GDNF in order to provide evidence for intestinal neurotrophic therapy in the treatment of STC.Methods A total of 132 SD rats were divided into STC group and control group,66 rats in each group.STC rats were established by feeding with rhubarb.Six rats were randomly selected from either groups to verify whether STC model was successfully established.And the left 120 rats of two groups were randomly divided into six subgroups:STC group one to group six and control group one to group six,ten rats in each group,which were untreated,injected through tail vein with saline,and 0.001 ,0.010, 0.050,0.100 μg/L GDNF 2 mL respectively for one week.The expression of Sox-8 at protein level of either group were detected by Western blotting.Independent sample t test was performed for statistical analysis.Results After treated with 0.001 μg/L GDNF (STC group three),there was no significant difference in expression level of Sox-8 between STC group three and STC group one (13.38 ±0.70 vs 13.39±0.45 ,t = 0.042,P = 0.969 ).After treated with 0.010 μg/L GDNF (STC group four),the difference in expression level of Sox-8 between STC group four and STC group three was significant (21 .11 ±2.56 vs 13.38±0.70,t=5 .040,P <0.01).After treated with 0.050 μg/mL GDNF (STC group five),the expression level of Sox-8 was higher than that in STC group four (31.86±1.57 vs 21.11±2.56,t=-6.198,P <0.01 ).The Sox-8 expression of untreated,saline treated,0.001 and 0.050 μg/L GDNF treated STC rats (STC group one,two,three and five)were lower than those of the corresponding control groups (t= 3.394,12.103,10.302,- 6.120,all P < 0.05 ).Conclusion Exogenous GDNF could increase Sox-8 expression in colon tissue of STC rats,an increase in the number of colon glial cells could repair enteric nervous system,and 0.050 μg/L was the optimal concentration.