RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the effect of Da-Cheng-Qi decoction on enteric functional disturbance in rats with acute experimental pancreatitis and its potential mechanism. Methods Seventy-two SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, acute pancreatitis (AP) group and Da-Cheng-Qi decoction treated group with 24 each. The AP model was induced by retrograde injection of sodium taurocholate (0.1 ml/100 g) into bitiopancreatic duet. Before modeling, the rats in treatment group received Da-Cheng-Qi decoction (2 g/100 g), and the rats in other two groups received 0.9% NaCl solution. The rats were sacrificed at 3, 6 and 12 hours with 8 each, and the blood samples were taken for detecting the level of amylase and the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The colonic tissues 10 cm apart from trans-ligament incluing jejunum, terminal ileum and sigmoid colon were collected for examining the expressions of 5-HT_3 and 5-HT_4mRNA and proteins by RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively. Results ① The levels of serum amylase and 5-HT in AP group and treatment group were significantly higher than those in sham operation group (P<0. 01), but they were lower in treatment group than in AP group at each time points (P<0. 05). The level of 5-HT was increased in the initial stage and then decreased gradually both in AP group and treatment group. ③ The expressions of 5-HT_3 and 5-HT_4 mRNA and proteins were significantly decreased in the jejunum, terminal ileum and sigmoid colon in AP group compared with sham operation group (P<0. 01). Whereas the expressions of 5-HT_3 mRNA and protein,but not 5-HT_4, were increased in the treatment group in comparison with AP group (P<0.05). Conclusions The level of 5-HT is significantly increased in acute pancreatitis, but its receptors (5-HT_3 and 5-HT_4) are decreased, which may induce enteric functional disturbance. The Da-Cheng-Qi decoction may improve enteric dynamic failure by increasing the expression of 5-HT_4 and may be a choice for treatment of acute pancreatitis with enteric dynamic failure