Effects of Dachengqi Decoction () on morphological changes in enteric nerve system of rats with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the morphological changes in enteric nerve system (ENS) of rats with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) treated by Dachengqi Decoction (, DCQD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the control group, MODS model group and DCQD treated group. The rats in MODS model group and DCQD treated group were injected Escherichia coli (E. coli) suspension into abdominal cavity under sterile condition. The DCQD treated group was gavaged with DCQD 2 days before the E. coli suspension was injected. Twenty-four hours after injection, the proximal segment of intestine was resected and studied by immunohistofluorescence using vesicular acetylcholine transporter, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), substance P (SP) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) antibodies. The whole-mount preparations were observed by laser scanning confocal microscope to detect the changes of quantity and fluorescence integral optical density (IOD) value of intestine enteric nerves.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the quantity and IOD value of acetylcholine (ACh), VIP, SP and nitric oxide (NO) nerves of intestine in the MODS group were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the network of enteric nerves was remarkably disrupted. Compared with the MODS group, the quantity and fluorescence IOD value of ACh, VIP, SP and NO nerves in the DCQD group were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the network of enteric nerves was remarkably recovered.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DCQD can protect and repair damage in the network of ACh, SP, NO and VIP nerves in rats with MODS, which may be one of mechanisms involved in promoting gastrointestinal motility by DCQD.</p>

Intervention effect of Dachengqi Granule on apoptosis of small intestine smooth muscle cells in rats with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the intervention of Dachengqi Granule (DG) on the apoptosis of small intestine smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in rats with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and its mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Healthy 100 adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group (n =20), the MODS model group (n =40), and the DG group (n =40).E. coli suspension was peritoneally injected to rats in the model group and the DG group to establish bacterial peritonitis induced MODS model. DG at 1 mL/100 g was administered by gastrogavage to rats of the DG group, twice daily for 3 successive days. Twenty-four hours after modeling, the proximal segment of intestine was taken and stained by using terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemistry. Changes of apoptosis quantity of SMCs and the expression of Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) and cytochrome c protein (Cyt c) in mitochondrial apoptotic signaling pathway were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the apoptosis quantity of SMCs and the expression of Bax and Cyt c protein significantly increased, and the expression of Bcl-2 protein significantly decreased in the MODS model group (P <0.01). Compared with the MODS model group, the apoptosis quantity of SMCs and the expression of Bax and Cyt c proteins significantly decreased, and the expression of Bcl-2 protein significantly increased in the DG group (allP <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DG could inhibit apoptosis of SMCs through suppressing activation of mitochondrial apoptotic signaling pathway in intestinal SMCs, thus promoting the recovery of the gastrointestinal motility function in rats with MODS.</p>