Effect of Plantaginis semen on the expressions of AQP4 gene and protein in small intestine of diarrhea rats / 国际中医中药杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the effect of Plantaginis semen on the expressions of AQP4 gene and protein in small intestine of diarrhea rats. Methods:Sixty Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model control group, hydrochlorothiazide group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose Plantaginis semen groups. Intragastric administration of Senna (20 ml/kg) was implemented in the morning for 5 groups except the normal group. The rats in the low-, medium-, and high-dose Plantaginis semen groups were intragastrically administered with 0.95, 1.9, 3.8 g/kg Plantaginis semen formula granule solution, while the rats in hydrochlorothiazide group were given hydrochlorothiazide suspension 9 mg/kg by gavage according to 1 ml/100 g body weight for 14 days. The loose stool rate, average ranking of loose stool, and diarrhea index were compared according to the fecal traits and stool times after 14 days of treatment, and the small intesine tissue were collected. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining to observe the pathological morphological changes in small intestine, and Quantiative Real-time PCR and Western blot were applied to detect the gene and protein expressions of AQP4. Results:Compared with the model group, the loose stool rate (50.89% ± 6.17%, 41.14% ± 4.48%, 36.37% ± 4.81 % vs. 67.45% ± 7.35%), the average ranking of loose stool (2.16 ± 0.34, 1.73 ± 0.28, 1.52 ± 0.25 vs. 2.63 ± 0.29), and the diarrhea index (1.10 ± 0.19, 0.71 ± 0.11, 0.57 ± 0.12 vs. 1.77 ± 0.24) of rats in each group of Plantaginis semen significantly decreased ( P<0.05); the degree of intestinal mucosal injury, hyperemia and neutrophil infiltration were alleviated; the expressions of AQP4 mRNA (0.48 ± 0.10, 0.69 ± 0.12, 0.97 ± 0.15 vs. 0.21 ± 0.03), and the protein of AQP4 (0.59 ± 0.08, 0.64 ± 0.09, 0.78 ± 0.11 vs. 0.32 ± 0.05) in the small intestine tissue of Plantaginis semen groups significantly increased ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Plantaginis semen has antidiarrheal effect, and its mechanism is related to up-regulation the gene and protein expressions of AQP4, addition of water absorption and promotion of water and fluid metabolism.