Effect of Zhizhu Decoction on Mast Cells and Gastrointestinal Hormone in Mice with Constipation Due to Spleen Asthenia / 中药新药与临床药理

ABSTRACT

Objective Effect of Zhizhu decoction ( ZD) on mast cells( MC) of colonic mucosa in mice with constipation due to spleen asthenia was observed and the relationship between MC and the immunoreactivity of substance P ( SP) and somatostatin ( SS) was explored to investigate the therapeutic mechanism of ZD.Methods The mice models with constipation due to spleen asthenia were induced by the discordance between starvation and engorgement plus overfatigue. The MC count and SP and SS expression were detected by modified toluidine blue method and LSAB immunohistochemical method respectively, and then analyzed with IMS color image processing system and related software. Results The MC density in the colonic mucosa in the constipated mice was reduced. The MC density was correlated positively with the mean intensity and area of SP immunoreactivity ( r=0.6508, P