Regulatory Mechanism of Total Glucosides of Paeony on Gut Microenvironment in Non-obese Diabetic Mice with Sjogren's Syndrome / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the effects of total glucosides of paeony （TGPs） on intestinal motility， barrier function， and gut microbiota in non-obese diabetic （NOD） mice with Sjogren's syndrome （SS）. Method:Thirty NOD mice were randomly assigned into the model group （deionized water）， prebiotic fructo-oligosaccharide （FOS） group （700 mg∙kg^-1）， and the low- （160 mg∙kg^-1）， medium- （320 mg∙kg^-1）， and high-dose （640 mg∙kg^-1） TGP groups， with six mice in each group. Moreover， the BALB/c mice were employed as the normal control and administered with deionized water. The food and water intakes， number of discharged fecal particles， and fecal moisture content were observed to evaluate the effect of TGPs on intestinal motility in SS mice. The levels of <italic>D</italic>-lactate （<italic>D</italic>-Lac） content， diamine oxidase （DAO）， and junction-associated protein zonula occludens-1 （ZO-1） in mouse serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The fecal samples collected at different time points were determined by spread plate method and gas chromatography for uncovering the intestinal microbial communities and the content of short-chain fatty acids. Result:Compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited decreased food and water intakes （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， weakened intestinal propulsion （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， elevated <italic>D</italic>-Lac and DAO （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）， lowered ZO-1 and SCFAs （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）， and reduced number of intestinal bacteria （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The comparison with the model group revealed that TGPs significantly increased the number of discharged fecal particles and fecal moisture content （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）， enhanced intestinal propulsion （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， decreased serum <italic>D</italic>-Lac and DAO levels （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）， and up-regulated ZO-1 expression （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Apart from increasing the proportions of <italic>Bifidobacterium</italic> and <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> and decreasing the proportion of<italic> Enterobacter </italic>in intestinal flora （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）， TGPs also accelerated the production of acetic acid and butyric acid （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:TGPs attenuate SS-mediated constipation and restore the impaired intestinal barrier function in mice by increasing fecal moisture content， boosting intestinal motility， regulating intestinal microbial communities， elevating acetic acid and butyric acid levels， and up-regulating tight junction protein expression.