Saussurea Lappa Modulates Gastrointestinal Motility, Motilin and Cholecystokinin Expression in Ulcer Rats

Abstract

AIM: To investigate effects of Saussurea lappa (S.lappa) on rat chronic duodenal ulcer induced by ethylic acid and the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS: Wistar rat chronic duodenal ulcer was patterned according to Okabe model while two pairs of bipolar stainless steel electrodes were implanted onto the serosal layer of gastrointestinal tract. Then, the rats were treated with water, Omeprazole, diverse-dose S.lappa for 10 days. Gastrointestinal motility, intestine propulsion and duodenal ulcer crater were detected. Expressions of cholecystokinin and motilin in duodenum were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Motilin serum level was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULT：Duodenal ulcer group rats had obvious disorders of gastrointestinal motility and brain-gut peptide secretion, including gastrointestinal myoelectric activity inhibition, migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) interruption, intestinal propulsion slowdown, cholecystokinin and motilin secretion decrease. Similarity to Omeprazole, S.lappa accelerated the coalescence of ethylic acid–induced duodenal ulcer significantly (p<0.01, vs model group), but no obvious dose-dependent effect was found. S.lappa also improved gastrointestinal myoelectric activity and accelerated intestinal propulsion. Furthermore, S.lappa could increase the expression levels of cholecystokinin and motilin in duodenum and increase motilin level in serum.

CONCLUSION：S.lappa can accelerate the coalescence of chronic duodenal ulcer, and increase gastrointestinal myoelectric activity and the expression of cholecystokinin and motilin in duodenum.