Effect of soothing liver and invigorating spleen on intestinal permeability and intestinal flora in IBS-D rats

Abstract

Background: The changes in intestinal permeability as important pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and involve the disorder of intestinal flora. IBS is a clinical syndrome caused by multiple factors and multiple target points. Liver depression and spleen deficiency type IBS has become the most common clinical syndrome. This study investigated the therapeutic target and therapeutic effects of Pingwei capsule on IBS-D rats with liver depression and spleen deficiency by detecting the expression of aquaporin and intestinal flora to observe the effects of soothing liver and spleen and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: The IBS-D rat model was established with acetic acid enema and stress binding method, and the drug intervention was carried out for 14 days after successful establishment of the model and collection of experimental specimens. ELISA was performed to determine D-lactatic acid (D-LA) in rat plasma. IHC and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression of AQP3, AQP4, AQP8, and ZO-1 content in the proximal colon tissues and the influence of related drugs on their expression. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to analyze the changes of fecal microbial community richness and diversity in rats.

Results: The plasma D-LA concentration in IBS-D model rats showed a significant increase (P<0.05). Hepatic soothing and invigorating spleen caused up-regulation of AQP3, AQP4, AQP8, and ZO-1 expression in rats, thus regulating the changes in intestinal permeability (P<0.05). The results of 16Sr RNA gene sequencing showed that the method of soothing liver and invigorating spleen could improve the diversity and physiological function of intestinal flora.

Conclusions: Soothing liver and invigorating spleen are desirable treatment methods for IBS-D rats with liver stagnation and spleen deficiency. This can effectively relieve the symptoms of diarrhea in patients, and has a certain regulatory effect on intestinal permeability and intestinal flora disorders, playing a therapeutic role in IBS-D.