• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.122-129
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• 2013

Immature ganglion cell (IGC) is known for its relationship with intestinal motility and its impact on postoperative functional outcomes of Hirschsprung's disease (HD). There are few studies on the relationship between intestinal dysmotility and IGC in HD patients. 67 patients pathologically diagnosed with HD and who received definitive operation in Seoul National University Children's Hospital from 2010 to 2011 were included. 10 patients were excluded due to inadequate immunohistochemical staining results. The proximal end of resected ganglionic segment was evaluated with immunohistochemistry examination with MAP-2, a marker of ganglionic cells and bcl-2, a marker of IGCs The median age at operation was 155 (15-4678) day-old. 55 (96.5%) patients positive for bcl-2, were regarded as having IGC, and 2 (3.5%) patients positive for MAP-2 but negative for bcl-2, were regarded as having only mature ganglion cells. In the bcl-2 positive group, there were 7 patients (12.7%) with constipation, 15 patients (27.3%) with soiling, 3 patients (5.5%) with perianal excoriation and 6 patients (10.9%) with medication use. In bcl-2 negative group, intestinal dysmotility was not seen. There was no statistical significance in the two groups. Considering that HD is diagnosed at a young age, the rate of IGC present is very high and it might be inappropriate to relate IGC to functional outcome at young ages.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2020

Obejectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Yijin-tang on pacemaker potentials of small intestinal interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC). Methods : To dissociate the ICC, we used enzymatic digestions from the small intestine in mice. The electrophysiological whole-cell patch-clamp configuration was used to record pacemaker potentials in the cultured ICC and the in vivo effects of Yijin-tang on GI motility were investigated by calculating percent intestinal transit rates (ITR). Results : 1. The ICC generated pacemaker potentials in the murine small intestine. Yijin-tang produced membrane depolarization with concentration-dependent manners in the current clamp mode. 2. Pretreatment with a Ca²⁺ free solution and thapsigargin, a Ca²⁺-ATPase inhibitor in the endoplasmic reticulum, stopped the pacemaker potentials. In the case of Ca²⁺-free solutions and thapsigargin, Yijin-tang did not induce membrane potential depolarizations. 3. U73122, a phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitors, blocked the Yijin-tang-induced membrane potential depolarizations. However, U73343, an inactive PLC inhibitors, did not block. 4. In the presence of protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, staurosporine or Rottlerin, Yijin-tang depolarized the pacemaker potentials. However, in the presence of Go6976, Yijin-tang did not depolarize the pacemaker potentials. 5. In mice, intestinal transit rate (ITR) values were significantly and dose-dependently increased by the intragastric administration of Yijin-tang. Conclusions : These results suggest that Yijin-tang can modulate the pacemaker activity of ICC through an internal/external Ca²⁺ and PLC/PKC-dependent pathway in ICC. In addition, Yijin-tang is a good candidate for the development of a prokinetic agent.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.471-478
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• 2016

Background: Constipation is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder. The present study examined the ability of water extract of fermented (FRC) and non-fermented (NFRC) roasted Cassia tora to improve intestinal function and reduce constipation in a rat constipation model. Methods and Results: Different concentration of FRC and NFRC were orally administered loperamide (5 mg/kg; LOP) reduced the number, weight, and water content of feces, as well as intestinal transit motility. However, 24 h-(24 hour fermented roasted-Cassia tora) 300 mg/kg FRC administration increased the number, weight, and water concent of feces, compared to that seen in the LOP group, and also improve intestinal transit mitility and, the thickness of distal colon and mucous fluid. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicated that LOP-induced constipation was improved by treatment with FRC. Therefore FRC could be used to develop functional foods or natural medicine for constipation. However, further study is needed to clarify how fermentation improves the medicinal properties of roasted C. tora.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.2 s.129
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• pp.151-155
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• 2002

Previously, we have reported that the butanol fraction of the head of Panax ginseng had significant gastroprotective activity on gastritis and gastric ulcer models of rats. Considering the safety of the fraction for development of new anti-ulcerative agent or food supplement, general pharmacological study was carried on. The fraction was revealed that have no influence on spontaneous activity, phenobarbital-induced sleeping time, rotarod test, body temperature, gastro-intestinal motility, respiration and blood pressure. The fraction showed weak analgesic action in writhing syndrome and did not show any sign of acute toxicity in mice.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.303-311
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• 1998

The general pharmacological properties of new platinum (II) coordination complexes, SA : [Pt(trans-ι-DACH)(DPPE)] . 2NO$_3$, SB : [Pt(cia-DACH)(DPPP)] 2NO$_3$ and SC : [Pt(cia-DACH)(DPPE)] 2NO$_3$on central nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive systems were studied in various experimental animals. These platinum (II) anticancer agents had no effects on analgesia, thiopental-induced sleeping time, body temperature, strychnine-induced convulsion, inflammation and local anesthetic action in mice and rats. Intestinal motility, stomach-ulcer induced by serotonin and bile-secretion of rats were not influenced by the dose of 30 mg/kg. However SB and SC induced a mild decrease in heart rate in anesthetized rats. Based on these results, these new platinum (II) complexes may be regarded as a valuable lead compound in the development of new anticancer chemotherapeutic agents with marked antitumor activity and low toxicity.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.672-674
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• 2023

Schematic diagram of the interaction between the intestinal muscularis externa (MMΦ) macrophages and the enteric nervous system (ENS) neurons during different developmental periods. At the early postnatal stage, MMΦs play a critical role in ENS maturation and refinement through synaptic pruning and enteric neuron phagocytosis. In addition, during the adult stage, a specific MMΦ subset named neuron-associated (NA)-MMΦ, supports enteric neuronal survival and functions. Conversely, enteric neurons promote the phenotypic MMΦ changes by secreting transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ), transitioning them from a phagocytic phenotype in the early postnatal period to a neuroprotective and immune-surveillant phenotype in the young adult period. Disruptions in these interactions could lead to alterations in the enteric neuron numbers, ultimately resulting in reduced gut motility.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.83-89
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• 2010

In this study, we studied whether hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$) has an effect on the pacemaker activity of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), in the small intestine of mice. The actions of $H_2S$ on pacemaker activity were investigated using whole-cell patch-clamp technique, intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ analysis at $30^{\circ}C$ and RT-PCR in cultured mouse intestinal ICC. Exogenously applied sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS), a donor of hydrogen sulfide, caused a slight tonic inward current on pacemaker activity in ICC at low concentrations (50 and $100{\mu}m$), but at high concentration ($500{\mu}m$ and 1 mM) it seemed to cause light tonic inward currents and then inhibited pacemaker amplitude and pacemaker frequency, and also an increase in the resting currents in the outward direction. Glibenclamide or other potassium channel blockers (TEA, $BaCl_2$, apamin or 4-aminopydirine) did not have an effect on NaHS-induced action in ICC. The exogenous application of carbonilcyanide p-triflouromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) and thapsigargin also inhibited the pacemaker activity of ICC as NaHS. Also, we found NaHS inhibited the spontaneous intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) oscillations in cultured ICC. In doing an RT-PCR experiment, we found that ICC enriched population lacked mRNA for both CSE and CBS, but was prominently detected in unsorted muscle. In conclusion, $H_2S$ inhibited the pacemaker activity of ICC by modulating intracellular $Ca^{2+}$. These results can serve as evidence of the physiological action of $H_2S$ as acting on the ICC in gastrointestinal (GI) motility.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1253-1258
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• 2016

Although major advances have been achieved in our understanding and treatment of diseases in many areas of medicine, relatively few improvements have been made in the area of gastrointestinal (GI) motor function. The dried root of Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. (CP) has been used as a traditional folk medicine for improving poor GI function in East Asia, including China and Korea. In the present study, neither aqueous (CP-W) nor ethanolic (CP-E) extracts of CP showed significant toxicity, even at an oral dose of 5 g/kg to mice. The effects of CP-W and CP-E on GI motor function were investigated by measuring in vivo the gastric emptying rate (GER) and intestinal transit rate (ITR) in mice. In normal mice, the ITR was significantly increased by CP-W in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the GER was not significantly affected by any CP extracts. The ITR was significantly retarded in the mice with experimental GI motility dysfunction (i.e., peritoneal irritation by acetic acid) compared with that in normal mice. However, the retardation was significantly recovered by the pre-treatment of CP-W in a dose-dependent manner. The above results suggest that CP-W might be a potential prokinetic agent preventing or alleviating GI motility dysfunctions in human patients.

• Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.628-642
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• 2018

Background/Aims A Subset of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may have mild inflammation due to immune activation. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and cytokines may cause intestinal inflammation. We studied their expression in relation to gut microbiota. Methods Expression of TLRs and cytokines was assessed in 47 IBS patients (Rome III) and 25 controls using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemistry was further performed to confirm the expression of TLR-4 and TLR-5. Results Of 47 patients with IBS, 20 had constipation (IBS-C), 20 diarrhea (IBS-D), and 7 unclassified (IBS-U). The mRNA levels of TLR-4 and TLR-5 were up-regulated in IBS patients than controls (P = 0.013 and P < 0.001, respectively). Expression of TLR-4 and TLR-5 at protein level was 4.2-folds and 6.6-folds higher in IBS-D than controls. The mRNA levels of IL-6 (P = 0.003), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 11 (CXCL-11) (P < 0.001) and C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR-3) (P < 0.001) were higher among IBS patients than controls. Expression of IL-6 (P = 0.002), CXCL-11 (P < 0.001), and CXCR-3 (P < 0.001) were up-regulated and IL-10 (P = 0.012) was down-regulated in IBS-D patients than controls. Positive correlation was seen between TLR-4 and IL-6 (P = 0.043), CXCR-3, and CXCL-11 (P = 0.047), and IL-6 and CXCR-3 (P = 0.003). Stool frequency per week showed positive correlation with mRNA levels of TLR-4 (P = 0.016) and CXCR-3 (P = 0.005), but inversely correlated with IL-10 (P = 0.002). Copy number of Lactobacillus (P = 0.045) and Bifidobacterium (P = 0.011) showed correlation with IL-10 in IBS-C, while Gram-positive (P = 0.031) and Gram-negative bacteria (P = 0.010) showed correlation with CXCL-11 in IBS-D patients. Conclusions Altered immune activation in response to dysbiotic microbiota may promote intestinal inflammation in a subset of patients with IBS.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 2000

Many reports suggest that neurotensin (NT) in the gastrointestinal tract may play a possible role as a neurotransmitter, a circulating hormone, or a modulator of motor activity. NT exerts various actions in the intestine; it produces contractile and relaxant responses in intestinal smooth muscle. This study was designed to investigate the effect of NT on motility of antral circular muscle strips in guinea-pig stomach. To assess the role of $Ca^{2+}$ influx in underlying mechanism, slow waves were simultaneously recorded with spontaneous contractions using conventional intracellular microelectrode technique. At the concentration of $10^{-7}$ M, where NT showed maximum response, NT enhanced the magnitude $(863{\pm}198%,\;mean\;SEM,\;n=13)$ and the frequency $(154{\pm}10.3%,\;n=11)$ of spontaneous contractions. NT evoked a slight hyperpolarization of membrane potential, tall and steep slow waves with abortive spikes $(278{\pm}50%,\;n=4).$ These effects were not affected by atropine $(2\;{\mu}M),$ guanethidine $(2\;{\mu}M)$ and tetrodotoxin (0.2μM). NT-induced contractile responses were abolished in $Ca^{2+}-free$ solution and reduced greatly to near abolition by $10\;{\mu}M$ of verapamil or 0.2 mM of $CdCl_2.$ Verapamil attenuated the effects of NT on frequency and amplitude of the slow waves. Taken together, these results indicate that NT enhances contractility in guinea-pig gastric antral circular muscle and $Ca^{2+}$ influx through the voltage-operated $Ca^{2+}$ channel appears to play an important role in the NT-induced contractile mechanism.