Objective:To observe the morphological changes in enteric nerve system(ENS)of rats with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS)treated by Dachengqi Decoction(大承气汤,DCQD).Methods:Fifty Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the control group,MODS model group and DCQD treated group.The rats in MODS model group and DCQD treated group were injected Escherichia coli(E.coli)suspension into abdominal cavity under sterile condition.The DCQD treated group was gavaged with DCQD 2 days before the E.coli suspension was injected.Twenty-four hours after injection,the proximal segment of intestine was resected and studied by immunohistofluorescence using vesicular acetylcholine transporter,vasoactive intestinal polypeptide(VIP),substance P(SP)and neuronal nitric oxide synthase(nNOS)antibodies.The whole-mount preparations were observed by laser scanning confocal microscope to detect the changes of quantity and fluorescence integral optical density(IOD)value of intestine enteric nerves.Results:Compared with the control group,the quantity and IOD value of acetylcholine(ACh),VIP,SP and nitric oxide(NO)nerves of intestine in the MODS group were significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the network of enteric nerves was remarkably disrupted.Compared with the MODS group,the quantity and fluorescence IOD value of ACh,VIP,SP and NO nerves in the DCQD group were significantly increased(P<0.01),and the network of enteric nerves was remarkably recovered.Conclusions:DCQD can protect and repair damage in the network of ACh,SP,NO and VIP nerves in rats with MODS,which may be one of mechanisms involved in promoting gastrointestinal motility by DCQD.
Objective: To observe the effects of Dachengqi Decoction (大承气汤, DCQD) on morphological changes in the network of enteric nerve-interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs)-smooth muscle cells (SMC) of enteric deep muscular plexuses (DMP) in the rats with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Methods: One hundred Wistar rats of both sexes weighing 200 to 250 g were randomly divided into the control group, MODS group, and DCQD group. The morphologic changes of enteric nerve-ICC-SMC network in the DMP of intestine was observed using c-Kit and vesicular acetylcholine transporter/neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunohistochemical double-staining with whole-mount preparation technique, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and electron microscopy. Results: Compared with the control group, the distribution and densities of cholinergic/nitrergic nerves and ICC in the DMP (ICC-DMP) of intestine in the MODS group were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the network of cholinergic nerve-ICC-SMC was disrupted; and the ultrastructural features of ICC-DMP, enteric nerve, and SMC were severely damaged. After treatment with DCQD, the damage in the network of enteric nerve-ICC-SMC was significantly recovered. Compared with the MODS group, the distribution and densities of cholinergic/nitrergic nerves and ICC-DMP in the DCQD group were significantly increased (P<0.01); and the ultrastructural features of ICC-DMP, enteric nerve, smooth muscle cells were significantly recovered. Conclusions: DCQD can improve the gastrointestinal motility in MODS. The mechanism may be related to the effect of repairing the damages in the network of enteric nerve-ICC-SMC.
