Preliminary Study on the Effects of Azithromycin on the Gastrointestinal Function in Mice

OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of azithromycin on the gastrointestinal function in mice. METHODS:The mice were randomized into high-dose,medium-dose and low-dose trial groups(azithromycin 240,120 and 60 mg/kg),mixture group(azithromycin 240 mg/kg+atropine 1.8 mg/kg)and negative control group(0.9% Sodium chloride injection)with 20 mice in each group. Those groups were given relevant medicines intragastrically once a day for consecutive 3 days except for mixture group;when mixture group was given azithromycin on the third day,it was given atropine 30 min before administration. The body weight,gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate of the mice were determined on the day of last administration,and the changes of gastric tissue and intestinal tissue were detected. RESULTS:Compared with negative control group,the body weight of high-dose trial group increased slowly,and gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate were increased;intestinal propulsion rate of medium-dose trial group was increased;the body weight of mixture group increased slowly;there were statistical significances(P0.05). Compared with mixture group,gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate were increased in medium-dose and high-dose trial group,and intestinal propulsion rate of low-dose trial group was increased;there were statistical significances(P0.05). There was no significant difference of target in the remaining mice. There was no significant difference in gastrointestinal tissue among those groups. CONCLUSIONS:High-dose of azithromycin slows down the increase of body weight,but has no significant irritation to gastrointestinal mucosa. It indicates that gastrointestinal tract reaction may be associated with cholinoceptor activation of gastrointestinal smooth muscle.