Effect of Lung-dispersing Herbs on Pulmonary and Intestinal Neuropeptides in Mice with Slow Transit Constipation

Objective To observe the effect of lung-dispersing herbs on pulmonary and intestinal neurokinin A(NKA),vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP)and trefoil factor 3(TFF3)contents in mice with slow transit constipation,and to explore the connective mechanism of the lung and the large intestine internally and externally related to each other at neuropeptide level.Methods Forty mice were randomized into normal group,model group,medication model group and medication normal group.Slow transit constipation was induced with gastric gavage of self-feces and Compound Diphenoxylate in mice.Modified Jigeng Decoction was given orally for the mice in the two medication groups,and distilled water was given orally for the mice in the normal group and the model group for 7 days.On the eighth day,the mice were executed,and the pulmonary and intestinal NKA,VIP and TFF3 contents were examined.Results Compared to the normal group,the pulmonary and intestinal NAK content was obviously increased(P0.01),and VIP content was obviously decreased(P0.05 or P0.01)in the model group.The pulmonary and intestinal NAK content was obviously decreased(P0.01),and pulmonary VIP content was obviously increased(P0.05 or P0.01)in the medication model group as compared with those in the model group.The pulmonary and intestinal TFF3 content showed no obvious changes in all of the groups.The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that the pulmonary and intestinal NKA,VIP and TFF3 contents were positive correlated,and the correlation coefficient was 0.448,0.503,0.423,respectively.Conclusion Modified Jigeng Decoction,which has the action of dispersing lung,shows certain effect on improving the pathological state of mice with slow transit constipation,and its therapeutic mechanism is probably related with the regulation of the pulmonary and intestinal NKA and VIP contents.