TITLE:
Expression Imbalance of Cholinergic M2 and M3 Receptors Contributes to the Motility Reduction of the Small Intestine in Spleen Qi Deficiency
AUTHORS:
Fan Zhao, Xudong Liu, Wenjun Liu, Jiyan Cai, Lingzhi Wang, Huaxin Yu, Lu Wang, Lide Zhang, Deshan Wang, Dehong Shan
KEYWORDS:
Spleen Qi Deficiency, Small Intestine Motility, M2 Receptor, M3 Receptor
JOURNAL NAME:
Chinese Medicine,
Vol.5 No.4,
December
10,
2014
ABSTRACT: Objective: To study roles of cholinergic M2 and M3 receptors in the motility reduction of small intestine (SI) in spleen qi deficiency. Methods: 16 male SD rats were randomly divided in the control group and spleen qi deficiency group (model group)—8 rats each group; spleen qi deficiency model of the improper diet and overfatigue was established; the SI propelling rate (SIPR) was used to evaluate the SI motility; ELISA was used to measure concentrations of acetylcholine (ACh), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and protein kinase A (PKA) in the SI tissue; immohistochemistry was employed to detect expressions of cholinergic M2 and M3 receptors. Results: Compared with those in the control group, SIPR was reduced; expression of M2 receptors was increased; and expression of M3 receptors and concentrations of cAMP and PKA were decreased, significantly, in the model group. Conclusions: Expression imbalance of cholinergic M2 and M3 receptors might contribute to the motility reduction of the SI in spleen qi deficiency.