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Due to the lack of research between the inner layers in the structure of colonic mucous and the metabolism of fatty acid in the constipation model, we aim to determine the changes in the mucous phenotype of the colonic glycocalyx and the microbial community structure following treatment with Rhubarb extract in our research. The constipation and treatment models are generated using adult male C57BL/6N mice. We perform light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to detect a Muc2-rich inner mucus layer attached to mice colon under different conditions. In addition, 16S rDNA sequencing is performed to examine the intestinal flora. According to TEM images, we demonstrate that Rhubarb can promote mucin secretion and find direct evidence of dendritic structure-linked mucus structures with its assembly into a lamellar network in a pore size distribution in the isolated colon section. Moreover, the diversity of intestinal flora has noticeable changes in constipated mice. The present study characterizes a dendritic structure and persistent cross-links have significant changes accompanied by the alteration of intestinal flora in feces in models of constipation and pretreatment with Rhubarb extract.

The intestine serves as an important digestive and the largest immune organ in the body. Interleukin-6(IL-6), an important mediator of various pathways, participates in the interactions between different kinds of cells and closely correlates with intestinal physiological and pathological condition. In this review we summarize the signaling pathways of IL-6 and its functions in maintaining intestinal homeostasis. We also explored its relation with nervous system and highlight its potential role in Parkinson's disease. Based on its specialty of the double-side influences on intestinal tumors and inflammation, we summarize how they are done through distinctive process.

Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the genus Alhagi, Leguminosae. This species is of high nutritional, medicinal and ecological values. The complete chloroplast genome was 128,418 bp and lost an IR (inverted repeat) region. Further annotation revealed the chloroplast genome contains 108 genes, including 75 protein coding genes, 29 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. A total of 103 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified in the chloroplast genome. This chloroplast genome resource will be useful for study on the evolution and genetic diversity of A. sparsifolia in the future.

Background The structural changes of gastric mucosa are considered as an important window of early gastric lesions. This article shows an imaging method of the stomach that does not use imaging agents. X-ray phase-contrast images of different stages of gastric development were taken using micrometer level X-ray in-line phase-contrast imaging (XILPCI) technique on synchrotron radiation facility. The aim of the study was to demonstrate that the imaging technique is an appropriate method for micron imaging of the gastric structures. Methods The stomachs of 4-, 6- and 12-week-old rats were removed and cleaned. XILPCI has 1000 times greater soft tissue contrast than that of X-ray traditional absorption radiography. The projection images of the rats stomachs were recorded by an XILPCI charge coupled device (CCD) at 9-μm image resolution. Results The X-ray in-line phase-contrast images of the different stages of rats’ gastric specimens clearly showed the gastric architectures and the details of the gastro-duodenal region. 3-dimensional (3D) stomach anatomical structure images were reconstruction. Conclusion The reconstructed gastric 3D images can clearly display the internal structure of the stomach. XILPCI may be a useful method for medical research in the future.

Rhubarb is commonly used to treat constipation in China for its function of promoting intestinal movement and optimum water content in feces. However, its mechanism of mucus secretion is vague. The aim of the study is to investigate the role of mast cells and enteric neurons in rhubarb extract (RE)-induced mucus secretion in the rat colon. Immunofluorescence was used to detect histamine receptors. Western blotting and 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) were applied to explore the content changes of mast cells activation. The changes in colonic goblet cells (GCs) were determined by means of PAS/AB staining. An intestinal perfusion system with a Bradford protein assay kit was directly to estimate in vitro secretion. And the cytokines were investigated with ELISA. The longitudinal aspect of this study indicate that the number and water content of faecal pellets were enhanced after the administration of different doses of RE accompanied by mast cells accumulated and increased the content of interferon (IFN) -γ or decreased the levels of interleukin (IL) −10 at doses of 3 and 6 g/kg. Pretreatment with ketotifen, mast cell stabilizer, had partially inhibited on RE-induced mucus secretion. Furthermore, RE induced the release of acetylcholine and mucin-2 in the colonic tissue and the histamine levels from the faeces. The results suggest that RE induced colonic mucus secretion involves mast cell activation and some cytokine.

In this study, 24 male and female broiler chickens at 30-day-old were divided into three groups with 8 animals in each group. The animals were administered with recombinant chicken interferon-α (rChIFN-α) at a dose of 1.0 × 106 IU/kg intravenously, intramuscularly or subcutaneously, respectively. Serum samples were collected at different time points post administration, and the titers of rChIFN-α in the blood were determined by cytopathic effect inhibition assay. The results showed that the pharmacokinetic characteristics of rChIFN-α by intramuscular injection and subcutaneous injection were fitted to one compartment open model, and the Tmax was 3.21 ± 0.79 hr and 3.95 ± 0.85 hr, respectively, and the elimination half-life (T1/2) was 6.20 ± 2.77 hr and 5.03 ± 3.70 hr, respectively. In contrast, the pharmacokinetics of rChIFN-α via intravenous injection was in line with the open model of two-compartment and was eliminated in the first order, and the elimination half-life (T1/2) was 4.61 ± 0.84 hr. In addition, compared with those in the intravenous group and the subcutaneous group, the bioavailability of rChIFN-α in the intramuscular group was 82.80%. In conclusion, rChIFN-α was rapidly absorbed and slowly eliminated after intramuscular administration of single dose of rChIFN-α aqueous formulations. Thus, rChIFN-α can be used as a commonly-used therapeutic agent.

Dendritic cells (DCs), including conventional DCs (cDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), serve as the sentinel cells of the immune system and are responsible for presenting antigen information. Moreover, the role of DCs derived from monocytes (moDCs) in the development of inflammation has been emphasized. Several studies have shown that the function of DCs can be influenced by gut microbes including gut bacteria and viruses. Abnormal changes/reactions in intestinal DCs are potentially associated with diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and intestinal tumors, allowing DCs to be a new target for the treatment of these diseases. In this review, we summarized the physiological functions of DCs in the intestinal micro-environment, their regulatory relationship with intestinal microorganisms and their regulatory mechanism in intestinal diseases.

The effects of sulfur modification (S/Fe = 0.001 ∼ 0.05, molar ratio) on the α-Al 2 O 3 -supported iron catalysts for the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) were investigated. It was found that the presence of sulfur promoted the reduction of FeO to metallic Fe during the H 2 reduction process, but decreased the rates of reduction, carburization and carbon deposition of the catalysts when CO is used as the reducing agent. Both the sulfide (S 2− ) and sulfate species ( S O 4 2- ) are found in the S x Fe/α-Al 2 O 3 catalysts after H 2 reduction and FTS reaction. The sulfide species in the H 2 -reduced S x Fe/α-Al 2 O 3 catalysts are located on the surface of metallic Fe particles. The intensity of H 2 desorption peak around 500 K is enhanced by a small amount of sulfur, while an excess of sulfur suppresses the H 2 adsorption. The dissociative adsorption of CO on H 2 -reduced catalysts was also found to be inhibited by the presence of sulfur. The activity of the Fe/α-Al 2 O 3 catalyst can be decreased significantly by the addition of sulfur due to the inhibition of CO dissociation and thus reduce the formation of iron carbide phases under FTS reaction conditions. Resistance to sulfur poisoning of the Fe/α-Al 2 O 3 catalyst was found to improve with increasing the reaction temperature. The presence of sulfur also suppressed the formation of C 5+ hydrocarbons and shifted the products to C 2 –C 4 hydrocarbons. At the same time, the olefin to paraffin (O/P) ratio of the C 2 –C 4 hydrocarbons decreased with increasing S/Fe molar ratio. These may have resulted from the increasing of the H/C ratio on the surface of sulfur modified catalyst under FTS conditions.

The peach tree,Prunus persica(L.) Batsch, is widely cultivated in China, and its flowers have been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to treat gut motility disorders. But few studies have explored the pharmacological effect ofPrunus persica(L.) Batsch flowers on gastrointestinal motility. In this study, the activities of different extracts fromPrunus persica(L.) Batsch flowers on the smooth muscle contractions were evaluated using isolated colon model, and the ethyl acetate extract (EAE) showed the strongest effects in vitro. EAE (10−8–10−5 g/mL) caused a concentration-dependent stimulatory effect in rat colonic tissue. Additionally, ketotifen (100 µM), cimetidine (10 µM), and pyrilamine (1 µM) produced a significant inhibition of contractions caused by EAE. Furthermore, immunofluorescence and toluidine blue staining revealed increased numbers of mast cells in the EAE group, and EAE increased histamine release from the colonic tissues. These data indicate that EAE has significant prokinetic activity and acts by a mechanism that mainly involves mast cell degranulation. Our study provides a pharmacological basis for the use of an extract ofPrunus persica(L.) Batsch flowers in the treatment of gut motility disorders.

Carbon nanotube (CNT)-supported monodisperse Fe3−xMnxO4 (x = 0–0.5) nanoparticles in which Mn has an intimate contact with Fe were synthesized and used as a model catalyst for investigating the promotion effect of Mn oxide on the iron-based catalysts for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) reaction. It was found that incorporation of Mn oxide (Mn/Fe = 0.024–0.2) into a Fe3O4/CNT catalyst promoted the reduction of Fe3O4 to FeO, but retarded the further reduction of FeO to metallic Fe. Incorporation of small amount of Mn (Mn/Fe ≤ 0.01) into the iron catalyst results in an increase in C5+ yield and C2–C4 olefin selectivity without any loss in FTS activity. However, the total selectivity of C2–C4 hydrocarbons is almost not affected by the addition of Mn oxide. An excess of Mn oxide in the catalysts (Mn/Fe > 0.024) can lead to a significant decrease in FTS activity with no further improvement in C2–C4 olefin selectivity. The results of temperature-dependent XRD study on the Fe3O4/CNT and Fe2.73Mn0.27O4/CNT catalysts under H2/CO = 1 mixture suggest that the decreasing in FTS activity on the Fe3−xMnxO4/CNT catalysts with an excess of Mn may have resulted from that the rate of carburization of metallic Fe is retarded by the Mn oxide species.

Application of ultrafine fly ash grinded by low quality fly ash in commercial concrete was studied, and the studied content included fineness test, mortar strength, concrete strength, admixtures adaptability, impermeability and dry shrinkage. Results show that ultrafine fly ash grinded by low quality fly ash had a very good activity and admixtures adaptability, can greatly improve the strength and impermeability of concrete, and reduce dry shrinkage, and has good applicability in commercial concrete.

The effects of calcination temperature and feedstock pretreatment on the catalytic performance of Co/γ-Al(2)O(3) catalysts were studied for partial oxidation of methane (POM) to synthesis gas, with emphasis on the role of feedstock pretreatment. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by N(2) adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), H(2) temperature-programmed reduction (H(2) -TPR), and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the pretreatment of the catalyst by reaction gas significantly improved the catalytic activity and stability for the POM reaction. On the other hand, the effect of calcination temperature was less significant. Although the initial activity was increased by an increased calcination temperature, the catalyst without the feedstock pretreatment suffered a rapid deactivation. The reaction-atmosphere pretreatment was revealed as a process that mainly modified the surface structure of the catalyst. In that process, the formation of a CoAl(2)O(4) -like compound led to high Co metal dispersion after reduction, and the transformation of the carrier into α-Al(2)O(3) occurred over the catalyst surface. Both the high dispersion of cobalt and the presence of α-Al(2)O(3) surface phase were assumed as the important factors resulting in an excellent catalytic performance in terms of high activity and high stability.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone) is an active component of many herb-based laxatives. However, its mechanism of action is unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of mast cells and enteric neurons in emodin-induced ion secretion in the rat colon. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Short-circuit current (ISC) recording was used to measure epithelial ion transport. A scanning ion-selective electrode technique was used to directly measure Cl- flux (JCl−) across the epithelium. RIA was used to measure emodin-induced histamine release. KEY RESULTS Basolateral addition of emodin induced a concentration-dependent increase in ISC in colonic mucosa/submucosa preparations, EC50 75 µM. The effect of emodin was blocked by apically applied glibenclamide, a Cl- channel blocker, and by basolateral application of bumetanide, an inhibitor of the Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter. Emodin-evoked JCl− in mucosa/submucosa preparations was measured by scanning ion-selective electrode technique, which correlated to the increase in ISC and was significantly suppressed by glibenclamide and bumetanide. Pretreatment with tetrodotoxin and the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine had no effect on emodin-induced ΔISC in mucosa-only preparations, but significantly reduced emodin-induced ΔISC and JCl− in mucosa/submucosa preparations. The COX inhibitor indomethacin, the mast cell stabilizer ketotifen and H1 receptor antagonist pyrilamine significantly reduced emodin-induced ΔISC in mucosa and mucosa/submucosa preparations. The H2 receptor antagonist cimetidine inhibited emodin-induced ΔISC and JCl− only in the mucosa/submucosa preparations. Furthermore, emodin increased histamine release from the colonic mucosa/submucosa tissues. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The results suggest that emodin-induced colonic Cl- secretion involves mast cell degranulation and activation of cholinergic and non-cholinergic submucosal neurons.

We have demonstrated that the activation of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor 3 in the submucosal plexus suppresses 5-HT-induced colonic ion secretion by increasing submucosal somatostatin release. A number of psychological and physical stresses have impacts on the intestinal mucosal functions, including secretion and the epithelial barrier. Whether the 5-HT(3) receptor-mediated somatostatin-dependent secretoinhibitory pathway in the rat distal colon is involved in the stress process is still unknown. The present study aims to investigate the effect of the water-immersion restraint stress on this inhibitory pathway and its underlying mechanisms. Mucosa/submucosa preparations from the rat distal colon were mounted in the Ussing chambers for the measurement of short-circuit current (I(SC)). Real-time PCR and western blot were performed to study the expression of the 5-HT(3) receptor, 5-HT(4) receptor, and somatostatin receptor 2. Radioimmunoassay was used to measure somatostatin release. After 2h of water-immersion restraint stress, the membrane resistance (Rte) of rat mucosa/submucosa preparations was significantly decreased, but the baseline I(SC) and 5-HT-induced I(SC) responses were significantly increased. The protein expression of the submucosal 5-HT(3) receptors and mucosal somatostatin receptor 2 were down-regulated, and the 5-HT-induced somatostatin release from the mucosa/submucosa preparations was significantly reduced in the stress group. Taken together, these results suggest that the 5-HT(3) receptor-mediated somatostatin-dependent secretoinhibitory pathway is suppressed in the water-immersion restraint stressed rats, which may contribute to the acute stress-induced increase in colonic secretion.

Objective To investigate the property of the endometrium ion transport in the normal estruation and ovariectomize rats. Methods The basic electrophysiological property of the endometrium was carried out by mean of the short circuit current (I sc ) recording with the rats. Results The baseline I sc and the transepithelial resistance (R te ) were different between the estruation and ovariectomized groups. Apical application of Na + channel blocker, amiloride (10 μmol/L), or CFTR Cl − channel agonist, forskolin (10 μmol/L) did not significantly affect the I sc in the two groups. However, the I sc in the model group was more sensitive to the CFTR Cl − channel blocker (glibenclamide, 1 mmol/L, apical) decreased about 27.0% (P − channel blocker, DIDS (4,4′-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic, 100 μmol/L), the I sc was much more sensitive, percentage almost to 36.52% (P + −K + −2Cl − cotransport, didn't significantly reduce the I sc in the two groups. Conclusion The baseline I sc and membrane resistance in the ovariectomize group is much higher than that in the normal estruation group, and the endometrial epithelium Cl − secretion may be mediated by predominantly calcium-dependent Cl − channels (CACC) and activating adenylate cyclase and apical cAMP-dependent Cl − channels (CFTR) in the model group with minor contributions in the control. Furthermore, the endometrial epithelium responses to different stimulants exists difference in the control and model group a likely mechanism for the ovary hormone.

AIM: To study the effects of entacapone, a catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor, on colon motility and electrolyte transport in Parkinson’s disease (PD) rats. METHODS: Distribution and expression of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) were measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting methods. The colonic smooth muscle motility was examined in vitro by means of a muscle motility recording device. The mucosal electrolyte transport of PD rats was examined by using a short-circuit current (ISC) technique and scanning ion-selective electrode technique (SIET). Intracellular detection of cAMP and cGMP was accomplished by radioimmunoassay testing. RESULTS: COMT was expressed in the colons of both normal and PD rats, mainly on the apical membranes of villi and crypts in the colon. Compared to normal controls, PD rats expressed less COMT. The COMT inhibitor entacapone inhibited contraction of the PD rat longitudinal muscle in a dose-dependent manner. The β2 adrenoceptor antagonist ICI-118,551 blocked this inhibitory effect by approximately 67% (P < 0.01). Entacapone increased mucosal ISC in the colon of rats with PD. This induction was significantly inhibited by apical application of Cl- channel blocker diphenylamine-2, 2’-dicarboxylic acid, basolateral application of Na+-K+-2Cl-co-transporter antagonist bumetanide, elimination of Cl- from the extracellular fluid, as well as pretreatment using adenylate cyclase inhibitor MDL12330A. As an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthetase, indomethacin can inhibit entacapone-induced ISC by 45% (P < 0.01). When SIET was applied to measure Cl- flux changes, this provided similar results. Entacapone significantly increased intracellular cAMP content in the colonic mucosa, which was greatly inhibited by indomethacin. CONCLUSION: COMT expression exists in rat colons. The β2 adrenoceptor is involved in the entacapone-induced inhibition of colon motility. Entacapone induces cAMP-dependent Cl- secretion in the PD rat.

Background and purpose: 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a key regulator of the gastrointestinal system and we have shown that submucosal neuronal 5-HT3 receptors exerted a novel inhibitory effect on colonic ion transport. The aim of the present study was to investigate the precise mechanism(s) underlying this inhibitory effect. Experimental approach: Mucosa/submucosa or mucosa-only preparations from rat distal colon were mounted in Ussing chambers for measurement of short-circuit current (Isc) as an indicator of ion secretion. Somatostatin release was determined with radioimmunoassay. Intracellular cAMP content was measured with enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (elisa). Immunohistochemical techniques were used to study the expression of 5-HT3 receptors, somatostatin and somatostatin receptors in colonic tissue. Key results: In rat distal colonic mucosa/submucosa preparations, pretreatment with 5-HT3 receptor antagonists enhanced 5-HT-induced increases in Isc. However, in mucosa-only preparations without retained neural elements, pretreatment with 5-HT3 receptor antagonists inhibited 5-HT-induced ΔIsc. Pretreatment with a somatostatin-2 (sst2) receptor antagonist in mucosa/submucosa preparations augmented 5-HT-induced ΔIsc. Combination of sst2 and 5-HT3 receptor antagonists did not cause further enhancement of 5-HT-induced ΔIsc. Moreover, both sst2 and 5-HT3 receptor antagonists enhanced 5-HT-induced increase in intracellular cAMP concentration in the mucosa/submucosa preparations. 5-HT released somatostatin from rat colonic mucosa/submucosa preparations, an effect prevented by pretreatment with 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated the presence of 5-HT3 receptors on submucosal somatostatin neurons and of sst2 receptors on colonic mucosa. Conclusion and implications: Activation of neuronal 5-HT3 receptors in the submucosal plexus of rat colon suppressed 5-HT-induced ion secretion by releasing somatostatin from submucosal neurons.