Abstract
Background: Rikkunshito (RKT) is a gastroprotective herbal medicine. In this study, we investigated the role of RKT in the relaxation of the gastric body (fundus and corpus) and antrum. Methods: We used Suncus murinus, a unique small model animal with similar gastrointestinal motility to humans and dogs. RKT was added at 0.1, 1.0, and 5.0 mg/mL to induce relaxation in vitro; the outcome measure was the intensity of relaxation. The number of spontaneous antral contractions in the absence or the presence of RKT was also counted. Key Results: Rikkunshito induced the relaxation of the gastric body and antrum and decreased the number of spontaneous antral contractions in a dose-dependent manner. The responses to RKT (1.0 mg/mL) were not affected by pretreatment with atropine, N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, ritanserin, or ondansetron. On the other hand, timolol almost completely reversed the relaxation induced by RKT (1.0 mg/mL) on the gastric body and antrum and the occurrence of the spontaneous antral contractions. Both butoxamine, a β2-adrenoreceptor antagonist, and L 748337, a β3-adrenoreceptor antagonist, but not CGP 20712, a β1-adrenoreceptor antagonist, significantly reversed the RKT-induced (1.0 mg/mL) gastric relaxation. Conclusions & Inferences: These results indicate that RKT stimulates and modulates gastric relaxation through β2- and β3-adrenergic, but not β1-adrenergic, pathways in S. murinus.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 875-884 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Neurogastroenterology and Motility |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 1 2015 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Adrenergic receptor
- Gastric relaxation
- Rikkunshito
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
- Gastroenterology