Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Da-Cheng-Qi Decoction (大承气汤) Combined with Lactobacillus Acidophilus Improves Gastrointestinal Function of Traumatic Brain-Injured Model Mice

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the effects of Da-Cheng-Qi Decoction (DCQD, 大承气汤) combined with Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) on the recovery of gastrointestinal (GI) function in traumatic brain-injured (TBI) mice.

Methods

A total of 150 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham-injury, normal saline (NS), DCQD (0.4 mL/day), LA (⩾1 × 1010 cfu/day LA), DCQD+LA (LA administration at the same dosage after 4 h of feeding DCQD), and ½ DCQD+LA groups (LA administration at the same dosage after 4 h of feeding ½ DCQD dose) by a random number table, 5–8 mice in each group. The sever TBI model was constructed according to Feeney’s enhanced gravitational forces of free falling. On days 1, 3, and 7 post-TBI, plasma diamine oxidase (DAO) and D-lactic acid levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Occludin expression in the intestinal epithelium was assessed by Western blot analysis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the morphological changes in the network structure of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and change of enteric nervous system-ICC-smooth muscle cell (ENS-ICC-SMC). Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect changes in the network structure of the ICC.

Results

Compared with the NS group, occludin expression in the DCQD+LA group significantly increased on Day 1, 3, and 7 post-TBI (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The concentration of DAO significantly decreased in the LA, DCQD, and DCQD+LA groups on Day 3 and 7, whilst the D-lactate concentrations in the LA and ½ DCQD+LA groups decreased on Day 1 and 3 post-injury (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The NS group experienced a great damage on the ENS-ICC-SMC network morphology and ICC network structure, and all treatment groups had some improvements, among which the DCQD+LA group presented relatively intact network morphology.

Conclusions

DCQD combined with LA treatment could effectively repair the intestinal mucosal barrier and improve GI motility in mice after TBI. The combination of DCQD and LA was more effective than their respective monotherapies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Turner JR. Intestinal mucosal barrier function in health and disease. Nat Rev Immunol 2009;9:799–809.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ziebell JM, Morganti-Kossmann MC. Involvement of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury. Neurotherapeutics 2010;7:22–30.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Li N, Yang K. Research progress of TCM in the treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis. Hubei J Tradit Chin Med (Chin) 2015:76–78.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Dickerson RN, Mitchell JN, Morgan LM, Maish GO 3rd, Croce MA, Minard G, et al. Disparate response to metoclopramide therapy for gastric feeding intolerance in trauma patients with and without traumatic brain injury. Jpn J Parenter Enteral Nutr 2009;33:646–655.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Yu XY, Yin HH, Zhu JC. Increased gut absorptive capacity in rats with traumatic brain-injured after feeding with probiotics. Nutrition 2011;27:100–107.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Tan M, Zhu JC, Du J, Zhang LM, Yin HH. Effects of probiotics on serum levels of Th1/Th 2-cytokine and clinical outcomes in severe traumatic brain-injured patients: a prospective randomized pilot study. Crit Care 2011;15: R290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Barrenetxe J, Aranguren P, Grijalba A, Martínez-Peñuela JM, Marzo F, Urdaneta E. Modulation of gastrointestinal physiology through probiotic strains of Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium bifidum. An Sist Sanit Navar 2006;29:337–347.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Gong HL, Tang WF, Wang J, Chen GY, Huang X. Effect of formula compatibility on the pharmacokinetics of components from Da-Cheng-Qi Decoction in rats. Chin J Integr Med 2012;18:708–713.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Qi QH, Wang J, Hui JF. Effect of Dachengqi Granule on human gastrointestinal motility. Chin J Integr Tradit West Med (Chin) 2004;24:21–24.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Morales DM, Marklund N, Lebold D, Thompson HJ, Pitkanen A, Maxwell WL, et al. Experimental models of traumatic brain injury: do we really need to build a better mousetrap? Neuroscience 2005;136:971–989.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Fang H, Zhang L, Zhang S, Zhu J. Establishment of animal model of intestinal motility disorders after severe craniocerebral trauma. Chin J Trauma (Chin) 2013;29:165–169.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Li L, Yang H. Therapeutic effect of interferon-alpha on liver fibrosis induced by pig serum in rats. Intern J Pathol Sci Clin 2011;31:193–199.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Balzan S, de Almeida Quadros C, de Cleva R, Zilberstein B, Cecconello I. Bacterial translocation: overview of mechanisms and clinical impact. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2007;22:464–471.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Gosaina A, Gamelli RL. Role of the gastrointestinal tract in burn sepsis. J Burn Care Rehabil 2005;26:85–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Harhaj NS, Antonetti DA. Regulation of tight junctions and loss of barrier function in pathophysiology. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2004;36:1206–1237.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Zhang Y, Liu J, Li T, Sun B. Study on protective effect and mechanism of rhubarb on intestinal barrier of piglet with sepsis. Chin J Tradit Chin Med Pharm (Chin) 2007;22:843–847.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Gao X, Zhang Z, Wu H, Chen F, Yang X, Wang J. Protective effect of probiotics on aspirin-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats. World J Gastroent 2012;20:2882–2887.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Moriyama K, Kouchi Y, Morinaga H, Irimura K, Haya T, Ohuchida A, et al. Diamine oxidase, a plasma biomarker in rats to GI tract toxicity of oral fluorouracil anti-cancer drugs. Toxicology 2006;217:233–239.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Sapin V, Nicolet L, Aublet- Cuvelier B, Sangline F, Roszyk L, Dastugue B. Rapid decrease in plasma D-lactate as an early potential predictor of diminished 28-day mortality in critically ill septic shock patients. Clin Chem Lab Med (Chin) 2006;44:492–496.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Chen Y, Yang C, Mao G, Wang P, Liu Q, Guo M. Impact of simulated weightlessness on expression of tight junction proteins of small intestine mucous membrane in rats. Space Med Med Engin 2011;24:327–331.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Zhang Y, Dong J, Hu Y, Wang B, Liu L. Protection mechanism of modified Da-Cheng-Qi Decoction coupled with alanyl glutamine on early pulmonary function in severe pancreatitis. Hebei Med J (Chin) 2012;34:3069–3070.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Wang Y, Zhu L, Li Y, Chen D. Effects of rhubarb powder on diamine oxidase and endotoxin in traumatic shock rats. Chin Archiv Tradit Chin Med 2014;32:159–161.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Sindhu KN, Sowmyanarayanan TV, Paul A, Babji S, Ajjampur SS, Priyadar TB, et al. Immune response and intestinal permeability in children with acute gastroenteritis treated with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Clin Infect Dis 2014:1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Persborn M, Gerritsen J, Wallon C, Carlsson A, Akkermans LM, Söderholm JD. The effects of probiotics on barrier function and mucosal pouch microbiota during maintenance treatment for severe pouchitis in patients with ulcerative colitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2013;38:772–783.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Mei F, Guo S, He YT, Zhu J, Zhou DS, Niu JQ, et al. Apoptosis of interstitial cells of Cajal, smooth muscle cells, and enteric neurons induced by intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury in adult guinea pigs. Virchows Arch 2009;454:401–409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Suzuki S, Suzuki H, Horiguchi K, Tsugawa H, Matsuzaki J, Takagi T, et al. Delayed gastric emptying and disruption of the interstitial cells of Cajal network after gastric ischaemia and reperfusion. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2010;22:585–593.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Qi QH, Li Y, Yao CH, Guo HS. Morphological changes in network of enteric nerve-interstitial cells of Cajal-smooth muscle cells in rats with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and therapeutic effects of Da-Cheng-Qi Decoction. Chin J Integr Med 2010;16:422–429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Wang B, Mao YK, Diorio C, Wang L, Huizinga JD, Bienenstock J, Kunze W. Lactobacillus reuteri ingestion and IK(Ca) channel blockade have similar effects on rat colon motility and myenteric neurones. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2010;22:98–107, e33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Liang G, Xie M, Cao W, Yan L, Qi QH. Morphological changes of enteric nerve-interstitial cells of Cajal-smooth muscle cells network in Yang Ming Fu Shi syndrome and therapeutic mechanism of Xia-Fa in traditional Chinese medicine. J Dalian Med Univ (Chin) 2013;35:520–525.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Zhang D, Qi Q, Li Y, Zhou L, Xu S, Chen J. Effects of Tongli Gongxia Formula on nerve-interstitial Cells of Cajal-smooth muscle cells network in guinea pigs with calculous cholecystitis. J Liaoning Univer Tradit Chin Med (Chin) 2012;14:58–60.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Zhang S, Fang H, Zhu J, Gao Y. Effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus on mice small intestinal neurotransmitter AchE and NOS in traumatic brain-injured. Chongqing Med (Chin) 2013;42:1486–1489.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Third Military Medical University pharmacology teachers, TANG Yuan, JIA Yi, and Prof. LI Xiao-hui for their contribution throughout the study. We also thank Prof. ZHANG Jian-xiang for the valuable advice.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nursing, School of Nursing, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China

    Shao-li Fu, Li-na Zhu, Hua-hua Yin, Yan Jiang & Jing-ci Zhu

  2. Orthopedics Department of Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing, 400021, China

    Shao-li Fu

Authors
  1. Shao-li Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Li-na Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hua-hua Yin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yan Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jing-ci Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jing-ci Zhu.

Additional information

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no competing interests to declare.

Author Contributions

Fu SL and Zhu LN designed and performed the research. Fu SL analyzed the data and drafted the manuscript. Zhu JC conceived the idea, designed the study and wrote the manuscript. Yin HH wrote the manuscript and provided invaluable advice. Jiang Y assisted the experimental design. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Supported by The General Project of Traditional Chinese Medicine Technological Projects for the Health Bureau of Chongqing (No. 2012-2-91)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fu, Sl., Zhu, Ln., Yin, Hh. et al. Da-Cheng-Qi Decoction (大承气汤) Combined with Lactobacillus Acidophilus Improves Gastrointestinal Function of Traumatic Brain-Injured Model Mice. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 26, 762–768 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-019-3036-4

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-019-3036-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation