Little brain--big brain V

Hesperidin facilitating gastrointestinal motility by "Gut-brain axis" and "SCF/C-Kit signaling pathways"

Hesperidin shows promising results as a potential feed additive for enhancing gastrointestinal motility in animals. Gastrointestinal function plays a pivotal role in animal growth and the digestibility of dietary nutrients, with gastrointestinal motor function serving as a crucial component. However, limited research has been conducted on the application of hesperidin as a feed additive to promote gastrointestinal motility. The present study aims to assess the efficacy of Hesperidin as a feed additive in promoting gastrointestinal motility and elucidating its underlying mechanism. A total of 200 newly hatched (1-day-old) broilers with similar body weight were randomly allocated into 4 groups as follows: the control group receiving only the basal diet, and the other 3 groups supplemented with 50, 100, and 150 mg of hesperidin per kg of the basal diet, respectively. Each group consisted of 5 replicates with ten broilers per replicate, and the feeding trial lasted for a duration of 21 d. At 21 d of age, a 5% w/v Evans Blue solution in distilled water was utilized to measure intestinal transit rates (ITR). Gastric emptying (GE) was evaluated by administering a phenol red solution at a concentration of 0.05% w/v (1 mL/broiler). Fifteen broilers from each group were euthanized and immediately dissected to obtain gizzard, hypothalamus, duodenum, and jugular blood samples. Jugular blood samples were collected for brain-gut peptide content analysis, while gizzard, hypothalamus, and duodenum samples were used for immunohistochemical analysis. Real-time qPCR was performed on gizzard samples. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in the GE and ITR of broilers in all treatment groups compared to the control group (P < 0.05), particularly in the 100mg/Kg and 150mg/Kg hesperidin group. Incorporation of hesperidin into the broilers' diet significantly enhances serum levels of ghrelin, encompassing serotonin (5-HT), motilin (MTL), cholecystokinin (CCK), and Stem Cell Factor (SCF) as well as substance P (SP) in the gizzard and duodenal tissues while reducing vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels (P < 0.05). The group administered a dosage of 150mg/Kg exhibited the most pronounced effect.Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that hesperidin supplementation up-regulated SP protein content and down-regulated VIP protein content in the hypothalamus, gizzard, and duodenum of broilers (P < 0.05), with the most pronounced effect illustrated in the 150mg/Kg hesperidin group. Furthermore, addition of hesperidin to broiler feed resulted in a significant up-regulation of protein expression and gene expression related to SCF and The protein expression of Receptor tyrosine kinase (C-Kit) was significantly upregulated in the 150mg/Kg group, while the gene expression of C-Kit was significantly upregulated in the 50 mg/Kg group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, hesperidin exhibits promising potential as a feed additive for broilers, as its dietary supplementation of hesperidin improves gastrointestinal motility through modulation of both "gut-brain axis" signaling pathways and "SCF/C-Kit signaling pathways" within broiler chicken's digestive system. Notably, basal diet supplemented with 150mg/Kg hesperidin demonstrates superior efficacy.

Morphology of human fetal enteric neurons: A comparative study of different segments of the colon

OBJECTIVES

The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) present in the wall of the gut is currently being explored because of its influence on the gut and beyond. In this context, the morphology of developing ENS has not been completely understood in humans due to lack of adequate literature. The aim of the present study was to observe the morphology of the enteric neurons in the human fetal colon and compare the findings in ascending colon a midgut derivative and descending colon a hindgut derivative at various weeks of gestation (WG).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Tissue samples from 15 aborted fetuses (11 WG to 2 months postnatal) were processed for Cresyl violet, H & E staining, and NADPH Diaphorase histochemistry. The morphometric analysis was done by calculating the neuronal number density and neuronal fractional area. The Student t-test; Mann-Whitney test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

The muscularis externa with two distinct layers was visible as early as 13 WG and the muscularis mucosae was first observed at 18 WG. The size of the myenteric neurons appeared to be larger with increasing weeks of gestation suggesting a process of neuronal maturation. The neuronal number density and neuronal fractional area seemed to be reduced with advancing fetal age. There was no marked difference between the ascending and sigmoid colon. At 23 and 26 WG, a mature pattern of nitrergic innervation was observed.

CONCLUSION

This study is done on human fetal tissue samples unlike previous studies on animal samples to comprehend the morphology of developing ENS. It will aid in understanding the effect of ENS on various neurological disorders.

Characterization of Neurochemical Signature Alterations in the Enteric Nervous System in Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

To date, it has remained unclear whether gastrointestinal symptoms, which are frequently observed in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), are accompanied by pathology of the enteric nervous system (ENS). Here, the neurotransmitter signature of ENS neurons and morphological alterations of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) were studied in patients with MS and mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), which is an animal model of MS. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on colonic whole mounts from mice with EAE and on paraffin-embedded sections of intestinal tissue from patients with MS. Antibodies against neurotransmitters or their enzymes (including vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)) were used in conjunction with pan-neuronal markers. In addition, the presence of anoctamin 1 (ANO1)-expressing ICCs was studied. ENS changes were observed in the myenteric plexus, but they were absent in the submucosal plexus of both EAE mice and patients with MS. There was a significant decrease in the percentage of ChAT-positive neurons in EAE mice as opposed to a trend toward an increase in patients with MS. Moreover, while ANO1 expression was decreased in EAE mice, patients with MS displayed a significant increase. Although additional studies are necessary to accomplish an in-depth characterization of ENS alterations in MS, our results imply that such alterations exist and may reveal novel insights into the pathophysiology of MS.

Effect of Shugan Hewei decoction on expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the medulla oblongata, spinal cord and gastric mucosa of depression rats

AIM: To observe the effect of Shugan Hewei decoction (SHD) on the expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the brain (medulla oblongata), spinal cord and gastric mucosa of depression rats, and to explore the possible mechanism for SHD to relieve depression and improve gastrointestinal function.

METHODS: One hundred Wistar rats were randomized into a normal saline group, a model group, a fluoxetine group, high- and low-dosage SHD groups, with 20 rats in each group. Depression was induced with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and separation for 4 wk. From the 3rd week, rats in the fluoxetine group, high- and low-dosage SHD groups were given fluoxetine [0.36 mg/(kg•d)], high- and low-dosage SHD [20 and 10 g/(kg•d)] by intragastric administration, twice a day, respectively. The normal saline group and model group were given equal volume of physiological saline. The treatment lasted 14 days. At the end of the experiment, the internal fixation method was used to take medulla oblongata, spinal cord (T6-T8) and gastric mucosa tissues. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect the expression of 5-HT in the above tissues.

RESULTS: The content of 5-HT decreased significantly in the medulla oblongata of depression rats compared with the normal saline group (3314.46 ± 757.47 vs 10050.01 ± 472.82, P < 0.01). The content of 5-HT increased significantly in the spinal cord and gastric mucosa of depression rats compared with the normal saline group (7014.51 ± 628.93 vs 4135.62 ± 148.01, 4400.12 ± 315.78 vs 3614.59 ± 210.54, P < 0.01 for both). After 2 wk of treatment, the content of 5-HT was raised significantly in the medulla oblongata of rats in the high-, low-dosage SHD groups and fluoxetine group compared with the model group (9556.06 ± 406.73 vs 3314.46 ± 757.47, 7800.91 ± 264.37 vs 3314.46 ± 757.47, 9770.94 ± 339.23 vs 3314.46 ± 757.47, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while the content of 5-HT was significantly reduced in the spinal cord and gastric mucosa (4487.24 ± 160.55 vs 7014.51 ± 628.93, 5667.02 ± 294.84 vs 7014.51 ± 628.93, 4908.46 ± 129.58 vs 7014.51 ± 628.93, 3736.45 ± 242.36 vs 4400.12 ± 315.78, 3978.35 ± 355.96 vs 4400.12 ± 315.78, 3826.96 ± 474.88 vs 4400.12 ± 315.78, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). In addition, the effect of high dosage of SHD was similar to that of fluoxetine in the medulla oblongata (P > 0.05), while the former was better than the later in the spinal cord and gastric mucosa (4487.24 ± 160.55 vs 4908.46 ± 129.58, 3736.45 ± 242.36 vs 3826.96 ± 474.88, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: SHD has bidirectional regulatory effects on the expression of 5-HT in the signal path of the "medulla oblongata-spinal cord-gastric mucosa axis", which may be partially responsible for relieving depression and improving gastrointestinal function.

Huangshu Enema down-regulates VIP expression in the colonic mucosa of rats with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome

AIM: To investigate the effect of Chinese medicine Huangshu Enema (HSE) on the expression of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the colonic mucosa of rats with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS) and to explore possible mechanisms involved.

METHODS: Forty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, HSE treatment group and dicetel treatment group (n = 12 for each group). D-IBS was induced in rats by intragastric administration of senna decoction and restraint stress. The expression of VIP in the colonic mucosa of rats was determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: The number of VIP-positive cells and VIP staining intensity in the colonic mucosa of rats were significantly higher in the model group than in the normal control group (21.06 ± 2.69 vs 6.25 ± 2.08, t = 17.4216, P < 0.01; 2.43 ± 0.63 vs 0.63 ± 0.62, t = 6.5223, P < 0.01), in the model group than in the two treatment groups (t = 11.6697 and 5.5119; t = 6.0910 and 2.1575, respectively; both P < 0.01), and in the dicetel treatment group than in the HSE treatment group (10.62 ± 2.36 vs 15.31 ± 2.65, t = 5.2876, P < 0.01; 1.25 ± 0.58 vs 1.93 ± 0.68, t = 2.9272, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: HSE can reduce the number of VIP-positive cells and VIP staining intensity in the colonic mucosa of D-IBS rats and thereby exerts therapeutic effects against D-IBS.

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Enteric nervous system disorders: genetic and molecular insights for the neurogastroenterologist

The goals of this review are to summarize some of the novel observations on the genetic and molecular basis of enteric nervous system disorders, with particular emphasis on the relevance of these observations to the practicing neurogastroenterologist. In the last two decades, there has been a greater understanding of genetic loci involved in congenital forms of pseudo-obstruction and Hirschsprung's disease; and the contribution of endothelins and nuclear transcription factors to the development of the enteric nervous system. In addition, clarification of the molecules involved in the activation of the peristaltic reflex, the disorders of the interstitial cells of Cajal, the clinical manifestations of mitochondrial cytopathies affecting the gut, and the application of neurotrophic factors for disorders of colonic function have impacted on practical management of patients with gut dysmotility.