Author(s)

Fan Zhao, Xudong Liu, Wenjun Liu, Jiyan Cai, Lingzhi Wang, Huaxin Yu, Lu Wang, Lide Zhang, Deshan Wang, Dehong Shan^*

Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, China.

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.

Spleen Qi Deficiency, Small Intestine Motility, M₂ Receptor, M₃ Receptor

Zhao, F. , Liu, X. , Liu, W. , Cai, J. , Wang, L. , Yu, H. , Wang, L. , Zhang, L. , Wang, D. and Shan, D. (2014) Expression Imbalance of Cholinergic M₂ and M₃ Receptors Contributes to the Motility Reduction of the Small Intestine in Spleen Qi Deficiency. Chinese Medicine, 5, 165-169. doi: 10.4236/cm.2014.54020.