Effect of Poncirus Trifoliata on Colonic Motility in Spinal Cord Injured Rats

척수손상 흰쥐에서 대장 운동에 대한 지실의 효과

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Poncirus Trifoliata(PT) on improvement of fecal impaction in spinal cord injured(SCI) rats. Methods : Fifteen adult Sprague-Dawley female rats were used weighing 200~250 g. A complete spinal cord transection was performed surgically at the T10 cord level. Experimental groups were assigned into 3 groups: Control(n=5), SCI+vehicle(n=5) and SCI+PT(n=5). PT was administered 100mg/kg in 0.5ml every 24 hours from 1st operation day to 7th day. We measured the body weight and food intake as well as the number and the weight of fecal pellet every morning. After 1 week of operation, whole colon was divided into proximal and distal segments under anesthesia. Each segment of colon was mounted with longitudinal direction in a organ bath. We measured spontaneous contraction and compared the area under the curve in each segments. Enhanced responses were observed by acetylcholine($10^{-6}M$), 40 mM KCl solution, L-NAME($10^{-4}M$). Results : The fecal number and weights were significantly higher in the group of SCI+PT than SCI+vehicle group(p<0.05). In organ bath study, area under the curves of the spontaneous contraction in SCI+vehicle and SCI+PT groups were significantly increased compared to control group. Contractility of distal colon in response to acetylcholine or KCl in SCI+vehicle group was significantly decreased compared to other groups(p<0.05). Conclusions : These results suggest that PT might be useful to promote bowel emptying in spinal cord injured rats.