Title:Effects of Saikosaponin D on Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Morphological
Structure of Intestinal Cells of Cajal with Functional Dyspepsia
Volume: 27
Issue: 10
Author(s): Yi Zeng, Li Zhou, Ying Wan, Ting Fu, Paidi Xu, Hongxing Zhang*Ying Guan*
Affiliation:
- Jianghan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Hospital Infection Management Office, Wuhan Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western
Medicine, Wuhan, China
Keywords:
Saikosaponin D, functional dyspepsia, autophagy, gastrointestinal motility, ICCs, apoptosis.
Abstract:
Objective: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases,
with a global prevalence of 10%-30%. However, the specific pathogenesis of FD has not
yet been determined. As such, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of saikosaponin
D (SSD) administration on the apoptosis, autophagy, and morphological structure of the intestinal
cells of Cajal (ICCs) in FD.
MethodsA rat model of FD was constructed by stimulating the rat tail with a sponge clamp at
one-third of the distal tail length. An autophagy model was constructed for ICCs using glutamate.
The apoptosis rate in each group of cells was determined using flow cytometry. The
expressions of ghrelin and substance P (SP) were detected using ELISA.
Results: The body weight and food intake of male and female rats in the SSD group were consistently
higher than those in the model group. The SSD group showed substantial improvement
compared with the model group, with no inflammatory cell infiltration and normal gastric mucosal
structures. After intervention with SSD, the ultrastructure of the ICCs considerably improved
and was clear. Compared with the model group, the expressions of LC3 I/II, ghrelin, and SP proteins
in the SSD group were significantly upregulated, and the apoptosis rate was significantly
reduced.
Conclusion: The administration of SSD improved ICC morphology and structure, inhibited excessive
autophagy, and improved FD, a gastrointestinal motility disorder, by regulating ghrelin
and SP levels.