Inhibition of autophagy of Cajal mesenchymal cells by gavage of tong bian decoction based on the rat model of chronic transit constipation

The objective of this research was to study the effect of tong bian decoction on colon transport function of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in chronic transit constipation (CTC) and the inhibition of autophagy of ICC, so as to achieve the free movement of the bowels. In this research, the experimental rats were divided into normal group (NG) and model group (MG) by random method, and the rat model of CTC was constructed by subdivision circulatory increasing operation gavage method of rhubarb. After the successful establishment of the model, the rats were divided into normal group, MG, tong bian decoction gavage group, mosapride group and normal recovery group. Then, rats in the NG and the MG were killed at the same time, and rats in the tong bian decoction gavage group, mosapride group and normal recovery group were killed at the same time. In this study, the transport function of colon of rats in each group was detected by activated carbon method, and the number of fecal residues in the colon was observed. The mRNA expression of c-kit gene in intestinal tissue of rat was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). In addition, the changes of ICC in rats treated with different drugs were detected by immunohistochemical method. The results revealed that in the tong bian decoction gavage group, the water content in the feces of rats was remarkably increased (P < 0.05), the amount of residual feces in the colon was remarkably reduced (P < 0.01), the percentage of carbon powder propulsion in small intestine was remarkably increased (P < 0.01), the staining area of ICC positive cells in colon tissue was remarkably increased (P < 0.05), and the expression of c-kit mRNA was remarkably increased (P < 0.01). It can be concluded that the tong bian decoction could effectively enhance the colon transport function in the rat model of CTC. This laxative mechanism promotes the regeneration and repair ability of ICC by inhibiting the autophagy of ICC, and provides power for the large intestine, so as to achieve the free movement of the bowels. Therefore, the results of this study have certain guiding meaning for the treatment of CTC with traditional Chinese medicine.