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Capsaicin alleviates abnormal intestinal motility through regulation of enteric motor neurons and MLCK activity: Relevance to intestinal motility disorders
Author(s) -
Chen Dapeng,
Xiong Yongjian,
Lin Yuan,
Tang Zeyao,
Wang Jingyu,
Wang Li,
Yao Jihong
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
molecular nutrition and food research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.495
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1613-4133
pISSN - 1613-4125
DOI - 10.1002/mnfr.201500039
Subject(s) - capsaicin , motility , enteric nervous system , myosin light chain kinase , medicine , biology , myosin , endocrinology , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , receptor
Scope Capsaicin is an active component of chili peppers, having diverse effects. However, the effects of capsaicin on intestinal motility are still controversial. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of capsaicin on intestinal motility disorder and uncover related mechanisms. Materials and results A rat model with intestinal motility disorder was established in vitro through adding different stimuli into tissue bath; in vivo using constipation and diarrhea model, respectively. Capsaicin exerted dual effects on intestinal motility, i.e. the relaxation and contraction of jejunum induced by corresponding stimulus were, respectively, regulated to be normal contraction by capsaicin. The mechanisms underlined capsaicin‐induced dual effects were investigated using Western blotting, qRT‐PCR, and whole‐cell patch clamp, respectively. Results showed that cholinergic excitatory nerves, adrenergic nerves, and neurons containing nitric oxide synthase, which are the main muscle motor neurons in enteric nervous system (ENS), are involved in capsaicin‐induced dual effects. The competition for regulation of Ca 2+ influx by capsaicin induced the interaction with components of the ENS. Capsaicin significantly increased myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) expression and myosin phosphorylation extent in jejunal segments of constipation‐prominent rats and significantly decreased MLCK expression and myosin phosphorylation extent in jejunal segments of diarrhea‐prominent rats. Conclusion In summary, capsaicin alleviates abnormal intestinal motility through regulating enteric motor neurons and MLCK activity, which is beneficial for the treatment of gastrointestinal motility disorders.