Bacterial Cellulose Relieves Diphenoxylate-Induced Constipation in Rats

Xichuan Zhai, Dehui Lin, Yan Zhao, Xingbin Yang

Index: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b00385

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Abstract

This study was to probe the effects of bacterial cellulose (BC) on diphenoxylate-induced constipation in rats. Administration with BC at 500 mg/kg of body weight in diphenoxylate-induced constipation rats distinctly improved the carmine propulsion rate (83.5 ± 5.2%), shortened the defecating time of the first red feces (249.0 ± 23.3 min), and increased the weight of carmine red feces within 5 h (2.7 ± 1.3 g). The levels of aquaporins (AQP-2, AQP-3, and AQP-4) and inhibitory neurotransmitters (nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthetase, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and arginine vasopressin) in the BC-treated groups reduced by 31.9–40.0% (p < 0.01) and 21.1–67.7% (p < 0.01) compared to those in the constipation group, respectively. However, the secretion of excitability neurotransmitters (substance P and motilin) in the BC-treated groups was increased by 20.0–39.9% (p < 0.01). The activities of ATPases in the colon of constipation rats were significantly weakened by BC administration (p < 0.01). Histological morphology of the colon showed that BC supplementation could effectively increase the length of villus cells and the thickness of colonic mucosa and muscle (p < 0.01). Moreover, BC supplementation could protect colonic smooth muscle cells against apoptosis. All of the findings suggest that BC supplementation effectively relieves constipation in rats and BC would be used as a great promising dietary fiber for alleviating constipation.