Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
Original Article

Shenqi Pill decreases the goblet cell differentiation of small intestinal stem cells and reactivates Notch signaling pathway in the duodenum of aging rats

1.

Medical College of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China

2.

Renhe Hospital of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China

Turk J Gastroenterol 2019; 1: -
DOI: 10.5152/tjg.2020.18903
Read: 953 Published: 01 May 2020

Background/Aims: Shenqi pill (SQP), an ancient traditional Chinese formula, has been majorly applied for Kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome in China. SQP can delay the aging in different organs of some mammal models and human, and it also has beneficial effects on some intestinal diseases. Whether SQP has some effects on the number and differentiation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) in aging rats remains unclear.

Materials and Methods: Aging male Sprague-Dawley rats (22 month old) were pretreated with two different doses (0.4 and 1.6g/kg) of SQP for 4 months. The duodenum of rats in different groups was harvested, and expressions of ISCs, goblet cell differentiation of ISCs, and Notch signaling pathway were determined by different methods.

Results: We found that treatment of SQP enhanced the mRNA expression of ISCs markers Olfm4, Lgr5 and Bmi1, elevated the levels of Ck8 and intestinal alkaline phosphatase, and decreased the number of goblet cells and expressions of Tff3 and Muc3 in the duodenum of aging rats. SQP also reactivated Notch signaling pathway via upregulation of Notch1 and Hes1, and downregulation of Atoh1 in the duodenum of aging rats.

Conclusion: Treatment of SQP reduces the goblet cell differentiation of small intestinal stem cells and promotes Notch pathway in the duodenum of aging rats.

EISSN 2148-5607