Effect of Xifeng Huashi Recipe on Visceral Hypersensitivity in Rats with Diarrhea Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of Xifeng Huashi prescription (XFHS) on visceral hypersensitivity and SCF-Kit system in rats with diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). METHODS Rats were randomly divided into control group，model group， XFHS low， moderate and high dosage groups. The model was induced by separation of breast milk and coloclysis of acetic acid. High， moderate and low dosage XFHS group rats were given by gavage with different concentration of XFHS decoction，respectively. Equal saline was administrated in the normal group and model group. The abdominal withdrawal reflex was recorded， and the levels of SCF and c-Kit in the colonic tissue were detected by Western blot and qPCR. RESULTS Comparing with normal group， the grades of AWR and the levels of gastric SCF and c-Kit expression in the model group were significantly lower (P<0.05). The grades of AWR and the levels of gastric SCF and c-Kit expression in XFHS groups were significantly lower than those in the model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION XFHS can reduce visceral hypersensitivity by inhibiting the expression of SCF-Kit system.