Curcumin relieves mice gastric emptying dysfunction induced by L-arginine and atropine through interstitial cells of Cajal.

Curcumin is natural polyphenol from rhizomes with several biological properties. Our previous studies demonstrated that curcumin inhibited functional gastric emptying disorders induced by L-arginine, the precursor of nitric oxide (NO), and atropine, an acetylcholine receptor (AChR) blocker. However, the mechanism of action of curcumin remains unclear. In the present study, mouse models of functional gastric emptying disorders induced by L-arginine and atropine were used to examine changes in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and NO- and ACh-mediated regulation of gastrointestinal motility. Curcumin pre-treatment ameliorated the gastric emptying rate in mice treated with L-arginine or atropine (P<0.01). NO content and NO synthase activity significantly increased in the stomachs of L-arginine-treated mice, compared with controls (P<0.01). Acetylcholinesterase activity (P<0.01) and mRNA expression (P<0.01), as well as AChR mRNA levels (P<0.05) significantly decreased following atropine treatment. Moreover, in both models, the levels of c-kit, anoctamin 1 and connexin 43 significantly decreased in the stomach (P<0.01). Conversely, curcumin pre-treatment inhibited the changes induced by L-arginine and atropine (P<0.01 or P<0.05). By affecting the production of exogenous NO, the effects of Ach-AchR and the biomarkers of ICC, curcumin relieves the gastric emptying dysfunction in mice.