Shock/Sepsis/Trauma/Critical CareIL-6, TNF-α, and iNOS is associated with decreased colonic contraction in rats with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome

BackgroundGastrointestinal stasis is frequently accompanied by multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), which may lead to gastrointestinal smooth muscle dysfunction. The aim of this study is to investigate whether MODS initiates an inflammatory response and produces IL-6, TNF-α, and iNOS cytokines, as well as to determine whether these cytokines give rise to gastrointestinal smooth muscle dysfunction.Materials and methodsSixty Wistar rats were divided equally into a negative control group, a positive control group, and a MODS group. The number of stool spots, the contractility of muscle strips in the colon, and morphologic changes to the colon smooth muscle were recorded. The mRNA and protein expressions of IL-6, TNF-α, and iNOS in the colon were detected by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry respectively. In addition, the NO level was observed.ResultsFor the MODS group, the colon stool numbers, maximal contractive stress, and spontaneous frequency of muscle strips were, respectively, 0.77 ± 0.52 pill/h, 301g/cm3, and 11.52 ± 0.38 contractions/min (P < 0.05); for the negative control group, 1.54 ± 0.64 pills/h, 645 g/cm3, and 19.2 ± 0.71 contractions/min, respectively (P < 0.05); and for the positive control group, 0.94 ± 0.21 pills/h, 415 g/cm3, and 14.1 ± 0.52 contractions/min, respectively (P < 0.05). In the MODS group, there was a marked up-regulation of expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and iNOS and the contractility of the smooth muscle strips had a negative correlation with the expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and iNOS.ConclusionWe speculate that reduced colon motility in the MODS rats may be related to the increase in iNOS, IL-6, and TNF-α in the colon muscularis.