Age-related changes in colonic function in rats

Aging in humans is associated with changes in gastrointestinal function. We wanted to determine whether a similar phenomenon occurs in rats and whether rats would be a suitable model to study changes in the gastrointestinal tract with age. Intestinal transit, response in vitro of circular colon stri...

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Published in:	American journal of physiology: Gastrointestinal and liver physiology 1984-11, Vol.10 (5), p.G542-G546
Main Authors:	MCDOUGAL, J. N, MILLER, M. S, BURKS, T. F, KREULEN, D. L
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Aging Animals Bethanechol Bethanechol Compounds - pharmacology Biological and medical sciences Chromium Radioisotopes Colon - innervation Colon - physiopathology Electric Stimulation Feces - analysis Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology Gastric Emptying Gastrointestinal Motility Intestine. Mesentery Male Muscle Contraction Muscle, Smooth - physiopathology Rats Rats, Inbred F344 Reaction Time Stimulation, Chemical Vertebrates: digestive system
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Summary:	Aging in humans is associated with changes in gastrointestinal function. We wanted to determine whether a similar phenomenon occurs in rats and whether rats would be a suitable model to study changes in the gastrointestinal tract with age. Intestinal transit, response in vitro of circular colon strips to bethanechol and electrical stimulation, and colonic smooth muscle histology were compared for post-pubertal (5-12 mo) and senescent (25-28 mo) male Fischer 344 rats. Colonic transit of 51Cr was decreased 45% in senescent rats in comparison with younger rats. The maximum response of circularly oriented muscle strips from senescent rats to electrical stimulation of nerves was 32% less than the maximum response of strips from postpubertal rats. Likewise, the maximum response of the muscle strips to bethanechol was 16% less in the senescent group compared with the postpubertal group. There was no difference between the two groups in the EC50 of bethanechol. The thickness of the muscle layers and the percent circular muscle of strips fixed at optimum length were the same in both age groups. The senescent rat appears to be a useful model for the study of gastrointestinal changes with aging.
ISSN:	0193-1857 0002-9513 1522-1547 2163-5773