Elsevier

Neuroscience

Volume 30, Issue 3, 1989, Pages 837-842
Neuroscience

Sennosides do not kill myenteric neurons in the colon of the rat or mouse

https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4522(89)90175-9Get rights and content

Abstract

Effects of senna on the myenteric plexus of the colon were investigated in view of earlier reports that this anthraquinone cathartic depletes the plexus of its intrinsic neurons. Rats and mice were given purgative doses of sennosides in their drinking water for 4 and 5 months, respectively. Body growth was reduced, and the weight of the colon with its contents was increased relative to the weight of the whole body in the treated animals. The latter change was attributed to depressed propulsive motility of the large intestine. Total numbers of myenteric neurons were determined from whole-mount preparations stained with Cuprolinic Blue-magnesium chloride, which selectively coloured the neuronal somata. The number of neurons in the rat's colon was unaffected by treatment with senna, but the colons of the treated mice contained significantly more neurons than those of their controls.

Staining with antisera to 10 putative neurotransmitters or their associated enzymes revealed immuno-reactive somata and axons in the myenteric plexus. Treatment with senna was not associated with absence of neuronal somata or fibres stainable with any of the antisera in either species. Thus, there was no evidence of toxic destruction of any identifiable population of neurons that might have been too small to affect the total counts. We conclude that senna does not kill myenteric neurons in the colon of the rat or mouse.

References (55)

  • SchultzbergM. et al.

    Distribution of peptide- and catecholamine-containing neurons in the gastrointestinal tract of rat and guinea-pig: immunohistochemical studies with antisera to substance P, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, enkephalins, somatostatin, gastrin/cholecystokinin, neurotensin and dopamine β-hydroxylase

    Neuroscience

    (1980)
  • BinderH.J.

    Pharmacology of laxatives

    A. Rev. Pharmac. Toxic.

    (1977)
  • ContestabileA. et al.

    Recent advances in the use of selective neuron-destroying agents

    Experientia

    (1984)
  • CummingsJ.H.

    Laxative abuse

    Gut

    (1974)
  • DanielE.E. et al.

    The projections of chemically identified nerve fibers in canine ileum

    Cell Tiss. Res.

    (1987)
  • DavisD.R. et al.

    The myenteric plexus in regional enteritis: a study of the number of ganglion cells in the ileum in 24 cases

    Surg. Gynec. Obst.

    (1955)
  • DouthwaiteA.H. et al.

    Action of senna

    Br. med. J.

    (1957)
  • DreessenM. et al.

    The metabolism of sennosides A and B by the intestinal microflora: in vitro and in vivo studies on the rat and the mouse

    J. Pharm. Pharmac.

    (1981)
  • DufourP. et al.

    Ultrastructure of mouse intestinal mucosa and changes observed after long term anthraquinone administration

    Gut

    (1984)
  • DufourP. et al.

    Tolerance de la muqueuse intestinale de la Sourisàl'ingestion prolongée d'une poudre de Séné

    Ann. Pharmaceut, françaises

    (1983)
  • FairbairnJ.W. et al.

    The relative purgative activities of 1,8-dihydroxyanthracene derivatives

    J. Pharm. Pharmac.

    (1970)
  • FilogamoG.

    Iperplasia e ipertrofia delle cellule gangliari del plesso sottomucoso (di Meissner) nel cane, in condizioni sperimentali

    Riv. Biol.

    (1955)
  • FilogamoG. et al.

    Les cellules du plexus myenterique (d'Auerbach) dans la stenose expérimentale de l'intestin

    C.r. Ass. Anat.

    (1953)
  • FurnessJ.B.

    An electrophysiological study of the innervation of the smooth muscle of the colon

    J. Physiol, Lond.

    (1969)
  • GabellaG.

    Size of neurons and glial cells in the intramural ganglia of the hypertrophic intestine of the guinea-pig

    J. Neurocytol.

    (1984)
  • GabellaG.

    Autonomic nervous system

  • Garcia-VillarR. et al.

    Effect of anthraquinone derivatives of canine and rat intestinal motility

    J. Pharm. Pharmac.

    (1980)
  • Cited by (46)

    • Evaluation and Treatment of Constipation in the Geriatric Population

      2021, Clinics in Geriatric Medicine
      Citation Excerpt :

      Side effects include abdominal cramping, distention, nausea, and diarrhea. Although long-term use of stimulant laxatives that contain anthraquinone, such as senna, can cause melanosis coli, they do not seem to impair the enteric nervous system based on studies in animal models.32,33 This knowledge should be used to dispel the notion that chronic use of these agents causes nerve damage and worsening constipation.

    • Chronic Constipation

      2019, Mayo Clinic Proceedings
      Citation Excerpt :

      In a large study, sodium picosulfate improved stool consistency and frequency as well as ease of evacuation and quality of life compared with placebo.92 Stimulant laxatives do not appear to damage the enteric nervous system.106,107 Unfortunately, it remains common for physicians and pharmacists to warn of the “potential dangers” of using stimulant laxatives, which may lead to underutilization of these effective and inexpensive agents.

    • Neurophysiologic Mechanisms of Human Large Intestinal Motility

      2018, Physiology of the Gastrointestinal Tract, Sixth Edition
    • Effectiveness of senna vs polyethylene glycol as laxative therapy in children with constipation related to anorectal malformation

      2017, Journal of Pediatric Surgery
      Citation Excerpt :

      However, this had not been validated before in a clinical trial. In our extensive literature review prior to this study, we could not find relevant toxicity reports for Senna laxatives [17–19]. We decided to use a randomized controlled crossover design clinical trial because the patients are their own control group.

    • Inpatient constipation

      2015, Hospital Medicine Clinics
      Citation Excerpt :

      Bisacodyl may thus be an option for those patients who are not able to tolerate anything by mouth, but may only be effective for patients in whom stool has reached the rectal vault or the left side of the colon. Prior literature suggested that long-term use of these medications damages the colonic nervous system; however, recent studies have refuted this claim.33 Enemas are liquid suspensions that act by softening stool and stimulating the rectum when introduced into the rectum.

    • Functional problems and their medical management

      2013, Colorectal Surgery, Fifth Edition
    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text