Influence of Repeated Senna Laxative Use on Skin Barrier Function in Mice.
- Author:
Satoshi YOKOYAMA
1
;
Keiichi HIRAMOTO
;
Yurika YAMATE
;
Kazuya OOI
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Acetylcholine; Nitric oxide synthase type II; Senna extract; Skin hydration; Transepidermal water loss
- MeSH: Acetylcholine; Animals; Atropine; Biomarkers; Colon; Constipation; Diarrhea; Humans; Hyperplasia; Intestines; Laxatives; Male; Mast Cells; Melanosis; Mice*; Mice, Hairless; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Oxidative Stress; Plasma; Senna Extract; Skin*; Water
- From:Annals of Dermatology 2017;29(4):414-421
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: Senna, one of the major stimulant laxatives, is widely used for treating constipation. Chronic senna use has been reported to be associated with colonic disorders such as melanosis coli and/or epithelial hyperplasia. However, there is no obvious information on the influence of chronic senna use on organs except for the intestine. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the influence of senna laxative use on skin barrier function by repeated senna administration. METHODS: Eight-week-old male hairless mice received senna (10 mg/kg/day) for 21 days. After administration, we evaluated transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and investigated the biomarkers in plasma and skin using protein analysis methods. RESULTS: Fecal water content on day seven was significantly increased; however, on day 21, it was significantly decreased after repeated senna administration. In the senna-administered group, TEWL was significantly higher compared to the control on days seven and 21. Plasma acetylcholine concentration and NO2 −/NO3 − were increased on days seven and 21, respectively. In skin, tryptase-positive mast cells and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-positive cells were increased on days seven and 21, respectively. The increase of TEWL on days seven and 21 was suppressed by the administration of atropine and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, respectively. CONCLUSION: It was suggested that diarrhea or constipation induced by repeated senna administration caused the impairment of skin barrier function. There is a possibility that this impaired skin barrier function occurred due to degranulation of mast cells via cholinergic signals or oxidative stress derived from iNOS.
