Neuroscience and Neurobiology Commons^™

Assessing The Effectiveness Of A Luminally Restricted 5-Ht4 Agonist For The Treatment Of Colitis And Constipation, Molly C. Hurd

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

The 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 4 (5-HT4 receptor) is highly expressed in the gastrointestinal system on colonic epithelial cells and has been identified as a potential therapeutic target in altered bowel function and pain. 5-HT4 receptors influence propulsive motility, decrease sensitivity and visceral pain, increase enteric neuron survival, increase mucus secretion and mediate epithelial cell proliferation. Previous work in the Mawe laboratory has demonstrated that intraluminal application of the 5-HT4 receptor agonist, tegaserod, exerts protective actions in animal models of colitis as well as accelerate recovery from active colitis. The first aim of this study was to test a newly developed luminally …