To study the effects of bitter almond on the expression of stem cell factor (SCF), c-kit, recombinant connexin 43 (Cx43) in old slow transit constipation rats.

60 SD rats were divided into blank control group, model control group, bitter almond experimental group randomly ,with 20 rats in each group. Compoud phenanthroline was used to build the model of slow transit constipation. The bitter almond experimental group was gavaged with bitter almond apozem (0.17 g·kg^-1·d^-1), the other groups were gavaged with equal saline. Rats were sacrificed after 10 days, the intestinal propulsion rate were measured and specimens were taken. Western blot and RT-PCR techniques were used to measure the expression of protein and mRNA of stem cell factor (SCF), c-kit, and recombinant connexin 43 (Cx43) in rat colon tissue. Analysis of variance was used for comparison between groups, and LSD-t test was used for further pairwise comparison.

The intestinal propulsion rate of the three groups was significantly different (F=17.515, P < 0.01), the model control group was better than the blank control group (P < 0.01), and the bitter almond experiment group was better than the model control group (P < 0.01). The expression of SCF, c-kit, connexin 43 protein and mRNA were significantly different among the three groups (F=39.565, 186.912, 35.760, 94.879, 71.543, 99.986, P < 0.01). Compared with the blank control group, the expression of SCF, c-kit, Cx43 protein and mRNA in the model control group was significantly reduced (P < 0.01); compared with the model control group, the expression of SCF, c-kit, Cx43 protein and mRNA in the bitter almond experimental group was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.01).

The onset of slow transit constipation is closely related to the changes of SCF, C-Kit and Cx43. Bitter almond may improve intestinal function by repairing part of the SCF/c-kit signaling pathway and promoting the expression of Cx43.