The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
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J. Pharm. Pharmacol. · Feb 1990
Resistance of myenteric neurons in the rat's colon to depletion by 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone.
Earlier reports have suggested that anthraquinone purgatives in excessive amounts cause degeneration of neurons in the enteric nervous system. Danthron (1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone) was administered to rats in their drinking water for four months. ⋯ No differences were found between the treated animals and their controls, indicating that the drug does not kill myenteric neurons. These results agree with recent observations on the effects of senna in rats and mice, and do not support earlier claims that myenteric neurons are killed by anthraquinone purgatives.