Naringenin modulates Cobalt activities on gut motility through mechanosensors and serotonin signalling.

Cobalt chloride-(CoCl) exerts beneficial and toxic activities depending on dose however Naringenin-(Nar) a flavonoid, chelates heavy metals. Absorption of ingested heavy metals, or chelates are dependent on gut motility (gastric emptying and intestinal transit time) and mechanosensor regulation. Literature is vague on CoCl activities on gut motility and mechanosensor nor probable chelating actions with naringenin which was investigated in this study.One hundred male Wistar rats were grouped viz; A to D (25, 62, 150 and 300 mg/kg CoCl), E to H doses of CoCl+Nar (50 mg/kg), I-Narigenin and J-Control. Gastric emptying and intestinal transit time were evaluated by day eight, intestinal tissue assayed for biochemical, histological and immunohistochemistry reactivity.CoCl significantly increased Gastric emptying (150 and 300 mg/kg) and Intestinal transit time unlike Naringenin. CoCl (150 mg/kg) significantly increased Catalase and Nitric oxide but ameliorated by Naringenin. ATPase activities significantly increased in 150 mg/kg-CoCl but ameliorated by Naringenin. Carbonyl levels increased in all CoCl+Nar groups. High Enterochromaffin-cell count in 25 and 62 mg/kg-CoCl were ameliorated by Naringenin. Serotonin immunoreactivity increased in CoCl (25, 62, 300 mg/kg) but reduced in CoCl+Nar groups.Cobalt chloride enhanced gastric motility via increased mechanosensor activities and serotonin expression at low doses. Naringenin ameliorated toxicity of high cobalt chloride via metal-flavonoid chelates.