Analysis of intestinal motility function regarding the combined effect of mosapride and trehalose in a paralytic ileus animal model

Postoperative ileus (POI), commonly induced by intestinal manipulation (IM) during laparotomy, results in intestinal wall injury, inflammation, adhesion, and impaired gastrointestinal motility. This study evaluated the effects of mosapride citrate (Mos), a 5-HT₄ receptor agonist, and trehalose (Tre), a cytoprotective disaccharide, on gastrointestinal transit in an IM-induced POI mouse model. Mature male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to IM and allocated into five groups: IM + vehicle (control), IM + Mos (0.2 mg/kg, two times), IM + Tre (100 mg/kg, two times), IM + combined Mos & Tre, and IM + sequential Tre + Mos treatment. Gastrointestinal transit was quantified using phenol red method. All four treatment groups exhibited a significant increase in phenol red recovery in the lower small intestine compared with the control group (P<0.05). Notably, sequential administration (Tre + Mos) resulted in greater dye progression beyond the manipulated region than that of simultaneous (Mos & Tre) treatment (P<0.05). These findings suggest that although both agents individually promote gastrointestinal transit, the therapeutic effect is enhanced when Tre is administered first, followed by Mos. Thus, the timing and sequence of administration play a critical role in the treatment of POI. Sequential Tre + Mos therapy may represent a promising strategy for accelerating the functional restoration of gastrointestinal transit after intestinal injury.