Source Paper
Elucidating the Mechanism of the Liqi Yangyin Formula in Treating Depression–Constipation Comorbidity: An Integrative Approach Using Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation
Xu L, Ong SS, Deng X, Qian Y, Tang Z et al.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel) • 2026
Intestinal Propulsion Rate Test
Objective: To assess intestinal transit by measuring how far charcoal moves through the intestine
This is a Intestinal Propulsion Rate Test protocol using mice as the model organism. The procedure involves 7 procedural steps, 1 equipment items, 1 materials. Extracted from a 2026 paper published in Pharmaceuticals (Basel).
Model and subjects
mice • C57BL/6 • male • Seven-week-old • 8
Study window
~30 minute study window | ~12 hours hands-on
Core workflow
Fasting • Charcoal administration • Waiting period
Primary readouts
- Intestinal propulsion rate (%) calculated as charcoal migration distance divided by total intestinal length multiplied by 100
Key equipment and reagents
Use this page as an execution guide, then fall back to the source paper whenever you need exact exclusions, dosing details, or assay-specific caveats.
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Protocol Steps
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Fasting
Fast mice for 12 hours with free access to water
View evidence from paper
“mice were fasted for 12 h with free access to water”
Charcoal administration
Give charcoal suspension by oral gavage at 0.1 mL per 10 g body weight
View evidence from paper
“gavaged with a 5% (w/v) activated carbon suspension at 0.1 mL per 10 g body weight”
Waiting period
Wait 30 minutes after gavage
View evidence from paper
“Thirty minutes later, mice were euthanized by cervical dislocation”
Euthanasia
Euthanize mice by cervical dislocation
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“mice were euthanized by cervical dislocation”
Tissue excision
Remove the entire gastrointestinal tract from pylorus to anus
View evidence from paper
“The gastrointestinal tract was excised en bloc from the pylorus to the anus”
Measurements
Measure total intestinal length (L1) and charcoal migration distance (L2)
View evidence from paper
“Total intestinal length (L1) and the migration distance of the charcoal front (L2) were measured”
Calculation
Calculate intestinal propulsion rate as percentage using formula IPR = L2/L1 × 100
View evidence from paper
“The intestinal propulsion rate (%) was calculated as follows: IPR = L2/L1 × 100”