Effect of baicalin on ATPase and LDH and its regulatory effect on the AC/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in rats with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of baicalin on synaptosomal adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and its regulatory effect on the adenylate cyclase (AC)/cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway in rats with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 40 SHR rats were randomly divided into five groups: ADHD model, methylphenidate hydrochloride treatment (0.07 mg/mL), and low-dose (3.33 mg/mL), medium-dose (6.67 mg/mL), and high-dose (10 mg/mL) baicalin treatment (n=8 each). Eight WKY rats were selected as normal control group. Percoll density gradient centrifugation was used to prepare brain synaptosomes and an electron microscope was used to observe their structure. Colorimetry was used to measure the activities of ATPase and LDH in synaptosomes. ELISA was used to measure the content of AC, cAMP, and PKA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal control group, the ADHD model group had a significant reduction in the ATPase activity, a significant increase in the LDH activity, and significant reductions in the content of AC, cAMP, and PKA (P<0.05). Compared with the ADHD model group, the methylphenidate hydrochloride group and the medium- and high-dose baicalin groups had a significant increase in the ATPase activity (P<0.05), a significant reduction in the LDH activity (P<0.05), and significant increases in the content of AC, cAMP, and PKA (P<0.05). Compared with the methylphenidate hydrochloride group, the high-dose baicalin group had significantly greater changes in these indices (P<0.05). Compared with the low-dose baicalin group, the high-dose baicalin group had a significant increase in the ATPase activity (P<0.05); the medium- and high-dose baicalin groups had a significant reduction in the LDH activity (P<0.05) and significant increases in the content of AC, cAMP, and PKA (P<0.05). Compared with the medium-dose baicalin group, the high-dose baicalin group had a significant increase in the ATPase activity (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both methylphenidate hydrochloride and baicalin can improve synaptosomal ATPase and LDH activities in rats with ADHD. The effect of baicalin is dose-dependent, and high-dose baicalin has a significantly greater effect than methylphenidate hydrochloride. Baicalin exerts its therapeutic effect possibly by upregulating the AC/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway.</p>

Effect of baicalin on behavioral characteristics of rats with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of baicalin on the behavioral characteristics of rats with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and to provide a basis for further research on baicalin in the treatment of ADHD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 40 SHR rats were randomly divided into model group, methylphenidate hydrochloride (MPH) group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose baicalin groups, with 8 rats in each group. Eight WKY rats were selected as normal control group. The rats in the MPH group (0.07 mg/mL) and the low- (3.33 mg/mL), medium- (6.67 mg/mL), and high-dose (10 mg/mL) baicalin groups were given the corresponding drugs (1.5 mL/100 g) by gavage twice a day, and those in the normal control group and the model group were given an equal volume of normal saline by gavage twice a day. The course of treatment was 4 weeks for all groups. The open field test was performed to observe total moving distance and average moving speed on day 0 of experiment and at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after gavage and to evaluate the control effects of drugs on hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. The Morris water maze test was used to observe the latency, time spent in the target quadrant, and number of platform crossings and to evaluate the effects of drugs on attention.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The open field test showed that the model group and the drug treatment groups had a significantly longer total moving distance and a significantly higher average moving speed than the normal control group on day 0 (P<0.05). On day 7, the MPH group had significant reductions in total moving distance and average moving speed compared with the model group (P<0.05). On day 14, the MPH group and the high-dose baicalin group had significant reductions in total moving distance and average moving speed compared with the model group (P<0.05). The data on days 21 and 28 showed that compared with the model group, the low-, medium-, and high-dose baicalin groups had gradual reductions in total moving distance and average moving speed (P<0.05). The water maze test showed that compared with the model group, the MPH group and the medium- and high-dose baicalin groups had a significantly longer time spent in the target quadrant (P<0.05), and the MPH group and the high-dose baicalin group had a significantly higher proportion of the moving distance in the target quadrant in total moving distance (P<0.05). The high-dose baicalin group had the highest number of platform crossings among all groups (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both baicalin and MPH can regulate the motor ability and learning and memory abilities of SHR rats with ADHD and thus control the core symptoms of ADHD, i.e., hyperactivity, impulsive behavior, and inattention. Baicalin exerts its effect in a dose-dependent manner, and high-dose baicalin has the most significant effect, but compared with MPH, it needs a longer time to play its therapeutic effect.</p>

Creation of an animal model for post-operative adhesion prevention / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a rabbit double uterine horn model for assessing the time-course of pelvic adhesions and evaluating the effectiveness of different anti-adhesive materials in reducing adhesions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 330 Japanese white rabbits underwent laparotomy, followed by uterine horn incision. Animals were euthanized after 3, 7, 14, 28, and 42 days, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The surgical procedure was smooth. Rabbit double uterine horn model was applied for the evaluation of pelvic adhesions in a three-dimension fashion. Each of the three means-gauze abrasion, needle holder clamping, and direct uterine incision induced postoperative pelvic adhesions, among which direct uterine incision was the best to mimic conditions after gynecological operations. Under normal circumstances, degradation of filmy fibrinous adhesions by locally released proteases of the fibrinolytic system occurred within 3 days of injury. The regeneration of the mesothelium was completed within 7 days. Collagen reached its peak by day 14. Anti-adhesive materials were supposed to be completely absorbed by day 28, and their effectiveness in preventing pelvic adhesions was confirmed at this time point. Whether their effect can be maintained after the absorption of the anti-adhesive materials was investigated in 42 days.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The animal model was successfully established. It well mimics the postoperative pelvic adhesions after direct uterine horn injury and thus is a suitable model for studying site-specific adhesions. Observations on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, 28th, and 42nd post-operative days provided a full picture of the adhesion formation process.</p>