Effect of panax ginseng on the activity of cholinesterase in different tissues of experimentally-induced diabetes in rats

In the present study cholinesterase [ChE] activity in seven brain regions [cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, midbrain, cerebellum, pons and medulla oblongata], heart, liver and serum of adult male albino rats were determined following diabetes induction by a single subcutaneous injection of alloxan monohydrate [120 mg/kg body weight], oral administration of Panax ginseng extract [100 mg/kg body weight] for 12 consecutive days and the coadministration of both treatments. The enzyme activity was estimated after 2, 4, 8 and 12 days of alloxan and or Panax ginseng administration. Concomitant variation in blood glucose level and body weight of treated rats were also recorded. The results showed that injection of alloxan provoked a highly significant rise in blood glucose level coupled with failure of the treated animals to gain weight. Moreover, diabetes induction resulted in a general increase in ChE activity in most of the brain region studied. The increase was most prominent in the cerebral cortex while the cerebellum and pons were the less affected regions. This effect may be attributed to differences in the regulation of acetylcholine metabolism in these regions. In heart of diabetic rats, ChE activity exhibited a significant decrease after 12 days, however in the liver a significant increase was noticed after 4 days. Serum ChE was highly significantly elevated after 4 and 12 days. Administration of ginseng alone or following alloxan injection was associated with an elevation in ChE activity in the cerebral cortex and thalamus. Meanwhile, a reduction in the enzyme activity appeared in the midbrain, cerebellum, and pons of ginseng treated rats and to a lesser extent in the cerebellum and pons of rats treated with both alloxan and ginseng. In the heart tissue, administration of ginseng was characterized by an elevation in ChE activity, while combined treatment with alloxan and ginseng extract induced nonsignificant changes. Serum and liver ChE was markedly reduced in the ginseng treated rats and tended to be normalized in rats coadministered alloxan and ginseng thus showing an ameliorative effect of ginseng. It can be suggested that ginseng may possess a significant anti-hyperglycemic effect and may prove to be beneficial in improving the management of diabetes. Besides, it may have selective positive effect on the cholinergic system

Choline acetyltransferase activity in selected rat tissues following experimental diabetes and treatment with panax ginseng extract

The activity of the acetylcholine synthesizing enzyme, choline acetyltransferase [ChAT] in seven brain regions, heart, liver and serum of adult male albino rat was determined following diabetes induction by a single subcutaneous injection of alloxan monohydrafe, oral administration of Panax ginseng extract for 12 consecutive days and the co-administration of both treatments. The changes in the enzyme activity of the selected tissues were estimated after 2, 4, 8 and 12 days of alloxan and/or Panax ginseng administration. The induction of diabetes was associated with a marked increase in the ChAT of the hypothalamus, midbrain and cerebellum at all the time intervals examined, a less pronounced increase in the cerebral cortex and thalamus and a decrease in pons and medulla, A tendency towards a decreased ChAT activity in the heart, significant fluctuations in liver and nonsignificant changes in serum were also noticed. However, administration of ginseng extract alone or following alloxan injection revealed enhanced ChAT activities in the different brain regions and nonsignificant decreases in liver and serum. It was concluded that the changes in the ChAT activity and the consequent alteration in the concentration of the cholinergic ncurotransmitter may be the mechanism by which the organism copes with the crisis of hyperglycemia and that ginseng extract may have beneficial effects at improving cholinergic function beside organ-protective functions

Studies on tissue cholinesterase in experimental trichinosis in albino rat2-Effect of treatment with mintezol and 5-fluorouracil-endoxan

The changes in cholinesterase [ChE] activity were studied in different tissues of normal and 60 days T. spiralis infected albino rats following treatment with mintezol [5 mg/rat/day for 5 days] and 5- fluorouracil-endoxan [500 mg/rat/day-100 mg/rat/day for 5 days]. In normal rats, administration of either mintezol or 5-fluorouracil- endoxan provoked a general decrease in the ChE activity of the various rat tissues. Treatment of 60 days T. spiralis infected rats with mintezol increased markedly the ChE activity of the brain, liver, gastrocnemius muscle and serum. Meanwhile, treatment with 5- fluorouracil-endoxan decreased the enzyme activity in the selected rat tissues. It can be concluded that treatment with mintezol and 5- fluorouracil-endoxan in trichinellosis represents a certain danger. This danger results from general inhibition of ChE activity which may cause accumulation of acetylcholine

Effect of chlorpromazine on the activity of cholinergic enzymes in the CNS of three mammalian species

The changes in ChAT and AChE activities were studied in discrete CNS regions of Gerbillus pyramidum, Cavia porcellus and Rousettus aegyptiacus following administration of chlorpromazine, [20 mg/100g body wt.]. Intraperitoneal injection with chlorpromazine provoked a general decrease in the two enzyme activities in all the CNS parts investigated. This decrease was marked in most of the regions after 1, 2 and 6 hours. The effect of chlorpromazine on AChE is variable from region to region which may be due to the difference in the content of glial or supportive tissue in the different CNS regions

Studies on some amino acids in the brain regions of three vertebrate species II Effect of cold exposure

The changes in GABA, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, alanine and glycine levels were studied in the brain regions of Arvicanthis niloticus, Columba livia and Agama stellio following exposure to cold. In general, the levels of the five amino acids under investigation tended to increase in the Arvicanthis and Columba brain parts. In the Agama brain regions variable changes were observed. It is concluded that following cold stress the difference in the changes of brain amino acid levels between the poikilothermic lizard and the homoeothermic bird and mammal may be related to the presence of mature thermal defenses in adult homeotherms