Multi-dimensional structure quality control technology system of Danmu injection based on component structural theory / 中国中药杂志

Danmu is one of common medicines in folks of Li nationality, with such effects in clearing heat and removing toxicity, antisepsis and anti-inflammation. Danmu injection, which is developed with Danmu herbs, has been clinically applied for years and showed curative efficacy. Currently, though many studies have been conducted to analyze chemical constituents in Danmu in details, its pharmacodynamic material basis related to disease prevention and treatment has not been defined. Furthermore, as the quality control methods for Danmu and its preparations remain restricted to single index component and irrational to some extent, it fails to ensure their inherent quality. On the basis of the summary of previous study results, as well as the "component structural theory" of the material basis, we established a "multi-dimensional structure quality control technology system" that is capable of reflecting the integrity of effects of Danmu injection and component structure hierarchy, and performed a dynamic monitoring over the whole process from medicinal materials and preparation products, so as to ensure the inherent quality of Danmu injection.

Functional coupling reactions of human amylin receptor and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in rat brain neurons / 生理学报

Human amylin (hAmylin) is co-released with insulin from pancreatic B-cells and the actions of this peptide on its target tissues maintain the cell excitability and glucose homeostasis. Inappropriate control of hAmylin secretion may result in human disease, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD). It's unknown that which kind of receptor is activated by human amylin, leading to the neurotoxicity in neurons of brain. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are known to play a critical role in a variety of nervous diseases. In the present study, we sought to determine the inter-relationships between these two receptors by examining the actions of hAmylin and nicotine on whole-cell currents and membrane potential in basal forebrain neurons. Whole cell patch-clamp recordings were performed on enzymatically dissociated neurons of the diagonal band of Broca (DBB), a cholinergic basal forebrain nucleus. The results showed that either hAmylin or nicotine individually caused a dose-dependent (1 nmol/L-20 µmol/L) membrane depolarization and an increase in firing frequency of DBB neurons. Application of AC253, an amylin receptor antagonist, blocked the excitatory effects of not only hAmylin but also nicotine; dihydro-β-erythroidine (DHβE), a nAChR antagonist, also blocked the effects of nicotine and hAmylin. These electrophysiological results suggest that hAmylin receptor and nAChRs on DBB neurons are coupled and may function in a co-operative manner to influence the excitability of DBB neurons. This finding is important for us to understand the cause and mechanisms of AD.