Antidepressant-like effects of the ethanolic extract of Xiaobuxin-Tang, a traditional Chinese herbal prescription in animal models of depression.

BACKGROUND: Xiaobuxin-Tang, a traditional Chinese herbal prescription recorded in a silk scroll unearthed from Mogao Caves of Dunhuang has been indicated that it can remit depressive disorder. The present study was designed to investigate its antidepressant effects in various animal depression models. METHODS: Xiaobuxin-Tang was extracted by 70% alcohol, and then three behavioral despair models and 5-Hydroxytryptophan (HTP)-induced head twitch response model were adopted to assess the antidepressant effects of the ethanolic extract of Xiaobuxin-Tang with the study on spontaneous motor activity. Groups of mice and rats received oral treatment with Xiaobuxin-Tang (150 - 1200 mg/kg) only once acutely in all tests. The duration of immobility was measured during the last 4 minutes of the 6-minutes test period in mice forced swimming test, rats forced swimming test and mice tail suspension test. In 5-HTP-induced head twitch response, the mice were intraperitoneally administered with 120 mg/kg of L-5-HTP, and then the cumulative number of head twitches was counted in 20 minutes. Spontaneous motor activities of mice were recorded automatically in 10 minutes by VIDEOMEX-V image analytic system. RESULTS: The extract at doses of 300 mg/kg (p.o.) and 600 mg/kg (p.o.) significantly decreased the duration of immobility time in a dose dependent manner in mice forced swimming test; also, the extract at dose of 1200 mg/kg (p.o.) significantly decreased the duration of immobility time in rat forced swimming test. Furthermore, the extract at a dose of 600 mg/kg had the same effect in mice tail suspension test. Meanwhile, the extract at the effective doses for behavioral despair models, had no effect on spontaneous motor activity in mice. The extract (300 - 1200 mg/kg, p.o.) also increased the accumulative number of the 5-HTP-induced head twitch response in mice in 20 minutes. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that the ethanolic extract of Xiaobuxin-Tang exerts antidepressant-like effect.

Underlying mechanism of ASIC1a involved in acidosis-induced cytotoxicity in rat C6 glioma cells.

AIM: To investigate the underlying mechanism of acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) 1a involved in the acidosis-induced cytotoxicity of rat C6 glioma cells. METHODS: The stable ASIC1a-silenced C6 cells built with the RNA interference technology were confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in both the wild-type rat C6 glioma cells and the ASIC1a-silenced C6 cells were analyzed before and after acid application/exposure with the calcium imaging experiment. RESULTS: The rapid extracellular pH drop induced the increase of [Ca2+]i in the wild-type C6 cells, but not in the ASIC1a-silenced C6 cells. During the prolonged acid exposure, [Ca2+]i was lower in the ASIC1a-silenced C6 cells than that in the control cells. CONCLUSION: The resultant toxicity of [Ca2+]i might contribute to the acidosis-induced cytotoxicity.

Two types of acid-sensing ion channel currents in rat hippocampal neurons.

Two types of acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC)-like currents in cultured rat hippocampal neurons were recorded and their characteristics were studied by using a whole-cell recording technique. The results revealed that the ASIC-like currents, induced by a quick drop of the extracellular pH, decayed with different time constants (tau) of 229 +/- 16 (Type I) and 1209 +/- 56 ms (Type II). The ASIC-like currents displayed different sensitivities to extracellular proton (pH0.5 was 6.17 +/- 0.04 for Type I and 5.70 +/- 0.07 for Type II) and amiloride, a specific ASIC channel blocker (IC50 was 1.19 +/- 0.37 microM for Type I and 0.14 +/- 0.02 microM for Type II). Among all the 360 recorded neurons, ASIC-like currents were induced in 314 neurons (87.2%). In the neurons expressing ASICs, Type I currents were evoked from 269 neurons (85.7%) and Type II currents were induced only from 45 neurons (14.3%). As these ASIC-like currents presented various electrophysiological and pharmacological properties, further experiments should be conducted to decipher the complex subunit composition of ASICs in the hippocampus.

Rectal hypersensitivity reduced by acupoint TENS in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: a pilot study.

Our aim was to compare rectal perception of patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D), constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C), functional constipation (FC), and healthy controls and to evaluate the therapeutic effect of acupoint transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS). Age- and sex-matched patients (24 IBS-D, 20 IBS-C, and 30 FC) were selected, and 30 volunteers served as healthy controls. Rectal sensory thresholds were evaluated by rectal balloon distension. Short- and long-term acupoint TENS was given respectively. IBS-D patients had significantly lower rectal sensory thresholds of the first sensation of stool, urgency of defecation, and pain than IBS-C or FC patients or healthy controls (P < 0.05), but there were no differences in rectal sensory thresholds among IBS-C and FC patients and healthy controls. In each group, females had significantly lower rectal sensory thresholds than males (P < 0.05), but there was no difference between younger (< or = 50 years old) and older (> 50 years old) patients. Short-term acupoint TENS increased rectal sensory thresholds of IBS-D patients. After 2-month acupoint TENS treatment in IBS-D patients, rectal sensory thresholds were significantly increased, stool times and the intensity of abdominal pain were decreased, and psychological scores were relieved to normal. Lowered rectal perception threshold is a hallmark of IBS-D patients. Females have significantly lower rectal sensory thresholds than males. Acupoint TENS is effective to treat IBS-D.

Mechanism underlying blockade of voltage-gated calcium channels by agmatine in cultured rat hippocampal neurons.

AIM: To investigate whether agmatine could selectively block a given type of the voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) and whether related receptors are involved in the blocking effect of agmatine on VGCC. METHODS: The whole-cell patch recording technique was performed to record VGCC currents in the cultured neonatal rat hippocampal neurons. RESULTS: Verapamil (100 micromol/L), a selective blocker of L-type calcium channel, significantly inhibited VGCC current by 80 %+/- 7 %. Agmatine (100 micromol/L) could further depress the remained currents by 25 %+/-6 %. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine (10 micromol/L) and the I2 imidazoline receptor antagonist idazoxon (10 and 40 micromol/L) had no significant effect on VGCC currents when used respectively. When the mixture of yohimbine and agmatine was applied, VGCC currents were still depressed remarkably. However, the blocking effect of agmatine was decreased by 29 %+/- 8 % in the presence of idazoxon (10 micromol/L). The effect of idazoxon did not increase at a higher concentration (40 micromol/L). CONCLUSION: Agmatine could block the L- and other types of VGCC currents in the cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Blocking effect of agmatine on VGCC was partially related to I2 imidazoline receptor and had no relationship with alpha 2-adrenoceptors.

Changes of CD8+CD28- T regulatory cells in rat model of colitis induced by 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene.

AIM: To determine the changes of CD8+ T subsets especially CD8+CD28- T regulatory cells in rat model of experimental colitis induced by 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). METHODS: The rat model of experimental colitis was induced by enema with DNFB. Ten days later, colonic intraepithelial and splenic lymphocytes were isolated from colitis animals (n=16) and controls (n=8). The proportion of CD8+ T cells, CD8+CD28+ T cells and CD8+CD28- T regulatory cells were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The model of experimental colitis was successfully established by DNFB that was demonstrated by bloody diarrhea, weight loss and colonic histopathology. The proportion of CD8+ T cells in either splenic or colonic intraepithelial lymphocytes was not significantly different between colitis animals and controls (spleen: 34.6+/-7.24% vs 33.5+/-9.41%, colon: 14.0+/-8.93% vs 18.0+/-4.06%, P>0.05). But CD8+CD28- T regulatory cells from colitis animals were significantly more than those from controls (spleen: 11.3+/-2.26% vs 5.64+/-1.01%, colon: 6.50+/-5.37% vs 1.07+/-0.65%, P<0.05). In contrast, CD8+CD28+ T cells from colitis animals were less than those from controls (spleen: 23.3+/-6.14% vs 27.8+/-9.70%, P=0.06; colon: 7.52+/-4.18% vs 16.9+/-4.07%, P<0.05). The proportion of CD8+CD28- T regulatory cells in splenic and colon intraepithelial CD8+ T cells from colitis animals was higher than that from controls (spleen: 33.3+/-5.49% vs 18.4+/-7.26%, colon: 46.0+/-14.3% vs 6.10+/-3.72%, P<0.005). CONCLUSION: Experimental colitis of rats can be induced by DNFB with simplicity and good reproducibility. The proportion of CD8+CD28- T regulatory cells in rats with experimental colitis is increased, which may be associated with the pathogenesis of colitis.

Elevation of serum and ascites cancer antigen 125 levels in patients with liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Serum cancer antigen (CA) 125 elevation has been reported in patients with liver disease, but it is poorly characterized. The present study aimed to evaluate the range of serum and ascitic CA 125 levels in patients with liver cirrhosis and to explore possible factors associated with CA 125 elevation. METHODS: A total of 70 patients were studied. Group I consisted of 30 patients with liver cirrhosis with or without ascites. Group II consisted of 30 patients with digestive malignant tumors with or without ascites. Group III consisted of 10 patients with benign ascites. The CA 125 levels were measured in the serum of all patients and also simultaneously in the ascitic fluid of 15 patients. RESULTS: Serum CA125 levels in 80% of (24/30) patients from group I were elevated, particularly in those with ascites, irrespective of the etiology of cirrhosis. Serum CA 125 levels were correlated with Child-Pugh scores (r = 0.38), but not significantly (P = 0.06). All patients from group II with ascites and from group III had elevated serum CA 125 levels, but there was no difference in the serum CA 125 levels between patients with ascites from group I (275 +/- 175 U/mL), group II (368 +/- 190 U/mL) or group III (396 +/- 287 U/mL), nor was there a significant difference in ascitic CA 125 levels (P > 0.05). The levels of serum CA 125 (198 +/- 108 U/mL) were lower than, but correlated with that of ascites (460 +/- 234 U/mL, r = 0.58, P = 0.026). The elevation of serum CA 125 accompanied by abnormalities of other tumor markers was more common in malignant ascites than in benign ascites (90% compared with 6%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The elevation of serum CA 125 is common in patients with liver cirrhosis. It is related to the presence of ascites, and possibly to the insufficiency of liver function, but not the etiology of cirrhosis and ascites. Serum CA 125 probably comes from ascites. It usually predicts benign disease if the elevation of serum or ascites CA 125 is not accompanied by the abnormalities of other tumor markers.

Primary biliary cirrhosis and ulcerative colitis: a case report and review of literature.

AIM: To summarize the characteristics of patients suffered from primary biliary cirrhosis associated with ulcerative colitis. METHODS: To report a new case and review the literature. RESULTS: There were 18 cases (including our case) of primary biliary cirrhosis complicated with ulcerative colitis reported in the literature. Compared with classical primary biliary cirrhosis, the patients were more often males and younger similar. The bowel lesions were usually mild with proctitis predominated. While ulcerative colitis was diagnosed before primary biliary cirrhosis in 13 cases, the presentation of primary biliary cirrhosis was earlier than that of ulcerative colitis in our new case reported here. The prevalence of primary biliary cirrhosis among patients of ulcerative colitis was almost 30 times higher than in general population. CONCLUSION: Association of primary biliary cirrhosis with ulcerative colitis is rare. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hepatobiliary disease in patients with ulcerative colitis, and vice versa.