Determination of five neurotransmitters in the rat brain for the study of the hypnotic effects of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen aqueous extract on insomnia rat model by UPLC-MS/MS.

Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (ZSS) has been used for treatment of insomnia in China for centuries. To reveal the influence of insomnia on the levels of the neurotransmitters including serotonin (5-HT), glutamic acid (Glu), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), noradrenaline (NE) and dopamine (DA), and to study the role of ZSS aqueous extract in the treatment of insomnia, an UPLC-ESI- MS/MS method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of five neurotransmitters in the rat brain. The brain samples were pretreated by one-step direct protein precipitation with acetonitrile. The analytes were detected in positive mode with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and the procedure was completed in less than 10 min. The method showed a good linearity (R2 > 0.9967) with the other validation parameters were within acceptance range. The results indicated that the concentration of 5-HT, GABA and DA is significantly lower (P < 0.01) in para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA)-induced insomnia rat model group, while Glu and NE significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.01). Treatment with ZSS aqueous extract (4 or 8 g·kg-1·d-1 for seven days) could ameliorate the symptoms of insomnia by significantly changing the levels of the neurotransmitter parameters mentioned above. The data obtained in this study demonstrate that ZSS aqueous extract could ameliorate the symptoms of insomnia by modulating the levels of monoamines and amino acid neurotransmitters in the brain.

3-Benzidino-6(4-chlorophenyl) pyridazine blocks delayed rectifier and transient outward potassium current in acutely isolated rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons.

3-[(beta-morpholinoethyl)amino]-4-methyl-6-phenylpyridazine (minaprine) is an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor. 3-Benzidino-6(4-chlorophenyl) pyridazine (BCP) and minaprine have a central pyridazine ring in common. In this study, we investigated the effects of BCP on delayed rectifier potassium current (IK(DR)) and transient outward potassium current (IK(A)) in acutely isolated rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons by using whole-cell patch-clamp technique. IK(DR) and IK(A) were inhibited by BCP (0.01-500 microM) in a concentration-dependent and voltage-dependent manner. The IC50 value for the blocking action of BCP on IK(DR) and IK(A) was calculated as 7.13+/-0.18 microM and 0.55+/-0.11 microM, respectively. At the concentration of 10 microM, BCP shifted the activation curve of IK(DR) to positive potential by 29.09 mV. Meanwhile, at the concentration of 10 microM, BCP also shifted the activation and inactivation curve of IK(A) to positive potential by 34.18 and 22.47 mV, respectively. In conclusion, BCP potently inhibits IK(DR) and IK(A) in rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons.