Alteration of glutamate/GABA balance during acute alcohol intoxication in rats: Effect of Xingnaojing injection. (26th May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wei, Jingjing; Yao, Limei; Yang, Lei; Zhao, Wei; Shi, Si; Cai, Qingyan; Chen, Dingsheng; Li, Weirong; Wang, Qi
• Is Part Of: Journal of ethnopharmacology. Volume 166(2015)
• Page Start: 333
• Page End: 339
• Publication Date: 2015-05-26
• Subjects: AAI acute alcohol intoxication -- GABA gamma-aminobutyric acid -- GC gas chromatography -- HPLC-FLU high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detector -- LHA lateral hypothalamic area -- NR N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor -- RT-PCR reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction -- XNJI Xingnaojing Injection; Xingnaojing Injection -- Acute alcohol intoxication -- Glutamate -- GABA -- Microdialysis -- RT-PCR; Ethnopharmacology -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosie -- Périodiques; Herbes -- Périodiques; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.03.038
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-8741

Abstract

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Xingnaojing Injection (XNJI) is a modern Chinese formula came from famous Chinese medicine An Gong Niu Huang Pill. XNJI has been used for treatment of cerebral diseases and stroke in China, and is approved by the State Food and Drug Administration of China for the treatment of acute alcohol intoxication (AAI). XNJI belongs to the ethnopharmacological family of medicines. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of the XNJI effect on AAI. Aim of the study: To investigate the effects of XNJI on glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and related receptor in lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) of AAI rat. Material and methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with microdialysis probes in LHA. Rats were randomly divided into control, model, 1.36 mg/kg XNJI, 0.68 mg/kg XNJI and 0.34 mg/kg XNJI groups. During microdialysis, baseline samples were collected from 1 h to 2.5 h; thereafter, the rats were given an intraperitoneal injection of 52% ethanol, 5.2 g/kg, or saline for control group. Twenty minutes later, three doses of XNJI was given by unilateral injection respectively, while saline for control and model groups, and samples were collected for the next 4 h. The extracellular glutamate and GABA levels were measured in the LHA by a high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLU). The expression levels of related receptors N-methyl-d -aspartate receptor (NR) subunit NR2A, NR2B and GABAA were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Ethanol (5.2 g/kg) significantly decreased the extracellular levels of glutamate and increased extracellular GABA in LHA. On the other hand ethanol significantly decreased NR2A and NR2B mRNAs expression, and increase GABAA mRNA expression. XNJI could increase the extracellular level of glutamate and decrease that of GABA; moreover, induced an increase in NR2A and NR2B mRNA expression, and a decrease in GABAA mRNA expression in LHA. Conclusions: The current changes in glutamate, GABA and mRNA expressions of related receptors in LHA after injection of XNJI suggest that changes in these neurotransmitters and receptors as a potential mechanism of action for AAI. Graphical abstract: