[Effects of kamikihi-to, a Chinese traditional medicine, on various cholinergic biochemical markers in the brains of aged rats].
The effects of kamikihi-to (EK-49) on various cholinergic biochemical markers, muscarinic receptors, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), choline acetyltransferase (CAT) and choline uptake, in aged rat brains were examined. Administration of kamikihi-to in daily doses of 200 mg/kg, p.o. for 4 weeks to aged rats (24-months-old) significantly increased the density of muscarinic receptors (Bmax) for 3H-QNB (quinuclidinyl benzilate), but did not affect the apparent dissociation constant (Kd). After repeated administration of kamikihi-to to aged rats, AChE activity and choline uptake were not significantly different in the kamikihi-to treated aged rats as compared with the control aged rats. However, administration of kamikihi-to for 4 weeks resulted in a significant increase in Vmax values of CAT in kamikihi-to treated aged rats as compared with those of the control rats. These results indicate that long-term treatment with kamikihi-to enhances both the Bmax and Vmax for QNB binding and CAT activity in aged rats, respectively.
Egashira
T
T
Department of Pharmacology, Medical College of Oita, Japan.
Sudo
S
S
Murayama
F
F
Kono
T
T
Kudo
Y
Y
Goto
S
S
Takayama
F
F
Yamanaka
Y
Y
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; C073747:kamikihi-to; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002794:Choline