title: [Effects of kamikihi-to, a Chinese traditional medicine, on various cholinergic biochemical markers in the brains of aged rats].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical College of Oita, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Egashira
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sudo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Murayama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kono
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamanaka
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; C073747:kamikihi-to; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002794:Choline