title: [Effect of water extract of Poria on cytosolic free calcium concentration in brain nerve cells of neonatal rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of Poria cocos, a Chinese medicinal herb, on cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in brain nerve cells of neonatal rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-wave-length fluorospectrophotometer and laser confocal scanning microscope were used to measure the [Ca2+]i in neurons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The water extract of poria (31-250 mg/L) induced a dose-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i, but poria at the range of 500 mg/L did not cause [Ca2+]i to increase. It was also shown that the water extract of poria significantly inhibited the increment of [Ca2+]i induced by 500 mumol/L glutamate. The similar results were observed from the experiments in primarily cultured hippcampal neurons of neonatial rats by using laser confocal scanning microscope.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The water extract of Poria cocos has the effect of bidirectional regulation on cytosolic free calcium in brain nerve cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D002118:Calcium