Gastrodin decreases immunoreactivities of gamma-aminobutyric acid shunt enzymes in the hippocampus of seizure-sensitive gerbils.
Gastrodin is one of the natural compound isolated from Gastrodia elata and has known anticonvulsant effects, although the exact pharmacological principles of this natural compound and its effects on other aspects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism in vivo have not been explored. Therefore, in the present study, the effects of gastrodin on GABA metabolism in the gerbil hippocampus were examined, in an effort to identify the antiepileptic characteristics of this substance. Gastrodin reduced the seizure score in the treated group, although the immunoreactivities of GABA synthetic enzymes and GABA transporters were unaltered in gastrodin-treated animals. Interestingly, in the gastrodin-treated group, GABA transaminase (GABA-T) immunoreactivity in the hippocampus, particularly in neurons, was significantly decreased. In the gastrodin-treated group, both succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) and succinic semialdehyde reductase (SSAR) immunoreactivities in the hippocampus was also decreased significantly, which stood in contrast to the nontreated group, in which strong SSADH and SSAR immunoreactivities were detected. From the neuroanatomical viewpoint, these findings suggest that gastrodin may cause the elevation of GABA concentration by inhibiting the GABA shunt.
An
Sung-Jin
SJ
Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chunchon, South Korea.
Park
Seung-Kook
SK
Hwang
In Koo
IK
Choi
Soo Young
SY
Kim
Sang Kook
SK
Kwon
Oh-Shin
OS
Jung
Sung Je
SJ
Baek
Nam-In
NI
Lee
Hyeon Yong
HY
Won
Moo Ho
MH
Kang
Tae-Cheon
TC
D000818:Animals; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D005849:Gerbillinae; D005960:Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D007120:Immunochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D005960:Glucosides; D007527:Isoenzymes; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C045345:gastrodin; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; C402565:glutamate decarboxylase 1; C401141:glutamate decarboxylase 2