title: Potentiation by saiboku-to of diazepam-induced decreases in hippocampal and striatal acetylcholine release in rats.
abstract: Effects of saiboku-to, a traditional oriental herbal medicine, on diazepam-induced changes in cerebral acetylcholine (ACh) were investigated in rat striatum and hippocampus. Diazepam (10 mg/kg, i.p.) increased tissue concentrations of the ACh in both regions. The increase was enhanced in rats subacutely treated with saiboku-to (2.0 g/kg, p.o., once a day) for 7 days. Diazepam also decreased release levels of ACh in both regions. The release levels were further decreased in saiboku-to-treated rats. On the other hand, no significant changes in ACh synthesizing and the hydrolyzing enzyme activities in either brain region were observed in saiboku-to-, diazepam- and combination-treated rats. These results suggest that not only is the diazepam-induced increase in tissue ACh due to the inhibition of ACh release but also that saiboku-to potentiates diazepam-induced inhibition of ACh release.
authors.affiliation: Kampo & Pharmacognosy Laboratories, Tsumura, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki, Japan. ikarashi_yasushi@mail.tsumura.co.jp
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikarashi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuzurihara
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D020835:Medicine, Kampo; D017551:Microdialysis; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C045086:saiboku-to; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D003975:Diazepam