Modulation of Chelidonii herba on glycine-activated and glutamate-activated ion currents in rat periaqueductal gray neurons.
BACKGROUND
Chelidonii herba is classified as Papaver somniferum L. Aqueous extract from C. herba is traditionally used for disorders with symptoms like pain, bloating, abdominal cramp after meals.


METHODS
Modulation of C. herba on glycine-activated and glutamate-activated ion currents in the acutely dissociated periaqueductal gray (PAG) neurons was investigated by the nystatin-perforated patch-clamp technique.


RESULTS
C. herba inhibited glycine-activated ion current and increased glutamate-activated ion current. C. herba-induced inhibition on glycine-activated ion current is implicated in opioid receptors and GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins). Increased glutamate-activated ion current induced by C. herba is linked neither by opioid receptors nor GTP-binding proteins.


CONCLUSIONS
Suppressed glycine-induced response and elevated glutamate-induced response by C. herba may increase neuronal excitability in PAG, results in activation of descending pain control system, and this mechanism can be suggested as one of the analgesic actions of C. herba.
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
Min-Chul
MC
Shin
Mi-Hyeon
MH
Jang
Hyun-Kyung
HK
Chang
Sabina
S
Lim
Seung-Moo
SM
Han
Hi-Joon
HJ
Park
Insop
I
Shim
Ji-Suk
JS
Lee
Kyoung-Ah
KA
Kim
Chang-Ju
CJ
Kim
D000818:Animals; D028281:Chelidonium / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005033:Ethylmaleimide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009761:Nystatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010487:Periaqueductal Gray / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D010936:Plant Extracts; D009761:Nystatin; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D009271:Naltrexone; D005033:Ethylmaleimide; D005998:Glycine