title: Extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves attenuates kainate-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration of rat cerebellar granule neurons.
abstract: In order to reveal one of possible mechanisms for neuronal protective action of extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves (EGBL), the effect of EGBL on kainate- and KCl-induced increases in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) of rat cerebellar neurons was examined using a confocal laser microscope with appropriate fluorescent probes. EGBL at 3 microg/ml started to attenuate kainate-induced increase of [Ca(2+)]i and further increase in EGBL concentration (up to 30 microg/ml) concentration-dependently and significantly inhibited the kainate response. The complete inhibition by EGBL was observed in some neurons when the concentration was 10-30 microg/ml. The kainate-induced increase in [Ca(2+)]i was mainly due to Ca(2+) influx through voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channel opened by membrane depolarization via activation of kainate receptor-channel. However, the increase in [Ca(2+)]i by KCl was not significantly affected by EGBL at concentrations where the kainate response was greatly inhibited. EGBL consisting of flavone glycosides and terpene lactones is known to be an antioxidant. Furthermore, in this study, it is shown that EGBL exerts an inhibitory action on kainate receptor (a subtype of glutamate receptor). Since some of neurodegenerative diseases are due to cell death induced by glutamate excitotoxicity and oxidative stress, EGBL may be very suitable for preventing and/or treating such diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Signaling, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: Aimi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanada
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Jun-ya
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mishima
authors.forename: Kanna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horimoto
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanemaru
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D007608:Kainic Acid; D002118:Calcium