Hange-koboku-to, a Kampo medicine, modulates cerebral levels of 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine), NA (noradrenaline) and DA (dopamine) in mice.
Cerebral monoamine systems play important pathogenic roles in various psychiatric and neurologic diseases, such as depression, anxiety and swallowing disturbance. Hange-koboku-to, a Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine, has been successfully used for the treatment of these disorders. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying its clinical efficacy for these disorders, the effects of Hange-koboku-to (500 mg/kg, p.o.) on the cerebral monoamine systems were examined. Regional levels of 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine), NA (noradrenaline), DA (dopamine) and their metabolites in mouse brain were measured using a high-performance liquid chromatography system. Hange-koboku-to increased the 5-HT and NA levels and decreased 5-HIAA (5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid), thus decreasing 5-HT and NA turnover (metabolites/monoamine ratio) in the hypothalamus. The levels of DA, DOPAC (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) and HVA (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenylacetic acid) were all increased, resulting in a decreased DA turnover in the striatum. Since decreased 5-HT turnover has been observed after administration of various antidepressants, Hange-koboku-to-mediated reduction of 5-HT turnover may be related to the clinical efficacy of this Kampo medicine on certain psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, the beneficial therapeutic effects of Hange-koboku-to on swallowing disturbance may be related to the increased cerebral DA level brought about by this Kampo medicine.
Kaneko
Akiyo
A
Department of Bioregulatory Function, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
Cho
Shigefumi
S
Hirai
Koichi
K
Okabe
Tetsuro
T
Iwasaki
Koh
K
Nanba
Yoshio
Y
Ouchi
Yasuyoshi
Y
Cyong
Jong-Chol
JC
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D020835:Medicine, Kampo; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine