title: Gastrodia elata modulated activator protein 1 via c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway in kainic acid-induced epilepsy in rats.
abstract: Gastrodia elata (Orchidaceae) is a Chinese herb. Our previous study showed that Gastrodia elata is able to reduce epileptic seizures, oxygen free radicals, microglia activation, and apoptosis in kainic acid (KA)-treated rats. Activator protein 1 (AP-1) is involved in modulating the neuronal plasticity and apoptosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of AP-1 in antiepileptic effect of Gastrodia elata. Gastrodia elata (0.5, 1.0g/kg) or valproic acid (VA, 250mg/kg) was administered orally in Sprague-Dawley rats for 1 week before and 2 weeks after intraperitoneal injection of KA. Protein levels of AP-1 were determined by measuring c-Jun and c-Fos proteins, and the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases activations were determined by measuring the phosphorylations of extracellular signal-regulated kinases, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) in the frontal cortex and the hippocampus of rat brain using Western blotting. These results indicated that pre-treatment with Gastrodia elata or VA activated JNK signal pathway and c-Jun expression, while post-treatment with Gastrodia elata or VA suppressed both the JNK signaling pathway and the c-Jun expression induced by KA. These findings suggested that Gastrodia elata regulated the AP-1 expression via the JNK signaling pathway in KA-induced epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Jyh-Jian
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Su-Yin
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Shan-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Nou-Ying
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Gaung-Geng
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: I-Hsin
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chung-Hsiang
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chien-Yun
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsiang
authors.forename: Jaw-Chyun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tin-Yun
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D031668:Gastrodia; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D007608:Kainic Acid