[Effect of berberine on nitric oxide release of rat intestinal mucous microvascular endothelial cells].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of berberine on the release of nitric oxide (NO) by rat intestinal mucous microvascular endothelial cells (RIMECs) cultured in vitro for exploring the pharmacological mechanism of berberine in treating intestinal disease.


METHODS
Cultured RIMECs in vitro were identified adopting immunofluorescent stain with factor VIII-related antigen. NO level in the supernatant of normal cell culture or cell culture treated with different concentrations of berberine was detected with colorimetry at the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th h and compared.


RESULTS
Compared with that in the normal control group, NO level increased more obviously in the berberine treated groups, and the best effect was shown in the 5 microg/mL berberine treated group.


CONCLUSIONS
One of the important pharmacological mechanisms of berberine might be through promoting the endogenous NO release to induce endothelium-dependent dilatation of microvascular in intestinal mucosa, thus to improve the local microcirculation of intestine.
Suo
Zhan-Wei
ZW
Department of Zoology and Technology, Beijing Agricultural Col-lege, Beijing.
Hu
Ge
G
Duan
Hui-Qin
HQ
D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003124:Colorimetry; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000166:cytology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
D001599:Berberine; D009569:Nitric Oxide