[Effect of total saponins from Panax notoginseng on expession of melatonin receptor mRNA in gastric mucosa of stress rats].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of total saponins from Panax notoginseng (PNS) on melatonin receptor (MR) expression and its content in gastric mucosa of stress rats.


METHODS
Water-immersion restraint stress (WRS) was used to induce stress rat models. RevertAid First Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit was used for the reverse transcription of the total RNA from gastric mucosa of stress rats. The PCR product was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis firstly and then by KODAK 1 D Image system. The expression level of melatonin 1 (MT1) receptor mRNA was calculated with the optimal density of ratio of MT, receptor and GAPDH.


RESULTS
Six hours after WRS, there were 360 bp positive bands in RT-PCR product of MT1. The relative content of MR was lower in the model group than that in the normal group. MR content in PNS group and ranitidine group were both higher than that in the normal group and the model group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
There is mRNA expression of MT1 receptor in gastric mucosa of stress rats indeed. PNS has protective effect on gastric mucosa of stress rats by up-regulating MR expression, and its protective mechanism may be related to promoting melatonin secretion or increasing the binding capacity of melatonin to its receptor.
Deng
Xiang-chao
XC
Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China. dxc61@126.com
Li
Yan-wu
YW
Wang
Ru-jun
RJ
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D053723:Panax notoginseng / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013315:Stress, Psychological
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D036145:Ginsenosides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D011899:Ranitidine