title: Aqueous extracts of Cordyceps militaris (Ascomycetes) lower the levels of plasma glucose by activating the cholinergic nerve in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: In our previous research, Cordyceps militaris (CM) had a hypoglycemic effect in normal rats. In this study we wanted to elucidate whether CM also had an effect on diabetic rats. Twelve rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were separated randomly into 2 groups. First, aqueous extracts of CM 10 mg/kg (CM group) or saline (control group) was fed to the rats; then the plasma glucose levels were assayed. Second, the signaling proteins IRS-1 and GLUT-4 collected from the muscle were detected. Finally, another 2 groups of rats were injected with atropine 0.1 mg/kg intraperitoneally just before the CM/saline feeding, and the assays mentioned above were repeated. Blood glucose decreased 7.2% in the CM group but only 1.5% in the control group (P < 0.05). The IRS-1 signal was 2.9-fold higher than actin in the CM group but only 0.8-fold higher in the control group (P < 0.005). In GLUT-4 signal, the difference was 1.7- vs. 0.6-fold, respectively, compared with actin (P < 0.05). However, atropine injection made CM-induced hypoglycemia or elevation of IRS-1 and GLUT-4 not significant. In conclusion, CM had a hypoglycemic effect in diabetic rats and atropine blocked it. Therefore, the cholinergic activation also was considered to be involved in the hypoglycemic effect of CM in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Ying-I
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chung-Yuh
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Tzeng
authors.forename: Chin-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yu-Chen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hong-Chen
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chin-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Tai-Hao
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Yiu-Kay
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Shih-Liang
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects*; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000187:drug effects*; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000737:chemistry*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D014867:Water; D001285:Atropine