title: Effects of DA-9701, a novel prokinetic agent, on phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase expression in the dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord induced by colorectal distension in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  DA-9701, a standardized extract of Pharbitis Semen and Corydalis Tuber, is a new prokinetic agent that exhibits an analgesic effect on the abdomen. We investigated whether DA-9701 affects visceral pain induced by colorectal distension (CRD) in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 21 rats were divided into three groups: group A (no CRD+no drug), group B (CRD+no drug), and group C (CRD+DA-9701). Expression of pain-related factors, substance P (SP), c-fos, and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord was determined by immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportions of neurons in the DRG and spinal cord expressing SP, c-fos, and p-ERK were higher in group B than in group A. In the group C, the proportion of neurons in the DRG and spinal cord expressing p-ERK was lower than that in group B. Western blot results for p-ERK in the spinal cord indicated a higher level of expression in group B than in group A and a lower level of expression in group C than in group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DA-9701 may decrease visceral pain via the downregulation of p-ERK in the DRG and spinal cord.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Digestive Disease Centre, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Pyo
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kang Nyeong
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Oh Young
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hang Lak
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Soon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Se Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seo Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012007:Rectum; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism; D059265:Visceral Pain / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; C533973:DA-9701; D028321:Plant Preparations; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D013373:Substance P; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
keywords: Colorectal distension; DA-9701; Gastrointestinal diseases; Phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase; Visceral hypersensitivity