[Effects of extracts from ziziphi spinosae semen and schisandrae chinensis fructus on amino acid neurotransmitter in rats with insomnia induced by PCPA].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of extract from Ziziphus Spinosa Semen and Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus on the content of amino acid neurotransmitter in the hypothalamus of insomnia rats induced by P-Chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) and its mechanism.


METHODS
The model of insomnia rats were established by PCPA intraperitoneal injection, after the modeling, all the therapeutic group were treated with corresponding drug for one week. The hypothalamus pathological changes of the rats were observed. The contents of GABA, Glu in the hypothalamus were detected by Elisa. The GABA, Glu protein expression were detected by immunohistochemical. GABA(A), R(alpha1) and GABA(A)R(gamma2) mRNA expressions were detected by RT-PCR.


RESULTS
Compared with model group, the content of GABA in the hypothalamus of rats increased obviously in the alcohol-water group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while the content of Glu decreased obviously (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The extract from Ziziphus Spinosae Semen and Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus has obviously Sedative-hypnotic effect. Its mechanism may be related to regulating the content of amino acid neurotransmitter in the hypothalamus of rats.
Jia-Rong
JR
Gao
Wen-Bo
WB
Ji
Hui
H
Jiang
Jin-Feng
JF
Chen
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000009:adverse effects; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D032141:Schisandra / Q000737:chemistry*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D031957:Ziziphus / Q000737:chemistry*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D010134:Fenclonine