title: Catalpol regulates cholinergic nerve system function through effect on choline acetyl-transferase not M receptor affinity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effect of catalpol on choline acetyl-transferase and M receptor affinity in a PC12 cell model and a rat model induced by beta-amyloid 25-35 (Aβ25-35).
  
  
  METHODS
  In PC12 cells, catalpol (10μmol/l, 100μmol/) or saline was retained in the medium and Aβ25-35 (final concentration 20μmol/l) was added. Choline acetyl-transferase (ChAT) expression was determined by immunocytochemistry, ChAT activity measured by radioenzymatic assay, and M receptor (muscarinic receptor) affinity determined by (3)H-QNB binding test. In Wistar rats, Aβ25-35 was injected intracerebroventricularly to establish AD model. After injection of Aβ25-35, the rats were injected catalpol at 5 and 10mg/kgd(-1) intraperitoneally for the next 7 days, and saline for the control rats. ChAT expression, ChAT activity and M receptor affinity were tested. Cells and rats all were divided into four groups: Group A (control), Group B (model), Group C (catalpol low dose), and Group D (catalpol high dose).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with control, both PC12 cell and rat AD models showed decreased expression and activity of ChAT (p<0.01), but M receptor affinity remained the same (p>0.05). Compared with model group, treatment of catalpol increased expression and activity of ChAT of PC12 cell and rat AD model induced by Aβ25-35, p<0.05 or p<0.01 respectively. But there was no difference of M receptor affinity among the four groups (p>0.05). M receptor affinity remained the same as concentration of catalpol increased gradually in atropine competition experiments (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Catalpol could regulate the cholinergic nerve system function from its effect on ChAT and may have beneficial effect for treatment of AD, but had no effect on M receptor affinity.
authors: Key Laboratory of Applied Pharmacology of Shandong Province, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China. Electronic address: wfmcwjh@wfmc.edu.cn.
authors: Jin-Hong
authors: JH
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China.
authors: Hai
authors: H
authors: Xie
authors: Key Laboratory of Applied Pharmacology of Shandong Province, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China.
authors: Ting-Kun
authors: TK
authors: Zhao
authors: Key Laboratory of Applied Pharmacology of Shandong Province, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China.
authors: Bai
authors: B
authors: Kang
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D057888:Iridoid Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D057888:Iridoid Glucosides; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; C078040:catalpol; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D002794:Choline
keywords: Aβ(25–35); Catalpol; Choline acetyl-transferase (ChAT); Cholinergic nerve system; M receptor affinity