title: [Study on analgesia of oxymatrine and its relation to calcium channels].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study whether the analgesis of oxymatrine (OMT) affects N-type voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 45 mice were randomly divided into the sham-operation group, the model group [established by partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL)] , and the OMT treatment group according to random digit table, 15 in each group. The dorsal root ganglions (DRG) were separated in PSNL pain model mice. Intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was determined with Fluo-3 AM immunofluorescent probe in cultured DRG neurons. Different protein expression levels of N-type (Cav2. 2) and L-type ( Cav1. 3) among VGCCs from brain and DRG tissues were detected with Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the sham-operation group, [Ca2+]i, increased in cultured DRG neurons (P <0. 05) , protein expression levels of Cav2. 2 in the brain tissue increased (P <0. 05), protein expression levels of Cav2. 2 in DRG tissues decreased in the model group (P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, [Ca2+]i, decreased in cultured DRG neurons (P < 0. 05), protein expression levels of Cav2. 2 in the brain tissue decreased (P <0. 01), protein expression levels of Cav2. 2 in DRG tissues increased in the OMT treatment group (P <0. 01). There was no statistical difference in Cav1. 3 expressions in cultured DRG neurons and the brain (P >0. 05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analgesic effect of OMT might be related to Cav2. 2 channel mediated calcium ion flux.
authors.forename: Shi-xing
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiao-qiang
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type / Q000502:physiology*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons; D010146:Pain; D011807:Quinolizines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014966:Xanthenes; D000093842:Matrines
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000700:Analgesics; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D002118:Calcium; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type; D011807:Quinolizines; D014966:Xanthenes; C059715:Fluo-3; C037573:oxymatrine; D000093842:Matrines