Effects of yokukansan, a traditional Japanese medicine, on proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocytes were examined using purified mouse cortical oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). OPCs were cultured f...Effects of yokukansan, a traditional Japanese medicine, on proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocytes were examined using purified mouse cortical oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). OPCs were cultured for four days, and proliferation was evaluated by counting A2B5 (a specific antibody to OPC)-reactive cells on the second day of cell culture. Differentiation from OPC to oligodendrocyte was evaluated by counting O4 (a specific antibody to detect differentiated cells in various stages)-reactive cells on the fourth day of culture. The effects of yokukansan (final concentration: 100 or 200 μg/ml) on proliferation and differentiation were examined by adding it to the medium for four days. Yokukansan increased not only the number of A2B5-positive cells on the second day but also the number of O4-positive cells on the fourth day compared to those in the corresponding controls. A WST-8 assay was used to identify active components from seven components of Uncaria Hook (UH), one of the constituent galenicals of yokukansan. Geissoschizine methyl ether (GM: 0.1 - 3.0 μM) was identified by this screening assay and increased the number of A2B5-positive cells on the second day and O4-positive cells on the fourth day as yokukansan did. These results suggest that yokukansan promotes the proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocytes, and also that GM contained in UH is one of active components responsible for this effect of yokukansan.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of Yokukansan(YKS) extract on two endogenous modulators of anxiety, brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)and serotonin (5-HT)_(2A) receptors pharmacologically, in the ischemic rat m...OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of Yokukansan(YKS) extract on two endogenous modulators of anxiety, brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)and serotonin (5-HT)_(2A) receptors pharmacologically, in the ischemic rat model of dementia.METHODS: The cerebral ischemia(CI) was induced by bilateral occlusion of the vertebral and common carotid arteries(4-vessel occlusion ischemia). The CI was combined with the amyloid-β42 peptide(A42) injected intracerebroventricularly, and referreβdto as CI+Aβ. Anxiety-like behaviors were assessed by elevated plus maze(enclosed arm), light/dark transition test(dark chamber), and open-field test.Wet-dog shakes were induced by the 5-HT_(2A) receptor agonist 2, 5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine(DOI). The concentration of BDNF in serum was determined by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay.RESULTS: CI + Aβ increased anxiety, as demonstrated by the increase of time spent in the enclosed arms and dark chambers, and locomotion in the outer zone of the open field(thigmotaxis). CI + Adecreased the serum concentration of BDNF. YKS reβ-duced the anxiety-like behaviors, suppressed the DOI-induced wet-dog shakes and increased serum BDNF concentrations.CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that YKS extract improves CI + Aβ-induced anxiety by antagonizing 5-HT_(2A) receptors and increasing BDNF.展开更多
文摘Effects of yokukansan, a traditional Japanese medicine, on proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocytes were examined using purified mouse cortical oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). OPCs were cultured for four days, and proliferation was evaluated by counting A2B5 (a specific antibody to OPC)-reactive cells on the second day of cell culture. Differentiation from OPC to oligodendrocyte was evaluated by counting O4 (a specific antibody to detect differentiated cells in various stages)-reactive cells on the fourth day of culture. The effects of yokukansan (final concentration: 100 or 200 μg/ml) on proliferation and differentiation were examined by adding it to the medium for four days. Yokukansan increased not only the number of A2B5-positive cells on the second day but also the number of O4-positive cells on the fourth day compared to those in the corresponding controls. A WST-8 assay was used to identify active components from seven components of Uncaria Hook (UH), one of the constituent galenicals of yokukansan. Geissoschizine methyl ether (GM: 0.1 - 3.0 μM) was identified by this screening assay and increased the number of A2B5-positive cells on the second day and O4-positive cells on the fourth day as yokukansan did. These results suggest that yokukansan promotes the proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocytes, and also that GM contained in UH is one of active components responsible for this effect of yokukansan.
文摘OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of Yokukansan(YKS) extract on two endogenous modulators of anxiety, brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)and serotonin (5-HT)_(2A) receptors pharmacologically, in the ischemic rat model of dementia.METHODS: The cerebral ischemia(CI) was induced by bilateral occlusion of the vertebral and common carotid arteries(4-vessel occlusion ischemia). The CI was combined with the amyloid-β42 peptide(A42) injected intracerebroventricularly, and referreβdto as CI+Aβ. Anxiety-like behaviors were assessed by elevated plus maze(enclosed arm), light/dark transition test(dark chamber), and open-field test.Wet-dog shakes were induced by the 5-HT_(2A) receptor agonist 2, 5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine(DOI). The concentration of BDNF in serum was determined by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay.RESULTS: CI + Aβ increased anxiety, as demonstrated by the increase of time spent in the enclosed arms and dark chambers, and locomotion in the outer zone of the open field(thigmotaxis). CI + Adecreased the serum concentration of BDNF. YKS reβ-duced the anxiety-like behaviors, suppressed the DOI-induced wet-dog shakes and increased serum BDNF concentrations.CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that YKS extract improves CI + Aβ-induced anxiety by antagonizing 5-HT_(2A) receptors and increasing BDNF.
