The Role of Adrenergic and Cholinergic Receptors on the Antinociception of Korean Red Ginseng in the Spinal Cord of Rats.
- Author:
Se Yeol KIM
1
;
Myung Ha YOON
;
Hyung Gon LEE
;
Woong Mo KIM
;
Jae Dam LEE
;
Yeo Ok KIM
;
Lan Ji HUANG
;
Jin Hua CUI
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: adrenergic and cholinergic receptors; antinociception; formalin test; Korean red ginseng; spinal cord
- MeSH: Acute Pain; Animals; Atropine; Catheters; Formaldehyde; Humans; Male; Mecamylamine; Pain Measurement; Panax; Prazosin; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Cholinergic; Receptors, Nicotinic; Spinal Cord; Yohimbine
- From:The Korean Journal of Pain 2008;21(1):27-32
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: Experimental evidence indicates that ginseng modulate the nociceptive transmission. Authors examined the role of adrenergic and cholinergic receptors on the antinociceptive action of Korean red ginseng against the formalin-induced pain at the spinal level. METHODS: Catheters were inserted into the intrathecal space of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Fifty microl of 5% formalin solution was injected to the hindpaw for induction of pain and formalin-induced pain (flinching response) was observed. The role of spinal adrenergic and cholinergic receptors on the effect of Korean red ginseng was assessed by antagonists (prazosin, yohimbine, atropine and mecamylamine). RESULTS: Intrathecal Korean red ginseng produced a dose-dependent suppression of the flinching response in the rat formalin test. All of prazosin, yohimbine, atropine and mecamylamine antagonized the antinociception of Korean red ginseng. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal Korean red ginseng is effective against acute pain and facilitated pain state evoked by formalin injection. All of alpha 1, alpha 2, muscarinic and nicotinic receptors may play an important role in the antinociceptive action of Korean red ginseng at the spinal level.
