The present study was undertaken to characterize homocysteic acid (HCA)-and cysteic acid (CA)mediated formation of inositol phosphates (InsP) in primary culture of rat cerebellar granule cells. HCA and CA stimulated InsP formation in a dose-dependent manner, which was prevented by the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist D,L-2-amino-5-phosphopentanoic acid (APV). CA-, but not HCA-, mediated InsP formation was in part prevented by the metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine ((+/-)-MCPG). Both HCA- and CA-mediated increases in intracellular calcium concentration were completely blocked by APV, but were not altered by (+/-)-MCPG. CA-mediated InsP formation was in part prevented by removal of endogenous glutamate. In contrast, the glutamate transport blocker L-aspartic acid-beta-hydroxamate synergistically increased CA responses. These data indicate that in cerebellar granule cells HCA mediates InsP formation wholly by activating NMDA receptor. In contrast, CA stimulates InsP formation by activating both NMDA receptor and metabotropic glutamate receptor, and in part by releasing endogenous glutamate into extracellular milieu.
Animals ; Calcium ; Cysteic Acid* ; Glutamic Acid ; Inositol Phosphates* ; Inositol* ; N-Methylaspartate ; Rats* ; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate

OBJECTIVETo provide evidence for three-level prevention of cholelithiasis by means of observing the effects of some choleretics on bile compositions drained from patients with pigment gallstone.

METHODSTwenty-seven patients suffering from primary pigment gallstones and having received treatment of choledochostomies plus T-tube or endoscopic nasal bile drainage (ENBD) were divided equally into three groups, and administered respectively with Lidanling (the LDL group), ursodesoxycholic acid (the UDA group) and combination of LDL and UDA (the LDL + UDA group) through oral intake (7 patients in each group). Besides, 6 post-operational patients got no treatment with any drug were allocated in the control group. Bile of all the patients was collected before treatment and on the 1, 3, 5, 7 th day after the treatment started to detect levels of total bile acid (TBA), glycocholic acid (GCA), taurocholic acid (TCA), glycocholic cheno-desoxycholic acid (GCDCA), total bilirubin (TBIL), uncombined bilirubin (UCB), concentration of calcium ion (Ca(2+)) as well as the bacterio-genetic and endogenous beta-glucuronidase activity for comparing.

RESULTSLevels of TBA, GCA, TCA and GCDCA got gradually increased in the UDA group and the LDL + UDA group after treatment (P < 0.05), while those in the LDL group remained unchanged, showing an insignificant difference as compared with those in the control group. In the LDL group and the LDL + UDA group, TBIL gradually increased while UCB gradually decreased in the course of treatment (P < 0.05). Moreover, levels of Ca(2+) and endogenous beta-glucuronidase activity got significantly lowered (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCombined use of LDL and UDA could elevate levels of TBA, GCA, TCA, GCDCA, enhance the excretion of TBIL in patients with pigment gallstone after bile drainage, lower levels of UCB and Ca(2+) and the activity of endogenous beta-glucuronidase in the bile, so as to reduce the possibility of stone formation of bile, and therefore, it could be used to prevent the production of pigment gallstone, especially to prevent post-operative recurrence of stones.

Adult ; Bile ; chemistry ; Bile Acids and Salts ; analysis ; Bilirubin ; analysis ; Calcium ; analysis ; Cholagogues and Choleretics ; pharmacology ; Choledochostomy ; Cysteic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Drainage ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gallstones ; metabolism ; Glucuronidase ; analysis ; Glycocholic Acid ; analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Taurocholic Acid ; analysis ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology