The study is aimed to distinguish morphological characteristics of Dalbergiae Lignum collected from crude drug's markets and establish a identification methods and the quality standard for Dalbergiae Lignum. The macroscopic and microscopic features of Dalbergiae Lignum from crude drug's market were observed, analyzed and compared according to Hongmu specification issued by the People's Republic of China in 2000, and by the characteristics recorded in domestic monograph of Mucai Shibie (wood identification). The redwood of Dalbergiae Lignum cut into small pieces as medicinal material are dry heart wood of mahogany (trees from Dalbergia sp.), which characteristics of the small pieces as crude drug are different. There are differences in macroscopic and microscopic features about texture of wood and color, odor, taste, transverse section, radial section, tangential section. The results can provide basis for identification, application and improment of the quality standard of Dalbergiae Lignum as medicinal material.
China ; Dalbergia ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; classification ; Herbal Medicine ; economics ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Quality Control ; Xylem ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry

Sailonggu, a traditional Chinese medicine is whole skeleton of Myospalax baileyi, which is a kind of animal of rodent from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China. Osteon Myospalacem Baileyiis the first category medicinal materials of China Food and Drug Administration. For better quality control, a method of the morphological identification of Osteon Myospalacem Baileyi was established by means of studying characteristics of the animal skeleton, it's microscopic characteristics of powder, and literatures comparison. The characteristics of Osteon Myospalacem Baileyi were observed and recorded in detail and marked by number, which could be used for identifying crude drug of Osteon Myospalacem Baileyi efficiently.
Animals ; Bone and Bones ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; China ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Rodentia ; anatomy & histology

Objective To investigate the effects of midazolam on GABAA receptor-activated currents in isolated dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in rats.Methods Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes,weighing 200-250 g,aged 4 weeks,were used in the study.The DRG neurons were isolated and GABAA receptor-activated currents were recorded using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique.GABAA receptor-activated currents were recorded after administration of the mixture of midazolam 3.00 μmol/L (final concentration)and the different final concentrations (0.03,0.10,1.00,10.00,100.00 and 1000.00 μmol/L) of GABA,after different concentrations of midazolam (0.03,0.10,1.00,3.00,10.00 and 100.00 μmol/L) was given,after administration of the mixture of different final concentrations(0.03,0.10,1.00,3.00,10.00 and 100.00 μmol/L) of midazolam and GABA 100.00 μmol/L (final concentration),and after administration of the mixture of midazolam 1.00μmol/L (final concentration) and GABA 100.00 μmol/L (final concentration)at the preset time points of perfusion with different concentrations of midazolam (0,20,40,60 and 120 s of perfusion).The enhancement rate of the currents was calculated.Results No change in the membrane currents was found after midazolam was perfused in the neurons sensitive to GABA.GABAA receptor-activated currents were enhanced after administration of the mixture of different concentrations of GABA and midazolam.GABAA receptor-activated currents were enhanced after different concentrations of midazolam were given compared with that before administration,and the enhancement rate of the GABAA receptoractivated currents was gradually increased with the increase in the concentration of midazolam and reached the peak at the concentration of 3.00 μmol/L.The enhancement rate of the GABAA receptor-activated currents was gradually increased with the prolongation of perfusion time and peaked at 40 s of perfusion.Conclusion Midazolam can enhance the GABAA receptor-activated currents in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons,indicating that midazolam increases the role of GABA through increasing the activity of GABAA receptors and has analgesic effect at the spinal cord level.

mRNAs of alpha-adrenoceptor (α-AR) subtypes are found in neurons in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and change after peripheral nerve injury. In this study, the distribution of α-AR subtype proteins was studied in L5 DRG of normal rats and rats with chronic constriction injury of sciatic nerve (CCI). Using immunofluorescence technique, it was found that α1A-, α1B-, and α2A-AR proteins were expressed in large, medium, and small size neurons in normal DRG, and significantly increased in all size neurons 14 days after CCI. α1D- and α2C-AR was also expressed in all size neurons in normal DRG. However, α1D-AR was significantly increased and α2C-AR was decreased in small size neurons 14 days post CCI. α2B-AR neurons were not detectable in normal and CCI DRG. Co-expression of α1A- and α2A-AR in the same neuron was observed in normal DRG and increased post CCI. Collectively, these results indicated that there is distinct distribution of α-AR subtypes in DRG neurons, and the distribution and levels of expression of α-AR subtypes change differently after CCI. The up-regulation of α-AR subtypes in DRG neurons may play an important role in the process of generating and transmitting neuropathic pain.

BACKGROUND:Recent studies have found that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels that culturedin vitro for a long time can naturaly differentiate into neural stem cels, which then differentiate into neurons and glial cels, thereby providing a new therapeutic thinking for Parkinson’s disease, sequela of cerebral infarction, cerebelar atrophy and brain dysplasia.
OBJECTIVE:To discuss the influence of neural stem cel transplantation on neurologic function of rats with cerebral hemorrhage at recovery stage and the relevant mechanism of action.
METHODS: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group (n=18), cerebral hemorrhage group (n=21) and transplantation group (n=21). Cerebral hemorrhage models were established in the latter two groups using VII type colagen enzyme induction method. At 21 days of modeling, rats in the transplantation group were injected neural stem cels via the tail vein, and those in the other two groups received the same volume of normal saline. At 7, 14, 21 days after cel transplantation, modified adhesive removal test (MST) was employed to evaluate the neurologic function of rats, and then the rats were kiled. RT-PCR was used to detect angiopoietin-1 mRNA expression in the bleeding tissues, and western blot assay was employed to measure tyrosine kinase receptor-2 protein expression.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the normal group, the MST scores in the cerebral hemorrhage group and transplantation group were significantly decreased (P< 0.05). From the 7th day after transplantation, MST scores in the transplantation group were significantly higher than those in the cerebral hemorrhage group (P < 0.05). At 7, 14, 21 days after transplantation, expressions of angiopoietin-1 mRNA and tyrosine kinase receptor-2 protein were ranked as folows: transplantation group > cerebral hemorrhage group > normal group, and there was a significant difference among the three groups (P< 0.05). These findings indicate that neural stem cel transplantation can effectively promote the neurologic recovery of rats with cerebral hemorrhage at recovery stage, and the concrete mechanism may be related to the increase of angiopoietin-1 mRNA and tyrosine kinase receptor-2 protein in the bleeding tissues.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of ropivacaine on Gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)-activated currents in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in rats and discuss the analgesia mechanism of ropivacaine.

METHODSBy means of using whole-cell patch-clamp technique, to investigate the modulatory effects of ropivacaine on GABA-activated currents (I(GABA)) in acutely isolated dorsal root ganglion neurons.

RESULTS(1) In 48 out of 73DRG cells (65.7%, 48/73), to perfusion ropivacaine bromide (0.1 - 1 000 micromol/L) were sensitive. Which produce in 0 to 380 pA current. (2) The majority of the neurons examined (74.5%, 73/98) were sensitive to GABA. Concentration of 1 - 1 000 micromol/L GABA could activate a concentration-dependent inward current, which manifested obvious desensitization, and the inward currents could be blocked byGABA-receptor selective antagonist of bicuculline (100 micromol/L). (3) After the neurons were treated with ropivacaine (0.1 - 1000 micromol/L) prior to the application of GABA (100 micromol/L) 30 s, GABA currents were obviously increased. Ropivacaine could make dose-response curve of the GABA up, EC50 is 23.46 micromol/L. Ropivacaine shifted the GABA dose-response curve upward and increased the maximum response to the contrast about 153%.

CONCLUSIONThe enhancement of ropivacaine to DRG neurons activation of GABA current, can lead to enhancement of pre-synaptic inhibition at the spinal cord level. This may be one of the reasons for the anesthetic effect and analgesia for ropivacaine in epidural anesthesia.

Amides ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Ganglia, Spinal ; cytology ; physiology ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, GABA-A ; physiology

mRNAs of alpha-adrenoceptor (α-AR) subtypes are found in neurons in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and change after peripheral nerve injury. In this study, the distribution of α-AR subtype proteins was studied in L5 DRG of normal rats and rats with chronic constriction injury of sciatic nerve (CCI). Using immunofluorescence technique, it was found that α1A-, α1B-, and α2A-AR proteins were expressed in large, medium, and small size neurons in normal DRG, and significantly increased in all size neurons 14 days after CCI. α1D- and α2C-AR was also expressed in all size neurons in normal DRG. However, α1D-AR was significantly increased and α2C-AR was decreased in small size neurons 14 days post CCI. α2B-AR neurons were not detectable in normal and CCI DRG. Co-expression of α1A- and α2A-AR in the same neuron was observed in normal DRG and increased post CCI. Collectively, these results indicated that there is distinct distribution of α-AR subtypes in DRG neurons, and the distribution and levels of expression of α-AR subtypes change differently after CCI. The up-regulation of α-AR subtypes in DRG neurons may play an important role in the process of generating and transmitting neuropathic pain.
Animals ; Cell Size ; Chronic Disease ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Ganglia, Spinal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Neurons ; metabolism ; pathology ; Pain Measurement ; methods ; Pain Threshold ; Protein Isoforms ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 ; metabolism ; Sciatic Nerve ; injuries ; surgery

Objective:To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Personal and Social Performance scale (PSP-CHN) in patients with schizophrenia.Methods:Totally 165 out-patients and in-patients meeting the DSM-IV-TR criteria for schizophrenia were entered in the study.Ten of subjects was included the intra-rater reliability training.The Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) was regarded as the' gold standard' to investigate the validity of PSP-CHN,and the Positive and Negative Rating Scale was used to assess the severity of disease to explore the correlative validity,in the other 155 subjects.Five to seven days after the first PSP-CHN interview,the second PSP-CHN was evaluated by another investigator to assess the test-retest reliability among 66 subjects.Twenty-seven subjects with the score of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) more than 60 were followed up for 8 weeks of standardized pharmacotherapy.By the end of 8 week of treatment,the PANSS and PSP-CHN were assessed again to explore the sensitivity of PSP-CHN.Results:The internal consistency (Cronbach α=0.84) and the inter-rater reliability (κ value=0.56,ICC=0.94 for PSP-CHN total score) were good.The test-retest reliability was high [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.95].The scale showed good construct validity with statistically significant correlations with the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) (ICC of 0.95).The PSP-CHN score had a good negative correlation with the PANSS total score(r=-0.79,-0.57,-0.63 and -0.71,respectively,P<0.01).After 8 week treatment,PSP-CHN total score was increased with the improvement of PANSS,and the responder showed higher increasing of PSP-CHN total score (21.2) than those partial responder(10.2),significantly.Conclusion:The Chinese version of the PSP-CHN is a convenient and valid instrument to assess the personal and social functions of stabilized and acute patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVETo explore the modulatory effect of niflumic acid and blocker of calcium channel on the desensitization of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)-activated currents in dorsal root ganglion(DRG) neurons from rat.

METHODSThe whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to observe the modulatory effect of niflumic acid and blocker of calcium channel on the desensitization of GABA-activated currents in neurons freshly dissociated from rat DRG neurons.

RESULTSApplication of GABA (0.1-1 000 micromol/L) could induce concentration-dependent inward currents in some cells (212/223, 95.11%). GABA-(100 micromol/L) activated currents was (1.32 +/- 0.74) nA (n = 84). However, pre-application of niflumic acid (1-100 micromol/L) and nitrendipine (specific blocker of L-calcium channel)(0.1-30 micromol/L) could inhibit the GABA-activated inward current which was identified to be GABAA receptor-mediated current. The inhibitory effects of niflumic acid and nitrendipine were concentration-dependent. The suppression rate of 10 micromol/L niflumic acid and nitrendipine to GABA-activated currents were (31.60% +/- 4.87%) (n = 19) and (43.60% < or = 5.10%) (n = 5), respectively. The desensitization of GABA-activated currents had double exponential characteristic. Tau value was (14.68 +/- 5.11) s (n = 6) and (175.8 +/- 42.67) s (n = 6, r = 0.9647), respectively. Pre-application of niflumic acid (100 micromol/L) and nickel chloride (nonspecific blocker of L-calcium channel) (100 micromol/L) altered tau value of the desensitization of GABA-activated currents, tau value reduced for (4.64 +/- 2.21) s (n = 3), (43.70 +/- 14.34) s ( n = 3, r = 0.9548) and (4.64 +/- 2.21) s (n = 3), (43.70 +/- 14.34) s (n = 3, r = 0.9721).

CONCLUSIONPre-application of niflumic acid exerts a more strong inhibitory effect on the peak value of GABA-activated current, which possibly is through blocking the calcium-activated chloride ion channel to accelerate the desensitization of GABA-activated currents.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; drug effects ; Ganglia, Spinal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; physiology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Niflumic Acid ; pharmacology ; Nitrendipine ; pharmacology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the modulatory effect of niflumic acid (NFA) on gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)-activated currents of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in rat.

METHODSThe whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to record the NFA- and GABA-activated currents in neurons freshly dissociated from rat DRG neurons.

RESULTSApplication of NFA(0.1 - 100 micromol/L) could induce concentration-dependent outward currents in some cells (21/48,43.75%), and GABA (0.1 - 100 micromol/L) could induce concentration-dependent inward currents in some cells(150/159,94.32%). NFA-(100 micromol/L) and GABA-(100 micromol/L) activated currents were (0.27 +/- 0.06) nA (n = 12) and (1.29 +/- 0.72) nA (n = 53) respectively. However, pre-application of NFA (0.1 - 100 micromol/L) could inhibit the GABA-activated inward current which was identified to be GABAA receptor-mediated current. The inhibitory effects of NFA were concentration-dependent. NFA could not alter the EC50 (about 30 micromol/L) and inverse potential (about -10 mV) of GABA-activated current (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPre-application of NFA exerts a more strong inhibitory effect on the peak value of GABA-activated current.

Animals ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Ganglia, Spinal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Niflumic Acid ; pharmacology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism