OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the osteogenic performance differences of titanium surface coatings modified by dopamine or silanized graphene oxide, and to provide a more suitable modification scheme for titanium surface graphene oxide coatings. METHODS: Titanium was subjected to alkali-heat treatment and then modified with dopamine and silanization, respectively, followed by coating with graphene oxide. Control and experimental groups were designed as follows: pure titanium (Ti) group; titanium after alkali-heat treatment (Ti-NaOH) group; titanium after alkali-heat treatment and silanization modification (Ti-APTES) group; titanium after alkali-heat treatment and dopamine modification (Ti-DOPA) group; titanium with silanization-modified surface decorated with graphene oxide (Ti-APTES/GO) group; titanium with dopamine-modified surface decorated with graphene oxide (Ti-DOPA/GO) group. The physical and chemical properties of the material surfaces were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle goniometer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectrometer. The proliferation and adhesion morphology of mouse embryonic osteoblast precursor cells MC3T3-E1 on the material surfaces were observed by cell viability detection and immunofluorescence staining followed by laser confocal microscopy. The effects on the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells were studied by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, alizarin red staining and quantification, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: After modification with graphene oxide coating, a thin-film-like structure was observed on the surface under SEM. The hydrophilicity of all experimental groups was improved, among which the Ti-DOPA/GO group had the best hydrophilicity. XPS and Raman spectroscopy analysis showed that the modified materials exhibited typical D and G peaks, and XPS revealed the presence of a large number of oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface. CCK8 assay showed that all groups of materials had no cytotoxicity, and the proliferation level of the Ti-APTES/GO group was higher than that of the Ti-DOPA/GO group. Under the laser confocal microscope, the cells in the Ti-DOPA/GO and Ti-APTES/GO groups spread more fully. The Ti-DOPA/GO and Ti-APTES/GO groups had the deepest ALP staining, and the Ti-APTES/GO group had the most alizarin red-stained mineralized nodules and the highest quantitative result of alizarin red staining. In the Ti-DOPA/GO and Ti-APTES/GO groups, the expression of the early osteogenic-related gene RUNX2 reached a relatively high level, while in the expression of the late osteogenic-related genes OPN and OCN, the Ti-APTES/GO group performed better than the Ti-DOPA/GO group. CONCLUSIONS Ti-APTES/GO significantly outperformed Ti-DOPA/GO in promoting the adhesion, proliferation, and in vitro osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells.
Titanium/chemistry* ; Graphite/chemistry* ; Dopamine/chemistry* ; Animals ; Mice ; Osteogenesis ; Osteoblasts/cytology* ; Surface Properties ; Cell Proliferation ; Silanes/chemistry* ; Cell Adhesion ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible/chemistry* ; Cell Differentiation ; Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism* ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning

To investigate the effect of Rehmanniae Radix on depression-like behavior and monoamine neurotransmitters of chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS) model rats. CUMS combined with isolated feeding was used to induce the depression model of rats. The depression-like behavior of rats was evaluated by sucrose preference test, open field test, and forced swim test. Hematoxylin-Eosin(HE) staining was used to investigate the pathological changes of neurons in the CA1 and CA3 area of hippocampus. Ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS) was used to detect the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA), dopamine(DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid(DOPAC), homovanillic acid(HVA), norepinephrine(NE), and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol(MHPG) in rats. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of tryptophan hydroxylase 2(TPH2), serotonin transporter(SERT), and monoamine oxidase A(MAO-A) in the hippocampus of rats. Compared with the normal group, depressive-like behavior of rats was obvious in the model group. The arrangements of neurons in the CA1 and CA3 area of hippocampus were loose and disorderly. The levels of 5-HT, 5-HIAA, and 5-HT/5-HIAA in the hippocampal area were decreased(P<0.01). The protein expression of TPH2 was decreased(P<0.01), but those of SERT and MAO-A were increased(P<0.01). In the Rehmanniae Radix groups with 1.8 g·kg~(-1) and 7.2 g·kg~(-1), the depression-like behavior of CUMS rats and pathological changes of neurons in CA1, CA3 area of hippocampus were improved. The protein expression of TPH2(P<0.05, P<0.01) was increased, and those of SERT and MAO-A were down-regulated(P<0.05, P<0.01). The levels of 5-HT, 5-HIAA, and 5-HT/5-HIAA in hippocampus were increased(P<0.05, P<0.01). The changes in DA, DOPAC, HVA, DA/(DOPAC +HVA), NE, DHPG, and NE/DHPG were not statistically significant. The results suggested that Rehmanniae Radix improved depression-like behavior of CUMS rats, and the mechanism might be related to the regulation of synthesis, transportation, and metabolism of 5-HT neurotransmitter in the hippocampus.
3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Depression/drug therapy* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dopamine ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS)/pharmacology* ; Hematoxylin/pharmacology* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Homovanillic Acid/pharmacology* ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid/metabolism* ; Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol/pharmacology* ; Monoamine Oxidase/metabolism* ; Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism* ; Norepinephrine/pharmacology* ; Plant Extracts ; Rats ; Rehmannia/chemistry* ; Serotonin/metabolism* ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins/pharmacology* ; Stress, Psychological/metabolism* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Tryptophan Hydroxylase/metabolism*

Stress and emotion are associated with several illnesses from headaches to heart diseases and immune deficiencies to central nervous system. Terminalia arjuna has been referred as traditional Indian medicine for several ailments. The present study aimed to elucidate the effect of T. arjuna bark extract (TA) against picrotoxin-induced anxiety. Forty two male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into six experimental groups (n = 7): control, diazepam (1.5 mg·kg), picrotoxin (1 mg·kg) and three TA treatemt groups (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg). Behavioral paradigms and PCR studies were performed to determine the effect of TA against picrotoxin-induced anxiety. The results showed that TA supplementation increased locomotion towards open arm (EPM) and illuminated area (light-dark box test), and increased rearing frequency (open field test) in a dose dependent manner, compared to picrotoxin (P < 0.05). Furthermore, TA increased number of licks and shocks in Vogel's conflict. PCR studies showed an up-regulation of several genes, such as BDNF, IP, DL, CREB, GABA, SOD, GPx, and GR in TA administered groups. In conclusion, alcoholic extract of TA bark showed protective activity against picrotoxin in mice by modulation of genes related to synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitters, and antioxidant enzymes.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Anxiety Disorders ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; psychology ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dopamine Agents ; administration & dosage ; GABA Agents ; administration & dosage ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neuronal Plasticity ; drug effects ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Picrotoxin ; adverse effects ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Serotonin Agents ; administration & dosage ; Superoxide Dismutase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Terminalia ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo discuss the protective effect of alkaloids from Piper longum (PLA) in rat dopaminergic neuron injury of 6-OHDA-induced Parkinson's disease and its possible mechanism.

METHODThe rat PD model was established by injecting 6-OHDA into the unilateral striatum with a brain solid positioner. The PD rats were divided into the PLA group (50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), the madorpa group (50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and the model group, with 15 rats in each group. All of the rats were orally given drugs once a day for 6 weeks. Meanwhile, other 15 rats were randomly selected as the sham operation group, and only injected with normal saline in the unilateral striatum. The behavioral changes were observed with the apomorphine (APO)-induced rotation and rotary rod tests. The number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells in rat substantia nigra and the density of TH-positive fibers in striatum were detected by tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry. The content of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in rat substantia nigra and striatum were measured by the spectrophotometric method.

RESULTAfter being induced by APO, PD rats showed obvious rotation behaviors, with decreased time stay on rotary rod and significant reduction in the number of TH-positive cells in sustantia nigra and the density of TH-positive fibers in striatum. The activities of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, the content of GSH and the total antioxidant capacity significantly decreased, whereas the activities of NOS and the content of MDA, NO significantly increased. PLA could significantly improve the behavioral abnormality of PD rats and increase the number of TH-positive cells in sustantia nigra and the density of TH-positive fibers in striatum. It could up-regulate the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, the content of GSH and the total antioxidant capacity, and decrease the content of NOS and the content of MDA, NO.

CONCLUSIONAlkaloids from P. longum shows the protective effect in substantia nigra cells of 6-OHDA-induced PD model rats. Its mechanism may be related with their antioxidant activity.

Administration, Oral ; Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apomorphine ; pharmacology ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Dopamine Agonists ; pharmacology ; Dopaminergic Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Motor Activity ; drug effects ; Neostriatum ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Oxidopamine ; Parkinson Disease, Secondary ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Piper ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Substantia Nigra ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study and compare the effect of Corydalis yanhusuo and L-THP on dopamine neurotransmitter and D2 receptor of reward circuitry in various cerebral areas of conditioned place preference model rats and the comparison of their effects.

METHODThe CPP model was established by injecting morphine in rats with increasing doses for 10 days. The initial dose of 10 mg x kg(-1), and the final dose of 100 mg x kg(-1), with 10 mg x kg(-1) increased each day. At 48 h after the final training, CPP was adopted to detect the successful establishment of the model. On the same day (12 d), they were orally administered with 2, 1, 0.5 g x kg(-1) C. yanhusuo (containing 0.153, 0.077 and 0.038 mg L-THP) and L-THP (3.76, 1.88, 0.94 mg x kg(-1)) for six days. On 18 d, CPP test was performed again. Next day, HPLC was adopted to determine the content of dopamine neurotransmitters of reward circuitry in VTA-NAc-PFC; Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were adopted to detect the expression of D2 receptors.

RESULTCompared with the physiological saline treatment group, C. yanhusuo (2, 1 g x kg(-1)) and L-THP (3.76, 1.88 mg x kg(-1)) groups showed that rats stayed in a notably shorter period in white boxes (morphine-accompanied boxes) (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and revealed a remarkably lower dopamine content in VTA, NAc and PFC and the significant increase in the expression of D2 receptor (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe down-regulation of the increased dopamine content in reward nervous circuitry and the up-regulation of the expression of D2 receptor may be one of mechanisms of C. yanhusuo and L-THP in accelerating the recession of morphine's CPP effect Regarding the inhibition of morphine's CPP effect and the effect on dopamine system, the effect of C. yanhusuo traditional Chinese medicine containing one-fold L-THP monomer is equal to that of the independent application of around 24-fold L-THP monomer.

Animals ; Berberine Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Conditioning, Operant ; drug effects ; Corydalis ; chemistry ; Dopamine ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Morphine ; adverse effects ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Dopamine D2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Substance-Related Disorders ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; psychology

Using brain microdialysis and LC-ECD, the content of dopamine in rat brain was detected to investigate the effects of ligustrazine. A liquid chromatography-electrochemical detector method has been established and validated for the determination of dopamine in rat brain dialysate. The results indicate that ligustrazine administration by subcutaneous injection significantly increased dopamine release in rat medial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens and hippocampus in a dose-related manner. The drug's effects on dopa release in rat brain could be directly detected by microdialysis combined with HPLC-ECD and this method has the preponderance over traditional neurology methods.
Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dopamine ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Electrochemical Techniques ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Ligusticum ; chemistry ; Male ; Microdialysis ; methods ; Nucleus Accumbens ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prefrontal Cortex ; metabolism ; Pyrazines ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Dingzhixiao Wan (DZXW), a classic traditional Chinese medicine formula consisting of Acorus tatarinowii, Polygala tenuifolia, Poria cocos and Panax ginseng in a proportion of 2: 2: 3: 3, on learning-memory impairment induced by scopolamine and its possible mechanisms.

METHODThe mice were randomly divided into six groups: the control group, the model group, the positive huperzine A (0.05 mg x kg(-1)) group, DZXW 700 mg x kg(-1), 350 mg x kg(-1) and 175 mg kg(-1) groups. DZXW extracts were orally administrated to the mice for 7 days. Scopolamine (1.5 mg x kg(-1), ip) was injected to establish the learning and memory impairment model in mice. Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to assess the learning and memory ability of each group. After the test, the activities of glutamic acid (Glu), gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA), serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), acetylcholine (Ach) and acetyl cholinesterase (AchE) in brain tissue were measured.

RESULTThe praxiology test showed that DZXW significantly decreased the average latency of model mice in the place navigation test, and enhanced the frequency for passing through the platform in the spatial probe test, the percentage between target quadrant swimming distance and time. Moreover, DZXW could significantly increase the contents of Glu and 5-HT, DA and Ach, while reducing the levels of GABA and AchE in mice brain.

CONCLUSIONDZXW could significantly ameliorate the scopolamine-induced learning-memory impairment in mice and improve their learning-memory capacity, which may be related to its effect on adjusting Glu/GABA system and increasing Ach and monoamine neurotransmitter contents in mice brain.

Animals ; Brain Chemistry ; drug effects ; Dopamine ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glutamic Acid ; analysis ; Learning Disorders ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Memory Disorders ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Mice ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; pharmacology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; analysis

D5 receptor is a subtype of dopamine D1-like receptor, and it plays a functional role in many neurological disorders. Some natural compounds from Chinese herbs, which were shown to have the property as that of receptor agonist, might provide a rich source in search of new candidates for therapeutic use. For exploring this possibility, we developed a cell-based high throughput (HTS) D5 receptor assay to screen the herb-based natural compound library established in our centre. The D5 receptor plasmid (hD5R/pcDNA3.1) and reporter gene plasmid (4 x CRE/TK/Luci/pGL3) were co-transfected into HEK293 cell line. After G418 being selected, the monoclonal cell lines bearing hD5R and the reporter gene were established and used for agonist screening. To optimize the assay condition, the effects of some factors such as cell number per well, incubation time, and the doses of SKF38393 (a potent selective partial D1-like agonist) were examined by using forskolin, a positive compound for cAMP response element. The best condition for this HTS assay included: the cell number at 5 x 10(4)/mL, the dose of forskolin at 5-20 micromol/L, the dose of SKF38393 at 100 nmol/L-100 micromol/L, and the agonist incubation time at 6 -8 h. Thereafter, water extracts from more than 200 Chinese herbs in our library were screened and three of these water extracts showed positive activity, with higher or similar activity as SKF38393. In conclusion, we have established a cell-based HTS assay for D5 receptor agonist screening, and by use of this HTS assay, 3 Chinese herbs maybe contain components exhibiting D5 receptor agonist property. This work provides an alternative vision of how to use herb medicines and a way to develop potential drugs for treatment of neurological disorders.
Cell Line ; Dopamine Agonists ; isolation & purification ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; methods ; Humans ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Receptors, Dopamine D5 ; agonists

To explore novel monoamine reuptake inhibitor with antidepressant activity, a series of substituted aryl alkanol piperidine derivatives were designed and synthesized. All of them were new compounds, and their structures were confirmed with 1H NMR and HR-MS. The results showed that compounds 4, 5 and 8 displayed strong 5-HT, NA and DA reuptake inhibiting activities in vitro. Among the tested compounds, 4, 5 and 13 exhibited potent antidepressant activities in the mice forced swimming test. Compounds 4 and 5 have potent antidepressant activities and are worth further development.
Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Dopamine ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Motor Activity ; drug effects ; Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Norepinephrine ; metabolism ; Piperidines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin ; metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Swimming ; Synaptosomes ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of chlorpromazine combined with Platycodon grandiflorum on the striatal extracellular dopamine level in rats and to research the interaction and the mechanism of action after combining traditional Chinese medicine with western medicine.

METHODTwenty four rats were randomly assigned into four groups: the control group, Platycodon group, chlorpromazine group and chlorpromazined combined with P. grandiflorum group. The level of dopamine in CSF microdialysis samples was detected with high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detector after administration for 10 days.

RESULTThe CSF level of DA (1.52 +/- 0.34) microg x L(-1) was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in chlorpromazine combined with P. grandiflorum group than that in the chlorpromazine group (1.25 +/- 0.22) microg x L(-1) (P < 0.05) and that in the normal control (1.06 +/- 0.24) microg x L(-1) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe combining utilization of P. grandiflorum and chlorpromazine may increase the DA concentration of monoamine neurotransmitters, which results in under the therapeutic effect is maintained, the dosage of chlorpromazine used to individuals are decreased and the incidence rate of the adverse reactions of chlorpromazine will descend.

Animals ; Chlorpromazine ; chemistry ; Corpus Striatum ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Dopamine ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Microdialysis ; Platycodon ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley