Effects of Coriolus versicolor polysaccharides peptides on electric activity of mediobasal hypothalamus and on immune function in rats.

AIM: The nervous mechanism of the immune potentiating effect of Coriolus versicolor polysaccharides peptides (PSP) was studied in Wistar rats. METHODS: The unit discharge of the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) neurons was recorded extracellularly and the lymphocyte proliferation was measured. RESULTS: PSP 1 g.kg-1 ig for 5 d increased the T-lymphocytes and promoted T-lymphocyte proliferation in spleen and peripheral blood. This promoting effect of PSP was blocked by MBH lesion. PSP increased the discharge frequency of MBH neurons, but no increase in discharge frequency was observed after treatment of PSP plus immune inhibitor, cyclosporin A. CONCLUSION: MBH is involved in the immune-potentiating effect of PSP.

Effects of Panax notoginseng saponins on posthypoxic cell damage of neurons in vitro.

AIM: To study cerebral protective mechanism of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS). METHODS: Cultured neurons of chick embryo cerebral hemisphere were used as an in vitro system for investigating the effects of PNS. The hypoxic cell damage of neurons cultured were induced by NaCN. The levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were determined with HPLC. PNS was added 30 min before, beginning or after hypoxia. RESULTS: PNS 50 and 100 mg L-1 retarded the break down of ATP of cultured neurons after 2-h hypoxia for 11.3 +/- 1.5 (P < 0.05) and 12.8 +/- 2.2 mumol/g protein (P < 0.01), respectively and accelerated the restoration of ATP during 30-min reoxygenation for 21.0 +/- 2.0 (P < 0.05) and 22.7 +/- 2.6 mumol/g protein (P < 0.01), respectively. PNS also reduced the release of creatine kinase (CK) from 75 +/- 8 kU L-1/g protein to 52 +/- 6 (P < 0.05) and 41 +/- 3 kU L-1/mg protein (P < 0.01), respectively and promoted the restoration of ATP of neurons 20 h after hypoxia when administered in the beginning of hypoxia from 13.0 +/- 0.9 mumol/g protein to 18.1 +/- 1.4 and 20.5 +/- 2.1 mumol/g protein (P < 0.01), respectively. PNS still promoted the restoration of ATP from 13.0 +/- 0.9 nmol/mg protein to 14.9 +/- 1.0 and 18.3 +/- 0.7 nmol/mg protein (P < 0.01), respectively and reduced (PNS 100 mg L-1) the CK release of neurons 20 h after hypoxia even when added in the recovery. CONCLUSION: The protection against hypoxic damage of PNS was related to improving energy metabolism, preserving the structural integrity of neurons.

Effects of quercetin on Na(+)-K(+)-exchanging ATPase and Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase in rats.

Quercetin (Que) ig 200 mg.kg-1, qd x 14 d decreased activities of the Na(+)-K(+)-exchanging ATPase (I) of rat brain plasma membranes and heart sarcolemmal and Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase (II) of heart sarcolemmal membrane. Que 100 mg.kg-1 reduced the activity of I from rat heart sarcolemmal preparation, but had no effect on that from rat brain plasma membranes. The result shows that I of myocardium is more sensitive than that of brain in rat. Que also showed a remarkable inhibitory effect in the II of heart sarcolemma.

[Effects of piracetam on Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and monoamine oxidase in rat brain and its antioxidation effect].

Piracetam, ig 600 mg.kg-1.d-1 for 30 d, caused a 20% decrease in the activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and monoamine oxidase (MAO) in vivo. In vitro, it presented an inhibitory effect on MAO, but had no direct effect on Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase at a concentration of 100 mmol.L-1. Piracetam had a potential action in scavenging free radicals. This action may be related to its clinical effects on amnesia and Alzheimer's disease.