Lee SP, Lee KN, Lee OY, Lee HL, Jun DW, Yoon BC, Choi HS, Hwang SJ, Lee SE. Effects of DA-9701, a novel prokinetic agent, on phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase expression in the dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord induced by colorectal distension in rats.
Gut Liver 2013;
8:140-7. [PMID:
24672654 PMCID:
PMC3964263 DOI:
10.5009/gnl.2014.8.2.140]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2013] [Revised: 04/11/2013] [Accepted: 04/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS
DA-9701, a standardized extract of Pharbitis Semen and Corydalis Tuber, is a new prokinetic agent that exhibits an analgesic effect on the abdomen. We investigated whether DA-9701 affects visceral pain induced by colorectal distension (CRD) in rats.
METHODS
A total of 21 rats were divided into three groups: group A (no CRD+no drug), group B (CRD+no drug), and group C (CRD+DA-9701). Expression of pain-related factors, substance P (SP), c-fos, and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord was determined by immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting.
RESULTS
The proportions of neurons in the DRG and spinal cord expressing SP, c-fos, and p-ERK were higher in group B than in group A. In the group C, the proportion of neurons in the DRG and spinal cord expressing p-ERK was lower than that in group B. Western blot results for p-ERK in the spinal cord indicated a higher level of expression in group B than in group A and a lower level of expression in group C than in group B.
CONCLUSIONS
DA-9701 may decrease visceral pain via the downregulation of p-ERK in the DRG and spinal cord.
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