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Wang TX, Wei HH, Chen ZK, Qu WM, Huang ZL. Hypnotic activities of Zao Ren An Shen capsule, a traditional Chinese medicine, in an anxiety-like mouse model. Sleep Breath 2020; 25:1613-1623. [PMID: 33200339 DOI: 10.1007/s11325-020-02244-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Zao Ren An Shen capsule (ZRASC) which is composed of three kinds of traditional Chinese herbs is a popular Chinese medicine for the treatment of insomnia. This study investigated the hypnotic effect of ZRASC in an anxiety-like mouse model. METHODS We determined the role of ZRASC in anxiety and co-morbid insomnia using electroencephalogram and electromyogram recordings. Anxiety-like behaviors were tested by using the open-field, light/dark box, or elevated plus-maze in mice. Immunohistochemical techniques were employed to reveal the mechanism by which ZRASC regulated anxiety and insomnia. RESULTS ZRASC at 680 mg/kg prolonged the time spent in the central area, open arms area, and light box by 1.9, 2.3, and 1.7-fold respectively, compared with the vehicle control group in immobilization stress (IMS) mice. ZRASC at 680 mg/kg given at 08:00 h increased the amount of non-rapid eye movement sleep by 1.4-fold in a 2-h period after dosing in IMS mice. However, it did not alter the sleep-wake behaviors in normal mice. Immunohistochemistry showed that IMS increased c-Fos expression in the neurons of the stria terminalis and tuberomammillary nucleus by 1.8 and 1.6-fold, respectively. In addition, ZRASC (680 mg/kg) reversed the IMS-induced c-Fos expression. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that ZRASC is an effective therapeutic strategy for both anxiety disorder and sleep disturbances in an anxiety-like mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Xiao Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao-Hua Wei
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ze-Ka Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei-Min Qu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zhi-Li Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Farmer AD, Albusoda A, Amarasinghe G, Ruffle JK, Fitzke HE, Idrees R, Fried R, Brock C, Aziz Q. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation prevents the development of, and reverses, established oesophageal pain hypersensitivity. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2020; 52:988-996. [PMID: 32767824 DOI: 10.1111/apt.15869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The vagus nerve exerts an anti-nociceptive effect on the viscera. AIM To investigate whether transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (t-VNS) prevents the development of and/or reverses established visceral hypersensitivity in a validated model of acid-induced oesophageal pain. METHODS Before and after a 30-minute infusion of 0.15M hydrochloric acid into the distal oesophagus, pain thresholds to electrical stimulation were determined in the proximal non-acid exposed oesophagus. Validated sympathetic (cardiac sympathetic index) and parasympathetic (cardiac vagal tone [CVT]) nervous system measures were recorded. In study 1, 15 healthy participants were randomised in a blinded crossover design to receive either t-VNS or sham for 30 minutes during acid infusion. In study 2, 18 different healthy participants were randomised in a blinded crossover design to receive either t-VNS or sham, for 30 minutes after acid infusion. RESULTS Study 1: t-VNS increased CVT (31.6% ± 58.7 vs -9.6 ± 20.6, P = 0.02) in comparison to sham with no effect on cardiac sympathetic index. The development of acid-induced oesophageal hypersensitivity was prevented with t-VNS in comparison to sham (15.5 mA per unit time (95% CI 4.9 - 26.2), P = 0.004). Study 2: t-VNS increased CVT (26.3% ± 32.7 vs 3 ± 27.1, P = 0.03) in comparison to sham with no effect on cardiac sympathetic index. t-VNS reversed established acid-induced oesophageal hypersensitivity in comparison to sham (17.3mA/unit time (95% CI 9.8-24.7), P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS t-VNS prevents the development of, and reverses established, acid-induced oesophageal hypersensitivity. These results have therapeutic implications for the management of visceral pain hypersensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam D Farmer
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Wingate Institute of Neurogastroenterology, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Mary University of London, London, UK.,Mech-Sense, Department of Gastroenterology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.,Institute of Applied Clinical Sciences, University of Keele, Keele, UK.,Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Stoke on Trent, UK
| | - Ahmed Albusoda
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Wingate Institute of Neurogastroenterology, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Gehanjali Amarasinghe
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Wingate Institute of Neurogastroenterology, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - James K Ruffle
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Wingate Institute of Neurogastroenterology, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Mary University of London, London, UK.,Department of Radiology, University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Heather E Fitzke
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Wingate Institute of Neurogastroenterology, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Ruqaya Idrees
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Wingate Institute of Neurogastroenterology, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Ron Fried
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Wingate Institute of Neurogastroenterology, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Christina Brock
- Mech-Sense, Department of Gastroenterology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Qasim Aziz
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Wingate Institute of Neurogastroenterology, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Mary University of London, London, UK
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