Oxysophocarpine induces anti-nociception and increases the expression of GABAAα1 receptors in mice

• Published in: Molecular medicine reports Vol. 7; no. 6; pp. 1819 - 1825
• Main Authors: XU, TINGTING, LI, YUXIANG, WANG, HAIYAN, XU, YAQIONG, MA, LIN, SUN, TAO, MA, HANXIANG, YU, JIANQIANG
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece D.A. Spandidos 01.06.2013; Spandidos Publications UK Ltd
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Alkaloids - chemistry; Alkaloids - pharmacology; analgesia; Analgesics; Analgesics - chemistry; Analgesics - pharmacology; Animal models; Animals; Aspirin; Campanulaceae - chemistry; Central nervous system; Central Nervous System - drug effects; Chloride; Drug dosages; Experiments; Formaldehyde; Intracerebroventricular administration; Laboratory animals; Medical research; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Nervous system; Neurons - metabolism; Neurons - pathology; oxysophocarpine; Pain; Pain Management; Pain perception; Receptors, GABA-A - metabolism; Rodents; Studies; Up-Regulation - drug effects; γ-aminobutyric acid; γ-Aminobutyric acid A receptors; γ-aminobutyric acid type A; China
• ISSN: 1791-2997; 1791-3004
• DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2013.1414

Oxysophocarpine (OSC) is an alkaloid extracted from Siphocampylus verticillatus. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-nociceptive effects of OSC through systemic and intracerebroventricular administration in mice. Moreover, to evaluate its effectiveness and mechanism of action, this study investigated whether OSC altered the expression of γ-aminobutyric acid type A α1 (GABAAα1) receptors in the central nervous system. Thermal and chemical behavioral models of nociception were used to assess the anti-nociceptive action of OSC. The warm water tail-flick test, the hot-plate test, acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction and formalin-induced pain were used in mice. OSC was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) or intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.). Results showed that OSC (80 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased the tail withdrawal threshold with a peak effect of 25.46% maximal possible effect (MPE) at 60 min (P<0.01). Additionally, OSC (80 mg/kg) increased the positive staining of GABAAα1 receptors in cells. In conclusion, OSC administration is suggested to have anti-nociceptive effects on the central and peripheral nervous systems. The involvement of GABAA receptors in the anti-nociceptive activity of OSC is currently being investigated.