Gut Liver.  2014 Mar;8(2):140-147.

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

• Lee SP
• Lee KN
• Lee OY
• Lee HL
• Jun DW
• Yoon BC
• Choi HS
• Hwang SJ
• Lee SE

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.

Keyword

DA-9701; Gastrointestinal diseases; Visceral hypersensitivity; Colorectal distension; Phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase

MeSH Terms

Analgesics/*pharmacology
Animals
Colon
Dilatation, Pathologic/physiopathology
Down-Regulation
Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/drug effects/*metabolism
Ganglia, Spinal/drug effects/*metabolism
Male
Phytotherapy/methods
Plant Preparations/*pharmacology
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/metabolism
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Rectum
Spinal Cord/drug effects/*metabolism
Substance P/metabolism
Visceral Pain/prevention & control
Analgesics
Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
Plant Preparations
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
Substance P