Abstract
Aim:
Deoxyschisandrin is one of the most effective composites of Schisandra chinensis, a famous Chinese medicine widely used as an antistress, anti-aging, and neurological performance-improving herb. In this study, we examined its specific mechanisms of action on cultured hippocampal neurons.
Methods:
Hippocampal neurons, primarily cultured for 9–11 d in vitro, were used for this study. DS were dissolved in DMSO and applied to calcium imaging and whole-cell patch clamp.
Results:
The application of 3 mg/L DS decreased the frequency of spontaneous and synchronous oscillations of intracellular Ca2+ to 72%±2% (mean±SEM), and the spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents to 60%±3% (mean±SEM). The inhibitory concentraton 50% (IC50) for the effect of DS on calcium oscillations was 3.8 mg/L. DS also depressed the high voltage-gated Ca2+ channel and the voltage-gated Na+ channel currents at the same time point. It had no effect, however, on voltage-gated K+ and spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents.
Conclusion:
DS inhibited the spontaneous and synchronous oscillations of intracellular Ca2+ through the depression of influx of extracellular calcium and the initiation of action potential. By repressing the spontaneous neurotransmitter release, DS modulated the neuronal network activities.
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This work was supported by the Tsinghua-Yue-Yuen Medical Sciences fund (No 2024-0000513) and the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (No 7062036).
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Fu, M., Sun, Zh., Zong, M. et al. Deoxyschisandrin modulates synchronized Ca2+ oscillations and spontaneous synaptic transmission of cultured hippocampal neurons. Acta Pharmacol Sin 29, 891–898 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-7254.2008.00821.x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-7254.2008.00821.x
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