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Planta Med 2006; 72(7): 579-583
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-931561
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Valerian Extract Ze 911 Inhibits Postsynaptic Potentials by Activation of Adenosine A1 Receptors in Rat Cortical Neurons

Z. Vissiennon1 , K. Sichardt1 , U. Koetter2 , A. Brattström2 , K. Nieber1
  • 1Institut für Pharmazie, Lehrstuhl Pharmakologie für Naturwissenschaftler, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
  • 2Max Zeller Söhne AG, Herbal Medicinal Products, Romanshorn, Switzerland
Further Information

Publication History

Received: February 3, 2005

Accepted: January 16, 2006

Publication Date:
28 April 2006 (online)

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Valerian Extract Ze 911 Inhibits Postsynaptic Potentials by Activation of Adenosine A1 Receptors in Rat Cortical NeuronsPlanta Med 2006; 72(08): 770-770
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-947182

Abstract

In this study we evaluated the adenosine A1 receptor-mediated effect of valerian extract (Ze 911) on postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) in pyramidal cells of the rat cingulate cortex in a slice preparation. We first observed that N 6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA, 0.01 - 10 μM), an adenosine A1 receptor agonist, inhibited PSPs in a concentration-dependent manner. The CPA (10 μM)-induced inhibition was antagonized by 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX, 0.1 μM), an adenosine A1 receptor antagonist. Ze 911 concentration dependently (0.1 - 15 mg/mL) inhibited PSPs in the presence of the adenosine A2A receptor antagonist 1,3,7-trimethyl-8-(3-chlorostyryl)xanthine (CSC, 0.2 μM) and adenosine deaminase (1 U/mL). The maximal inhibition induced by 10 mg/mL was completely antagonised by DPCPX (0.1 μM), an A1 receptor blocker. The data suggest that activation of adenosine A1 receptors is involved in the pharmacological effects of the valerian extract Ze 911.

Key words

Adenosine - adenosine A1 receptor - valerian - postsynaptic potential - pyramidal cells

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Dr. Karen Nieber

Universität Leipzig

Institut für Pharmazie

Talstrasse 33

04103 Leipzig

Germany

Phone: +49-341-973-6812

Fax: +49-341-973-6898

Email: nieber@rz.uni-leipzig.de