Role of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in the action of ginsenoside Rh2 against beta-amyloid-induced inhibition of rat brain astrocytes
- 作者：Po-Chuen Shieh ; Chiung-Wen Tsao ; Jin-Shiou Li ; Hung-Tsung Wu ; Ya-Ju Wen ; Dai-Huang Kou ; Juei-Tang Cheng
- 关键词：Ginsenoside Rh2 ; β ; -Amyloid ; Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) ; Rat brain astrocytes (RBA1)
- 刊名：Neuroscience Letters
- 出版年：2008
- 期刊代码：52_03043940
- 类别：neu
- 出版时间：21 March 2008
- 卷：434
- 期：1
- 页码：1-5
- 文件大小：367 K
摘要
Ginsenoside, the active principles in Panax ginseng root, has been demonstrated to show neurotrophic and neuroprotective actions for prevention of neuron degeneration. Deposition of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) causes neurotoxicity through the formation of plaques in brains with Alzheimer's disease. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is introduced as a neurotrophic factor to promote cell survival. However, effect of Rh2, one of ginsenosides, on PACAP expression induced by Aβ remains unclear. In the present study, we found that Rh2 stimulates PACAP gene expression and cell proliferation in type I rat brain astrocytes (RBA1) cells and both effects were not modified by the estrogen antagonists (MPP or ICI 182780). Also, Rh2 ameliorates the RBA1 growth inhibition of Aβ. Moreover, blockade of PACAP receptor PAC1 using PACAP (6-38) inhibits all the actions of Rh2. These results suggest that Rh2 can induce an increase of PACAP to activate PAC1, but not estrogen receptor, and thereby leads to attenuate Aβ-induced toxicity. Thus, ginseng seems useful in the prevention of dementia.