An extract (THC-002) of Ba-Wei-Die-Huang-Wan inhibits expression of tachykinins, and P2X3 and TRPV1 receptors, and inhibits ATP-induced detrusor overactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Abstract

AIMS:

To investigate possible mechanisms of action of THC-002 (HARNCARE), a galenical produced from the traditional Chinese herbal mixture Ba-Wei-Die-Huang-Wan, which has been reported to improve lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients.

METHODS:

Forty-five female SHRs were randomly separated into three groups. Two groups were given 20 ml physiological saline solution (PSS) per kg-body weight orally daily for 1 week. An hour after the administration of PSS, one of the groups received 20 mg THC-002 per kg body weight, and the other a similar volume of THC-002-free saline. The third group received no treatments. The bladders were analyzed by real time RT-PCR (n = 6) and immunohistochemistry (n = 3) for the expression of tachykinins and P2X3 and TRPV1 receptors. Cystometric investigation (n = 6) was conducted after intravesical instillation of saline followed by 5 mg/ml ATP solution.

RESULTS:

Treatment with PSS caused and upregulation of tachykinins and P2X3 and TRPV1 receptors, which was prevented in the group treated with THC-002. In the normal (non-treated) and non-THC-002-treated SHRs, instillation of the ATP solution decreased voiding interval, micturition volume, and bladder capacity compared to the instillation of saline. However, in the THC-002-treated SHRs, ATP instillation had no effect.

CONCLUSIONS:

In SHRs, THC-002 reduced the bladder expression of tachykinins and P2X3 and TRPV1 receptors, and inhibited ATP-induced detrusor overactivity. These effects may explain part of its beneficial effects on LUTS.

• Authors: Tetsuya Imamura, Osamu Ishizuka, Chen Zhong, Teruyuki Ogawa, Tsuyoshi Nakayama, Yoshiki Kurizaki, Tomoaki Tanabe, Osamu Nishizawa, Karl-Erik Andersson
• Journal: Neurourology and urodynamics (Neurourol Urodyn) Vol. 28 Issue 6 Pg. 529-34 ( 2009) ISSN: 1520-6777 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19283865 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemical References

• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• HARNCARE
• P2rx3 protein, rat
• RNA, Messenger
• Receptors, Purinergic P2
• Receptors, Purinergic P2X3
• TRPV Cation Channels
• Tachykinins
• Trpv1 protein, rat
• Substance P
• Neurokinin A
• Neurokinin B
• Adenosine Triphosphate

Topics

• Adenosine Triphosphate (metabolism)
• Administration, Oral
• Animals
• Disease Models, Animal
• Down-Regulation
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Female
• Hypertension (complications, drug therapy, metabolism, physiopathology)
• Immunohistochemistry
• Neurokinin A (metabolism)
• Neurokinin B (metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred SHR
• Receptors, Purinergic P2 (genetics, metabolism)
• Receptors, Purinergic P2X3
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Substance P (metabolism)
• TRPV Cation Channels (genetics, metabolism)
• Tachykinins (genetics, metabolism)
• Urinary Bladder (drug effects, metabolism, physiopathology)
• Urinary Bladder, Overactive (etiology, metabolism, physiopathology, prevention & control)
• Urination (drug effects)