Abstract
These studies were performed to investigate the acting sites of ginseng total saponins (GTS) on the U-50,488H-induced antinociception. And the possible mechanisms of the antagonistic effect on the U-50,488H-induced antinociception and the inhibitory effect of the development of tolerance to U-50,488H-induced antinociception by GTS were studied. The U-50,488H-induced antinociception was antagonized in mice pretreated with GTS intraperitoneally, intracerebrally and intrathecally. These antagonisms were reversed by the pretreatment with a serotonin precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), but not with a noradrenaline precursor, L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA). However, the intraplantar administration of GTS did not alter the intraplantar U-50,488H-induced antinociception. These findings suggest that U-50,488H-induced antinociception are mediated via the spinal and supraspinal sites. On the other hand, GTS inhibited the development of tolerance to U-50,488H-induced antinociception. The inhibitory effect of GTS on the development of tolerance to U-50,488H-induced antinociception was reversed by pretreatment with 5-HTP, but not with L-DOPA. Therefore, the antagonism of U-50,488H-induced antinociception and the inhibition of the development of tolerance to U-50,488H-induced antinociception by GTS are dependent on serotonergic mechanisms.
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Kim, HS., Kim, SH., Seong, YH. et al. Effects of ginseng total saponins on the antinociception and the tolerance development of U-50,488H. Arch. Pharm. Res. 16, 237–243 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02974489
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02974489