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The involvement of serotonin receptors in suanzaorentang-induced sleep alteration

  • Published:
Journal of Biomedical Science

Summary

Sedative-hypnotic medications, including benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepines, are usually prescribed for the insomniac patients; however, the addiction, dependence and adverse effects of those medications have drawn much attention. In contrast, suanzaorentang, a traditional Chinese herb remedy, has been efficiently used for insomnia relief in China, although its mechanism remains unclear. This study was designed to further elucidate the underlying mechanism of suanzaorentang on sleep regulation. One ingredient of suanzaorentang, zizyphi spinosi semen, exhibits binding affinity for serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) receptors, 5-HT1A and 5-HT2, and for GABA receptors. Our previous results have implicated that GABAA receptors, but not GABAB, mediate suanzaorentang-induced sleep alteration. In current study we further elucidated the involvement of serotonin. We found that high dose of suanzaorentang (4 g/kg/2 ml) significantly increased non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) when comparing to that obtained after administering starch placebo, although placebo at dose of 4 g/kg also enhanced NREMS comparing with that obtained from baseline recording. Rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) was not altered. Administration of either 5-HT1A antagonist (NAN-190), 5-HT2 antagonist (ketanserin) or 5-HT3 antagonist (3-(4-Allylpiperazin-1-yl)-2-quinoxalinecarbonitrile) blocked suanzaorentang-induced NREMS increase. These results implicate the hypnotic effect of suanzaorentang and its effects may be mediated through serotonergic activation, in addition to GABAergic system.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Science Council grant NSC95-2320-B-002-098-MY2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Technology, Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Miaoli, Taiwan

    Pei-Lu Yi

  2. Shih-Hwa Chinese Medicine Clinic, Tainan, Taiwan

    Chun-Pang Lin

  3. Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

    Chon-Haw Tsai & Fang-Chia Chang

  4. Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Jaung-Geng Lin

  5. Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan, ROC

    Fang-Chia Chang

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  1. Pei-Lu Yi
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Yi, PL., Lin, CP., Tsai, CH. et al. The involvement of serotonin receptors in suanzaorentang-induced sleep alteration. J Biomed Sci 14, 829–840 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11373-007-9197-8

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