Abstract
Objective Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) is an alkaloid extracted from the root and stem of the traditional Chinese herbal medicine called Chuanxiong. The present study aims to study the effects of TMP on hypoxic respiratory depression in rats. Materials and methods. The effects of TMP on respiratory responses of rats induced by hypoxia were observed by diaphragm electromyogram (EMG) recording. The effects of TMP on the protein expression of FOS and acid sensing ion channel1a (ASIC1a) in the brainstem induced by hypoxia were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Results The respiration of rats was first excited and then depressed during hypoxia treatment, while TMP pretreatment could significantly antagonize the respiratory depression induced by hypoxia (P < 0.01). Hypoxia obviously induced the protein expression of FOS (P < 0.01) and ASIC1a(P < 0.05) in the brainstem, which can be also significantly inhibited by TMP pretreatment. Conclusions TMP has protective effects on hypoxic respiratory depression, and the mechanisms might be concerned with its downregulation of FOS and ASIC1a in the brainstem induced by hypoxia.
Highlights
It is known that the essential respiratory centers are located in the lower brainstem, which plays an important role in producing respiratory rhythm and regulating respiratory movement
Diaphragm EMG barely changed for rats in either the air control group or the TMP control group (P < 0.05), which indicated that both mechanical ventilation and TMP had no obvious effects on respiration (Table S1)
Little is known about the role of TMP on hypoxic respiratory depression and the exact mechanisms. e present study revealed that TMP pretreatment antagonized the respiratory depression induced by hypoxia
Summary
It is known that the essential respiratory centers are located in the lower brainstem, which plays an important role in producing respiratory rhythm and regulating respiratory movement. Hypoxia is a common pathological process, which can injure the neurons in the respiratory centers of the brainstem and lead to respiratory depression and even death. Erefore, it is of profound significance to find some medicine to antagonize respiratory depression caused by hypoxia. Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), called ligustrazine, is an alkaloid extracted from the root and stem of the traditional Chinese herbal medicine called Chuanxiong. TMP has been used as clinic treatment for various hypoxic/ ischemic diseases in China [1]. Little is known about the role of TMP in hypoxic respiratory depression and the exact mechanisms
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