Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of berberine (BBR) on thermoregulation in mice exposed to hot (40°C) and cold (4°C) environmental conditions. Four groups of mice were assembled with three different dosages of BBR (0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mg/kg) and normal saline (control). In room temperature, our largest dosage of BBR (0.8 mg/kg) can reduce rectal temperatures (Tc) of normal mice. In hot conditions, BBR can antagonize the increasing core body temperature and inhibit the expression of HSP70 and TNFα in mice; conversely, in cold conditions, BBR can antagonize the decreasing core body temperature and enhance the expression of TRPM8. This study demonstrates the dual ability of BBR in maintaining thermal balance, which is of great relevance to the regulation of HSP70, TNFα and TRPM8.
Highlights
Berberine (BBR) is the principal active compound of Coptidis rhizoma, which is called Huang Lian in Chinese medicine and has been used in clinical practice for thousands of years in China
In our previous studies with BBR, we noticed the effect of BBR on body temperature and hypothesized that BBR could act directly on thermal regulation in vivo
Physical models of high body temperature and low body temperature in mice induced by controlled environmental temperature were used in the present study to explore the potential effect of BBR on thermal regulation of mice under abnormal temperatures
Summary
Berberine (BBR) is the principal active compound of Coptidis rhizoma, which is called Huang Lian in Chinese medicine and has been used in clinical practice for thousands of years in China. According to original literature and principles of Chinese medicine, Coptidis rhizoma is used in therapies for dispelling heat within the body. It is used for febrile diseases, such as gastrointestinal infectious disease [1,2,3]. Throughout our work with BBR, our researchers consistently observed a decreased body temperature. To further understand the potential role of BBR in the regulation of body temperature, the present work comprehensively studied the effect of BBR on environment-dependent thermogenesis in mice. Regulatory thermogenesis by BBR was observed: BBR can antagonize increasing body temperatures in hot environments and, antagonize decreasing body temperatures in cold environments, which demonstrates a balance in regulation
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