Earlier we have reported that reserpine, an antihypertensive drug, known to downregulate biogenic amines through inhibition of the vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT), increases longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans with a high quality of life, namely, enhanced and prolonged mobility (Srivastava et al., 2008). As neurodegenerative diseases are of adult onset, we addressed the protective abilit...

The effect of huperzine A, a reversible and selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, on reserpine- or yohimbine-induced spatial working memory deficits in monkeys has been examined using the delayed response task that depends on the integrity of prefrontal cortex. Reserpine (0.1 mg/kg, i.m.) or yohimbine (0.01 mg/kg, i.m.) led to significant impairments in the monkeys' ability to perform the d...

Depressive disorder will be the second highest disease burden worldwide, which will impair life quality, reduce productivity, and increase disability and mortality. LBP is the main active fraction purified from Lycium barbarum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential therapeutic effects of LBP on depressive mice induced by reserpine, as well as the relevant mechanisms. The antidepre...

Choline acetyltransferase and tyrosine hydroxylase serve as enzyme markers for preganglionic and postganglionic sympathetic nerves, respectively. There is abundant evidence that experimental conditions which increase the activity of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system produce an increase in the activity of neuronal tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine fl-hydroxylase 11. The activity of these...

Introduction. Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) is an efflux membrane transporter that controls the pharmacokinetics of a large number drugs. Its activity may change when taking some endo- and exogenous substances, thus making it link in drug interactions. Aim. The aim study was to develop method for testing drugs belonging BCRP substrates inhibitors vitro. Materials methods. work perform...

Certain Rauwolfia alkaloids (reserpine, rescinnamine,serpentine, ajmaline and ajmalicine) were investigated for their central vasodepressant effects in cats. 5-Hydroxytryptamine was included in this study because it has been implicated as a mediator in the action ofreserpine and rescinnamine. Pressor responses were elicited from the medullary vasopressor locus with the steriotaxic technic, and ...

The benzofuran antiarrhythmic drug, amiodarone, exhibits a wide range of pharmacological properties. Recent in vivo biochemical studies suggest that amiodarone may exert an antiadrenergic action in the heart, which resembles the effects of reserpine. To investigate the cellular basis for this apparent presynaptic, sympatholytic action we used Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing the typ...