Yokukansan Enhances Pentobarbital-Induced Sleep in Socially Isolated Mice: Possible Involvement of GABAA – Benzodiazepine Receptor Complex

Nobuaki Egashira; Ai Nogami; Katsunori Iwasaki; Ayumi Ishibashi; Naoki Uchida; Kotaro Takasaki; Kenichi Mishima; Ryoji Nishimura; Ryozo Oishi; Michihiro Fujiwara

doi:10.1254/jphs.11079SC

Short Communication

Yokukansan Enhances Pentobarbital-Induced Sleep in Socially Isolated Mice: Possible Involvement of GABA_A – Benzodiazepine Receptor Complex

Nobuaki Egashira, Ai Nogami, Katsunori Iwasaki, Ayumi Ishibashi, Naoki Uchida, Kotaro Takasaki, Kenichi Mishima, Ryoji Nishimura, Ryozo Oishi, Michihiro Fujiwara

Author information

Nobuaki Egashira
Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Japan
Department of Pharmacy, Kyushu University Hospital, Japan
Ai Nogami
Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Japan
Katsunori Iwasaki
Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Japan
Ayumi Ishibashi
Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Japan
Naoki Uchida
Department of Psychiatry, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Japan
Kotaro Takasaki
Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Japan
Kenichi Mishima
Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Japan
Ryoji Nishimura
Department of Psychiatry, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Japan
Ryozo Oishi
Department of Pharmacy, Kyushu University Hospital, Japan
Michihiro Fujiwara
Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Japan

Keywords: sleep, social isolation, Yokukansan

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2011 Volume 116 Issue 3 Pages 316-320

DOI https://doi.org/10.1254/jphs.11079SC

View "Advance Publication" version (June 18, 2011).

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Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the effect of the Kampo medicine Yokukansan (YKS) on pentobarbital-induced sleep in group-housed and socially isolated mice. Socially isolated mice showed shorter sleeping time than the group-housed mice. YKS (300 mg/kg, p.o.) prolonged the pentobarbital-induced sleeping time in socially isolated mice without affecting pentobarbital sleep in group-housed mice. The prolongation of sleeping time by YKS was reversed by bicuculline (3 mg/kg, i.p.) and flumazenil (3 mg/kg, i.p.), but not WAY100635. These findings suggest that the GABA_A – benzodiazepine receptor complex, but not 5-HT_1A receptors, is involved in the reversal effect of YKS on the decrease of pentobarbital sleep by social isolation.

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