Inhibitory effect of baicalein on mice tremor induced by oxotremorine and mechanisms

YANG Yu-lin; ZHANG Xue; ZHANG Wen; WANG Hai-gang; ZHAO Xiao-yue; SONG Jun-ke; WANG Shu-mei; DU Guan-hua

Abstract：Objective: To investigate the antitremor effect and mechanism of baicalein on oxotremorineinduced muscle tremor in mice. Methods: KM mice were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, baicalein (120, 240 and 480 mg·kg-1)group, anisodamine group (10 mg·kg-1)and madopar (50 mg·kg-1)group. The administration group and the positive drug group were administered with drugs once a day for 28 d. Normal and model groups were given equal doses of saline. The acute model of muscular tremor was induced by intraperitoneal injection of oxotremorine, and the latency, duration and frequency of muscle tremor in mice were measured immediately. The saliva of mice was measured to reflect the correlation between tremor and peripheral nerve function. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA)were determined by biochemical kit. The level of monoamine neurotransmitters in brain tissue was determined by high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detector (HPLC-ECD). Results: The animals in the model group developed obvious tremoring,salivating and erecting and other symptoms. Compared to the model group,none of the baicalein groups had obvious inhibitory effect. After 7,14,21 and 28 d of continuous administration,baicalein could significantly prolong the latency of tremor,shorten the duration and reduce the tremor frequency,significantly decrease the levels of acetylcholine, and recover the changes of DOPAC and DA neurotransmitters in the brain of model group,which regulated the dynamic balance of acetylcholine and dopamine in the brain. Conclusion: Long-term administration of baicalein can improve the tremor behavior of mice,and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of neurotransmitters in brain.