The Experts below are selected from a list of 996 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Osamu Nishizawa - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
a galenical of traditional chinese herbal mixture thc 002 reduces expression of Tachykinin peptides within urethras of spontaneously hypertensive rats
Neurourology and Urodynamics, 2012Co-Authors: Masakuni Ishikawa, Tetsuya Imamura, Osamu Ishizuka, Yoshiki Kurizaki, Wataru Noguchi, Lei Zhang, Osamu NishizawaAbstract:Aims We investigated expression of Tachykinin peptides neurokinin A, neurokinin B, and substance P within urethras of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and determined if a traditional Chinese herbal mixture, THC-002, decreased them. Methods Ten- and 40-week-old male SHRs were randomly separated into three groups (n = 12 each). Rats of one group were given orally 20 ml 0.9% NaCl solution per kg body weight daily for 1 week. One hour later, each received a similar volume of water. Rats in the second group were also given saline. One hour later, each received 20 mg THC-002 per kg body weight. The third group was untreated. The urethras were removed and separated into prostatic and non-prostatic regions and analyzed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (n = 6) and immunohistochemistry (n = 6). Results In 40-week-old untreated SHRs, neurokinin B mRNA and protein, and substance P mRNA in prostatic urethras were significantly higher compared to the 10-week-old ones. Neurokinin A mRNA and protein, and substance P protein of the 40-week-old saline-loaded prostatic urethras were significantly higher compared to the 40-week-old untreated ones. In 40-week-old untreated SHRs, the non-prostatic urethral neurokinin B protein was significantly higher compared to the 10-week-old ones. In 40-week-old, saline-loaded SHRs, neurokinin A protein of the non-prostatic urethras was significantly higher compared to 40-week-old the untreated ones. In 40-week-old SHRs, THC-002 significantly decreased the expression of the urethral Tachykinins, except for non-prostatic urethral neurokinin A mRNA. Conclusions Aging and saline-loading increased the expression of urethral Tachykinin mRNAs and peptides. THC-002 partially decreased them. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:201–206, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
-
A galenical of traditional chinese herbal mixture (THC‐002) reduces expression of Tachykinin peptides within urethras of spontaneously hypertensive rats
Neurourology and urodynamics, 2011Co-Authors: Masakuni Ishikawa, Tetsuya Imamura, Osamu Ishizuka, Yoshiki Kurizaki, Wataru Noguchi, Lei Zhang, Osamu NishizawaAbstract:Aims We investigated expression of Tachykinin peptides neurokinin A, neurokinin B, and substance P within urethras of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and determined if a traditional Chinese herbal mixture, THC-002, decreased them. Methods Ten- and 40-week-old male SHRs were randomly separated into three groups (n = 12 each). Rats of one group were given orally 20 ml 0.9% NaCl solution per kg body weight daily for 1 week. One hour later, each received a similar volume of water. Rats in the second group were also given saline. One hour later, each received 20 mg THC-002 per kg body weight. The third group was untreated. The urethras were removed and separated into prostatic and non-prostatic regions and analyzed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (n = 6) and immunohistochemistry (n = 6). Results In 40-week-old untreated SHRs, neurokinin B mRNA and protein, and substance P mRNA in prostatic urethras were significantly higher compared to the 10-week-old ones. Neurokinin A mRNA and protein, and substance P protein of the 40-week-old saline-loaded prostatic urethras were significantly higher compared to the 40-week-old untreated ones. In 40-week-old untreated SHRs, the non-prostatic urethral neurokinin B protein was significantly higher compared to the 10-week-old ones. In 40-week-old, saline-loaded SHRs, neurokinin A protein of the non-prostatic urethras was significantly higher compared to 40-week-old the untreated ones. In 40-week-old SHRs, THC-002 significantly decreased the expression of the urethral Tachykinins, except for non-prostatic urethral neurokinin A mRNA. Conclusions Aging and saline-loading increased the expression of urethral Tachykinin mRNAs and peptides. THC-002 partially decreased them. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:201–206, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Masakuni Ishikawa - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
a galenical of traditional chinese herbal mixture thc 002 reduces expression of Tachykinin peptides within urethras of spontaneously hypertensive rats
Neurourology and Urodynamics, 2012Co-Authors: Masakuni Ishikawa, Tetsuya Imamura, Osamu Ishizuka, Yoshiki Kurizaki, Wataru Noguchi, Lei Zhang, Osamu NishizawaAbstract:Aims We investigated expression of Tachykinin peptides neurokinin A, neurokinin B, and substance P within urethras of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and determined if a traditional Chinese herbal mixture, THC-002, decreased them. Methods Ten- and 40-week-old male SHRs were randomly separated into three groups (n = 12 each). Rats of one group were given orally 20 ml 0.9% NaCl solution per kg body weight daily for 1 week. One hour later, each received a similar volume of water. Rats in the second group were also given saline. One hour later, each received 20 mg THC-002 per kg body weight. The third group was untreated. The urethras were removed and separated into prostatic and non-prostatic regions and analyzed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (n = 6) and immunohistochemistry (n = 6). Results In 40-week-old untreated SHRs, neurokinin B mRNA and protein, and substance P mRNA in prostatic urethras were significantly higher compared to the 10-week-old ones. Neurokinin A mRNA and protein, and substance P protein of the 40-week-old saline-loaded prostatic urethras were significantly higher compared to the 40-week-old untreated ones. In 40-week-old untreated SHRs, the non-prostatic urethral neurokinin B protein was significantly higher compared to the 10-week-old ones. In 40-week-old, saline-loaded SHRs, neurokinin A protein of the non-prostatic urethras was significantly higher compared to 40-week-old the untreated ones. In 40-week-old SHRs, THC-002 significantly decreased the expression of the urethral Tachykinins, except for non-prostatic urethral neurokinin A mRNA. Conclusions Aging and saline-loading increased the expression of urethral Tachykinin mRNAs and peptides. THC-002 partially decreased them. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:201–206, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
-
A galenical of traditional chinese herbal mixture (THC‐002) reduces expression of Tachykinin peptides within urethras of spontaneously hypertensive rats
Neurourology and urodynamics, 2011Co-Authors: Masakuni Ishikawa, Tetsuya Imamura, Osamu Ishizuka, Yoshiki Kurizaki, Wataru Noguchi, Lei Zhang, Osamu NishizawaAbstract:Aims We investigated expression of Tachykinin peptides neurokinin A, neurokinin B, and substance P within urethras of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and determined if a traditional Chinese herbal mixture, THC-002, decreased them. Methods Ten- and 40-week-old male SHRs were randomly separated into three groups (n = 12 each). Rats of one group were given orally 20 ml 0.9% NaCl solution per kg body weight daily for 1 week. One hour later, each received a similar volume of water. Rats in the second group were also given saline. One hour later, each received 20 mg THC-002 per kg body weight. The third group was untreated. The urethras were removed and separated into prostatic and non-prostatic regions and analyzed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (n = 6) and immunohistochemistry (n = 6). Results In 40-week-old untreated SHRs, neurokinin B mRNA and protein, and substance P mRNA in prostatic urethras were significantly higher compared to the 10-week-old ones. Neurokinin A mRNA and protein, and substance P protein of the 40-week-old saline-loaded prostatic urethras were significantly higher compared to the 40-week-old untreated ones. In 40-week-old untreated SHRs, the non-prostatic urethral neurokinin B protein was significantly higher compared to the 10-week-old ones. In 40-week-old, saline-loaded SHRs, neurokinin A protein of the non-prostatic urethras was significantly higher compared to 40-week-old the untreated ones. In 40-week-old SHRs, THC-002 significantly decreased the expression of the urethral Tachykinins, except for non-prostatic urethral neurokinin A mRNA. Conclusions Aging and saline-loading increased the expression of urethral Tachykinin mRNAs and peptides. THC-002 partially decreased them. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:201–206, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Francis Beaudry - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Characterization of neuropeptide K processing in rat spinal cord S9 fractions using high-resolution quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry.
Biomedical Chromatography, 2018Co-Authors: Jennifer Ben Salem, Bruno Nkambeu, Francis BeaudryAbstract:Tachykinins are a family of pronociceptive neuropeptides with a specific role in pain and inflammation. Several mechanisms regulate endogenous Tachykinins levels, including the differential expression of proTachykinin mRNA and the controlled secretion of Tachykinin peptides from neurons. We suspect that proteolysis regulates extracellular neuropeptide K (NPK) and neurokinin A (NKA) concentrations and NPK is a precursor of NKA. Here, we provide evidence that proteolysis controls NPK and NKA levels in the spinal cord, leading to the formation of active C-terminal peptide fragments. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, specific Tachykinin fragments were identified and characterized. The metabolic stability in rat spinal cord fractions of NPK and NKA was very short, resulting in half-lives of 1.9 and 2.2 min respectively. Following the degradation of NPK, several C-terminal fragments were identified, including NPK1-26 , NKA, NKA2-10 , NKA3-10 , NKA5-10 and NKA6-10 , which conserve affinity for the neurokinin 2 receptor but also for the neurokinin 1 receptor. Interestingly, the same fragments were identified following the degradation of NKA. A specific proprotein convertases inhibitor was used and showed a significant reduction in the rate of formation of NKA, providing strong evidence that proprotein convertase is involved in C-terminal processing of NPK in the spinal cord, leading to the formation of NKA.
-
evaluation of multiple reaction monitoring cubed for the analysis of Tachykinin related peptides in rat spinal cord using a hybrid triple quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometer
Journal of Chromatography B, 2014Co-Authors: Floriane Pailleux, Francis BeaudryAbstract:Abstract Targeted peptide methods generally use HPLC–MS/MRM approaches. Although dependent on the instrumental resolution, interferences may occur while performing analysis of complex biological matrices. HPLC–MS/MRM 3 is a technique, which provides a significantly better selectivity, compared with HPLC–MS/MRM assay. HPLC–MS/MRM 3 allows the detection and quantitation by enriching standard MRM with secondary product ions that are generated within the linear ion trap. Substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA) are Tachykinin peptides playing a central role in pain transmission. The objective of this study was to verify whether HPLC–MS/MRM 3 could provide significant advantages over a more traditional HPLC–MS/MRM assay for the quantification of SP and NKA in rat spinal cord. The results suggest that reconstructed MRM 3 chromatograms display significant improvements with the nearly complete elimination of interfering peaks but the sensitivity (i.e. signal-to-noise ratio) was severely reduced. The precision (%CV) observed was between 3.5% and 24.1% using HPLC–MS/MRM and in the range of 4.3–13.1% with HPLC–MS/MRM 3 , for SP and NKA. The observed accuracy was within 10% of the theoretical concentrations tested. HPLC–MS/MRM 3 may improve the assay sensitivity to detect difference between samples by reducing significantly the potential of interferences and therefore reduce instrumental errors.
-
Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis Reveals that Deletion of the TRPV1 Receptor in Mice Alters Substance P and Neurokinin A Expression in the Central Nervous System
Neurochemical Research, 2012Co-Authors: Floriane Pailleux, Jérôme Lemoine, Francis BeaudryAbstract:Vanilloid receptors have a central role in the processing of nociceptive stimuli. TRPV1 null mice showed significant decrease in response to heat noxious stimuli. However, thermal sensitivity is still present suggesting that the TRPV1 is not an exclusive transducer of thermal stimuli. Additionally, Tachykinin peptides play a central role in pain processing and expression levels may also contribute in modifying the pain threshold. The LC–MS/MS analysis revealed that SP and NKA were significantly down-regulated in TRPV1^−/− in spinal cord and brain tissues. In spinal cord, SP concentrations were 23.4 % lower ( p
-
Quantitative mass Spectrometry analysis reveals that deletion of the TRPV1 receptor in mice alters substance P and Neurokinin A expression in the central nervous system
Neurochemical Research, 2012Co-Authors: Floriane Pailleux, Jérôme Lemoine, Francis BeaudryAbstract:Vanilloid receptors have a central role in the processing of nociceptive stimuli. TRPV1 null mice showed significant decrease in response to heat noxious stimuli. However, thermal sensitivity is still present suggesting that the TRPV1 is not an exclusive transducer of thermal stimuli. Additionally, Tachykinin peptides play a central role in pain processing and expression levels may also contribute in modifying the pain threshold. The LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that SP and NKA were significantly down-regulated in TRPV1(-/-) in spinal cord and brain tissues. In spinal cord, SP concentrations were 23.4 % lower (p < 0.0049) and NKA concentrations were 22.0 % lower (p < 0.0022) in TRPV1 null mice. Additionally, brain SP concentrations were 26.9 % lower (p < 0.0260) and brain NKA concentrations were 31.9 % lower (p < 0.0063) in TRPV1 null mice. These results clearly demonstrate that TPRV1 null mice exhibit lower SP and NKA concentrations in the central nervous system. The deficit of thermal responses may also be related to the down-regulations of SP and NKA.
James E. Krause - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
functional expression of a novel human neurokinin 3 receptor homolog that binds 3h senktide and 125i mephe7 neurokinin b and is responsive to Tachykinin peptide agonists
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1997Co-Authors: James E. Krause, P T Staveteig, Nave J Mentzer, S K Schmidt, J B Tucker, R M Brodbeck, V V KarpitskiyAbstract:In 1992, Xie et al. identified a cDNA sequence in the expression cloning search for the κ opioid receptor. When the cDNA was expressed in Cos-7 cells, binding of opioid compounds was observed to be of low affinity and without κ, μ, or δ selectivity [Xie, G.-X., Miyajima, A. and Goldstein, A. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89, 4124–4128]. This cDNA was highly homologous to the human neurokinin-3 (NK-3) receptor sequence, and displayed lower homology to NK-1 and NK-2 sequences. This sequence was stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells, which do not express neurokinin receptors naturally, and ligand binding and second messenger characteristics were compared with a human NK-3 receptor. The NK-3 receptor homolog bound [3H]senktide with a Kd of 39 nM, similar to that of the NK-3 receptor. The rank order of Tachykinin peptides competing for [3H]senktide binding at the NK-3 receptor homolog was [MePhe7]neurokinin B > senktide > substance P = neurokinin A > neurokinin B. This cell line also bound [125I-MePhe7]neurokinin B; however, neurokinin B was an effective competitor. Tachykinin peptides stimulated both inositol phospholipid hydrolysis and arachidonic acid release at NK-3 and NK-3 receptor homolog cell lines, with similar rank orders of potency of [MePhe7]neurokinin B = neurokinin B = senktide > NKA = substance P. These results indicate that expression of the NK-3 receptor homolog cDNA in the Chinese hamster ovary cell system induces the expression of a receptor site with many similarities but certain key differences from that of the human NK-3 receptor. The results are discussed with reference to the existence of a novel human Tachykinin receptor.
-
The formalin-induced expression of Tachykinin peptide and neurokinin receptor messenger RNAs in rat sensory ganglia and spinal cord is modulated by opiate preadministration.
Neuroscience, 1995Co-Authors: Kenneth E. Mccarson, James E. KrauseAbstract:Abstract Tachykinin peptides such as substance P and neurokinin B have been widely studied as mediators of pain transmission. The expression of neurokinin-1 and neurokinin-3 receptor messenger RNAs in the spinal cord is increased following intense nociception. The opiate ligands morphine and naltrexone alter behavioral responses to formalin-induced pain and alter evoked substance P release. This study investigated whether these opiates similarly alter the expression of substance P-, neurokinin B-, neurokinin-1 receptor- and neurokinin-3 receptor-encoding messenger RNAs in spinal systems following formalin-induced nociception. Expression levels of various messenger RNAs were quantitated using solution hybridization-nuclease protection assays. Six hours after hindpaw treatment, the levels of substance P-encoding preproTachykinin messenger RNA in the lumbar dorsal root ganglia and neurokinin B, neurokinin-1 receptor and neurokinin-3 receptor messenger RNAs in the lumbar dorsal horn were increased by approximately two-fold as compared to sham-treated controls. Pretreatment with naltrexone resulted in a further increase in the nociception-induced substance P messenger RNA expression in the dorsal root ganglia; preproTachykinin messenger RNA expression was not affected by morphine. Nociception-induced neurokinin-1 receptor messenger RNA expression in the dorsal horn was blocked by morphine, but was not affected by naltrexone. Both morphine and naltrexone blocked the formalin-induced increases in neurokinin B and neurokinin-3 receptor messenger RNA levels. Increased neurokinin B messenger RNA expression may reflect increased neurokinin B turnover in spinal interneurons activated by nociception. Neurokinin-3 receptor messenger RNA expression levels varied closely with, and thus may be regulated by, the levels of neurokinin B messenger RNA in the same regions. The results of this study indicate that pretreatment with opiate ligands modulates the expression of Tachykinin peptide and neurokinin receptor encoding mRNAs in spinal systems following a peripheral chemogenic inflammatory stimulus. Thus, endogenous opioid systems may be involved in activity-induced changes in the expression of spinal Tachykinin peptides and neurokinin receptors.
-
Molecular Biology of Receptors
The Tachykinin Receptors, 1994Co-Authors: James E. Krause, Paul Blount, Bruce S SachaisAbstract:The Tachykinin peptides comprise a family of structurally related peptides that were originally discovered on the basis of their atropine resistant, rapid stimulation of smooth muscle contraction. These peptides have been isolated from vertebrate and invertebrate species and are structurally characterized by the conserved carboxyl-terminal region of Phe-X-Gly-Leu-MetNH2where the X residue usually is an aromatic or aliphatic amino acid. There exist at least five mammalian Tachykinin peptides including substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), neurokinin B (NKB), neuropeptide K (NPK), and neuropeptide y (NPy) that are synthesized, processed, and secreted from Tachykinin secreting neurons, as well as certain nonneural tissues and cells. NPK and NPy are amino terminal extended forms of NKA. Each of the five peptides is an agonist at each of the currently characterized Tachykinin receptors, although their rank orders of potency differ. Mammalian Tachykinin receptors consist of three types based upon current pharmacological, biochemical, and molecular characterization. These receptors have been named neurokinin-1 (NK1), the receptor with highest affinity for SP; neurokinin-2 (NK2), the receptor with highest affinity for NKA, NPK, and NPy; and neurokinin-3 (NK3), the receptor with highest affinity for NKB.
-
Characterization of substance P-like immunoreactivity and Tachykinin-encoding mRNAs in rat medullary thyroid carcinoma cell lines.
Journal of neurochemistry, 1992Co-Authors: Jean D. Cremins, Jacquelyn Michel, Farah John M, James E. KrauseAbstract:Rat thyroid tissue and three rat medullary thyroid carcinoma cell lines, 6-23, WE4/2, and CA77, have been examined for substance P (SP) and SP-like peptide expression. Analysis by combined HPLC and radioimmunoassay revealed the presence of SP in thyroid and 6-23 cell extracts. The presence of SP-encoding mRNAs was also detected in 6-23 cells by solution hybridization-nuclease protection analysis. SP-encoding mRNA expression was increased (fourfold) by maintaining the 6-23 cells in low serum (2%) for 4 or 10 days. The 6-23 cells also expressed other SP-like immunoreactive species, which were chromatographically and immunologically distinct from established Tachykinin peptides. WE4/2 cells did not contain SP but did display SP-like immunoreactivity (SPLI), which migrated like the unidentified SPLI in 6-23 cells. CA77 cells did not contain SP or SP-encoding mRNA but did contain SPLI that migrated identically to the unidentified SPLI in the other cell lines. This novel SPLI was detected with an antiserum directed against the SP carboxyl terminus and to a lesser extent with an antiserum directed against the neurokinin A carboxyl terminus, but it showed minimal cross-reactivity using an antiserum directed against the midportion of SP. Treatment with 50 mM KCl resulted in secretion of this SPLI from CA77 cells. Gel filtration analysis demonstrated that this novel SPLI had an apparent molecular weight of approximately 1,000. These results are discussed in terms of cell lines that express Tachykinin peptides and in terms of the molecular nature of the new SPLI detected in CA77 cells.
-
Molecular cloning, structural characterization and functional expression of the human substance P receptor
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 1991Co-Authors: Yasuo Takeda, K.b. Chou, J. Takeda, Bruce S Sachais, James E. KrauseAbstract:: A cDNA encoding the human substance P receptor (SPR) was isolated and the primary structure of the protein was deduced by nucleotide sequence analysis. This SPR consists of 407 residues and is a member of the G-protein coupled receptor superfamily. Comparison of rat and human SPR sequences demonstrated a 94.5% identity. The receptor was expressed in a COS-7 cell line and displayed a Kd for Tyr-1-SP binding of 0.24 nM. Ligand displacement by naturally occurring Tachykinin peptides was SP much greater than neurokinin A greater than neurokinin B. SP stimulation of transfected cells resulted in a rapid and transient inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate response. RNA blot hybridization and solution hybridization demonstrated that SPR mRNA was about 4.5 Kb in size, and was expressed in IM-9 lymphoblast and U373-MG astrocytoma cells, as well as in spinal cord and lung but not in liver.
Yoshiki Kurizaki - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
a galenical of traditional chinese herbal mixture thc 002 reduces expression of Tachykinin peptides within urethras of spontaneously hypertensive rats
Neurourology and Urodynamics, 2012Co-Authors: Masakuni Ishikawa, Tetsuya Imamura, Osamu Ishizuka, Yoshiki Kurizaki, Wataru Noguchi, Lei Zhang, Osamu NishizawaAbstract:Aims We investigated expression of Tachykinin peptides neurokinin A, neurokinin B, and substance P within urethras of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and determined if a traditional Chinese herbal mixture, THC-002, decreased them. Methods Ten- and 40-week-old male SHRs were randomly separated into three groups (n = 12 each). Rats of one group were given orally 20 ml 0.9% NaCl solution per kg body weight daily for 1 week. One hour later, each received a similar volume of water. Rats in the second group were also given saline. One hour later, each received 20 mg THC-002 per kg body weight. The third group was untreated. The urethras were removed and separated into prostatic and non-prostatic regions and analyzed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (n = 6) and immunohistochemistry (n = 6). Results In 40-week-old untreated SHRs, neurokinin B mRNA and protein, and substance P mRNA in prostatic urethras were significantly higher compared to the 10-week-old ones. Neurokinin A mRNA and protein, and substance P protein of the 40-week-old saline-loaded prostatic urethras were significantly higher compared to the 40-week-old untreated ones. In 40-week-old untreated SHRs, the non-prostatic urethral neurokinin B protein was significantly higher compared to the 10-week-old ones. In 40-week-old, saline-loaded SHRs, neurokinin A protein of the non-prostatic urethras was significantly higher compared to 40-week-old the untreated ones. In 40-week-old SHRs, THC-002 significantly decreased the expression of the urethral Tachykinins, except for non-prostatic urethral neurokinin A mRNA. Conclusions Aging and saline-loading increased the expression of urethral Tachykinin mRNAs and peptides. THC-002 partially decreased them. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:201–206, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
-
A galenical of traditional chinese herbal mixture (THC‐002) reduces expression of Tachykinin peptides within urethras of spontaneously hypertensive rats
Neurourology and urodynamics, 2011Co-Authors: Masakuni Ishikawa, Tetsuya Imamura, Osamu Ishizuka, Yoshiki Kurizaki, Wataru Noguchi, Lei Zhang, Osamu NishizawaAbstract:Aims We investigated expression of Tachykinin peptides neurokinin A, neurokinin B, and substance P within urethras of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and determined if a traditional Chinese herbal mixture, THC-002, decreased them. Methods Ten- and 40-week-old male SHRs were randomly separated into three groups (n = 12 each). Rats of one group were given orally 20 ml 0.9% NaCl solution per kg body weight daily for 1 week. One hour later, each received a similar volume of water. Rats in the second group were also given saline. One hour later, each received 20 mg THC-002 per kg body weight. The third group was untreated. The urethras were removed and separated into prostatic and non-prostatic regions and analyzed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (n = 6) and immunohistochemistry (n = 6). Results In 40-week-old untreated SHRs, neurokinin B mRNA and protein, and substance P mRNA in prostatic urethras were significantly higher compared to the 10-week-old ones. Neurokinin A mRNA and protein, and substance P protein of the 40-week-old saline-loaded prostatic urethras were significantly higher compared to the 40-week-old untreated ones. In 40-week-old untreated SHRs, the non-prostatic urethral neurokinin B protein was significantly higher compared to the 10-week-old ones. In 40-week-old, saline-loaded SHRs, neurokinin A protein of the non-prostatic urethras was significantly higher compared to 40-week-old the untreated ones. In 40-week-old SHRs, THC-002 significantly decreased the expression of the urethral Tachykinins, except for non-prostatic urethral neurokinin A mRNA. Conclusions Aging and saline-loading increased the expression of urethral Tachykinin mRNAs and peptides. THC-002 partially decreased them. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:201–206, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
