Repeated Treatment With the Traditional Medicine Unsei-in Inhibits Substance P-Induced Itch-Associated Responses Through Downregulation of the Expression of Nitric Oxide Synthase 1 in Mice

Tsugunobu Andoh; Ali Al-Akeel; Kenichiro Tsujii; Hiroshi Nojima; Yasushi Kuraishi

doi:10.1254/jphs.94.207

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Repeated Treatment With the Traditional Medicine Unsei-in Inhibits Substance P-Induced Itch-Associated Responses Through Downregulation of the Expression of Nitric Oxide Synthase 1 in Mice

Tsugunobu Andoh, Ali Al-Akeel, Kenichiro Tsujii, Hiroshi Nojima, Yasushi Kuraishi

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Keywords: Unsei-in, nitric oxide synthase 1, itch-associated response

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2004 Volume 94 Issue 2 Pages 207-210

DOI https://doi.org/10.1254/jphs.94.207

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Abstract

Unsei-in inhibits substance P (SP)-induced scratching of mice after repeated administration. The involvement of cutaneous nitric oxide (NO) in the SP-induced scratching led us to investigate the effects of Unsei-in on the cutaneous NO system in mice. Seven-day oral administration of Unsei-in (300, but not 100, mg/kg daily) significantly inhibited scratching and the increase of cutaneous NO after intradermal SP injection. The NO synthase 1 (NOS1) inhibitor 7-nitroindazole (1 nmol/site) decreased SP-induced scratching and NO production. Repeated administration of Unsei-in (300 mg/kg) reduced the cutaneous NOS1 level. The results suggest that the inhibition of cutaneous NOS1 expression and NO production participates in the antipruritic action of Unsei-in.

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