Effects of Ginseng Total Saponins and U-50,488H on Electrically Induced Twitch Responses of Mouse Vas Deferens

전기자극으로 유도된 마우스 수정관의 수축작용에 미치는 U-50,488H와 인삼사포닌의 영향

The effects of ginseng total saponins (GTS) on the action of U-50,488H, a $textsc{k}$-opioid receptor agonist, on the electrically induced twitch responses of mouse vats deferens were studied. U-50,488H ($10^9$~$10^{-5}$M) inhibited the twitch contractions in a dose-dependent manner, which were caused by adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) released from the stimulated sympathetic nerve, and this effect was antagonized by naloxone ($10^6$ M). GTS, which itself induced the inhibition of the twitch contractions, acted additively to U-50,488H, GTS and U-50,488H had no effect on the tension of the unstimulated organs. The contractions elicited by ATP were not affected by U-50,488H, but inhibited by GTS. These results suggest that U-50,488H suppressed the twitch contractions by the inhibition of neurotransmitter release from presynaptic nerve terminals via action on opioid receptor, but G75, by inhibiting the action of the neurotransmitter on the smooth muscle.