EFFECT OF GOSHA-JINKI-GAN, A KAMPO MEDICINE, ON ENHANCED PLATELET-AGGREGATION IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

We evaluated the effects of Gosha-jinki-gan on platelet aggregation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Enhanced ADP (2 mu M)-induced a ggregation of platelets obtained from diabetic rats was inhibited by a single treatment with Gosha-jinki-gan (0.3, 1.5 g/kg, p.o.). The anti -platelet aggregatory effect of Gosha-jinki-gan (1.5 g/kg, p.o.) was a ttenuated by simultaneous administration of atropine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) a nd was abolished by combination of atropine with Hoe 140 (250 mu g/kg x 2, i.p.), a bradykinin B-2 receptor antagonist or L-NAME (10 mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of nitric oxide-synthase. These results suggested that Gosha-jinki-gan could improve platelet aggregation in diabetes th rough increased production of nitric oxide via bradykinin B-2-receptor s and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.