Effect Of Orexin-A On The Wake-promoting And Neuronal Mechanisms Of Alcohol Coma In Rat

Coma is a state of continuous'eyes-closed'unconsciousness and characterized by the total absence of arousal and of awareness. Coma and other states of impaired consciousness are signs of extensive dysfunction and are associated with a substantial risk of death and disability. Now, attempts to improve the state of unconsciousness of comatose patients have become an important issue and received more attention in the modern medical research field. Coma may be caused by a variety of disorders but brain injury, vascular lesions and alcoholism are the three most common pathogenesis of coma. With the speed up of modern living rhythm, people face more pressure and most of them turn to drink relaxing themselves. Thus alcoholism has become the hotspot of research for domestic and overseas scholars. Due to the incomplete toxicosis mechanisms, drugs of wake-promoting are only confined to naloxone, tradition Chinese medicine (Xingnaojing, Shexiang), etc. Therefore, it seems more important and necessary to further clarify the mechanisms of alcohol coma and explore the most efficient drugs of wake-promoting.In the present study, we have firstly established a rat model of acute alcohol intoxication induced-coma and observed the deleterious effects of alcohol on rat awake activity by the examination of behavior responses and recording of ECoG and single-unit recording. Subsequently, we investigated the arousal roles of orexin-A in treatment coma induced by alcohol and its possible neuromechanisms.1. Establishment of a rat model of alcohol comaComatose rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 32% ethanol solution (14ml/kg). This model has been proved to perfectly simulate the deleterious effects of alcohol on awake activity. And it is also stable, economical and applicable.2. Effects of orexin-A on wake-promoting of alcohol coma in rats(1) Arousal effects of orexin-A on behaviour and ECoG in comatose ratsThe changes of behaviour and ECoG of rats were judged by the duration of loss of right reflex (LORR) and the comparison of the percent ofδwave in ECoG before and after...