• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.167-170
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• 1994

The platelet activating factor (PAF) is a newly discovered chemical mediator, the chemical structure of which is 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. Since PAF has potent and broad activities, its pathophysiological roles have received much attention. To develope a new PAF antagonist from medicinal plants, extracts of twenty medicinal herb were screened using PAF receptor binding, $[^{14}C]$ serotonin release and platelet aggregation.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.1 s.57
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• pp.11-15
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• 1995

Serotonergic neurons in medulla oblongata play an important role in the endogenous descending pain inhibitory system. To illucidate the factors involved in the regulation of medullary serotonergic neurons, we studied the effects of cholecystokinin (CCK) and agents acting on various second messenger systems on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) release from cultured neurons of rat fetal (gestational age 14th day) medulla oblongata. Cultured cells maintained for 10 days in vitro were stimulated for 48 hours with CCK or other neuropeptides at 10 micromolar concentration. CCK ($10{\mu}M$) and substance P ($10{\mu}M$) significantly increased. 5-HT release. However, somatostatin, proctolin, thyrotropin releasing hormone, and interleukin-6 did not have any effects on 5-HT release. Nimodipine ($1{\mu}M$), a calcium channel blocker, almost completely, and calmidazolium ($1{\mu}M$), a calmodulin antagonist, significantly inhibited the CCK-induced 5-HT release. The total 5-HT content (intracellular 5-HT plus released 5-HT) was significantly increased by CCK. However, the intracellular 5-HT content was not significantly changed by CCK. Forskolin ($5{\mu}M$), an adenylate cyclase activiator, but not $2{\mu}M$ phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a protein kinase C activator, significantly enhanced 5-HT release. The total 5-HT content (intracellular 5-HT plus released 5-HT) was significantly increased by forskolin. However, the intracellular 5-HT content was not significantly changed by forskolin. PMA had no effect on intracellular 5-HT levels. These results suggest that CCK regulates serotonergic neurons in the medulla oblongata by enhancing 5-HT secretion through calcium influx and caimodulin, and that cyclic AMP system but not protein kinase C system is involved in 5-HT release.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.209-220
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• 2019

Objectives: As a general emotion, everyone can temporarily experience depression, but depressive disorder is a disease that excessively affects daily life. Among the various causes of depression, the deficiency of monoamine-based neurotransmitters such as serotonin and epinephrine are considered significant. Thus, antidepressants that target monoamines are used frequently. However, side effects such as nausea, vomiting, insomnia, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction are observed. Thus, it is necessary to develop a new therapeutic agent with fewer side effects. In this study, we investigated the antidepressant effect of JG02, used to treat depression by normalizing the flow of qi (氣) in Korean medicine. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were selected and randomly divided into six groups: normal, control, amitriptyline, and JG02 (50, 125, 250 mg/kg), respectively. Except for normal, depression was induced by applying restraint stress at the same time for six hours daily for 14 consecutive days. Saline, amitriptyline or JG02 samples were orally administered two hours before applying the stress. After that, a forced swimming test and an open field test were performed. Additionally, serum corticosterone, serotonin mRNA, BDNF mRNA, and protein in the hippocampal region were measured and compared. Results: JG02 decreased immobility time rate in the FST and increased the zone transition number and travel distance in the OFT. Also, JG02 inhibited the release of serum corticosterone, and increased serotonin, BDNF gene expression, and BDNF protein in the hippocampus. Conclusions: In this study, JG02 showed significant antidepressant effects on the chronic restraint stress mice model. When further research is performed based on JG02, the development of a new antidepressant is considered highly possible.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.51-62
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• 2004

Objective: To investigate the analgesic effect and its serotonergic mechanism, especially related with 5-HTI and 5-HT2 receptor, of electroacupuncture(EA) in the rat model of collagen-induced arthritis(CIA). Methods : Immunization of male Sprague-Dawley rats with bovine type II (C II) collagen emulsified in Freund's incomplete adjuvant, followed by a booster injection 14 days later, leads to development of arthritis in more than 70% of rats by 21 days postinjection. After three weeks of first immunization, EA stimulation(2 Hz, 0.07 mA, 0.3 ms) was delivered into Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) for 30 minutes. Analgesic effect was evaluated by tail flick latency(TFL). We compared the analgesic effect of EA with TFLs between pretreatment of normal saline and pretreatment of spiroxatrine (5-HT1 receptor antagonist, 1mg/kg, intraperitoneal) and spiperone (5-HT2 receptor antagonist, 1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) in CIA. Results : 1. TFLs were gradually decreased in CIA as increasing severity of arthritis. 2. Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) EA stimulation in CIA increased TFLs and the effect lasted for 60 minutes. 3. Increased TFLs with Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) EA stimulation were inhibited by pretreatment of spiroxatrine and spiperone in CIA. Conclusions : Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) EA showed analgesic effects in CIA The analgesic effects of Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) EA were inhibited by spiroxatrine and spiperone pretreatment. These observations suggest that 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 serotonergic receptor, which involve the release of serotonin neurotransmitter, play an important roles in analgesic mechanism of EA stimulation.