• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.277-289
• /
• 1989

The effects of noradrenaline on the contractile and electrical activities were investigated using the circular muscle strips with intact mucosa prepared from the antrum and fundus of guinea-pig stomach. Electrical responses of circular muscle cells were recorded using glass capillary microelectrodes filled with 3 M KCI. All experiments were performed in tris-buffered Tyrode solution which was aerated with 100% $O_2\;and\;kept\;at\;35^{\circ}C$. The results obtained were as follows: 1) The spontaneous contractions recorded from the antral and fundic circular muscle strips with intact mucosa were suppressed dose-dependently by the application of noradrenaline, whereas those recorded from the mucosa-free strips were potentiated in a dose-dependent manner. 2) The inhibitory influences on the contractile activities in the normal intact strips were developed via both ${\alpha}-adrenoceptors\;and\;{\beta}-adrenoceptors$, while the excitatory influences in the mucosa-free strips resulted from the strong excitatory effect via ${\alpha}-adrenoceptors$ and the weak inhibitory effect via ${\beta}-adrenoceptors$. 3) Noradrenaline produced hyperpolarization of membrane potential, and increased the amplitude and the maximum rate of rise of slow waves in the mucosa-free strips of antral and fundic circular muscle. 4) Apamin blocked the appearance of the component of initial suppression of spontaneous phasic contractions observed in the mucosa-free strips of antral circular muscle after the application of noradrenaline. 5) The inhibitory influences on the contractile activities in the normal strips with intact mucosa remained unaffected even in the strip with separate mucosa, in which mucosa and muscle layer were mechanically disconnected . From the above results, following conclusions could be made. (1) There are no regional differences between the effects of noradrenaline on the antral circular muscle and those on the fundic circular muscle. (2) Excitatory responses to noradrenaline observed in the mucosa-free strip result from the dominant ${\alpha}-excitatory$ and tile weak ${\beta}-inhibitory$ action of noradrenaline. (3) Inhibitory responses to noradrenaline in the normal strips with intact mucosa develop via both ${\alpha}-inhibitory\;and\;{\beta}-inhibitory$ actions.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 1988

To examine the selectivity of verapamil, used in the cardiovascular diseases, on alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenoceptor-induced pressor rsponses, effects of verapamil on alpha-adrenoceptor agonist-induced pressor responses were investigated in urethane-anesthetized rabbits, spinal rabbits, rats and pithed rats. To evaluate the effects of verapamil on each pressor response induced by norepinephrine, phenylephrine and clonidine, these agonists were previously injected into a ear vein, and then same procedures were performed 1~2 min after treatment with intravenous verapamil. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Intravenous verapamil produced dose-dependent depressor response in rabbits and rats. 2. Pressor responses to intravenous norepinephrine($10{\mu}g/kg$) and phenylphrine($30{\mu}g/kg$) were inhibited by pretreatment with intravenous verapamil in rabbits and no difference was noted between the degree of both inhibitions of the pressor response by verapamil. 3. Pressor responses to intravenous norepinephrine($3{\mu}g/kg$), phenylephrine($20{\mu}g/kg$) and clonidine ($300{\mu}g/kg$) were inhibited by pretreatment with intravenous verapamil in spinal rabbits. No difference was noted between the inhibition of norepinephrine-induced pressor response and that of phenylephrine-induced pressor response by verapamil. The inhibition of clonidine-induced pressor response by verapamil was more prominent than that of norepinephrine- or phenylephrine-induced pressor response. 4. Pressor responses to intravenous norepinephrine($3{\mu}g/kg$) and phenylephrine($10{\mu}g/kg$) were inhibited by pretreatment with intravenous verapairlil in rats and no difference was noted between the degree of both inhibitions of the pressor response by verapamil. 5. Pressor responses to intravenous norepinephrine ($3{\mu}g/kg$), phenylephrine($30{\mu}g/kg$) and clonidine($100{\mu}g/kg$) were inhibited by pretreatment with intravenous verapamil in pithed rats. No difference was noted between the inhibition of norepinephrine-induced pressor response and that of phenylephrine-induced pressor response by verapamil. The inhibition of clonidine-induced pressor response by verapamil was more prominent than that of norepinephrine- or phenylephrine-induced pressor response. These results suggest that verapamil significantly inhibits both pressor responses mediated by alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenoceptors and the inhibition is greater in alpha-2 adrenoceptor-induced response than in alpha-1 adrenoceptor-induced one, and calcium channel takes part in the process of the pressor response mediated by alpha-1 adrenoceptors as well as alpha-2 adrenoceptors.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.23-32
• /
• 1993

Recent studies have shown that a GABAergic mechanism in the brain modulates arterial blood pressure (BP) through alterations of sympathetic activity in the brain. The purpose of the present study was to determine if this modulation is involved in the pressor response to raised intracranial pressure (ICP). The pressor response to raised ICP was abolished by pretreatment of anesthetized rabbits with intracerebroventricular (icv) muscimol (a GABA agonist) as well as with icv clonidine $(an\;{\alpha}_2-agonist)$. Raising ICP in the hypertensive state after icv yohimbine $(an\;{\alpha}_2-antagonist)$ did not cause an additional increase in the BP, whereas raising ICP in the hypertensive state following icv bicuculline (a GABA antagonist) produced a further increase. Bicuculline produced an increase of the BP which had been lowered by muscimol or by clonidine, whereas it failed to increase the hypertensive state induced by either previous yohimbine or raised ICP. Yohimbine reversed the BP which had been made low by clonidine but was incapable of raising the hypotensive state after muscimol. Yohimbine failed to increase the heightened BP due to raised ICP, whereas bicuculline-induced pressor state was further elevated by yohimbine. Muscimol, besides the bicuculline-antagonizing property, inhibited the pressor response to yohimbine, suggesting participation of a GABAergic mechanism in the pressor action of yohimbine. From these results it was inferred that there were three ways in which BP could be increased via raised ICP: inactivation of the inhibitory sympathetic activity through (1) ${\alpha}_{2}-adrenoceptors$, (2) bicuculline-sensitive GABA receptors, (3) yohimbine-sensitive, clonidine-acting GABAergic sites.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.27-35
• /
• 1993

Effects of the endothelium on the contractile responses to norepinephrine (NE) were investigated in isolated helical strips of the proximal and distal coronaries artery of pigs. The helical strips were immersed in Tris-buffered Tyrode's solution equilibrated with 100% $O_2$ at $35^{\circ}C$ and its isometric tension was measured. NE relaxed the strips precontracted with acetylcholine from both the proximal and distal coronary artery. NE-induced relaxation, which might be induced mainly by $\beta$-adrenoceptor function was dominant in the distal coronary arteries. NE-induced relaxation was converted to a contraction after $\beta$-adrenoceptor blockade with propranolol $(3{\times}10^{-6}M)$. ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptor-mediated contraction by NE was greater in the proximal coronary artery than the distal coronary artery. Quantitatively, ${\alpha}_1$-adrenoceptor mediated contraction by NE was greater than ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor mediated contraction by NE in both arteries. NE-induced relaxation was decreased by rubbing of endothelium in both arteries. ${\alpha}_1-and\;{\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor mediated contraction by NE were potentiated by rubbing of endothelium in both arteries. Pretreatment with methylene blue, an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, increased ${\alpha}_1-\;and\;{\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor mediated contraction by NE in both arteries with endothelium. From the above results, we suggest that the effect of activation of $\alpha$-adrenoceptors by NE may be modulated by endothelium in the proximal and distal coronary arteries of pigs. This effect may be mediated via endothelium derived relaxing factor.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.22 no.1 s.38
• /
• pp.45-50
• /
• 1986

The involvement of central $_{{\alpha}2}$-adrenoceptors in the development of muricide (mouse-killing behavior) in the olfactoly bulbectomized (OB) rats was strudied. The fractional turnover rate of noradrenaline (NA) in forebrain from OB muricidal rats was significantly lowered than that from sham rats. However, after yohimbine or idazoxan treatment, NA turnover was significantly increased in concert with inhibition of the development of muricide in OB rats. By radioligand binding studies with $[^3H]$ yohimbine, the maximum binding $(B_{max})$ of $[^3H]$ yohimbine to cerebral cortical membrane from OB rats was significantly higher than that from sham rats without change of affinity for agonists and antagonists$(K_i)$. With these results it was suggested that muricidal behavior of OB rats has a close relevance to the hyperactivity of central $_{{\alpha}2}$-adrenoceptor system.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.508-517
• /
• 1998

There is evidence that the sympathetic nervous system exerts a control on thyroid function via an adrenergic innervation of thyroid cells. Although it is clear that the inhibitory effects of catecholamines result from an activation of ${\alpha}_1$-adrenoceptors, the mechanisms involved in ${\alpha}_1$-stimulation are not fully understood. The effects of methoxamine and protein kinase C (PKC) activator on the release of thyroxine ($T_4$) from mouse thyroid were studied to clarify the role of PKC in the regulation of $T_4$ release in vitro. The glands were incubated in the medium, samples of the medium were assayed for $T_4$ by EIA kits. Methoxamine inhibited the TSH-stimulated $T_4$ release. This inhibition was reversed by prazosin, an ${\alpha}_1$-adrenergic antagonist. Futhermore, the inhibitory effect of methoxamine on the $T_4$ release stimulated by TSH was prevented by chloroethylclonidine, an ${\alpha}_{1b}$-adrenoceptor antagonist, but not by WB4101, an ${\alpha}_{1a}$-adrenoceptor antagonist. Also methoxamine inhibited the forskolin-, cAMP- or IBMX-stimulated $T_4$ release. These inhibition were reversed by PKC inhibitors, such as staurosporine and $H_7$. PMA, a PKC activator, completely inhibited the TSH-stimulated $T_4$ release, and its inhibition was reversed by staurosporine and $H_7$, but not by chelerythrine. R59022 (a diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor), like methoxamine, also inhibited the TSH-stimulated $T_4$ release, and its inhibition was also reversed by staurosporine. The present study suggests that methoxamine inhibition of $T_4$ release from mouse thyroid can be induced by activation of the ${\alpha}_{1b}$-adrenoceptors and that it is mediated through the ${\alpha}_1$-adrenoceptor-stimulated PKC formation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics Conference
• /
• 2006.05a
• /
• pp.95-95
• /
• 2006

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.67-77
• /
• 2004

Objectives : Many studies have reported that acupuncture analgesia was mediated through the activation of peripheral and central opioid receptors. However, there has been little electrophysiological study on the adrenergic mechanism of acupuncture analgesia in chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the role of adrenoceptors in the production of acupuncture analgesia in the chronic pain model. Methods : In the rat with chronic inflammation and nerve injury, dorsal horn cell (DHC) responses to afferent C fiber stimulation were used as a pain index and changes in electroacupuncture (EA) analgesia were recorded before and after intravenous administration of selective adrenoceptor antagonists. EA stimulations (2Hz, 0.5msec, 3mA) were applied to the contralateral Zusanli point for 30 min. Results : EA stimulation induced long-lasting inhibition of DHC responses in the rat with chronic inflammation and nerve injury. In both models of inflammation and neuropathic pain, α-adrenoceptor antagonist (phentolamine) significantly attenuated an inhibitory effect of EA on DHC responses. Selective α2-adrenoceptor antagonist (yohimbine) also had a similar suppressive action on DHC responses to that of phentolamine. However, β-adrenoceptor antagonist (propranolol) did not have any inhibitory effect on DHC responses in either model of chronic pain. Conclusions : These experimental findings suggest that in rats with chronic pain, EA stimulation with low frequency and high intensity produced an analgesic effect which was mediated through an activation of α2-adrenoceptors.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.156-163
• /
• 2000

Background: Peripheral nerve injury sometimes leads to chronic neuropathic pain such as causalgia. A subset of patients with causalgia have a sympathetically maintained pain which is often evoked by cooling stimuli. However, our knowledge on adrenergic receptor types responsible for cold-evoked pain that is sympathetically dependent is lacking. The present study was conducted to investigate subtypes of adrenoceptors involved in mediating cold-evoked pain that developed following peripheral nerve injury. Methods: Neuropathic surgery was performed by a unilateral ligation of L5 and L6 spinal nerves of rats. Behavioral sign of cold-evoked pain was examined for 5 min by measuring cumulative duration of time that the rat lifted its foot off a metal plate held at cold temperature ($5^{\circ}C$). Whether cold-evoked pain behavior was affected by antagonists of various subtypes of adrenoceptors, which were administered intraperitoneally before and after the ligation, was investigated. Results: After ligation, duration of foot lifting on the ligated side at cold temperature increased as compared to the pre-operative period. This increase maintained for the entire 40-day test period. Pretreatment with alpha-antagonist phentolamine produced a suppression of cold-evoked pain behavior that was not affected by beta-antagonist propranolol pretreatment. Prazosin, alpha-1 antagonist, suppressed cold- evoked pain behavior when treated either before or after nerve ligation. On the other hand, alpha-2 antagonist yohimbine was without effect on cold-evoked pain behavior whether it was treated before or after the ligation. Conclusions: The results suggest that peripheral nerve injury develops cold-evoked pain that is sympathetically dependent, and that alpha-1 adrenoreceptor plays a critical role for the generation of this type of pain in its initiation as well as maintenance.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.220-229
• /
• 2013

Objectives : Electroacupuncture(EA) has been used effectively in producing analgesia on ankle sprain pain of humans and animals. Currently to examine the underlying mechanisms of the EA-induced analgesia, the effects of EA on weight-bearing forces(WBR) were examined at ankle sprain classified as grade 3 in rats. Methods : The severe ankle sprain classified as grade 3 was induced surgically by ankle ligament injury in the Sprague-Dawley rats. WBR of the affected foot were examined to evaluate effects and mechanism of EA(2 Hz, 1 ms pulse width, 2 mA intensity, for 15 min) which was applied to either SI6, GB34, or GB39 acupoints. The rats were pretreated with naltrexone(10 mg/kg, i.p.) as an opioid receptor antagonist or phentolamine(5 mg/kg, i.p) as an ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptor antagonist at 30 min before EA. Results : The daily repeat EA at either SI6, GB34, or GB39 showed significant analgesic effects on the severe ankle sprain. Particularly, daily EA at GB34 showed more potent analgesic effect than the others. In addition, the naltrexone pretreatment completely blocked the analgesic effect of EA at GB34, indicating the involvement of the endogenous opioid system in mediating the effect of EA at GB34. However, the phentolamine pretreament blocked analgesic effects of EA at either SI6 or GB39, indicating the involvement of ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptors in mediating the effect of EA at either SI6 or GB39. Conclusions : These data suggest that EA-induced analgesia on ankle sprain pain is mediated through either endogenous opioids or ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptors dependant on acupoint specific pattern.