• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 2010

This study was performed to investigate the role of glutamate neurotransmitter system on gastrointestinal motility in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of rats. The right middle cerebral artery was occluded by surgical operation, and intestinal transit and geometric center as a parameter of gastrointestinal motility and expression of c-Fos protein in the insular cortex and cingulate cortex were measured at 2 and 12 h after MCAO. Intestinal transit was $66.3{\pm}7.5%$ and $62.3{\pm}5.7%$ 2 and 12 h after sham operation, respectively, and MCAO significantly decreased intestinal transit to $39.0{\pm}3.5%$ and $47.0{\pm}5.1%$ at 2 and 12 h after the occlusion, respectively (p<0.01). The geometric center was $5.6{\pm}0.4$ and $5.2{\pm}0.9$ at 2 and 12 h after sham operation, respectively, and MCAO significantly decreased geometric center to $2.9{\pm}0.8$ and $3.0{\pm}0.3$ at 2 and 12 h after the occlusion, respectively (p<0.01). In control animals, injection of atropine decreased intestinal transit to $35.9{\pm}5.2%$, and injection of glutamate NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801, decreased intestinal transit to $28.8{\pm}9.5%$. Pretreatment with MK-801, a glutamate NMDA receptor antagonist, in the MCAO group decreased intestinal transit to $11.8{\pm}3.2%$, which was significantly decreased compared to MCAO group (p<0.01). MCAO markedly increased the expression of c-Fos protein in the insular cortex and cingulate cortex ipsilateral to the occlusion 2 h after MCAO, and pretreatment with MK-801 produced marked reduction of c-Fos protein expression compared to MCAO group (p<0.01). These results suggest that modulation of gastrointestinal motility after MCAO might be partially mediated through a glutamate NMDA receptor system.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1999

Background: To study the role of spinal alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) receptors in pain behaviors caused by mild burn, we examined the effect of intrathecal administered ACEA 2085, which has been recently characterized as a high potency competitive AMPA receptor antagonist, on the thermal hyperalgesia state induced by mild burn. Methods: A thermal injury was induced by applying the left hind paw to a thermal surface ($52.5^{\circ}C$) for 45 sec. Thermal escape latency of the hind paw was determined using an underglass thermal stimulus. Thirty min after thermal injury, the paw withdrawal latency (PWL) in injured paw of all groups fell from 10~12 sec to 5~7 sec. At that time, ACEA 2085 (0.01~0.1 mcg) and 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxalinedione (CNQX, 1~30 mcg) were injected through intrathecal heters in rats with mild burn injury on the right hindpaw. And then, PWL were measured in the both hindpaw every 30 minutes for about three hours. Results: The intrathecal injection of ACEA 2085 produced a dose dependent reversal of the hyperalgesia in the right hindpaw and more potent than CNQX, but had no effect upon the response latency of the normal left hind paw even at the largest doses. All effects were observed at doses that had no significant effect upon motor function. Conclusions: Intrathecal ACEA 2085, highly selective AMPA receptor antagonist produce a dose- dependent reversal of the thermal hyperalgesia evoked mild burn injury. These results suggested that spinal AMPA receptor play an important role in the hyperalgesia induced by mild burn injury.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of mast cells and their product, histamine and leukotriene in ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. (Group I: Control group without ischemia, Group II: Normal saline with ischemia, Group III: Cimetidine with ischemia, Group IV: Zafirlukast with ischemia) Skin flap was elevated and ischemic insult was given by clamping the artery for 12 hours. Before reperfusion, the rats were treated with saline, cimetidine and zafirlukast. Flap survival was evaluated at 7 days. Neutrophil counts, mast cell counts were evaluated 24 hours after reperfusion. Results: Flap survival rate in the control group was 92.33%, whereas normal saline group had 37.34% survivals. Cimetidine and zafirlukast treated group showed significantly higher survival rates than normal saline group. The neutrophil and mast cell counts in cimetidine and zafirlukast treated group were significantly decreased than normal saline group. Cimetidine treated group showed higher survival rate and lower cell counts than zafirlukast treated group. Conclusion: The administration of cimetidine and zafirlukast can decrease neutrophils and mast cells caused by ischemia-reperfusion and increase flap survivals. It is suggests that antihistamine and leukotriene receptor antagonist have protective effect against ischemia-reperfusion injury to skin flap in rat.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1503-1509
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• 2007

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is an important factor in regulation of cardiovascular tone in humans and mammals, but the biological function of ET-1 in the avian vascular system has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to characterize the role of endogenous ET-1 in the vascular system of poultry by investigating the effect of endothelin A receptor ($ET_AR$) antagonist BQ123 on the femoral artery pressure (FAP) and the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in broiler chickens. First, we found that plasma and lung homogenate ET-1 levels were both increased with age over the seven weeks life cyccle of broiler chickens. Second, 60 min after intravenous injection, BQ123 ($0.4{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$ and $2.0{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$, respectively) induced a significant reduction in FAP and PAP (p<0.05). Third, chronic infusion of BQ123 ($2.0{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$ each time, two times a day) into abdominal cavities led to significant decrease in systolic pressure of the femoral (p<0.05) and pulmonary arteries (p<0.01) in broiler chickens at 7 and 14 days after treatment. Taken together, the $ET_AR$ antagonist BQ123 lead to a significant reduction of FAP and PAP, which suggests that endogenous ET-1 may be involved in the maintenance and regulation of systemic and pulmonary pressure in broiler chickens.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.215-220
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• 2009

Chlorpheniramine is a potent first-generation histamine $H_1$ receptor antagonist that can increase action potential duration and induce QT prolongation in several animal models. Since block of cardiac human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) channels is one of leading causes of acquired long QT syndrome, we investigated the acute effects of chlorpheniramine on hERG channels to determine the electrophysiological basis for its proarrhythmic potential. We examined the effects of chlorpheniramine on the hERG channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes using two-microelectrode voltage-clamp techniques. Chlorpheniramine induced a concentration-dependent decrease of the current amplitude at the end of the voltage steps and hERG tail currents. The $IC_{50}$ of chlorpheniramine-dependent hERG block in Xenopus oocytes decreased progressively relative to the degree of depolarization. Chlorpheniramine affected the channels in the activated and inactivated states but not in the closed states. The S6 domain mutations Y652A and F656A partially attenuated (Y652A) or abolished (F656A) the hERG current block. These results suggest that the $H_1$ antihistamine, chlorpheniramine is a blocker of the hERG channels, providing a molecular mechanism for the drug-induced arrhythmogenic side effects.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10045-10051
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• 2015

Chemotherapy is a major therapeutic approach for malignant neoplasms; however, due to the most common adverse events of nausea and vomiting, scheduled chemotherapeutic programs may be impeded or even interrupted, which severely impairs the efficacy. Aprepitants, 5-HT3 antagonists and dexamethasone are primary drugs used to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). These drugs have excellent efficacy for control of acute vomiting but are relatively ineffective for delayed vomiting. Aprepitant may remedy this deficiency. Substance P was discovered in the 1930s and its association with vomiting was confirmed in the 1950s. This was followed by a period of non-peptide neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonist synthesis and investigation in preclinical studies and clinical trials (phases I, II and III). The FDA granted permission for the clinical chemotherapeutic use of aprepitant in 2003. At present, the combined use of aprepitant, 5-HT3 antagonists and dexamethasone satisfactorily controls vomiting but not nausea. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches and drugs are still needed.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.58-63
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• 2003

Ginseng has been recommended to alleviate the menopausal symptoms, which indicates that components of ginseng very likely contain estrogenic activity. We have examined the possibility that a component of Panax ginseng, $ginsenoside-R_{b1}$ acts by binding to estrogen receptor. We have investigated the estrogenic activity of $ginsenoside-R_{b1}$ in a transient transfection system using estrogen-responsive luciferase plasmids in MCF-7 cells. $ginsenoside-R_{b1}$ activated the transcription of the estrogen-responsive luciferase reporter gene in MCF-7 breast cancer cells at a concentration of 50 $\mu$M. Activation was inhibited by the specific estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780, indicating that the estrogenic effect of $ginsenoside-R_{b1}$ is estrogen receptor dependent. Next, we evaluated the ability of $ginsenoside-R_{b1}$ to induce the estrogen-responsive gene c-fos by semi-quantitative RT-PCR assays and Western analyses. $ginsenoside-R_{b1}$ increased c-fos both at mRNA and protein levels. However, $ginsenoside-R_{b1}$ failed to activate the glucocorticoid receptor, the retinoic acid receptor, or the androgen receptor in CV-1 cells transiently transfected with the corresponding steroid hormone receptors and hormone responsive reporter plasmids. These data support our hypothesis that $ginsenoside-R_{b1}$ acts a weak phytoestrogen, presumably by binding and activating the estrogen receptor.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.153-158
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• 1995

The levels of extracellualr glutamate, intracellular $Ca^{2+}\;([Ca2+]_i)$ and cGMP were determined for 1 h with the excitatory amino acids, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) or kainate in cultured cerebellar granule cells. Both NMDA and kainate produced a time-dependent release of glutamate, and kainate was more potent than NMDA in glutamate elevation. The elevation of extracellular glutamate was not purely governed by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. However, in opposite to the time-dependent elevation of glutamate, the elevation of cGMP by NMDA and kainate were at maximum level in short-time (1 min) incubation then remarkably decreased with longer incubation times. Post-applications (30 min after agonist) of EAA antagonist did not block EAAs-induced glutamate elevation. However, NMDA antagonist, phencyclidine (PCP), blocked NMDA-induced cGMP elevation at pre- or post-application, but kainate antagonist, 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX), paradoxically augmented kainate-induced cGMP elevation for 1 h incubation. These results show that NMDA or kainate induces time-dependent elevations of extracellular glutamate, while the elevations of cGMP by these EAAs are remarkably decreased with longer incubation times. However, NMDA- arid kainate-indcued glutamate release was blocked by pre-application of each receptor antagonist but not by post-application while EAA-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was blocked by post-application of antagonist. These observations suggest that EAA-induced elevation of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ is not parallel with elevation of glutamate release or cGMP.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.262-270
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• 2021

Background: Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a non-selective cation channel implicated in pain sensation in response to heat, protons, and capsaicin (CAPS). It is well established that TRPV1 is involved in mechanical allodynia. This study investigates the effect of Ononis spinosa (Fabaceae) in CAPS-induced mechanical allodynia and its mechanism of action. Methods: Mechanical allodynia was induced by the intraplantar (ipl) injection of 40 ㎍ CAPS into the left hind paw of male Wistar rats. Animals received an ipl injection of 100 ㎍ O. spinosa methanolic leaf extract or 2.5% diclofenac sodium 20 minutes before CAPS injection. Paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) was measured using von Frey filament 30, 90, and 150 minutes after CAPS injection. A molecular docking tool, AutoDock 4.2, was used to study the binding energies and intermolecular interactions between O. spinosa constituents and TRPV1 receptor. Results: The ipsilateral ipl injection of O. spinosa before CAPS injection increased PWT in rats at all time points. O. spinosa decreased mechanical allodynia by 5.35-fold compared to a 3.59-fold decrease produced by diclofenac sodium. The ipsilateral pretreatment with TRPV1 antagonist (300 ㎍ 4-[3-Chloro-2-pyridinyl]-N-[4-[1,1-dimethylethyl] phenyl]-1-piperazinecarboxamide [BCTC]) as well as the β2-adrenoreceptor antagonist (150 ㎍ butoxamine) attenuated the action of O. spinosa. Depending on molecular docking results, the activity of the extract could be attributed to the bindings of campesterol, stigmasterol, and ononin compounds to TRPV1. Conclusions: O. spinosa alleviated CAPS-induced mechanical allodynia through 2 mechanisms: the direct modulation of TRPV1 and the involvement of β2 adrenoreceptor signaling.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.359-364
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• 2010

Many therapeutic roles have been proposed for sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R), but the involvement of Sig-1R in neuropathic pain has currently not been well explored. The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-nociceptive effect of Sig-1R antagonist (BD1047) in a rat model of chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglion (CCD), which is a model of human foraminal stenosis and radicular pain. When stainless steel rods were inserted into the intervertebral foramen of lumbar vertebrae 4 and 5, the CCD developed reliable mechanical (from 3 day) and cold allodynia (from 1 day) as compared with the sham operation group. The spinal expressions of Sig-1R and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK) were significantly increased from day 3 to day 14 after CCD surgery, as is consistent with the manifestation of allodynia. The BD 1047 (10, 30, 100 mg/kg) administered on postoperative days 0~5 dose-dependently suppressed both the induction of allodynia and the elevation of the spinal pERK expression in a manner comparable with that of gabapentin (100 mg/kg). At 7 days post-CCD surgery, BD1047 (10, 30, 100 mg/kg) administration also produced anti-nociceptive effects on the mechanical and cold allodynia similar with those of gabapentin (100 mg/kg). Therefore, this data suggested that Sig-1R may play an important role in both the development and maintenance of CCD-induced neuropathy.