• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.101-109
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• 2016

Reducing $[Mg^{2+}]_o$ to 0.1 mM can evoke repetitive $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spikes and seizure activity, which induces neuronal cell death in a process called excitotoxicity. We examined the issue of whether cultured rat hippocampal neurons preconditioned by a brief exposure to 0.1 mM $[Mg^{2+}]_o$ are rendered resistant to excitotoxicity induced by a subsequent prolonged exposure and whether $Ca^{2+}$ spikes are involved in this process. Preconditioning by an exposure to 0.1 mM $[Mg^{2+}]_o$ for 5 min inhibited significantly subsequent 24 h exposure-induced cell death 24 h later (tolerance). Such tolerance was prevented by both the NMDA receptor antagonist D-AP5 and the L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonist nimodipine, which blocked 0.1 mM $[Mg^{2+}]_o$-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spikes. The AMPA receptor antagonist NBQX significantly inhibited both the tolerance and the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spikes. The intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator BAPTA-AM significantly prevented the tolerance. The nonspecific PKC inhibitor staurosporin inhibited the tolerance without affecting the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spikes. While $G{\ddot{o}}6976$, a specific inhibitor of $PKC{\alpha}$ had no effect on the tolerance, both the $PKC{\varepsilon}$ translocation inhibitor and the $PKC{\zeta}$ pseudosubstrate inhibitor significantly inhibited the tolerance without affecting the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spikes. Furthermore, JAK-2 inhibitor AG490, MAPK kinase inhibitor PD98059, and CaMKII inhibitor KN-62 inhibited the tolerance, but PI-3 kinase inhibitor LY294,002 did not. The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide significantly inhibited the tolerance. Collectively, these results suggest that low $[Mg^{2+}]_o$ preconditioning induced excitotoxic tolerance was directly or indirectly mediated through the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spike-induced activation of $PKC{\varepsilon}$ and $PKC{\xi}$, JAK-2, MAPK kinase, CaMKII and the de novo synthesis of proteins.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.662-670
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• 2021

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are the pacemaking cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) muscles that generate the rhythmic oscillation in membrane potentials known as slow waves. In the present study, we investigated the effects of mirtazapine, a noradrenergic and serotonergic antidepressant, on pacemaking potential in cultured ICCs from the murine small intestine. The whole-cell patch-clamp configuration was used to record pacemaker potential in cultured ICCs. Mirtazapine induced pacemaker potential depolarizations in a concentration-dependent manner in the current clamp mode. Y25130 (a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist), RS39604 (a 5-HT4 receptor antagonist), and SB269970 (a 5-HT7 receptor antagonist) had no effects on mirtazapine-induced pacemaker potential depolarizations. Also, methoctramine, a muscarinic M₂ receptor antagonist, had no effect on mirtazapine-induced pacemaker potential depolarizations, whereas 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methyl-piperidine methiodide (4-DAMP), a muscarinic M₃ receptor antagonist, inhibited the depolarizations. When guanosine 5'-[β-thio] diphosphate (GDP-β-S; 1 mM) was in the pipette solution, mirtazapine-induced pacemaker potential depolarization was blocked. When an external Ca²⁺ free solution or thapsigargin, a Ca²⁺-ATPase inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum, was applied, the generation of pacemaker potentials disappeared, and under these conditions, mirtazapine induced pacemaker potential depolarizations. In addition, protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, calphostin C, and chelerythrine inhibited mirtazapine-induced pacemaker potential depolarizations. These results suggest that mirtazapine regulates pacemaker potentials through muscarinic M₃ receptor activation via a G protein-dependent and an external or internal Ca²⁺-independent PKC pathway in the ICCs. Therefore, mirtazapine can control GI motility through ICCs.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.129-135
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• 2011

In this study we determined whether or not 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) has an effect on the pacemaker activities of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) from the mouse small intestine. The actions of 5-HT on pacemaker activities were investigated using a whole-cell patch-clamp technique, intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) analysis, and RT-PCR in ICC. Exogenously-treated 5-HT showed tonic inward currents on pacemaker currents in ICC under the voltage-clamp mode in a dose-dependent manner. Based on RT-PCR results, we found the existence of 5-$HT_{2B,\;3,\;4,\;and\;7}$ receptors in ICC. However, SDZ 205557 (a 5-$HT_4$ receptor antagonist), SB 269970 (a 5-$HT_7$ receptor antagonist), 3-tropanylindole - 3 - carboxylate methiodide (3-TCM; a 5-$HT_3$ antagonist) blocked the 5-HT-induced action on pacemaker activity, but not SB 204741 (a 5-$HT_{2B}$ receptor antagonist). Based on $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ analysis, we found that 5-HT increased the intensity of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. The treatment of PD 98059 or JNK II inhibitor blocked the 5-HT-induced action on pacemaker activity of ICC, but not SB 203580. In summary, these results suggest that 5-HT can modulate pacemaker activity through 5-$HT_{3,\;4,\;and\;7}$ receptors via $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ mobilization and regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.197-206
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• 2007

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of 6-chloro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine(SKF81297), a selective agonist of dopaminergic $D_1$ receptor, on the secretion of catecholamines(CA) evoked by cholinergic stimulation and membrane-depolarization in the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland, and also to elucidate the mechanism involved. SKF81297($10{\sim}100{\mu}M$) perfused into an adrenal vein for 60 min produced dose- and time-dependent inhibition of CA secretory responses evoked by ACh(5.32 mM), high $K^+$(56 mM), DMPP($100{\mu}M$) and McN-A-343($100{\mu}M$). Also, in adrenal glands loaded with SKF81297($30{\mu}M$), the CA secretory responses evoked by Bay-K-8644($10{\mu}M$), an activator of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels and cyclopiazonic acid($10{\mu}M$), an inhibitor of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase were also inhibited. However, in the presence of the dopamine $D_1$ receptor antagonist, (R)-(+)-8-chloro-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-benzazepine-7-ol(SCH23390, $3{\mu}M$), which is a selective antagonist of dopaminergic $D_1$ receptor, the inhibitory responses of SKF81297($30{\mu}M$) on the CA secretion evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644, and cyclopiazonic acid were significantly reduced. Collectively, these experimental results suggest that SKF81297 inhibits the CA secretion from the rat adrenal medulla evoked by cholinergic stimulation(both nicotininc and muscarinic receptors) and membrane depolarization. This inhibitory of SKF81297 seems to be mediated by stimulation of dopaminergic $D_1$ receptors located on the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells, which are relevant to extra- and intracellular calcium mobilization. Therefore, it is thought that the presence of the dopaminergic $D_1$ receptors may be involved in regulation of CA release in the rat adrenal medulla.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.50-59
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• 1994

신호전달과정의 연구는 calcium이 messenger로서 작용한다고 밝혀진 후로 식물에서 $Ca^{++}$ -messenger system에 대한 생화학적 및 분자생물학적 분야에서의 연구는 급속하게 발전하게 되었다. 식물세포에서 calcium 이온들의 많은 작용은 EF hand family로서 알려진 calcium binding protein에 의해서 조절된다. Calmodulin (CaM)은 highy conserve 되어 있으며, 4개의 calcium binding domain을 가진 ubiquitous한 단백질이다. 본 연구는 calmodulin 유전자의 발현에 미치는 calcium, EGTA, calcium ionophore 및 calmodulin antagonist의 영향과 또한 외부신호(light, wounding), chemical 및 auxin 등의 영향을 reporter화 유전자의 분석에 의해서 CaM유전자의 발현기작을 규명하고자 하였고, 또한 calmodulin 유전자의 organ-specific 발현 및 calmodulin의 새로운 생리적인 기능도 연구하고자 하였다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.525-531
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• 2009

We studied the effect of carbachol on pacemaker currents in cultured interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) from the mouse small intestine by muscarinic stimulation using a whole cell patch clamp technique and $Ca^{2+}$-imaging. ICC generated periodic pacemaker potentials in the current-clamp mode and generated spontaneous inward pacemaker currents at a holding potential of -70 mV. Exposure to carbachol depolarized the membrane and produced tonic inward pacemaker currents with a decrease in the frequency and amplitude of the pacemaker currents. The effects of carbachol were blocked by 1-dimethyl-4-diphenylacetoxypiperidinium, a muscarinic $M_3$ receptor antagonist, but not by methotramine, a muscarinic $M_2$ receptor antagonist. Intracellular $GDP-{\beta}-S$ suppressed the carbachol-induced effects. Carbachol-induced effects were blocked by external $Na^+$-free solution and by flufenamic acid, a non-selective cation channel blocker, and in the presence of thapsigargin, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor in the endoplasmic reticulum. However, carbachol still produced tonic inward pacemaker currents with the removal of external $Ca^{2+}$. In recording of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations using fluo 3-AM dye, carbachol increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations with increasing of $Ca^{2+}$ oscillations. These results suggest that carbachol modulates the pacemaker activity of ICC through the activation of non-selective cation channels via muscarinic $M_3$ receptors by a G-protein dependent intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release mechanism.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.331-338
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• 1997

최근 동물의 진통 및 진정을 목적으로 널리 사용되고 있는 imidazole 유도체인 clonidine, medetomidine, etomidate 등의 약물과 xylazine의 효과를 발정정지기의 척출 돼지 자궁근에서 검토하였다. Clonidine($10^{-8}{\sim}10^{-6}M$)이나 medetomidine($10^{-8}{\sim}10^{-6}M$)은 xylazine과 비슷한 정도로 용량의존적인 자궁근의 수축을 일으켰다. Clonidine, medetomidine, xylazine 등의 $EC_{50}$는 각각 24.7nM, 19.9nM, 45.1nM이었다. 그러나 etomidate는 $10^{-6}M$ 미만의 농도에서 반응이 거의 없었으며, $10^{-6}M$ 이상에서 수축반응을 일으켰다. 이들 agonists의 효과는 yohimbine($10^{-8}{\sim}10^{-6}M$), idazoxan($10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-5}M$), tolazoline($10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-5}M$) 등의 ${\alpha}_2-adrenoceptor$ antagonists에 의해서 차단되었으나, ${\alpha}_1-adrenoceptor$ antagonist인 prazosin ($10^{-6}M$)에 의해서는 차단되지 않았다. 또한 $Ca^{2+}-free$ medium이나 verapamil($10^{-5}M$)의 전처치에 의해서 이들 agonist의 효과가 완전히 차단되었다. 결론적으로 발정정지기의 돼지 자궁근에서 clonidine, medetomidine, etomidate, xylazine 등은 ${\alpha}_2-adrenoceptors$의 흥분을 통해 자궁근의 수축을 일으키며, 이 효과는 voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels을 통한 extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ influx의 증가에 의한 것으로 추론하였다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.137-141
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• 1992

The present study was aimed at elucidating the mode of inhibitory action of tricyclic antidepressants on the smooth muscle. Effects of amitriptyline on the isolated detrusor muscle strips of the urinary bladder of the rabbit were examined. The spontaneous rhythmic movement of the muscle preparation was frequently observed, which was decreased or abolished by addition of amitriptyline $(10^{-5}{\sim}10^{-3}\;M)$. The muscle preparation responded with contraction dose dependently to carbachol, of which dose response curve shifted to the right in the presence of either amitriptyline or atropine. However, amitriptyline produced a nonparallel shift, whereas atropine caused a parallel one. In calcium free medium, the contraction response to carbachol was markedly decreased, which was resumed by the addition of $CaCl_2$ (2.5mM), but not in the presence of either amitriptyline or nifedipine. KCI (60 mM) produced a potent contraction, which was abolished in the presence of amitriptyline or nifedipine. These results suggest that amitriptyline, unlike atropine, not only acts as a noncompetitive antagonist at cholinergic muscarine receptors but also inhibits Ca-influx through the muscle cell membrane.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.3-15
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• 1997

Adrenal chromaffin cells secrete catecholamine in response to acetylcholine. The secretory response has absolute requirement for extracellular calcium, indication that $Ca^{2+}$ influx through voltage dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel (VDCC) is the primary trigger of the secretion cascade. Although the existence of various types of $Ca^{2+}$ channels has been explored using patch clamp technique in adrenal chromaffin cells, the contribution of different types of $Ca^{2+}$ channels to catecholamine secretion remains to be established. To investigate the quantative contribution of different types of $Ca^{2+}$ channels to cate-cholamine secretion, $Ca^{2+}$ current($I_{Ca}$) and the resultant membrane capacitance increment($\Delta{C}_{m}$) were simultaneoulsy measured. Software based phasor detector technique was used to monitor $\Delta{C}_{m}$. After blockade of L type VDCC with nicardipine (1$\mu$M), $I_{ca}$ was blocked to 43.85$\pm$6.72%(mean$\pm$SEM) of control and the resultant ㅿC$_{m}$ was reduced ot 30.10$\pm$16.44% of control. In the presence of nicardipine and $\omega$-conotoxin in GVIA(l$\mu$M), an N type VDCC antagonist, $I_{ca}$ was blocked to 11.62$\pm$2.96% of control and the resultant $\Delta{C}_{m}$ was reduced to 26.13$\pm$8.25% of control. Finally, in the presence of L, N, and P type $Ca^{2\pm}$ channel antagonists(nicardipine, $\omega$-Conotoxin GVIA, and $\omega$-agatoxin IVA, respectively), $I_{ca}$ and resultant $\Delta{C}_{m}$ were almost completely blocked. From the observation of parallel effects of $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonists on $I_{ca}$ and $\Delta{C}_{m}$, it was concluded that L, N, and also P type $Ca^{2+}$ channels served and $Ca^{2+}$ source for exocytosis and no difference was observed in their efficiency to evoke exocytosis amost L, N, and P type $Ca^{2+}$ channels.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 1999

Angiotensin II (ANG II) has a biphasic effect on $Na^+$ transport in proximal tubule: low doses of ANG II increase the $Na^+$ transport, whereas high doses of ANG II inhibit it. However, the mechanisms of high dose ANG II-induced inhibition on $Na^+$ uptake are poorly understood. Thus the aim of the present study was to investigate signal transduction pathways involved in the ANG II-induced inhibition of $Na^+$ uptake in the primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubule cells (PTCs) in hormonally defined serum-free medium. ANG II $(10^{-9}\;M)-induced$ inhibition of $Na^+$ uptake was blocked by losartan $(10^{-8}\;M,\;AT_1\;antagonist),$ but not by PD123319 $(10^{-8}\;M,\;AT_2\;antagonist)$ (P<0.05). ANG II-induced inhibition of $Na^+$ uptake was also completely abolished by neomycin $(10^{-4}\;M,$ PLC inhibitor), W-7 $(10^{-4}\;M,$ calmodulin antagonist), and $AACOCF_3\;(10^{-6}\;M,\;PLA_2\;inhibitor)$ (P<0.05). ANG II significantly increased $[^3H]arachidonic$ acid (AA) release compared to control. The ANG II-induced $[^3H]AA$ release was blocked by losartan, $AACOCF_3,$ neomycin, and W-7, but not by PD123319. ANG II-induced $[^3H]AA$ release in the presence of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ was greater than in $Ca^{2+}-free$ medium, and it was partially blocked by TMB-8 $(10^{-4}\;M,$ intracelluar $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization blocker). However, in the absence of extracellular $Ca^{2+},$ it was completely blocked by TMB-8. In addition, econazole $(10^{-6}\;M,$ cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase inhibitor) and indomethacin $(10^{-6}\;M,$ cyclooxygenase inhibitor) blocked ANG II-induced inhibition of $Na^+$ uptake, but NGDA $(10^{-6}\;M,$ lipoxygenase inhibitor) did not affect it. In conclusion, $PLA_2-mediated$ AA release is involved in ANG II-induced inhibition of $Na^+$ uptake and is modulated by $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in the PTCs.