• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.202-207
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• 2000

The depletion of intracellular calcium stores by thapsigargin treatment evoked extracellular calcium-dependent membrane currents in Xenopus laevis oocytes. These currents have been compared to those evoked by microinjection of a calcium influx factor (CIF) purified from Jurkat T lymphocytes. The membrane currents elicited by thapsigargin treatment (peak current, $163{\pm}60$ nA) or CIF injection (peak current, $897{\pm}188$ nA) were both dependent on calcium entry, based on their eradication by the removal of extracellular calcium. The currents were, in both cases, attributed primarily to well-characterized $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ $Cl^-$ currents, based on their similar reversal potentials (-24 mV vs. -28 mV) and their inhibition by niflumic acid (a $Cl^-$ channel blocker). Currents induced by either thapsigargin treatment or CIF injection exhibited an identical pattern of inhibitory sensitivity to a panel of lanthanides, suggesting that thapsigargin treatment or CIF injection evoked $Cl^-$ currents by stimulating calcium influx through pharmacologically identical calcium channels. These results indicate that CIF acts on the same calcium entry pathway activated by the depletion of calcium stores and most lanthanides are novel pharmacological tools for the study of calcium entry in Xenopus oocytes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.328-335
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• 2008

This study was undertaken to investigate whether honokiol could enhance the pentobarbitalinduced sleeping behaviors through $\gamma$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor $Cl^-$ channel activation. Thirty minutes after the oral administration of honokiol, mice were received sodium pentobarbital (42 mg/kg, i.p.). The time elapsed from pentobarbital injection to the loss of the righting reflex was taken as sleeping latency. The time elapsed between the loss and voluntary recovery of the righting reflex was considered as the total sleeping time. Western blot technique and $Cl^-$ sensitive fluorescence probe were used to detect the expression of $GABA_A$ receptor subunits and $Cl^-$ influx in the primary cultured cerebellar granule cells. Honokiol (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg) prolonged the sleeping time induced by pentobarbital (42 mg/kg) in a dosage-dependent manner. Honokiol (20 and 50 ${\mu}M$) increased $Cl^-$ influx in primary cultured cerebellar granule cells, and selectively increased the $GABA_A$ receptor $\alpha$-subunit expression, but had no effect on the abundance of $\beta$ or $\gamma$-subunits. Chronic treatment with 20 ${\mu}M$ honokiol in primary cultured cerebellar neurons did not affect the abundance of GAD65/67. The results suggested that honokiol could potentiate pentobarbital-induced sleeping through $GABA_A$ receptor $Cl^-$ channel activation.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2001

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the hepatic uptake and biliary excretion of l-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) in vivo. The plasma concentration and liver concentration of ANS were determined after its i.v. bolus administration at a dose of $30\;{\mu}mol/kg$ in rats. The hepatic uptake clearance $(CL_{uptake})$ of ANS was 0.1 ml/min/g liver. On the basis of the unbound concentration of ANS, the permeability-surface area product $(PS_{influx})$ was calculated to be l0.4 ml/min/g liver, being comparable of in vitro data. On the other hand, we determined the plasma concentration, liver concentration and biliary excretion rate of ANS at steady-state after its i. v. infusion $(0.2-1.6\;{\mu}mol/min/kg)$ in rats. The excretion clearance $(CL_{excretion})$ of ANS showed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with increasing the infusion rate. The permeability-surface area product $(PS_{excretion})$ based on the unbound concentration in the liver was calculated to be 0.0165 ml/min/g liver, which is negligible compared with the intrinsic clearance $(CL_{int}=3.3\;ml/min/g\;liver)$ by rat liver microsomes. The sequestration process of ANS, therefore, was considered to be mainly due to the metabolic process in the liver $(PS_{seq}{\risingdotseq}CL_{int})$. Furthermore, $PS_{efflux}$ value calculated from $PS_{influx}$ and $PS_{seq}$ was 4.4 ml/min/g liver, which was comparable of in vitro data. In conclusion, in vivo parameters such as $PS_{influx}$, $PS_{efflux}$ and $PS_{seq}$ in the present study showed good in vivo-in vitro relationship. Thus, the kinetic analysis method proposed in the present study would be useful to analyze the hepatic transport of drugs in vivo.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.759-763
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• 2013

This experiment was performed to investigate whether 50% ethanol extracts of the combined-preparation of Longanae Arilus, Chrysanthemi Flos, Zizyphi Fructus and Ginseng Radix alba (CPE) has hypnotic effects and/or enhances pentobarbital-induced sleeping time. Locomotor activity was evaluated using a ambulometer of tilting-type. The sedative-hypnotic effects were evaluated by measuring the sleeping onset time and sleeping time in pentobarbital-treated mice 30 min. after oral administration of CPE and muscimol. The intracellular $Cl^-$ concentration of cerebellar granule cells was estimated using $Cl^-$ sensitive fluorescence probe N-(ethoxycarbonylmethyl)-6-methoxyquinolinium (MQAE). CPE (150 mg/kg) decreased the locomotor activity, but CPE itself did not induce sleep. However, CPE reduced sleeping onset and prolonged sleeping time induced by pentobarbital (42 mg/kg). In addition, CPE (2 ${\mu}g/ml$) and pentobarbital (2.5 ${\mu}M$) itself did not affect on the chloride influx in primary cultured cerebellar granule cells, but the combination of CPE and pentobarbital (2.5 ${\mu}M$) increased the chloride influx onto the cells. In conclusion, it is suggested that CPE might augment pentobarbital-induced sleep through the increase of chloride influx.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.401-406
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• 2012

Previously, we identified that Cirsium japonicum (CJ) extract posses antidepressant properties. In order to look for the optimal hebal preparation, CJ extracts collected from Koheung, Yesan, Cheju, Pyungchang and Pocheon were compared. The psychopharmacological activities of each extract were investigated using the open field test, the rota-rod test and the forced swimming test. Effect of each extract on $Cl^-$ influx in neuroblastoma cells were also identified. All of the extracts were orally administered at dosages of 50, 100, 200, 400 mg/kg of body weight. Supplementation of CJ did not significantly alter psychomotor behaviors such as movement, rearing frequency and total turn angle on the open field. Supplementation of CJ's extract from Pyungchang (100 mg/kg, p.o.), Cheju (200 and 400 mg/kg p.o.) and Yesan (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly decreased immobile duration and increased mobile duration in the forced swimming test. All of extracts have no influence on NE uptake in HEK-293 cells, but increased $Cl^-$ influx in neuroblastoma cell. The extract from Yesan demonstrated the most potent effect on $Cl^-$ influx. These results indicate that CJ's extracts from Pyungchang, Cheju and Yesan may alleviate depression, and the extract from Yesan may be the most effective preparation.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.213-218
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• 2011

The aim of this study is to evaluate the sedative effects of ethanol extract and the three major constituents of Cimicifugae Rhizoma. They decreased locomotor activity significantly, and enhanced sleeping duration induced by thiopental sodium. The ethanol extract of Cimicifugae rhizoma and 24-epi-7,8-didehydrocimigenol-3-xyloside (24-epi.) increased the $Cl^-$ influx into the intracellular area of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells significantly. The present results demonstrate that the sedative effects of Cimicifugae rhizoma are mediated via the GABA-gated $Cl^-$ channel, partly by 24-epi.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.373-382
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• 2020

This study proposes a method of separating uranium (U) and minor actinides from rare earth (RE) elements in the LiCl-KCl salt system. Several RE metals were used to reduce UCl₃ and MgCl₂ from the eutectic LiCl-KCl salt systems. Five experiments were performed on drawdown U and plutonium (Pu) surrogate elements from RECl₃-enriched LiCl-KCl salt systems at 773 K. Via the introduction of RE metals into the salt system, it was observed that the UCl₃ concentration can be lowered below 100 ppm. In addition, UCl₃ was reduced into a powdery form that easily settled at the bottom and was successfully collected by a salt distillation operation. When the RE metals come into contact with a metallic structure, a galvanic interaction occurs dominantly, seemingly accelerating the U recovery reaction. These results elucidate the development of an effective and simple process that selectively removes actinides from electrorefining salt, thus contributing to the minimization of the influx of actinides into the nuclear fuel waste stream.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2000

To investigate the mechanism of smooth muscle contraction induced by emptying of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores, we measured isometric contraction and $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ influx. $CaCl_2$ increased $Ca^{2+}$ store emptying- induced contraction in dose-dependent manner, but phospholipase C activity was not affected by the $Ca^{2+}$ store emptying-induced contraction. The contraction was inhibited by voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonists dose dependently, but not by TMB-8 (intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release blocker). Both PKC inhibitors (H-7 and staurosporine) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein and methyl 2,5-dihydroxycinnamic acid) significantly inhibited the contraction, but calmodulin antagonists (W-7 and trifluoperazine) had no inhibitory effect on the contraction. The combined inhibitory effects of protein kinase inhibitors, H-7 and genistein, together with verapamil were greater than that of each one alone. In $Ca^{2+}$ store-emptied condition, $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ influx was significantly inhibited by verapamil, H-7 or genistein but not by trifluoperazine. However combined inhibitory effects of protein kinase inhibitors, H-7 and genistein, together with verapamil were not observed. Therefore, this kinase pathway may modulate the sensitivity of contractile protein. These results suggest that contraction induced by emptying of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores was mediated by influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ through voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel, also protein kinase C and/or tyrosine kinase pathway modulates the $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity of contractile protein.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.297-306
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• 2020

Repetitive changes in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) triggers egg activation, including cortical granule exocytosis, resumption of second meiosis, block to polyspermy, and initiating embryonic development. [Ca²⁺]i oscillations that continue for several hours, are required for the early events of egg activation and possibly connected to further development to the blastocyst stage. The sources of Ca²⁺ ion elevation during [Ca²⁺]i oscillations are Ca²⁺ release from endoplasmic reticulum through inositol 1,4,5 tri-phosphate receptor and Ca²⁺ ion influx through Ca²⁺ channel on the plasma membrane. Ca²⁺ channels have been characterized into voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels (VDCCs), ligand-gated Ca²⁺ channel, and leak-channel. VDCCs expressed on muscle cell or neuron is specified into L, T, N, P, Q, and R type VDCs by their activation threshold or their sensitivity to peptide toxins isolated from cone snails and spiders. The present study was aimed to investigate the localization pattern of N and P/Q type voltage-dependent calcium channels in mouse eggs and the role in fertilization. [Ca²⁺]i oscillation was observed in a Ca²⁺ contained medium with sperm factor or adenophostin A injection but disappeared in Ca²⁺ free medium. Ca²⁺ influx was decreased by Lat A. N-VDCC specific inhibitor, ω-Conotoxin CVIIA induced abnormal [Ca²⁺]i oscillation profiles in SrCl₂ treatment. N or P/Q type VDC were distributed on the plasma membrane in cortical cluster form, not in the cytoplasm. Ca²⁺ influx is essential for [Ca²⁺]i oscillation during mammalian fertilization. This Ca²⁺ influx might be controlled through the N or P/Q type VDCCs. Abnormal VDCCs expression of eggs could be tested in fertilization failure or low fertilization eggs in subfertility women.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.342-347
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• 2011

In the present study, the anticonvulsant effects of Artemisia capillaris Herba (AC) and its major constituent, esculetin (ECT), were tested and the mechanism studied. Locomotion, Myorelaxation, motor coordination and electroshock seizure experiment were conducted in mice. To identify the anticonvulsant mechanism effect of this drug, chemical-induced seizure in mice and the ionic movement in neuroblastoma cells were also observed. The ethanol extract of AC was orally administered to mice 30 min. prior to testing and ECT was intraperitoneally injected. AC and ECT treatment did not change locomotor activities as well as activities on the rota-rod, which indicates that they did not cause a sedative and myorelaxation effect. AC and ECT treatment increased threshold of convulsion induced by electroshock. AC treatment also inhibited convulsion induced by pentylenetetrazole. In the case of strychnine however, only high dose of AC treatment inhibited convulsion. AC and ECT treatment increased the $Cl^-$ influx into the intracellular area in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, bicuculline, a GABA antagonist, inhibited the $Cl^-$ influx induced by AC and ECT. These results indicate that ECT induces the anticonvulsive effect of AC extract through the GABAergic neuron.