• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.241-246
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• 2003

Bambusae Caulis in Liquamen(BCL) has been used to relieve the cough and asthma, and remove the phlegm in traditional Oriental medicine. In recent years, it was studied for its antiinflammatory, antiallergenic, immune-modulating, and anticarcinogenic capabilities. This experiment was performed to evaluate the microarray profiles of CD genes in human mast cells before and after BCL treatment. The results are as follows: The expression of 51 of the genes studied was up-regulated in the Bel-treated group; they include the genes coding L apoferritin, beta-2-microglobulin, ferritin light polypeptide, CD63, monocyte chemotactic and activating fact, heme oxygenase 1, CD140a, integrin alpha M, colony stimulating factor 2 receptor, eukaryotic translation elongation factor, CD37, interleukin 18, NADH dehydrogenase 1 beta, CD48, 5-lipoxygenase activating protein, interleukin 4, ribosomal protein L5, GABA(A) receptor-associated protein, beta-tubulin, integrin beta 1, CD162, CD32, lymphotoxin beta, alpha-tublin, integrin alpha L, CD2, CD151, CD331, 90 kDa heat shock protein, CD59, CD3Z, microsomal glutathione S-transferase 2, CD33, CD162R, cyclophilinA, CD84, interleukin 9 receptor, interleukin 11, CD117, CD39-Like 2, and so forth. The expression of 7 of the genes studied was down-regulated in the BCL-treated group; they include the genes coding con, CD238, SCF, CD160, CD231, CD24, and CD130. Consequently, the treatment of BCL on the human mast cells increased the expression of 51 genes and decreased the expression of 7 genes. These data would provide a fundamental basis to the traditional applications of Bambusae Caulis in Liquamen.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.115-122
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• 2016

Sleep, which is an essential part of human life, is modulated by neurotransmitter systems, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopamine signaling. However, the mechanisms that initiate and maintain sleep remain obscure. In this study, we investigated the relationship between melatonin (MT) and dopamine D2-like receptor signaling in pentobarbital-induced sleep and the intracellular mechanisms of sleep maintenance in the cerebral cortex. In mice, pentobarbital-induced sleep was augmented by intraperitoneal administration of 30 mg/kg MT. To investigate the relationship between MT and D2-like receptors, we administered quinpirole, a D2-like receptor agonist, to MT- and pentobarbital-treated mice. Quinpirole (1 mg/kg, i.p.) increased the duration of MT-augmented sleep in mice. In addition, locomotor activity analysis showed that neither MT nor quinpirole produced sedative effects when administered alone. In order to understand the mechanisms underlying quinpirole-augmented sleep, we measured protein levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and cortical protein kinases related to MT signaling. Treatment with quinpirole or MT activated extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), p38 MAPK, and protein kinase C (PKC) in the cerebral cortex, while protein kinase A (PKA) activation was not altered significantly. Taken together, our results show that quinpirole increases the duration of MT-augmented sleep through ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and PKC signaling. These findings suggest that modulation of D2-like receptors might enhance the effect of MT on sleep.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.69-76
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• 2004

A variety of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are expressed in the presynaptic terminals of central and peripheral synapses and play regulatory roles in transmitter release. The patch-clamp whole-cell recording technique, applied to the calyx of Held presynaptic terminal in brainstem slices of rodents, has made it possible to directly examine intracellular mechanisms underlying the GPCR-mediated presynaptic inhibition. At the calyx of Held, bath-application of agonists for GPCRs such as $GABA_B$ receptors, group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), adenosine $A_1$ receptors, or adrenaline ${\alpha}2$ receptors, attenuate evoked transmitter release via inhibiting voltage-activated $Ca^{2+}$ currents without affecting voltage-activated $K^+$ currents or inwardly rectifying $K^+$ currents. Furthermore, inhibition of voltage-activated $Ca^{2+}$ currents fully explains the magnitude of GPCR-mediated presynaptic inhibition, indicating no essential involvement of exocytotic mechanisms in the downstream of $Ca^{2+}$ influx. Direct loadings of G protein ${\beta}{\gamma}$ subunit $(G{\beta}{\gamma})$ into the calyceal terminal mimic and occlude the inhibitory effect of a GPCR agonist on presynaptic $Ca^{2+}$ currents $(Ip_{Ca})$, suggesting that $G{\beta}{\gamma}$ mediates presynaptic inhibition by GPCRs. Among presynaptic GPCRs glutamate and adenosine autoreceptors play regulatory roles in transmitter release during early postnatal period when the release probability (p) is high, but these functions are lost concomitantly with a decrease in p during postnatal development.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.40-45
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• 2017

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by recurrent and unpredictable seizures that are usually controlled with antiepileptic/anticonvulsive drugs. However, most antiepileptic drugs produce various side effects such as tolerance and sedation. Thus, there is a growing interest for alternative anticonvulsive drugs, preferably from natural or herbal sources. In this study, we evaluated the anticonvulsive effects of Rehmannia glutinosa (RG). The anticonvulsive effect of RG extract was evaluated using electroshock- and chemical-induced seizure tests in mice. To identify its probable mechanism of action, the effects of RG extract on $Cl^-$ influx was measured in vitro. We found that RG extract has anticonvulsive effects against electroshock-induced seizures, as indicated by an increased seizure threshold in mice. The RG extract also decreased the percentage of seizure responses induced by the GABAergic antagonist, pentylenetetrazole. These results suggest that the anticonvulsive effects of RG extract are mediated through a GABAergic mechanism. In support of this mechanism, our in vitro test showed that RG extract increases intracellular $Cl^-$ influx. Furthermore, RG extract did not show sedative and/or muscle relaxant effects in the open-field and rota-rod tests. Altogether, these results confirm that RG extract could be a herbal anticonvulsant and a potential alternative for clinical use.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.112-121
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• 2017

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is the serious and fatal drug-associated adverse effect, but its incidence is very low and individual variation in severity is substantial. Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury accounts for >50% of reported DILI cases but little is known for the cause of individual variations in the severity. Intrinsic genetic variation is considered a key element but the identity of the genes was not well-established. Here, pre-biopsy method and microarray technique was applied to uncover the key genes for APAP-induced liver injury in mice, and a cause and effect experiment employing quantitative real-time PCR was conducted to confirm the correlation between the uncovered genes and APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. We identified the innately and differentially expressed genes of mice susceptible to APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in the pre-biopsied liver tissue before APAP treatment through microarray analysis of the global gene expression profiles (Affymetrix $GeneChip^{(R)}$ Mouse Gene 1.0 ST for 28,853 genes). Expression of 16 genes including Gdap10, Lpl, Gabra3 and Ccrn4l were significantly different (t-test: FDR <10%) more than 1.5 fold in the susceptible animals than resistant. To confirm the association with the susceptibility to APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, another set of animals were measured for the expression level of selected 4 genes (higher two and lower two genes) in the liver pre-biopsy and their sensitivity to APAP-induced hepatotoxicity was evaluated by post hoc. Notably, the expressions of Gabra3 and Lpl were significantly correlated with the severity of liver injury (p<0.05) demonstrating that these genes may be linked to the susceptibility to APAP-induced hepatotoxicity.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

본 연구자들의 앞선 연구에서는 햄스터 상구에서 AMPA 수용체의 아형인 GluR1과 GluR4의 분포와 눈 적출 이후 이들 수용체의 분포를 면역세포화학적 방법으로 연구하였다. 또한, 표지한 GluR1과 GluR4를 칼슘결합단백질인 calbindin D28K, calretinin, parvalbumin과 GABA로 표지하여 비교하였다. 본 연구에서 역행성이동추적물질(retrograde tracer)인 호스래디시퍼옥시다아제(horseradish peroxidase, HRP)를 상구의 각 주요 상행로와 하행로에 주입함으로써 GluR1- 면역반응 신경세포들과 GluR4- 면역반응 신경세포들이 투사신경세포(projection neurons)임을 밝혀내었다. Tecto-reticulospinal pathway (TRS)와 dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN)으로 HRP 를 주입한후, 햄스터들은 회복을 위해 48시간 동안 살려둔 뒤 관류(perfusion)하였다. GluR- 면역반응 처리된 절편들은 역행성 표지된 신경세포를 지님을 확인하였다. HRP를 주입하였더니 단지 적은 수의 GluR1- 면역반응 신경세포들이 TRS (1.4%)와 dLGN (2.6%)으로 투사되었고, 반면에 많은 수의 GluR4- 면역반응 신경세포들이 TRS (32.7%)로 투사되었다. 사이/투사 신경세포(inter/projection neurons)들은 GluR 아단위들의 분류된 분포와 차별화된 양상을 보였고 이들의 이러한 분포는 칼슘결합단백질들과 GABA와는 겹쳐지지 않았으며, 일전에 발표했던 시각적 행동 반응에서 안구 적출 후 수용체 아단위들의 기능적 다양화와는 차별화된 양상을 보였다.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.23-29
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• 1998

Background: The present study was conducted to investigate effects of microinjection of bicuculline, GABA-A receptor antagonist, into the brain stem nuclei on the dorsal horn neuron responsiveness in rats with an experimental peripheral neuropathy. Methods: An experimental neuropathy was induced by a unilateral ligation of L5~L6 spinal nerves of rats. After 2~3 weeks after the surgery, single-unit recording was made from wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons in the spinal cord dorsal horn. Results: Responses of WDR neurons to both noxious and innocuous mechanical stimuli applied to the somatic receptive fields were enhanced on the nerve injured side. These enhanced responsiveness of WDR neurons were suppressed by microinjection of bicuculline into periaqueductal gray(PAG) or nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis(Gi). A similar suppression was also observed when morphine was microinjected into PAG or Gi. Suppressive action by Gi-bicuculline was reversed by naloxonazine, ${\mu}$-opioid receptor antagonist, microinjected into PAG whereas PAG-bicuculline induced suppression was not affected by naloxonazine injection into Gi. Gi-bicuculline induced suppression were reversed by a transection of dorsolateral funiculus(DLF) of the spinal cord. Conclusions: The results suggest that endogenous opioids, via acting on GABAergic interneurons in PAG and Gi, may be involved in the control of neuropathic pain by activating the descending inhibitory pathways that project to the spinal dorsal horn through DLF to inhibit the responsiveness of WDR neurons.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.33-42
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• 2011

Zinc plays a key role in genetic expression, cell division, and cell growth and is essential for the functions of more than 450 metalloenzyme. There are high concentrations of zinc in pigment epithelium in bullfrog eye. Zinc deficiency causes night blindness and abnormal dark adaptation. The purpose of this study was to identify ERG (electroretinogram) b-wave sensitivity during light and dark adaptation in bullfrog retina after zinc and zinc chelators treatment such as histidine and TSQ (N-(6-methoxy-8-qunolyl)-p-toluenesulfon amide). Especially, we focused whether histidine act as a zinc chelator in the Muller cell. The results of our study are summarized as follows: 1) Both zinc and histidine elevated ERG b-wave amplitude and threshold in Muller cells by accelerating rhodopsin regeneration time and increased a-peak absorbance during light adaptation. 2) TSQ reduced those by prolonging rhodopsin regeneration time and decrement of a-peak absorbance during light adaptation. 3) Zinc shortened rhodopsin regeneration time and prolonged a-peak absorbance. These results suggested that histidine may act as a zinc-mediated transporter in presynaptic Muller cell membrane rather than zinc chelator and acts as a GABA-receptor inhibitor which blocks $Cl^-$ influx to the postsynapse.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.129-135
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• 2013

Aggression can be defined as 'behavior intended to harm another' which can be seen both from humans and animals. However, trying to understand aggression in a simplistic view may make it difficult to develop an integrated approach. So, we tried to explain aggression in a multidisciplinary approach, affected by various factors such as neuroanatomical structures, neurotransmitter, genes, and sex hormone. Parallel with animal models, human aggression can be understood with two phenomena, offensive aggression and defensive aggression. Neurobiological model of aggression give a chance to explain aggression with an imbalance between prefrontal regulatory influences and hyper-reactivity of the subcortical areas involved in affective evaluation, finally in an aspect of brain organization. Serotonin and GABA usually inhibit aggression and norepinephrine while glutamate and dopamine precipitate aggressive behavior. As there is no one gene which has been identified as a cause of aggression, functions between gene to gene interaction and gene to environment interaction are being magnified. Contributions of sex hormone to aggression, especially molecular biologic interaction of testosterone and regulation of estrogen receptor have been emphasized during the research on aggression. This multidisciplinary approach on aggression with types, neurochemical bases, and animal models can bring integrated interpretation on aggression.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.135-141
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to characterize the putative anxiolytic-like effects of the 70% ethanol extract of Portulaca oleracea (EPO) using an elevated plus maze (EPM) in mice. The EPO was orally administered at 50, 100, 200 or 400 mg/kg to ICR mice, 1 h before the behavioral evaluation in the EPM, respectively. Control mice were treated with an equal volume of 10% tween 80, and positive control mice with diazepam (1 mg/kg). Single treatments of the EPO significantly increased the percentage of time spent and arm entries into the open arms of the EPM versus controls (P < 0.05). Moreover, there were no changes in the locomotor activity and myorelaxant effects in any group compared with the saline controls. In addition, the anxiolytic-like effects of the EPO were blocked by flumazenil (10 mg/kg, i.p), a $GABA_A$ antagonist not by WAY 100635 (0.3 mg/kg, i.p), a 5-$HT_{1A}$ receptor antagonist. These results indicate that P. oleracea is an effective anxiolytic agent, and suggest that the anxiolytic-like effects of P. oleracea is mediated via the GABAergic nervous system.