• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.496-505
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• 1992

The correlation between GABA receptors($GABA_A$ and $GABA_B$ receptor) and benzodiazepine receptor on the saline infusion-induced micturition reflex contraction was studied in the female rat. To investigate the effect of ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid(GABA) on the micturition reflex, exogenous GABA(10 mg/kg) and GABA transaminase inhibitor(aminooxyacetic acid; AOAA $1\;{\mu}g$) were administered intravenously(i.v.) and intracerebroventriculary(i.c.v.), respectively. In result, both GABA and AOAA inhibited the saline induced micturition reflex contraction. This AOAA induced inhibition of micturition reflex was blocked by both bicuculine. $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist, and Ro 15-1788, benzodiazepine receptor antagonist. Muscimol, $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist($0.1\;{\mu}g$ i.c.v., $3\;{\mu}g$ intrathecal; i.t., 1 mg/kg i.v.) and baclofen, $GABA_A$ receptor agonist($1\;{\mu}g$ i.c.v., $3\;{\mu}g$ i.t., 1 mg/kg i.v.) also inhibited the bladder contraction. Pretreatment of bicuculline($1\;{\mu}g$ i.c.v.), but not of 5-aminovaleric acid(AVA, $1\;{\mu}g$ i.c.v.), $GABA_B$ receptor antagonist blocked the central inhibition of muscimol. These inhibitory effects were reversed by Ro15-1788 but were potentiated by flurazepam, benzodiazepine receptor antagonist. On the other hand, the inhibitory effects of baclofen were not affected by Ro 15-1788. Diazepam and flurazepam also inhibited the micturition reflex contraction when they were administered $3\;{\mu}g$ i.c.v., $10\;{\mu}g$ i.t., $10\;{\mu}M$, $30\;{\mu}M$ transurethrally, respectively. In conclusion, these results suggest that the micturition reflex is mediated by $GABA_A$, $GABA_B$ receptor and benzodiazepine receptor. The bezodiazepines increase the receptor binding of GABA to the $GABA_A$ receptor, so that the benzodiiazepines show the synergistic effect on the inhibition of the micturition reflex contraction, but not to the $GABA_B$ receptor.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.217-221
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• 2008

Bicuculline is one of the most commonly used $GABA_A$ receptor antagonists in electrophysiological research. Because of its poor water solubility, bicuculline quaternary ammonium salts such as bicuculline methiodide (BMI) and bicuculline methbromide are preferred. However, a number of studies have shown that BMI has non-$GABA_A$ receptor-mediated effects. The substantia gelatinosa (SG) of the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) is implicated in the processing of nociceptive signaling. In this study, we investigated whether BMI has non-GABA receptor-mediated activity in Vc SG neurons using a whole cell patch clamp technique. SG neurons were depolarized by application of BMI ($20{\mu}M$) using a high $Cl^-$ pipette solution. GABA ($30-100{\mu}M$) also induced membrane depolarization of SG neuron. Although BMI is known to be a $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist, GABA-induced membrane depolarization was enhanced by co-application with BMI. However, free base bicuculline (fBIC) and picrotoxin (PTX), a $GABA_A$ and $GABA_C$ receptor antagonist, blocked the GABA-induced response. Furthermore, BMI-induced membrane depolarization persisted in the presence of PTX or an antagonist cocktail consisting of tetrodotoxin ($Na^+$ channel blocker), AP-5 (NMDA receptor antagonist), CNQX (non-NMDA receptor antagonist), and strychnine (glycine receptor antagonist). Thus BMI induces membrane depolarization by directly acting on postsynaptic Vc SG neurons in a manner which is independent of $GABA_A$ receptors. These results suggest that other unknown mechanisms may be involved in BMI-induced membrane depolarization.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.138-142
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• 2005

Adenosine and GABA are known to be major inhitory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system and its receptors mediate various neurophamacological effects including cardiovascular modulatory effects. Inhibitory cardiovascular effects induced by intrathecal (i.t.) administration of adenosine $A_1$ receptor agonist and its modulation by cyclic AMP was suggested by our previous report. In this experiment, we examined the modulation of cardiovascular effects of adenosine $A_1$ receptor and adenosine $A_2$ receptor by $GABA_B$ receptors antagonist in the spinal cord. I.t. administration of 10 nmol of $N^6$-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA, an adenosine $A_1$ receptor agonist), I.t. administration of 2 nmol of 5'-(N-cyclopropyl)-carboxamidoadenosine (CPCA, an adenosine $A_2$ receptor agonist), pretreatment with 5-aminovaleric acid (a $GABA_B$ receptor antagonist, 50 nmol, i.t.) prior to administration of CHA and pretreatment with 5-aminovaleric acid (a $GABA_B$ receptor antagonist, 50 nmol, i.t.) prior to administration of CPCA were performed in anesthetized, artificially ventilated Sprague-Dawley rats. I.t. administration of 50 nmol of 5-aminovaleric acid significantly attenuated the inhibitory cardiovascular effects of CHA but did not attenuated the inhibitory cardiovascular effects of CPCA. It is suggested that cardiovascular responses of adenosine $A_1$ receptor is modulated by $GABA_B$ receptor and adenosine $A_2$ receptor is not modulated by $GABA_B$ receptor in the spinal cord.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.106-110
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• 2007

Background: A phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, sildenafil, has been effective against nociception. Several lines of evidence have demonstrated the role of the GABAergic pathway in the modulation of nociception. The impact of the GABA receptors on sildenafil was studied using the formalin test at the spinal level. Methods: Male SD rats were prepared for intrathecal catheterization. The formalin test was induced by subcutaneous injection of formalin solution. The change in the activity of sildenafil was examined after pre-treatment with GABA receptor antagonists ($GABA_A$ receptor antagonist, bicuculline; $GABA_B$ receptor antagonist, saclofen). Results: Intrathecal sildenafil dose-dependently attenuated the flinching observed during phase 1 and 2 in the formalin test. The antinociceptive effect of sildenafil was reversed by the $GABA_B$ receptor antagonist (saclofen) but not by the $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist (bicuculline) in both phases. Conclusions: Intrathecal sildenafil suppressed acute pain and the facilitated pain state. The antinociception of sildenafil is mediated via the $GABA_B$ receptor, but not the $GABA_A$ receptor, at the spinal level.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.117-125
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• 2015

The present study investigated the role of central $GABA_A$ and $GABA_B$ receptors in orofacial pain in rats. Experiments were conducted on Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 230 and 280 g. Intracisternal catheterization was performed for intracisternal injection, under ketamine anesthesia. Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)-induced thermal hyperalgesia and inferior alveolar nerve injury-induced mechanical allodynia were employed as orofacial pain models. Intracisternal administration of bicuculline, a $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist, produced mechanical allodynia in naive rats, but not thermal hyperalgesia. However, CGP35348, a $GABA_B$ receptor antagonist, did not show any pain behavior in naive rats. Intracisternal administration of muscimol, a $GABA_A$ receptor agonist, attenuated the thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia in rats with CFA treatment and inferior alveolar nerve injury, respectively. On the contrary, intracisternal administration of bicuculline also attenuated the mechanical allodynia in rats with inferior alveolar nerve injury. Intracisternal administration of baclofen, a $GABA_B$ receptor agonist, attenuated the thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia in rats with CFA treatment and inferior alveolar nerve injury, respectively. In contrast to $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist, intracisternal administration of CGP35348 did not affect either the thermal hyperalgesia or mechanical allodynia. Our current findings suggest that the $GABA_A$ receptor, but not the $GABA_B$ receptor, participates in pain processing under normal conditions. Intracisternal administration of $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist, but not $GABA_B$ receptor antagonist, produces paradoxical antinociception under pain conditions. These results suggest that central GABA has differential roles in the processing of orofacial pain, and the blockade of $GABA_A$ receptor provides new therapeutic targets for the treatment of chronic pain.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.285-289
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• 2011

Shilajit, a medicine herb commonly used in Ayurveda, has been reported to contain at least 85 minerals in ionic form that act on a variety of chemical, biological, and physical stressors. The substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons of the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) are involved in orofacial nociceptive processing. Shilajit has been reported to be an injury and muscular pain reliever but there have been few functional studies of the effect of Shilajit on the SG neurons of the Vc. Therefore, whole cell and gramicidin-perfotrated patch clamp studies were performed to examine the action mechanism of Shilajit on the SG neurons of Vc from mouse brainstem slices. In the whole cell patch clamp mode, Shilajit induced short-lived and repeatable inward currents under the condition of a high chloride pipette solution on all the SG neurons tested. The Shilajit-induced inward currents were concentration dependent and maintained in the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX), a voltage gated $Na^+$ channel blocker, CNQX, a non-NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist, and AP5, an NMDA receptor antagonist. The Shilajit-induced responses were partially suppressed by picrotoxin, a $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist, and totally blocked in the presence of strychnine, a glycine receptor antagonist, however not affected by mecamylamine hydrochloride (MCH), a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist. Under the potassium gluconate pipette solution at holding potential 0 mV, Shilajit induced repeatable outward current. These results show that Shilajit has inhibitory effects on the SG neurons of Vc through chloride ion channels by activation of the glycine receptor and $GABA_A$ receptor, indicating that Shilajit contains sedating ingredients for the central nervous system. These results also suggest that Shilajit may be a potential target for modulating orofacial pain processing.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.433-440
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• 2020

The substantia gelatinosa (SG) of the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) is the first relay site for the orofacial nociceptive inputs via the thin myelinated Aδ and unmyelinated C primary afferent fibers. Borneol, one of the valuable time-honored herbal ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine, is a popular treatment for anxiety, anesthesia, and antinociception. However, to date, little is known as to how borneol acts on the SG neurons of the Vc. To close this gap, the whole-cell patch-clamp technique was applied to elucidate the antinociceptive mechanism responding for the actions of borneol on the SG neurons of the Vc in mice. In the voltage-clamp mode, holding at -60 mV, the borneol-induced non-desensitizing inward currents were not affected by tetrodotoxin, a voltage-gated Na⁺ channel blocker, 6-cyano-7-nitro-quinoxaline-2,3-dione, a non-N-methyl-ᴅ-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor antagonist and DL-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid, an NMDA receptor antagonist. However, borneol-induced inward currents were partially decreased in the presence of picrotoxin, a γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)_A receptor antagonist, or strychnine, a glycine receptor antagonist, and was almost suppressed in the presence of picrotoxin and strychnine. Though borneol did not show any effect on the glycine-induced inward currents, borneol enhanced GABA-mediated responses. Beside, borneol enhanced the GABA-induced hyperpolarization under the current-clamp mode. Altogether, we suggest that borneol contributes in part toward mediating the inhibitory GABA and glycine transmission on the SG neurons of the Vc and may serve as an herbal therapeutic for orofacial pain ailments.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.238-242
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• 2005

Many reports demonstrate that extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF MFs, 60 Hz) may be involved in hyperalgesia. In a previous investigation, we suggested that MFs may produce hyperalgesia and such a response may be regulated by the benzodiazepine system. In order to further confirm this effect of MFs, we used diazepam and/or flumazenil with MFs exposure. When testing the pain threshold of rats using hot plate tests, MFs or diazepam ($0.5\;{\mu}g$, i.c.v.; a benzodiazepine receptor agonist) induced hyperalgesic effects with the reduction of latency. These effects were blocked by a pretreatment of flumazenil (1.5 mg/kg, i.p.; a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist). When the rats were exposed simultaneously to MFs and diazepam, the latency tended to decrease without statistical significance. The induction of hyperalgesia by co-exposure to MFs and diazepam was also blocked by flumazenil. However, the pretreatment of GABA receptor antagonists such as bicuculline ($0.1\;{\mu}g$, i.c.v.; a $GABA_A$ antagonist) or phaclofen ($10\;{\mu}g$, i.c.v.; a $GABA_B$ antagonist) did not antagonize the hyperalgesic effect of MFs. These results suggest that the benzodiazepine system may be involved in MFs-induced hyperalgesia.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.314-322
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• 1994

This study aimed to investigate the existence of GABA receptor and the mechanisms of action of GABA and diazepam on the trachealis muscle isolated from dog. Horizontal muscle strips of $2mm{\times}15mm$ were prepared from canine trachea, and isometric myography in isolated muscle chamber bubbled with 95/5%-$O_2/CO_2$at $36^{\circ}C$, at the pH of 7.4 was performed. Muscle strips contracted responding to the electrical field stimulation (ESP) by 2~20 Hz, 20 msec, monophasic square wave of 60 VDC GABA and diazepam suppressed the EFS-induced contractions to the similar extent, significantly. (p<0.05) Bicuculline, a $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist blocked both GABA- and diazepam- inhibitions; but DAVA, a $GABA_B$ receptor antagonist did not affect either of them. These results suggest that in the canine trachealis muscle, there may be only $GABA_A$ receptor, and GABA and diazepam inhibit the contractility via $GABA_A$A receptor.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.347-352
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• 2005

The effects of nitric oxide (NO) on inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors and some types of inhibitory receptors in dissociated rod bipolar cell (RBC) were investigated. In the whole cell voltage-clamping mode, the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activated current showed both sustained and transient components. GABA activated transient current was fully blocked by bicuculine, a $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist. The cis-4-aminocrotonic acid (CACA), a $GABA_C$ receptor agonist, evoked the sustained current that was not blocked by bicuculline (BIC). Glycine activated the transient current. These results indicate that the RBCs possess $GABA_A$, $GABA_C$, and glycine inhibitory receptors. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO analogue, reduced the currents activated by $GABA_A$ receptor only, however, did not reduce the currents activated by either $GABA_C$ or glycine receptors. This study signifies further that only NO depresses the fast inhibitory response activated by $GABA_A$ receptor in RBC. We, therefore, postulate that NO might depress the light-on/off transient inhibitory responses in RBCs in the rat retina.