• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.393-400
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• 2009

NO released by myenteric neurons controls the off contraction induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) in distal esophageal smooth muscle, but in the presence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, L-NAME, contraction by EFS occurs at the same time. The authors investigated the intracellular signaling pathways related with G protein and ionic channel EFS-induced contraction using cat esophageal muscles. EFS-induced contractions were significantly suppressed by tetrodotoxin ($1\;{\mu}M$) and atropine ($1\;{\mu}M$). Furthermore, nimodipine inhibited both on and off contractions by EFS in a concentration dependent meaner. The characteristics of 'on' and 'off contraction and the effects of G-proteins, phospholipase, and $K^+$ channel on EFS-induced contraction in smooth muscle were also investigated. Pertussis toxin (PTX, a $G_i$ inactivator) attenuated both EFS-induced contractions. Cholera toxin (CTX, $G_s$ inactivator) also decreased the amplitudes of EFS-induced off and on contractions. However, phospholipase inhibitors did not affect these contractions. Pinacidil (a $K^+$ channel opener) decreased these contractions, and tetraethylammonium (TEA, ${K^+}_{Ca}$ channel blocker) increased them. These results suggest that EFS-induced on and off contractions can be mediated by the activations Gi or Gs proteins, and that L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel may be activated by G-protein ${\alpha}$ subunits. Furthermore, ${K^+}_{Ca^-}$ channel involve in the depolarization of esophageal smooth muscle. Further studies are required to characterize the physiological regulation of $Ca^{2+}$ channel and to investigate the effects of other $K^+$ channels on EFS-induced on and off contractions.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.65-76
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• 2007

Purpose: It is generally accepted that smooth muscle contraction is triggered by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) released from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores such as sarcoplasmic teticulum (SR) and from the extracellular space. The increased $[Ca^{2+}]^i$ can phosphorylate the 20,000 dalton myosin light chain $(MLC_{20})$ by activating MLC kinase (MLCK), and this initiates smooth muscle contraction. In addition to the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$MACK-tension pathway, a number of intracellular signal molecules, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase C (PKC) and others, play important roles in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction. However, the mechanisms regulating contraction of depletion of SR $Ca^{2+}$ in mouse gastric smooth muscle strips is not still clear. Methods: To investigate the rotes of $Ca^{2+}$ influx and SR $Ca^{2+}$ release channel on gastric motility, isometric contraction and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ were examined in mouse gastric smooth muscle strips. Results: High KCl, ryanodine, an activator of $Ca^{2+-}$induced $Ca^{2+}$ release channel, and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), an inhibitor of SR $Ca^{2+-}$ATPase evoked a sustained increase in muscle contraction and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. These increases induced by high KCl, ryanodine, and CPA were partially blocked by application of verapamil ($10{\mu}M$), a L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel inhibitor. Additionally, in $Ca^{2+-}$free solution (1 mM EGTA), ryanodine and CPA had no effect contraction and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in fundic muscle strips. Conclusion: These results that extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ influx and depletion of SR trigger $Ca^{2+}$ influx through verapamil-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ channel, and extracellular and SR $Ca^{2+}$ store may functionally involve in the subcellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization in mouse gastric muscle.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.119-127
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• 2016

Dihydropyridine (DHP) calcium channel blockers (CCBs) have been widely used to treat of several cardiovascular diseases. An excessive shortening of action potential duration (APD) due to the reduction of $Ca^{2+}$ channel current ($I_{Ca}$) might increase the risk of arrhythmia. In this study we investigated the electrophysiological effects of nicardipine (NIC), isradipine (ISR), and amlodipine (AML) on the cardiac APD in rabbit Purkinje fibers, voltage-gated $K^+$ channel currents ($I_{Kr}$, $I_{Ks}$) and voltage-gated $Na^+$ channel current ($I_{Na}$). The concentration-dependent inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ channel currents ($I_{Ca}$) was examined in rat cardiomyocytes; these CCBs have similar potency on $I_{Ca}$ channel blocking with $IC_{50}$ (the half-maximum inhibiting concentration) values of 0.142, 0.229, and 0.227 nM on NIC, ISR, and AML, respectively. However, ISR shortened both $APD_{50}$ and $APD_{90}$ already at $1{\mu}M$ whereas NIC and AML shortened $APD_{50}$ but not $APD_{90}$ up to $30{\mu}M$. According to ion channel studies, NIC and AML concentration-dependently inhibited $I_{Kr}$ and $I_{Ks}$ while ISR had only partial inhibitory effects (<50% at $30{\mu}M$). Inhibition of $I_{Na}$ was similarly observed in the three CCBs. Since the $I_{Kr}$ and $I_{Ks}$ mainly contribute to cardiac repolarization, their inhibition by NIC and AML could compensate for the AP shortening effects due to the block of $I_{Ca}$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.6
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• pp.783-796
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• 1997

The relaxation induced by stimulation of the inhibitory non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (iNANC) nerve is mediated by the release of iNANC neurotransmitters such as nitric oxide (NO), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The mechanisms of NO, VIP or ATP-induced relaxation have been partly determined in previous studies, but the detailed mechanism remains unknown. We tried to identify the nature of iNANC neurotransmitters in the smooth muscle of guinea pig ileum and to determine the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of nitric oxide. We measured the effect of NO-donors VIP and ATP on the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration$([Ca^{2+}]_i)$, by means of a fluorescence dye(fura 2) and tension simultaneously in the isolated guinea pig ileal smooth muscle. Following are the results obtained. 1. Sodium nitroprusside $(SNP:10^{-5}\;M)$ or S -nitro-N-acetyl-penicillamine $(SNP:10^{-5}\;M)$ decreased resting $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ I and tension of muscle. SNP or SNAP also inhibited rhythmic oscillation of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and tension. In 40mM $K^+$ solution or carbachol ($(CCh:10^{-6}\;M)$-induced precontracted muscle, SNP decreased muscle tension. VIP did not change $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and tension in the resting or precontracted muscle, but ATP increased resting $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and tension in the resting muscle. 2. 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazol(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1-one $(ODQ:1\;{\mu}M)$, a specific inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, limited the inhibitory effect of SNP 3. Glibenclamide $(10\;{\mu}M)$, a blocker of $K_{ATP}$ channel, and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP:5 mM), a blocker of delayed rectifier K channel, apamin $(0.1\;{\mu}M)$, a blocker of small conductance $K_{Ca}$ channel had no effect on the inhibitory effect of SNP. Iberiotoxin $(0.1\;{\mu}M)$, a blocker of large conductance $K_{Ca}$ channel, significantly increased the resting $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, and tension, and limited the inhibitory effect of SNP. 4. Nifedipine $(1\;{\mu}M)$ or elimination of external $Ca^{2+}$ decreased not only resting $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and tension but also oscillation of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and tension. Ryanodine $(5\;{\mu}M)$ and cyclopiazonic acid $(10\;{\mu}M)$ decreased oscillation of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and tension. 5. SNP decreased $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity of contractile protein. In conclusion, these results suggest that 1) NO is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the guinea pig ileum, 2) the inhibitory effect of SNP on the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and tension of the muscle is due to a decrease in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ by activation of the large conductance $K_{Ca}$ channel and a decrease in the sensitivity of contractile elements to $Ca^{2+}$ through activation of G-kinase.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea CI
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.87-93
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• 2009

Wireless mesh networks (WMNs) are emerging technologies that provide ubiquitous environments and wireless broadband access. The aggregate capacity of WMNs can be improved by minimizing the effect of channel interference. The IEEE 802.11b/g standard which is mainly used for the network interface technology in WMNs provides 3 multiple channels. We must consider the channel scanning delay and the channel dependency problem to effectively assign channels in like these multi-channel WMNs. This paper proposes a cluster-based channel assignment (CB-CA) algorithm for multi-channel WMNs to solve such problems. The CB-CA does not perform the channel scanning and the channel switching through assigning co-channel to the inter-cluster head (CH) links. In the CB-CA, the communication between the CH and cluster member (CM) nodes uses a channel has no effect on channels being used by the inter-CH links. Therefore, the CB-CA can minimize the interference within multi-channel environments. Our simulation results show that CB-CA can improve the performance of WMNs.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.349-356
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• 2002

The present study was performed to examine the effect of fangchinoline, a bis- benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, which exhibits the characteristics of a $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, on cyanide-induced neurotoxicity using cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons. NaCN produced a concentration-dependent reduction of cell viability, which was blocked by MK-801, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, verapamil, L-type$Ca^{2+}$channel blocker, and L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. Pretreatment with fangchinoline over a concentration range of 0.1 to 10 $\mu$M significantly decreased the NaCN-induced neuronal cell death, glutamate release into medium, and elevation of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and oxidants generation. These results suggest that fangchinoline may mitigate the harmful effects of cyanide-induced neuronal cell death by interfering with $[Ca^{2+}]_i$influx, due to its function as a $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, and then by inhibiting glutamate release and oxidants generation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.13-27
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• 1995

single $K^{+}$ channels of skeletal muscle from the rat and frog were into planar lipid bilayers and their properties were studied. Fusion was induced by an osmotic gradient. Of the four types of $K^{+}$ channels recorded, the two most frequently observed were a voltage and $Ca^{2+}-activated$ $K^{+}$ channel and a $K^{+}$ channel with a prominent conductance substate. The first $K^{+}$ channel was identified as the large $Ca^{2+}-activated$ $K^{+}$ (BK) channel because the open-state probability was increased with depolarization (e-fold change per $10.6{\pm}3.5$ mV, n=8) and internal $Ca^{2+}$ (half-activation at $16.7{\pm}3.8$ mV, n=8, pCa 4) and its conductance was large ($247{\pm}4.9$ pS, n=24 in 0.1 M KCI). Lifetime distributions of open- and closed-states could be fitted with single exponentials of several milliseconds. The mean open- and closed-lifetimes were linearly dependent on the intracellular $[Ca^{2+}]$ and $1/[Ca^{2+}]$, respectively. The second $K^{+}$ channel showed a conductance substate at $30{\sim}60%$ of the open state. Its current-voltage relation was linear in the range of $-80\;{\sim}\;+80\;mV$. The slope conductance of the substate and open-state were 40 and 144 pS in 0.2 M KCl, respectively. The channel was highly selective for $K^{+}$ over Cl. The open-state probability was weakly voltage-dependent (e-fold change per 35 mV. The lifetime distributions of open- and closed-states were fitted with two exponentials and the major gating occurred slowly at several hundred milliseconds. Based on the above results, we think the second type of $K^{+}$ channel is the sarcoplasmic reticulum $K^{+}$ (SRK) channel. In addition, both types of channel were also incorporated into the lipids extracted from the skeletal muscle. The channel properties recorded in the bilayers termed from synthetic and extracted lipids were qualitatively similar. Our data indicate that BK and SRK channels are rich in the skeletal muscle and their properties and regulation could be effectively studied in planar lipid bilayer.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.461-465
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• 2010

We investigated the role of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel in receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast formation. BayK 8644, a L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel agonist, was shown to increase the RANKLinduced osteoclastogenesis and actin ring formation in mouse bone marrow-dereived macrophage (BMM) culture system. BayK 8644 stimulated RANKL-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 MAP kinase (MAPK) activation, which leads to increased nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)c1 expression. Taken together, these data indicate that L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel regulates osteoclast formation possibly through ERK- and p38-mediated NFATc1 expression.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.456-465
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• 2004

$K^+$ efflux through a certain type of $K^+$ channels causes the change of membrane potential and leads to cAMP synthesis in the transmembrane cell signaling for the initiation of sperm motility in the salmonid fishes. The addition of $Ca^{2+}$ conferred motility to the trout sperm that were immobilized by external $K^+$ and other alkaline metals, $Rb^+$ and $Cs^{2+}$, suggesting the participation of external $Ca^{2+}$ in the initiation of sperm motility. L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blockers such as nifedipine, nimodipine, and FS-2 inhibited the motility, but N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, w-conotoxin MvIIA, did not. On the other hand, the membrane hyperpolarization and cAMP synthesis were suppressed by $Ca^{2+}$ channel blockers, nifedipine, and trifluoroperazine. Furthermore, these suppressions were relieved by the addition of $K^+$ ionophore, valinomycin. Inhibitors of calmodulin, such as W-7, trifluoperazine, and calrnidazol-C1, inhibited the sperm motility, membrane hyperpolarization, and cAMP synthesis. The results suggest that $Ca^{2+}$ influx through $Ca^{2+}$ channels that are sensitive to specific $Ca^{2+}$ channel blockers and calmodulin participate in the changes of membrane potential, leading to synthesis of cAMP in the cell signaling for the initiation of trout sperm motility.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.656-663
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• 2014

Gintonin, a novel, ginseng-derived G protein-coupled lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand, elicits $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ transients in neuronal and non-neuronal cells via pertussis toxin-sensitive and pertussis toxin-insensitive G proteins. The slowly activating delayed rectifier $K^+$ ($I_{Ks}$) channel is a cardiac $K^+$ channel composed of KCNQ1 and KCNE1 subunits. The C terminus of the KCNQ1 channel protein has two calmodulin-binding sites that are involved in regulating $I_{Ks}$ channels. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of gintonin-mediated activation of human $I_{Ks}$ channel activity by expressing human $I_{Ks}$ channels in Xenopus oocytes. We found that gintonin enhances $I_{Ks}$ channel currents in concentration- and voltage-dependent manners. The $EC_{50}$ for the $I_{Ks}$ channel was $0.05{\pm}0.01{\mu}g/ml$. Gintonin-mediated activation 1 of the $I_{Ks}$ channels was blocked by an LPA1/3 receptor antagonist, an active phospholipase C inhibitor, an $IP_3$ receptor antagonist, and the calcium chelator BAPTA. Gintonin-mediated activation of both the $I_{Ks}$ channel was also blocked by the calmodulin (CaM) blocker calmidazolium. Mutations in the KCNQ1 $[Ca^{2+}]_i$/CaM-binding IQ motif sites (S373P, W392R, or R539W)blocked the action of gintonin on $I_{Ks}$ channel. However, gintonin had no effect on hERG $K^+$ channel activity. These results show that gintonin-mediated enhancement of $I_{Ks}$ channel currents is achieved through binding of the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$/CaM complex to the C terminus of KCNQ1 subunit.