• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 1992

The present study was undertaken to examine if endogenous nitric oxide is partly responsible for the high calcium induced vasorelaxation in vitro. Isolated porcine coronary arterial rings were suspended in the tissue chamber and their changes in isometric tension were recorded. KCI little affected the vascular tension in the calcium free media, but subsequent addition of cumulative doses of $CaCl_3$ from 1 to 40 mM caused a contraction followed by complete relaxation. The maximum tension was noted at the calcium concentration in the media of 5 mM, and then the tension progressively declined at 10-40 mM. The relaxation was slightly attenuated in the endothelium-denuded preparation. The relaxation was converted into a contraction by the addition of methylene blue. The relaxation response was not affected in the presence of indomethacin, but was significantly attenuated by $N^w-nitro-L-arginine$ methyl ester pretreatment. These results suggest that the calcium induced vasorelaxation is in part attributable to the release of endogenous nitric oxide.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.615-624
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• 2003

Vascular smooth muscle relaxation is modulated by an increase in cGMP subsequent to nitric oxide (NO) production by endothelial cells. The effects of cAMP and cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors were investigated in phenylephrine-precontracted rat aorta rings by using the specific inhibitors of PDE I, III, IV and V as relaxing agents (calmodulin-activated PDE inhibitors, IBMX and $W_7$, type I; cAMP-specific PDE inhibitors, milrinone, type IV; Ro 20-1724, type III and cGMP-specific PDE inhibitor, zaprinast, type V). All the PDE inhibitors produced a concentration-dependent relaxation in the ring with intact endothelium (+E). Except for milrinone, all the PDE inhibitors-induced relaxations were inhibited by removal of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$, $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine, $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, methylene blue (MS) or nifedipine. The specific PDE I and PDE IV inhibitors both produced endothelium-independent relaxations which were inhibited by MS in -E rings. However, zaprinast had no effect in -E rings. Except for milrinone, sodium nitroprusside (a NO donor)-induced relaxation was significantly augmented by all PDE inhibitors in +E rings. The results suggest that I) the vasorelaxant properties of IBMX, $W_7$, Ro 20-1724 and zaprinast are dependent on endothelium or on interaction with $Ca^{2+}$ regulation, 2) each PDE is differently distributed in vascular tissues (endothelial and smooth muscle cells), 3) the vasodilations of PDE inhibitors are due to the increase of cAMP and cGMP formation through inhibition of cAMP- and cGMP-PDE and 4) the vasodilation action of milrinone does not involve in endothelial-cyclic nucleotide system.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.6
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• pp.809-816
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• 1997

The present study was designed to investigate whether endogenous nitric oxide(EDNO) is involved in submandibular vasodilation and salivation induced by parasympathetic nerve stimulation. Effects of $N^w$-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) which blocks the synthesis of EDNO from L-arginine on the submandibular vasodilation and salivation induced by chords stimulation or administration of various vasodilators were examined in anesthetized cats. Effect of L-NAME on $K^+$ efflux induced by carbachol was also examined using the excised submandibular slice in vitro. In the submandibular slices, acetylcholine$(10^{-5}\;mol/L)$ or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide$(VIP,\;10^{-5}\;mol/L)$ increased $NO_2$ contents, which was Prevented by pretreatment with L-NAME. Salivary secretion in response to the chords stimulation$(3\;V,\;1\;msec,\;10{\sim}20\;Hz)$ was completely blocked by treatment with atropine(1 mg/kg). Increased blood flow response to the low frequency(1, 2, 5 Hz) stimulation was significantly reduced, whereas the blood flow induced by the higher frequency(10,20 Hz) stimulation was not affected. Lingual-arterial infusion of L-NAME(100 mg/kg) significantly diminished the vasodilatory and salivary responses to the chorda stimulation at all stimuli frequencies used. Intra-arterial infusion of L-NAME(100 mg/kg markedly diminished the vasodilatory responses to acetylcholine$(5\;{\mu}g/kg)$, VIP$(5\;{\mu}g/kg)$ or bradykinin$(5\;{\mu}g/kg)$. In the excised submandibular slice, $K^+$ efflux in response to carbachol$(10^{-5}\;mol/L)$ was significantly decrease by pretreatment with L-NAME$(10^{-5}\;mol/L)$. In the isolated submandibular artery precontracted with phenylephrine$(10^{-5}\;mol/L)$, the vasorelaxation induced by ACh$(10^{-7}\;mol/L)$ was reversed into a contraction by methylene blue$(10^{-4}\;mol/L)$. These results suggest that EDNO may play an important role in vasodilation and secretion of the submandibular gland.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.145-151
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• 2006

We investigated the effects of Ginsenoside $R_e$ on human sperm motility in fertile and asthenozoospermic infertile individuals in vitro and the mechanism by which the Ginsenosides play their roles. The semen samples were obtained from 10 fertile volunteers and 10 asthenozoospermic infertile patients. Spermatozoa were separated by Percoll and incubated with 0, 1, 10 or $100\;{\mu}M$ of Ginsenoside $R_e$. Total sperm motility and progressive motility were measured by computer-aided sperm analyzer (CASA). Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was determined by the $^{3}H$-arginine to $^{3}H$-citrulline conversion assay, and the NOS protein was examined by the Western blot analysis. The production of sperm nitric oxide (NO) was detected using the Griess reaction. The results showed that Ginsenoside $R_e$ significantly enhanced both fertile and infertile sperm motility, NOS activity and NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 100 nM), a NO donor, mimicked the effects of Ginsenoside $R_e$. And pretreatment with a NOS inhibitor $N^{w}$-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, $100\;{\mu}M$) or a NO scavenger N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (LNAC, 1 mM) completely blocked the effects of Ginsenoside $R_e$. Data suggested that Ginsenoside $R_e$ is beneficial to sperm motility, and that induction of NOS to increase NO production may be involved in this benefit.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.385-395
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• 2017

Vasoconstrictive properties of sympathomimetic drugs are the basis of their widespread use as decongestants and possible source of adverse responses. Insufficiently substantiated practice of combining decongestants in some marketed preparations, such are those containing phenylephrine and lerimazoline, may affect the overall contractile activity, and thus their therapeutic utility. This study aimed to examine the interaction between lerimazoline and phenylephrine in isolated rat aortic rings, and also to assess the substrate of the obtained lerimazoline-induced attenuation of phenylephrine contraction. Namely, while lower concentrations of lerimazoline ($10^{-6}M$ and especially $10^{-7}M$) expectedly tended to potentiate the phenylephrine-induced contractions, lerimazoline in higher concentrations ($10^{-4}M$ and above) unexpectedly and profoundly depleted the phenylephrine concentration-response curve. Suppression of NO with NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor $N^w$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; $10^{-4}M$) or NO scavanger $OHB_{12}$ ($10^{-3}M$), as well as non-specific inhibition of $K^+$-channels with tetraethylammonium (TEA; $10^{-3}M$), have reversed lerimazoline-induced relaxation of phenylephrine contractions, while cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin ($10^{-5}M$) did not affect the interaction between two vasoconstrictors. At the receptor level, non-selective 5-HT receptor antagonist methiothepin reversed the attenuating effect of lerimazoline on phenylephrine contraction when applied at $3{\times}10^{-7}$ and $10^{-6}M$, but not at the highest concentration ($10^{-4}M$). Neither the 5-$HT_{1D}$-receptor selective antagonist BRL 15572 ($10^{-6}M$) nor 5-$HT_7$ receptor selective antagonist SB 269970 ($10^{-6}M$) affected the lerimazoline-induced attenuation of phenylephrine activity. The mechanism of lerimazoline-induced suppression of phenylephrine contractions may involve potentiation of activity of NO and $K^+$-channels and activation of some methiothepin-sensitive receptors, possibly of the 5-$HT_{2B}$ subtype.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.323-326
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• 2006

Suaeda (S.) asparagoides $M_{IQ}$, one of the halophyte groups, has been used as a folk remedy for digestive disturbances in Korea. However, its pharmacological activity on gastrointestinal motility has not been reported yet. In this study, the effects of this halophyte extracts with various solvent fractions (ethanol, hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water) on mice ileal spontaneous motility was examined. All solvent fractions at the concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$ showed inhibitory actions on spontaneous motility of ileum with the potency order of water > 70% ethanol > hexane ${\gg}$ chloroform ${\geq}$ butanol ${\geq}$ ethyl acetate, respectively. In addition, the water fraction of extracts from S. asparagoides $M_{IQ}$ (WFSA) dose-dependently ($1-100{\mu}g/ml$) inhibited the amplitude of spontaneous phasic contraction and area under the contractile curve (AUC). The inhibitory effect of water fraction at the concentration of $10{\mu}g/ml$ was not affected by tetrodotoxin (TTX), $Na^+$ channel blocker ($1{\mu}M$), and $N^w$-nitro-L-arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME), nitric oxide synthase inhibitor ($100{\mu}M$). However, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA, $10{\mu}M$), inhibitor of sarcoplasmic reticulum $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase, almost blocked the inhibitory effects of WFSA ($10{\mu}g/ml$) on the spontaneous phasic contraction of mouse ileum. But, CPA did not inhibit the lowering basal tone effects of WFSA. The result of this study showed that various extracts of S. asparagoides $M_{IQ}$ induce inhibitory effects on spontaneous contraction of mice ileal segments. More over, the polar solvent fractions were shown to be more potent than non-polar solvent fractions. The effects of S. asparagoides $M_{IQ}$ extracts are not mediated by nerve or nitric oxide. The inhibitory effects of WFSA at least partially mediated by sarcoplasmic reticulum $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase. However, further study is required to determine the exact pharmacological mechanisms of this halophyte on its gastrointestinal motility inhibitory effects.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.172-183
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• 1999

Background: Nitric oxide is a short-lived effector molecule derived from L-arginine by the nitric oxide synthase(NOS). Nitric oxide plays a role in a number of physiologic and pathophysiologic functions including host defense, edema formation, and regulation of smooth muscle tone. Some kinds of cells including macrophage are known to produce large quantities of nitric oxide in response to inflammatory stimuli such as interleukin-$1\beta$(IL-$1\beta$), tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$(TNF-$\alpha$), interferon-$\gamma$(IFN-$\gamma$) and lipopolysaccharide(LPS). Reactive oxygen species are also known to be important in the pathogenesis of acute cell and tissue injury such as acute lung injury model Methods: Using the RA W264.7 cells, we have examined the ability of oxidant hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$) to stimulate nitric oxide production and inducible NOS mRNA expression. Also, we have examined the effects of NOS inhibitors and antioxidants on $H_2O_2$ induced nitric oxide production. Results: Stimulation of RAW264.7 cells with combinations of 100 ng/ml IL-$1\beta$, 100 ng/ml TNF-$\alpha$, and 100 U/ml IFN-$\gamma$ or 100 U/ml IFN-$\gamma$ and $1{\mu}g/ml$ LPS induced the synthesis of nitric oxide as measured by the oxidation products nitrite($NO_2^-$) and nitrate($NO_3^-$). Addition of $250 {\mu}M-2$ mM $H_2O_2$ to the cytokines significantly augmented the synthesis of $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$(p<0.05). When cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of $H_2O_2$ in the presence of IL-$1\beta$, TNF-$\alpha$ and IFN-$\gamma$ at constant level, the synthesis of $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$ was dose-dependently increased(p<0.05). $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME), dose dependently, significantly inhibited the formation of $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$ in cells stimulated with LPS, IFN-$\gamma$ and $H_2O_2$ at constant level(p<0.05). Catalase significantly inhibited the $H_2O_2$-induced augmentation of cytokine-induced $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$ formation(p<0.05). But, boiled catalase did not produce a significant inhibition in comparison with the native enzyme. Another antioxidant 2-mercaptoethanol and orthophenanthroline dose-dependently suppressed $NO_2^-$ and $NO_3^-$ synthesis(p<0.05). Northern blotting demonstrated that H:02 synergistically stimulated the cytokine-induced iNOS mRNA expression in RA W264.7. Conclusion: These results suggest that $H_2O_2$ contributes to inflammatory process by augmenting the iNOS expression and nitric oxide synthesis induced by cytokines.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.117-129
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• 2008

Background & Objective : Naeso-san(NSS) has been used for the treatment of functional dyspepsia, regarded as a gastric dysmotility disease. A main cause of gastric dysmotility is antral dilatation or antroduodenal uncoordination. Therefore, we investigated the effect of NSS on gastric motility and its mechanism of action, as well as the morphologic changes in antral dilatated rats. Methods : Antral dilatated rats were induced by wrapping a nonabsorbable rubber ring(D:6mm, W:4mm, T:1mm) around the 1st portion of the duodenum for 8 weeks. Then morphologic changes were investigated and compared with normal intact rats before and after 8 weeks. Gastric emptying was measured by administration of normal saline(NS) or NSS in normal intact and antral dilatated rats. In another series of experiments to evaluate the mechanism of NSS under delayed conditions, normal intact rats were treated with atropine sulfate(1mg/kg, s.c.), quinpirole HCl(0.3mg/kg, i.p.), $NAME(N^{G}-nitro-L-arginine$ methyl ester, 75mg/kg, s.c.) and cisplatin(10mg/kg, i.p.), respectively. The myoelectrical activity of the gastric smooth muscle was recorded in normal intact and antral dilatated rats. The contractile waves were measured for 30 minutes before and after administration of each solution(NS, NSS). Results : Body weight gain of antral dilatated rats was significantly lower than that of the controls. Futhermore, we found the thickness of the mucosal and muscular layers and surface area of the stomach increased significantly compared with controls. NSS 278㎎/㎏ improved gastric emptying more than normal saline or NSS 93mg/kg in normal intact(p=0.026) and antral dilatated rats(p=0.03). NSS enhanced gastric emptying significantly in the NAME treated group(p=0.002). NSS 278mg/kg increased the significant postprandial dominant power than that of NS in normal intact rats, whereas there was no statistical significance in antral dilatated rats. Conclusions : NSS stimulates gastric motility through the cholinergic pathway. We expect that pathologic model with antral dilatation can be used as an exprimental tool which is similar to dyspepsia and NSS would be effective especially in dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia with antral dilatation or impaired reservoir functions such as gastric adaptive relaxation.