• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 1997

To investigate effects of ginseng total saponin (GTS) on the ethylcholine aziridnium ion (AF64A) -induced glutamatergic nervous system, rats were pretreated with the infusion of AF64A (3 nmole) into lateral ventricle and were posttreated with 50 mg/kg of GTS, i.p., for 1 week. Twenty four hours after the last administration, rats were sacrificed and the levels of glutamate and taurine, [$^3$H]dizocilpine ([$^3$H]MK801) binding sites and glutamine synthetase activity were assessed in striatum, hippocampus and frontal cortex. The levels of striatal glutamate after GTS treatment in rats were decreased. And the levels of glutamate were decreased in striatum and frontal cortex and increased in hippocampus by the infusion of AF64A. However, the AF64A-induced changes of glutamate were returned to the control level by the administration of GTS in striatum, frontal cortex and hippocampus. After the infusion of AF64A, the level of taurine was decreased in striatum and increased in hippocampus. GTS administrations in the AF64A-treated rats restored to the control level of taurine in the decreased striatal level of taurine, but not in the elevated level of hippocampal taurine. The specific [$^3$H]MK801 binding sites in hippocampus was significantly decreased but not in striatum and frontal cortex after the administration of AF64A. Although GTS itself did not affect the specific [$^3$H]MK801 binding sites, GTS administrations in the AF64A-treated rats did decrease the binding sites of (\`H)Mk801 in all examined regions. The activities of striatal glutamine synthetase were decreased after GTS treatment. The activities of striatal glutamine synthetase (GS) were decreased in AF64A-treated groups. However, the decreased striatal GS activities by AF64A were returned to the control level by GTS treatment. Furthermore, GTS administrations in the AF64A-treated rats increased the hippocampal GS activities. The results indicatethat GTS may adjust the levels of glutamate and taurine constantly and may induce increase in AF64A-induced decrease of GS activity. Thus, it suggests that GTS may antagonize changes in central glutamatergic nervous system induced by AF64A. Also it suggests that the actions of GTS may differently affect in the disease state.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 1997

Changes in glutamatergic nervous activities following intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of ethylcholine aziridinium (AF64A) were studied in rats. The levels of total glutamate, those of glutamate in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in extracellular fluid (ECF) of striatum, the activities of glutamine synthetase (GS), glutaminase and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and the specific binding sites of $[^3H]$MK801 in striatum, hippocampus and frontal cortex were assessed a week after the infusion of AF64A (3 nmol) into lateral ventricle. The levels of total glutamate were significantly decreased in striatum, hippocampus and frontal cortex after AF64A treatment. Although the levels of glutamate in CSF weren't changed after AF64A treatment, the levels of glutamate in ECF of striatum were significantly decreased (62.6%). GS activities in striatum were significantly decreased. But, glutaminase activities in striatum were significantly increased. However, the activities of GS and glutaminase in frontal cortex and hippocampus weren't changed. Although GDH activities in frontal cortex were significantly decreased, those in striatum and hippocampus weren't altered. The striatal densities of $[^3H]$MK 801 binding sites were increased without changes in its affinity. Also, the specific binding sites of $[^3H]$MK801 were increased in frontal cortex but not in hippocampus. These results indicate that the glutamatergic nervous activities were altered with the infusion of AF64A into lateral ventricle. Furthermore, it suggest that the decreased levels of glutamate after AF64A treatment may affect the change in the other parameters of glutamatergic neuronal activities.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.210-210
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• 1996

Changs in the glutamatergic nervous system following AF64A injection into lateral ventricle were studied in rats. Rats were treated with the infusion of AF64A (3mM) into lateral ventricle At a week after the infusion of AF64A into lateral ventricle, rats were sacrified and each brain resions was dissected ; striatum, hippocampus and frontal cortex. At these resions, total glutamate and other amino acids levels. [$^3$H]Mk801 binding sites and glutamine synthetase activity were measured using HPLC-ECD, ligand binding assay and enzyme activity assay, respectively. The levels of total glutamate were decreased in striatum, hippocampus and frontal cortex Also, the levels of total glycine and taurine were decreased in all examined regions. Furthermore, the levels of total aspartate and GABA were decreased in both hippocampus and frontal cortex but these didn't alter in striatum. Additionally, the levels of total glutamine were decreased in both striatum and frontal cortex. The u\numbers of [$^3$H]MK801 binding sites were differently dffected in each brain resions ; the decrease in striatum, the increase in frontal cortex and no change in hippocampus Glutamine synthetase activity in striatum was significantly decreased. But, that in both hippocampus and frontal cortex didn't alter These results suggest that changes in the glutamatergic nervous system in three regions are induced by following AF64A injection into lateral ventricle in rats.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.212-212
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• 1996

Effects of ginseng total saponin(GTS) on changes in the glutamatergic nervous system induced by AF64A were studied in rats. Rats were pretreated with the infusion of AF64A (3mM) into lateral ventricle and were posttreated with GTS (50mg/kg, j.p) for 1 week. Twenty four hrs after the last administration, rats were sacrified and each brain resions was dissected ; striatum, hippocampus and frontal cortex. At each brain regions, total glutamate and other amino acids levels, [$^3$H]MK801 binding sites and glutamine synthetase activity were measured using HPLC-ECD, ligand binding assay and enzyme activity assay, respectively. The AF64-induced increase in the levels of total glutamate in hippocampus were significantly decreased by the administration of GTS. Furthermore, that compared with saline and GTS was decreased in striatum. The levels of total GABA compared with saline and GTS were declined in frontal cortex. Moreover, the AF64A-induced decrease in the levels of total taurine were significantly increased by the administration of GTS to extents of normal states. The numbers of [$^3$H]MK801 binding sites were differently affected in brain resiojns ; the decrease in hippocampus and no change in both striatum and frontal cortex, Glutamine synthetase activity was significantly increased in hippocampus. In comparision with saline and GTS, that was significantly decreased in striatum These results suggest that GTS may adjust the levels of glutamate, GABA and taurine constantly and may induce increase of glutamine synthetase activity declined.