• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.176-180
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• 2011

Depressive disorders have strong genetic components. However, conventional linkage and association studies have not yielded definitive results. These might be due to the absence of objective diagnostic tests, the complex nature of human behavior or the incomplete penetrance of psychiatric traits. Imaging genetics explores the influences of genetic variation on the brain function or structure. This technique could provide a more sensitive assessment than traditional behavioral measures in psychiatric studies. Imaging genetics is a relatively new field of psychiatric researches, and may improve our understanding on neurobiology of psychiatric disorders. In this review, current understanding in neurobiology of depressive disorders, especially imaging genetic studies on serotonin transporter will be discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.65-65
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• 2003

Serotonin(5-hydroxytriptamine, 5-HT)은 biogenic amlne류 신경전달물질로써, 다양한 생리조절활성을 갖고있다. 생식과 관련된 5-HT 기능으로 최근 사정 기능의 조절 가능성이 제시되었는데, 항우울제로 흔히 사용되는 selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor(SSRI) 계 약물을 장기 투여할 때 Premature ejaculation이 개선된다는 임상적인 증거들이 보고되었다. 본 연구는 수컷 흰쥐를 사용하여 생식기관, 특히 사정과 관계되는 기관들에서의 5-HT 수용체 아형들의 유전자 발현 여부와 그 조절 기작을 조사하였다. 흰쥐 수컷의 생식장기들인 고환, 부정소, 정관, 정낭에서 사정현상에 관여하리라 추정되는 세로토닌 수용체 아형들(type 1A, 1B, 2C)의 유전자 발현을 RT-PCR과 Southern blot으로 확인하였다. SSRI(sertraline)을 흰쥐에 매일 투여하는 모델(25mg/개체, 2주간)에서 1A 아형의 발현의 경우 정낭에서는 감소하였으나 정관에서는 증가하였고, 1B 아형의 발현은 두 장기에서 공히 증가하였다. 고환 제거후 testosterone(T) 보충 실험 모델을 사용한 실험에서, 정낭에서의 1A와 1B 발현은 T 보충에 의해 감소하였고, 정관에서는 큰 변화가 없었다. 한편 고환, 정낭과 정관에서의 세로토닌 수용체 아형 1A와 1B의 발현은 사춘기의 개시와 함께 증가하였다가 이후 점차 감소하는 경향을 보였다. 본 연구 결과는 사정 현상에 있어서 말초성 세로토닌 시스템이 중요한 역할을 담당할 가능성을 시사하는 것으로써, (i) 고등 포유동물에서의 사정 기작의 조절에 대한 과학적인 이해를 증진시키고, (ⅱ) 세로토닌 수용체 아형간의 특이한 발현과 작용에 대한 이해를 통해 보다 효과적인 사정 부전 치료법 개발을 시도할 수있고, (ⅲ) ontogeny와 sex steroid 의존성에 관련된 연구 시도는 노화와 관련된 사정능력의 변화와 같은 남성과학 분야로의 접목을 기할 수 있다고 사료된다.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2003.07c
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• pp.1932-1934
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• 2003

본 논문은 신경전달물질 중 우울증, 신부전증의 지표 물질인 세로토닌의 농도를 극미량의 시료를 사용하여 정량할 수 있는 방법을 개발하기 위해 초소형 효소 고정화 전극을 개발하였다. 전극은 실리콘 웨이퍼 상에 반도체 공정을 이용하여 마이크로 크기의 Pt 박막 전극을 제작하였고, 전기화학적 방법으로 pyrrole 단량체를 Pt 전극 상에 순환전압전류법을 이용하여 산화적으로 전기 중합하였다. 효소의 고정은 일정 전압을 인가한 시간대 전류법으로 고정화하였다. 제작된 전극은 시간대 전류법으로 세로토닌의 농도에 따른 감도를 측정하였다. 세로토닌의 농도 범위 $1.0{\mu}mol/L{\sim}10mmol/L$에서의 감도는 $7.0{\mu}$A/decade를 나타내었으며, 실험결과에 따라 전극의 표면에서 발생하는 전류는 세로토닌의 농도에 비례함을 알 수 있었다. 전극의 표면분석은 Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy(EDX) 그리고 Auger Electron Spectroscopy(AES)를 이용하여 분석하였다.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.34-45
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• 1998

We provide the reader with a brief introduction to the neurobiology of neuropeptides. Several comprehensive reviews of the distribution and neurochemical, neurophysiological, neuropharmacological and behavioral effects of the major neuropeptides have recently appeared. In reviews of the large number of neuropeptides in brain and their occurance in brain regions thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of major psychiatric disorders, investigators have sought to determine whether alternations in neuropeptide systems are associated with schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, alcoholism and neurodegenerative disease. There is no longer any doubt that neuropeptide-containing neurons are altered in several neuropsychiatric disorders. One of the factors that has hindered neuropeptide research to a considerable extent is the lack of pharmacological agents that specifically alter the synaptic availability of neuropeptides. With the exception of naloxone and naltrexone, the opiate-receptor antagonists, there are few available neuropeptide- receptor antagonists. Two independent classes of neuropeptide-receptor antagonists has been expected to be clinically useful. Naltrexone, a potent ${\mu}$-receptor antagonist, has been used successfully to reduce the need for alcohol consumption. And cholecycstokinin antagonists are now in development as a new class of anxiolytics, which would be expected to be free from tolerance and physical dependence and lack of sedation. In this review, we deal with these two kinds of neuropeptide system, the opioid system and cholesystokinins in the brain. The role of opioid systems in the reinforcement after alcohol consumtion and that of cholesystokinins in the pathogenesis of anxiety will be discussed briefly. As we know, the future for neuropeptides in psychiatry remains bright indeed.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.136-145
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• 2004

Objectives:Genetic variations of the tryptophan hydroxylase(TPH) gene and the serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region(5-HTTLPR) polymorphism have been associated with its functional capacity. The authors investigated whether the allelic constitution of the TPH gene and 5-HTTLPR are associated in Korean panic patients. Methods:244 Korean patients with panic disorder and 227 normal healthy controls were tested for a genetic polymorphism of TPH A218C and 5-HTTLPR polymorphism. To assess the severity of panic disorder during the last one month, anticipatory anxiety, panic difficulty, panic distress, agoraphobic difficulty and agoraphobic distress were measured with visual analogue scale(VAS) score, STAI-S & T, BDI, SCL-90-R, ASI-R, CGI, PDSS, and HAMD. Results:There was no significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies of TPH A218C and 5-HTTLPR polymorphism between panic patients and controls. Although we observed some differences in genotype and allele frequencies of TPH A218C polymorphism among male subjects, these differences disappeared after Bonferroni correction. And there were no significant differences in clinical variables. Conclusion:Our results suggested that there are no association between the genetic polymorphism of TPH gene and 5-HTTLPR with panic disorder.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.79-87
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• 2018

Objectives Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is known to be related to stress and the serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) that is known to be associated with stress and has been studied to affect various psychiatric illness outbreaks. We tried to examine the relationship between stress, 5-HTTLPR and IGD. Methods A total of 59 participants with IGD, diagnosed according to the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria and 67 normal controls (NC) were enrolled. The IGD group and the NC were compared using chisquare test and independent sample t-test, and logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between stress, the 5-HTTLPR, and IGD. Results The mean scores for anxiety, impulsivity and stress were significantly higher in the IGD group than in the NC. In addition, there was a significant association between stress and IGD [odds ratio (OR) = 1.172, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.008-1.362]. Conclusions This study showed that stress would affect IGD. Therefore, the evaluation and management of stress should be included in the diagnosis and treatment of IGD.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2013

Pathological laughing and crying(PLC) is a condition that is characterized by episodic, brief, contextually inappropriate, uncontrollable outbursts of laughing and/or crying. It can be observed in patients with various neurological disorders. PLC often causes distress in interpersonal functioning and activities for patients and their families. PLC can be recognized easily with proper understanding of the condition and its nature. Also it generally shows good response to various pharmacological treatments. This review aims to encourage the diagnosis and treatment of PLC by providing definition and clinical presentation of PLC, analysis of its pathophysiology and various current treatment options.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.60-67
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• 2010

A sensitive competitive heterogeneous bioluminescence immunoassay for serotonin was developed using photoprotein, aequorin as a label for the first time with the optimal assay conditions; especially, serotoninavidin conjugate was prepared by Mannich reaction and the synthetic process of serotonin-avidin conjugate was optimized by controlling the initial molar ratios of serotonin, formaldehyde and avidin (1:12,000:25). The developed bioluminescence immunoassay for serotonin showed good sensitivity (LOD of 0.68 ng/mL) with wide area of dynamic range ($5.0{\times}10^{-10}\;M\sim5.0{\times}10^{-7}\;M$). (cf. the range for serotonin in human blood serum is $151{\pm}45\;ng$/mL). In addition, cross-reactivity studies demonstrated that 5-methoxytryptamine showed some cross-reactivity (28.0%), whereas 3-methylindole, melatonin and 5-hydroxylindole-3-acetic acid showed no crossreactivity, and good recoveries were obtained in serum. Thus, this developed method provides a good tool to monitor serotonin in serum.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2002

5-Hydroxytryptamine(5-HT; serotonin) system has been implicated in the modulation of male sexual behaviors and the secretion of reproductive hormones. In human males, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors(SSRIs) are known to improve the major male sexual dysfunction, premature ejaculation, through the central nervous system-mediated pathways. As numerous hormone and local factors, 5-HT may have peripheral role in the regulation of male sexual function. The expression of 5-HT receptor subtypes in the target tissue, however, has not been explored yet. The present study was undertaken to test whether the 5-HT receptor subtypes are expressed in the reproductive tissues of male rat, especially in ejaculatory machinery such as seminal vesicle and vas deferens. To do this, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Southern blot analysis were employed. The transcripts for the 1A, 1B and 2C subtypes of 5-HT receptor were amplified in all the tested tissues. The present study demonstrated the expression of 5-HT receptor in the rat ejaculatory machinery, suggesting that 5-HT may play a pivotal role in the male sexual function via not only central pathway but also peripheral route. Further study on the receptor subtype-specific effect and their harmonized mode of action will be needed to establish the understanding of ejaculation mechanism and drug design.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1992

Catecholamines, serotonin and their metabolites were measured in the posterior hypothalamus of urethane-anesthetized normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) using brain microdialysis which is a recently developed experimental method to measure the release of neurotransmitters and their metabolites at the localized brain area in vivo. Microdialysis probe was implanted stereotaxically to the rat posterior hypothalamus and perfused by Ringer's solution. Monoamines and their metabolites were quantified by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. In vitro recovery test of microdialysis showed that there exist inverse relationship between the perfusion flow rate and the relative recovery of neurochemical compounds. The estimated extracellular concentration of dopamine was about 32 nM, of norepinephrine 50 nM, of epinephrine 50 nM, of serotonin 73 nM, of 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) 281 nM, of homovanillic acid (HVA) 181 nM, and of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) 3767 nM in the hypothalamic perfusate of the normotensive rat. There was no difference in the basal level of monoamines between the SHR and the WKY. In contrast, the level of DOPAC, HVA and 5HIAA in SHR was higher than that in the WKY, This study demonstrated that the microdialysis technique should be an applicable tool for in vivo measurement of central neurochemical substances.