• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.90-95
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• 2023

Mitochondria are important organelles that regulate adenosine triphosphate production, intracellular calcium buffering, cell survival, and apoptosis. They play therapeutic roles in injured cells via transcellular transfer through extracellular vesicles, gap junctions, and tunneling nanotubes. Astrocytes can secrete numerous factors known to promote neuronal survival, synaptic formation, and plasticity. Recent studies have demonstrated that astrocytes can transfer mitochondria to damaged neurons to enhance their viability and recovery. In this study, we observed that treatment with mitochondria isolated from rat primary astrocytes enhanced cell viability and ameliorated hydrogen peroxide-damaged neurons. Interestingly, isolated astrocytic mitochondria increased the number of cells under damaged neuronal conditions, but not under normal conditions, although the mitochondrial transfer efficiency did not differ between the two conditions. This effect was also observed after transplanting astrocytic mitochondria in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model. These findings suggest that mitochondria transfer therapy can be used to treat acute ischemic stroke and other diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2000

To investigate the contributions of intrinsic membrane properties to the spontaneous activity of medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) neurons, we assessed the effects of blocking large and small calcium-activated potassium channels by means of patch clamp recordings. Almost all the MVN neurons recorded in neonatal $(P13{\sim}P17)$ rat were shown to have either a single deep after-hyperpolarization (AHP; type A cells), or an early fast and a delayed slow AHP (type B cells). Among the recorded MVN cells, immature action potential shapes were found. Immature type A cell showed single uniform AHP and immature B cell showed a lack of the early fast AHP, and the delayed AHP was separated from the repolarization phase of the spike by a period of isopotentiality. Application of apamin and charybdotoxin (CTX), which selectively block the small and large calcium-activated potassium channels, respectively, resulted in significant changes in spontaneous firings. In both type A and type B cells, CTX (20 nM) resulted in a significant increase in spike frequency but did not induce bursting activity. By contrast, apamin (300 nM) selectively abolished the delayed slow AHP and induced bursting activity in type B cells. Apamin had no effect on the spike frequency of type A cells. These data suggest that there are differential roles of apamin and CTX sensitive potassium conductances in spontaneous firing patterns of MVN neurons, and these conductances are important in regulating the intrinsic rhythmicity and excitability.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.173-181
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• 2009

One of the most extensively studied populations of multipotent adult stem cells are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs derived from the human umbilical cord vein (HUC-MSCs) are morphologically and immunophenotypically similar to MSCs isolated from bone marrow. HUC-MSCs are multipotent stem cells, differ from hematopoietic stem cells and can be differentiated into neural cells. Since neural tissue has limited intrinsic capacity of repair after injury, the identification of alternate sources of neural stem cells has broad clinical potential. We isolated mesenchymal-like stem cells from the human umbilical cord vein, and studied transdifferentiation-promoting conditions in neural cells. Dopaminergic neuronal differentiation of HUC-MSCs was also studied. Neural differentiation was induced by adding bFGF, EGF, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) in N2 medium and N2 supplement. The immunoreactive cells for $\beta$-tubulin III, a neuron-specific marker, GFAP, an astrocyte marker, or Gal-C, an oligodendrocyte marker, were found. HUC-MSCs treated with bFGF, SHH and FGF8 were differentiated into dopaminergic neurons that were immunopositive for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) antibody. HUC-MSCs treated with DMSO and BHA rapidly showed the morphology of multipolar neurons. Both immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression of a number of neural markers including NeuroD1, $\beta$-tubulin III, GFAP and nestin was markedly elevated during this acute differentiation. While the stem cell markers such as SCF, C-kit, and Stat-3 were not expressed after neural differentiation, we confirmed the differentiation of dopaminergic neurons by TH/$\beta$-tubulin III positive cells. In conclusion, HUC-MSCs can be differentiated into dopaminergic neurons and these findings suggest that HUC-MSCs are alternative cell source of therapeutic treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2008

Neural tissue has limited intrinsic capacity of repair after injury, and the identification of alternate sources of neural stem cells has broad clinical potential. We isolated mesechymal-like stem cells from human adipose tissues (AT-MSCs), and studied on transdifferentiation-promoting conditions in neural cells. Dopaminergic and cholinergic neuron induction of AT-MSCs was also studied. Neural differentiation was induced by adding bFGF, EGF, dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and butylated hydroxyanisole(BHA) in N2 Medium and N2 supplement. The immunoreactive cells for $\beta$-tubulin III, a neuron-specific marker, GFAP, an astrocyte marker, or Gal-C, an oligodendrocyte marker, were found. AT-MSCs treated with bFGF, SHH and FGF8 were differentiatied into dopaminergic neurons that were immunopositive for TH antibody. Differentiation of MSCs to cholinergic neurons was induced by combined treatment with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), retinoic acid (RA) and sonic hedgehog (Shh). AT-MSCs treated with DMSO and BHA rapidly assumed the morphology of multipolar neurons. Both immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression of a number of neural markers including neuro D1, $\beta$-tubulin III, GFAP and nestinwas markedly elevated during this acute differentiation. While the stem cell markers such as SCF, C-kit, and Stat-3 were not expressed after preinduction medium culture, we confirmed the differentiation of dopaminergic and cholinergic neurons by TH/$\beta$-tubulin III or ChAT/ $\beta$-tubulin III positive cells. Conclusively, AT-MSCs can be differentiated into dopaminergic and cholinergic neuronsand these findings suggest that AT-MSCs are alternative cell source of treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.272-276
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• 2007

Purpose : Bell's palsy is defined as an idiopathic facial nerve paralysis of sudden onset. In spite of intensive clinical and experimental investigation, there is still uncertainty in the incidence, etiology, and preferred mode of treatment in children. The objective of this study was to analyze clinical outcome and prognosis of children with Bell' palsy. Methods : We analyzed 61 cases of Bell's palsy diagnosed at the Department of Wonkwang University Hospital from January 1998 to July 2006. The inclusion criteria were any children with acute isolated unilateral lower motor neuron type of facial nerve palsy. The clinical findings and investigations were reviewed including age, sex, affected site, seasonal incidence and result of steroid treatment. Chi-square and Fisher's exact test was used to compare clinical outcome between duration of complete recovery and age. Results : There was no difference in incidence according to sex or age. Incidence was higher in summer and winter. There was no difference in complete recovery rate and duration between steroid treated group and control group. In the group of children younger than 6 years, duration of complete recovery was shorter than older children. Conclusion : We found increasing the incidence of Bell's palsy in summer and winter. Children younger than 6 years had shorter duration in complete recovery.