• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.268-272
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• 2009

An-11-year-old male Shih-tzu was admitted to emergency care unit of Haemaru Referral Animal Hospital with signs of dyspnea, anuria and depression. There were abnormalities on complete blood count and serum chemistry included leukocytosis with mild left shift, mild azotemia, and increased ALT activity. Fluid therapy(0.9% saline, 40 ml/hr) and antibiotics were immediately initiated. The patient began to vomit after 5 hours' rest and pale mucous membrane, bradycardia, and hypertension were noted. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed enlarged left adrenal gland and thrombus in caudal vena cava(CVC). Result of ACTH stimulation test was normal. Cytology of ultrasound-guided FNA smears showed numerous naked nuclei, which was suggestive of adrenal medullar tumor. Concentrations of 24 hour urine metanephrine and normetanephrine was moderately increased compared to those of a control dog. Adrenal mass was surgically removed, and biopsy of the CVC mass was obtained. After surgery the patient began to recover but the dog acutely developed cardiopulmonary arrest and died. On histopathology the adrenal mass and biopsy of the CVC mass were consistent with pheochromocytoma. On electron microscopic view norepinephrine specific granules were found in the cytoplasm of tumor cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.176-190
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• 2011

There seems to be some controversy about the effect of total ginseng saponin (TGS) on the secretion of catecholamines (CA) from the adrenal gland. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine whether TGS can affect the CA release in the perfused model of the adrenal medulla isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). TGS (15-150 ${\mu}g/mL$), perfused into an adrenal vein for 90 min, inhibited the CA secretory responses evoked by acetylcholine (ACh, 5.32 mM) and high $K^+$ (56 mM, a direct membrane depolarizer) in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. TGS (50 ${\mu}g/mL$) also time-dependently inhibited the CA secretion evoked by 1.1-dimethyl-4 -phenyl piperazinium iodide (DMPP; 100 ${\mu}M$, a selective neuronal nicotinic receptor agonist) and McN-A-343 (100 ${\mu}M$, a selective muscarinic M1 receptor agonist). TGS itself did not affect basal CA secretion (data not shown). Also, in the presence of TGS (50 ${\mu}g/mL$), the secretory responses of CA evoked by veratridine (a selective $Na^+$ channel activator (50 ${\mu}M$), Bay-K-8644 (an L-type dihydropyridine $Ca^{2+}$ channel activator, 10 ${\mu}M$), and cyclopiazonic acid (a cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor, 10 ${\mu}M$) were significantly reduced, respectively. Interestingly, in the simultaneous presence of TGS (50 ${\mu}g/mL$) and N${\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride [an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, 30 ${\mu}M$], the inhibitory responses of TGS on the CA secretion evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644, cyclopiazonic acid, and veratridine were considerably recovered to the extent of the corresponding control secretion compared with the inhibitory effect of TGS-treatment alone. Practically, the level of NO released from adrenal medulla after the treatment of TGS (150 ${\mu}g/mL$) was greatly elevated compared to the corresponding basal released level. Taken together, these results demonstrate that TGS inhibits the CA secretory responses evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both muscarinic and nicotinic) receptors as well as by direct membrane-depolarization from the isolated perfused adrenal medulla of the SHRs. It seems that this inhibitory effect of TGS is mediated by inhibiting both the influx of $Ca^{2+}$ and Na+ into the adrenomedullary chromaffin cells and also by suppressing the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from the cytoplasmic calcium store, at least partly through the increased NO production due to the activation of nitric oxide synthase, which is relevant to neuronal nicotinic receptor blockade, without the enhancement effect on the CA release. Based on these effects, it is also thought that there are some species differences in the adrenomedullary CA secretion between the rabbit and SHR.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.86-98
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• 2021

This study was designed to characterize the effect of ginsenoside-Rg2 (Rg2), one of panaxatriol saponins isolated from Korean ginseng root, on the release of catecholamines (CA) in the perfused model of the rat adrenal medulla, and also to establish its mechanism of action. Rg2 (3~30 µM), administered into an adrenal vein for 90 min, depressed acetylcholine (ACh)-induced CA secretion in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Rg2 also time-dependently inhibited the CA secretion induced by 3-(m-chloro-phenyl-carbamoyl-oxy)-2-butynyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (McN-A-343), 1.1-dimethyl-4-phenyl piperazinium iodide (DMPP), and angiotensin II (Ang II). Also, during perfusion of Rg2, the CA secretion induced by high K⁺, veratridine, cyclopiazonic acid, methyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3-nitro-4-(2-trifluoro-methyl-phenyl)-pyridine-5-carboxylate (Bay-K-8644) depressed, respectively. In the simultaneous presence of Rg2 and N^ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride ʟ-NAME), the CA secretion induced by ACh, Ang II, Bay-K-8644 and veratridine was restored nearly to the extent of their corresponding control level, respectively, compared to those of inhibitory effects of Rg2-treatment alone. Virtually, NO release in adrenal medulla following perfusion of Rg2 was significantly enhanced in comparison to the corresponding spontaneous release. Also, in the coexistence of Rg2 and fimasartan, ACh-induced CA secretion was markedly diminished compared to the inhibitory effect of fimasartan-treated alone. Collectively, these results demonstrated that Rg2 suppressed the CA secretion induced by activation of cholinergic as well as angiotensinergic receptors from the perfused model of the rat adrenal gland. This Rg2-induced inhibitory effect seems to be exerted by reducing both influx of Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ through their ionic channels into the adrenomedullary cells as well as by suppressing Ca²⁺ release from the cytoplasmic calcium store, at least through the elevated NO release by activation of NO synthase, which is associated to the blockade of neuronal cholinergic and AT₁-receptors. Based on these results, the ingestion of Rg2 may be helpful to alleviate or prevent the cardiovascular diseases, via reduction of CA release in adrenal medulla and consequent decreased CA level in circulation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.13-25
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• 1997

The anticarcinogenic effects of dimethyl disulfide(DMDS, methyl disulfide)and diallyl disulfide(DADA, allyl disulfide) were studied in a 28 weeks rat multi-organ carcinogenesis model. neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions were observed in the liver kidney thyroid gland esophagus duodenum colon, rectum and adrenal gland. Tesults showed that neoplastic lesions in the kidney liver and thyroid gland were inhibited by DADS but those in the liver and colon were enhanced by DMDS when compared to positive control group. incidence of neoplastic lesions in the other organs were not changed by DMDS or DADS exposure. While GST-p positive foci in the liver were increased by DMDS, DADS had no effect. There was no significant histopathological lesion in DMDS or DADS treated group without pretreatment with carcinogens.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.262-270
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• 2017

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are single-stranded, small RNAs (21-23 nucleotides) that function in gene silencing and translational inhibition via the RNA interference mechanism. Most miRNAs originate from host genomic regions, such as intergenic regions, introns, exons, and transposable elements (TEs). Here, we focused on the palindromic structure of medium reiteration frequencies (MERs), which are similar to precursor miRNAs. Five MER consensus sequences (MER5A1, MER53, MER81, MER91C, and MER117) were matched with paralogous transcripts predicted to be precursor miRNAs in the horse genome (equCab2) and located in either intergenic regions or introns. The MER5A1, MER53, and MER91C sequences obtained from RepeatMasker were matched with the eca-miR-544b, eca-miR-1302, and eca-miR-652 precursor sequences derived from Ensembl transcript database, respectively. Each precursor form was anticipated to yield two mature forms, and we confirmed miRNA expression in six different tissues (cerebrum, cerebellum, lung, spleen, adrenal gland, and duodenum) of one thoroughbred horse. MER5A1-derived miRNAs generally showed significantly higher expression in the lung than in other tissues. MER91C-derived miRNA-5p also showed significantly higher expression in the duodenum than in other tissues (cerebellum, lung, spleen, and adrenal gland). The MER117-overlapped expressed sequence tag generated polycistronic miRNAs, which showed higher expression in the duodenum than other tissues. These data indicate that horse MER transposons encode miRNAs that are expressed in several tissues and are thought to have biological functions.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2012

Background: Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for maintaining human life. Vitamin C insufficiency in the plasma is closely related with the development of scurvy. However, in vivo kinetics of vitamin C regarding its storage and consumption is still largely unknown. Methods: We used $Gulo^{-/-}$ mice, which cannot synthesize vitamin C like human. Vitamin C level in plasma and organs from $Gulo^{-/-}$ mice was examined, and it compared with the level of wild-type mice during 5 weeks. Results: The significant weight loss of $Gulo^{-/-}$ mice was shown at 3 weeks after vitamin C withdrawal. However, there was no differences between wild-type and vitamin C-supplemented $Gulo^{-/-}$ mice (3.3 g/L in drinking water). The concentration of vitamin C in plasma and organs was significantly decreased at 1 week after vitamin C withdrawal. Vitamin C is preferentially deposited in adrenal gland, lymph node, lung, and brain. There were no significant changes in the numbers and CD4/CD8 ratio of splenocytes in $Gulo^{-/-}$ mice with vitamin C withdrawal for 4 weeks. And the architecture of spleen in $Gulo^{-/-}$ mice was disrupted at 5 weeks after vitamin C withdrawal. Conclusion: The vitamin C level of $Gulo^{-/-}$ mice was considerably decreased from 1 week after vitamin C withdrawal. Vitamin C is preferentially stored in some organs such as brain, adrenal gland and lung.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.293-308
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• 2013

Objectives : The Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam has been used in traditional oriental medicine to treat a variety of mental disorders including anxiety and depression. The purpose of present study is to observe the changes which take place in the body in stressful situations and to compare the anti-depressive, anxiolytic and anti-stress effect of Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam in different doses. Methods : This study was performed to evaluate the effects of Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam in the immobilization stress model in rats. Twenty-five rats were divided into 5 groups of 5: control, stress, low dose administration (75 mg/kg), medium dose administration (150 mg/kg) and high dose administration (225 mg/kg). The four groups other than the control group were placed in an immobilization stress test, and distilled water (control) or Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam extract was administration orally for 2 weeks. After treatment, the despair and anxiety behavior of rats were measured by open field test, forced swimming test, weight gain, contents of 5-HT in raphe nucleus and adrenal gland weight. Results & Conclusions : As a result of evaluation by measuring five aspects, FST, OFT, weight gain, 5-HT contents and adrenal gland weight, Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam has significant antidepressant, anxiolytic, anti-stress effects.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.33-36
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• 1970

A study was planned to see if the ginseng has any influence upon the weight of viscera of male and female rats. One hundred and ten male rats (body weight: $35{\sim}40\;gm$ at the beginning of the experiment) and an equal number of females with similar body weight were use4 Excluding 10 male and 10 females which served as controls, these rats were divided equally into 4 groups (male ginseng group, male saline group, female ginseng group and female saline group), each of which comprising 50 animals. For 45 days, the male and female ginseng groups received every day 0.6 m1/100 gm body weight of ginseng extract solution (4 mg of ginseng alcohol extract in 1 ml of saline) subcutaneously, and the male and female saline groups received the same amount of physiological saline. Each group was further divided into 5 subgroups comprising 10 animals, and the 10 control rats and each subgroups were sacrificed immediately before, and 5, 15, 35, 35, and 45 days after beginning of the drug administration, respectively. The body weight of each subgroup was checked immediately before sacrificing it, and the heart, lung, liver, kidney, adrenal gland, spleen, and testis or uterus of each animal were weighed with a torsion balance. Following results were obtained: 1. Ginseng significantly facilitated gain in weight of testis and spleen as well as body weight of rats from 35th day after beginning of the drug administration on, but not before this time. 2. Ginseng did not exert significant influence upon the weight of heart, lung, liver, tidney, adrenal gland, and uterus of the rat.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.315-320
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• 2010

It has been clinically reported that toluene causes mental depression in humans. However, the detrimental effects of toluene exposure on brain function and the relation between features of mental depression and toluene exposure are poorly understood. This study evaluated depression-like behaviors in adult C57BL/6 mice after administration of toluene, and elucidated the effects of classical antidepressants on the depression-like behaviors. For the estimation of depression-like behaviors, tail suspension test (TST) and forcedswim test (FST) were performed 1, 4 and 16 days after toluene (0~1000 mg/kg bw) treatment. In addition, classical antidepressants such as fluoxetine (FLX, 20 mg/kg bw) and imipramine (IMI, 40 mg/kg bw) were administered 12 h and 1 h before the tests. In the TST and FST, toluene-treated mice exhibited a longer duration of immobility than vehicle-treated mice 1 and 4 days after toluene treatment. The depression-like behaviors were significantly reversed by FLX and IMI. The weight of the adrenal gland and the size of adrenocortical cells were significantly higher in toluene-treated mice compared to vehicle-treated controls. It is suggested that acute toluene exposure of adult mice is sufficiently detrimental to induce depression. In addition, this study has established a mouse model for a depressive state induced by toluene treatment.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.247-253
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• 2017

Approximately 10-15% of pheochromocytomas are malignant. There are insufficient histologic criteria for the diagnosis of malignant pheochromocytoma. Thus, the term malignant pheochromocytoma is restricted to tumors with local invasion or distant metastases. We experienced a case of malignant pheochromocytoma recurred with spinal metastasis 4 years after the surgery for huge benign pheochromocytoma. A 68-year-old female was admitted for trunk and back pain. The patient had a history of surgery 4 years ago for a $10.0{\times}9.5{\times}7.5cm$ sized benign pheochromocytoma at the left adrenal gland. A thoracolumbar magnetic resonance imaging showed a tumor in the 7th thoracic vertebral body and a 24-hour urinary norepinephrine increased, suggesting metastatic recurrence of malignant pheochromocytoma. After metastasectomy in the 7th thoracic vertebral body, urine catecholamine was normalized and pain also disappeared. However, a metastatic lesion was found in the paraaortic area on a follow-up abdominal computed tomography scan and an additional metastasectomy was performed. The pathology confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic pheochromocytoma in the paraaortic lymph nodes. She is supposed to be treated with adjuvant iodine 131-meta-iodobenzylguanidine therapy. In our experience, a close follow-up should be considered in patients who had a huge benign pheochromocytoma due to the possibility of malignant metastases.