• Applied Microscopy
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.291-298
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• 2003

Exposure to stressful stimuli is known to activate the peripheral sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal gland. In this study, we evaluated the effects of high-salt diet on the mouse adrenal medulla using the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry and the transmission electron microscopic observation. Immunoreactivity for TH was increased after high-salt diet. Especially, the TH immunoreactivity was stronger in 4 days high-salt diet mouse than that of 4 weeks. TH immunoreactivity was mainly present in the cytoplasm and granules of the noradrenaline cells. After high-salt diet, the noradrenaline cells exhibited the ultrastructural alterations consisting of areas of empty cytoplasm, expanded granules, and some damaged mitochondria. These results suggest that high-salt diet may be a factor of stressful stimuli on the mouse.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.198-206
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• 1976

In order to find the effects of testis function on adrenal gland, immature male rats were administered by 20 mg of testosterone propionate with 10 days interval for 50 days, and their adrenal weights and histological changes were compared with those of normal ones, and the results obtained were as follow: Adrenal weight was increased with the period of treatments, and especially the significant difference was recognized after 30 days. Of the zones in adrenal gland, the portion of zona fasciculata and reticularis increased significantly after 20 days and 30 days, respectively, while that of adrenal medulla was decreased significantly after 20 days. In histological changes, hypertrophy and vacuolization were observed in zona fasciculata and reticularis after 20 days, but no changes were recognized in zona glomerulosa and adrenal medulla.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.126.1-126.1
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• 2003

Adrenal medullary chromaffin cells secrete catecholamines in response to nicotinic agonists (Douglas ＆ Rubin. 1961; Wakade, 1981; Amy ＆ Kirshner, 1982). Several types of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels are present on adrenal chromaffin cells, but the role of each type in the catecholamine secretion process remains controversial. (omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.265-272
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• 2004

The present study was attempted to investigate the effect of cilnidipine (FRC-8635), which is a newly synthesised novel dihydropyridine (DHP) type of organic $Ca^{2+}$ channel blockers, on secretion of catecholamines (CA) evoked by acetylcholine (ACh), high $K^+$, DMPP and McN-A-343 from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland. Cilnidipine $(1{\sim}10{\mu}M)$ perfused into an adrenal vein for 60 min produced relatively dose- and time-dependent inhibition in CA secretory responses evoked by ACh $(5.32{\times}10^{-3}M),\;DMPP\;(10^{-4}M\;for\;2\;min)$ and McN-A-343 $(10^{-4}M\;for\;2\;min)$. However, lower dose of cilnidipine did not affect CA secretion by high $K^+\;(5.6{\times}10^{-2}\;M)$, higher dose of it reduced greatly CA secretion of high $K^{+}$. Cilnidipine itself did fail to affect basal catecholamine output. In the presence of cilnidipine $(10{\mu}M)$, the CA secretory responses evoked by Bay-K-8644 $(10{\mu}M)$, an activator of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels and cyclopiazonic acid $(10{\mu}M)$, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase were also inhibited. Moreover, ${\omega}-conotoxin\;GVIA\;(1{\mu}M)$, a selective blocker of the N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels, given into the adrenal gland for 60 min, also inhibited time-dependently CA secretory responses evoked by Ach, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644 and cyclopiazonic acid. Taken together, these results demostrate that cilnidipine inhibits CA secretion evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland without affecting the basal release. However, at lower dose, cilnidipine did not affect CA release by membrane depolarization while at larger dose inhibited that. It seems likely that this inhibitory effect of cilnidipine is exerted by blocking both L- and N-type voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels (VDCCs) on the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells, which is relevant to inhibition of both the $Ca^{2+}$ influx into the adrenal chromaffin cells and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release from the cytoplasmic store. It is thought that N-type VDCCs may play an important role in regulation of CA release from the rat adrenal medulla.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.431-439
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• 2014

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether ginsenoside-Rb2 (Rb2) can affect the secretion of catecholamines (CA) in the perfused model of the rat adrenal medulla. Rb2 ($3{\sim}30{\mu}M$), perfused into an adrenal vein for 90 min, inhibited ACh (5.32 mM)-evoked CA secretory response in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Rb2 ($10{\mu}M$) also time-dependently inhibited the CA secretion evoked by DMPP ($100{\mu}M$, a selective neuronal nicotinic receptor agonist) and high $K^+$ (56 mM, a direct membrane depolarizer). Rb2 itself did not affect basal CA secretion (data not shown). Also, in the presence of Rb2 ($50{\mu}g/mL$), 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 Rb2 ($10{\mu}M$) and L-NAME (an inhibitor of NO synthase, $30{\mu}M$), the inhibitory responses of Rb2 on ACh-evoked CA secretory response was considerably recovered to the extent of the corresponding control secretion compared with the inhibitory effect of Rb2-treatment alone. Practically, the level of NO released from adrenal medulla after the treatment of Rb2 ($10{\mu}M$) was greatly elevated compared to the corresponding basal released level. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Rb2 inhibits the CA secretory responses evoked by nicotinic stimulation as well as by direct membrane-depolarization from the isolated perfused rat adrenal medulla. It seems that this inhibitory effect of Rb2 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.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2001

The present study was conducted to examine the effects of cholinergic stimulation and membrane depolarization on secretion of epinephrine (EP) and norepinephrine (NE) in the perfused model of the rat adrenal gland and to investigate the effect of bromocriptine on secretion of EP and NE evoked by these secreta-gogues. Acetylcholine (ACh, 5.32 mM), high $K^{+}$(56mM), 1.1-dimethyl-4-phenyl piperazinium iodide (DMPP, 100 $\mu$M for 2 min), (3-(m-cholro-phenyl-carbamoyl-oxy)-2butynyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (McN-A-343, 100 $\mu$M for 2 min), cyclopiazonic acid (10 $\mu$M for 4 min) and methyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3-nitro-4-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl) -pyridine-5-carboxylate (Bay-K-8644, 10 $\mu$M for 4 min) evoked a 1.3~5.3-fold greater secretion of EP than NE in the perfused rat adrenal gland. The perfusion of bromocriptine (1-10 $\mu$M) into an adrenal vein for 20 min produced relatively dose-dependent inhibition in secretion of EP and NE evoked by ACh, high $K^{+}$, DMPP, and McN-A-343. Moreover, under the presence of bromocriptine (1~10 $\mu$M), releasing responses of EP and NE evoked by cyclopiazonic acid and Bay-K-8644 were also greatly reduced. Taken together, these results suggest that cholinergic stimulation and membrane depolarization enhance more release of EP than NE in the perfumed rat adrenal medulla, and that bromocriptine inhibits the release of EP and NE evoked by stimulation of cholinergic receptors as well as by membrane depolarization. It seems that this inhibitory effect of bromocriptine is associated with inhibition of calcium channels through activation of dopaminergic D2-receptors located in the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells.lls.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.401-415
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• 2002

Lim and his coworkers (1987; 1988; 1989) have also found that all of total Ginseng saponin, panaxadiol-and panaxatriol-type saponins cause the increased secretion of catecholamines (CA) in a $Ca^{2+}$ -dependent fashion from the isolated perfused rabbit adrenal glands through the activation of cholinergic (both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors. These CA secretory effects are partly due to the direct action on the rabbit adrenomedullary chromaffin cells. However, the present study was designed to examine the effect of total ginseng saponin on CA secretion evoked by activation of cholinergic nicotinic receptors in the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal gland. Total ginseng saponin given (100 ${\mu}g$/20 min) into an adrenal vein did fail to produce alteration of spontaneous CA release from the rat adrenal medulla. Acetylcholine(5.32 mM)- and DMPP(100 ${\mu}M$, a selective nicotinic receptor agonist)-evoked CA secretory responses were reduced markedly after the pretreatment with the total ginseng saponin at a rate of 100 ${\mu}g$/6.2 ml/20 min, respectively. Pretreatment with total ginseng saponin also depressed greatly high potassium (56 mM, a membrane depolarizing agent)- and Bay-K-8644 (10 ${\mu}M$, a calcium channel activator)-induced CA secretions. Taken together, it is thought that total ginseng saponin can inhibit the releasing effect of CA evoked by nicotinic receptor stimulation from the isolated perfused rat adrenal medulla, which seems to be associated to the direct inhibition of influx through L-type calcium channel into the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells. It seems that there is species differences in the adrenomedullary catecholamine secretion between the rabbit and rat.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.747-755
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• 2003

The aim of the present study was to clarify whether cotinine affects the release of catecholamines (CA) from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland, and to establish the mechanism of its action, in comparison with the response of nicotine. Cotinine (0.3∼3 mM), when perfused into an adrenal vein for 60 min, inhibited CA secretory responses evoked by ACh (5.32 mM), DMPP (a selective neuronal nicotinic agonist, 100 $\mu$M for 2 min) and McN-A-343 (a selective muscarinic $M_1 -agonist, 100 \mu$ M for 2 min) in dose- and time-dependent manners. However, cotinine did not affect CA secretion by high $K^+$ (56 mM). Cotinine itself also failed to affect basal CA output. Furthermore, in the presence of cotinine (1 mM), CA secretory responses evoked by Bay-K-8644 (an activator of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels, 10 $\mu$ M) and cyclopiazonic acid (an inhibitor of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}-ATPase, 10 \mu$ M) were relative time-dependently attenuated. However, nicotine (30$\mu$ M), given into the adrenal gland for 60 min, initially rather enhanced CA secretory responses evoked by ACh and high $K^+$, followed by the inhibition later, while it time-dependently depressed the CA release evoked by McN-A-343 and DMPP. Taken together, these results suggest that cotinine inhibits greatly CA secretion evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors, but does fail to affect that by the direct membrane-depolarization. It seems that this inhibitory effect of cotinine may be exerted by the cholinergic blockade, which is associated with blocking both the calcium influx into the rat adrenal medullary chromaffin cells and $Ca^{2+}$ release from the cytoplasmic calcium store. It also seems that there is a big difference in the mode of action between cotinine and nicotine in the rat adrenomedullary CA secretion.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.101-109
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• 2008

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of ketamine, a dissociative anesthetics, on secretion of catecholamines (CA) secretion evoked by cholinergic stimulation from the perfused model of the isolated rat adrenal gland, and to establish its mechanism of action, and to compare ketamine effect with that of thiopental sodium, which is one of intravenous barbiturate anesthetics. Ketamine ($30{\sim}300{\mu}M$), perfused into an adrenal vein for 60 min, dose- and time-dependently inhibited the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh (5.32 mM), high $K^+$ (a direct membrane-depolarizer, 56 mM), DMPP (a selective neuronal nicotinic NN receptor agonist, $100{\mu}M$) and McN-A-343 (a selective muscarinic M1 receptor agonist, $100{\mu}M$). Also, in the presence of ketamine ($100{\mu}M$), the CA secretory responses evoked by veratridine (a voltage-dependent $Na^+$ channel activator, $100{\mu}M$), 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, thiopental sodium ($100{\mu}M$) also caused the inhibitory effects on the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, veratridine, Bay-K-8644, and cyclopiazonic acid. Collectively, these experimental results demonstrate that ketamine inhibits the CA secretion evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors and the membrane depolarization from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland. It seems likely that the inhibitory effect of ketamine is mediated by blocking the influx of both $Ca^{2+}$ and $Na^+$ through voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ and $Na^+$ channels into the rat adrenal medullary chromaffin cells as well as by inhibiting $Ca^{2+}$ release from the cytoplasmic calcium store, which are relevant to the blockade of cholinergic receptors. It is also thought that, on the basis of concentrations, ketamine causes similar inhibitory effect with thiopental in the CA secretion from the perfused rat adrenal medulla.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.23 no.7 s.194
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• pp.603-616
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• 1985