• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.129-132
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• 2004

Single unit responses of the ventral posterior medial (VPM) thalamic neurons to stimulation were monitored in anesthetized rats during activation of contralateral primary somatosensory (SI) cortex by GABA antagonist. The temporal changes of afferent sensory transmission were quantitatively analyzed by poststimulus time histogram (PSTH). Mainly, afferent sensory transmission to VPM thalamus was facilitated (15 neurons of total 23) by GABA antagonist (bicuculline) applied to contralateral cortex, while 7 neurons were suppressed. However, when ipsilateral cortex was inactivated by GABA agonist, musimol, there was significant suppression of afferent sensory transmission of VPM thalamus. This suppressed responsiveness by ipsilateral musimol was not affected by bicuculline applied to contralateral cortex. These results suggest that afferent transmission to VPM thalamus may be subjected to the interhemispheric modulation via ipsilateral cortex during inactivation of GABAergic neurons in contralateral SI cortex.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.27-32
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• 2001

We have characterized the aftereffects of impulse activities on the transmission of afferent sensory to the primary somatosensory (SI) cortex of the anesthetized rats (n=22). Following conditioning stimulation (CS, 10 sec, either 5 Hz or 200 Hz) to the receptive field (RF), quantitative determination of the changes of afferent sensory transmission was done by generating post-stimulus time histogram of unit response to the testing stimulation (TS, at 0.5 Hz) to the RF center (RFC) for 60 min. In one group of experiments, CS was delivered to the RF center (RFC). In another group of experiments, CSs were simultaneously given to both RFC and RF outside (RFO, either forepaw or hindpaw). CS of 5 Hz to RFC exerted irreversible facilitation of sensory transmissions evoked by TS. Simultaneous CSs of 5 Hz to RFC and hindpaw RFO exerted reversible suppression of afferent transmission. However, CSs of 5 Hz to RFC and forepaw RFO did not significantly altered afferent sensory transmission to SI cortex neurons. CS of 200 Hz to RFC exerted irreversible suppression of sensory transmissions up to 60 min of experimental period. Simultaneous CSs of 200 Hz to RFC and RFO did not significantly altered afferent sensory transmission to SI cortex neurons. The profiles of CS-induced modulation of afferent sensory transmission were significantly different between two CS conditions. Thus, this study suggests that activity-dependent modulation of afferent transmission from a RF center to the SI cortex may be significantly altered when remote body part was simultaneously activated.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제11권5호
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• pp.215-219
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• 2007

Small and large conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+(SK_{Ca}\;and\;BK_{Ca})$ channels are implicated in the modulation of neuronal excitability. We investigated how changes in peripheral $K_{Ca}$ channel activity affect mechanical sensitivity as well as the afferent fiber type responsible for $K_{Ca}$ channel-induced mechanical sensitivity. Blockade of $SK_{Ca}$ and $BK_{Ca}$ channels induced a sustained decrease of mechanical threshold which was significantly attenuated by topical application of capsaicin onto afferent fiber and intraplantar injection of 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone. NS1619 selectively attenuated the decrease of mechanical threshold induced by charybdotoxin, but not by apamin. Spontaneous flinching and paw thickness were not significantly different after $K_{Ca}$ channel blockade. These results suggest that mechanical sensitivity can be modulated by $K_{Ca}$ channels on capsaicin-sensitive afferent fibers.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.9-16
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• 2012

이 연구에서는 삼차신경꼬리핵 제 3~4층에서 저역치기계자극정보를 전달하는 일차들신경섬유의 종말과 연접하는 연접이전종말(presynaptic ending; p-ending)들이 어떤 억제성 신경전달물질을 함유하는 지를 분석하고자 하였다. 이를 위해 전기생리학적으로 동정된 고양이콧수염유래 일차들신경종말을 단일 축삭내 HRP주입법으로 표식하였고, GABA와 glycine에 대한 항혈청으로 포매후금입자면역염색법을 시행한 후, 정량적 분석을 실시하였다. 표식종말과 연접하는 16개 p-ending들 중 8개(50%, 8/16) p-ending들은 GABA만을 함유하였으며, 나머지 8개(50%, 8/16) p-ending들은 GABA와 glycine 모두를 함유하는 집단으로 분류할 수 있었다. 또한, 이 두 집단의 p-ending 사이에는 유의한 평균체적의 차이가 보이지 않았으며, 각 p-ending이 함유하는 GABA와 glycine의 상대적 함량은 서로 달랐다. 이러한 결과들은 삼차신경꼬리핵에서 콧수염유래 일차들신경섬유에 의해 전달되는 저역치기계자극정보는 GABA 및 glycine에 의해 연접이전제어(presynaptic modulation)를 받으며, 그 연접이전제어는 각 일차들신경섬유의 종말마다 다르게 나타날 것 이라는 점을 제시한다.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.41-50
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• 2000

Objectives : Acupuncture is expected to have somewhat like the efficacy parallel increasing activity of immune system in Western modem medicine. There, already, are many animal researches on activating effect of acupuncture for the immune system in peripheral organs. So, we carried out this experiment to see whether acupuncture has controlling effect on interleukin-6(IL-6) activity in rat's brain. Methods and Results : We had topical application of IL-6(1U=lpg, $10{\mu}l$) on brain of rat. It reduced afferent sensory transmission to the primary somatosensory(SI) cortex from periphery. Whereas, electrical stimulation(ES, 2Hz, 1.5V, 15min) of ST36(足三里) with application of IL-6 prominently activated afferent sensory transmission. ES of non-acupoint(proximal tail) with IL-6 showed suppression of afferent transmission. ES of ST36 without IL-6 application also exerted facilitation of afferent transmission to the SI cortex. Conclusions : Electoacupuncture(EA) on ST36 has noticeable influences on modulating activation of IL-6 in central nervous system, which do major role in immune system.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.99-103
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• 1994

Single neuronal activities were recorded in the cuneate nucleus of awake rats during rest and running behavior. Movement-induced changes in somatic sensory transmission were tested by generating post-stimulus time histograms of these neurons' responses to stimulation through eleetrodes chronically implanted under the skin of the forepaw, during control resting behavior and during two standardized speeds of locomotor movement: slow (1.0 steps/s), fast (2.0 steps/s). The magnitudes of firing during these responses were measured and normalized as percentage increases over background firing. The averaged evoked unit responses were facilitated by $+59.3{\pm}12.5%\;and\;+25.6{\pm}5.4%$ (SEM) as compared with resting behavior, during slow and fast movement respectively. This is to be compared with the movement-induced sensory suppressions observed previously in the ventrobasal thalamus $(-31.0%{\pm}1.9%)$ and in the primary somatosensory cortex $(-71.2%{\pm}3.8%)$ of slowly running rats. These results suggest that afferent somatosensory information may be uniquely modulated at each sensory relay, such that it may be facilitated at brainstem level and then subjected to suppression at higher somatosensory nuclei during movement.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.143-147
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• 2005

Following peripheral nerve injury, excessive nociceptive inputs result in diverse physiological alterations in the spinal cord substantia gelatinosa (SG), lamina II of the dorsal horn. Here, I report the alterations of excitatory or inhibitory transmission in the SG of a rat model for neuropathic pain ('spared nerve injury'). Results from whole-cell recordings of SG neurons show that the number of distinct primary afferent fibers, identified by graded intensity of stimulation, is increased at 2 weeks after spared nerve injury. In addition, short-term depression, recognized by paired-pulse ratio of excitatory postsynaptic currents, is significantly increased, indicating the increase of glutamate release probability at primary afferent terminals. The peripheral nerve injury also increases the amplitude, but not the frequency, of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents. These data support the hypothesis that peripheral nerve injury modifies spinal pain conduction and modulation systems to develop neuropathic pain.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.81-89
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• 2001

전시냅스 억제(presynaptic inhibition)와 동시냅스 억제(homosynaptic depression)는 보행 시에 분절반사(segmental reflex)를 조절하는 두 가지 독립적인 기전이다. 근방추 피드백(feedback)은 전시냅스 억제(inhibition)를 통해 보행 시 원심성 근육 수축기에서 적절이 조절될 수 있다. 이러한 전시냅스 억제 작용은 H-reflex의 강도로 나타내질 수 있는데, 원심성 근육 수축기 동안 H-reflex의 강도가 약해지는 것으로 보아 전시냅스 억제 작용은 증가되는 것으로 보여진다. 근방추 구심성 피드백(feedback) 역시 동시냅스 억제를 통해서 조절될 수 있다. 따라서 전시냅스와 동시냅스 억제는 보행 시작 중에 반사의 기전을 조절하는 중요한 역할을 한다. 반사의 조절 기전은 알파(alpha) 운동 신경원의 흥분도와 더불어 상위 척수의 기전들을 통해서 영향받고 조절된다. 경직성 마비 환자들은 초기의 입각기, 혹은 유각기 중에 손상된 비정상 비복근 H-reflex 조절기전을 보여준다. 이러한 비정상적인 조절기전은 발바닥의 말초신경을 자극함으로써 부분적으로 회복될 수 있다.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.133-139
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• 2016

The ultrastructural parameters related to synaptic release of endings which are presynaptic to tooth pulp afferent terminals (p-endings) were analyzed to understand the underlying mechanism for presynaptic modulation of tooth pulp afferents. Tooth pulp afferents were labelled by applying wheat-germ agglutinin conjugated horseradish peroxidase to the rat right lower incisor, whereafter electron microscopic morphometric analysis with serial section and reconstruction of p-endings in the trigeminal oral nucleus was performed. The results obtained from 15 p-endings presynaptic to 11 labeled tooth pulp afferent terminals were as follows. P-endings contained pleomorphic vesicles and made symmetrical synaptic contacts with labeled terminals. The p-endings showed small synaptic release-related ultrastructural parameters: volume, $0.82{\pm}0.45{\mu}m^3$ ($mean{\pm}SD$); surface area, $4.50{\pm}1.76{\mu}m^2$; mitochondrial volume, $0.15{\pm}0.07{\mu}m^3$; total apposed surface area, $0.69{\pm}0.24{\mu}m^2$; active zone area, $0.10{\pm}0.04{\mu}m^2$; total vesicle number, $1045{\pm}668.86$; and vesicle density, $1677{\pm}684/{\mu}m^2$. The volume of the p-endings showed strong positive correlation with the following parameters: surface area (r=0.97, P<0.01), mitochondrial volume (r=0.56, P<0.05), and total vesicle number (r=0.73, P<0.05). However, the volume of p-endings did not positively correlate or was very weakly correlated with the apposed surface area (r=-0.12, P=0.675) and active zone area (r=0.46, P=0.084). These results show that some synaptic release-related ultrastructural parameters of p-endings on the tooth pulp afferent terminals follow the "size principle" of Pierce and Mendell (1993) in the trigeminal nucleus oralis, but other parameters do not. Our findings may demonstrate a characteristic feature of synaptic release associated with p-endings.

• Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.512-527
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• 2018

This review provides a comprehensive overview of brain imaging studies of the brain-gut interaction in functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). Functional neuroimaging studies during gut stimulation have shown enhanced brain responses in regions related to sensory processing of the homeostatic condition of the gut (homeostatic afferent) and responses to salience stimuli (salience network), as well as increased and decreased brain activity in the emotional response areas and reduced activation in areas associated with the top-down modulation of visceral afferent signals. Altered central regulation of the endocrine and autonomic nervous responses, the key mediators of the brain-gut axis, has been demonstrated. Studies using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging reported abnormal local and global connectivity in the areas related to pain processing and the default mode network (a physiological baseline of brain activity at rest associated with self-awareness and memory) in FGIDs. Structural imaging with brain morphometry and diffusion imaging demonstrated altered gray- and white-matter structures in areas that also showed changes in functional imaging studies, although this requires replication. Molecular imaging by magnetic resonance spectroscopy and positron emission tomography in FGIDs remains relatively sparse. Progress using analytical methods such as machine learning algorithms may shift neuroimaging studies from brain mapping to predicting clinical outcomes. Because several factors contribute to the pathophysiology of FGIDs and because its population is quite heterogeneous, a new model is needed in future studies to assess the importance of the factors and brain functions that are responsible for an optimal homeostatic state.