• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.233-237
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• 2015

Shikonin, a natural flavonoid found in the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, has been shown to possess many biological functions. The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of shikonin on vascular smooth muscle contractility and to determine the mechanism involved. Denuded aortic rings from male rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded and combined with molecular experiments. Shikonin significantly relaxed fluoride-, thromboxane $A_2$- or phorbol ester-induced vascular contraction suggesting as a possible anti-hypertensive on the agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial nitric oxide synthesis. Furthermore, shikonin significantly inhibited fluoride-induced increases in pMYPT1 levels and phorbol ester-induced increases in pERK1/2 levels suggesting the mechanism involving the inhibition of Rho-kinase activity and the subsequent phosphorylation of MYPT1 and the inhibition of MEK activity and the subsequent phosphorylation of ERK1/2. This study provides evidence regarding the mechanism underlying the relaxation effect of shikonin on agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial function.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.1 s.106
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• pp.96-101
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• 2004

The effects of the ecdysteroid agonist tebufenozide on the larvae of Chironomus flaviplumus and Chironomus riparius were tested in the laboratory. Employing a static exposure setup, chironomids were subjected to various tebufenozide concentrations. In the most treatments it reach-ed a statistically significant difference from the control condition. As the concentration of tebufenozide was increased, a relatively larger proportion of the observed mortality was associated with the metamorphosis and molting process. The larval mortality of C. riparius was high in C. flaviplumus during over 30 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ treatments. In terms of development, the effects of tebufenozide were delayed growth stage in relatively lower concentration such as 10 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ tebufenozide treatments. The rates of succeed adult through the molting process were various in treated concentrations or/and the species.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.299-305
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• 2001

Activation of D1-like dopamine receptors by psychostimulants, such as amphetamine, upregulates the expression of immediate early gene and opioid peptide gene in the striatum. The genomic changes are regulated by phosphorylated transcription factors via complicated intracellular events. To evaluate temporal expression of the transcription factors by dopaminergic stimulation, the D1-like dopamine agonist, amphetamine or SKF82958, was systematically delivered. As intracellular markers in response to the agonist, phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB), Fos-related antigens (FRA) and FosB immunoreactivity (IR) was compared at 20 and 120 min time points in the selected areas of the striatum. Semi-quantitative immunocytochemistry showed that amphetamine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased pCREB-IR at 20 min, sustained up to 60 min and decreased at 120 min after the infusion. Like amphetamine, the full D1 agonist, SKF82958 (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.), also increased pCREB-IR at 20 min, but not at 120 min after the infusion in the dorsal striatum (caudoputaman, CPu) and shell of ventral striatum (nucleus accumbens, NAc). In contrast, FRA- and FosB-IR induced by SKF82958 was significantly increased at 120 min, but not at 20 min after the administration. These data indicate that SKF82958 mimics induction of CREB phosphorylation by amphetamine and differentially regulates temporal induction of pCREB, and FRA and FosB expression in the striatum.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.181-190
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• 1994

In rat atrium the characteristics of purinergic receptors were investigated by observing the effects of some purinergic receptor agonists and antagonists on action potential and contractile force. The statistically significant effects of $ATP(10^{-6}{\sim}10^{-3}M)$ and adenosine $(10^{-6}{\sim}10^{-3}M)$ on normal action potential characteristics were a dose-dependent shortening of action potential duration $(APD_{90})$ by both agents and hyperpolarization by $ATP(10^{-4},10^{-3}M)$. $CAP(10^{-8}{\sim}10^{-4}M)$, an $A_1$ adenosine receptor agonist, shortened $(APD_{90})$ markedly in a dose-dependent manner and these effects were almost abolished by $DPCPX\;(10^{-6}\;M), an $A_1$, adenosine receptor antagonist, but not affected by $DMPX(2{\times}10^{-6}\;M)$, an $A_2$ adenosine receptor agonist. On the other hand, CGS $21680(10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-4}M)$, an $A_2$ adenosine receptor agonist, elicited a slight shortening of $(APD_{90})$ and these effects were inhibited by DPCPX but persisted in the presence of DPMX. Adenosine $(10^{-6}{\sim}10{\-4}\;M)$ decreased the basal contraction of atrial muscle in a dose-dependent manner and these effects were not inhibited by DMPX but by DPCPX. These results suggests that purinergic receptor agonists depress the cardiac activity by a short ening of action potential duration and this effect is mostly mediated by $A_1$ adenosine receptors in rat atrium.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.103-109
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• 2013

ICI 182,780 (ICI) is known as an estrogen receptor antagonist, whereas propyl pyrazole triol (PPT) is an estrogen receptor agonist. In this study, ICI or ICI added with PPT was injected into adult male mice. Body and reproductive organ weights were reduced in the ICI added with PPT group compared to the control group. Further, the ICI and ICI added with PPT groups both showed increases in luminal areas of the seminiferous tubules of the testis, whereas cell heights of efferent ductules and the initial segment of the epididymis were reduced. Sperm count in the caudal epididymis was reduced in the ICI and ICI added with PPT groups. These results show that reproductive tissues were more deeply affected in the ICI added with PPT group. We also demonstrated that treatment with ICI resulted in histological changes in the testis, efferent ductule, and epididymis. Further, alternate treatment with ICI and PPT induced abnormalities in reproductive organs. These results indicate that a high concentration of PPT together with ICI may cause histological abnormalities instead of histological restoration in reproductive organs.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.249-254
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• 2008

The present study was undertaken to determine whether hypoxia influences on the agonist-induced vascular smooth muscle contraction and, if so, to investigate the related mechanism. The measurement of isometric contractions using a computerized data acquisition system was combined with molecular experiments. Hypoxia significantly inhibited fluoride-induced contraction regardless of endothelial function, but there was no relaxation on thromboxane $A_2$ mimetic U-46619-induced contraction suggesting that other pathway such as $Ca^{2+}$ entry or thin filament regulation was not affected. In addition, hypoxia significantly decreased fluoride-induced increase of phospho-myosin-targeting subunit of myosin light chain phosphatase (pMYPT1). Interestingly, hypoxia didn't inhibit significantly phenylephrine-induced contraction suggesting that myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) activity or thin filament regulation is less important on the hypoxia-induced vasorelaxation in the denuded muscle than Rho-kinase activity. In conclusion, this study provides the evidence and possible related mechanism concerning the vasodilation effect of hypoxia on the agonist-specific contraction in rat aortic rings regardless of endothelial function.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.479-486
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• 1994

Effects of catecholamines and the site of receptor of catecholamines were investigated in the longitudinal muscle of the rumen. In order to this experiment, specimens were obtained from 35 Korean Native Cattles, 2-3 years old, in the Kwang-ju area slaughterhouse. Longitudinal muscle strips of rumen were made from sample, and then measured the isometric contraction with physiograph in $37{^{\circ}C}$ organ bath. The results were summarized as follows. 1. 30% of all strips showed rhythmic contraction after short incubation time. 2. Relaxation produced by catecholamines in this preparations increased in a dose-dependant manner. 3. Isoproterenol(${\beta}$-agonist) caused relaxation, but phenylephrine(${\alpha}_1$-agonist) and xylazine(${\alpha}_2$-agonist) were unaffected. 4. The relaxation induced by epinephrine and norepinephrine were not affected by phentolamine(${\alpha}$-blocker) and prazosin(${\alpha}_1$-blocker), yohimbine(${\alpha}_2$-blocker). But propranolol(${\beta}$-antagonist) abolished the effect of catecholamines on relaxation. 5. It is concluded that catecholamines produced relaxation in the longitudinal muscle of rumen via the ${\beta}$-adrenoceptor.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.68-73
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the regulatory mechanism of cerebral blood How of adenosine $A_2$ receptor agonist in the rats, and to define whether its mechanism is mediated by nitric oxide (NO), adenylate cyclase and guanylate cyclase. In pentobarbital-anesthetized, pancuronium-paralyzed and artificially ventilated male Sprague-Dawley rats, all drugs were applied topically to the cerebral cortex. Blood flow from cerebal cortex was measured using laser-Doppler flowmetry. Topical application of an adenosine $A_2$ receptor agonist [5'-(N-cyclopropyl)-carboxamidoadenosine (CPCA; 4 umol/l)] increased cerebral blood flow. This effect of CPCA (4 umol/l) was blocked by pretreatment with NO synthase inhibitor [$N^G$-nitro-L-argine methylester (L-NAME; 140 umol/l)] and adenylate cyclase inhibitor [MDL-12,330 (20 umol/l)]. But the effect of CPCA (4 umol/l) was not blocked by pretreatment with guanylate cyclase inhibitor [LY-83,583 (10 umol/l)]. These results suggest that adenosine $A_2$ receptor increases cerebral blood How. It seems that this action of adenosine $A_2$ receptor is mediated via the NO and the activation of adenylate cyclase in the cerebral cortex of the rats.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the regulatory mechanism of cerebral blood flow of adenosine $A_{2B}$ receptor agonist in the rats, and to define whether its mechanism is mediated by adenylate cyclase and guanylate cyclase. in pentobarbital-anesthetized, pentobrabital-paralyzed and artificially ventilated male Sprague-Dawley rats, all drugs were applied topically to the cerebral cortex. Blood How from cerebral cortex was measured using laser-Doppler flowmetry. Topical application of an adenosine $A_{2B}$ receptor agonist, 5'-N-ethylcar-boxamidoadenosine (NECA; 4 umol/l) increased cerebral blood flow. This effect of NECA (4 umol/l) was not blocked by pretreatment with adenylate cyclase inhibitor, MDL-12330 (20 umol/l). But effect of NECA (4 umol/l) was blocked by pretreatment with guanylate cyclase inhibitor, LY-83383 (10 umol/l). These results suggest that adenosine $A_{2B}$ receptor increases cerebral blood flow. It seems that this action of adenosine $A_{2B}$ receptor is mediated via the activation of guanylate cyclase in the cerebral cortex of the rats.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.100-105
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• 2014

Apigenin, a natural flavonoid found in a variety of vegetables and fruits, has been shown to possess many biological functions. The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of apigenin on vascular smooth muscle contractility and to determine the mechanism involved. Denuded aortic rings from male rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded and combined with molecular experiments. Apigenin significantly relaxed fluoride-, thromboxane $A_2$ mimetic- or phorbol ester-induced vascular contraction, which suggests that apigenin could be an anti-hypertensive that reduces agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial nitric oxide synthesis. Furthermore, apigenin significantly inhibited fluoride-induced increases in pMYPT1 levels and phorbol ester-induced increases in pERK1/2 levels, which suggests the mechanism involving the inhibition of Rho-kinase and MEK activity and the subsequent phosphorylation of MYPT1 and ERK1/2. This study provides evidence regarding the mechanism underlying the relaxation effect of apigenin on agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial function.