• Animal cells and systems
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.211-216
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• 2001

Polyclonal antiserum against Manduca sexta allatotropin has been utilized to investigate the localization of allatotropin-immunoreactivity in the brain of the si1k moth Bombyx mori. Manduca sexta allatotropin-immunoreactive (Mas-AT-IR) neurons were found in all larval brains investigated, but not in prepupal, pupal and adult brains. In the larval stages, first appearance of Mas-AT-immunoreactivity w8s shown in the brain of first instar larvae, which contains four pairs of bilateral Mas-AT-IR cell bodies. Labeled neurons increased to six pairs in the second instar larval brain, including two pairs of median neurosecretory cells in the pars intercerebralis. In the third and fourth instar larvae, five pairs of labeled cell bodies were distributed throughout each brain. In the fifth instar, there were about ten pairs of bilateral cell bodies in the day-1 brain, about seven pairs in the day-3 brains, and five pairs in the day-5 brains, respectively. Mas-AT-labeling was observed in both axons within nervi corpora cavdiaci (NCC) 1+11 and corpora allata. This suggests that the Mas-AT produced from the brain neurons is transported via some axons of the NCC 1+11 and nervi corpora allati I to the corpora allata, which appears to be a main accumulation site for the Mas-AT neuropeptide in some brain neurons produced in B. mori.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제42권11호
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• pp.739-746
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• 2019

Significant knowledge about the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been gained in the last century; however, the understanding of its causes of onset remains limited. Late-onset AD is observed in about 95% of patients, and APOE4-encoding apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) is strongly associated with these cases. As an apolipoprotein, the function of ApoE in brain cholesterol transport has been extensively studied and widely appreciated. Development of new technologies such as human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing tools have enabled us to develop human brain model systems in vitro and readily manipulate genomic information. In the context of these advances, recent studies provide strong evidence that abnormal cholesterol metabolism by ApoE4 could be linked to AD-associated pathology. In this review, we discuss novel discoveries in brain cholesterol dysregulation by ApoE4. We further elaborate cell type-specific roles in cholesterol regulation of four major brain cell types, neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes, and how its dysregulation can be linked to AD pathology.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.402-407
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• 2005

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown potential for cardiac repair following myocardial injury, but this approach is limited by their poor viability after transplantation. To reduce cell loss after transplantation, we introduced the fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) gene ex vivo before transplantation. The isolated MSCs produced colonies with a fibroblast-like morphology in 2 weeks; over 95% expressed CD71, and 28% expressed the cardiomyocyte-specific transcription factor, Nkx2.5, as well as ${\alpha}$-skeletal actin, Nkx2.5, and GATA4. In hypoxic culture, the FGF-2-transfected MSCs (FGF-2-MSCs) secreted increased levels of FGF-2 and displayed a threefold increase in viability, as well as increased expression of the anti-apoptotic gene, Bcl2, and reduced DNA laddering. They had functional adrenergic receptors, like cardiomyocytes, and exposure to norepinephrine led to phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Viable cells persisted 4 weeks after implantation of $5.0{\times}10^5$ FGF-2-MSCs into infarcted myocardia. Expression of cardiac troponin T (CTn T) and a voltage-gated $Ca^{2+}$ channel (CaV2.1) increased, and new blood vessels formed. These data suggest that genetic modification of MSCs before transplantation could be useful for treating myocardial infarction and end-stage cardiac failure.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.549-554
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• 1998

Tissue factor (TF), a principal initiator of the veertebrate coagulation cascade, is expressed in organ tissues, cells and blood. TF is konwn to be induced in endothelial cells, monocytes and macrophages by inflammatory stimuli and in many pathologic conditions. By using the modified method for in vido TF activity assay, we found that turpentine oil injection as an inflamatory stimulus also induced the TF activity in lung and brain tissues of rats. And the age-related increase in Tf activity was observed in healthy rat brain tissue.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.29-33
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• 2015

The brain maintains homeostasis and normal microenvironment through dynamic interactions of neurons and neuroglial cells to perform the proper information processing and normal cognitive functions. Recent post-mortem investigations and animal model studies demonstrated that the various brain areas such as cerebral cortex, hippocampus and amygdala have abnormalities in neuroglial numbers and functions in subjects with mental illnesses including schizophrenia, dementia and mood disorders like major depression and bipolar disorder. These findings highlight the putative role and involvement of neuroglial cells in mental disorders. Herein I discuss the physiological roles of neuroglial cells such as astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia in maintaining normal brain functions and their abnormalities in relation to mental disorders. Finally, all these findings could serve as a useful starting point for potential therapeutic concept and drug development to cure unnatural behaviors and abnormal cognitive functions observed in mental disorders.

• 한국동물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국동물학회 2001년도 한국생물과학협회 학술발표대회
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• pp.214.2-215
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• 2001

No Abstract, See Full Text

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.425-432
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• 2016

In addition to classical synaptic transmission, information is transmitted between cells via the activation of extrasynaptic receptors that generate persistent tonic current in the brain. While growing evidence supports the presence of tonic NMDA current ($I_{NMDA}$) generated by extrasynaptic NMDA receptors (eNMDARs), the functional significance of tonic $I_{NMDA}$ in various brain regions remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that activation of eNMDARs that generate INMDA facilitates the ${\alpha}$-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-proprionate receptor (AMPAR)-mediated steady-state current in supraoptic nucleus (SON) magnocellular neurosecretory cells (MNCs). In $low-Mg^{2+}$ artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF), glutamate induced an inward shift in $I_{holding}$ ($I_{GLU}$) at a holding potential ($V_{holding}$) of -70 mV which was partly blocked by an AMPAR antagonist, NBQX. NBQX-sensitive $I_{GLU}$ was observed even in normal aCSF at $V_{holding}$ of -40 mV or -20 mV. $I_{GLU}$ was completely abolished by pretreatment with an NMDAR blocker, AP5, under all tested conditions. AMPA induced a reproducible inward shift in $I_{holding}$ ($I_{AMPA}$) in SON MNCs. Pretreatment with AP5 attenuated $I_{AMPA}$ amplitudes to ~60% of the control levels in $low-Mg^{2+}$ aCSF, but not in normal aCSF at $V_{holding}$ of -70 mV. $I_{AMPA}$ attenuation by AP5 was also prominent in normal aCSF at depolarized holding potentials. Memantine, an eNMDAR blocker, mimicked the AP5-induced $I_{AMPA}$ attenuation in SON MNCs. Finally, chronic dehydration did not affect $I_{AMPA}$ attenuation by AP5 in the neurons. These results suggest that tonic $I_{NMDA}$, mediated by eNMDAR, facilitates AMPAR function, changing the postsynaptic response to its agonists in normal and osmotically challenged SON MNCs.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.299-305
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• 2012

Endochondral bone formation is the process by which mesenchymal cells condense to become chondrocytes, which ultimately form new bone. The process of chondrogenic differentiation and hypertrophy is critical for bone formation and as such is regulated by many factors. In this study, we aimed to indentify novel factors that regulate chondrogenesis. We investigated the possible role of isopsoralen in induction of chondrogenic differentiation in clonal mouse chondrogenic ATDC5 cells. Isopsoralen treatment stimulated the accumulation of cartilage nodules in a dose-dependent manner. Further, ATDC5 cells treated with isopsoralen were stained more intensely with Alcian blue than control cells, suggesting that isopsoralen increases the synthesis of matrix proteoglycans. Similarly, isopsoralen markedly induced the activation of alkaline phosphatase activity compared with control cells. Isopsoralen enhanced the expressions of chondrogenic marker genes such as collagen II, collagen X, OCN, Smad4 and Sox9 in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, isopsoralen induced the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 MAP kinase, but not that of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Isopsoralen significantly enhanced the protein expression of BMP-2 in a time-dependent manner. PD98059 and SB 203580, inhibitors of ERK and p38 MAPK, respectively, decreased the number of stained cells treated with isopsoralen. Taken together, these results suggest that isopsoralen mediates a chondromodulating effect by BMP-2 or MAPK signaling pathways, and is therefore a possible therapeutic agent for bone growth disorders.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.37-51
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• 2008

Purpose : This paper focuses on the emerging concept that adult central nervous system neurogenesis can be regulated by various physical activity, enriched environment, and pathological conditions. Neurogenesis-the production of new neuron-is an ongoing process that persists in the adult brain of mammalian, including humans. Result : The adult brain was thought be limited in its regenerative function. However, this concepts changed, recent evidence of neurogenesis in certain adult brain areas such as SVZ(subventricular zone) and SGZ(subgranular zone) in hippocampus, raised possibility for improved treatment for patient with stroke. Neural plasticity has an adaptive purpose, because an ability of the brain to change in response to peripheral stimulation, physical activity, experience, and injury. Conclusions : The major function of the neurogenesis in adult brain seems to be replacing the neuron that die regularly in discrete adult brain regions. These cells are capable of functionally integrating into neighboring neural cells, and reconnecting to the correct neural networks. This review suggest that various intervention, including physical activity, voluntary movement training, skilled forelimb reaching training, and enriched environment, induced neural cell production in certain adult brain, and associated with functional recovery after stroke.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.65-71
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• 2008

The present study examined the inhibitory effect of licorice compounds glycyrrhizin and a metabolite $18{\beta}$-glycyrrhetinic acid on the neurotoxicity of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in the mouse and on the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ($MPP^+$)-induced cell death in differentiated PC12 cells. MPTP treatment increased the activities of total superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase and the levels of malondialdehyde and carbonyls in the brain compared to control mouse brain. Co-administration of glycyrrhizin (16.8 mg/kg) attenuated the MPTP effect on the enzyme activities and formation of tissue peroxidation products. In vitro assay, licorice compounds attenuated the $MPP^+$-induced cell death and caspase-3 activation in PC12 cells. Glycyrrhizin up to $100{\mu}M$ significantly attenuated the toxicity of $MPP^+$. Meanwhile, $18{\beta}$-glycyrrhetinic acid showed a maximum inhibitory effect at $10{\mu}M$; beyond this concentration the inhibitory effect declined. Glycyrrhizin and $18{\beta}$-glycyrrhetinic acid attenuated the hydrogen peroxide- or nitrogen species-induced cell death. Results from this study indicate that glycyrrhizin may attenuate brain tissue damage in mice treated with MPTP through inhibitory effect on oxidative tissue damage. Glycyrrhizin and $18{\beta}$-glycyrrhetinic acid may reduce the $MPP^+$ toxicity in PC12 cells by suppressing caspase-3 activation. The effect seems to be ascribed to the antioxidant effect.