• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.552-560
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• 2023

Background: Ginseng Radix (Panax ginseng Meyer, Araliaceae) has been used medicinally to treat the brain and nervous system problems worldwide. Recent studies have revealed physiological effects that could potentially benefit cognitive performance or mood. The present study aimed to investigate the antidepressant effects of Korean red ginseng water extract (KGE) and its active component in an unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS)-induced animal model and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The antidepressant potential of the UCMS model was evaluated using the sucrose preference test and open field tests. The behavioral findings were further corroborated by the assessment of neurotransmitters and their metabolites from the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of rats. Three doses of KGE (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) were orally administered during the experiment. Furthermore, the mechanism underlying the antidepressant-like action of KGE was examined by measuring the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/CREB, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) proteins in the prefrontal cortex of UCMS-exposed rats. Results: KGE treatment normalized UCMS-induced depression-related behaviors. Neurotransmitter studies conducted after completing behavioral experiments demonstrated that KGE caused a reduction in the ratio of serotonin and dopamine, indicating a decrease in serotonin and dopamine turnover. Moreover, the expression of BDNF, Nrf2, Keap1 and AKT were markedly increased by KGE in the prefrontal cortex of depressed rats. Conclusion: Our results provide evidence that KGE and its constituents exert antidepressant effects that mediate the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems and expression of BDNF protein in an animal model.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.89-103
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• 2006

Objectives: Recently, the effect of acupuncture has been approved not only in the East but also in the West, so the interest on acupuncture was greatly improved. Especially, functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) was embossed as the study tool for the mechanism of acupuncture noninvasively and many studies on the mechanism of acupuncture using fMRI were carried out. We archived the fMRI study on the brain activity induced by manual acupuncture at BL62(申脈). Methods: The study was the acupuncture at BL62(申脈) and we acquired 9 fMRI results from 6 persons$(age\;20{\sim}30,\;4\;male\;and\;2\;female)$. These studies employed The block design for mapping brain activity and acupuncture was perfomed at BL62(申脈) on the left foot. Results: The brain related motor function was cerebellum, basal ganglia and cerebral cortex and thalamus connected these elements. In the result of this study, the regions of significant activation in the cerebellum was centered on the spinocerebellum in the anterior lobe, so we presumed that this result showed the input of stimulation by the acupuncture on BL62(申脈). But basal ganglia and cerebral cortex showed the regions of significant activation in the left larger than the right and regions of the cerebral cortex was the motor and sensory cortex. Such a result explained that acupuncture at BL62(申脈) could have influence the motor function and acupuncture at left BL62(申脈) could affect the right side through the activation of the left basal ganglia and cerebral cortex. Conclusions: In the theory of crossing needling at collaterals(繆刺論), it the pathogenic factor invaded in the Yang Heel channel(陽?脈) that was one of the eight Extra meridians(奇經八脈), we recognized the disease of the collateral channel and used contralateral BL62(申脈) for treatment of the Yang Heel channel(陽?脈). Moreover the result of this study could bear the construction that acupuncture at the left BL62(申脈) treats the contralateral lesion and this construction is related to the theory of crossing needling at collaterals(繆刺論).

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.163-170
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• 2014

본 연구는 경도인지장애가 동반된 환자를 대상으로 뇌 자기공명영상에서 인지 영역에 대한 대뇌 피질 두께를 측정하고 신경심리검사 결과와 비교하여 신경해부학적 상관관계를 규명하고자 하였다. 이를 위하여 파킨슨병으로 최초 진단 받고 신경심리검사를 시행한 78명(경도인지장애군: 39명; 비인지장애군: 39명)과 정상인 그룹 32명을 선정하였다. 신경심리검사에서 경도인지장애군과 비인지장애군의 상관관계와 신경심리검사와 뇌 자기공명영상에서 대뇌 피질 두께의 상관관계는 독립표본 T 검증 또는 피어슨 상관분석을 실시하였으며 수집된 자료의 유의 수준은 p<0.05에서 검증하였다. 결론적으로 경도인지장애를 동반한 파킨슨병 환자는 뇌 자기공명영상에서 양측 쐐기압소엽과 우하측두엽의 대뇌 피질 두께가 통계적으로 유의하게 감소하였으며 인지 기능 평가를 위한 신경심리검사에서 시공간 기능, 언어 및 시각 기억력 기능이 저하되었다. 특히 언어 및 시각 기억력 영역에 대한 신경심리검사와 신경해부학적으로 좌측 쐐기앞소엽에서 상관관계가 있었다.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.73-80
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• 2005

We investigated the activation of the cerebral cortex during active movement, passive movement, and functional electrical stimulation (FES), which was provided on wrist extensor muscles. A functional magnetic resonance imaging study was performed on 5 healthy volunteers. Tasks were the extension of right wrist by active movement, passive movement, and FES at the rate of .5 Hz. The regions of interest were measured in primary motor cortex (M1), primary somatosensory cortex (SI), secondary somatosensory cortex (SII), and supplementary motor area (SMA). We found that the contralateral SI and SII were significantly activated by all of three tasks. The additional activation was shown in the areas of ipsilateral S1 (n=2), and contralateral (n=1) or ipsilateral (n=2) SII, and bilateral SMA (n=3) by FES. Ipsilateral M1 (n=1), and contralateral (n=1) or ipsilateral SII (n=1), and contralateral SMA (n=1) were activated by active movement. Also, Contralateral SMA (n=3) was activated by passive movement. The number of activated pixels on SM1 by FES ($12{\pm}4$ pixels) was smaller than that by active movement ($18{\pm}4$ pixels) and nearly the same as that by passive movement ($13{\pm}4$ pixels). Findings reveal that active movement, passive movement, and FES had a direct effect on cerebral cortex. It suggests that above modalities may have the potential to facilitate brain plasticity, if applied with the refined-specific therapeutic intervention for brain-injured patients.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.13-27
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• 2009

This study aimed to validate neuroprotective effect of Chungpaesagan-tang on the early stage of cerebral ischemic damage. Cerebral ischemic damage was induced by the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2 hours in the Sprague-Dawley rats. Water extract of Chungpaesagan-tang(8.7g/kg) was administered orally twice at 1 and 4 hours after the MCAO. Neurological score was tested at 3 and 24 hours after the MCAO and Chungpaesagan-tang administration. At 24 hours after the MCAO, infarct volume and edema ratio was evaluated with the TTC staining. Apoptotic cell death in cerebral cortex and caudate putamen was observed with cresyl violet staining and TUNEL labeling. Bax expression in the MCAO rat brain was stained with immunohistochemistry. Chungpaesagan-tang improved neurological and behavioral impairment of the MCAO rats and reduced infarct area, infarct volume and brain edema formation. Chungpaesagan-tang attenuated cell death percentage in cortex penumbra and reduced TUNEL positive cells in cortex penumbra and in caudate putamen of the MCAO rats. Chungpaesagan-tang reduced Bax positive neurons in caudate putamen and reduced c-Fos positive neurons in cortex penumbra of the MCAO rats. Chungpaesagan-tang intensified neuronal HSP72 expression in cortex penumbra of the MCAO rats. In results, Chunpaesagan-tang reduces infarct volume and edema formation through anti-apoptotic effect. This result suggests that Chunapaesagan-tang has an adequate neuroprotective effect on the early stage of cerebral ischemic damage.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.107-113
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• 1997

Antisera against the myotropic neuropeptide leucokinin I, originally isolated from head extracts of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae, have been used to investigate the distribution of the leucokinin I-immunoreactive (LK I-IR) neurons in the brain of the common cutworm, Spodoptera Iitura, during postembryonic development. The LK I-IR neurons are found at the larval stages (excluding first instar larval stage), pupal stages, and adult stage, of which the brains have been examined in this experiment. The number of the LK I-IR neurons in the brain increases from the second instar larva to the fifth instar larva which has about 32, the largest number in all postembryonic stages. Thereafter, the LK I-IR neurons begin to decrease in number. During the pupal stages, smaller number of LK I-IR neurons persist in the brains; 6 or 4. At adult stage the brain contains 8 LK I-IR neurons. The LK I-IR cell bodies are distributed in each dorsal cortex of both cerebral hemispheres in the second instar larva and through all the neuromeres of the brain during later larval stages, despite of being a large number of the LK I-IR cell bodies in dorsolateral neuromeres. At pupal stages, most of the LK I-IR cell bodies are found in the pars intercerebralis. Extremely small number of the LK I-IR cell bodies are localized in the pars lateral is. Adult brain contains the LK I-IR cell bodies in the pars intercerebralis and the middle cortex of the posterior brain. The LK I-IR nerve processes can be easily found in the neuropils of almost all the neuromeres in the brains of third, fourth, fifth and sixth instar larvae. Most of the LK I-IR nerve fibers in those brains are originated from the LK I-IR cell bodies located in the brains. The LK I-IR cell bodies which have very weak reactivities to the antisera do not show projection of the LK I-IR nerve processes in the brains.

• 분석과학
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• 제13권5호
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• pp.630-635
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• 2000

전기화학검출기를 이용한 HPLC법으로 흰쥐의 뇌 부위별 신경전달물질의 함량을 측정하였고 이것을 이용하여 뇌기능 개선에 빈용되는 원지, 육두구, 산조인, 석창포, 상기생, 맥문동, 몰약의 메탄올 추출물이 에탄올 투여 흰쥐의 뇌 부위별 신경전달 물질의 함량변화에 미치는 영향을 검토하였다. 에탄올 투여에 의해 전피질의 dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (DOPAC) 및 serotonin (5-HT) 함량이, 해마의 5-HT 함량이 각각 생리식염수 투여군에 비해 증가하였고, 전피질의 ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid(GABA) 함량은 생리식염수 투여군에 비해 감소하였다. 에탄올 투여 흰쥐의 선조체와 전피질의 DA 함량은 생약 추출물의 투여로 증가되는 경향을 보였다. 특히, 몰약 및 상기생은 에탄을 투여 휜쥐의 전피질에서 DA함량은 유의적으로 증가시키는 반면, 5-HT 함량은 유의적으로 감소시키는 것으로 나타났다. 몰약, 육두구, 상기생은 에탄올 투여 흰쥐의 선조체에서 GABA 함량을 유의적으로 감소시켰다. 이러한 결과는 실험에 사용된 생약 추출물의 작용이 에탄올 투여 흰쥐에서 뇌 부위 및 신경전달물질에 대해 선택적으로 나타나고 있음을 보여준다.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.279-287
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• 2007

Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element indispensable for brain development and function; either excess or deficiency in Cu can cause brain malfunction. While it is known that Cu and Fe homeostasis are strictly regulated in the brain, the question as to how systemic Fe status may influence brain Cu distribution was poorly understood. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that dietary Fe condition affects Cu transport into the brain, leading to an altered brain distribution of Cu. Rats were divided into 3 groups; an Fe-deficient (Fe-D) group which received an Fe-D diet ($3{\sim}5 mg$ Fe/kg), a control group that was fed with normal diet (35mg Fe/kg), and an Fe-overload group whose diet contained an Fe-O diet (20g carbonyl Fe/kg). Following a 4-week treatment, the concentration of Cu/Fe in serum, CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) and brain were determined by AAS, and the uptake rates of Cu into choroids plexus (CP), CSF, brain capillary and parenchyma were determined by an in situ brain perfusion, followed by capillary depletion. In Fe-D and Fe-O, serum Fe level decreased by 91% (p<0.01) and increased by 131% (p<0.01), respectively, in comparison to controls. Fe concentrations in all brain regions tested (frontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus, mid brain, and cerebellum) were lower than those of controls in Fe-D rats (p<0.05), but not changed in Fe-O rats. In Fe-D animals, serum and CSF Cu were not affected, while brain Cu levels in all tested regions (frontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus, mid brain, and cerebellum) were significantly increased (p<0.05). Likewise, the unidirectional transport rate constants $(K_{in})$ of Cu in CP, CSF, brain capillary and parenchyma were significantly increased (p<0.05) in the Fe-D rats. In contrast, with Fe-O, serum, CSF and brain Cu concentrations were significantly decreased as compared to controls (p<0.05). Cu transport was no significant change of Cu transport of serum in Fe-O rats. The mRNA levels of five Cu-related transporters were not affected by Fe status except DMT1 in the CP, which was increased in Fe-D and decreased in Fe-O. Our data suggest that Cu transport into brain and ensuing brain Cu levels are regulated by systemic Fe status. Fe deficiency appears to augment Cu transport by brain barriers, leading to an accumulation of Cu in brain parenchyma.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.482-486
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• 2012

Cerebral monoamines play important roles as neurotransmitters that are associated with various stressful stimuli. Some components such as ginsenosides (triterpenoidal glycosides derived from the Ginseng Radix) may interact with monoamine systems. The aim of this study was to determine whether ginsenoside Rb1 can modulate levels of the monoamines such as dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (EP), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), 5-hydorxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-hydroxindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in mice frontal cortex and cerebellum in response to immobilization stress. Mice were treated with ginsenoside Rb1 (10 mg/kg, oral) before a single 30 min immobilization stress. Acute immobilization stress resulted in elevation of monoamine levels in frontal cortex and cerebellum. Pretreatment with ginsenoside Rb1 attenuated the stress-induced changes in the levels of monoamines in each region. The present findings showed the anti-stress potential of ginsenoside Rb1 in relation to regulation effects on the cerebral monoaminergic systems. Therefore, the ginsenoside Rb1 may be a useful candidate for treating several brain symptoms related with stress.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.421-428
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• 2005

The tenn 'Brain plasticity' has been identified that our central nervous system is continuously being adapted and modulated according to environmental needs and demands, and has been used to encompass the multifarious mechanisms related to learning, development, and recovery from damage to the nervous system. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate cortical reorganization in a 26-year-old right-handed hemiparetic patient with traumatic primary motor cortex (M1) injury, using functional MRI (fMRI). The unaffected (left) primary sensori-motor cortex centered on the precentral knob was activated during unaffected (right) hand movements. However, the medial area of the injured M1 was activated during affected (left) hand movements. It seems that the motor function of the affected hand in this patient was reorganized into the medial area of the injured precentral knob. These investigations provide a great useful information and clinical evidences with the specialized clinician in stroke physical therapy about patient's prognosis and therapeutic guidelines.