• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.36-42
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• 2013

Objectives: Shengmaisan (SMS) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription widely used for the treatment of diverse organs in Korea. The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells that play an important role in the generation of coordinated gastrointestinal (GI) motility. We have aimed to investigate the effects of SMS in the ICCs in the mouse small intestine. Methods: To dissociate the ICCs, we used enzymatic digestions from the small intestine in a mouse. After that, the ICCs were identified immunologically by using the anti-c-kit antibody. In the ICCs, the electrophysiological whole-cell patch-clamp configuration was used to record pacemaker potentials in the cultured ICCs. Results: The ICCs generated pacemaker potentials in the mouse small intestine. SMS produced membrane depolarization with concentration-dependent manners in the current clamp mode. Pretreatment with a $Ca^{2+}$ free solution and thapsigargin, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor in the endoplasmic reticulum, stopped the generation of the pacemaker potentials. In the case of $Ca^{2+}$-free solutions, SMS induced membrane depolarizations. However, when thapsigargin in a bath solution was applied, the membrane depolarization was not produced by SMS. The membrane depolarizations produced by SMS were inhibited by U-73122, an active phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitors. Furthermore, chelerythrine and calphostin C, a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors had no effects on SMS-induced membrane depolarizations. Conclusions: These results suggest that SMS might affect GI motility by modulating the pacemaker activity through an internal $Ca^{2+}$- and PLC-dependent and PKC-independent pathway in the ICCs.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 1999

The rigor-mortis progress of cultured olive flounder spiked at the brain started much faster than that of wild one. They attained full rigor state after 30 hrs at $0^{\circ}C$, 36 hrs at $5^{\circ}C$ and 50 hrs at $10^{\circ}C$ in the cultured flounder, while after 36 hrs at $0^{\circ}C$, 50 hrs at $5^{\circ}C$, and 60 hrs at $10^{\circ}C$ in the wild. ATP concentration in the muscle was around $5.9\mu mol/g$ for wild and $6.2\mu mol/g$ for cultured flounder. ATP breakdown progressed rapidly in $0^{\circ}C$ samples, followed by $5^{\circ}C$ and $10^{\circ}C$ samples. $Mg^{2+}$-ATPase activity of myofibrillar protein in the presence of 0.25mM CaCb was higher in cultured myofibri1lar protein than in wild one. $Mg^{2+}$-ATPase activities of myofibrillar protein increased during storage in samples stored at $0^{\circ}C$ and $5^{\circ}C$ while decreased in samples stored at $10^{\circ}C$. The level of breaking strength of muscle immediately after death was higher in the wild muscle than in the cultured muscle. The breaking strength reached maximum level at 10 hrs after death in both samples.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.83-94
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• 1997

Stomatal closing by ozone and water stress could reduce further ozone injury by inhibition of ozone influx to the tissue. Direct effect of ozone on stomata can be explained from two aspects which are a stimulation of stomatal closing and an inhibition of stomatal opening. An increase of $Ca^{2+}$ influx into cytoplasm by ozone could stimulate potassium efflux ion channel and inhibits inward potassium ion channels. By this mechanism ozone could induce stomatal closing. On the other hand, ozone could inhibit stomatal opening by affecting the activity of $H^{+}$ dependent ATPase of the membrane in guard cells. This would inhibit proton efflux which precede stomatal opening. It is also possible that ozone could reduce the activity of photosynthesis in guard cells which lead to affect the production of osmotically active sugars and energy. Indirect effect of ozone to stomata is through the effect of $CO_2$ elevation as a result of damage of the photozynthetic machinery. This indirect effect is slower than the direct effect.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.164-179
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• 2002

Object: Death rate due to hypertension, atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease and cerebral infarction induced by Westernized diet and increased average life span is on the rise. Decrease in blood circulation, activation of thrombus generation and intravascular lipid accumulation, cited as the principal causes of the above mentioned diseases in recent studies, result in circulatory disturbance and blood vessel obstruction leading to ischemic cell death of heart, brain and peripheral vessels. Method: We investigated the biochemical changes in microvascular permeability, aggregation of platelet and the intravascular lipid accumulation in induced-diabetic rat using Streptozotocin. We also studied the effects of Woohwangcheongsirn-won after oral administration on blood circulation, platelet function and lipid metabolism. The results are as follows: I. Woohwangcheongsim-won increased blood circulation in microvessels. 2. Woohwangcheongsim-won increased the reduced erythrocyte deformability in diabetes. 3. Woohwangcheongsim-won induced the reduction of contents of 2, 3-DPG, but failed to affect the reduced contents of ATP in erythrocyte in diabetes. 4. Woohwangcheongsim-won reduced the activity of Ca/sup 2+/-ATPase in the membrane of erythrocyte. 5. Woohwangcheongsim-won reduced the platelet aggregation evoked by platelet agglutinin factor. 6. Woohwangcheongsim-won reduced the production of platelet-derived granules. 7. Woohwangcheongsim-won reduced the production of metabolites of arachidonic acid in diabetes, and also reduced the production of increased thromboxane B2. 8. Woohwangcheongsim-won reduced the synthesis of oxidized LDL-cholesterol. In conclusion, Woohwangcheongsim-won enhanced blood circulation in microvesseles, erythrocyte deformability and inhibited the increased platelet aggregation and the synthesis of oxidized LDL-cholesterol in diabetes. Therefore Woohwangcheongsim-won is believed to positively affect blood circulation (J Korean Oriental Med 2002;23(2):164-179)

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.525-531
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• 2009

We studied the effect of carbachol on pacemaker currents in cultured interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) from the mouse small intestine by muscarinic stimulation using a whole cell patch clamp technique and $Ca^{2+}$-imaging. ICC generated periodic pacemaker potentials in the current-clamp mode and generated spontaneous inward pacemaker currents at a holding potential of -70 mV. Exposure to carbachol depolarized the membrane and produced tonic inward pacemaker currents with a decrease in the frequency and amplitude of the pacemaker currents. The effects of carbachol were blocked by 1-dimethyl-4-diphenylacetoxypiperidinium, a muscarinic $M_3$ receptor antagonist, but not by methotramine, a muscarinic $M_2$ receptor antagonist. Intracellular $GDP-{\beta}-S$ suppressed the carbachol-induced effects. Carbachol-induced effects were blocked by external $Na^+$-free solution and by flufenamic acid, a non-selective cation channel blocker, and in the presence of thapsigargin, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor in the endoplasmic reticulum. However, carbachol still produced tonic inward pacemaker currents with the removal of external $Ca^{2+}$. In recording of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations using fluo 3-AM dye, carbachol increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations with increasing of $Ca^{2+}$ oscillations. These results suggest that carbachol modulates the pacemaker activity of ICC through the activation of non-selective cation channels via muscarinic $M_3$ receptors by a G-protein dependent intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release mechanism.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.555-561
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• 2019

We examined the quality characteristics of four kinds of Alaska pollack Theragra chalcogramma surimi (APS), five kinds of golden threadfin bream Nemipterus virgatus surimi (GTS), and two kinds of giant squid Ommastrephes bartrami surimi (GSS) used in Korea. The volatile basic nitrogen contents of APS, GTS, and GSS increased with decreasing grade to 6.8-9.8, 5.5-8.3, and 143.5-177.7 mg/100 g, respectively. The Ca²⁺-ATPase activities of APS and GTS decreased with decreasing grade to 0.63-0.83 and 0.60-0.80 pi μmole/min/mg, respectively. The Ca²⁺-ATPase activity of RA-grade GSS was 0.82-0.91 pi μmole/min/mg. The whiteness values of APS, GTS, and GSS heat-induced gels were 54.0-71.4, 53.9-71.0, and 52.2-70.3, respectively, and that of both APS and GTS decreased with decreasing grade. The gel strengths of APS and GTS heat-induced gels were 412.3-769.4 and 280.2-456.5 g·cm, respectively, and decreased with decreasing grade. The total amino acid contents of SA-grade APS, SSA-grade GTS, and RA-grade GSS were 17,328.1, 17,965.0, and 14,846.8 mg/100 g, respectively, and the major amino acids were glutamic acid, aspartic acid, arginine, leucine, lysine, proline, alanine, and phenylalanine. The primary minerals were sodium (136.6-164.9 mg/100 g), potassium (45.7-160.4 mg/100 g), phosphorus (35.0-73.5 mg/100 g), sulfur (22.8-56.4 mg/100 g), and calcium (18.0-203.4 mg/100 g).

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.70-77
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• 1990

The change of phosphatase activities of the epididymal spermatozoa has been examined during epididymal maturation in mouse. The quantitative analysis of phQsphatase activities have been carried out using the method modified by Emst(1975). The results of experiment were summarized as the followings. Total protein of the caput epididyrnal spermatozoa(CPS) was measured as 59.1 $\pm$8.4(mg/10 9 spermatozoa), and that of the cauda epididymal spermatozoa(CDS) was 14.0$\pm$12.3(mg/10 9 spermatozoa). When phosphatase activities of the CDS in basic reaction medium were 29.2% in alkaline phosphatase, 44.9% in ATPse and 53.8% in acid phosphatase. The activities were eminently decreased in all CDS in contrast to those of CPS. The alkaline phosphatase and ATPase activities of K+ -dependent were decreased in CDS when compared with caput epididymal spermatozoa, and alkaline phosphatase, ATPase and acid phosphatase activities of $Ca^2$+ -dependent were increased in homogenized spermatozoa when compared with intact spermatozoa. From these results, it may be concluded that the decrease of phosphatases activities in spermatozoa during epididymal maturation may play some significant roles in acquiring fertilizing capability.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.397-405
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• 2001

The ryanodine receptor, a $Ca^{2+}$ release channel of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), is responsible for the rapid release of $Ca^{2+}$ that activates cardiac muscle contraction. In the excitation-contraction coupling cascade, activation of SR $Ca^{2+}$ release channel is initiated by the activity of sarcolemmal $Ca^{2+}$ channels, the dihydropyridine receptors. Previous study showed that the relaxation defect of diabetic heart was due to the changes of the expressional levels of SR $Ca^{2+}$ATPase and phospholamban. In the diabetic heart contractile abnormalities were also observed, and one of the mechanisms for these changes could include alterations in the expression and/or activity levels of various $Ca^{2+}$ regulatory proteins involving cardiac contraction. In the present study, underlying mechanisms for the functional derangement of the diabetic cardiomyopathy were investigated with respect to ryanodine receptor, and dihydropyridine receptor at the transcriptional and translational levels. Quantitative changes of ryanodine receptors and the dihydropyridine receptors, and the functional consequences of those changes in diabetic heart were investigated. The levels of protein and mRNA of the ryanodine receptor in diabetic rats were comparable to these of the control. However, the binding capacity of ryanodine was significantly decreased in diabetic rat hearts. Furthermore, the reduction in the binding capacity of ryanodine receptor was completely restored by insulin. This result suggests that there were no transcriptional and translational changes but functional changes, such as conformational changes of the $Ca^{2+}$ release channel, which might be regulated by insulin. The protein level of the dihydropyridine receptor and the binding capacity of nitrendipine in the sarcolemmal membranes of diabetic rats were not different as compared to these of the control. In conclusion, in diabetic hearts, $Ca^{2+}$ release processes are impaired, which are likely to lead to functional derangement of contraction of heart. This dysregulation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration could explain for clinical findings of diabetic cardiomyopathy and provide the scientific basis for more effective treatments of diabetic patients. In view of these results, insulin may be involved in the control of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in the cardiomyocyte via unknown mechanism, which needs further study.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2013

Recent studies indicate that reactive oxygen species (ROS) can act as modulators of neuronal activity, and are critically involved in persistent pain primarily through spinal mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the effects of NaOCl, a ROS donor, on neuronal excitability and the intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) in spinal substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons. In current clamp conditions, the application of NaOCl caused a membrane depolarization, which was inhibited by pretreatment with phenyl-N-tert-buthylnitrone (PBN), a ROS scavenger. The NaOCl-induced depolarization was not blocked however by pretreatment with dithiothreitol, a sulfhydryl-reducing agent. Confocal scanning laser microscopy was used to confirm whether NaOCl increases the intracellular ROS level. ROS-induced fluorescence intensity was found to be increased during perfusion of NaOCl after the loading of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate ($H_2DCF$-DA). NaOCl-induced depolarization was not blocked by pretreatment with external $Ca^{2+}$ free solution or by the addition of nifedifine. However, when slices were pretreated with the $Ca^{2+}$ ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin, NaOCl failed to induce membrane depolarization. In a calcium imaging technique using the $Ca^{2+}$-sensitive fluorescence dye fura-2, the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was found to be increased by NaOCl. These results indicate that NaOCl activates the excitability of SG neurons via the modulation of the intracellular calcium concentration, and suggest that ROS induces nociception through a central sensitization.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2013

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are the pacemaker cells in the gastrointestinal tract, and histamine is known to regulate neuronal activity, control vascular tone, alter endothelial permeability, and modulate gastric acid secretion. However, the action mechanisms of histamine in mouse small intestinal ICCs have not been previously investigated, and thus, in the present study, we investigated the effects of histamine on mouse small intestinal ICCs, and sought to identify the receptors involved. Enzymatic digestions were used to dissociate ICCs from small intestines, and the whole-cell patch-clamp configuration was used to record potentials (in current clamp mode) from cultured ICCs. Histamine was found to depolarize resting membrane potentials concentration dependently, and whereas 2-PEA (a selective H1 receptor agonist) induced membrane depolarizations, Dimaprit (a selective H2-agonist), R-alpha-methylhistamine (R-alpha-MeHa; a selective H3-agonist), and 4-methylhistamine (4-MH; a selective H4-agonist) did not. Pretreatment with $Ca^{2+}$-free solution or thapsigargin (a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor in endoplasmic reticulum) abolished the generation of pacemaker potentials and suppressed histamine-induced membrane depolarization. Furthermore, treatments with U-73122 (a phospholipase C inhibitor) or 5-fluoro-2-indolyl des-chlorohalopemide (FIPI; a phospholipase D inhibitor) blocked histamine-induced membrane depolarizations in ICCs. On the other hand, KT5720 (a protein kinase A inhibitor) did not block histamine-induced membrane depolarization. These results suggest that histamine modulates pacemaker potentials through H1 receptor-mediated pathways via external $Ca^{2+}$ influx and $Ca^{2+}$ release from internal stores in a PLC and PLD dependent manner.