• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2000

To investigate the contributions of intrinsic membrane properties to the spontaneous activity of medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) neurons, we assessed the effects of blocking large and small calcium-activated potassium channels by means of patch clamp recordings. Almost all the MVN neurons recorded in neonatal $(P13{\sim}P17)$ rat were shown to have either a single deep after-hyperpolarization (AHP; type A cells), or an early fast and a delayed slow AHP (type B cells). Among the recorded MVN cells, immature action potential shapes were found. Immature type A cell showed single uniform AHP and immature B cell showed a lack of the early fast AHP, and the delayed AHP was separated from the repolarization phase of the spike by a period of isopotentiality. Application of apamin and charybdotoxin (CTX), which selectively block the small and large calcium-activated potassium channels, respectively, resulted in significant changes in spontaneous firings. In both type A and type B cells, CTX (20 nM) resulted in a significant increase in spike frequency but did not induce bursting activity. By contrast, apamin (300 nM) selectively abolished the delayed slow AHP and induced bursting activity in type B cells. Apamin had no effect on the spike frequency of type A cells. These data suggest that there are differential roles of apamin and CTX sensitive potassium conductances in spontaneous firing patterns of MVN neurons, and these conductances are important in regulating the intrinsic rhythmicity and excitability.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.25-40
• /
• 1991

Four root canal sealers, Apatite Root Sealer I and II composed mainly of hydroxyapatite/tricalciumphosphate, Sealapex containing calcium hydroxide, and Roth Sealer composed of zinc oxide - eugenol were compared on the culture of L929 fibroblasts. MIT (Methyl Thiazole Tetrazolium Bromide) colorimetric technique was used to measure the mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity. Results were as follows: 1. Hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate mixed sealers were significantly less toxic compared with calcium hydroxide and zinc oxide - eugenol type sealers. High pH of the calcium hydroxide sealer and release of eugenol component from the zinc oxide - eugenol type sealer were presumed to be the cause of the toxicity of these two sealers. In no cases, there were more cytoblastic effects in hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate mixed sealers compared to the control groups. 2. In all experimental groups, toxicity was decreased as dilutions were increased. However in zinc oxide-eugenol type sealer the cell activity was weakened for all dilution groups. 3. Regarding the effect of setting time, Apatite I and Sealapex were less toxic as the setting progressed. Apatite II kept constant regardless of the different time ellapsed after setting but Roth sealer revealed significantly higher toxicity for all experimental groups. 4. Comparing two different culture periods of 24 hours and 72 hours, Apatite I showed higher cell activities in longer period(72 hours) while Apatite II did not. Sealapex and Roth sealer, however, showed significantly lower cell activities in longer period.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.175-184
• /
• 2019

Mast cells are crucial as effector cells in the immediate-type allergic reaction. Lentinus edodes has been the popular edible mushroom in oriental countries and reported to have immunomodulatory, anti-tumor, anti-atherogenic, anti-viral, and anti-allergic activities. However, the roles of L. edodes in mast cell-mediated anaphylactic reaction have not been fully elucidated. In this research, we have demonstrated the effects of the methanol extract of L. edodes (MELE) on mast cell-mediated anaphylaxis-like and anaphylactic reactions. MELE suppressed systemic anaphylaxis-like reaction, plasma histamine levels, and ear swelling response in mice treated with compound 48/80. MELE also suppressed passive systemic and cutaneous anaphylaxis mediated by anti-dinitrophenyl IgE. In accordance with these findings, MELE dose-dependently decreased histamine release from RPMC evoked by compound 48/80 or the antigen-antibody reaction. To clarify the mechanism of degranulation system, intracellular cAMP levels as well as calcium influx in RPMC was evaluated. In compound 48/80-treated RPMC, MELE blocked calcium uptake into the cells. In addition, MELE elevated the intracellular cAMP content and significantly attenuated compound 48/80-induced cAMP reduction in RPMC. Taken together, we propose the clinical use of MELE in mast cell-mediated immediate-type allergic diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.151-156
• /
• 1986

There are some evidence for the presence of more than one type of calcium channels. To investigate whether organic calcium antagonist sensitive calcium channels exist in the isolated sarcolemmal membrane, we prepared high KCl-loaded sarcolemmal vesicle from the procine small instine, and induced calcium transport by high $K^+$ concentration or by electrical stimulation after preincubation of KCl-loaded vesicle in the low potassium solution. Calcium transport induced by high $K^+$ concentration (84.7mM) was significantly increased (p<0.05), compared with that by low $K^+$ concentration (2.08 mM), and not inhibited by diltiazem $(10^{-6}\;M)$. Calcium transport was inactivated with time. By continuous electrical stimulation (3V, 15Hz, 25m see), calcium transport was markedly increased, and inhibited significantly by dilltiazem $(10^{-6}\;M)$ and nifedipine $(10^{-6}\;M)$ (p<0.005), compared with the value of control without electrical stimulation. Calcium transport by electrical stimulation was not inactivated with time for at least 2 min. From these results, it was concluded that there was organic calcium antagonist sensitive channel in the isolated intestinal sarcolemma membrane, which was activated by electrical stimulation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.92-99
• /
• 2007

Background: A correlation between a T-type voltage activated calcium channel (VACC) and pain mechanism has not yet been established. The purpose of this study is to find out the effect of ethosuximide and mibefradil, representative selective T-type VACC blockers on postoperative pain using an incisional pain model of rats. Methods: After performing a plantar incision, rats were stabilized on plastic mesh for 2 hours. Then, the rats were injected with ethosuximide or mibefradil, intraperitoneally and intrathecally. The level of withdrawal threshold to the von Frey filament near the incision site was determined and the dose response curves were obtained. Results: After an intraperitoneal ethosuximide or mibefradil injection, the dose-response curve showed a dose-dependent increase of the threshold in a withdrawal reaction. After an intrathecal injection of ethosuximide, the threshold of a withdrawal reaction to mechanical stimulation increased and the increase was dose-dependent. After an intrathecal injection of mibefradil, no change occurred in either the threshold of a withdrawal reaction to mechanical stimulation or a dose-response curve. Conclusions: The T-type VACC blockers in a rat model of postoperative pain showed the antihyperalgesic effect. This effect might be due to blockade of T-type VACC, which was distributed in the peripheral nociceptors or at the supraspinal level. Further studies of the effect of T-type VACC on a pain transmission mechanism at the spinal cord level would be needed.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.12-25
• /
• 2014

The calcium intake of elementary school students residing in Gyeongsangbukdo province from their school foodservice and milk program was evaluated. A total of 252 subjects (50.4% boys and 49.6% girls) were examined. A significant percentage of the total subjects (32.9%) reported skipping breakfast once or more per week, with the major reasons for skipping breakfast being a lack of time and appetite. A majority of the to-tal subjects (78.2%) participated in the school milk program. The type of milk consumed by the subjects was mainly white milk, with a milk intake mostly between one and two cups. Participants in the school milk program consumed over the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) of calcium, but non-participants consumed only 48.1% of the RNI (P<0.001). The calcium intake rate according to food cooking methods, from highest to lowest was in the order bap, twigim, jeon, jjim, and gui. Although the food intake rate of guk was low, the calcium intake rate by RNI was the highest for guk. On the other hand, the food intake rate of bap and kimchi was high, but their calcium intake rate by RNI was relatively low. These results show that non-participants in the school milk program are significantly deficient in calcium. Therefore, to improve the calcium nutrition for children, school lunch menus containing high calcium need to be developed and children should be encouraged to enter a school milk program.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.156-161
• /
• 2007

Rapid advances in pharmacogenomic research have provided important information to improve drug selection, to maximize drug efficacy, and to minimize drug adverse reaction. The SNPs that are the most abundant type of genetic variants have been proven as valid biomarkers to give information on the prediction of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties of drugs based on genotype. In order to elucidate a correlation between SNPs of calcium channel encoding gene and adverse reactions of calcium channel blockers, we investigated SNPs in CACNA1C gene known as a binding site of calcium channel blocker. 96 patients with hypertension who had taken or are taking an antihypertensive drug, 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) were included for analysis. These patients were composed of 47 patients with adverse drug reactions (ADR) such as edema from calcium channel blockers and 49 patients without ADR as a control group. The exons encoding the drug binding sites were amplified by PCR using specific primers, and SNPs were analyzed by direct sequencing. We found that there was no SNP in the exons encoding DHP binding site, but four novel SNPs in the exon-intron junction region. However, four novel SNPs were not associated with the ADR of calcium channel blockers. In conclusion, this study showed that ADR from calcium channel blockers may not be caused by SNPs of the binding sites of calcium channel blockers in CACNA1C gene.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.58 no.4
• /
• pp.148-153
• /
• 2015

The calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) plays an important role in calcium homeostasis. Activating mutations of CaSR cause autosomal dominant hypocalcemia by affecting parathyroid hormone secretion in parathyroid gland and calcium resorption in kidney. They can also cause a type 5 Bartter syndrome by inhibiting the apical potassium channel in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle in the kidney. This study presents a patient who had autosomal dominant hypocalcemia with Bartter syndrome due to an activating mutation Y829C in the transmembrane domain of the CaSR. Symptoms of hypocalcemia occurred 12 days after birth and medication was started immediately. Medullary nephrocalcinosis and basal ganglia calcification were found at 7 years old and at 17 years old. Three hypercalcemic episodes occurred, one at 14 years old and two at 17 years old. The Bartter syndrome was not severe while the serum calcium concentration was controlled, but during hypercalcemic periods, the symptoms of Bartter syndrome were aggravated.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.49-55
• /
• 1993

Ground Calcium Carbonate, among paper coating pigments, will influence less dispersant demand, less binder demand, increase coating solids from 58% to 70%, which means high speed coating, less shrinkage during drying, less energy consumption, more uniform coverage of fibers. The quality point of view of Ground Calcium Carbonate, brightness, particle size, Particle size distribution, hardness, impurities content are important. More important factors of Ground Calcium Carbonate which influence the paper coating process are dispersion mechanisms and their effects. The study was made to investigate the effect of Ground Calcium Carbonate dispersion by sodium salt of polyacrylate dispersant composition and dispersion condition. Basic tests such as physical, optical and chemical were perfumed, and dispersion effects were investigated by different conditions. The results showed that the type of dispersant affected the dispersion effects, and the Ground Calcium Carbonate has critical dispersant demand.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.468-474
• /
• 1998

Membrane depolarization in PC12 cells induces calcium influx via an L-type voltage-sensitive calcium channel (L-VSCC) and increases intracellular free calcium, which leads to tyrosine phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and the associated adaptor protein, She. This activated EGF receptor complex then can activate mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, as in nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor activation. In the present study, we investigated the role of EGF receptor in the signaling pathway initiated by membrane depolarization of PC12 cells. Prolonged membrane depolarization induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) within 1 min in undifferentiated PC12 cells. Pretreatment of PC12 cells with the calcium chelator EGTA abolished depolarization-stimulated ERK phosphorylation, but NGF-induced phosphorylation of ERK was not affected. The chronic treatment of phorbol ester, which down-regulated the activity of protein kinase C (PKC), did not affect the phosphorylation of ERK upon depolarization. In the presence of an inhibitor of EGF receptor, neither depolarization nor calcium ionophore increased the level of ERK phosphorylation. These data imply that the EGF receptor is functionally necessary to activate ERK and neurite outgrowth in response to the prolonged depolarization in PC12 cells, and also that PKC is apparently not involved in this signaling pathway.