• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1850-1855
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• 2004

The purpose of this report is to investigate the electroacupuncture effect on the cholinergic neuronal activation in the hippocampal CA1 section. The electroacupuncture was performed on S36 of white rats and its consequencies were investigated by immunohistochemical method. Hippocampal CA1 sections of Sprague Dawley white male rats electroacupunctured on S36 at 20㎐ and 100㎐ are stained by cresyl violet to show that the values of 100㎐ and 20㎐ group increased significantly compared to sham group's one. Especially, 100㎐ group shows stronger neuronal activation compared to 20㎐ group. Induction of AChE, a neurotransmitter, in hippocampal CA1 is increased significantly in 100㎐ and 20㎐ group compared to sham group. Especially 20㎐ group shows higher AChE immunoreaction than 100㎐ does, although it wasn't significant enough. Induction of NGF(Nerve Growth Factor) in hippocampal CA1 sections was observed higher in 20㎐ and 100㎐ group than in sham group. Especially, 20㎐ group shows higher NGF immunoreaction compared to 100㎐. The facts above indicate that the eletroacupucture is effect to the cholinergic neuronal activation of hippocampus induced by focal ischemia.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.79-89
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• 2012

We examine whether Phellodendron amurense (PA) and its major alkaloid compound, berberine (BER), improved memory defects caused by administering scopolamine in rats. Effects of PA and BER on the acetylcholinergic system and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus were also investigated. Male rats were administered daily doses for 14 days of PA (100 and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) and BER (20 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min before scopolamine injection (2 mg/kg, i.p.). Daily administration of PA and BER improved memory impairment as measured by the passive avoidance test and reduced the escape latency for finding the platform in the Morris water maze test. Administration of PA and BER significantly alleviated memory-associated decreases in cholinergic immunoreactivity and restored brain-derived neurotrophic factor and cAMP-response element-binding protein mRNA expression in the hippocampus. PA and BER also decreased significantly the expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-$1{\beta}$, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA in the hippocampus. These results demonstrated that PA and BER had significant neuroprotective effects against neuronal impairment and memory dysfunction caused by scopolamine in rats. These results suggest that PA and BER may be useful as therapeutic agents for improving cognitive functioning by stimulating cholinergic enzyme activity and alleviating inflammatory responses.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.328-337
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• 2016

We examined whether wogonin (WO) improved hippocampal neuronal activity, behavioral alterations and cognitive impairment, in rats induced by administration of trimethyltin (TMT), an organotin compound that is neurotoxic to these animals. The ability of WO to improve cognitive efficacy in the TMT-induced neurodegenerative rats was investigated using a passive avoidance test, and the Morris water maze test, and using immunohistochemistry to detect components of the acetylcholinergic system, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) expression. Rats injected with TMT showed impairments in learning and memory and daily administration of WO improved memory function, and reduced aggressive behavior. Administration of WO significantly alleviated the TMT-induced loss of cholinergic immunoreactivity and restored the hippocampal expression levels of BDNF and CREB proteins and their encoding mRNAs to normal levels. These findings suggest that WO might be useful as a new therapy for treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.304-313
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• 2017

These days, as the average span of population's life increases, the number patients of dementia also increases. But Research on Korean medicine is stilled limited. The research evaluates the effect of the extract from Cornus officinalis S.et Z on cognitive impairment induced by scopolamine in mice. The mice were randomly divided into five groups of ten mice. The normal group was treated with only 0.9% saline. The control group was treated with scopolamine (5 mg/kg, i.p.). The positive control group was treated with tacrin. The C100, 200 group was treated with C. officinalis extracts 100, 200 mg/kg. Memory-related behaviors were evaluated using a morris water maze and a passive avoidance test. Protein levels of BDNF, p-CREB (ser133), immunohistochemistry staining, and cholinergic activities were measured in brain tissue. The effects of C. officinalis extract significantly increased acetylcholine concentration and decreased acetylcholinesterase activity. The C. officinalis extract affected memory formation. Also, to confirm expression of protein BDNF, p-CREB (ser133) in the hippocampus, the researchers observed that immunohistochemistry and western blot increased in C. officinalis extract. These results suggest that C. officinalis provides a significant neuroprotective effect against scopolamine-induced cholinergic system and cognitive impairment.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.97-103
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• 2021

Perilla frutescens (P. frutescens) is an important herb used for many purposes such as medicinal, aromatic, and functional food in Asian countries and has beneficial effects such as antioxidant activity, anti-inflammation activity, anti-depression activity, and anxiolytic activity. However, there have been no studies on the protective effect of P. frutescens extract (PFE) on amnesia in vivo. The present study aimed to investigate whether PFE protects memory deficit using a scopolamine-induced mice model and elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved. The protective effect of PFE against scopolamine-induced memory deficits was investigated using Y-maze, passive avoidance, and Morris water maze tests. Furthermore, the potential mechanisms of PFE in improving memory capabilities related to the cholinergic system and antioxidant activity were examined. PFE significantly increased spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze test, step-through latency in the passive avoidance test, and swimming time in the target quadrant in the probe test when compared to the scopolamine-treated group. Likewise, PFE significantly decreased escapes latency in the Morris water maze test. PFE could not regulate cholinergic function in acetylcholine level and acetylcholine esterase activity. However, PFE increased DPPH radical scavenging activity dose-dependently and total polyphenol content was 127.7±1.2 ㎍ GAE/mg. The results showed that the PFE could be a preventive and/or therapeutic candidate for memory and cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 1986

Bilateral lesion of nucleus accumbens septi (N, AB), one of the mesolimbic nuclei, resulted in hyperirritability and muricide including mouse eating behavior in rats. The effects of various drugs on hyperirritability and muricide induced by NAB lesion were investigated in rats. Hyperirritability in NAB rats were significantly reduced by L-DOPA L-5-HTP major and minor tranquilizers but not reduced by MA, ATP and imipriamine-like antidepressants. On the other hand, muricide in NAB rats was significantly suppressed by L-DOPA, L-5-HTP, major and minor tranquilizers, furthermore, selectively suppressed by MA, ATP and antidepressants. These results suggested that the neural mechanism for inducing muricide is distinct from for hyperirritability in NAB rats, and that muricide in NAB rats is resulted from the increasing of cholinergic activity and reduction of dopaminergic and serotonergic activity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.109-112
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• 2002

The signal pathways involved in the regulation of AP-1 DNA binding activity in long-term nicotine stimulated bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin (BAMC) cells have not been well characterized. To understand the involvement of second messengers in the regulation of AP-1 DNA binding activity, the present study was designed to define the time-course for inhibition of nicotine-induced responses by cholinergic antagonists, $Ca^{2+}$ and calmodulin (CaM) antagonists, and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) II inhibitor using electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Nicotine $(10{\mu}M)$ stimulation increased AP-1 DNA binding activity at 24 hr after treatment. Posttreatment with hexamethonium (1 mM) plus atropine $(1{\mu}M)$ (HA), nimodipine $(1{\mu}M),$ or calmidazolium $(1{\mu}M)$ at 0.5, 3, and 6 hr after the nicotine treatment significantly inhibited the AP-1 DNA binding activity increased by long-term nicotine stimulation. However, posttreatment with HA, nimodipine, or calmidazolium at 9 or 12 hr after the nicotine treatment did not affect the nicotine-induced increase of AP-1 DNA binding activity. The pretreatment of BAMC cells with various concentrations of KN-62 inhibited the increase of AP-1 DNA binding activity induced by nicotine in a concentration-dependent manner. KN-62 $(10{\mu}M)$ posttreatment beginning at 0.5, 3, or 6 hr after the nicotine treatment significantly inhibited the increase of AP-1 DNA binding activity. However, KN-62 posttreatment beginning at 9 or 12 hr after the nicotine treatment did not affect the increase of AP-1 DNA binding activity. This study suggested that stimulation (for at least 6 hr) of nicotinic receptors on BAMC cells was necessary for increase of AP-1 DNA binding activity, and activation of $Ca^{2+},$ CaM, and CaMK II up to 6 hr at least seemed to be required for the increase of nicotine-induced AP-1 DNA binding activity.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.173-178
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• 1990

This study was attempted to examine the effect of Sopung-Tang(SPT) on the arterial blood pressure in rats and to elucidate its mechanism of action. SPT given into a femoral vein produced a dose-related vasopressor responses followed by vasodepressor responses. SPT-induced hypotension was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with atropine or propranolol while was not affected by chlorisondamine, Prazosin and cyproheptadine. SPT-evoked hypertensive activity was markedly blocked by pretreatment with prazosin but was not influenced by atropine, chlorisondamine, propranolol and cyproheptadine. Infusion of SPT(15.0 mg/kg/30min) did not affect norepinephrine-induced pressor responses. These experimental results suggest that SPT causes biphasically initial hypertensive activity followed by hypotensive activity, and that this hypertension may be due to the stimulation of peripheral adrenergic alpha-receptors and hypotension may be elicited through stimulation of peripheral cholinergic muscarinic receptors and adrenergic beta-receptors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 1997

Aim of this study was to investigate if pancreatic polypeptide (PP) reduced the insulin action via the intra-pancreatic cholinergic nerves in the isolated rat pancreas. The pancreas was isolated from rats and perfused with intra-arterial infusion of modified Krebs-Henseleit solution containing 2.5 mM glucose at a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min. Simultaneous intra-arterial infusion of insulin (100 nM) resulted inpotentiation of the pancreatic flow rate and amylase output which were stimulated by cholecystokinin (CCK, 14 pM). These potentiating actions of insulin on the CCK -stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion were completely abolished by administration of rat PP. Vesamicol, a potent inhibitor of vesicular acetylcholine storage, and tetrodotoxin (TTX) also significantly reduced the combined actions of insulin and CCK. Administration of carbamylcholine, an acetylcholine agonist, completely restored the vesamicol- or TTX-induced inhibition of the potentiation between insulin and CCK. Also rat PP failed to attenuate the restoring effect of carbamylcholine. Electrical field stimulation (15-30 V, 2 msec and 8 Hz) resulted in a significant increase in the pancreatic flow rate and amylase output in voltage-dependent manner. Effects of electrical field stimulation were augmented by endogenous insulin. Rat PP also suppressed the pancreatic exocrine secretion stimulated by electrical field stimulation. These observations strongly suggest that PP inhibits the potentiating actions of insulin on CCK -stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion by suppression of the intra-pancreatic cholinergic activity in the isolated rat pancreas.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.517-527
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• 2020

Layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons (L2/3 PyNs) of the cortex extend their basal dendrites near the soma and as apical dendritic tufts in layer 1, which mainly receive feedforward and feedback inputs, respectively. It is suggested that neuromodulators such as serotonin and acetylcholine may regulate the information flow between brain structures depending on the brain state. However, little is known about the dendritic compartment-specific induction of synaptic transmission in single PyNs. Here, we studied layer-specific serotonergic and cholinergic induction of long-term synaptic plasticity in L2/3 PyNs of the agranular insular cortex, a lateral component of the orbitofrontal cortex. Using FM1-43 dye unloading, we verified that local electrical stimulation to layers 1 (L1) and 3 (L3) activated axon terminals mostly located in L1 and perisomatic area (L2/3). Independent and AMPA receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic potential was evoked by local electrical stimulation of either L1 or L3. Application of serotonin (5-HT, 10 μM) induced activity-dependent longterm depression (LTD) in L2/3 but not in L1 inputs. LTD induced by 5-HT was blocked by the 5-HT₂ receptor antagonist ketanserin, an NMDA receptor antagonist and by intracellular Ca²⁺ chelation. The 5-HT₂ receptor agonist α-me-5-HT mimicked the LTD induced by 5-HT. However, the application of carbachol induced muscarinic receptor-dependent LTD in both inputs. The differential layer-specific induction of LTD by neuromodulators might play an important role in information processing mechanism of the prefrontal cortex.