• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2000

Fructus Aristolochiae has been used in Korea for many centuries as a treatment for various disease.The purpose of the present study is to determine the effect of Fructus Aristolochiae on norepinephrine(NE) induced blood vessel contraction in rabbits. Rabbit(2 kg, male) were killed by $CO_2$ exposure and a segment (8-10mm) of each rabbit was cut into equal segments and mounted in a tissue bath. Contractile force was measured with force displacement transducers under 2-3 g loading tension. The dose of norepinephrine(NE) which evoked 50% of maximal response ($ED_{50}$) was obtained from cumulative dose response curves for NE ($10^{-6}{\sim}10^{-3}M$). Contractions evoked by NE ($ED_{50}$) were inhibited significantly by Fructus Aristolochiae in abdominal aorta and femoral artery. Fructus Aristolochiae inhibited the relaxation pretreated propranolol and L-NNA in femoral artery. But Fructus Aristolochiae did not effect the relaxation pretreated ODQ in femoral artery and abdominal aorta. These results indicate that Fructus Aristolochiae can relax NE induced contraction of rabbit blood vessel selectively, and that this relaxation relates to nitric oxide synthesis and sympathetic action.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.233-241
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• 1995

The nonapeptide bradykinin has been shown to exhibit an array of biological activities including relaxation/contraction of various smooth muscles. In order to investigate the effects of bradykinin on the contractility and the electrical activity of antral circular muscle of guinea-pig stomach, the isometric contraction and membrane potential were recorded. Also, using standard patch clamp technique, the $Ca^{2+}-activated$ K currents were recorded to observe the change in cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. $0.4 {\mu}M$ bradykinin induced a triphasic contractile response (transient contraction-transient relaxation-sustained contraction) and this response was unaffected by pretreatment with neural blockers (tetrodotoxin, atropine and guanethidine) or with apamin. Bradykinin induced hyperpolarization of resting membrane potential and enhanced the amplitude of slow waves and spike potentials. The enhancement of spike potentials was blocked by neural blockers. Both the bradykinin-induced contractions and changes in membrane potential were reversed by the selective $B_2$-receptor antagonist $(N{\alpha}-adamantaneacetyl-_{D}-Arg-[Hyp, Thy,_{D}-Phe]-bradykinin)$. In whole-cell patch clamp experiment, we held the membrane potential at -20 mV and spontaneous and transient changes of Ca-activated K currents were recorded. Bradykinin induced a large transient outward current, consistent with a calcium-releasing action of bradykinin front the intracellular calcium pool, because such change was blocked by pretreatment with caffeine. Bradykinin-induced contraction was also blocked by pretreatment with caffeine. From these results, it is suggested that bradykinin induces a calciumrelease and contraction through the $B_{2}$ receptor of guinea-pig gastric smooth muscle. Enhancement of slow wave activity is an indirect action of bradykinin through enteric nerve cells embedded in muscle strip.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.392-397
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• 2010

The aim of present study was to investigate the possible influence and related mechanism of additional alcohol on the flavonoid- induced arterial relaxation. Agonist-induced vascular smooth muscle contractions involve the activation of thick or thin filament pathway. However, there are no reports addressing the question whether this pathway is involved in quercetin-induced relaxation cotreated with alcohol in rat aortae contracted with phorbol ester, fluoride or thromboxane $A_2$ mimetic U-46619. We hypothesized that cotreated alcohol plays a role in vascular relaxation evoked by quercetin in rat aortae. Endothelium-denuded arterial rings from male Sprague-Dawley rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded using a computerized data acquisition system. Quercetin inhibited phorbol ester, fluoride or thromboxane $A_2$-induced contraction regardless of endothelial function. However, alcohol didn't decrease any agonist-induced contraction. Interestingly, only in thromboxane $A_2$-induced contraction, synergistic results were observed in aortae denuded and cotreated with quercetin and alcohol suggesting that additional pathways different from antioxidation or endothelial nitric oxide synthesis might be involved in the vasorelaxation. In conclusion, in the agonists-contracted rat aortae, quercetin and alcohol together showed synergistic response regardless of endothelial function in an agonist-dependent manner.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2011

The aim of present study was to investigate the possible influence and related mechanism of resveratrol on U-46619 (high concentration)-induced vasoconstriction. Agonist-induced vascular smooth muscle contractions involve the activation of thick or thin filament pathway. However, there are no reports addressing the question whether this pathway is involved in resveratrol-induced relaxation in rat aortae contracted with high U-46619. We hypothesized that MEK or Rho-kinase inhibition plays a role in vascular relaxation evoked by resveratrol in rat aortae. Endothelium-denuded arterial rings from male Sprague-Dawley rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded using a computerized data acquisition system. Resveratrol fully inhibited U-46619 in low concentration-induced contraction regardless of endothelial function. However, resveratrol partially decreased U-46619 in high concentration-induced contraction regardless of endothelial function. Interestingly, only in U-46619 (high concentration)-induced contraction, no significant decrease was observed in phospho-ERK1/2 levels and slight decrease in phospho-MYPT1 levels suggesting that additional pathways different from them or endothelial nitric oxide synthesis might be involved in the vasorelaxation. In conclusion, in high U-46619-contracted rat aortae, resveratrol showed relaxation response regardless of endothelial function significantly but slightly decreasing MYPT1 phosphorylation rather than ERK1/2 phosphorylation.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.293-299
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• 2006

The aim of present study was to investigate the possible influence of Rho-kinase inhibition on the plant-derived estrogen-like compounds-induced arterial relaxation. Agonist- or depolarization-induced vascular smooth muscle contractions involve the activation of Rho-kinase pathway. However there are no reports addressing the question whether this pathway is involved in genistein-or daidzein-induced vascular relaxation in rat aortae precontracted with phenylephrine or thromboxane $A_2$ mimetic U-46619. We hypothesized that Rho-kinase inhibition plays a role in vascular relaxation evoked by genistein or daidzein in rat aortae. Endothelium-intact and denuded arterial rings from male Sprague-Dawley rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded using a computerized data acquisition system. Genistein concentration-dependently inhibited phenylephrine or thromboxane $A_2-induced$ contraction regardless of endothelial function. Surprisingly, in the agonists-induced contraction, similar results were also observed in aortae treated with daidzein, the inactive congener for protein tyrosine kinase inhibition, suggesting that Rho-kinase might act upstream of tyrosine kinases in phenylephrine-induced contraction. In conclusion, in the agonists-precontracted rat aortae, genistein and daidzein showed similar relaxant response regardless of tyrosine kinase inhibition or endothelial function.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.79-92
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• 2004

Objectives : This experiments were performed to determine the effect of OYakSoonGi-San extract on hypertension in spontaneous hypertensive rat and norepinephrine-induced arterial contraction in rabbit. Methods : In order to define the effect of OYakSoonGi-San extract on contracted rabbit carotid arterial strips, transverse strips with intact or damaged endothelium were used for the experiment using organ bath. To analyze the mechanism of OYakSoonGi-San extract-induced relaxation, OYakSoonGi-San extract infused into contracted arterial strips induced by norepinephrine after treatment of indomethacin, $N{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine$, methylene blue or tetraethylammonium chloride. Results : Blood pressure was significantly decreased five days after administration of OYakSoonGi-San extract. The relaxation effect of OYakSoonGi-San extract was dependent on the presence of endothelium, showing that OYakSoonGi-San extract-induced relaxation was not observed in the strips without endothelium. Also OYakSoonGi-San extract-induced relaxation was significantly inhibited in arterial strips which were contracted by high $K^+$. OYakSoonGi-San extract-indeced relaxation was significantly inhibited by the pre-treatment of $N{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine$ or methylene blue, but it was not observed in the strips pre-treated with indomethacin or tetraethylammonium chloride. When additive application of $Ca^{2+}$ in arterial strips which were pre-contracted by norepinephrine in a $Ca^{2+}$-free solution, arterial contraction was increased. But contractile response to $Ca^{2+}$ was attenuated by pre-treatment of OYakSoonGi-San extract. Conclusions : These results demonstrated that OYakSoonGi-San could be applied effectively to hypertension and may inhibit agonist-induced contraction through an decrease influx of extra-cellular $Ca^{2+}$ by the formation of nitric oxide in the vascular endothelial cells.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 1972

Superprecipitation of actomyosin has been considered to be an in vitro model of the muscle contraction. The superprecipitation and ATPase activity (which supplies the energy for contraction) are influenced by several factors which are the large amount of changes in ionic strength, Mg and ATP concentrations. But those behaviors are found to be promptly influenced by the change in a small range of calcium concentration which can be controlled by the cellular function of muscle physiologically only in the presence of the modullatory proteins, tropomyosin and troponin. In order to elucidate the precise roles of calcium in the muscle contraction and relaxation, the effects of calcium on the actin- myosin interaction was observed in the presence of tropomyosin and troponin using the superprecipitation system. The results are summarized as follows: 1. EGTA (glycol ether diaminetetraacetic acid)prolonged the initiation of the superprecipitation of natural actomyosin. 2. Superprecipitation curve was declined by adding EGTA at the time when tile curve reached the half- maximum. The degree of declining was proportional to the amount of EGTA added. Especially, upon adding 0.25 mM EGTA the curve was lowered to the level before the protein superprecipitated. But addition of EGTA did not affect the curve after attaining the maximum. 3. Superprecipitation of Perry myosin B was not affected by EGTA added both before and during the course of the reaction. 4. Tropomyosin did not change the response of Perry myosin B to EGTA added at any time of the reaction. 5. Troponin also did not change the response of Perry myosin B to EGTA. 6. Both tropomyosin and troponin together rendered the Perry myosin B to obtain the same response as natural actomyosin to EGTA. 7. It was concluded that actin-myosin interaction was influenced by the minute change of calcium concentration only in the presence of both tropomyosin and troponin. We could reproduce the contraction and relaxation of the muscle in vitro under the presence of ATP by changing the calcium concentration.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.456-461
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• 1996

Vascular relaxation action of crude extracts of two kinds of Coptidis rhizoma (Coptis chinensis and Coptis japonica, Ranunculaceae) was investigated and compared with that of berberine and palmatine, active alkaloid components of these plants. The results show that total extracts, berberine, and palmatine induced a concentration-dependent vasodilatation of rat thoracic aorta contracted with phenylephrine (PE). Palmatine, unlike to berberine, did not inhibit contraction induced by KCI. In calcium-free media, not only berberine but also crude extracts inhibited calcium-induced contraction. Furthermore, pretreatment of crude extracts inhibited contraction induced by PE noncompetitively. In PE-induced contraction, berberine was 2.5 times more potent than Coptis chinensis in the relaxation of rat aorta in terms of $IC_{50}$ values. Analysis of the effects of crude extracts on the Emax and $IC_{50}(PE)IC_{50}(KCI)$ ratios provides information on selectivity and indicates that extracts exhibit greater inhibition of the contrac tile response induced by PE than by KCI. We concluded that crude extracts have .alpha.-adrenoceptor blocking action and possesses inhibitory effect on calcium influx, which may be at least in part responsible for the antihypertensive action.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.405-413
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• 2011

This study was designed to elucidate high-$K^+$ induced response of circular and longitudinal smooth muscle from human gastric corpus using isometric contraction. Contraction from circular and longitudinal muscle stripes of gastric corpus greater curvature and lesser curvature were compared. Circular smooth muscle from corpus greater curvature showed high $K^+$ (50 mM)-induced tonic contraction. On the contrary, however, longitudinal smooth muscle strips showed high $K^+$ (50 mM)-induced sustained relaxation. To find out the reason for the discrepancy we tested several relaxation mechanisms. Protein kinase blockers like KT5720, PKA inhibitor, and KT5823, PKG inhibitor, did not affect high $K^+$-induced relaxation. $K^+$ channel blockers like tetraethylammonium (TEA), apamin (APA), glibenclamide (Glib) and barium ($Ba^{2+}$) also had no effect. However, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) and 1H-(1,2,4) oxadiazolo (4,3-A) quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and 4-AP (4-aminopyridine), voltage-dependent $K^+$ channel (KV) blocker, inhibited high $K^+$ -induced relaxation, hence reversing to tonic contraction. High $K^+$-induced relaxation was observed in gastric corpus of human stomach, but only in the longitudinal muscles from greater curvature not lesser curvature. L-NNA, ODQ and KV channel blocker sensitive high $K^+$-induced relaxation in longitudinal muscle of higher portion of corpus was also observed. These results suggest that longitudinal smooth muscle from greater curvature of gastric corpus produced high $K^+$-induced relaxation which was activated by NO/sGC pathway and by $K_V$ channel dependent mechanism.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1573-1579
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• 2005

This study was undertaken to define the effect of DaeSiHo-Tang extract on the hypertension in spontaneous hypertensive rat and norepinephrine-induced arterial contraction in rabbit. Systolic blood pressure and blood velocity were significantly attenuated by administration of DaeSiHo-Tang extract. but blood flow and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system unaffected by DaeSiHo-Tang extract. The relaxation effect of DaeSiHo-Tang extract was dependent on the presence of endothelium, showing that DaeSiHo-Tang extract-induced relaxation was not observed in the strips without endothelium. The endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by DaeSiHo-Tang extract was decreased by the pretreatment of $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine or methylene blue, but it was not observed in the strips pretreated with indomethacin or tetraethylammonium chloride. When $Ca^{2+}$ was applied, the strips which were contracted by norepinephrine in a $Ca^{2+}$-free solution, arterial contraction was increased. But pre-treatment of DaeSiHo-Tang extract inhibited contractile response to $Ca^{2+}$. These results indicate that antihypertensive effect of DaeSiHo-Tang extract is due to descend arterial resistance by the arterial relaxation through the formation of nitric oxide in the vascular endothelial cells.