• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.277-287
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• 2002

Purpose and Methods: We investigated the effect of ginseng total saponin (GTS) on nicotine-induced dopamine (DA) release in the striatum and nucleus accumbens of freely moving rats using in vivo microdialysis technique. Results: Systemic pretreatment with GTS decreased striatal DA release induced by local infusion of nicotine into the striatum. However, GTS had no effect on the resting levels of extracellular DA in the striatum. GTS also blocked nicotine-induced DA release in the nucleus accumbens. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that GTS acts on the DA terminals to prevent DA release induced by nicotine. This may reflect the blocking effect of GTS on behavioral hyperactivity induced by psychostimulants.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.508-513
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• 1998

The hepatoprotective effect of DA-9601, a quality-controlled extract of artemisisa asiatica, on liver damage induced by acetaminophen (APAP) and carbon tetrachloride ($CCI_{4}$) was investigated by means of serum-biochemical, hepatic-biochemical, and histopathological examinations. Doses of Da-9601 (10, 30, or 100 mg/kg) were administered intragastrically to each rat on three consecutive days i.e. 48 h, 24 h and 2 h before a single administration of APAP (640 mg/kg, i.p.) or $CCI_{4}$ (2 ml/kg, p.o.). Four h and 24 h after hepatotoxin treatment, the animals were sacrificed for evaluation of liver damage. Pretreatment of Da-9601 reduced the elevation of serum ALT, AST. LDH and histopathological changes such as centrilobular necrosis, vacuolar degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration dose-dependently. Da-9601 also prevented APAP- and $CCI_{4}$-induced hepatic glutathione (GSH) depletion and $CCI_{4}$-induced increase of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), a parameter of lipid peroxidation, in a chemically induced liver injury by complex mechanisms which involve prevention of lipid peroxidation and preservation of hepatic GSH.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.174-183
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• 1996

The general pharmacological properties of Artemisia extract powder (DA-9601) produced from Artemisia asiatica leaves were investigated in mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits. DA-9601 at the dose of 800 mg/kg po had no influences on general behaviour, barbital sleeping time and motor coordination of mice. The material at the oral dose of 800 mg/kg did exhibit neither analgesic action nor hypothermic effect. Anticonvulsant action, muscle relaxant action and the effect on intestinal propulsion were not identified at 800 mg/kg po. In the isolated ileum and trachea of guinea pig, the material did not show direct erect and inhibitory action of chemically or electrically stimulated contraction at the concentration of $2\times10^{-5}$g/ml. The sinus rates of atria and contractility of papillary muscle of guinea pig were not influenced by DA-9601 at a dose of $2\times10^{-5}$g/ml. No influences on blood pressure and respiration were observed at 40 mg/kg iv, in rabbits. However, transient decreases in blood pressure of rabbits were observed as given 120 mg/kg in iv route with slight respiratory depression, and slight diuretic effect could be found without any changes in $Na^+$ and $K^+$ excretion.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.90-93
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• 2001

The effects of the dried fruit powder of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten (OF-f) were investigated on gastric lesion and ulcer models in rats. It showed significant inhibition in HCl ethanol and HCl aspirin induced gastric lesion at a dose of 600 mg/kg, p.o. OF-f also showed significant inhibition in indomethacin induced gastric lesion at the doses of 200 and 600 mg/kg, p.o. However, it did not affect aspirin and Shay ulcer in rats. It also did not affect the gastric juice secretion, acid output and pH. These data suggest that OF-f possesses pronounced inhibitory action on gastric lesion of rats.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.67-70
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• 2002

The effects of the dried stem powder of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten (OF-s) were investigated on gastric lesion and ulcer models in rats. It showed significant inhibition in HCl·ethanolinduced gastric lesion at the doses of 200 and 600 mg/kg p.o. and in HCl·aspirin-induced gastric lesion at 600 mg/kg p.o. OF-s also showed significant inhibition in indomethacin-induced gastric lesion at the doses of 200 and 600 mg/kg, p.o. However, it did not affect both the aspirin-induced and Shay ulcers in rats. It also did not affect gastric juice secretion, acid output and pH. These data indicate that OF-s only possesses pronounced inhibitory action on gastric lesion without antiulcer activity in rats.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.133-149
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• 1997

4-week repeated dose toxicity of DA-5018, a new capsaicin analogue analgesic agent, was examined in 5D rats at dosage levels of 0,0.4,2, 10 and 50 mg/kg/day. DA-5018 was administered orally to 17 males and 17 females per group at doses of 0, 10 and 50 mg/kg and to 12 males and 12 females per group at doses of 0.4 and 2 mg/kg. After the administration period, 5 males and 5 females at the 0, 10 and 50 mg/kg were placed on withdrawal for 2 weeks. Treatment-related clinical signs were observed at 10 and 50 mg/kg. Clinical signs observed immediately after the administration of DA-5018 were grooming, sedation or depression, lacrimation, atacia, reddening of extremities and ears, ventral or lateral recumvincy, respiratory distress, cyanosis and convulsion. Delayed-type clinical signs including focal scabbing and depilation around nose were also observed 1 or 2 weeks after the start of administration of DA-5018. Only at the 50 mg/kg group, corneal opacities, reduced body weight gain (male) and death (male 6/17, female 3/17) were noted. In blood biochemical analysis, serum levels of glucose and triglyceride decreased at 10 and 50 mg/kg. In hematological examination, there were increases in the number of red blood cell, hemoglobin content and percent of hematocrit at 10 and 50 mg/kg. Pulmonary enlargement and hemorrhagic spot, focal scabbing and depilation around nose and corneal opacities were seen at the necropsy of the animals died during the dosing of DA-5018 50 mg/kg. Focal scabbing and depilation around nose were observed in the animals terminally necropsied at doses of 10 and 50 mg/kg. Histopathological examination revealed pulmonary hemorrhage, focal necrosis in the scabbed area, corneal necrosis, fibrosis and neovasculization in the stroma. At 0.4 and 2 mg/kg, there were no significant toxic changes attributable to the administration of DA-5018. In conclusion, target organs following to 4-week repeated dose of DA-5018 in the rat were determined to be lung, skin and eyes. Definite toxic dose and no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) were estimated to be 50 and 2 mg/kg/day, respectively.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 1995

Soluble protein of purified Pneumocvstis cnrinii was prepared from experimentally infected rats. SDS-PAGE of the crude antigen resolved about 20 protein bands from 20 to 200 kDa. Out of thenl, 116 kDa band strongly reacted and 45-55 and 100 kDa bands reacted weakly to the positive reference human serum from U.S.A. Western blot analysis with sera of 130 normal children and 15 newborns in Korea revealed specific IgG antibody reaction to 40-55 and 116 kDa protein bands. Forty percent (40.0%) of the 145 sera were positive with any of the antigenic protein bands of R corinii. The positive rate was 56% in 50 males and 33.3% in 48 females. The protein bands 40-55 and 116 kDa from rat P. carinii were confirmed to cross-react with human sera in Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2001

The caffeine intake cause a local or wide ranges of convulsion and it is associated with release of dopamine (DA) receptors into the brain striatum. However, the effect of caffeine addiction on expression of DA receptors gene in the rat caudate-putamen (CPu), nucleus accumbens (NAc), and olfactory tubercle (OTu) has not been elucidated. In this study, we examined the influence of caffeine addiction on DA D $_1$and D$_2$receptor mRNAs after the treatment of caffeine for four weeks. Using the specific antisense ribo-probes for DA D$_1$and D$_2$receptor cDNAs, in situ hybridization was performed on the CPu, NAc, and OTu of the adult male Sprague Dawely rats. In caffeine-treated group, DA D$_1$and D$_2$receptor mRNAs were highly increased in CPu, NAc, and OTu. The expression density of DA D$_1$receptor mRNAs were 2.52${\pm}$1.40 (CPu), 2.78${\pm}$1.69 (NAc), and 3.91${\pm}$1.28 (OTu) in control group and 7.76${\pm}$2.09 (CPu), 4.2 ${\pm}$1.85 (NAc), and 8.21${\pm}$1.72 (OTu) in caffeine-treated group. The expression density of DA D$_2$receptor mRNA was 2.32${\pm}$1.52 (CPu), 2.63${\pm}$2.11 (NAc), and 3.61${\pm}$1.43 (OTu) in control group, and 6.41${\pm}$1.82 (CPu), 6.89${\pm}$1.32 (NAc), and 6.82${\pm}$1.18 (OTu) in caffeine-treated group. DA D$_1$receptor mRNA was higher expressed than DA D$_2$ receptor mRNA in CPu and NAc. These results suggest that caffeine reacts as a upregulator of the expression of DA D$_1$and D$_2$receptor mRNA among the neurotransmitters.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2012

The object of this study was to observe the gatro protective effects of BJS-mix001, a mixed herbal formula consisted of 4 herbal drugs Pinelliae Rhizoma : Coptidis Rhizoma : Massa Medicata Fermentata : Ostreae Testa = 1 : 1 : 1 : 1 (g/g) mixtures, which were main component of oriental medicine for treating various digestive diseases, in indomethacin induced gastric damages in rats. Three different dosages of BJS-mix001 (200, 100 and 50 mg/kg) were once orally administered 30 min before indomethacin treatment. Six hrs after indomethacin treatment, changes on the gross lesion scores, fundic histopathology, MPO activity and anti oxidant activities were observed. The results were compared with omeprazole, antioxidant and proton pump inhibitor 10 mg/kg and DA-9601, a standardized extract of the herb Artemisia asiatica 100 mg/kg treated group, respectively. As results of all three different dosages of BJS-mix001 in the indomethacin induced gastric damaged rats, significant decreased gastric damages were detected as compared with the indomethacin treated control rats. BJS-mix001 also strengthened the antioxidative defense systems - decreased the level of lipid peroxidation and catalase activity but increased the level of superoxide dismutase and glutathione contents. BJS-mix001 showed similar gastro protective effects as compared with equal dosage of DA-9601, and BJS-mix001 50 mg/kg showed slighter effects as compared with omeprazole 10 mg/kg, in the present study. The results obtained in this study suggest that BJS-mix001 showed favorable effects in the indomethacin induced gastric damages mediated by strengthening of the antioxidative defense systems.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.247-252
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the occurrence of oxidative stress in the heart tissue of rats infected with Trypanosoma evansi. Rats were divided into 2 groups (A and B) with 12 animals each, and further subdivided into 4 subgroups (A1 and A2, 6 animals/each; and B1 and B2, 6 animals/each). Animals in the groups B1 and B2 were subcutaneously inoculated with T. evansi. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), glutathione S-transferase activity (GST), reduced glutathione activity (GSH), and non-protein thiols (NPSH) in the heart tissue were evaluated. At day 5 and 15 post-infection (PI), an increase in the TBARS levels and a decrease in the SOD activity (P<0.05) were observed. GSH and GST activities were decreased in infected animals at day 15 PI (P<0.05). Considering the proper functioning of the heart, it is possible that the changes in the activity of these enzymes involved in the oxidative stress may be related, at least in part, in the pathophysiology of rats infected with T. evansi.