• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.173-181
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• 1998

Pain is the most common symptom causing patients to seek physical therapy. Auriculotherapy has shown to be effective in pain management as well as in treating a wide variety of disorders. The pupose of this study were 1) to describe the historical, theoretical background and the effects of Auriculotherapy 2) to identify the applied method in clinic and 3) to encorage of the application in physical therapy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.246-249
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• 2007

DL-phenylalanine (DLPA) is known as an essential amino acid exhibiting opiate capacities by inhibiting the degradation of enkephalins. From the viewpoint of developing a drink containing DLPA, its solubility and stability in aqueous solutions were investigated at some processing conditions such as temperature and pH. When the solubility was analyzed by transmittance at 600 nm, the solutions containing DLPA of 0.1% to 2% showed transmittance over 98% above $60^{\circ}C$ and over 99% at wide range of pH (3.0, 7.0, and 10.0). The valuable stability was also recognized through HPLC analysis for DLPA content, that is, 61-71% DLPA was still remained even after processing at high temperature and wide pH range, indicating the possibility of de-velopment of drink containing DLPA. Among flavors considered for the improvement of consumers' acceptability on drink, orange and amino acid flavors were superior to others. Microbial growth was not detected during 6-week storage after drink preparation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2001

The amygdala is known as a site for inducing analgesia, but its action on the trigeminal nucleus has not been known well. Little information is available on the effect of dynorphin on NMDA receptor-mediated electrophysiological events in the trigeminal nucleus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the single neuron spikes at the trigeminal nucleus caused by the amygdala and the action of dynorphin on the trigeminal nucleus. In the present study, extracellular single unit recordings were made in the dorsal horn of the medulla (trigeminal nucleus caudalis) and the effects of microiontophoretically applied compounds were examined. When [D-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Glys5-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO, 10-25 mM), a ${\mu}-opioid$ receptor agonist, was infused into the amygdala, the number of NMDA-evoked spikes at the trigeminal nucleus decreased. However, the application of naloxone into the trigeminal nucleus while DAMGO being infused into the amygdala increased the number of spikes. Low dose (1 mM) of dynorphin in the trigeminal nucleus produced a significant decrease in NMDA-evoked spikes of the trigeminal nucleus but the NMDA-evoked responses were facilitated by a high dose (5 mM) of dynorphin. After the ${\kappa}$ receptors were blocked with naloxone, dynorphin induced hyperalgesia. After the NMDA receptors were blocked with AP5, dynorphin induced analgesia. In conclusion, dynorphin A exerted dose-dependent dual effects (increased & decreased spike activity) on NMDA-evoked spikes in the trigeminal nucleus. The inhibitory effect of the dynorphin at a low concentration was due to the activation of ${\kappa}$ receptors and the excitatory effect at a high concentration was due to activation of NMDA receptors in the trigeminal neurons.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.525-531
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• 2016

The analgesic mechanism of opioids is known to decrease the excitability of substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons receiving the synaptic inputs from primary nociceptive afferent fiber by increasing inwardly rectifying $K^+$ current. In this study, we examined whether a ${\mu}$-opioid agonist, [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4, Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO), affects the two-pore domain $K^+$ channel (K2P) current in rat SG neurons using a slice whole-cell patch clamp technique. Also we confirmed which subtypes of K2P channels were associated with DAMGO-induced currents, measuring the expression of K2P channel in whole spinal cord and SG region. DAMGO caused a robust hyperpolarization and outward current in the SG neurons, which developed almost instantaneously and did not show any time-dependent inactivation. Half of the SG neurons exhibited a linear I~V relationship of the DAMGO-induced current, whereas rest of the neurons displayed inward rectification. In SG neurons with a linear I~V relationship of DAMGO-induced current, the reversal potential was close to the $K^+$ equilibrium potentials. The mRNA expression of TWIK (tandem of pore domains in a weak inwardly rectifying $K^+$ channel) related acid-sensitive $K^+$ channel (TASK) 1 and 3 was found in the SG region and a low pH (6.4) significantly blocked the DAMGO-induced $K^+$ current. Taken together, the DAMGO-induced hyperpolarization at resting membrane potential and subsequent decrease in excitability of SG neurons can be carried by the two-pore domain $K^+$ channel (TASK1 and 3) in addition to inwardly rectifying $K^+$ channel.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.537-549
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• 2022

Preproenkephalin (PPE) is a precursor molecule for multiple endogenous opioid peptides Leu-enkephalin (ENK) and Met-ENK, which are involved in a wide variety of modulatory functions in the nervous system. Despite the functional importance of ENK in the brain, the effect of brain-derived factor(s) on PPE expression is unknown. We report the dual effect of neural epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like-like 2 (NELL2) on PPE gene expression. In cultured NIH3T3 cells, transfection of NELL2 expression vectors induced an inhibition of PPE transcription intracellularly, in parallel with downregulation of protein kinase C signaling pathways and extracellular signal-regulated kinase. Interestingly, these phenomena were reversed when synthetic NELL2 was administered extracellularly. The in vivo disruption of NELL2 synthesis resulted in an increase in PPE mRNA level in the rat brain, suggesting that the inhibitory action of intracellular NELL2 predominates the activation effect of extracellular NELL2 on PPE gene expression in the brain. Biochemical and molecular studies with mutant NELL2 structures further demonstrated the critical role of EGF-like repeat domains in NELL2 for regulation of PPE transcription. These are the first results to reveal the spatio-specific role of NELL2 in the homeostatic regulation of PPE gene expression.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.299-311
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• 1994

The present study was attempted to investigate whether pentazocine, which is known to possess both opioid agonistic and antagonistic properties, produces catecholamines (CA) secretion from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland, and to establish the mechanism of its action, and also to compare its action with that of some opioids. Pentazocine (30 to 300 ug) injected into an adrenal vein caused a dose-dependent secretory response of CA from the rat adrenal medulla. The pentazocine-evoked secretion of CA was remarkably diminished by the preloading with chlorisondamine $(10^{-6}\;M)$, naloxone $(1.22{\times}10^{-7}\;M)$, morphine $(1.7{\times}10^{-5}\;M)$, met-enkephalin $(9.68{\times}10^{-6}\;M)$, nicardipine $(10^{-6}\;M)$ and TMB-8 $(10^{-5}\;M)$ while was not influenced by the pretreatment of pirenzepine $(2{\times}10^{-6}\;M)$. The perfusion of $Ca^{++}$-free Krebs solution for 30 min into the gland also led to the marked reduction in CA secretion evoked by pentazocine. Furthermore, the CA release evoked by ACh and/or DMPP was greatly inhibited by the pretreatment with pentazocine $(1.75{\times}10^{-4}\;M)$ for 20 min. From these experimental results, it is thought that pentazocine causes markedly the increased secretion of CA from the isolated perfused rat adrenal medulla by a calcium-dependent exocytotic mechanism. The secretory effect of pentazocine appears to be mediated through activation of opioid receptors located on adrenal chromaffin cells, which may be also associated with stimulation of cholinergic nicotinic receptors.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

Opioid receptors have been pharmacologically classified as ${\mu}$, ${\delta}$, ${\kappa}$ and ${\varepsilon}$. We have recently reported that the antinociceptive effect of morphine (a ${\mu}$-opioid receptor agonist), but not that of ${\beta}$-endorphin (a novel ${\mu}/{\varepsilon}$-opioid receptor agonist), is attenuated by whole body irradiation (WBI). It is unclear at present whether WBI has differential effects on the antinociceptive effects of ${\mu}-$, ${\delta}-$, ${\kappa}-$ and ${\varepsilon}$-opioid receptor agonists. In our current experiments, male ICR mice were exposed to WBI (5Gy) from a $^{60}Co$ gamma-source and the antinociceptive effects of opioid receptor agonists were assessed two hours later using the hot water ($52^{\circ}C$) tail-immersion test. Morphine and $D-Ala^2$, $N-Me-Phe^4$, Gly-olenkephalin (DAMGO), [$D-Pen^2-D-Pen^5$] enkephalin (DPDPE), trans-3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl]-benzeneacetamide (U50,488H), and ${\beta}$-endorphin were tested as agonists for ${\mu}$, ${\delta}$, ${\kappa}$, and ${\varepsilon}$-opioid receptors, respectively. WBI significantly attenuated the antinociceptive effects of morphine and DAMGO, but increased those of ${\beta}$-endorphin. The antinociceptive effects of DPDPE and U50,488H were not affected by WBI. In addition, to more preciously understand the differential effects of WBI on ${\mu}-$ and ${\varepsilon}$-opioid receptor agonists, we assessed pretreatment effects of ${\beta}$-funaltrexamine (${\beta}$-FNA, a ${\mu}$-opioid receptor antagonist) or ${\beta}$-$endorphin_{1-27}$ (${\beta}$-$EP_{1-27}$, an ${\varepsilon}$-opioid receptor antagonist), and found that pretreatment with ${\beta}$-FNA significantly attenuated the antinociceptive effects of morphine and ${\beta}$-endorphin by WBI. ${\beta}$-$EP_{1-27}$ significantly reversed the attenuation of morphine by WBI and significantly attenuated the increased effects of ${\beta}$-endorphin by WBI. The results demonstrate differential sensitivities of opioid receptors to WBI, especially for ${\mu}-$ and ${\varepsilon}$-opioid receptors.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.173-183
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• 1992

To study the feasibility of transmucosal delivery of $[D-ala^2]-methionine$ enkephalinamide (YAGFM), its enzymatic degradation and stabilization in various rabbit mucosal extracts were investigated by HPLC method. The degradation of YAGFM was observed to follow the first-order kinetics and the half-lives of YAGFM in the nasal, rectal and vaginal mucosal extracts were found to be 25.7, 3.0 and 7.8 hr, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in degradation rates of YAGFM between the mucosal and serosal extracts obtained from the same mucosal membrane. This finding suggests that even a synthetic enkephalin analog, which is designed to be resistent to aminopeptidases, needs to be fully protected from the enzymatic degradation in mucosal sites for the delivery of the analog through mucosal routes. To inhibit the degradation of YAGFM in various mucosal extracts, effects of enzyme inhibitors such as bestatin (BS), amastatin (AM), thiorphan (TP), thimerosal (TM) and EDTA, alone or in combination, and modified cyclodextrins were observed by assaying YAGFM staying intact during 24 hr-incubation at $37^{\circ}C$. It was found from the results that mixed inhibitors such as TM (0.5 mM)/EDTA (5 mM) or AM $(50{\mu}M)/TM$ (0.5 mM)/EDTA (5 mM) provided very useful means for the stabilization in various mucosal extracts. The latter was found to protect YAGFM from the degradation in the nasal, rectal, and vaginal mucosal extracts by 90.9, 90.4 and 91.3%, respectively, after 24 hr-incubation, suggesting almost complete inhibition of YAGFM-degrading enzymes present in the incubation mixture. However, BS $(50{\mu}M)$, AM 50 $(50{\mu}M)$ or TP$(50{\mu}M)$ alone did not reveal sufficient inhibition except TM (0.5 mM) or EDTA (5 mM). The adddition of $2-hydroxylpropyl-{\beta}-cyclodextrin$(10%) to the nasal mucosal extract, and $dimethyl-{\beta}-cyclodextrin$(10%) to the rectal and vaginal mucosal extracts reduced the first-order rate constants for the degradation of YAGFM by 5.8, 17.3 and 8.9 times, respectively, compared to those with no additive.