• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.347-352
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• 2005

The effects of nitric oxide (NO) on inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors and some types of inhibitory receptors in dissociated rod bipolar cell (RBC) were investigated. In the whole cell voltage-clamping mode, the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activated current showed both sustained and transient components. GABA activated transient current was fully blocked by bicuculine, a $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist. The cis-4-aminocrotonic acid (CACA), a $GABA_C$ receptor agonist, evoked the sustained current that was not blocked by bicuculline (BIC). Glycine activated the transient current. These results indicate that the RBCs possess $GABA_A$, $GABA_C$, and glycine inhibitory receptors. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO analogue, reduced the currents activated by $GABA_A$ receptor only, however, did not reduce the currents activated by either $GABA_C$ or glycine receptors. This study signifies further that only NO depresses the fast inhibitory response activated by $GABA_A$ receptor in RBC. We, therefore, postulate that NO might depress the light-on/off transient inhibitory responses in RBCs in the rat retina.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.15-18
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• 1999

Tempting to further understand the molecular mechanism of pharmacological action of ethanol, we investigated the acute effects of ethanol on the GABA-activated current (IGABA) of the cultured Sprague-Dawley rat hippocampal neurons in primary culture using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Patch-clamp recordings revealed that ethanol potentiated the Cl- current in a concentration-dependent manner(1-300mM) in the majority of the cell studied. This study demonstrates that ethanol can potentiate IGABA in mammalian central neurons.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.450-467
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• 1998

To research the characteristics of ion currents induced by inhibitory and excitatory herbs of oriental medicine, we used nystatin-perforated patch clamp technique under voltage clamp condition in periaqueductal gray neuron dissociated from Sprauge-Dawley rat, 10-15 days old. The results are as follows. 1. Ion current induced by $10mg/m{\ell}$ of Bupleuri Radix was inhibited $59.50{\pm}4.29%$ by $10^{-4}M$ bicuculline(p>0.01) but inhibition of $10.75{\pm}4.77%$ by $10^{-4}M$ tubocurarine and $4.75{\pm}4.23%$ by $10^{-4}M$ verapamil had no statistical significance(p>0.05). So ion current induced by Bupleuri Radix revealed only GABA induced $Cl^-$ current, not acetylcholine and $Ca^{2+}$ current. 2. Ion current induced by $20mg/m{\ell}$ of Coptidis Rhizoma was inhibited $47.20{\pm}7.88%$ by $10^{-4}M$ bicuculline(p<0.01) but $3.20{\pm}2.33%$ inhibition by $10^{-4}M$ tubocurarine and $1.00{\pm}1.00%$ inhibition by $10^{-4}M$ verapamil had no significance(p>0.05). So ion current induced by Coptidis Rhizoma revealed only GABA induced $Cl^-$ current, not acetylcholine and $Ca^{2+}$ current. 3. Ion current induced by $20mg/m{\ell}$ of Ecliptae Herba was inhibited $55.00{\pm}4.92%$ by $10^{-4}M$ bicuculline (p<0.01), and also inhibited $15.00{\pm}4.26%$ by $10^{-4}M$ tubocurarine(p<0.05), but inhibition of $6.00{\pm}3.03%$ by $10^{-4}M$ verapamil had no significance(p>0.05). So ion current induced by Ecliptae Herba showed GABA activated $Cl^-$ current and acetylcholine activated cation current, not $Ca^{2+}$ current 4. Ion current induced by $5mg/m{\ell}$ of Liriopis Tuber was inhibited $15.20{\pm}4.57%$ by $10^{-4}M$ bicuculline<0.05) and also inhibited $14.00{\pm}3.00%$ by $10^{-4}M$ tubocurarine(p<0.05), but inhibition of $5.20{\pm}4.80%$ by $10^{-4}M$ verapamil had no significance(p>0.05). So ion current induced by Liriopis Tuber showed GABA. activated $Cl^-$ current and acetylcholine activated cation current, not $Ca^{2+}$ current. 5. Ion current induced by $5mg/m{\ell}$ of Aconiti Tuber was inhibited $97.00{\pm}1.34%$ by $10^{-4}M$ bicuculline(p<0.01), $80.00{\pm}9.83%$ by $10^{-4}M$ tubocurarine(p<0.01), and $24.00{\pm}6.18%$ by $10^{-4}M$ verapamil(p<0.05). So ion current induced by Aconiti Tuber revealed GABA activated $Cl^-$ current and acetylcholine activated cation current and $Ca^{2+}$ current. 6. Ion current induced by $10mg/m{\ell}$ of Zingiberis Rhizoma was inhibited $33.00{\pm}7.43%$ by $10^{-4}$ bicuculline(p<0.05), $10.20{\pm}1.83%$ by $10-^{-4}M$ tubocurarine(p<0.01), and $14.00{\pm}2.16%$ by $10^{-4}M$ verapamil(p<0.01) So ion current induced by Zingiberis Rhizoma revealed GABA activated $Cl^-$ current and acetylcholine activated cation outtent and $Ca^{2+}$ current. 7. Ion current induced by $10mg/m{\ell}$ of Boshniakiae Herba was inhibited $65.00{\pm}13.75%$ by $10^{-4}M$ bicuculline(p<0.05), $38.00{\pm}9.24%$ by $10^{-4}M$ tubocurarine(p<0.05), and $33.25{\pm}7.42%$ by $10^{-4}M$ verapamiHp<0.05). So ion current induced by Bpshniakiae Herba revealed GABA activated $Cl^-$ current and acetylcholine activated cation current and $Ca^{2+}$ current. These results suggest that a point of difference between inhibitory and excitatory herbs is existence of$Ca^{2+}$ current.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.5-17
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• 2000

To research the characteristics of ion currents induced by Bujaijung-tang and Bojungikgi-tang, nystatin-perforated patch clamp technique under voltage-c(amp condition was used. Periaqueductal gray neuron was dissociated from Sprauge-Dawley rat, 10-15 days old. Cytotoxicity of Bujaijung-tang and Bojungikgi-tang showed incubation time and concentration dependent manner. Ion current activated by Bujaijung-tang and Bojungikgi-tang were inhibited by bicuculline and strychnine and CNQX. It can be suggested that Bujaijung-tang and Bojungikgi-tang modulate inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters-, GABA, glycine and non-NMDA, acticvated ion channels. Modulatory effect of Bujaijung-tang and Bojungikgi-tang was more greater in inhibitory neurotransmitters. Low concentration of Bujaijung-tang which dose not elicit ion current itself, activated GABA and glycine induced chloride currents. In this study, we can found that the activation of Bujaijung-tang and Bojungikgi-tang on non-NMDA subtypes of glutamate receptor is its major action mechanism and can be used as very effective Herb treatment on Myasthenia gravis patient.