• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2020

Flavonoids are mainly contained in the vegetables and medicinal herbs. Until now, over 5,000 kinds of flavonoid have been identified and their biological activities have been reported. Among them, we are interested in oroxylin A and spinosin because of their specific structures having bulky group at C-6 of ring A. Oroxylin A is contained in the Scutellaria baicalensis and exhibits cognitive enhancing activity as a GABA_A receptor antagonist, which is different from those of mainly contained in the S. baicalenis, baicalein or wogonin. Spinosin is isolated from Zizyphus jujuba var. spinosa and mainly studied as a hypnotic or anxiolytic agent because of traditional knowledge about its original herb. As far as we know, the cognitive function of spinosin was first identified by our group. In this review, we discuss how such flavonoids exert their pharmacological activities associated with cognitive function based on the receptor binding study and behavioral studies. Traditional knowledge and reverse pharmacology may be addressed in the research field of phytochemical pharmacology and useful to unveil the secret of phytochemicals.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제26권5호
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• pp.307-312
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• 2022

It is well known that dopamine transmission from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) modulates motivated behavior and reinforcement learning. Although dopaminergic neurons are the major type of VTA neurons, recent studies show that a significant proportion of the VTA contains GABAergic and type 2 vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT2)-positive neurons. The non-dopaminergic neurons are also critically involved in regulating motivated behaviors. Some VTA neurons appear to co-release two different types of neurotransmitters. They are VGLUT2-DA neurons, VGLUT2-GABA neurons and GABA-DA neurons. These co-releasing neurons show distinct features compared to the neurons that release a single neurotransmitter. Here, we review how VTA cell populations wire to the other brain regions and how these projections differentially contribute to motivated behavior through the distinct molecular mechanism. We summarize the activities, projections and functions of VTA neurons concerning motivated behavior. This review article discriminates VTA cell populations related to the motivated behavior based on the neurotransmitters they release and extends the classical view of the dopamine-mediated reward system.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제2권5호
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• pp.555-563
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• 1998

The renal function is under regulatory influence of central nervous system (CNS), in which various neurotransmitter and neuromodulator systems take part. However, a possible role of central GABA-benzodiazepine system on the central regulation of renal function has not been explored. This study was undertaken to delineate the renal effects of diazepam. Diazepam, a benzodiazepine agonist, administered into a lateral ventricle (icv) of the rabbit brain in doses ranging from 10 to 100 ${\mu}g/kg,$ elicited dose-related diuresis and natriuresis along with improved renal hemodynamics. However, when given intravenously, 100 ${\mu}g/kg$ diazepam did not produce any significant changes in all parameters of renal function and systemic blood pressure. Diazepam, 100 ${\mu}g/kg$ icv, transiently decreased the renal nerve activity (RNA), which recovered after 3 min. The plasma level of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) increased 7-fold, the peak coinciding with the natriuresis and diuresis. Muscimol, a GABAergic agonist, 1.0 ${\mu}g/kg$ given icv, elicited marked antidiuresis and antinatriuresis, accompanied by decreases in systemic blood pressure and renal hemodynamics. When icv 0.3 ${\mu}g/kg$ muscimol was given 3 min prior to 30 ${\mu}g/kg$ of diazepam icv, urinary flow and Na excretion rates did not change significantly, while systemic hypotension was produced. These results indicate that icv diazepam may bring about natriuresis and diuresis by influencing the central regulation of renal function, and that the renal effects are related to the increased plasma ANP levels, not to the decreased renal nerve activity, and suggest that the effects may not be mediated by the activation of central GABAergic system.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제16권5호
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• pp.750-758
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• 2006

칼슘 결합 단백질 calretinin은 칼슘의 완충작용에 중요한 역할을 한다고 알려져 있다. 최근에 우리는 햄스터 상구의 superficial layer에서 calretinin과 면역반응(immunoreactive)을 일으키는 신경세포의 형태, 분포와 안구적출 후 calretinin 면역반응의 영향에 대해 보고한 바 있다. 본 연구에서는, 상구의 deeper layer에서 면역세포화학 방법을 이용하여 면역표지 된 세포의 분포와 유형 그리고 안구적출 후 변화의 양상을 기술한다. 또한 중추 신경계에서 주요 억제성 신경전달물질인 GABA를 사용하여 calretinin 면역표지 된 세포와 비교하였다. Superficial layer와 비교하여, deeper layer는 calretinin 면역 반응을 일으키는 많은 신경세포들이 분포한다. 이 신경세포들은 두 층을 형성하며, 그 중 첫 번째 층은 intermediate gray layer에서 뚜렷한 층 구조를 나타내었다. 두 번째 층은 deep gray layer에서 발견되었다. 면역표지 된 신경세포는 형태학적으로 매우 다양하며, 수직 방추모양, 성상, 둥근/타원형 그리고 수평 신경세포를 포함한다. Superficial layer와 비교하여, 안구적출은 deeper layer에서 calretinin 면역반응의 분포에 영향이 없는 것으로 보여진다. 두 가지 색을 이용한 면역 형광법은 calretinin 면역반응 신경세포들이 하나도 GABA항체와 함께 표지 되지 않는 것을 보여준다. 본 연구 결과는 햄스터 상구에서 calretinin 함유 신경세포는 특이한 sublaminar 구조를 이루고 있는 것을 보여준다. 본 연구 결과는 또한 햄스터 상구에서 calretinin 면역 반응 신경세포들은 GABAergic interneuron이 하나도 없는 것을 증명한다. 많은 calretinin 면역 반응 세포들은 대부분 뇌의 다른 부분에서는 GABAergic interneuron 인데 비해, 햄스터 상구에서의 본 연구 현상은 예외적이다.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.91-98
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• 2005

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is known as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the neurons of the central nervous system. However, its detailed action mechanisms in the rostral gustatory zone of the nucleus tractus solitarius (rNTS) have not been established. The present study was aimed to investigate the distribution, role and action mechanisms of GABA in rNTS. Membrane potentials were recorded by whole cell recordings in isolated brain slices of the rat medulla. Superfusion of GABA resulted in a concentration-dependent reduction in input resistance in the neurons in rNTS. The change in input resistance ws accompanied by response to a depolarizing pulse were diminished by GABA. Superfusion of the slices with either $GABA_A$ agonist, muscimol, $GABA_B$ agonist, baclofen or $GABA_C$ agonist, TACA, decreased input resistance and reduced the nerve activity in association with membrane hyperpolarization. It is suggested that inhibitory signals playa role in sensory processing by the rNTS, in that GABA actions occur through activation of $GABA_A,\;GABA_B\;and\;GABA_C$ receptor. These results suggest that GABA has an inhibitory effect on the rNTS through an activation of $GABA_A,\;GABA_B\;and\;GABA_C$ receptors and that the GABAergic inhibition probably plays an important role in sensory processing by the rNTS.