• Molecules and Cells
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.315-324
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• 2005

Pain is an unpleasant sensation experienced when tissues are damaged. Thus, pain sensation in some way protects body from imminent threat or injury. Peripheral sensory nerves innervated to peripheral tissues initially respond to multiple forms of noxious or strong stimuli, such as heat, mechanical and chemical stimuli. In response to these stimuli, electrical signals for conducting the nociceptive neural signals through axons are generated. These action potentials are then conveyed to specific areas in the spinal cord and in the brain. Sensory afferent fibers are heterogeneous in many aspects. For example, sensory nerves are classified as $A{\alpha}$, $-{\beta}$, $-{\delta}$ and C-fibers according to their diameter and degree of myelination. It is widely accepted that small sensory fibers tend to respond to vigorous or noxious stimuli and related to nociception. Thus these fibers are specifically called nociceptors. Most of nociceptors respond to noxious mechanical stimuli and heat. In addition, these sensory fibers also respond to chemical stimuli [Davis et al. (1993)] such as capsaicin. Thus, nociceptors are considered polymodal. Recent advance in research on ion channels in sensory neurons reveals molecular mechanisms underlying how various types of stimuli can be transduced to neural signals transmitted to the brain for pain perception. In particular, electrophysiological studies on ion channels characterize biophysical properties of ion channels in sensory neurons. Furthermore, molecular biology leads to identification of genetic structures as well as molecular properties of ion channels in sensory neurons. These ion channels are expressed in axon terminals as well as in cell soma. When these channels are activated, inward currents or outward currents are generated, which will lead to depolarization or hyperpolarization of the membrane causing increased or decreased excitability of sensory neurons. In order to depolarize the membrane of nerve terminals, either inward currents should be generated or outward currents should be inhibited. So far, many cationic channels that are responsible for the excitation of sensory neurons are introduced recently. Activation of these channels in sensory neurons is evidently critical to the generation of nociceptive signals. The main channels responsible for inward membrane currents in nociceptors are voltage-activated sodium and calcium channels, while outward current is carried mainly by potassium ions. In addition, activation of non-selective cation channels is also responsible for the excitation of sensory neurons. Thus, excitability of neurons can be controlled by regulating expression or by modulating activity of these channels.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.425-434
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• 1998

This study was designed to investigate the microglial reactions to the neurodegenerative changes in the cat retina. All experiments were performed using adult cats of both sex, weighing $2,500g\sim3,500g$. 5,7-DHT $(100{\mu}g)$ dissolved in 0.1% ascorbic acid was injected into the vitreous body. All injections were performed in one-side eye; the other side served as the control, which was injected only with 0.1% ascorbic acid. Cats were sacrificed at 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after intravitreal injection of 5,7-DHT For light microscopy, retinae were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and processed using NDPase histochemistry. Same retinae were fixed with 1% para(formaldehyde-2.5% glutaraldehyde and processed for electron microscopy. NDPase-positive microglial cells were mainly distributed in the inner plexiform layer of the retina, and characterized by a small somata with a few slender processes, which were also extended in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and inner nuclear layer (INL). The intensity of the microglia stained for NDPase was abruptly increased at 7 day as compared with that of the control, and thereafter continuously sustained until 21 day, the last experimental group in this study. Under the electron microscopical observation, microglial cells in the control group exhibited elongate nucleus with perinuclear chromatin condensation, and the perikaryon was scanty. However, a few hypertrophic glial cells were frequently found at 3 days after the drug injection. By 7 day, most microglial cells directed toward the degenerated neurons in the GCL, and the number of microglial cells was slightly increased as compared with the former group. At the 14 day, most microglial cells wrapped the degenerated cells in the GCL, and a few cells showed phagocytotic features. By 21 day, most microglial cells were engaged in phagocytotic activity, and their cytoplasm was filled with the phagorytosed material. Based on the results, 5,7-DHT may act as a specific neurotoxin to the cat retina, and microglial reactions to the neuronal death are already induced in early experimental stage. These results indicate that the microglial cells in the cat retina show characteristic features as a protective effect of neural tissue.

• 대한안과학회지
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• 제59권11호
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• pp.1097-1102
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• 2018

목적: 클로르페나피르 음독 후 중추신경계 손상을 동반한 독성 시신경병증 1예를 보고하고자 한다. 증례요약: 44세 여자가 7일 전부터의 양안 시력저하를 주소로 내원하였다. 환자는 내원 2주 전 자살 목적으로 클로르페나피르 한 모금을 음독했고, 직후 근처 병원에서 위세척을 시행하였다. 초기 최대교정시력은 우안 안전수지 30 cm, 좌안 안전수동이었다. 양안 동공은 5.0 mm로 커져 있었고, 빛에 대한 반응은 느렸으며 좌안에는 상대구심동공운동장애가 관찰되었다. 안저검사에서 양안 시신경유두부종이 관찰되었고, 뇌자기공명영상에서 양안 시신경과 속섬유막, 뇌량, 중소뇌각, 뇌간 등 백질 신경로를 따라 양쪽에 대칭적인 고강도신호가 관찰되었다. 클로르페나피르 중독으로 인한 독성 시신경병증으로 진단 후, 고용량 스테로이드치료를 3일간 시행하였으나 양안 최대교정시력은 광각무로 악화되었다. 3개월 후, 안저검사에서 양안 시신경위축이 관찰되었고, 빛간섭단층촬영에서 망막신경섬유층 및 신경절세포-내망상세포층 두께가 감소하였다. 결론: 매우 적은 양이라도 클로르페나피르에 노출되면 적절한 치료에도 불구하고 잠복기를 거쳐 심각한 시신경손상이 발생할 수 있으므로 주의해야 하겠다.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.54-67
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• 2003

N형 칼슘전류의 비활성화 vs 전압곡선은 U형을 보인다 - 즉 칼슘 내향전류의 크기와 비활성화 정도가 어느 정도 일치한다. 이러한 U형 비활성화는 순수한 전압의존성 기전으로 설명되어져 왔으나 칼슘의존성 비활성화 기전 또한 보고되었다. 이 연구에서는 흰쥐 상행 경동맥 결절뉴론을 단일 세포로 얻은 후, whole cell patch clamp technique를 사용하여 N형 칼슘전류를 기록하고, 세포외액의 charge carrier 로서 바륨과 칼슘을 사용하면서, 칼슘이 N형 칼슘통로의 비활성화에 미치는 역할을 알아보았다. charge carrier 로 칼슘을 사용하였을 경우에 바륨을 사용하였을 때에 비하여 비활성화 정도가 증가하였으며 이러한 증가는 세포속 $Ca^{2＋}$ Chelator가 11 mM EGTA 로부터 20 mM BAPTA 로 치환되어도 계속 관찰되었다. 비활성화 vs 전압 곡선은 바륨과 칼슘 모두에서 U형이었다. charge carrier 를 칼슘으로 치환시 추가로 유도되는 비활성화 정도는 바륨사용시의 비활성화 정도와 역비례관계를 보여 두 이온에서 같은 기전으로 비활성화가 일어날 가능성을 시사하였다. 이러한 가능성을 지원해 주는 결과로 5초의 긴 저분극 자극시 바륨과 칼슘을 써서 얻은 전류기록은 2중 지수함수로 잘 그려낼 수 있었고, 그 결과 빠른 성분(시정수: -150 ms) 과 느린 성분(시정수 -2500 ms) 를 얻었다. 칼슘이 각각의 성분에 미치는 효과는 각기 달라서 빠른 성분의 amplitude는 증가하였고 느린 성분의 시정수는 빨라졌다. 칼슘에 의해 빠른 성분의 amplitude는 증가하였으므로 이는 더 많은 채널이 빠른 경로로 비활성화되었음을 시사한다. 빠른 성분의 시정수는 변화하지 않았으므로, 이는 비촬성화의 빠른 경로는 칼슘과 바륨에서 같음을 시사하며 즉 비활성화 기전이 칼슘의존성이 아님을 보여주는 증거이다. 그러나 비활성화의 느린 성분은 칼슘에 의해 그 시정수가 빨라졌으므로 칼슘의존성일 가능성이 있다.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.465-473
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• 2004

Purpose : The essential triad for nerve regeneration is nerve conduit, supporting cell and neurotrophic factor. In order to improve the peripheral nerve regeneration, we used polyglycolic acid(PGA) tube and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) gene transfected Schwann cells in sciatic nerve defects of SD rat. Materials and methods : Nerve conduits were made with PGA sheet and outer surface was coated with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) for mechanical strength and control the resorption rate. The diameter of conduit was 1.8mm and the length was 17mm Schwann cells were harvested from dorsal root ganglion(DRG) of SD rat aged 1 day. Schwann cells were cultured on the PGA sheet to test the biocompatibility adhesion of Schwann cell. Human BDNF gene was obtained from cDNA library and amplified using PCR. BDNF gene was inserted into E1 deleted region of adenovirus shuttle vector, pAACCMVpARS. BDNF-adenovirus was multiplied in 293 cells and purified. The BDNF-Adenovirus was then infected to the cultured Schwann cells. Left sciatic nerve of SD rat (250g weighing) was exposed and 14mm defects were made. After bridging the defect with PGA conduit, culture medium(MEM), Schwann cells or BDNF-Adenovirus infected Schwann cells were injected into the lumen of conduit, respectively. 12 weeks after operation, gait analysis for sciatic function index, electrophysiology and histomorphometry was performed. Results : Cultured Schwann cells were well adhered to PGA sheet. Sciatic index of BDNF transfected group was $-53.66{\pm}13.43$ which was the best among three groups. The threshold of compound action potential was between 800 to $1000{\mu}A$ in experimental groups which is about 10 times higher than normal sciatic nerve. Conduction velocity and peak voltage of action potential of BDNF group was the highest among experimental groups. The myelin thickness and axonal density of BDNF group was significantly greater than the other groups. Conclusion : BDNF gene transfected Schwann cells could regenerate the sciatic nerve gap(14mm) of rat successfully.