• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1714-1721
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• 2004

This experimental study was designed to investigate the mechanism of Palmul-Tang(PMT) on the changes of cerebral hemodynamics in rats. The changes of cerebral hemodynamics in normal rats were as follows ; The PMT-induced increase in regional cerebral blood flow was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with indomethacin(1㎎/㎏, i.p.), an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, and was inhibited by methylene blue(10㎍/㎏, i.p.), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase. The PMT-induced dilation in pial arterial diameter was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with indomethacin and methylene blue. The PMT-induced increase in mean arterial blood pressure was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with indomethacin but was increased by methylene blue. This results were suggested that the mechanism of PMT was mediated by cyclooxygenase. The changes of cytokine production in cerebral ischemic rats were as follows ; In cytokine production of serum by drawing from femoral arterial blood after middle cerebral arterial occlusion 1hr, sample group was decreased IL-1β and TNF-α production compared with control group, IL-10 production of sample group was similar to that of control group, but sample group was significantly increased TGF-β production compared with control group. In cytokine production of serum by drawing from femoral arterial blood after reperfusion 1hr, sample group was significantly decreased IL-1β production compared with control group and decreased TNF-α production compared with control group. IL-10 production of sample group was similar to that of control group, but sample group was significantly increased TGF-β production compared with control group. In cytokine production of serum by drawing from femoral arterial blood after reperfusion 4 hrs, sample group was significantly decreased IL-1β production compared with control group, but IL-10 production of sample group was similar to that of control group. sample group was increased TNF-α and TGF-β production compared with control group. These results suggested that PMT had inhibitive effect on the brain damage by inhibiting IL-1β and TNF-α production, but by accelerating TGF-β production. The present author thought that PMT had an anti-ischemic effect through the improvement of cerebral hemodynamics and inhibitive effect on the brain damage.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2004

Cordycepin separated from Cordyceps militaris is a major physiologic active component in Cordyceps militaris. The platelet aggregation is stimulated by $Ca^{2+}$, which is either mobilized from intracellular endoplasmic reticulum or transported from extracellular space. cGMP antagonizes the actions of $Ca^{2+}$. Based on these facts, we have investigated the effects of cordycepin on the mobilization of $Ca^{2+}$ and the production of cGMP on collagen ($10\mu$g/ml)-induced human platelet aggregation. Cordycepin potently stimulated the human platelet aggregation induced by collagen ($10\mu$g/ml) in a dose-dependent manner. Cordycepin (500 $\mu$M) inhibited also the collagen-induced human platelet aggregation in the presence both 1 mM and 2 mM of $CaCl_2$. These are in accord with the results that cordycepin inhibited the $Ca^{2+}$- influx on collagen-induced human platelet aggregation. These results suggest that cordycepin decrease the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration to inhibit collagen-induced human platelet aggregation. Besides, cordycepin increased the level of cGMP on collagen-induced human platelet aggregation. This result is related with the decrease of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration, because cGMP inhibits the mobilization of $Ca^{2+}$. In addition, cordycepin inhibited the human platelet aggregation induced by LY -83583, inhibitor of guanylate cyclase. This result suggested that cordycepin inhibit the platelet aggregation by stimulating the activity of guanylate cyclase. In conclusion, we demonstrated that cordycepin might have the antiplatelet function by inhibiting $Ca^{2+}$-mobilization via the stimulation of the production of cGMP.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.111-125
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• 2007

Objection : The aim of this study was to investigate anti-ischemic effect of LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture. Methods : I designed to investigate whether LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture affects cerebral hemodynamics [regional cerebral blood flow(rCBF), pial arterial diameter(PAD), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) ] in normal and cerebral ischemia rats by MCA occlusion method, and to make manifest whether LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture is mediated by cyclooxygenase or guanylate cyclase. The changes of rCBF and MABP were determinated by laser-doppler flowmetry(LDF), and the change of PAD was determinated by video microscope and width analyzer. Results: The results were as follows ; 1. LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture was significantly increased rCBF, PAD, but decreased MABP after withdrawing of the needle. This results suggest that LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture induced significantly rCBF by dilating PAD. 2. Pretreatment with indomethacin (1mg/kg, i.v.) was significantly inhibited LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture induced increase of rCBF and PAD, but increased LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture induced decrease of MABP after withdrawing of the needle. 3. Pretreatment with methylene blue(10/${\mu}$g/kg, i.v.) was decreased LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture induced increase of rCBF and MABP, but accelerated LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture induced decrease of PAD. This results suggest that the mechanism of LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture is mediated by cyclooxygenase or guanylate cyclase. Conclusion : I suggest that LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture has an anti-ischemic effect through the improvement of cerebral hemodynamics, and the mechanism IS mediated by cyclooxygenase.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.486-493
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• 2011

Nitric oxide (NO) donors are a potent inducer of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). However, it is unclear whether or not HO-1 expression induced by NO donors is a direct consequence of NO released by NO donors. Here, we investigated the effects of NO donors on the expression of HO-1 in primary rat articular chondrocytes. NO donors (SIN-1, SNAP, and SNP) significantly induced the accumulation of HO-1 protein accompanied by an increase in HO-1 mRNA. NO donor-induced HO-1 expression exerted cytoprotection against NO and/or superoxide-induced cell death. Guanylate cyclase signaling was not associated with Nrf2 and HO-1 expression in NO donor-treated chondrocytes. Interestingly, NO scavenger carboxy-PTIO and SOD mimetic TEMPOL markedly inhibited NO donor-induced HO-1 expression in chondrocytes. In addition, NO donor-induced HO-1 expression was completely abrogated by the peroxynitrite scavenger MnTBAP. Since peroxynitrite can be physiologcally formed in the cell through reaction of NO with superoxide, we analyzed whether or not peroxynitrite could directly induce HO-1 expression in chondrocytes. Peroxynitrite treatment in chondrocytes evoked doseand time-dependent Nrf2 and HO-1 expression. These results indicate that HO-1 expression induced by NO donors in rat articular chondrocytes is due to NO-mediated peroxynitrite rather than NO.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2004

Nitric oxide (NO) system has been implicated in a wide range of physiological functions in the nervous system. However, the role of NO in regulating the neural activity in the gustatory zone of nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) has not been established. The present study was aimed to investigate the role of NO in the gustatory NTS neurons. Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing about 50 g, were used. Whole cell patch recording and immunohistochemistry were done to determine the electrophysiological characteristics of the rostral gustatory nucleus of the tractus solitaries and distribution of NO synthases (NOS). Neuronal NOS (nNOS) immunoreactivity was strongly detected along the solitary tract extending from rostral to caudal medulla. Resting membrane potentials of NTS neurons were $-49.2{\pm}2\;mV$ and action potential amplitudes were $68.5{\pm}2\;mV$ with a mean duration measured at half amplitude of $1.7{\pm}0.3\;ms$. Input resistance, determined from the response to a 150 ms, -100 pA hyperpolarizing current pulse, was $385{\pm}15\;M{\Omega}$, Superfusion of SNAP or SNP, NO donors, produced either hyperpolarization (68%), depolarization (5%), or no effect (27%). The hyperpolarization was mostly accompanied by a decrease in input resistance. The hyperpolarization caused by SNAP or SNP increased the time to initiate the first action potential, and decreased the number of action potentials elicited by current injection. SNP or SNAP also markedly decreased the number of firing neural discharges of the spontaneous NTS neural activity under zero current. Superfusion of L-NAME, a NOS inhibitor, slightly depolarized the membrane potential and increased the firing rate of NTS neurons induced by current injection. ODQ, a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, ameliorated the SNAP-induced changes in membrane potential, input resistance and firing rates. 8-Br-cGMP, a non-degradable cell-permeable cGMP, hyperpolarized the membrane potential and decreased the number of action potentials. It is suggested that NO in the gustatory NTS has an inhibitory role on the neural activity of NTS through activating soluble guanylate cyclase.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.207-207
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• 1996

Through molecular cloning, five muscarinic receptors have been identified. The muscarinic receptors can be generally grouped according to their coupling to either stimulation of phospholipase C (m1, m3, and m5) or the inhibition of adenylate cyclase (m2 and m4). Each m1, m3, and m5 receptors has the additional potential to couple to the activation of phospholipase A$_2$, C, and D, tyrosine kinase, and the mobilization of Ca$\^$2+/. However, the differences in coupling efficiencies to different second messenger systems between these receptors have not been studied well. Ectopic expression of each of these receptors in mammalian cells has provided the opportunity to evaluate the signal transduction of each in some detail. In this work we compared the coupling efficiencies of the m1, m3 and m5 muscarinic receptors expressed in chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to the Ca$\^$2+/ mobilization and the stimulation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Because G protein/PLC/PI turnover/[(Ca$\^$2+/])i/NOS pathway was supposed as a main pathway for the production of nitric oxide via muscarinic receptors, we studied on ml, m3 and m5 receptors. Stimulation of guanylate cyclase activity in detector neuroblastoma cells was used as an index of generation nitric oxide (NO) in CHO cells. The agonist carbachol increased the cGMP formation and the intracellular [Ca$\^$2+/] in concentration dependent manner in three types of receptors and the increased cGMP formation was significantly attenuated by scavenger of NO or inhibitor of NOS. m5 receptors was most efficiently coupled to stimulation of nNOS, And, the coupling efficiencies to the stimulation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in three types of receptors were parallel with them to the Ca$\^$2+/ mobilization.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.111-115
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• 2008

The effects of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on pacemaker activities of cultured interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) from murine small intestine were investigated using whole-cell patch-clamp technique at $30^{\circ}C$ and $Ca^{2+}$ image analysis. ICC generated spontaneous pacemaker currents at a holding potential of -70 mV. The treatment of ICC with EGCG resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the frequency and amplitude of pacemaker currents. SQ-22536, an adenylate cyclase inhibitor, and ODQ, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor, did not inhibit the effects of EGCG. EGCG-induced effects on pacemaker currents were not inhibited by glibenclamide, an ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel blocker and TEA, a $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channel blocker. Also, we found that EGCG inhibited the spontaneous $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ oscillations in cultured ICC. In conclusion, EGCG inhibited the pacemaker activity of ICC and reduced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ oscillations by cAMP-, cGMP-, ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel-independent manner.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2022

To identify the effect and mechanism of carbon monoxide (CO) on delayed rectifier K⁺ currents (I_K) of human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs), we used the wholecell mode patch-clamp technique. Application of CO delivered by carbon monoxidereleasing molecule-3 (CORM3) increased the amplitude of outward K⁺ currents, and diphenyl phosphine oxide-1 (a specific I_K blocker) inhibited the currents. CORM3-induced augmentation was blocked by pretreatment with nitric oxide synthase blockers (L-NG-monomethyl arginine citrate and L-NG-nitro arginine methyl ester). Pretreatment with KT5823 (a protein kinas G blocker), 1H-[1,-2,-4] oxadiazolo-[4,-3-a] quinoxalin-1-on (ODQ, a soluble guanylate cyclase blocker), KT5720 (a protein kinase A blocker), and SQ22536 (an adenylate cyclase blocker) blocked the CORM3 stimulating effect on I_K. In addition, pretreatment with SB239063 (a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase [MAPK] blocker) and PD98059 (a p44/42 MAPK blocker) also blocked the CORM3's effect on the currents. When testing the involvement of S-nitrosylation, pretreatment of N-ethylmaleimide (a thiol-alkylating reagent) blocked CO-induced I_K activation and DL-dithiothreitol (a reducing agent) reversed this effect. Pretreatment with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)-21H,23H porphyrin manganese (III) pentachloride and manganese (III) tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin chloride (superoxide dismutase mimetics), diphenyleneiodonium chloride (an NADPH oxidase blocker), or allopurinol (a xanthine oxidase blocker) also inhibited CO-induced I_K activation. These results suggest that CO enhances I_K in HCFs through the nitric oxide, phosphorylation by protein kinase G, protein kinase A, and MAPK, S-nitrosylation and reduction/oxidation (redox) signaling pathways.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2008

Objectives : This experimental study was designed to investigate the effects of Lumbricus extract (LE) on the changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in normal rats, and further to determine the mechanism of action of LE. Methods : The changes of rCBF were observed by Laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and the changes of MABP were recorded by a data acquisition system assembled with MacLab and Macintosh. Results : LE significantly increased rCBF in a high dosage(10.0 mg/kg, i.p), but MABP was somewhat increased as compared with baseline. This result suggests that LE significantly increased rCBF by dilating pial arterial diameter. Increase of LE-induced rCBF was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with indomethacin (1 mg/kg, i.p), an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, but was not significantly inhibited by pretreatment with methylene blue ($10{\mu}g/kg$, i.p), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase. Conclusions : LE increased rCBF by dilating pial arterial diameter, and the action of this response was mediated by cyclooxygenase.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1271-1277
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• 2007

This study was designed to investigate the effects of Sagunja-tang Extract & Zingiberis rhizoma recens Juice (SEZJ) and Zingiberis rhizoma recens Juice (ZRJ) on the changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in normal rats. The results were as follows ; SEZJ and ZRJ significantly increased rCBF in a dose-dependent manner, while it did not change MABP. This results suggest that SEZJ and ZRJ significantly increased rCBF by dilating pial arterial diameter. Increase of SEZJ-induced rCBF was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with methylene blue (10 ${\mu}g/kg$, i.p.), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, and indomethacin (1 mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase. SEZJ-induced MABP was significantly increased by pretreatment with indomethacin but was not changed by methylene blue. These results suggested that the action of SEZJ was mediated by cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate.