• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.17-24
• /
• 2012

The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortex (HPA) axis is the central mediator of the stress response. The supramammillary (SuM) region is relatively unique among the hypothalamic structures in that it sends a large, direct projection to the hippocampal formation. It has been shown that mild stress could activate the SuM cells that project to the hippocampus. However, the role of these cell populations in modulating the stress response is not known. The present study examined the effect of stress on different populations of SuM cells that project to the hippocampus by injecting the fluorescent retrograde tracer, fluorogold (FG), into the hippocampus and utilizing the immunohistochemistry of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF), serotonin (5-HT), glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and NADPH-d reactivity. Immobilization (IMO) stress (2 hr) produced an increase in the expression of ChAT- immunoreactivity, and tended to increase in CRF, 5-HT, GAD, TH-immunoreactivity and nitric oxide (NO)-reactivity in the SuM cells. Fifty-three percent of 5-HT, 31% of ChAT and 56% of CRF cells were double stained with retrograde cells from the hippocampus. By contrast, a few retrogradely labeled cells projecting to the hippocampus were immunoreactive for dopamine, ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and NO. These results suggest that the SuM region contains distinct cell populations that differentially respond to stress. In addition, the findings suggest that serotonergic, cholinergic and corticotropin releasing cells projecting to the hippocampus within the SuM nucleus may play an important role in modulating stress-related behaviors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.191-200
• /
• 2014

We investigated the anxiolytic-like activity of ${\alpha}$-asarone (AAS) from Acorus gramineus in an experimental rat model of anxiety induced by repeated administration of the exogenous stress hormone corticosterone (CORT). The putative anxiolytic effect of AAS was studied in behavioral tests of anxiety, such as the elevated plus maze (EPM) test and the hole-board test (HBT) in rats. For 21 consecutive days, male rats received 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg AAS (i.p.) 30 min prior to a daily injection of CORT. Dysregulation of the HPA axis in response to the repeated CORT injections was confirmed by measuring serum levels of CORT and the expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in the hypothalamus. Daily AAS (200 mg/kg) administration increased open-arm exploration significantly in the EPM test, and it increased the duration of head dipping activity in the HBT. It also blocked the increase in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in the locus coeruleus (LC) and decreased mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor, TrkB, in the hippocampus. These results indicated that the administration of AAS prior to high-dose exogenous CORT significantly improved anxiety-like behaviors, which are associated with modification of the central noradrenergic system and with BDNF function in rats. The current finding may improve understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms responsible for changes in emotions induced by repeated administration of high doses of CORT or by elevated levels of hormones associated with chronic stress. Thus, AAS did exhibit an anxiolytic-like effects in animal models of anxiety.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.249-255
• /
• 2009

All living things have been developed efficient strategies to cope with external and internal environmental changes via a process termed 'homeostasis'. However, chronic prenatal maternal stress may significantly contributes to pregnancy complications by disturbing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the automatic nervous system (ANS), and results in unfavorable development of the fetus. Dysregulation of these two major stress response systems lead to the increased secretion of the glucocorticoids (GCs) which are known to be essential for normal development and the maturation of the central nervous system. As Hox genes are master key regulators of the embryonic morphogenesis and cell differentiation, we aimed to determine the effects of dexamethasone, a potent synthetic glucocorticoid, on gene expression in mesenchymal stem cell C3H10T1/2. Analysis of 39 Hox genes based on reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) method revealed that the expression patterns of Hox genes were overall upregulated by long dexametasone treatment. These results indicate that maternal stress may have a deleterious effect on early developing embryo through the stress hormone, glucocorticoid.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.25.1-25.7
• /
• 2020

Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is an IgE (immunoglobin-E) mediated inflammatory condition of upper respiratory tract; main clinical features involve runny nose, sneezing, nasal obstruction, itching and watery eyes. AR is a global problem and has large variations in incidences, currently affects up to 20% - 40% of the population worldwide. It may not be a life-threatening disease per se but indisposition from the condition can be severe and has the potential to adversely affect the daily functioning of life. Classical yoga literature indicates that, components of yoga have been used to treat numerous inflammatory conditions including upper respiratory tract. A few yoga intervention studies reported improvement in lung capacity, Nasal air flow and symptoms of allergic rhinitis. This review examined various anti-inflammatory pathways mediated through Yoga that include downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines. The hypothalaminic-pitutary-adrenal (HPA) axis and vagal efferent stimulation has been reported to mediate anti-inflammatory effect. A significant reduction is also reported in other inflammatory biomarkers like- TNF-alpha, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), plasma CRP and Cortisol level. Neti, a yogic nasal cleansing technique, reported beneficial effect on AR by direct physical cleansing of thick mucus, allergens, and inflammatory mediator from nasal mucosa resulting in improved ciliary beat frequency. We do not find any study showing effect of yoga on neurogenic inflammation. In summary, Integrated Yoga Therapy may have beneficial effect in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life for patients with allergic rhinitis. Yoga may reduce inflammation through mediating neuro-endocrino-immunological network. Future studies are needed to explore the mechanism how yoga might modulate immune inflammation cascade and neurogenic inflammation at the cellular level in relevance to allergic rhinitis; the effects of kriyas (yogic cleansing techniques) also need to be evaluated in early and late phase of AR. So the proposed model could guide future research.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.1585-1593
• /
• 2005

The genetic effects of restraint stress challenge on HPA axis and the therapeutic effect of Boshimgeonbi-tang on the stress were studied with cDNA microarray analyses, RT-PCR on hypothalamus using an immobilization-stress mice as an animal model. Male CD-1 mice were restrained in a tightly fitted and ventilated vinyl holder for 2hrs once a day, and this challenge was repeated for seven· consecutive days. In the change of body weight it showed that the Boshimgeonbi-tang is effected recovery on weight loss caused by the immobilization-stress. Seven days later, total RNA was extracted from the organs of the mouse, body-labeled with $CyDye^{TM}$ fluorescence dyes and then hybridized to CDNA microarray chip. Scanning and analyzing the array slides were carried out using GenePix4000 series scanner and GenePix $Pro^{TM}$ analyzing program, respectively. The expression profiles of 109 genes out of 6000 genes on the chip were significantly modulated in hypothalamus by the immobilization stress. Energy metabolism-, lipid metabolism-, apoptosis-, stress protein, transcriptional factor, and signal transduction-related genes were transcriptionally activated whereas DNA repair-, protein biosysthesis-, and structure integrity-related genes were down-regulated in hypothalamus. The 58 genes were up-regulated by the mRNA expression folds of 1.5 to 7.9. and the 51 genes were down-regulated by 1.5 - 5.5 fold. The 11 genes among them were selected to confirm the expression profiles by RT-PCR. The mRNA expression levels of Tnfrsf1a (apoptosis), Calm2 (cell cycle), Bag3 (apoptosis), Ogg1 (DNA repair), Aatk (apoptosis), Dffa (apoptosis), Fkbp5 (protein folding) were restored to the normal one by the treatment of Boshimgeonbi-tang.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.213-222
• /
• 2014

Abnormal adaptation of the stress-response system following traumatic stress can lead to alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis that may contribute to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present study used several behavioral tests to investigate the anxiolytic-like and antidepressant activity of L-tetrahydropalmatine (L-THP) in an experimental rat model of anxiety and depression induced by single prolonged stress (SPS), an animal model of PTSD. Male rats were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with vehicle or varied doses of THP 30 min prior to SPS for 8 consecutive days. Daily THP (50 mg/kg) administration significantly increased the number and duration of open arm visits in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test, reduced the anxiety index, increased the risk assessment, and increased the number of head dips over the borders of the open arms after SPS. THP was also associated with increased time spent at the center of the open field, reduced grooming behaviors in the EPM test, and reduced time spent immobile in the forced swimming test (FST). It also blocked the decrease in neuropeptide Y (NPY) and the increase in corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) expression in the hypothalamus. This is the first study to determine that THP exerts pronounced anxiolytic-like and antidepressant effects on the development of the behavioral and biochemical symptoms associated with PTSD, indicating its prophylactic potential. Thus, THP reversed several behavioral impairments triggered by the traumatic stress of SPS and is a potential non-invasive therapeutic intervention for PTSD.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.708-720
• /
• 2012

In this study, we assessed the effects of ginsenoside Re (GRe) administration on repeated immobilization stress-induced behavioral alterations using the forced swimming test (FST), the elevated plus maze (EPM), and the active avoidance conditioning test (AAT). Additionally, we examined the effect of GRe on the central adrenergic system by observing changes in neuronal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression in the rat brain. Male rats received 10, 20, or 50 mg/kg GRe (i.p.) 30 min before daily exposures to repeated immobilization stress (2 h/day) for 10 days. Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in response to repeated immobilization was confirmed by measuring serum levels of corticosterone (CORT) and the expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in the hypothalamus. Repeated immobilization stress increased immobility in the FST and reduced open-arm exploration in the EPM test. It also increased the probability of escape failures in the AAT test, indicating a reduced avoidance response. Daily administration of GRe during the repeated immobilization stress period significantly inhibited the stress-induced behavioral deficits in these behavioral tests. Administration of GRe also significantly blocked the increase in TH expression in the locus coeruleus (LC) and the decrease in BDNF mRNA expression in the hippocampus. Taken together, these findings indicate that administration of GRe prior to immobilization stress significantly improved helpless behaviors and cognitive impairment, possibly through modulating the central noradrenergic system in rats. These findings suggest that GRe may be a useful agent for treating complex symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.201-210
• /
• 2007

Many diseases occur by stress or effect of stress. The basis for using hormones in research of stress is the observation that most systems in the body show changes during stress and that hormonal markers in these changes are related with stress. Conceptually, the central role of sympathetic nervous system(SNS) and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal(HPA) axis activity in stress provides copious justification for measuring hormonal changes. Catecholamines like epinephrine and norepinephrine, cortisol, testosterone and growth hormone and so on show sensitive reaction to stress. The major advantage of salivary sample to stress research is that its sampling technique can be performed in non-stressful conditions and without physical restraint and ethical problems. Because hormone levels in saliva is a good reflection of hormone levels in plasma, application of stress hormones in saliva is very useful for research of orofacial pain related with stress.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.15-18
• /
• 2005

Background: Epidural steroid injections (ESI) have been used widely for the treatment of back and radiating extremity pain. Although its effects on the metabolic and endocrine system have been studied, the effects following repeated injections remain to be determined. We studied the effects of three repeated caudal epidural injections of low dose triamcinolone. Methods: the subject were 10 elderly women with spinal stenosis. Caudal epidural injections were performed biweekly. Triamcinolone (20 mg), mixed with 15 ml of 0.25% lidocaine, was used as the ESI injectate. The procedures were performed with the patient in the prone position. Blood sampling was performed just before the first injection, and used as the baseline, and then just before each injection on the same day of the 2nd and 4th weeks, with the last samples taken 2 weeks after the third injection. Results: The blood glucose concentrations showed no significant changes. The blood cortisol and ACTH concentrations were significantly decreased after the first injection, but there were no further decreases after each of the subsequent injections. The cortisol concentrations were maintained within the normal range. Conclusion: Caudal epidural injections, with low dose triamcinolone, suppressed the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, but no further suppression followed the subsequent repeated injections. Three consecutive caudal injections at 2 week intervals seems to be a safe procedure.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.311-317
• /
• 2011

The goal of this study was to clarify effects of sleep restriction on a diurnal rhythm of salivary cortisol and DHEA levels in Korean adolescents.83 middle school students were recruited to participate in restricted sleep period group (less than 4h/day) or unrestricted sleep period group (from 6h/day to 7h/day). Both were 14 to 17 years old. They were instructed to keep the sleep-awakening schedule and sampling protocol. Saliva samples of cortisol and DHEA were collected at 8h, 12h, 16h and 20h. Salivary hormones were analysed with salivary cortisol(or DHEA) EIA kit according to a fixed assay protocol. Cortisol levels of restricted sleep period group and unrestricted sleep period group significantly decreased according to the sampling times. Cortisol levels of sleep restricted group was significantly higher than those of usual sleep group at all sampling times. At 8h, DHEA levels of both groups were significantly higher than those at 12h, 16h and 20h. However, DHEA levels of restricted sleep period group did not differ from those of unrestricted sleep period group at all sampling times.Cortisol and DHEA levels of both group showed the typical diurnal rhythm regardless of sleep status. Restricted sleep may increased cortisol release, not DHEA release, which indicated a changed HPA axis.