• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1463-1467
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• 2003

In the present study, the effects of Ginseng radix and Ophiopogonis tuber on field potentials in rat hippocampal slices and cardiac muscle slices were investigated by multi-channel extracellular recording using MED64 system. The field potentials in the brain slices represent synaptic transmission and nerve excitability, and the field potentials in heart muscles represent muscle contractility. The present results show that the aqueous extract of Ginseng radix enhanced field potentials in the both hippocampal slices and cardiac muscle slices. In contrast, the aqueous extract Ophiopogonis tuber exerted no significant effect on the field potentials in the hippocampal slices and cardiac muscle slices. These results suggest the possibility that Yin-Yang theory could be studied in relation with excitability in neurons and muscles.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.123-129
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• 2006

In several experimental models, estrogens protect neurons against ischemic insults. However, the recent clinical studies of hormone replacement showed negative results to prevent stroke. Therefore, optimal models to study estrogen replacement for neuroprotection are needed before its clinical ap-plication. Organotypic hippocampal slice under oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) has been established as a model of cerebral ischemia and has advantages to study drug effects. We investigated whether estrogen protected CAI neurons and affected activation of Akt (pAkt) in CAI region under OGD. Thus, rat hippocampal slices on day 7 of culture were treated with $17-{\beta}$ estradiol (E, 1 nM) for 7 days before 30 min OGD, and cell death of CAI neurons was quantified by propidium iodide (PI) staining and expression of pAkt was studied by Western blot and immunofluorescence. PI intensity in slices treated with E was significantly reduced 72 hour after OGD compared to that of non-treated slices (p < 0.05). E pretreatment also increased the expression of pAkt 72 hour after OGD compared to that of no treatment (p<0.01). These data suggest that estrogen pretreatment may rescue neurons from ischemic insults through the activation of Akt and also indicate that our model would be a useful alternative method to study the mechanisms and effects of estrogen replacement treatment for neuroprotection.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.301-305
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• 2004

This study examined the effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), ${\alpha}-amino$-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) and kainate on basal and electrically-evoked release of acetylcholine (ACh) from the rat hippocampal and striatal slices which were preincubated with $[^3H]choline$. Unexpectedly, the basal and evoked ACh release were not affected at all by the treatment with NMDA $(3{\sim}100{\mu}M)$, AMPA $(1{\sim}100{\mu}M)$ or kainate $(1{\sim}100{\mu}M)$ in hippocampal slices. However, in striatal slices, under the $Mg^{2+}-free$ medium, $30{\mu}M$ NMDA increased the basal ACh release with significant decrease of the electrically-evoked releases. The treatment with $1{\mu}M MK-801 not only reversed the $30{\mu}M$ NMDA-induced decrease of the evoked ACh release, but also attenuated the facilitatory effect of $30\;{\mu}M$ NMDA on the basal ACh release. The treatment with either $30\;{\mu}M$ AMPA or $100\;{\mu}M$ kainate increased the basal ACh release without any effects on the evoked release. The treatment with $10{\mu}M$ NBQX abolished the AMPA- or kainate-induced increase of the basal ACh release. Interestingly, NBQX significantly attenuated the evoked release when it was treated with AMPA, although it did not affect the evoked release alone without AMPA. These observations demonstrate that in hippocampal slices, ionotropic glutamate receptors do not modulate the ACh release in cholinergic terminals, whereas in striatal slices, activations of ionotropic glutamate receptors increase the basal ACh release though NMDA may decrease the electrically-evoked ACh release.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.359-365
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• 1997

Many factors are known to be responsible for cerebral ischemic injury, such as excitatory neurotransmitters, increased intraneuronal calcium, or disturbance of cellular energy metabolism. Recently, oxygen free radicals, formed during ischemia/reperfusion, have been proposed as one of the main causes of ischemia/reperfusion injury. Therefore, to investigate the role of oxygen free radical during ischemia/reperfusion, in the present study the effect of endogenous oxygen free radical scavenger, superoxide dismutase / catalase(SOD / catalase) on the release of [$^3$H]-5-hydroxytryptamine([$^3$H]-5-HT) during hypoxia/reoxygenation in rat hippocampal slices was measured. The hippocampus was obtained from the rat brain and sliced 400 gm thickness with manual chopper. After 30 min's preincubation in the normal buffer, the slices were incubated for 20 min in a buffer containing [$^3$H]-5-HT(0.1 $\mu$M, 74 $\mu$Ci) for uptake, and washed. To measure the release of [$^3$H]-5-HT into the buffer, the incubation medium was drained off and refilled every ten minutes through a sequence of 14 tubes. Induction of hypoxia for 20 min (gassing it with 95% N$_2$/5% CO$_2$) was done in the 6th and 7th tube, and oxygen free radical scavenger, SOD / catalase was added 10 minutes prior to induction of hypoxia. The radioactivity in each buffer and the tissue were counted using liquid scintillation counter and the results were expressed as a percentage of the total activity. When slices were exposed to hypoxia for 20 min, [$^3$H]-5-HT release was markedly decreased and a rebound release of [$^3$H]-5-HT was observed on the post-hypoxic reoxygenation period. SOD / catalase did not changed the release of [$^3$H]-5-HT in control group, but inhibited the decrease of [$^3$H]-5-HT release in hypoxic period and rebound increase of [$^3$H]-5-HT in reoxygenation period. This result suggest that superoxide anion may play a role in the hypoxic-, and reoxygenation-induced change of [$^3$H]-5-HT release in rat hippocampal slices.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.413-422
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• 2024

Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) modulate postsynaptic neuronal excitability and epileptogenesis. We investigated roles of group I mGluRs on low extracellular Mg²⁺ concentration ([Mg²⁺]_o)-induced epileptiform activity and neuronal cell death in the CA1 regions of isolated rat hippocampal slices without the entorhinal cortex using extracellular recording and propidium iodide staining. Exposure to Mg²⁺-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid can induce interictal epileptiform activity in the CA1 regions of rat hippocampal slices. MPEP, a mGluR 5 antagonist, significantly inhibited the spike firing of the low [Mg²⁺]_o-induced epileptiform activity, whereas LY367385, a mGluR1 antagonist, did not. DHPG, a group 1 mGluR agonist, significantly increased the spike firing of the epileptiform activity. U73122, a PLC inhibitor, inhibited the spike firing. Thapsigargin, an ER Ca²⁺-ATPase antagonist, significantly inhibited the spike firing and amplitude of the epileptiform activity. Both the IP₃ receptor antagonist 2-APB and the ryanodine receptor antagonist dantrolene significantly inhibited the spike firing. The PKC inhibitors such as chelerythrine and GF109203X, significantly increased the spike firing. Flufenamic acid, a relatively specific TRPC 1, 4, 5 channel antagonist, significantly inhibited the spike firing, whereas SKF96365, a relatively non-specific TRPC channel antagonist, did not. MPEP significantly decreased low [Mg²⁺]_o DMEM-induced neuronal cell death in the CA1 regions, but LY367385 did not. We suggest that mGluR 5 is involved in low [Mg²⁺]_o-induced interictal epileptiform activity in the CA1 regions of rat hippocampal slices through PLC, release of Ca²⁺ from intracellular stores and PKC and TRPC channels, which could be involved in neuronal cell death.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.483-488
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• 1998

During cerebral ischemia two important factors such as hypoxia and reduction of glucose can act as modulating stressor affecting the release of amine neurotransmitters including 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). This study was performed to investigate the effect of glucose deprivation on the oxygen deprivation-induced changes of [3H]-5-HT release in the rat hippocampal slices. Experimental groups were divided into 4 groups for this study: normoxic/normoglycemic group, oxygen-deprived group, glucose-deprived group, and oxygen/glucose-deprived group. The hippocampus of rat brain was sliced by 400 $\mu\textrm{m}$ thickness with manual chopper. After 30 minutes preincubation in the normal buffer, the slices were incubated for 20 min in buffer containing [3H]-5-HT (0.1 M, 74 $\mu\textrm$Ci) for uptake. To measure the release of [3H]-5-HT into the buffer, the incubation medium was drained of and refilled with fresh buffer every ten minutes through a sequence of 14 tubes. Oxygen deprivation by gassing with 95% $N_2$/5% $CO_2$ and/or glucose deprivation was done in the 6th and 7th tube. The radioactivities in each buffer and the tissue were counted using scintillation counter. The results were expressed as fractional release. When slices were exposed to oxygen-deprived media for 20 min, the diminution followed by the rebound release of [3H]-5-HT was observed during the post-oxygen deprived period. However, glucose deprivation or oxygen/glucose deprivation markedly increased the release of [3H]-5-HT. which was opposite to the pattern observed in oxygen-deprived group. These results suggested that oxygen deprivation itself inhibits [3H]-5-HT release in rat hippocampal slices during oxygen-deprived period, but additional glucose deprivation convert the inhibitory response to increase of [3H]-5-HT release.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.347-353
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• 2000

It has been well documented that a massive release of not only glutamate but also other neurotransmitters may modulate the final responses of nerve cells to the ischemic neuronal injury. But there is no information regarding whether the release of monoamines is directly associated with synaptic vesicular proteins under ischemia. In the present study, it was investigated whether synapsin 1, syntaxin and SNAP-25 are involved in the release of 5-hydroxytryptamine $([^3H]5-HT)$ in glucose/oxygen deprived (GOD) rat hippocampal slices. And, the effect of NMDA receptor using DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV) on ischemia- induced release of 5-HT and the changes of the above proteins were also investigated. GOD for 20 minutes enhanced release of $[^3H]5-HT,$ which was in part blocked by the NMDA receptor antagonist, APV. The augmented expression of synapsin 1 during GOD for 20 minutes, which was also in part prevented by APV. In contrast, the expression of syntaxin and SNAP-25 were not altered during GOD. These results suggest that ischemic insult induces release of $[^3H]5-HT$ associated with synapsin 1, synaptic vesicular protein, via activation of NMDA receptor in part.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.588-593
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• 2009

Purpose : To investigate whether growth hormone (GH) has a protective effect on neurons in hippocampal slice cultures of neonatal rats exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). Methods : Cultured hippocampal slices of 7-day-old rats were exposed to OGD for 60 min. Then, the slices were immediately treated with three doses of GH (5, 50, or $500{\mu}M$) in media. The relative fluorescent densities of propidium iodide (PI) uptake in the slices and relative lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities in the media were determined and compared between each GH- treated group of slices and untreated slices (control) at 12 and 24 h after OGD. Immunofluorescent staining for caspase-3 and TUNEL staining were performed to observe the effect of GH on apoptotic neuronal death. Results : The relative fluorescent densities of PI uptake in CA1 and dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampal slices in each GH-treated group were not significantly different from those in the untreated slices at 12 and 24 h after OGD (P>0.05). Treatment with GH could reduce the relative LDH activities in the media of the GH-treated groups only at 12 h after OGD (P<0.05). Expression of caspase-3 and TUNEL positivity in CA1 and DG of the slices treated with 50-iM GH were not different from those of the untreated slices at 12 and 24 h after OGD. Conclusion : Treatment of hippocampal slice cultures with GH after OGD does not show a definitive protective effect on neuronal death but can reduce the LDH efflux of the slices in media at 12 h after OGD.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.43-57
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was designed to assess neuroprotective effects of herb medicine against Alzhheimer's disease related brain damage in organotypic hippocampal slice culture. Methods: We induced dementia related brain damage in organotypic hippocampal slices by $\beta$-amyloid. Those slices were treated with herb medicines - Hwangryeonhaedoktang, Sopungsoongiwon. Using by PI staining, the extents of cell death were assessed. After that, we selected the best effective one among those herb medicines and the major components of that medicine were studied to reveal neuroprotective effects and related proteins by using PI stating. Results: In PI staining, Sopungsoongiwon is the best effective herb medicine between Hwangryeonhaedoktang and Sopungsoongiwon. Notopterygii Rhizoma, Corni Fructus, Areca Catechu, Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, Plantaginis Semen is the best effective one among the components of Sopungsoongiwon. Conclusions: We suggested that purgative effect would be the best effetive medicine on dementia related brain damage between clearing heat and toxic materials.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.6
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• pp.657-664
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• 1997

The effects of adenosine, adenosine A1 receptor antagonist (DPCPX), or NMDA receptor antagonist (APV) on the spontaneous release of $[^3H]-5-hydroxytryptamine$ ($[^3H]-5-HT$) during normoxic/normoglycemic or hypoxic/hypoglycemic period were studied in the rat hippocampal slices. The hippocampus was obtained from the rat brain and sliced $400\;{\mu}m$ thickness with the tissue slicer. After 30 min's preincubation in the normal buffer, the slices were incubated for 30 min in a buffer containing $[^3H]-5-HT$ ($0.1\;{\mu}M,\;74{\mu}Ci/8\;ml$) for uptake, and washed. To measure the release of $[^3H]-5-HT$ into the buffer, the incubation medium was drained off and refilled every ten minutes through sequence of 14 tubes. Induction of glucose/oxygen deprivation (GOD; medium depleting glucose and gassed with 95% $N_2/5%\;CO_2$) was done in 6th and 7th tube. The radioactivities in each buffer and the tissue were counted using liquid scintillation counter and the results were expressed as a percentage of the total radioactivities. When slices were exposed to GOD for 20 mins, the spontaneous release of $[^3H]-5-HT$ was markedly increased and this increase of $[^3H]-5-HT$ release was blocked by adenosine ($10\;{\mu}M$) or DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV; $30\;{\mu}M$). Adenosine $A_1$ receptor specific antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX) exacerbate GOD-induced increase of spontaneous release of $[^3H]-5-HT$. These results suggest that Adenosine may play a role in the GOD-induced spontaneous release of $[^3H]-5-HT$ through adenosine $A_1$ receptor activity.