• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.147-158
• /
• 1991

The effects of noradrenaline on the spontaneous contraction recorded from a strip of mucosa-free antral circular muscle were studied in the guinea-pig stomach, and the changes in slow waves and membrane resistance were analyzed in order to elucidate the mechanism for the excitatory response to noradrenaline. Electrical responses of circular muscle cells were recorded using glass microelectrodes filled with 3 M KCI. Electrotonic potentials were produced to estimate membrane resistance by the partition stimulating method. All experiments were performed in tris-buffered Tyrode solution which was aerated with 100% $O_2$ and kept at $35^{\circ}C$. The results obtained were as follows: 1) The spontaneous contractions were potentiated dose-dependently by the application of noradrenaline. 2) Through the experiments using adrenoceptor-blockers, the strong excitatory effect via $[\alpha}-adrenoceptors$ and the weak inhibitory efffect via ${\beta}-adrenoceptors$ were noted. 3) Noradrenaline produced hyperpolarization of membrane potential, and increases in the amplitude and the maximum rate of rise of slow waves. 4) In the presence of apamin, Ca-dependent K channel blocker, the characteristic hyperpolarization was not developed. However, the excitatory effect of noradrenaline on spontaneous contraction remained. 5) Membrane resistance was reduced during the hyperpolarized state by the application of noradrenaline, and the change of membrane resistance and the hyperpolarized state were completely abolished by apamin. From the above results, following conclusions could be made: Excitatory responses to noradrenaline result from the dominant ${\alpha}-excitatory$, and the weak ${\beta}-inhibitory$ action of noradrenaline. Hyperpolarization of membrane potential by noradrenaline is due to the activation of Ca-dependent K channel.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.37-43
• /
• 2005

Our previous report demonstrated that chick myoblasts are equipped with $Ca^{2+}$-permeable stretchactivated channels and $Ca^{2+}-activated$ potassium channels ($K_{Ca}$), and that hyperpolarization-induced by $K_{Ca}$ channels provides driving force for $Ca^{2+}$ influx through the stretch-activated channels into the cells. Here, we showed that acetylcholine (ACh) also hyperpolarized the membrane of cultured chick myoblasts, suggesting that nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) may be another pathway for $Ca^{2+}$ influx. Under cell-attatched patch configuration, ACh increased the open probability of $K_{Ca}$ channels from 0.007 to 0.055 only when extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ was present. Nicotine, a nAChR agonist, increased the open probability of $K_{Ca}$ channels from 0.008 to 0.023, whereas muscarine failed to do so. Since the activity of $K_{Ca}$ channel is sensitive to intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level, nAChR seems to be capable of inducing $Ca^{2+}$ influx. Using the $Ca^{2+}$ imaging analysis, we were able to provide direct evidence that ACh induced $Ca^{2+}$ influx from extracellular solution, which was dramatically increased by valinomycin-mediated hyperpolarization. In addition, ACh hyperpolarized the membrane potential from $-12.5{\pm}3$ to $-31.2{\pm}5$ mV by generating the outward current through $K_{Ca}$ channels. These results suggest that activation of nAChR increases $Ca^{2+}$ influx, which activates $K_{Ca}$ channels, thereby hyperpolarizing the membrane potential in chick myoblasts.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.341-346
• /
• 2014

Lubiprostone is a chloride ($Cl^-$) channel activator derived from prostaglandin $E_1$ and used for managing constipation. In addition, lubiprostone affects the activity of gastrointestinal smooth muscles. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells that generate slow-wave activity in smooth muscles. We studied the effects of lubiprostone on the pacemaker potentials of colonic ICCs. We used the whole-cell patch-clamp technique to determine the pacemaker activity in cultured colonic ICCs obtained from mice. Lubiprostone hyperpolarized the membrane and inhibited the generation of pacemaker potentials. Prostanoid $EP_1$, $EP_2$, $EP_3$, and $EP_4$ antagonists (SC-19220, PF-04418948, 6-methoxypyridine-2-boronc acid N-phenyldiethanolamine ester, and GW627368, respectively) did not block the response to lubiprostone. L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase) and 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3,-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase) did not block the response to lubiprostone. In addition, tetraethylammonium (TEA, a voltage-dependent potassium [$K^+$] channel blocker) and apamin (a calcium [$Ca^{2+}$]-dependent $K^+$ channel blocker) did not block the response to lubiprostone. However, glibenclamide (an ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel blocker) blocked the response to lubiprostone. Similar to lubiprostone, pinacidil (an opener of ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel) hyperpolarized the membrane and inhibited the generation of pacemaker potentials, and these effects were inhibited by glibenclamide. These results suggest that lubiprostone can modulate the pacemaker potentials of colonic ICCs via activation of ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel through a prostanoid EP receptor-independent mechanism.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.56 no.6
• /
• pp.571-584
• /
• 2004

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of the most advanced imaging techniques in clinical and research medicine. However, clinical application of MRI to the lung or thorax has been limited due to various drawbacks. Low signal intensity of the lung and cardiac and respiratory movements are the most serious problems with MRI in thorax. Nevertheless, MRI is superior to CT in some selected patients with thoracic diseases. The role of clinical MRI in thoracic disease has been widened with improvement of MR equipments and development of new pulse sequences. Otherwise, functional assessment of lung by MRI has been studied for the last decade. These include perfusion MRI with or without contrast enhancement and ventilation MRI with oxygen-enhancement or hyperpolarized noble gas, $^3He$ and $^{129}Xe$.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.264-268
• /
• 1998

Dopamine (DA) acts on swimming motor neurons (SMNs) of Polyorchis penicillatus as an inhibitory neurotransmitter by hyperpolarizing their membrane potentials, which results from the activation of voltagesensitive potassium channels mediated through a $D_2-type$ receptor. In addition, DA, and not the hyperpolarized membrane potential, directly decreased the input resistance of SMNs by ca. 50% from 1.42 to 0.68 $G{\Omega}$. It strongly indicates that DA can shunt other excitatory synaptic signals onto SMNs where DA usually elicited much greater responses in their neurites than soma. All these evidences suggest that DA may operate in this primitive nervous system in dual modes as an inhibitory neurotransmitter and neuromodulator as well.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2018

Among several NMR hyperpolarization techniques, parahydrogen-based hyperpolarization technique is recently extensively utilized to enhance the sensitivity of the conventional NMR/MRI spectroscopy. Two mostly investigated research topics are PHIP (Parahydrogen Induced Polarization) and SABRE (Signal Amplification By Reversible Exchange), which are commonly using the parahydrogen as the source of hyperpolarization. Those researches have been considered as the promising techniques that could provide hyperpolarized states on the ambient substrates including biologically important materials. Therefore, based on their potentials, we briefly reviewed several important experimental results on those topics after introducing the basic principle of parahydrogen and its generation with conceptual explanations. We hope this review will broaden the parahydrogen-based hyperpolarization transfer study on many researches in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.23 no.3 s.59
• /
• pp.221-227
• /
• 2005

The effects of light and $CO_2$ on the electrophysiological characteristics of guard cells in the intact leaf and isolated epidermis have been investigated. Fast hyperpolarization of guard cell apoplastic PD in the intact leaf was recorded reaching up to around 7 mV and 20 mV in response to light and $CO_2$. Whenever the experiments were attempted with isolated epidermis, there was no response to light and $CO_2$. In order to determine the influence of the mesophyll cells, the apoplastic PD of guard cells in isolated epidermis was measured in the presence of the mesophyll supernatant or the control medium. The apoplastic PD in isolated epidermis was hyperpolarized to -7mV, changing from -22mV to -29mV at 40 min. But, when isolated epidermis was incubated with the supernatant from mesophyll cells incubated in the light, the apoplastic PD in isolated epidermis was hyperpolarized to -19 mV, changing from -22 mV to -40.5 mV. $CO_2$ also caused a change of 0.1 to 0.3 pH unit in the intact leaf. However, this change was absent in isolated epidermis. A vibrating probe was used to detect the change in electrical currents at the surface of excised intact leaves and isolated epidermis. The reading of excised intact leaves in the dark was $0.5\muA\;cm^{-2},$ remaining steady until illuminated. Light increased the current on the surface of excised leaves to about $0.8\muA\;cm^{-2},$. However, light had no effect in the current on the surface of isolated epidermis. Apoplastic pH changes across the stomatal complex in response to light and dark were measured both in the intact leaves and isolated epidermis over the same time period using pH micro-electrodes. The guard cell wall of intact leaf was acidified to 2.5 pH unit, falling from pH 7.5 to pH 5.0 in the first 10 min. in the light. At the same time the guard cell wall pH of isolated epidermis fell from pH 7.5 to pH 7.0 at 10 min. The guard cell wall pH of isolated epidermis incubated in the mesophyll supernatant fell from pH 7.6 to pH 6.7 at 10 min. Likewise, It could be imagined that an electrical signal, chemicals and hormones propagated from the mesophyll in response to light and $CO_2$ could control a fast stomatal response.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.13-23
• /
• 1982

Effects of external pH and potassium concentrations on the electrical and mechanical properties were investigated on rabbit papillary muscle. Papillary muscles were perfused in horizontal chamber with Tris Tyrode solutions and action potential along with isometric tension was recorded simultaneously. Potassium concentrations were varied between 1 and 12 mM at low(6.9), normal(7.4) and high (7.9) external pH. The following results were obtained: 1) On rasing the potassium concentration from 1 to 12 mM resting membrane potentials decreased from $-88.8{\pm}2.8$ to $-66.4{\pm}1.2\;mV$ at normal pH and the amplitude of action potential decreased from $115.1{\pm}0.7$ to $97.5{\pm}2.8\;mV$. On lowering the potassium concentration, membrane hyperpolarized and at 1 mM potassium concentration resting potentials were $-107{\pm}2.2\;mV$. Duration of action potential especially $APD_{60}{\sim}APD_{90}$ increased($APD_{90}$: $214{\pm}15.8\;ms$ at 1 mM $K^+$ to $287{\pm}18.1\;ms$ at 12 mM $K^+$). 2) During acidosis membranes hyperpolarized by more than 20 mV within 1 min. and then slow recovery was observed during the following 10 min. During alkalosis membranes depolarized about 10 mV, which were maintained until washing with normal Tyrode solutions. 3) On lowering the external pH(7.9-6.5), duration of action potential increased progressively and it was most prominent at pH 6.5 and $K^+$ 1mM. 4) Magnitude of developed tension was $0.6{\pm}0.14\;g/mm^2$ at normal pH and potassium concentration (stimulus frequency : 60/min). Relative isometric tension to normal value increased along the increment of stimulus frequency($44.2{\pm}4.2%$ at 6/min to $271{\pm}86.7%$ at 180/min). Force-frequency relations were altered quantitatively during the perfusion with different external pH solutions. 5) Developed tension did not show marked variation within the range of $2{\sim}8\;mM$ potassium concentrations. Positive inotropism was observed at less than 2 mM $K^+$ and negative inotropism beyond 12 mM $K^+$ concentrations. From the above results we concluded that the effects of potassium ion concentration on electrical and mechanical properties of rabbit papillary muscle are related to the changes in surface negative charge due to acid base disturbances.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.151-157
• /
• 1994

Intracellular free $Ca^{2+}$ contributes to regulation of various events occurring in vascular smooth muscle cells. One of these events is modulating the membrane iou currents. Single smooth muscle cells were isolated from rabbit mesenteric artery. Three kinds of $Ca^{2+}-activated\;current$ were studied with the patch clamp method. $Ca^{2+}-activated\;K^+\;current$ with a large oscillation was recorded in the depolarized potential range. The single channel conductance of this current was about 250 pS. It was abolished by replacing intracellular $K^+\;with\;Cs^+$. A $Ca^{2+}-activated$ nonselective cation current was observed in both the depolarized and hyperpolarized potential ranges. And it was blocked by replacement of extracellular $Na^+$ with N-methylglucamine (NMG) or extracellular application of $Cd^{2+}$. $Ca^{2+}-activated\;Cl^-\;current$ was revealed in the whole voltage range and was blocked by niflumic acid. These results indicate that at least three kinds of $Ca^{2+}-activated$ ionic currents exist in smooth muscle cells from rabbit superior mesenteric artery.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.173-181
• /
• 2002

The sinoatrial (SA) node is a complex and inhomogeneous tissue in terms of cell morphology and electrical activity. There are two models of the cellular organisation of the sinoatrial node: the gradient and mosaic models. According to the gradient model there is a gradual transition in morphology and electrical properties of SA node cells from the centre to the periphery of the SA node. In the mosaic model, there is a variable mix of atrial and sinoatrial node cells from the centre to the periphery. This review focuses on the cellular organisation of the rabbit sinoatrial node in terms of the expression of connexin (Cx40, Cx43 and Cx45), L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel and $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchanger proteins. These immunocytochemical data, together with morphological and electrophysiological data, obtained from the intact sinoatrial node and isolated sinoatrial node cells support the gradient model of the cellular organisation of the SA node. The complex organisation of the sinoatrial node is important for the normal functioning of the sinoatrial node: (i) it allows the sinoatrial node to drive the surrounding hyperpolarized atrial muscle without being suppressed by it; (ii) it helps the pacemaker activity of the sinoatrial node continue under a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological conditions; (iii) it helps protect the sinoatrial node from reentrant arrhythmias.