• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.357-362
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• 2003

Carbon monoxide (CO) is low molecular weight oxide gas that is endogenously produced under physiological conditions and interacts with another gas, nitric oxide (NO), to act as a gastrointestinal messenger. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of exogenous CO on L-type calcium channel currents of human jejunal circular smooth muscle cells. Cells were voltage clamped with 10 mM barium ($Ba^{2+}$) as the charge carrier, and CO was directly applied into the bath to avoid perfusion induced effects on the recorded currents. 0.2% CO was increased barium current ($I_{Ba}$) by $15{\pm}2$% ($mean{\pm}S.E.$, p<0.01, n=11) in the cells. To determine if the effects of CO on barium current were mediated through the cGMP pathway, cells were pretreated with 1-H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3,-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, $10{mu}M$), a soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, and exogenous CO (0.2%) had no effect on barium currents in the presence of ODQ ($2{\pm}1$% increase, n=6, p>0.05). CO mediates inhibitory neurotransmission through the nitric oxide pathway. Therefore, to determine if the effects of CO on L-calcium channels were also mediated through NO, cells were incubated with $N^G-nitro-L-arginine$ (L-NNA, 1 mM), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. After L-NNA pretreatment, 0.2 % CO did not increase barium current ($4{\pm}2$% increase, n=6, p>0.05). NO donor, SNAP ($20{\mu}M$) increased barium current by $13{\pm}2$% (n=6, p<0.05) in human jejunal smooth muscle cells. These data suggest that CO activates L-type calcium channels through NO/cGMP dependant mechanism.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.161-165
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• 2004

Exogenous carbon monoxide (0.2%) increases L-type calcium $(Ca^{2+})$ current in human jejunal circular smooth muscle cells. The stimulatory effect of carbon monoxide (CO) on L-type $Ca^{2+}$ current is inhibited by pre-application of L-NNA, a classical competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) with no significant isoform selectivity (Lim, 2003). In the present study, we investigated which isoform of NOS affected CO induced stimulation of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ current in human jejunal circular smooth muscle cells. Cells were voltage clamped by whole-cell mode patch clamp technique, and membrane currents were recorded with 10 mM barium as the charge carrier. Before the addition of CO, cells were pretreated with each inhibitor of three NOS isoforms for 15 minutes. CO-stimulating effect on L-type $Ca^{2+}$ current was partially blocked by N-(3-(Amino-methyl) benzyl) acetamidine 2HCl (1400W, an iNOS inhibitor). On the other hand, 3-bromo-7-nitroindazole (BNI, a nNOS inhibitor) or $N^5-(1-Iminoethyl)-L-ornithine$ dihydrochloride (L-NIO, an eNOS inhibitor) completely blocked the CO effect. These data suggest that low dose of exogenous CO may stimulate all NOS isoforms to increase L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel through nitric oxide (NO) pathway in human jejunal circular smooth muscle cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.383-390
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• 2009

To investigate the regulatory mechanism underlying the contractile response in the intestinal smooth muscle of the nile tilapia (Orechromis niloticus), we used pharmacologic and molecular approaches to identify the muscarinic subreceptors and the intracellular signaling pathways involved in this motility. Myography assays revealed that an M1- and M3-subtype selective antagonist, but not a M2-subtype selective antagonist, inhibited carbachol HCl (CCH)-induced intestinal smooth muscle contraction. In addition, a phospholipase C inhibitor, but not an adenylate cyclase inhibitor, blocked the contractile response to CCH. We also cloned five muscarinic genes (OnM2A, OnM2B, OnM3, OnM5A, and OnM5B) from the nile tilapia. In the phylogenetic analysis and sequence comparison to compare our putative gene products (OnMs) with the sequences obtained from the near complete teleost genomes, we unexpectedly found that the teleost fish have respectively two paralogous genes corresponding to each muscarinic subreceptor, and other teleost fish, except zebrafish, do not possess muscarinic subreceptor M1. In addition, the expression pattern of the nile tilapia muscarinic subreceptor transcripts during CCH-induced intestinal smooth muscle contraction in the proximal intestinal tissue was analyzed by real-time PCR surveys and it was demonstrated that CCH increased the OnMs mRNA expression rapidly and transiently.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.225-232
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• 1998

To investigate the possible involvement of outward potassium ($K^+$) currents in nitric oxide-induced relaxation in intestinal smooth muscle, we used whole-cell patch clamp technique in freshly dispersed guinea-pig ileum longitudinal smooth muscle cells. When cells were held at -60 mV and depolarized from -40 mV to -50 mV in 10 mV increments, sustained outward $K^+$ currents were evoked. The outward $K^+$ currents were markedly increased by the addition of 10 ${\mu}M$ sodium nitroprusside (SNP). 10 ${\mu}M$ S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) and 1 mM 8-Bromo-cyclic GMP (8-Br-cGMP) also showed a similar effect to that of SNP. 1 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA) significantly reduced depolarization-activated outward $K^+$ currents. SNP-enhanced outward $K^+$ currents were blocked by the application of TEA. High EGTA containing pipette solution (10 mM) reduced the control currents and also inhibited the SNP-enhanced outward $K^+$ currents. 5 mM 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) significantly reduced the control currents but showed no effect on SNP-enhanced outward $K^+$ currents. 0.3 ${\mu}M$ apamin and 10 ${\mu}M$ glibenclamide showed no effect on SNP-enhanced outward $K^+$ currents. 10 ${\mu}M$ 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo [4,3-a]quinoxaline-1-one (ODQ), a specific inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, significantly blocked SNP-enhanced $K^+$ currents. We conclude that NO donors activate the $Ca^{2+}-activated$ $K^+$ channels in guinea-pig ileal smooth muscle via activation of guanylate cyclase.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.275-282
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• 1999

Muscle strips and muscle cells from cat stomach were used to investigate whether spontaneously formed cyclic nucleotides were involved in the inhibition of gastric smooth muscle contraction. A phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), increased the levels of both cyclic GMP (cGMP) and cyclic AMP (cAMP) in resting state cells, while decreasing acetylcholine-induced muscle contraction. Under the influence of IBMX, SQ22536, an adenylyl cyclase inhibitor and methylene blue, a guanylyl cyclase inhibitor completely blocked increases in cAMP and cGMP respectively, without any effect on contraction. However, the combination of SQ22536 and methylene blue completely blocked increases in both cAMP and cGMP levels and stimulated contractions markedly even in the presence of IBMX. Muscle contraction inhibitors such as isoprenaline, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and sodium nitroprusside also appeared to increase cyclic nucleotide levels which decreased contraction. Which nucleotide increased the most was dependent on the agonist used. Therefore, irrespective of the cyclic nucleotide class, the spontaneous formation of cyclic nucleotides should be considered in evaluating the mechanism of gastric smooth muscle relaxation.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2001

The present study was undertaken to investigate and compare the effect and mode of action of tachykinins on isolated strip preparations of the intestinal smooth muscle from the nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus and the Israel carp, Cyprinus carpio. Both of neurokinin 1(NK-1) receptor agonist, substance P(SP) and neurokinin 2(NK-2) receptor agonist, neurokinin A(NKA) caused concentration-dependent contractions of intestinal smooth muscle in the nile tilapia and the israel carp. The efficiency and potency of these agonists varied between two fish species. In the nile tilapia intestine, the efficiency and potency of SP were greater than those of NKA. However, the efficiency and potency of SP were similar to those of NKA. In the nile tilapia intestine and the israel carp intestine, the contractile responses of SP and NKA were noncompetitively antagonized by NK-1 receptor antagonist, L-732, 138 but unaffected by NK-2 receptor antagonist, MDL 29913. In addition, SP-induced contractions in the both of preparation were significantly inhibited by muscarinic antagonist, atropine($5{\times}10^{-7}$M) and ganglionic inhibitor, tetrodotoxin($2{\times}10^{-7}$M) but NKA-induced contractions were unaffected by those. These results indicate that two tachykinin agonists, SP and NKA predominately modulate the mechanical activity of isolated preparation from the nile tilapia and the israle carp directly through the activation of NK-1 receptor on the intestinal smooth muscle cells, but in the case of SP action, the indirect action through activation of cholinergic nerve terminals seems to be also implicated.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.337-342
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• 2006

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells that activate the periodic spontaneous depolarization (pacemaker potentials) responsible for the production of slow waves in gastrointestinal smooth muscle. The effects of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on the pacemaker potentials in cultured ICCs from murine small intestine were investigated by whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. Addition of VIP (50 nM-$1{\mu}M$) decreased the amplitude of pacemaker potentials and depolarized resting membrane potentials. To examine the type of receptors involved in ICC, we examined the effects of the $VIP_1$ agonist and found that it had no effect on pacemaker potentials. Pretreatment with $VIP_1$ antagonist ($1{\mu}M$) for 10 min also did not block the VIP (50 nM)-induced effects. On the other hand exposure to 1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo(4,3-A)quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, $100{\mu}M$), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, prevented VIP inhibition of pacemaker potentials. Similarly KT-5823 ($1{\mu}M$) or RP-8-CPT-cGMPS ($10{\mu}M$), inhibitors of protein kinase G (PKG) blocked the effect of VIP (50 nM) on pacemaker potentials as did N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA, $100{\mu}M$), a non-selective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor. These results imply that the inhibition of pacemaker activity by VIP depends on the NO-cGMP-PKG pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.339-344
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• 2004

Recent data have shown the importance of oxidative stresses in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease, crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. $H_2O_2$, reactive oxygen species (ROS) donor, has been reported to act as a signaling molecule involved in a variety of cellular functions such as apo/ptosis and proliferation. In the present study, we investigated viability of cultured ileal smooth muscle cells (ISMC) after stimulation with $H_2O_2$. Trypan blue method revealed that the cell viability of ISMC treated with 1 mM $H_2O_2$ was not different from that of controls at up to 2 h time point, while treatment of ISMC with 1 mM $H_2O_2$ for 48 h finally induced significant decrease in the cell viability. Therefore, we evaluated whether $H_2O_2$ was capable of ERKs activation in ISMC for the short-term exposure and examined whether tyrosine kinase was involved in the process of ERK activation by $H_2O_2$ in ISMC. We also investigated the effects of $H_2O_2$ on activation of SAPK/JNK and p38 MAP kinase in ISMC. Thus, ISMC were cultured and exposed to $H_2O_2$, and western blot analysis was performed with phosphospecific MAP kinase antibodies. Robust activation of ERK occurred within 30 min of 1 mM $H_2O_2$ treatment. $H_2O_2-induced$ ERK activation was attenuated by a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, indicating that tyrosine kinase was probably involved in the ERK activation by $H_2O_2$. $H_2O_2$ was a moderate activator of SAPK/JNK, while p38 MAP kinase was not activated by $H_2O_2$. We suggest that ERK activation induced by short-term $H_2O_2$ treatment plays a critical role in cellular protection in the early stage of response to oxidative stress. The present study suggests the necessity of identification of MAPK signaling pathways affected by ROS, since it could ultimately elucidate cellular consequences involved in initiation and perpetuation of intestinal tissue damage in the diseases such as crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, resulted from excessive ROS.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2016

A 7-year-old castrated male Schnauzer was presented with melena and inappetence. Laboratory examination revealed mild anemia. Abdominal ultrasonography showed abnormal enlargement of intestinal segment and a oval mass with soft tissue density. After surgical resection of the enlarged intestine including the mass, histopathologic examination showed that the mass was tentatively diagnosed as synchronous occurrence of gland cell- and mesenchymal cell-origin tumors. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry showed positivity to cytokeratin AE1/AE3 in the gland cells and positivity to ${\alpha}-smooth$ muscle-specific actin, but negative expression of c-Kit, suggesting the co-existence of adenocarcinoma and leiomyosarcoma. Follow-up examination after 3-year of the surgery confirmed that the dog remained healthy and did not show recurrence of the tumors.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.110-113
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• 2009

Acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) catalyzes cholesterol esterification and plays important roles in intestinal absorption of cholesterol, hepatic production of lipoproteins and accumulation of cholesteryl ester within macrophages and smooth muscle cells. In our study, eight polyacetylenes (1 - 8), were isolated from the roots of Gymnaster koraiensis, and their chemical structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and mass. Compound 2 with the (10S)-15,16-epoxy group in skeleton strongly inhibited ACAT enzyme with $IC_{50}$ value of 35.8 ${\mu}g$/mL, meanwhile the other compounds displayed significant inhibition of ACAT enzyme with the $IC_{50}$ values from 45.5 to 55.1 ${\mu}g$/mL.