• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.113-118
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• 2006

In the primary sensory neuron of the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (MTN), the peripheral axon supplies a large number of annulospiral endings surrounding intrafusal fibers encapsulated in single muscle spindles while the central axon sends only a few number of synapses onto single ${\alpha}-motoneurons({\alpha}-MNs)$. Therefore, the ${\alpha}-{\gamma}$ linkage is thought to be very crucial in the jaw-closing movement. Spike activity in a ${\gamma}-motoneuron\;({\gamma}-MN)$ would induce a large number of impulses in single peripheral axons by activating many intrafusal fibers simultaneously, subsequently causing an activation of ${\alpha}-MNs$ in spite of the small number of synapses. Thus, the activity of ${\gamma}-MNs$ may be vital for modulation of jaw-closing movements. Independently of such a spindle activity modulated by ${\gamma}-MNs$, somatic depolarization in MTN neurons is known to trigger the oscillatory spike activity. Nevertheless, the trafficking of these spikes arising from the two distinct sources of MTN neurons is not well understood. In this short review, switching among multiple functional modes of MTN neurons is discussed. Subsequently, it will be discussed which mode can support the ${\alpha}-{\gamma}$ linkage. In our most recent study, simultaneous patch-clamp recordings from the soma and axon hillock revealed a spike-back-propagation from the spike-initiation site in the stem axon to the soma in response to a somatic current pulse. The persistent $Na^+$ current was found to be responsible for the spike-initiation in the stem axon, the activation threshold of which was lower than those of soma spikes. Somatic inputs or impulses arising from the sensory ending, whichever trigger spikes in the stem axon first, would be forwarded through the central axon to the target synapse. We also demonstrated that at hyperpolarized membrane potentials, 4-AP-sensitive $K^+$ current ($IK_{4-AP}$) exerts two opposing effects on spikes depending on their origins; the suppression of spike initiation by increasing the apparent electrotonic distance between the soma and the spike-initiation site, and the facilitation of axonal spike invasion at higher frequencies by decreasing the spike duration and the refractory period. Through this mechanism, the spindle activity caused by ${\gamma}-MNs$ would be safely forwarded to ${\alpha}-MNs$. Thus, soma spikes shaped differentially by this $IK_{4-AP}$ depending on their origins would reflect which one of the two inputs was forwarded to the target synapses.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제40권8호
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• pp.567-576
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• 2017

The $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger is responsible for maintaining the acidic tumor microenvironment through its promotion of the reabsorption of extracellular $Na^+$ and the extrusion of intracellular $H^+$. The resultant increase in the extracellular acidity contributes to the chemoresistance of malignant tumors. In this study, the chemosensitizing effects of cariporide, a potent $Na^+/H^+-exchange$ inhibitor, were evaluated in human malignant mesothelioma H-2452 cells preadapted with lactic acid. A higher basal level of phosphorylated (p)-AKT protein was found in the acid-tolerable H-2452AcT cells compared with their parental acid-sensitive H-2452 cells. When introduced in H-2452AcT cells with a concentration that shows only a slight toxicity in H-2452 cells, cariporide exhibited growth-suppressive and apoptosis-promoting activities, as demonstrated by an increase in the cells with pyknotic and fragmented nuclei, annexin V-PE(+) staining, a $sub-G_0/G_1$ peak, and a $G_2/M$ phase-transition delay in the cell cycle. Preceding these changes, a cariporide-induced p-AKT down-regulation, a p53 up-regulation, an ROS accumulation, and the depolarization of the mitochondrial-membrane potential were observed. A pretreatment with the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 markedly augmented the DNA damage caused by the cariporide, as indicated by a much greater extent of comet tails and a tail moment with increased levels of the p-histone H2A.X, $p-ATM^{Ser1981}$, $p-ATR^{Ser428}$, $p-CHK1^{Ser345}$, and $p-CHK2^{Thr68}$, as well as a series of pro-apoptotic events. The data suggest that an inhibition of the PI3K/AKT signaling is necessary to enhance the cytotoxicity toward the acidtolerable H-2452AcT cells, and it underlines the significance of proton-pump targeting as a potential therapeutic strategy to overcome the acidic-microenvironment-associated chemotherapeutic resistance.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.293-303
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• 1990

The contractile action of barium $(Ba^{2+})$ was investigated in the arterial strip of rabbit renal artery. The helical strip of isolated renal artery was immersed in the Tris-buffered Tyrode's solution equilibrated with 100% $O_2$ at $37^{\circ}C$ and its isometric tension was measured. $Ba^{2+}-induced$ contraction of arterial strip was dose-dependent and its maximal tension corresponded to $92.1{\pm}4.5%$ of tension by $K^+(100\;mM)$. $Ba^{2+}-induced$ contraction did not show the tachyphylactic phenomenon in the normal Tyrode's solution. $Ba^{2+}$ induced the tonic contraction in the $Ca^{2+}-free$ tyrode's solution and that was increased by the extracellula addition of $Ca^{2+}$. During the repeated exposure of the same dose of $Ba^{2+}\;(10\;mM)$ in the $Ca^{2+}-free$ Tyrode's solution, $Ba^{2+}-induced$ contraction was progressively decreased. Even though the intracellular NE-and caffeine-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ was depleted, $Ba^{2+}$ induced the tonic contraction. After the pretreatment of lanthnum or verapamil, $Ba^{2+}$ did not induce contraction. $Ba^{2+}-induced$contraction was suppressed by extracellular $K^+$ in the normal Tyrode's solution and that was dependent on $K^+$ concentration. Suppressive effect of $K^+\;(14\;mM)$ on the $Ba^{2+}-induced$ contraction was also dependent on the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. From the above resuts, it is suggested that $Ba^{2+}$ activate indirectly the contractile process by promoting the mobilization of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and the influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$. It is also suggested that action of $Ba^{2+}$ on the $Ca^{2+}-activated$ $K^+$ channel can result in the depolarization of cell membrane in the rabbit renal artery.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.65-71
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• 2015

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and reversible airway obstruction. Methacholine (MCh) is widely used in broncho-provocation test to evaluate airway resistance. For experimental investigation, ovalbumin-induced sensitization is frequently used in rodents (Ova-asthma). However, albeit the inflammatory histology and AHR in vivo, it remains unclear whether the MCh sensitivity of airway smooth muscle isolated from Ova-asthma is persistently changed. In this study, the contractions of airways in precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) from control, Ova-asthma, and IL-13 overexpressed transgenic mice (IL-13TG) were compared by analyzing the airway lumen space (AW). The airway resistance in vivo was measured using plethysmograph. AHR and increased inflammatory cells in BAL fluid were confirmed in Ova-asthma and IL-13TG mice. In the PCLS from all three groups, MCh concentration-dependent narrowing of airway lumen (${\Delta}AW$) was observed. In contrast to the AHR in vivo, the $EC_{50}$ of MCh for ${\Delta}AW$ from Ova-asthma and IL-13TG were not different from control, indicating unchanged sensitivity to MCh. Although the AW recovery upon MCh-washout showed sluggish tendency in Ova-asthma, the change was also statistically insignificant. Membrane depolarization-induced ${\Delta}AW$ by 60 mM $K^+$ (60K-contraction) was larger in IL-13TG than control, whereas 60K-contraction of Ova-asthma was unaffected. Furthermore, serotonin-induced ${\Delta}AW$ of Ova-asthma was smaller than control and IL-13TG. Taken together, the AHR in Ova-asthma and IL-13TG are not reflected in the contractility of isolated airways from PCLS. The AHR of the model animals seems to require intrinsic agonists or inflammatory microenvironment that is washable during tissue preparation.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.1-15
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• 2002

Excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle is process by which depolarization of the muscle fiber membrane, elicited by a nerve action potential, triggers the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum(SR). The resulting rise in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration$([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ activates the troponin complex, thereby initiating the contraction of the muscle. The question remains as to what factors are involved in the inhibition of SR $Ca^{2+}$ release in fatigued muscle. The purpose of this study was determine whether ATP-sensitive $K^+(K_{ATP})$ channels are activated and contribute to decrease in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ during fatigue development in the mouse skeletal muscle. To elucidate a role of $K_{ATP})$ in relation to ECC, I measured the modulation effects of $K_{ATP})$ channel blocker(glibenclamide) and opener(pinacidil) on $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ after fatiguing electrical field stimulation(FEFS). Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ signals were recorded by conforcal laser microscopy(LSM 410) and monitored using the fluorescent $Ca^{2+}$-Sensitive indicator Fluo-3 AM. The results of this study were as followed: 1. The relative [Ca2'li after FEFS in the pre-glibenclamide-treated group was higher than the control. And relative $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ after FEFS in the pre-glibenclamide-treated group was lower than the control. 2. The relative $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ after FEFS for 3 min in the control, pre-glibenclamide-treated group and pre-pinacidil-treated group showed a similar pattern; the gradually significant decrease in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. But, these decreasing pattern was most significant in the control. These findings suggest a tight relationship between $K_{ATP})$ and $Ca^{2+}$ in ECC during fatigue. Therefore, 1 thought that activation of $K_{ATP})$ channels may be one of mechanisms of the fatigue in skeletal muscle.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제31권7호
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• pp.662-670
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• 2021

카할세포는 위장관 근육의 pacemaker 세포이다. 이번 연구는 생쥐 소장에서 얻은 카할세포를 배양하여 노르아드레날린성 및 세로토닌성 항우울제인 미르타자핀의 효과를 조사했다. 전기생리학적인 방법을 이용하여 카할세포의 pacemaker potential의 변화를 측정하였다. 미르타자핀은 농도 의존적 방식으로 카할세포 탈분극을 일으켰다. Y25130 (5-HT3 수용체 길항제), RS39604 (5-HT4 수용체 길항제) 또는 SB269970 (5-HT7 수용체 길항제)은 미르타자핀에 의한 카할세포 탈분극에 영향을 미치지 않았다. 또한, 무스카린성 M2 수용체 길항제인 메톡 트라민은 미르타자핀에 의한 카할세포의 탈분극에 영향을 미치지 않은 반면, 무스카린성 M3 수용체 길항제인 4-DAMP는 카할세포의 탈분극을 억제하였다. GDP-β-S를 피펫을 통해 카할세포내로 넣었을 때, 미르타자핀에 카할세포 탈분극이 억제되었다. 외부에 칼슘이 없는 용액 또는 소포체의 Ca²⁺-ATPase 억제제인 thapsigargin이 있는 경우 미르타자핀에 의한 카할세포 탈분극이 나타났다. 또한, protein kinase C (PKC) 억제제인 칼포스틴 C 또는 chelerythrine은 미르타자핀에 의한 탈분극을 억제했습니다. 이러한 결과는 미르 타자핀이 카할세포에서 G 단백질 및 PKC 경로에 의한 무스카린성 M3 수용체 활성화를 통해 탈분극을 조절 함을 알 수 있다. 따라서 미르타자핀이 카할세포를 통해 위장관 운동성을 조절할 수 있음을 시사한다.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.15-24
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• 2021

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a potent carcinogen and is classified as an endocrine-disrupting chemical. In mammalian testes, Sertoli cells support spermatogenesis. Therefore, if these cells are negatively affected by exposure to xenotoxic chemicals, spermatogenesis can be seriously disrupted. In this context, we evaluated whether mouse testicular TM4 Sertoli cells are susceptible to the induction of cytotoxicity-mediated cell death after exposure to B[a] P in vitro. In the present study, while B[a]P and B[a]P-7,8-diol were not able to induce cell death, exposure to BPDE resulted in cell death. BPDE-induced cell death is accompanied by the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-7. Depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane and cytochrome c release from mitochondria were observed in benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE)-treated cells. These results indicate that TM4 cells are susceptible to apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner. Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses showed that aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) expression was almost undetectable in TM4 cells and that its expression was not altered after B[a]P treatment. This indicates that TM4 cells are nearly AhR-deficient. In TM4 cells, the CYP1A1 protein and its activity were not present. From these results, it is clear that AhR may be a prerequisite for CYP1A1 expression in TM4 cells. Therefore, TM4 cells can be referred to as CYP1A1-deficient cells. Thus, TM4 Sertoli cells are believed to have a rigid and protective cellular machinery against genotoxic agents. In conclusion, it is suggested that tolerance to B[a]P cytotoxicity is associated with insufficient AhR and CYP1A1 expression in testicular Sertoli cells.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.263-272
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• 1994

흰쥐 해마(hippocampus)에서 acetylcholine (ACh) 유리에 미치는 $A_{1}-adenosine$ 수용체의 post-receptor 기전에 관한 지견을 얻고자 하여 $^3H-choline$으로 평형시킨 해마 slice를 사용하여 $^3H-ACh$ 유리에 미치는 여러가지 약물들의 영향을 관찰하였다. Adenosine $(0.3{\sim}300\;{\mu}M)$은 전기자극(3Hz, 2 ms, 5 $VCm^{-1}$, 구형파)에 의한 ACh 유리를 용량 의존적으로 감소 시켰으며, 이러한 효과는 $A_1-adenosine$ 수용체의 선택적 차단제인 8-cyclopentyl-1, 3-dipropylxanthine $(2\;{\mu}M)$에 의해 차단됨을 볼 수 있었다. G-단백 억제제인 N-ethylmaleimide (NEM, 10과 $30\;{\mu}M$)는 그 자체에 의하여 자극유발성 ACh 유리를 증가시켰으며, adenosine의 효과는 NEM 전처리에 의하여 완전히 소실되었다. Protein kinase C 활성화제인 $4{\beta}-phorbol$ 12, 13-dibutyrate (PDB, $1{\sim}10\;{\mu}M$)는 ACh 유리 증가를 일으켰으며 억제제인 polymyxin B (PMB, $0.03{\sim}1\;mg$)는 감소를 일으켰으나, adenosine에 의한 ACh 유리 감소효과는 PDB 및 PMB에 의해 영향을 받지 않았다. $Ca^{++}$-통로 차단제인 nifedipine $(1\;{\mu}M)$은 adenosine의 효과를 길항함을 볼 수 있었으나 $K{^+}$-통로 차단제인 glibenclamide는 adenosine의 효과에 영향을 미치지 못하였다. 8-Bromo-cAMP (100과 $300{\mu}M$) 그 자체로는 ACh 유리에 별다른 영향을 미치치 못하였으나 $300\;{\mu}M$ 8-bromo-cAMP 전처리에 의하여 $30\;{\mu}M\;adenosine$의 효과가 억제됨을 볼 수 있었다. 이상의 실험결과로 흰쥐 해마에서 $A_1-adenosine$ 수용체를 통한 adenosine의 ACh유리 감소는 G-단백에 의존적이며, 이러한 효과에 nifedipine에 예민한 $Ca^{++}$-통로와 adenylate cyclase계가 일부 관여함은 확실하나 proteinkinase C 및 glibenclamide에 예민한 $K{^+}$통로는 관여하지 않는 것으로 사료된다.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.1-11
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• 1996

흰쥐 해마(hippocampus)에서 norepinephrine(NE) 유리에 미치는 $A_1-adenosine$ 수용체의 post-receptor 기전에 관한 지견을 얻고자 하여 $^3H-norepinephrine$으로 평형시킨 해마 절편을 사용하여 adenosine의 $^3H-NE$ 유리에 미치는 여러가지 약물의 영향을 관찰하였다. Adenosine($1{\sim}30{\mu}M$)은 전기자극(3 Hz, 2 ms, 5 Vcm-1, 구형파)에 의한 NE 유리를 용량 의존적으로 감소시켰고, 이 효과는 선택적인 $A_1-adenosine$ 수용체 차단제인 $8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine(2{\mu}M)$에 의해 차단되었다. G-단백 억제제인 N-ethylmaleimide(NEM, 10과 $30{\mu}M$)는 그 자체로써 전기자극으로 유발시킨 NE 유리를 증가시켰으며, adenosine의 NE 유리 억제효과는 NEM 전처리에 의하여 완전히 소실되었다. Protein kinase C 활성화제인 $4{\beta}-phorbol$ 12,13-dibutyrate(PDB, $1{\mu}M$)는 NE 유리 증가를 일으켰고, 이 효소 억제제인 $4{\beta}-polymyxin$ B(PMB, 0.1 mg)는 NE 유리감소를 일으켰으며, adenosine에 의한 NE 유리 감소효과는 PDB에 의해 억제되었고, PMB 전처리하에서는 감소효과가 출현하지 않았다. $Ca^{2+}$-통로 차단제인 $nifedipine(1{\mu}M$)은 adenosine의 NE 유리 억제효과에 영향을 미치지 못하고, ATP에 의존적인 $K^+-$통로 차단제인 glibenclamide역시 adenosine의 NE 유리 억제효과에 영향을 미치지 못하였다. 그러나 delayed rectifier $K^+-$통로 차단제인 tetraethylammonium(TEA, 3 mM)은 그 자체로 NE 유리를 증가 시켰으며, adenosine의 NE 유리 억제효과를 차단함을 볼 수 있었다. 8-bromo-cAMP(100과 $300{\mu}M$) 그 자체로는 NE 유리에 별다른 영향을 미치지 못하였으나 8-bromo-cAMP 전처리에 의하여 adenosine의 NE 유리 억제효과가 억제됨을 볼 수 있었다. 이상의 실험결과로 흰쥐 해마에서 $A_1-adenosine$ 수용체를 통한 adenosine의 NE 유리 감소는 G-단백에 의존적이며, 이러한 효과에 protein kinase C, TEA에 예민한 $K^+-$통로 및 adenylate cyclase계가 복합적으로 관여하고 nifedipine에 예민한 $Ca^{2+}-$통로와 glibenclamide에 예민한 $K^+-$통로는 관여하지 않는 것으로 사료된다.