• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.17-17
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• 2001

It is well known that myocardial stretch causes changes in electrical signalling and contractility of the heart. For example, mechanical stretch depolarises the membrane potential of cardiac cells and alters the shape of action potentials. As a result, these effects either accelerate the frequency of heart rate or induce arrhythmias of the heart.(omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.85-85
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• 2004

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.143-150
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• 1994

The whole-cell mode of the patch clamp technique was used to study $Ca^{2+}-activated\;Cl^-\;current$ $(I_{Cl_{Ca}})$ in gastric antral myocytes. Extracellular application of caffeine evoked $Ca^{2+}-activated\;current$. In order to isolate the chloride current from background current, all known systems were blocked with specific blockers. The current-voltage relationship of caffeine-induced current showed outward rectification and it reversed at around $E_{Cl^-}$. The shift of reversal potential upon the alteration of external and internal chloride concentrations was well fitted with results which were calculated by the Nernst equation. Extracellular addition of N-phenylanthranilic acid and niflumic acid which are known anion channel blockers abolished the caffeine induced current. Intracellular application of a high concentration of EGTA also abolished this current. Application of c-AMP, c-GMP, heparin, or $AIF^-_4$ made no remarkable changes to this current. Sodium replacement with the impermeable cation N-methylglucamine or with $Cd^{2+}$ rarely affected this current. From the above results it is suggested that the caffeine induced current was a $Cl^-$ current and it was activated by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 1987

The effects of higenamine were investigated in the single atrial and ventricular myocyte of the guinea pig by using patch clamp method. The results obtained were as follows: 1) Isoprenaline which is known to be ${\beta}-agonist$ increased the duration of action potential and calcium current in ventricular cells. 2) Higenamine also increased the duration of action potential and calcium current in ventricular myocytes. And its effect was blocked by propranolol. 3) In the atrial cells, isoprenaline showed ${\beta}-agonist$ effects, which were increasing the duration of action potential and calcium current same as in ventricular cells. 4) Higenamine, however, showed the opposite effects of ${\beta}-agonist$ which were decreasing the duration of action potential and calcium current. The above results suggest that higenamine has the typical ${\beta}-agonist$ effect in ventricular cells but inhibitory effect in atrial cells and this effect on atrium could be due to the reduction of calcium current.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.85-98
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• 1989

The ventricular myocardia of 14, 16, 18 and 20-day-old rat fetuses and newborns have been studies by light and electron microscopic morphometrics. The volume density of the myocyte and interstitial compartments as well as volume, surface and numerical density of nuclei were estimated by light microscopic morphometrics. Whereas, the volume density of myofibrils and glycogen granules as well as the volume, surface and numerical density of mitochondria were assessed by electron microscopic morphometrics. The volume density of myocyte compartment of the ventricular myocardia in developing fetuses decreased, but increased in newborn rats. On the other hand, the volume density of the interstitial compartment increased in growing fetuses and decreased in newborns. In all groups the volume, surface and numerical density of nuclei decreased gradually with elongation of myocytes. Conversely, the volume, surface and numerical density of mitochondria and volume density of myofibrils and glycogen granules in ventricular myocytes incresed. The increase in numerical density of mitochondria probably reflects an increase in metabolic activity. Sarcomere length also increased during development.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.25-25
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• 2003

Atrial myocytes have two functionally separate $Ca^{2+}$ release sites: those in peripheral sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) adjacent to the $Ca^{2+}$ channels of surface membrane and those in central SR not associated with $Ca^{2+}$ channels. Study on the spatio-temporal properties of focal $Ca^{2+}$ releases (“sparks”) occurring spontaneously in central and peripheral sites of voltage-clamped rat atrial myocytes, using rapid two-dimensional (2-D) confocal $Ca^{2+}$ imaging revealed that peripheral and central sparks were similar in size and release time (~300,000 $Ca^{2+}$ ions for=12 ms), but significantly larger and longer than ventricular sparks. Both sites were resistant to Cd$^{2+}$ and inhibited by ryanodine. Peripheral sparks were brighter and flattened against surface membrane, had ~5-fold higher frequency, ~2 times faster diffusion coefficient, and dissipated abruptly. Central sparks, in contrast, occurred less frequently, were elongated along the cellular longitudinal axis, and dissipated slowly. Compound sparks (composed of 2-5 unitary focal releases) aligned longitudinally, occurred more frequently at the center.at the center.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2004

We developed a cardiac cell model to explain the phenomenon of mechano-electric feedback (MEF), based on the experimental data with rat atrial myocytes. It incorporated the activity of ion channels, pumps, exchangers, and changes of intracellular ion concentration. Changes in membrane excitability and $Ca^{2+}$ transients could then be calculated. In the model, the major ion channels responsible for the stretch-induced changes in electrical activity were the stretch-activated channels (SACs). The relationship between the extent of stretch and activation of SACs was formulated based on the experimental findings. Then, the effects of mechanical stretch on the electrical activity were reproduced. The shape of the action potential (AP) was significantly changed by stretch in the model simulation. The duration was decreased at initial fast phase of repolarization (AP duration at 20% repolarization level from 3.7 to 2.5 ms) and increased at late slow phase of repolarization (AP duration at 90% repolarization level from 62 to 178 ms). The resting potential was depolarized from -75 to -61 mV. This mathematical model of SACs may quantitatively predict changes in cardiomyocytes by mechanical stretch.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.291-298
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• 2005

To characterize cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ fluctuations under metabolic inhibition, rat ventricular myocytes were exposed to $200{\mu}M$ 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), and mitochondrial $Ca^{2+}$, mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}m$), and cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ were measured, using Rhod-2 AM, TMRE, and Fluo-4 AM fluorescent dyes, respectively, by Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM). Furthermore, the role of sarcolemmal $Na^+$/$Ca^{2+}$ exchange (NCX) in cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ efflux was studied in KB-R7943 and $Na^+$-free normal Tyrode's solution (143 mM LiCl ). When DNP was applied to cells loaded with Fluo-4 AM, Fluo-4 AM fluorescence intensity initially increased by $70{\pm}10$% within $70{\pm}10$ s, and later by $400{\pm}200$% at $850{\pm}45$ s. Fluorescence intensity of both Rhod-2 AM and TMRE were initially decreased by DNP, coincident with the initial increase of Fluo-4 AM fluorescence intensity. When sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) $Ca^{2+}$ was depleted by $1{\mu}M thapsigargin plus $10{\mu}M ryanodine, the initial increase of Fluo-4 AM fluorescence intensity was unaffected, however, the subsequent progressive increase was abolished. KB-R7943 delayed both the first and the second phases of cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ overload, while $Na^+$-free solution accelerated the second. The above results suggest that: 1) the initial rise in cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ under DNP results from mitochondrial depolarization; 2) the secondary increase is caused by progressive $Ca^{2+}$ release from SR; 3) NCX plays an important role in transient cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ shifts under metabolic inhibition with DNP.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.437-442
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• 2009

A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) has many adverse effects including cardiovascular (CV) risk. Diclofenac among the nonselective NSAIDs has the highest CV risk such as congestive heart failure, which resulted commonly from the impaired cardiac pumping due to a disrupted excitationcontraction (E-C) coupling. We investigated the effects of diclofenac on the L-type calcium channels which are essential to the E-C coupling at the level of single ventricular myocytes isolated from neonatal rat heart, using the whole-cell voltage-clamp technique. Only diclofenac of three NSAIDs, including naproxen and ibuprofen, significantly reduced inward whole cell currents. At concentrations higher than $3\;{\mu}M$, diclofenac inhibited reversibly the $Na^+$ current and did irreversibly the L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels-mediated inward current $(IC_{50}=12.89\pm0.43\;{\mu}M)$ in a dose-dependent manner. However, nifedipine, a well-known L-type channel blocker, effectively inhibited the L-type $Ca^{2+}$ currents but not the $Na^+$ current. Our finding may explain that diclofenac causes the CV risk by the inhibition of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel, leading to the impairment of E-C coupling in cardiac myocytes.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.269-279
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• 2000

This present study was investigated to elucidate degenerative changes according to the change of habitual environment on the myocytes of doves by restricting them from flight that is instinct behavior of this animal and strong exercise. To restrict doves from flight, they were confined in the cage (1 $m^3$) for 2 months. After this period, the myocardium of the experimental group was compared to that of wild doves in the ultrastructural and cytochemical ways. In addition, stereological changes were also examined. The results were as followings: 1. The body weight of the confined experimental groups was higher than that of the wild doves, but the ratios of the pectoral muscle/body weight (p<0.05) and the heart/body weight were lower. 2. At the ultrastructural level, the myocardium of confined doves appeared as wavy fibers in the smaller area than in the myocardium of wild doves. Also, the length of sarcomeres was longer in the confined doves. The number of sarcoplasmic reticulum and capillary was smaller in the myocardium of confined doves. 3. Cytochemical examinations showed that the activities of cytochrome oxidase were lowered in the confined doves. 4. Stereological analysis revealed that the density of myofibrils was greater in the confined doves. In contrast the volume density of sarcoplasmic reticulum (p<0.05) and the surface density of mitochondrial inner membrane (p<0.05) was lower in the confined doves, while the numerical density of mitochondrial inner membrane was higher (p<0.05). These results suggest that even the short period of restricted exercise can induce negative effects on the functions of myocytes of doves that are adapted for the strong exercise such as flight. Therefore, the maintenance of prolonged exercise seems to be one of the important factors that are critical to retain the functions of myocardium.