• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.355-360
• /
• 2017

Consumption of high doses of ethanol can lead to amnesia, which often manifests as a blackout. This incoordination of blackout may be a major cause in various social problems in alcohol consumption. However, there is still no treatment for preventing these alcohol-induced problems. Hydrangeae dulcis folium is a drug or a tea which is made from the fermented and dried leaves of Hydrangea serrata Seringe. The present study, we tested the ethanol extract of the Hydrangeae dulcis folium (EHDF) on ethanol-induced psychological deficits. To test behavioral deficits, an object recognition test was conducted using a mouse model. To evaluate synaptic deficits, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic potential EPSP and long-term potentiation (LTP) in the mouse hippocampal slices were tested, as they are known to be vulnerable to ethanol and are associated with ethanol-induced amnesia. In the tests, ethanol (1 g/kg, i.p.) impaired object recognition memory, but EHDF (10 or 30 mg/kg) prevented this impairment in object recognition test. Interestingly, EHDF ($30{\mu}g/ml$) significantly ameliorated ethanol-induced LTP and NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission in the hippocampal slices. EHDF prevented ethanol-induced object recognition memory deficits induced by ethanol. Interestingly, EHDF significantly ameliorated ethanol-induced LTP and NMDA receptor- mediated synaptic transmission in the hippocampal slices.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.983-988
• /
• 2010

The present study aims to investigate a possible mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in the spinal dorsal horn that may underlie N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-associated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. The hot plate latency of the ipsilateral hindpaw of EA-treated rats was significantly decreased compared with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-injected ones. The expressions of NR1 and NR2B subuint mRNA of NMDA receptor in the whole L4-5 segments are decreased by CFA treatment, but NR2B subunit was significantly recovered by EA treatment. When we detected the expression of ERK, there were no significant difference between normal and CFA-treated rats with EA or NMDA receptor antagonist MK801. But phosphorylated ERK expressions were markedly induced by CFA, but these inductions were significantly modulated by EA treatment. Although hosphorylation of ERK was also arrested by MK801, these inductions of CFA-injected rats was markedly inhibited only by co-treatment with EA and MK801. Phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), ERK-related transcriptional factor, showed a significant increase in CFA-treated rats and this increase was slightly inhibited by EA and MK801 treatments. But immunoreaction for phosphorylated CREB were significantly increased by CFA treatment in the superficial laminae of the dorsal horn and these inductions were significantly arrested by co-treatment of EA and MK801. Consequently, the hyperalgesia induced by CFA are associated NMDA receptor and EA and MK801 may showed anti-hyperalgesia via same mechanism for inhibition of ERK and CREB phosphorylation in the dorsal horn.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.124-130
• /
• 2007

In the present study, I investigated the effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), arachidonic acid (AA), and Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitor (NOSI), alone or in combination, on the proliferation of cultured primary normal human oral keratinocytes (NHOK). The purpose of this study was therefore the preliminary study for the examination of the interaction between these agents and NHOK in order to elucidate the mechanisms by which epithelial growth and regeneration are regulated. NHOK were obtained from gingival tissue of 20 individuals aged 20 to 29, and third passage (P3) cells were used for this study. The DNA synthesis was measured by the BrdU assay. Addition of low concentration of AA ($1{\mu}M$) and high concentration of AA with NMDA group (NMDA+AA $10{\mu}M$) made DNA synthesis rate increase significantly at the early stage. Adding NNA ($10{\mu}M$) affected DNA synthesis rate to increase significantly in 4 hours. At the early stage, DNA synthesis was significantly active in the NOS-I with NMDA groups than in the control and the NMDA-only group, while it didn't become statistically meaningful in 24 hours. AA $1{\mu}M$ and NNA $10{\mu}M$ may induce the proliferation of the NHOK independently and NOS-I may induce the proliferation of the NHOK with NMDA. These reactions might be related to the NMDA receptor in the cell and the change of the intracellular calcium ion concentration.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.425-432
• /
• 2016

In addition to classical synaptic transmission, information is transmitted between cells via the activation of extrasynaptic receptors that generate persistent tonic current in the brain. While growing evidence supports the presence of tonic NMDA current ($I_{NMDA}$) generated by extrasynaptic NMDA receptors (eNMDARs), the functional significance of tonic $I_{NMDA}$ in various brain regions remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that activation of eNMDARs that generate INMDA facilitates the ${\alpha}$-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-proprionate receptor (AMPAR)-mediated steady-state current in supraoptic nucleus (SON) magnocellular neurosecretory cells (MNCs). In $low-Mg^{2+}$ artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF), glutamate induced an inward shift in $I_{holding}$ ($I_{GLU}$) at a holding potential ($V_{holding}$) of -70 mV which was partly blocked by an AMPAR antagonist, NBQX. NBQX-sensitive $I_{GLU}$ was observed even in normal aCSF at $V_{holding}$ of -40 mV or -20 mV. $I_{GLU}$ was completely abolished by pretreatment with an NMDAR blocker, AP5, under all tested conditions. AMPA induced a reproducible inward shift in $I_{holding}$ ($I_{AMPA}$) in SON MNCs. Pretreatment with AP5 attenuated $I_{AMPA}$ amplitudes to ~60% of the control levels in $low-Mg^{2+}$ aCSF, but not in normal aCSF at $V_{holding}$ of -70 mV. $I_{AMPA}$ attenuation by AP5 was also prominent in normal aCSF at depolarized holding potentials. Memantine, an eNMDAR blocker, mimicked the AP5-induced $I_{AMPA}$ attenuation in SON MNCs. Finally, chronic dehydration did not affect $I_{AMPA}$ attenuation by AP5 in the neurons. These results suggest that tonic $I_{NMDA}$, mediated by eNMDAR, facilitates AMPAR function, changing the postsynaptic response to its agonists in normal and osmotically challenged SON MNCs.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.63-68
• /
• 1995

N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA) receptor has been well known as an important mediator of several forms of neural and behavioral plasticity. But different results were reported about the effect of MK-801 or dextromethorphan on opioid dependence. The present studies examined whether NMDA receptor antagonists can alter the opioid dependence and tolerance in rodents. Naloxone precipitated withdrawal symptoms and changes of locomotor activities were observed in MK-801 or dextromethorphan pretreated morphine-dependent rats. Tail-flick assay was used for morphine analgesia and tolerance was found after 4 day's consecutive injections (10 mg/kg, s.c., twice/day) of morphine in mice. Locomotor activity was increased and the withdrawal symptoms were decreased by the pretreatment of MK-801 in morphine-dependent rats. But 0.3 mg/kg i.p. of MK-801 intensified the body weight loss and produced severe ataxia and rotation although some withdrawal signs were attenuated. Morphine induced analgesic tolerance was inhibited by the pretreatment of MK-801 and dextromethorphan. Dextromethorphan was more potent than MK-801 in inhibiting the development of the analgesic tolerance in mice. These results suggest that NMDA system may be involved in opioid withdrawal and analgesic tolerance but appropriate caution should be requested when MK-801 is used in combination with opioid because of untoward neurologic signs.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.41-48
• /
• 1998

The present study was undertaken to characterize homocysteic acid (HCA)-and cysteic acid (CA)-mediated formation of inositol phosphates (InsP) in primary culture of rat cerebellar granule cells. HCA and CA stimulated InsP formation in a dose-dependent manner, which was prevented by the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist D,L-2-amino-5-phosphopentanoic acid (APV). CA-, but not HCA-, mediated InsP formation was in part prevented by the metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist ?${\alpha}$-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine ($({\pm})$-MCPG). Both HCA- and CA-mediated increases in intracellular calcium concentration were completely blocked by APV, but were not altered by $({\pm})$-MCPG. CA-mediated InsP formation was in part prevented by removal of endogenous glutamate. In contrast, the glutamate transport blocker L-aspartic acid-${\beta}$-hydroxamate synergistically increased CA responses. These data indicate that in cerebellar granule cells HCA mediates InsP formation wholly by activating NMDA receptor. In contrast, CA stimulates InsP formation by activating both NMDA receptor and metabotropic glutamate receptor, and in part by releasing endogenous glutamate into extracellular milieu.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.117-125
• /
• 1997

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated glutamatergic neurotransmission is involved in synaptic plasticity, developmental processes, learning and memory and many neuropathological disorders including age-related diseases. In the present study, regulation of the NMDA receptor properties by various ligands was investigated using $[^3H]MK-801$ binding studies in the synaptic membranes of young and aged rat forebrains. The binding in the presence of glutamate and glycine increased dramatically with growth between 1 and 6 weeks old, and thereafter declined gradually with aging. Glutamate, glycine or spermine respectively increased the binding with growth. Glutamate maintained the binding during aging, while glycine or spermine significantly decreased the binding in the aged brain. The maximum stimulation by glycine varied depending on the ages of brains. Greater sensitivity to glycine was observed at 1 week and 3 months and the sensitivity was significantly reduced in the aged brain. In contrast, spermine showed similar stimulation patterns in young and aged rats. These results indicated that the functional properties of the NMDA receptor-ion channel complex in young and aged rat forebrains are differentially regulated by agonists, and the reduction of the receptor function with normal aging may be, in some degree, due to the reduction of the receptor sensitivity to glycine.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.351-357
• /
• 1997

A series of 4-substituted-kynurenic acid derivatives possessing several different substituents at C4-position which are consisted of both a flexible propyloxy chain and an adjunct several type of carbonyl groups has been synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antagonist activity at the glycine site on the NMDA receptor. Of them, N-benzoylthiourea 15c and N-phenylthiourea 15a were found to have the best in vitro binding affinity with $IC_{50}$ of 3.95 and $6.04{\mu}M$, respectively. On the other hand, in compounds 12a-c and 13 the displacement of a thiourea group to an amide or a carbamate caused a significant decrease of the in vitro binding affinity. In the SAR study of the 4-substituted kynurenic acid derivatives, it was realized that the terminal substitution pattern on a flexible C4-propyloxy chain of kynurenic acid nucleus significantly influences on the binding affinity for glycine site; the binding affinity to the NMDA receptor might be increased by the introduction of a suitable electron rich substituent at C4 of kynurenic acid nucleus.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.185-191
• /
• 2002

Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves neuronal degeneration with impaired cholinergic transmission, particularly in areas of the brain associated with learning and memory. Several cholinesterase inhibitors are widely prescribed to ameliorate the cognitive deficits in AD patients. In an attempt to examine if tacrine and donepezil, two well-known cholinesterase inhibitors, exhibit additional pharmacological actions in primary cultured rat cortical cells, we investigated the effects on neuronal injuries induced by glutamate or N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), $\beta$-amyloid fragment ( $A_{{beta}25-35)}$), and various oxidative insults. Both tacrine and donepezil did not significantly inhibit the excitotoxic neuronal damage induced by glutamate. However, tacrine inhibited the toxicity induced by NMDA in a concentration-dependent fashion. In addition, tacrine significantly inhibited the $A_{{beta}25-35)}$-induced neuronal injury at the concentration of 50 $\mu$M. In contrast, donepezil did not reduce the NMDA- nor $A_{{beta}25-35)}$-induced neuronal injury. Tacrine and donepezil had no effects on oxidative neuronal injuries in cultures nor on lipid peroxidation in vitro. These results suggest that, in addition to its anticholinesterase activity, the neuroprotective effects by tacrine against the NMDA- and $A_{{beta}25-35)$-induced toxicity may be beneficial for the treatment of AD. In contrast, the potent and selective inhibition of central acetylcholinesterase appears to be the major action mechanism of donepezil.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.535-540
• /
• 1999

Glutamate (Glu) receptor-mediated excitoxicity has been implicated in many acute and chronic types of neurological disorders. Exposure of mature rat cortical neurons (15-18 days in culture) to the various concentrations of Glu resulted in a marked neuronal death, whereas immature rat cortical neurons (4∼5 days in culture) were resistant to the Glu-induced toxicity. Glu receptor subtype-specific agonists showed differential extent of toxicity in the immature neurons. The neurons treated with NMDA or kainate (KA) did not exhibit damage. However, quisqualate (QA) treatment induced a considerable cell death (36.1%) in immature enurons. The non-NMDA antagonist DNQX did not reduce this response. Interestingly, the QA-induced toxicity was potentiated by spermine in a concentration-dependent manner. Again, the spermine-enhanced damage was not altered by the polyamine antagonist ifenprodil. Taken together, unlike NMDA or KA, QA can induce neurotoxicity in immature rat cortical neurons and the QA-induced toxicity was potentiated by spermine. The lack of antagonizing effects of DNQX and ifenprodil on QA-induced toxicity and the potentiated toxicity by spermine, respectively, implies that both QA receptor and the polyamine site of NMDA receptor may not mediate the neurotoxicity observed in this study, and that a distinct mechanism(s) may be involved in excitotoxicity in immature neurons.