• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.179-187
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• 1988

Verapamil, tetrodotoxin and tetraethylammonium chloride in the stated amount did not affect the $Na^{++}$ induced $Ca^{++}$ release. $Cd^{++}$ and $Zn^{++}$ significantly inhibited the $Na^{++}$ induced $Ca^{++}$ release. $Mn^{++}$ also inhibited $Na^+-Ca^{++}$ exchange. $Cd^{++}$ inhibited $Na^+-Ca^{++}$ exchange noncompetitively with an apparent inhibition constant (Ki) of $100\;{\mu}M$. $Cd^{++}$ caused loss of sulfhydryl group, whereas $Zn^{++}$ did not show any significant effect. $Cd^{++}$ and $Zn^{++}$ effectively inhibited $Na^+-Ca^{++}$ ATPase and slightly inhibited $Ca^{++}-Mg^{++}$ ATPase. Carbonyl cyanide chlorophenylhydrazone, 2,4-dinitrophenol and sodium arsenate stimulated the $Na^{++}$ induced $Ca^{++}$ release. Dibucaine and oligomycin slightly inhibited it. The results suggest that the $Na^+-Ca^{++}$ exchange on the synaptosomal plasma membrane may be not accomplished by ion channels. The $Na^+-Ca^{++}$ exchange is sensitively inhibited by $Cd^{++}$ and this transport process appears to be partially regulated by sulfhydryl groups of the synaptosomal plasma membrane. It is also postulated that $Na^+-Ca^{++}$ exchange is suppressed during the phosphorylation reaction of protein component on the neuronal membrane.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2005

The present study was designed to examine the effect of d-amphetamine on CA release from the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal gland, and to establish its mechanism of action. Damphetamine $(10{\sim}100{\mu}M$), when perfused into an adrenal vein of the rat adrenal gland for 60 min, enhanced the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh ($5.32{\times}10^{-3}$ M), excess $K^+$ ($5.6{\times}10^{-2}$ M, a membrane depolarizer), DMPP ($10^{-4}$ M, a selective neuronal nicotinic $N_n-receptor$ agonist) and McN-A-343 ($10^{-4}$ M, a selective $M_1-muscarinic$ agonist) only for the first period (4 min), although it alone has weak effect on CA secretion. Moreover, d-amphetamine ($30{\mu}M$) in to an adrenal vein for 60 min also augmented the CA release evoked by BAY-K-8644, an activator of the dihydropyridine L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels, and cyclopiazonic acid, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$ ATPase only for the first period (4 min). However, in the presence of high concentration ($500{\mu}M$), d-amphetamine rather inhibited the CA secretory responses evoked by the above all of secretagogues. Collectively, these experimental results suggest that d-amphetamine at low concentrations enhances the CA secretion from the rat adrenal medulla evoked by cholinergic stimulation (both nicotininc and muscarinic receptors) as well as by membrane depolarization, but at high concentration it rather inhibits them. It seems that d-amphetamine has dual effects as both agonist and antagonist at nicotinic receptors of the isolated perfused rat adrenal medulla, which might be dependent on the concentration. It is also thought that these actions of d-amphetamine are probably relevant to the $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization through the dihydropyridine L-type $Ca^{2+}$ cha$N_n$els located on the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cell membrane and the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from the cytoplasmic store.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2013

Astrocytes are reported to have critical functions in ischemic brain injury including protective effects against ischemia-induced neuronal dysfunction. Na-K ATPase maintains ionic gradients in astrocytes and is suggested as an indicator of ischemic injury in glial cells. Here, we examined the role of the Na-K ATPase in the pathologic process of ischemic injury of primary cultured astrocytes. Chemical ischemia was induced by sodium azide and glucose deprivation. Lactate dehydrogenase assays showed that the cytotoxic effect of chemical ischemia on astrocytes began to appear at 2 h of ischemia. The expression of Na-K ATPase ${\alpha}1$ subunit protein was increased at 2 h of chemical ischemia and was decreased at 6 h of ischemia, whereas the expression of ${\alpha}1$ subunit mRNA was not changed by chemical ischemia. Na-K ATPase activity was time-dependently decreased at 1, 3, and 6 h of chemical ischemia, whereas the enzyme activity was temporarily recovered to the control value at 2 h of chemical ischemia. Cytotoxicity at 2 h of chemical ischemia was significantly blocked by reoxygenation for 24 h following ischemia. Reoxygenation following chemical ischemia for 1 h significantly increased the activity of the Na-K ATPase, while reoxygenation following ischemia for 2 h slightly decreased the enzyme activity. These results suggest that the critical time for ischemia-induced cytotoxicity of astrocytes might be 2 h after the initiation of ischemic insult and that the increase in the expression and activity of the Na-K ATPase might play a protective role during ischemic injury of astrocytes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 1990

The contractile mechanisms of serotonin were investigated in the renal artery of a rabbit. The helical strips of isolated renal artery were immersed in the normal or $Ca^{2+}$-free tris-buffered Tyrode's solution, which was equilibrated with 100% $O_{2}$ at $35^{\circ}C$. The contraction by serotonin or norepinephrine (NE) began at $1{\times}10^{-7}\;M$ and reached the maximal contraction at $1{\times}10^{-5}\;M$. The maximal contraction by serotonin corresponded to $58.1{\pm}4.2%$ of maximal contraction by NE. Cyproheptadine, a serotonin receptor blocker, shifted the concentration-response curve to the right without any reduction in the maximum response but shifted that of NE to the right with reduction in maximum response. And phentolamine, an ${\alpha}-receptor$ blocker, shifted the concentration-response curve of serotonin or NE without any reduction in maximum responses. The $pA_{2}$ values for cyproheptadine against serotonin and NE were $10.35{\pm}0.04$ and $8.45{\pm}0.13$, respectively. The $pA_{2}$ values for phentolamine against serotonin and NE were $6.87{\pm}0.04$ and $8.14{\pm}0.08$, respectively. after the pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine, the contraction induced by 100 mM $K^{+}$, tyramine and serotonin reduced to $83.0{\pm}2.0$, $26.8{\pm}6.2$ and $82.0{\pm}3.5%$ of control, respectively. The contraction by serotonin in the $Ca^{2+}$-free Tyrode's solution was increased and sustained with the addition of $Ca^{2+}$ extracellulary. The serotonin-sensitive intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ pool was depleted completely by the pretreatment with NE, but the NE-sensitive intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ pool was depleted partially by the pretreatment with serotonin. From the above results, it is suggested that the contraction induced by serotonin in the renal artery of a rabbit may be due to mechanisms in which serotonin acts directly on specific serotonin receptors and also acts indirectly on ${\alpha}-adrenoceptors$ by displacing NE from neuronal stores.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.23 no.2 s.54
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• pp.115-121
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• 1999

Effects of single and repeated administration of various nootropic candidates were examined on impaired acquisition by single oral administration of 3 g/kg ethanol (EtOH) in step through test. The inhibitory effect of EtOH on acquisition was significantly reduced by single picrotoxin, but not affected by diazepam, acetyl-L-carnitine and apomorphine. Single or repeated red ginseng total saponin and deprenyl, single piracetam, repeated N-methyl-D-glucamine, but not single or repeated protopanaxadiol, protopanaxatriol and centrophenoxine significantly ameliorated the impairment of acquisition by EtOH. On the other hand, the inhibitory effect of repeated red ginseng total saponin but not that of repeated N-methyl-D-Glucamine, was significantly blocked by pretreatment of $\alpha$-methyl-$\rho$-tyrosine, a inhibitor of catecholamine synthesis. Whereas, the inhibitory effect of repeated deprenyl on EtOH amnesia was exaggerated by $\alpha$-methyl-$\rho$-tyrosine. These results suggest that the amelioration processes of drugs on ethanol amnesia involve complex mechanism between the central GABAergic and dopaminergic neuronal activity in memory and learning, although the effects of repeated drugs administration are not yet clear.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.253-270
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• 1983

Electron microscopic degeneration studies were carried out on the rat's interpeduncular nucleus following lesion on both habenular nuclei to clarify the morphological nature of their presynaptic endings involved in the habenulo-interpeduncular pathway. Two distinct types of interpeduncular neurons were observed: 30% of large neurons and 70% of small ones. Four types of boutons with many characteristics could be differentiated; small spherical vesicle-containing boutons (40%), large spherical vesicle-containing boutons (18%), pleomorphic vesicle-containing boutons (33%), and elongated vesicle-containg boutons (9%). Vesicle containing dendrites were observed as dendro-dendritic synapses and axo-axonal synapses were also found, though rarely. Two to four days after the lesion on both habenular nuclei, the small spherical vesicle-containing boutons were found almost exclusively in the process of degeneration, while the other types were entirely free of degeneration. Therefore, it is inferred that habenural neurons terminate in the interpeduncular nucleus as small spherical vesicle-containing boutons. The neuronal origin of the other bouton types is discussed.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2006

An area of current research is investigating the app1ication of human mesenchymal stem cells or hMSCs as a cell-based regenerative therapy. In order to achieve effective bone regeneration, appropriate matrices functioning as cell-carriers must be identified and optimized in terms of function, efficacy and biocompatibility. Two methods of approaching optimization of matrices are to facilitate adhesion of the donor hMSCs and furthermore to facilitate recruitment of host progenitor cells to osteoblastic differentiation. Pleiotrophin is an extracellular matrix protein that was first identified in developing rat brains and believed to be associated with developing neuronal pathways. A recent publication by Imai and colleagues demonstrated that transgenic mice with upregulated pleiotrophin expression developed a greater volume of cortical as well as cancellous bone. The proposed mechanism of action of pleiotrophin is demonstrated here. Through either environmental stresses and/or intracellular regulation, there is an increase in pleiotrophin production. The pleiotrophin is released extracellularly into areas requiring bone deposition. A receptor-mediated process recruits host osteoprogenitor cells into these areas. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the osteoconductive properties of pleiotrophin. We wanted to determine if pleiotrophin coating facilitates cellular adhesion and furthermore if this has any effect on hMSCs derived bone formation in an animal model. The results showed a dose dependent response of cellular adhesion in fibronectin samples, and cellular adhesion was facilitated with increasing pleiotrophin concentrations. Histologic findings taken after 5 weeks implantation in SCID mouse showed no presence of bone formation with only a dense fibrous connective tissue. Possible explanations for the results of the osteogenesis assay include inappropriate cell loading.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.79-90
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• 1993

With immunohistochemical method, We have examined the distribution, the size, the number, and the morphology of somatostatin-immunoreactive neurons in the cerebral cortex of rats at the 1st. 2nd, 3rd, 4th postnatal week and the 2nd and 3rd months of age. The results are summarized as follows : 1) Strongly immunoreactive somatostatin neurons were found in the layer V and VI at the first postnatal week and then they were observed to be densely populated in the layer II and III from the 3rd postnatal week on as in the adult rat. 2) The size of the neuron was largest at the 2nd postnatal week while the number of the neurons was greatest in the 1st or 2nd postnatal week, depending on the different areas of the cortex. Overall the postnatal development of somatostatin neurons are well corresponds with the general principle of neuronal development of CNS.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.253-259
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• 2010

The neuroprotective effects of extracts from various parts of peanut sprouts on glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in N18-RE-105 cells were investigated. This study was performed to evaluate the neuroprotective activity of methanolic extracts from the whole (WME), heads (HME), and stems (SME) of peanut sprouts. The neuroprotective effects of these extracts were measured by MTT reduction assay, LDH release assay, phase-contrast microscopy, and flow cytometric analysis on the N18-RE-105 cells. Among these extracts, the HME showed the greatest neuroprotective effects, and was further fractionated with hexane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, and water, according to degree of polarity. Out of the fractionated extracts, the diethyl ether layer showed the highest activity on glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in N18-RE-105 cells. The sub-G1 DNA contents of the glutamate-induced severely apoptotic N18-RE-105s were measured by flow cytometric analysis to confirm the HME's anti-apoptotic activity. Interestingly, after incubation with 100 mg/ml of the HME, the proportion of sub-G1 cells of the glutamate-stressed N18-RE-105s had been greatly reduced, from 58.5% to 9.1%. These results imply that HME may have strong potential as a chemotherapeutic agent against neuronal diseases.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2005

Cnidii Rhizoma (CR) was subjected to extraction with 70% methanol and tested to determine whether it has anxiolytic activity in mouse by employing staircase and rotarod tests. In addition, to understand the mechanism of anxiolytic action, CR, picrotoxin, yohimbine, isoniazid and strychnine were utilized to deliniate the potential involvement of GABA and glycine receptors in the action of Cnidii Rhizoma. To gain insights into the safety of Cnidii Rhizoma extract, behavioral and MTT tests were carried out. The results were obtained as follows: 1. CR extract had little effect on climbing numbers in the stair case test. 2. CR extract had considerable anti-anxiety effects as evidenced by the reduction of rearing numbers in the stair case test. 3. CR extract had little effect on muscle relaxation. 4. Anxiolytic actions of CR extract appeared to be mediated by glycine receptor activation. 5. Cytotoxicity in the neuronal cell was not observed and no strange behaviors were found. In short, these results indicate that CR extract has the ability to exert anxiolytic activity, possibly by activating glycine receptor with little side effects in mouse.