• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2006

Vascular smooth muscle contraction is mediated by activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, an isoform of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). However, the role of stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in vascular smooth muscle contraction has not been defined. We investigated the role of JNK in the contractile response to norepinephrine (NE) in rat aortic smooth muscle. NE evoked contraction in a dose-dependent manner, and this effect was inhibited by the JNK inhibitor SP600125. NE increased the phosphorylation of JNK, which was greater in aortic smooth muscle from hypertensive rats than from normotensive rats. NE-induced JNK phosphorylation was significantly inhibited by SP600125 and the conventional-type PKC (cPKC) inhibitor Go6976, but not by the Rho kinase inhibitor Y27632 or the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002. Thymeleatoxin, a selective activator of cPKC, increased JNK phosphorylation, which was inhibited by $G{\ddot{o}}6976$. SP600125 attenuated the phosphorylation of caldesmon, an actin-binding protein whose phosphorylation is increased by NE. These results show that JNK contributes to NE-mediated contraction through phosphorylation of caldesmon in rat aortic smooth muscle, and that this effect is regulated by the PKC pathway, especially cPKC.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.195-201
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• 1996

Endotoxic shock causes death in humans and animals via extreme hypoperfusion of peripheral organs. A massive production of nitric oxide (NO) both from the endothelical cells and smooth muscle cells has been proposed as a possible mechanism in this process. Since NO attenuated the contractility to vasoconstricting agents such as norepinephrine (NE) by directly acting on the smooth muscle cells, this mechanism was considered mainly as a postsynaptic mechanism. In this research it was investigated whether NO, thus released, also participates in the presynaptic events for the regulation of vascular tone in endotoxic shock. The role of NO was studied by adding NO donors or NO synthase inhibitor $N^\omega $methyl-L-arginine (NMA) in stimulated sympathetic nerves of the mesenteric vascular bed and the Langendorff heart of rats. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an NO donor, reduced the pressor responses of isolated mesenteric artery either to electrical stimulation or exogenously administered phenylephrine (PE). In this mesentery, although neither agent influenced NE release, in the presence of the adrenergic $\alpha_2$-receptor antagonist yohimbine, elecrical stimulation-evoked NE release was augumented by SNP. In the heart SNP facilitated the NE release induced by electrical stimulation, while NMA had no effect. From these results it is proposed that there exists a local reflex phenomenon in the junction between the sympathetic nerve terminals and the smooth muscle of resistance blood vessels; by which sympathetic responses are reduced by NO at the postjunctional level while NO facilitates NE release contributing to augumentation of sympathetic tone. All these facts suggest that NO produced during endotoxic shock has dual effects: whereas NO blunts the vasoconstrictive activity of NE at the postsynaptic level, NO presynaptically facilitates the release of NE from sympathetic nerve terminals.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.341-348
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• 1998

We established an in vitro experimental system using the following procedure. We first introduced tritium-labelled norepinephrine ([3H]-NE)into PC12 cells. The [3H]-NE incorporated into PC12 cells were then stimulated by a high concentration (60 mM) of $K^+$ during 12 minutes. Then, we counted the amount of [3H]-NE release from PC12 cells with the scintillation counter. After screening fungal, Streptomyces or bacterial product using this experimental system, we obtained S9940 from Streptomyces spp. which inhibited [3H]-NE release from PC12 cells. S9940 also inhibits the release of ATP as a neurotransmitter of PC12 cells and rat cortical neurons. The inhibitory effect was seen even when the PC12 cells were treated with low $K^+$ buffer containing ionomycin $(1\muM)$ as an ionopore. This result suggests that the inhibitory action of S9940 on neurotransmitter release appeared after the influx of $Ca^{2+}$.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 1982

In this paper, the influences of adrenergic blockades; propranolol and phenoxybenzamine on the changes of hyperglycemic action, hepatic glycogen content, and brain norepinephrine (NE) content induced by clonidine were investigated in the male mice. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1) Blood glucose level was significantly increased by clonidine $(30{\mu}g/kg)$. The increase of blood glucose level induced by clonidine was not affect by the propranolol (10mg/kg) pretreatment, but significantly inhibited by the phenoxybenzamine (10mg/kg) pretreatment. 2) Hepatic glycogen content was moderately inhibited by clonidine. The decrease of hepatic glycogen content induced by clonidine was not affected by the propranolol and phenoxybenzamine pretreatment. 3) Brain NE content was significantly increased in 30 minutes and 60 minutes after clonidine treatment. The increase of brain NE content induced by clonidine was significantly inhibited by the phenoxybenzamine pretreatment. The increase of train NE content induced in 90 minutes and 120 minutes after clonidine treatment was more markedly increased by the propranolol pretreatment.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 2006

We established an in vitro experimental system using the following procedure. We first introduced tritium-labeled norepinephrine ([$^3$H]-NE) into PC12 cells, The [$^3$H]-NE incorporated into PC12 cells were then stimulated by a high concentration (60 mM) of $K^+$ buffer during 12 minutes. Then, we collected $100{\mu}l$ supernatant and counted the amount of [$^3$H]-NE release from PC12 cells with a scintillation counter. After screening fungal, Streptomyces spp. or bacterial product using this experimental sytem, we obtained FS11052 from Streptomyces spp. which inhibited [$^3$H]-NE release from PC12 cells. FS11052 also inhibits the release of ATP as a neurotransmitter of PC12 cells and rat cortical neurons, The inhibitory effect was seen even when the PC12 cells were treated with low $K^-$ buffer containing ionomycin ($1{\mu}M$) as an ionopore. This result suggests that the inhibitory action of FS11052 on neurotransmitter release appeared after the influx of $Ca^{2+}$.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.384-394
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• 1990

We studied the effect of carbon monoxide(CO)-induced bypoxia on monoamine neurotransmitter and their syntheitc enzyme in rat brain. When the rats were acute or chronic intoxicated at CO 5000 ppm for 30 minutes or 2000 ppm for 1 week each 3 hours, dopamine content increased significantly with decreasing of its turnover in striatum and norepinephrine content was diminished in hypothalamus. 5-hydroxytryptamine content was increased significantly and its turnover was decreased both in striatum and hypothalamus. Tyrosine hydroxylase activity was reduced in striatum. These results suggest that inhibition of TH activity in CO-induced hypoxia is owing to lack of oxygen supply threfore NE content is decreased. We suggest that increasing of dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine are due to reduction of its turnover.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 1996

The objectives of this study is to find out mechanism of vasodilating effects of ANP in 2K-1C renovascular hypertensive rat aorta and to compare with those of normotensive rat aorta. In 2K-1C renovascular hypertensive rat, average arterial blood pressure and plasma renin activity were higher than in normotensive rat. In 2K-1C renovascular hypertensive rat aorta, NE sensitivity was more increased and maximal contraction of aorta by NE was higher than those of normotensive rat aorta. ANP inhibited NE-induced contraction in both 2K-1C renovascular hypertensive and normotensive rat aorta, concentration-dependently. However, ANP was less effective for relaxing NE-induced contraction in 2K-1C renovascular hypertensive rat aorta than in normotensive rat aorta. ANP inhibited $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake induced by NE in both 2K-1C renovascular hypertensive and normotensive rat aorta. From these results. inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ influx may be one of the vasodilating mechanism of ANP in 2K-1C renovascular hypertensive rat aorta. Although the potency of ANP in relaxing NE-induced contractions was attenuated, the efficacy of ANP was not changed in 2K-1C renovascular hypertensive rat aorta compared with that of ANP in normotensive rat aorta. Abbreviations: ANP, Atrial natriuretic peptide; 2K-1C, 2-kidney 1 clip; NE, norepinephrine; SHR, Spontaneously hypertensive rat; DOC, Deoxycorticosterone; EDTA, Ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid; PSS, Physiological salt solution; TRIS, tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.61-74
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• 1992

Influence of the blockade of the three major pressor systems-sympathetic nervous system (SNS), renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and vasopressin system-on the pressor responsiveness to norepinephrine (NE), angiotensin II (AII), and vasopressin (VP) as well as on basal blood pressure (BP) levels was investigated in urethane-anesthetized rabbits. To block the SNS and RAS, chlorisondamine (CS) and pirenzepine (PZ), sympathetic ganglionic blockers, and enalapril (ENAL), an inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme, respectively were used. And for suppressing the VP system bremazocine (BREM), a kappa opiate receptor agonist shown to suppress plasma levels of VP, was employed. Each of CS (0.4 mg/kg), ENAL (2 mg/kg), and BREM (0.25 mg/kg) produced almost same levels of steady hypotensive state. The hypotensive effect of BREM was significantly attenuated by desmopressin, a synthetic VP-like analogue, suggesting the hypotension being at least in part due to suppression of plasma levels of VP. CS, ENAL and BREM elicited further fall of the BP which had been lowered by ENAL or BREM, CS or BREM, and CS or ENAL, respectively. The hypotension produced by both CS and PZ together with either of ENAL or BREM was more marked than that produced by the three drugs other than CS. CS potentiated the pressor response not only to NE but to AII and VP. The pressor effect of AII was increased by ENAL and BREM, too. The pressor response to VP was also enhanced by BREM. Blockade of ${\alpha}-adrenergic$ receptors with phentolamine or phenoxybenzamine potentiated the pressor response to AII and that to VP. The results on basal BP levels indicate that the three major pressor systems are all participating in control of BP, but SNS has the greatest potential for supporting BP. The finding that blockade of one of the pressor systems induced enhanced pressor responsiveness to the pressor hormone of that particular system as well as to the pressor hormone(s) of the other systems(s) provides evidence for important interactions among the three major pressor systems.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 1990

The responsiveness of various arterial smooth muscles isolated from rabbit to peptide YY (PYY) and the calcium source responsible for the muscles to contract were studied in vitro. PYY contracted the muscle strips of femoral, basilar and common iliac arteries more sensitively than renal, superior mesenteric and common carotid arteries. Common carotid and renal arteries were less sensitive to PYY $(p{\leqslant}0.05)$ than to NE; and basilar artery was more sensitive to PYY$(p{\leqslant}0.01)$ than to NE. A calcium channel blocker, verapamil and an inhibitor of intracellular calcium release, 3, 4, 5-Trime-thoxybenzoic arid 8-(diethylamino)octyl ester [TMB-8] significantly $(p{\leqslant}0.001)$ suppressed the concentration-response of the strips from femoral artery to PYY. When both verapamil and TMB-8 existed in normal PSS, the concentration-response to PYY was inhibited almost completely; and a similar suppression was observed when the muscle was incubated in calcium-free, ethyleneglycol-bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether)N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid [EGTA] containing PSS. The results of these experiments suggest that increased PYY activity in circulation may result in the more sensitive increase in the intracranial vascular resistance and the cerebral arterial pressure than the increased sympathetic activity and that both intra- and extracellular calcium are to be utilized for the PYY-induced contraction on arterial smooth muscle.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.349-356
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• 1998

We identified S9940, a novel microbial metabolite from Streptomyces spp., to inhibit the release of neurotransmitter from PC12 cells. S9940 is an inhibitor of trifiated norepinephrine ([$^{3}H$]-NE) release in high $K^+$ buffer solution containing ionomycin, indicating that S9940 inhibits neurotransmitter release after the influx of $Ca^{2+}$ ions. We also examined the effect of S9940 on $\beta-glucuronidase$ release from guinea pig neurophils and the effect on the neurite extension of PC12 cells and rat hippocampal neurons. As a result, S9940 inhibited $\beta-glucuronidase$ release: when treated with $5{\mu}g/ml$ of S9940, which prevented [$^{3}H$]-NE release, the inhibition of neurite extension for both PC12 cells and rat hippocampal neurons was observed.