• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제12권6호
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• pp.315-321
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• 2008

Eugenol is widely used in dentistry to relieve pain. We have recently demonstrated voltage-gated $Na^+$ and $Ca^{2+}$ channels as molecular targets for its analgesic effects, and hypothesized that eugenol acts on $P2X_3$, another pain receptor expressed in trigeminal ganglion (TG), and tested the effects of eugenol by whole-cell patch clamp and $Ca^{2+}$ imaging techniques. In the present study, we investigated whether eugenol would modulate 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-induced currents in rat TG neurons and $P2X_3$-expressing human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. ATP-induced currents in TG neurons exhibited electrophysiological properties similar to those in HEK293 cells, and both ATP- and $\alpha$, $\beta$-meATP-induced currents in TG neurons were effectively blocked by TNP-ATP, suggesting that $P2X_3$ mediates the majority of ATP-induced currents in TG neurons. Eugenol inhibited ATP-induced currents in both capsaicin-sensitive and capsaicin-insensitive TG neurons with similar extent, and most ATP-responsive neurons were IB4-positive. Eugenol inhibited not only $Ca^{2+}$ transients evoked by $\alpha$, $\beta$-meATP, the selective $P2X_3$ agonist, in capsaicin-insensitive TG neurons, but also ATP-induced currents in $P2X_3$-expressing HEK293 cells without co-expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1). We suggest, therefore, that eugenol inhibits $P2X_3$ currents in a TRPV1-independent manner, which contributes to its analgesic effect.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.337-342
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• 2006

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells that activate the periodic spontaneous depolarization (pacemaker potentials) responsible for the production of slow waves in gastrointestinal smooth muscle. The effects of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on the pacemaker potentials in cultured ICCs from murine small intestine were investigated by whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. Addition of VIP (50 nM-$1{\mu}M$) decreased the amplitude of pacemaker potentials and depolarized resting membrane potentials. To examine the type of receptors involved in ICC, we examined the effects of the $VIP_1$ agonist and found that it had no effect on pacemaker potentials. Pretreatment with $VIP_1$ antagonist ($1{\mu}M$) for 10 min also did not block the VIP (50 nM)-induced effects. On the other hand exposure to 1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo(4,3-A)quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, $100{\mu}M$), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, prevented VIP inhibition of pacemaker potentials. Similarly KT-5823 ($1{\mu}M$) or RP-8-CPT-cGMPS ($10{\mu}M$), inhibitors of protein kinase G (PKG) blocked the effect of VIP (50 nM) on pacemaker potentials as did N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA, $100{\mu}M$), a non-selective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor. These results imply that the inhibition of pacemaker activity by VIP depends on the NO-cGMP-PKG pathway.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.603-607
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Carthami Flos on interstitial cells of Cajal in the gastrointestinal tract. Many regions of the tunica muscularis of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract display spontaneous contraction. These spontaneous contractions are mediated by periodic generation of electrical slow waves. Recent studies have shown that the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) act as pacemakers and conductors of electrical slow waves in gastrointestinal smooth muscles. We investigated the cytotoxicity activity, antioxidant activity, and pacemaking activity. The cytotoxicity activity was measured by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Antioxidant activities were determined by DPPH (1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging capacity assay and DCFH-DA (2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate) method. The effects of Carthami Flos on the pacemaker potentials in cultured ICCs from murine small intestine were investigated by using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques at $30^{\circ}C$. The addition of Carthami Flos (5, 10, $30{\mu}g$/ml) depolarized the resting membrane potentials in a concentration dependent manner. These results suggest that the GI tract can be targets for Carthami Flos, and their interaction can affect intestinal motility.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.71-77
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• 2006

The goal of this study was to analyze the effects of genistein, a widely used tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on cloned Shaw-type $K^+$ currents, Kv3.1 which were stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, using the whole-cell configuration of patch-clamp techniques. In whole-cell recordings, genistein at external concentrations from 10 to $100{\mu}M$ accelerated the rate of inactivation of Kv3.1 currents, thereby concentration-dependently reducing the current at the end of depolarizing pulse with an $IC_{50}$ value of $15.71{\pm}0.67{\mu}M$ and a Hill coefficient of $3.28{\pm}0.35$ (n=5). The time constant of activation at a 300 ms depolarizing test pulses from -80 mV to +40 mV was $1.01{\pm}0.04$ ms and $0.90{\pm}0.05$ ms (n=9) under control conditions and in the presence of $20{\mu}M$ genistein, respectively, indicating that the activation kinetics was not significantly modified by genistein. Genistein $(20{\mu}M)$ slowed the deactivation of the tail current elicited upon repolarization to -40 mV, thus inducing a crossover phenomenon. These results suggest that drug unbinding is required before Kv3.1 channels can close. Genistein-induced block was voltage-dependent, increasing in the voltage range $(-20\'mV{\sim}0\'mV)$ for channel opening, suggesting an open channel interaction. Genistein $(20{\mu}M)$ produced use-dependent block of Kv3.1 at a stimulation frequency of 1 Hz. The voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation of Kv3.1 was not changed by $20{\mu}M$ genistein. Our results indicate that genistein blocks directly Kv3.1 currents in concentration-, voltage-, time-dependent manners and the action of genistein on Kv3.1 is independent of tyrosine kinase inhibition.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.483-491
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• 2019

Cordycepin exerts neuroprotective effects against excitotoxic neuronal death. However, its direct electrophysiological evidence in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the electrophysiological mechanisms underlying the protective effect of cordycepin against the excitotoxic neuronal insult in AD using whole-cell patch clamp techniques. ${\beta}$-Amyloid ($A{\beta}$) and ibotenic acid (IBO)-induced injury model in cultured hippocampal neurons was used for the purpose. The results revealed that cordycepin significantly delayed $A{\beta}$ + IBO-induced excessive neuronal membrane depolarization. It increased the onset time/latency, extended the duration, and reduced the slope in both slow and rapid depolarization. Additionally, cordycepin reversed the neuronal hyperactivity in $A{\beta}$ + IBO-induced evoked action potential (AP) firing, including increase in repetitive firing frequency, shortening of evoked AP latency, decrease in the amplitude of fast afterhyperpolarization, and increase in membrane depolarization. Further, the suppressive effect of cordycepin against $A{\beta}$ + IBO-induced excessive neuronal membrane depolarization and neuronal hyperactivity was blocked by DPCPX (8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, an adenosine $A_1$ receptor-specific blocker). Collectively, these results revealed the suppressive effect of cordycepin against the $A{\beta}$ + IBO-induced excitotoxic neuronal insult by attenuating excessive neuronal activity and membrane depolarization, and the mechanism through the activation of $A_1R$ is strongly recommended, thus highlighting the therapeutic potential of cordycepin in AD.

• 고려인삼학회:학술대회논문집
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• 고려인삼학회 2002년도 학술대회지
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• pp.531-544
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• 2002

Ginseng is the best known and most popular herbal medicine used worldwide. Ameliorating effects of ginseng were observed on the models of scopolamine-induced, aged or hippocampal lesioned learning and memory deficits. Further beneficial effects of ginseng were observed on neuronal cell death associated with ischemia or glutamate toxicity. In spite of these beneficial effects of ginseng on the CNS, little scientific evidence shows at the cellular level. In the present study, we have employed cultures of rat hippocampal neurons and examined the direct modulation of ginseng on NMDA receptor-induced changes in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and -gated currents using fura-2-based digital imaging and perforated whole-cell patch-clamp techniques, respectively. We found that ginseng total saponins inhibited NMDA-induced but less effectively glutamate-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ Ginseng total saponins also modulated $Ca^{2+}$ transients evoked by depolarization with 50 mM KCI along with its own effects on $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. Among ginsenosides tested, ginsenoside $Rg_3$ was found to be the most potent component for ginseng actions on NMDA receptors. Furthermore, we examined the inhibitory effects ofbiotransformants of ginsenosides on NMDA receptor using purified stereoisomers of ginsenosides. 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ and its metabolite, 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rh_3$, produced the strongest inhibition while 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rh_1$ and Compound K produced the moderate inhibition on NMDA-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. The data obtained suggest that the inhibition of NMDA receptors by ginseng, in particular by 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ and its metabolite, 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rh_2$, could be one of mechanisms for ginsengmediated neuroprotective actions.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.219-227
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• 2019

Polycystic kidney disease 2-like-1 (PKD2L1), polycystin-L or transient receptor potential polycystin 3 (TRPP3) is a TRP superfamily member. It is a calcium-permeable non-selective cation channel that regulates intracellular calcium concentration and thereby calcium signaling. Although the calmodulin (CaM) inhibitor, calmidazolium, is an activator of the PKD2L1 channel, the activating mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to clarify whether CaM takes part in the regulation of the PKD2L1 channel, and if so, how. With patch clamp techniques, we observed the current amplitudes of PKD2L1 significantly reduced when co-expressed with CaM and $CaM{\triangle}N$. This result suggests that the N-lobe of CaM carries a more crucial role in regulating PKD2L1 and guides us into our next question on the different functions of two lobes of CaM. We also identified the predicted CaM binding site, and generated deletion and truncation mutants. The mutants showed significant reduction in currents losing PKD2L1 current-voltage curve, suggesting that the C-terminal region from 590 to 600 is crucial for maintaining the functionality of the PKD2L1 channel. With PKD2L1608Stop mutant showing increased current amplitudes, we further examined the functional importance of EF-hand domain. Along with co-expression of CaM, ${\triangle}EF$-hand mutant also showed significant changes in current amplitudes and potentiation time. Our findings suggest that there is a constitutive inhibition of EF-hand and binding of CaM C-lobe on the channel in low calcium concentration. At higher calcium concentration, calcium ions occupy the N-lobe as well as the EF-hand domain, allowing the two to compete to bind to the channel.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.153-159
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• 2004

The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are the pacemaker cells in gastrointestinal tract and generate electrical rhythmicity in gastrointestinal muscles. Therefore, ICC may be modulated by endogenous agents such as neurotransmitter, hormones, and prostaglandins (PGs). In the present study, we investigated the effects of prostaglandins, especially $PGE_2$, on pacemaker currents in cultured ICCs from murine small intestine by using whole-cell patch clamp techniques. ICCs generated spontaneous slow waves under voltage-clamp conditions and showed a mean amplitude of $-452{\pm}39\;pA$ and frequency of $18{\pm}2$ cycles/min (n=6). Treatments of the cells with $PGE_2$ $(1\;{\mu}M)$ decreased both the frequency and amplitude of the pacemaker currents and increased the resting currents in the outward direction. $PGE_2$ had only inhibitory effects on pacemaker currents and this inhibitory effect was dose-dependent. For characterization of specific membrane EP receptor subtypes, involved in the effects of $PGE_2$ on pacemaker currents in ICCs, EP receptor agonists were used: Butaprost $(1\;{\mu}M)$, $EP_2$ receptor agonist, reduced the spontaneous inward current frequency and amplitude in cultured ICCs (n=5). However sulprostone $(1\;{\mu}M)$, a mixed $EP_1$ and $EP_3$ agonist, had no effects on the frequency, amplitude and resting currents of pacemaker currents (n=5). SQ-22536 (an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase; $100\;{\mu}M$) and ODQ (an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase; $100\;{\mu}M$) had no effects on $PGE_2$ actions of pacemaker currents. These observations indicate that $PGE_2$ alter directly the pacemaker currents in ICCs, and that the $PGE_2$ receptor subtypes involved are the $EP_2$ receptor, independent of cyclic AMP- and GMP-dependent pathway.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.89-99
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• 2004

음압에 의한 세포막 신전으로 열리는 Stretch-activated channel(SAC)은 세포의 부피조적, 세포의 분화, 혈관 긴장도의 조절, 호르몬 분비 조절에서 SAC 존재 유무를 확인하기 위하여 patch clamp기법을 시행하여 SAC의 조절기전과 전기생리학적인 성질을 조사하였다. 음압이 주어지기 전에는 관찰되지 않던 단일통로 전류가 -20 cm$H_2O$이하의 음압이 주어졌을 때 관찰되었다. 음압에 의해 열리는 단일통로 전류는 $Na^+$이나 $K^+$과 같은 일가 양이온이 존재할 때 관찰되었으나 대신 비투과성인 tetramethylamonium이나 meglumine과 같은 양이온으로 교환해 주면 나타나지 않았다. 이는 이 단일 통로 전류가 양이온만을 투과시키는 nonselective cationic channel(NSC)을 통하여 이동하는 stretch-activated NSC(SA-NSC)임을 시사하였다. 이 SA-NSC 전류는 적혈구나 양서류 난자에서 관찰된 SAC의 전류-전압 관계와 유사한 inward rectification 양상을 나타내었으며 PKA에 의하여 통로활성이 증가하였다. 햄스터 난자에서 관찰되는 SA-NSC는 수정 전부터 2-세포 배아기까지 관찰되었으며 통로전류의 크기는 수정란과 1-세포기 배아에서 가장 크게 관찰되었으며 2-세포기 배아에서는 그 크기가 현저하게 감소하였다. 이와 같이 본 연구에서는 햄스터 난자의 발생 초기 단계에서 전기생리학적 기법을 사용하여 처음으로 SA-NSC존재를 직접 확인하였다. 세포 항상성 유지에 필수적인 이 통로의 일반적인 속성으로 미루어 보아, 햄스터 난자의 수정 전후 난자의 활성과 초기 배아 분화 및 발달에 필수적인 역할을 할 것으로 생각된다.}$1.50개였다. 또한 배란된 성숙난자의 채란 율은 각각 70.2, 74.7 및 54.3%로서 41~50시간째에 회수하였을 때가 가장 낮았다. 두당 회수율에 있어서도 8.25${\pm}$1.34, 8.87${\pm}$1.10 및 5.00${\pm}$1.30개로서 회수시간에 따른 유의적인 차이는 없었다. 회수한 난포내 미성숙 난자의 등급에 있어서 회수시간대별 1등급은 각각 24.2, 19.5 및 12.0%였으며, 2등급의 경우는 41~50시간이 4.0%로서 29~34시간과 35~40시간의 14.4% 및 16.2%보다 유의적(P<0.05)으로 낮았다. 난자의 pH 조절과 용적조절과 같은 생리적 환경 조성에 관여할 것으로 추정된다.았으며, 난포내 난자의 회수율은 투여 호르몬 및 반복사용 여부에 따른 차이는 없었다.떤 특정한 질환의 환자가 상대적으로 많을 가능성이 있으므로 국내에서의 소아 신질환의 발병형태를 보다 체계적으로 조사하고 이를 자료화하기 위해서는 개별 기관들의 연구결과만으로는 미흡하다고 생각되며, 이를 위해서는 전국적인 협동조사가 필요하다고 사료된다.9%$, 좌측 $22.2{\pm}3.9%$, 전체 $44.2{\pm}7.8%$보다 유의하게 감소되었다(p<0.01). 4) 양측성 미만성 결손을 보인 급성 신우신염시 상대적 신섭취율은 우측 $48.9{\pm}1.9%$, 좌측 $51.0{\pm}1.9%$로 대조군의 우측 $49.4{\pm}2.6%$, 좌측 $50.2{\pm}2.5%$에 비해 유의한 차이가 없었으나 절대적 신섭취율은 우측 $18.1{\pm}3.9%$,

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.127-135
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• 2016

Two-pore 도메인 포타슘 채널(two-pore domain $K^+$ channel, K2P channel)은 세포내 pH, 생리 활성 지질, 신경 전달 물질과 같은 생리학적 자극의 표적이며 안정막전압(resting membrane potential)을 설정하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 일부 유형의 K2P 채널들은 세포 사멸 및 종양 형성 등에서 중요한 역할을 한다. K2P 채널 중 TREK2 채널의 길항제는 보고되지 않았다. 본 연구의 목적은 TREK2 채널을 과발현시킨 HEK293 세포(HEKT2)에서 플라보노이드에 의해 TREK2 채널이 억제되는지 그리고 HEKT2 세포의 증식이 플라보노이드에 의해 영향을 받는지 알아보고자 하였다. 전기생리학적 전류는 단일 채널 patch clamp 방법을 사용하여 기록하였고 세포 증식은 XTT 에세이방법을 이용하여 측정하였다. HEKT2 세포에서 전기생리학적 TREK2 채널 활성도는 에피갈로카테킨-3-갈레이트(EGCG) 및 케르세틴과 같은 플라보노이드에 의해 각각 $91.5{\pm}13.1%$(n=5), $82.2{\pm}13.7%$(n=5)까지 억제되었다. 반면, EGCG 유사체인 에피카테킨(EC)는 TREK2 단일 채널 활성도에 현저한 억제 효과는 없었다. 또한 HEKT2 세포에서 세포 증식이 EGCG에 의해 $69.4{\pm}14.0%$(n=4)까지 감소되었음을 확인하였다. 결과로부터 EGCG와 케르세틴이 TREK2 채널 억제제임을 처음으로 확인하였고, EGCG만 HEKT2 세포의 증식을 감소시킨다는 결론을 얻었다. 본 연구의 결과는 EGCG 및 케르세틴이 TREK2 채널을 억제함으로써 막전압의 변화 유도와 세포 증식에 필요한 세포내 신호 변화의 시작을 트리거하는데 일차적으로 작동할 수 있음을 시사한다.