• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.9-14
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• 2016

Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) participates in the regulation of numerous cellular functions, including the $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase (sodium pump). Ouabain, used in the treatment of several heart diseases, is known to increase cAMP levels but its effects on the atrium are not understood. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of ouabain on the regulation of atrial cAMP production and its roles in atrial endothelin-1 (ET-1) secretion in isolated perfused beating rabbit atria. Our results showed that ouabain ($3.0{\mu}mol/L$) significantly increased atrial dynamics and cAMP levels during recovery period. The ouabain-increased atrial dynamics was blocked by KB-R7943 ($3.0{\mu}mol/L$), an inhibitor for reverse mode of $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchangers (NCX), but did not by L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker nifedipine ($1.0{\mu}mol/L$) or protein kinase A (PKA) selective inhibitor H-89 ($3.0{\mu}mol/L$). Ouabain also enhanced atrial intracellular cAMP production in response to forskolin and theophyline ($100.0{\mu}mol/L$), an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase, potentiated the ouabain-induced increase in cAMP. Ouabain and 8-Bromo-cAMP ($0.5{\mu}mol/L$) markedly increased atrial ET-1 secretion, which was blocked by H-89 and by PD98059 ($30{\mu}mol/L$), an inhibitor of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) without changing ouabain-induced atrial dynamics. Our results demonstrated that ouabain increases atrial cAMP levels and promotes atrial ET-1 secretion via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK signaling pathway. These findings may explain the development of cardiac hypertrophy in response to digitalis-like compounds.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.405-412
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• 2016

성기능개선, 원기증강 등에 효과가 있는 것으로 판매되고 있는 식품 등에서 발기부전치료제 및 그 유사물질 등이 불법적으로 혼입되어 검출되고 있다. 이들 부정물질이 혼입된 불량식품은 안전성과 유효성이 입증되지 않았기 때문에 국민건강을 위협할 수 있다. 그러므로 본 연구에서는 식품과 가짜 발기부전치료제에 불법 혼입된 부정물질을 모니터링하기 위하여, 해외 인터넷 사이트와 오프라인 매장에서 성기능개선, 원기증진을 표방하는 식품과 최음제, 가짜 발기부전치료제 161건을 구입하였다. 시험방법의 유효성 검증을 위하여 선택성, 직선성, 검출한계, 정량한계, 정확성, 정밀성을 검토하였다. LC-PDA와 LC-MS/MS를 이용하여 부정물질 54종을 동시분석한 결과, 48건의 시료에서 7종의 부정물질(요힘빈, 이카린, 실데나필, 타다라필, 클로로프레타다라필, 데메틸실데나필, 디메틸치오실데나필)이 검출되었다. 성기능개선이나 최음제로 판매되는 제품에는 부정물질이 혼입될 가능성이 있으므로, 이들 제품을 구입할 때는 각별한 주의가 필요하다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제2권6호
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• pp.733-742
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• 1998

Background: We have previously reported that not only cGMP but also 8-Br-cGMP or 8-pCPT-cGMP, specific and potent stimulators of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (cGMP-PK), increased basal L-type calcium current $(I_{Ca})$ in rabbit ventricular myocytes. Our findings in rabbit ventricular myocytes were entirely different from the earlier findings in different species, suggesting that the activation of cGMP-PK is involved in the facilitation of $I_{Ca}}$ by cGMP. However, there is no direct evidence that cGMP-PK can stimulate $I_{Ca}}$ in rabbit ventricular myocytes. In this report, we focused on the direct effect of cGMP-PK on $I_{Ca}}$ in rabbit ventricular myocytes. Methods and Results: We isolated single ventricular myocytes of rabbit hearts by using enzymatic dissociation. Regulation of $I_{Ca}}$ by cGMP-PK was investigated in rabbit ventricular myocytes using whole-cell voltage clamp method. $I_{Ca}}$ was elicited by a depolarizing pulse to +10 mV from a holding potential of -40 mV. Extracellular 8-(4-Chlorophenylthio)-guanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-pCPT-cGMP), potent stimulator of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (cGMP-PK), increased basal $I_{Ca}}$. cGMP-PK also increased basal $I_{Ca}}$. The stimulation of basal $I_{Ca}}$ by cGMP-PK required both 8-Br-cGMP in low concentration and intracellular ATP to be present. The stimulation of basal $I_{Ca}}$ by cGMP-PK was blocked by heat inactivation of the cGMP-PK and by bath application of 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-guanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, Rp-isomer (Rp-pCPT-cGMP), a phosphodiesterase-resistant cGMP-PK inhibitor. When $I_{Ca}}$ was increased by internal application of cGMP-PK, IBMX resulted in an additional stimulation of $I_{Ca}}$. In the presence of cGMP-PK, already increased $I_{Ca}}$ was potentiated by bath application of isoprenaline or forskolin or intracellular application of cAMP. Conclusions: We present evidence that cGMP-PK stimulated basal $I_{Ca}}$ by a direct phosphorylation of L-type calcium channel or associated regulatory protein in rabbit ventricular myocytes.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.191-196
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• 1991

본 연구에서는 흰쥐의 수정란 착상시기에 estradiol이 prostaglandins(PGs) 합성의 전구체인 arachidonic acid를 생성하는데 관여하는 phospholipase $A_2(PLA_2)$의 활성도를 조절하므로써 PGs의 합성을 촉진하는가를 조사하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 자궁의 $PLA_2$ 활성도는 수정란이 착상하는 시기인 임신 제 5일에 증가되었으며, 비착상부위에서보다는 착상부위에서 더 높은 것으로 나타났다. Delayed implantation model에서, $PLA_2$ 활성도는 estradiol을 투여한 지 11시간후에 증가되었으며, dbcAMP를 투여한지 8시간후에 증가되었다. 또한 estradiol을 투여하기 2시간전에 phosphodiesterase inhibitor인 theophylline을 투여하면 estradiol만 투여한것에 비하여 $PLA_2$ 활성도가 증가되었다. Estradiol 또는 dbcAMP와 함께 indomethacin을 투여하면 자궁의 PGs합성은 억제되었으나 $PLA_2$ 활성도에는 영향을 주지않았다. 이상의 결과로 보아 흰쥐의 착상시기에 estradiol은 cAMP를 매개로하여 자궁의 $PLA_2$ 활성도를 촉진하므로써 PGs의 합성을 증가시키는 것으로 생각된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.173-177
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• 2019

Objective: We investigated the clinical characteristics of men with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)-induced hypogonadism and its effect on assisted reproductive technology (ART) in infertile couples. Methods: This study examined the records of 20 consecutive male patients diagnosed with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia (< 5 × 10⁶/mL) who visited a single infertility center from January 2008 to July 2018. All patients were treated at a primary clinic for erectile dysfunction or androgen deficiency symptoms combined with low serum testosterone. All men received a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor and TRT with testosterone undecanoate (Nebido^®) or testosterone enanthate (Jenasteron^®). Patients older than 50 years or with a chronic medical disease such as diabetes were excluded. Results: The mean age of patients was 37 years and the mean duration of infertility was 16.3 ± 11.6 months. At the initial presentation, eight patients had azoospermia, nine had cryptozoospermia, and three had severe oligozoospermia. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels were below 1.0 mIU/mL in most patients. Three ongoing ART programs with female factor infertility were cancelled due to male spermatogenic dysfunction; two of these men had normal semen parameters in the previous cycle. After withholding TRT, serum hormone levels and sperm concentrations returned to normal range after a median duration of 8 months. Conclusion: TRT with high-dose testosterone can cause spermatogenic dysfunction due to suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, with adverse effects on infertility treatment programs. TRT is therefore contraindicated for infertile couples attempting to conceive, and the patient's desire for fertility must be considered before initiation of TRT in a hypogonadal man.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.685-690
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• 2002

The mitogen-stimulated serine/threonine kinase $p70^{S6k}$ plays an important role in the progression of cells from $G_0/G$_1$$ to S phase of the cell cycle by translational up-regulation of a family of mRNA transcripts family of mRNA transcripts which contain polypyrimidine tract at their 5 transcriptional start site. Here, we report that $p70^{S6k}$ was constitutively phosphorylated and activated to various degrees in serum-deprived AGS, A2058, HT-1376, MG63, MCF7, MDA-MB-435S, MDA-MB-231 and MB-157. Rapamycin treatment induced a significant dephosphorylation and inactivation of $p70^{S6k}$ in all cancer cell lines, while wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of PI3-K, caused a mild dephosphorylation of $p70^{S6k}$ in AGS, MDA-MB-435S and MB-157. In addition, SQ20006, methylxanthine phosphodiesterase inhibitor, reduced the phosphorylation of $p70^{S6k}$ in all cancer cells tested. Consistent with inhibitory effect of rapamycin on $p70^{S6k}$ activity, rapamycin inhibited [$^3H$]-thymidine incorporation and increased the number of cells at $G_{0}G_{1}$ phase. Furthermore, these inhibitory effects were accompanied by the decrease in growth of cancer cells. Taken together, the results indicate that the antiproliferative activity of rapamycin might be attributed to cell cycle arrest at $G_{0}G_{1}$ phase in human cancer cells through the inhibition of constitutively activated $p70^{S6k}$ of cancer cells and suggest $p70^{S6k}$ as a potential target for therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing or inhibiting tumor growth.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제1권3호
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• pp.225-231
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• 1997

As it has been reported that the depolarization-induced norepinephrine (NE) release is modulated by activation of presynaptic $A_1-adenosine$ heteroreceptor and various lines of evidence indicate the involvement of adenylate cyclase system in $A_1-adenosine$ post-receptor mechanism in hippocampus, it was attempted to delineate the role of adenylate cyclase system in the $A_1-receptor-mediated$ control of NE release in this study. Slices from rat hippocampus were equilibrated with $[^3H]-NE$ and the release of the labelled products was evoked by electrical stimulation.(3 Hz, $5Vcm^{-1}$, 2 ms, rectangular pulses). The influence of various agents on the evoked tritium-outflow was investigated. $N^6-Cyclopentyladenosine$ (CPA), a specific $A_1-adenosine$ receptor agonist, in concentrations Tanging from 0.1 to $10{\mu}M$ decreased the $[^3H]-NE$ release in a dose-dependent mauler without any change of basal rate of release. 8-Cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX, $2{\mu}M$), a selective $A_1-receptor$ antagonist, inhibited the CPA effect. The responses to N-ethylmaleimide $(3&10{\mu}M)$, a SH-alkylating agent of G-protein, were characterized by increments of the evoked NE-release and the CPA effects were completely abolished by NEM pretreatment. Forskolin, a specific adenylate cyclase activator, in concentrations ranging from 0.1 to $30{\mu}M$ increased the evoked and basal rate of NE release in a dose-dependent manner and the CPA effects were inhibited by forskolin pretreatment. Rolipram $(1&10{\mu}M)$, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, did not affect the evoked NE release but reduced the CPA effect. And 8-bromo-cAMP $(100&300{\mu}M)$, a membrane permeable cAMP analogue inhibited the CPA effect significantly. These results suggest that the $A_1-adenosine$ heteroreceptor plays an important role in NE-release via nucleotide-binding protein $G_i$ in the rat hippocampus and that the adenylate cyclase system might be participated in this process.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.117-123
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• 2010

Ibudilast, 3-isobutyryl-2-isopropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine, is a nonselective inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE). It preferentially inhibits PDE 3A, PDE4, PDE10 and PDE11 as well as a number of the other PDE families, albeit to a lesser extent. Ibudilast is used clinically to treat bronchial asthma and cerebrovascular disorders. Thes e clinical uses are based on the ability of ibudilast to inhibit platelet aggregation, improve cerebral blood flow and attenuate allergic reactions. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two ibudilast capsules, Ketas capsule (Handok Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.) and Pinatos capsule (Sam Chun Dang Pharm. Co., Ltd.), according to the guidelines of the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). The in vitro release of ibudilast from the two ibudilast formulations was tested using KP Apparatus method with various dissolution media. Twenty six healthy male subjects, 23.31${\pm}$1.09 years in age and 70.45${\pm}$8.51 kg in body weight, were divided into two groups and a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study was employed. After a single capsule containing 10 mg as ibudilast was orally administered, blood samples were taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of ibudilast in serum were determined using HPLC/UV detector. The dissolution profiles of two formulations were similar in all tested dissolution media. The pharmacokinetic parameters such as $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$ were calculated, and computer programs (Equiv Test and K-BE Test 2002) were utilized for the statistical analysis of the parameters using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and untransformed $T_{max}$. The results showed that the differences between two formulations based on the reference drug, Ketas, were 6.99%, -2.48% and 9.93% for $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively. There were no sequence effects between two formulations in these parameters. The 90% confidence intervals using logarithmically transformed data were within the acceptance range of log 0.8 to log 1.25 (e.g., log 0.8791~log 1.1861 and log 0.8347~log 1.1199 for $AUC_t$ and $C_{max}$, respectively). Thus, the criteria of the KFDA bioequivalence guideline were satisfied, indicating Pinatos capsule was bioequivalent to Ketas capsule.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.133-160
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• 2006

Objectives : Scolopendrae Corpus has a broad array of clinical applications in Korean medicine, including treatment of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. To explore the global gene expression profiles in human Raw cell lines treated with Scolopendrae Corpus herbal-acupuncture solution (SCHAS), cDNA microarray analysis was performed. Methods : The Raw 264.7 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), SCHAS, or both. The primary data was normalized by the total spots of intensity between two groups, and then normalized by the intensity ratio of reference genes such as housekeeping genes in both groups. The expression ratio was converted to log2 ratio. Normalized spot intensities were calculated into gene expression ratios between the control and treatment groups. Greater than 2 fold changes between two groups were considered to be of significance. Results : Of the 8 K genes profiled in this study, with a cut-off level of two-fold change in the expression, 20 genes (BCL2-related protein A1, MARCKS-like 1, etc.) were upregulated and 5 genes (activated RNA polymerase II transcription cofactor 4, calcium binding atopy-related autoantigen 1, etc.) downregulated following LPS treatment. 139 genes (kell blood group precursor (McLeod phenotype), ribosomal protein S7, etc.) were upregulated and 42 genes (anterior gradient 2 homolog (xenopus laevis), phosphodiesterase 8B, etc.) were downregulated following SCHAS treatment. And 10 genes (yeast saccharomyces cerevisiae intergeneic sequence 4-1, mitogen-activated protein kinase 1, etc.) were upregulated and 8 genes (spermatid perinuclear RNA binding protein, nuclear receptor binding protein 2, etc.) were downregulated following co-stimulation of SCHAS and LPS. Discussions : It is thought that microarrays will play an ever-growing role in the advance of our understanding of the pharmacological actions of SCHAS in the treatment of arthritis. But further studies are required to concretely prove the effectiveness of SCHAS.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제26권8호
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• pp.875-880
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• 2016

진핵세포의 원형질막은 외부환경으로부터 세포를 격리하는 물리적인 장벽뿐만 아니라, 선택적 물질수송, 신호전달등 중요한 기능을 수행한다. 원형질막의 세포질쪽 지질층은 주로 Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), Phosphatidylserine (PS), Phosphatidylinositides (PIs) 등의 인지질로 구성되어 있는데, 다양한 단백질들이 이들과 직접 결합하거나 이들의 성질을 이용해 원형질막으로 위치된다. 본 연구에서는 원형질막의 안쪽 지질층에 존재하는 특정 인지질과 결합하여, 원형질막에 위치되는 단백질을 과발현시켰을 때 나타나는 세포의 모양변화를 분석하였다. 이를 위해 PS와 PI등과의 선택적 결합으로 원형질막에 위치하는 단백질들과 소수성 또는 정전기적 상호작용으로 원형질막으로 위치되는 단백질들을 HEK293T세포에 과발현시켜 보았다. 그 결과, 대조군으로 사용한 EGFP 단백질과 PI4P에 선택적으로 결합하는 EGFP-P4M-SidM단백질의 발현은 세포의 모양변화를 유도하지 않았다. 반면, PI(4,5)P₂에 결합하는 EGFP-PLCδ1(PH), PI(3,4,5)P₃에 결합하는 EGFP-AKT1(PH), PI4P와 PI(4,5)P₂에 결합하는 OSH2(PH)x2-EGFP의 발현은 세포의 크기가 줄어드는 수축현상이 일어나면서, Lamilapodia나 Filopodia가 형성되는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 반면에, PS결합을 통해 원형질막에 위치되는 Lact-C2-EGFP과 소수성결합에 의해 원형질막에 위치되는 ApPDE4 long-form인 L(N20)-EGFP이나, 정전기적인 결합을 통해 원형질막으로 위치되는 ApPDE4 short-form인 S(N-UCR1-2)-EGFP단백질의 경우는 세포의 크기가 줄어드는 수축현상은 일어나지만 Lamilapodia나 Filopodia와 같은 모양변화는 나타나지 않는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 본 연구를 통해, 특정 인지질에 결합하여 원형질막에 위치되는 단백질들이 각각의 인지질 결합 특성에 따라 분류 가능한 세포의 모양변화가 일어남을 확인할 수 있었다.