• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.2 s.27
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• pp.39-44
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• 1980

Marc et al. reported that diazepam increased plasma corticosterone level and Dasgupta et al. suggested that chlordiazepoxide(CDP) supressed the adrenal response to ACTH. In this paper, the influence of CDP on the changes of blood sugar and plasma corticosterone level induced by ACTH and picrotoxin were investigated in male mice. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1) The blood sugar and plasma corticosterone level were increased by CDP, ACTH, and picrotoxin, respectively. 2) The hyperglycemia induced by ACTH and picrotoxin were not affected by the CDP pretreatment. 3) The increase of plasma corticosterone level induced by ACTH was inhibited by the CDP pretreatment. 4) The increase of plasma corticosterone level appeared 30 minutes after picrotoxin injection was slightly enhanced, but the level of 120 minutes after picrotoxin injection was significantly inhibited by the CDP pretreatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.1_2
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• pp.55-62
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• 1978

Ban formulated the concept of 'sympathetic center' and 'parasympathetic center' in the central nervous system, and Folkow et al. reported that the electric stimulation of the posterior part of hypothalamus induced the marked liberation of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla. Tatum reported that the hyperglycemic action of picrotoxin is contributed to the cathecholamines liberation from adrenal medulla by the excitation of hypothalamus via splanchnic nervous plexus. In this paper, the relationship between the convulsive action and the hyperglycemic effect of picrotoxin was investigated, with references to the influences of several drugs related with adrenergic function and two intravenous anesthetics on the picrotoxin hyperglycemia. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1) There was no difference between the convulsive dose(1. 5mg/kg) and the subconvulsive dose (0.75mg/kg) of picrotoxin in its hyperglycemic effect that was not affected with the phenobarbital pretreatment, but the efficacy of its hyperglycemic action was more prominent than that of strychnine. 2) The hyperglycemic effect of picrotoxin was markedly suppressed by the pretreatment of thiopental or ketamine. 3) The hyperglycemic effect was not affected by the reserpine pretreatment, but the effect was markedly suppressed by the pretreatment of iproniazid or chlorpromazine. 4) The hyperglycemic effect of picrotoxin was significantly suppressed by the pretreatment of hexamethonium, propranolol or guanethidine, and the order of those suppressing efficacy was propranolol> hexamethonium> guanethidine.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.1_2 s.25
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• pp.21-27
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• 1979

It is well known that picrotoxin, an amaroid substance of Anamirta cocculus, is a classic stimulant on the central nervous system accompanying convulsive activity, and it liberates catecholameine from the adrenal mdulla through its central action to increase blood sugar level. Schou reported that lithium and alcohol have the similar inhibitory property on the $Na^+,\;K^+$-ATPase activity, and recently, the therapeutic efficacies of lithium on the alcohol withdrawal syndrome and the chronic alcoholics have been studied. Many studies about the hypoglycemic effect of lithium and alcohol were reported but the interaction between those hypoglycemic action is little known. Therefore, in this paper, the hypoglycemic effect of lithium and ethanol on the hyperglycemia induced with picrotoxin, and the interaction of them in those hypoglycemic action were investigated with reference to the anticonvulsive action of them. The results were obtained as follows: 1. The convulsive dose (: $CD__{50}$) of picrotoxin in mice was slightly increased by the pretreatment of lithium or ethanol. 2. The blood sugar level was markedly increased by picrotoxin but the level was sugar level was significantly decreased by lithium, ethanol or both. 3. The hyperglycemic effect of picrotoxin was significantly potentiated by the lithium pretreatment, but the potentiation effect of lithium was markedly suppressed by the additional injection of ethanol after lithium injection and more markedly suppressed by the premedication of ethanol before lithium injection 4. The hyperglycemic effect of picrotoxin was markedly inhibited by the ethanol pretreatment, and the inhibitory effect of ethanol was significantly strenthened by the additional injection of lithium after ethanol injection, but on the contrary, the inhibitory effect was completely disappeared by the premedication of lithium before ethanol injection.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 1983

The behavioral pattern of an animal is influenced by endogenous and endogenous stimuli such as humoral secretion, neurohumoral transmitters, drugs, light and environmental change. It has teen known that adenosine is a normal constituent of brain, and has sedative or hypnotic effects and anticonvulsant effects, inhibiting the spontaneous firing of cells in the brain via membrane adenosine receptors. Recent studies suggest that the excitatory responses to xanthines in the CNS might be related to the competitive antagonism of xanthines to adenosine. This study was undertaken to Investigate the effects of adenosine and the CNS stimulants such as picrotoxin, strychnine and caffeine on the spontaneous activity of mire, and to examine the influence of adenosine on the seizures induced by large doses of CNS stimulants. Subjects were $20{\sim}30\;g$ adult mice, and the spontaneous activity was measured using the Selective Activity Meter after intraperitoneal injection of adenosine (10 mg/kg), caffeine (100 mg/kg), strychnine(0.2 mg/kg) or picrotoxin(0.5 mg/kg) with or without adenosine pretreatment. The seizures were induced with caffeine(200, 250 and 300 mg/kg), strychnine(1.25 and 1.5 mg/kg) or picrotoxin(10 and 15 mg/kg). The results are summarized as follows : 1) The spontaneous activity in mite was significantly inhibited between 10 and 20 minutes after adenosine treatment. 2) Caffeine and picrotoxin increased the motor activity significantly while strychnine had no effect on the activity. 3) The ambulatory activity in the caffeine, strychnine and picrotoxin treated groups was significantly inhibited by adenosine pretreatment. 4) The seizures were observed with caffeine(200, 250 and 300 m9/kg), strychnine(1.25 and 1.5 mg/kg) or picrotoxin(10 and 15 mg/kg). The caffeine induced seizures were inhibited by adenosine pretreatment, but the strychnine or picrotoxin induced seizures were not affected.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2008

Objectives In order to investigate the anticonvulsive effects of Jisungbomuyngtan, the experiments were done in mice. Methods After solid extracts of Jisungbomuyngtan was orally administered to mice, four types of convulsion were induced in mice by ECT, strychnine, picrotoxin, caffein. Each of the time to convulsion and death was measured. Results 1. The solid extracts of Jisungbomuyngtan showed a remarkable effect in delaying the onset of convulsion induced by ECT 2. In case of convulsion induced by strychnine, the solid extracts of Jisungbomuyngtan revealed a slight, but not statistically significant effect. 3. Considerable prolongation of time to death was observed in convulsion induced by picrotoxin due to the anticonvulsive effect of Jisungbomuyngtan. 4. The anticonvulsive effect of Jisungbomuyngtan was not found in convulsion induced by caffein. Conclusions Jisungbomuyngtan effect remarkably in delaying the onset of convulsion induced by ECT. But slightly effect by strychnine. And Jisungbomuyngtan effect in prolonging time to death in convulsion induced by picrotoxin, but not found in convulsion induced by caffein.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.211-222
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• 2002

Currently convulsion is considered to be a chronic central nerve disease characterized by involuntary and severe muscle contraction or spasm. In many recent studies, convulsion's mechanism is due to unbalance between stimulation and suppression of the central nerve system, such as GABA and glutamic acid. Objectives : This study was performed to examine the anticonvulsant effects of Podam-hwan on brain GABA levels and glutamate content in picrotoxin-induced convulsions and to determine the inhibitory activity on GABA transaminase. Methods : Brain GABA levels and glutamate content in the brains of picrotoxin-induced mice using reverse phase HPLC method, anticonvulsant effect in vivo, and the inhibitory effect on GABA transaminase activity in vivo have been investigated. Results : Podam-hwan significantly lengthened the onset time of picrotoxin-induced convulsion at a concentration of 15mg/kg, but did not show a dose-dependent pattern. Also, Podam-hwan shortened the duration of convulsion by 52.2% at a dose of 30mg/kg in comparison with the control group. Podam-hwan inhibited dose-dependently GABA transaminase activity by 35.5% at 30mg/kg, comparing with the control gmup. Podam-hwan also increased the brain GABA level by 38.7% and 68.8% at doses 15mg/kg and 30mg/kg, respectively. In addition, Podam-hwan decreased the brain glutamate level by 9.6% and 17.8% at doses 15mg/kg and 30mg/kg, respectively. Conclusions : Podam-hwan can be prescribed for the treatment of convulsion by enhancement of brain GABA level and inhibition of GABA transaminase activity.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.59-74
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• 1994

The Study was performed on the anticonvulsive effects of Woohwangporyonghwan(WPH) and Woohwangporyonghwan except CINNABARIS and REALGAR(WPHCR) in ICR mice pretreated with strychnine, picrotoxin, and caffeine as convulsive agents, and also was done on the accumulation of Hg & AS in organs of ICR mice by ICP hydride generation method. The results were obtained as follows: 1. WPH and WPHCR group showed significant effect in delaying the onset of convulsion induced by strichine, but time to death was effective only in WPHCR group. 2. WPH and WPHCR group were significantly effective in delaying convulsion induced by picrotoxin, and time to death. 3. The anticonvulsive effect of WPH and WPHCR group was not found convulsion induced by caffeine. 4. The accumulation of Hg, AS in liver and kidney of ICR mice was not determined below 50ng/g and below 80ng/g respectively. From the above results it could be concluded that WPH and WPHCR group were effective in the convulsions induced by strychnine and picrotoxin, although the accumulation of Hg & As in liver and kidney was not proved, further study might be necessary to prove the drug safety of WPH included CINNABARIS and REALGAR.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 1967

In order to find out the effects of GABA on the rabbit's intestinal motility, the following experiments were carried out using Magnus method and the results obtained were as follows: 1. GABA inhibited the intestinal motility of rabbits initially. 2. GABA potentiated the inhibitory action of adrenaline and nor-adrenaline. 3. GABA inhibited the accelerating activity of acetylcholine on the intestinal motility by its anti acetylcholine effect. 4. The inhibitory action of GABA was unaffected with atropinization, strychnin, picrotoxin treatment, but the accelerating activity of GABA observed in some cases was only in the picrotoxin treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.115-122
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• 1983

The influences of diazepam and naloxone on the increase of plasma corticosterone level induced by morphine, pentazocine, ACTH, or picrotoxin were investigated in male mice. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1) The increase induced by morphine or pentazocine of plasma corticosterone level was not affected by naloxone pretreatment but markedly suppressed by diazepam pretreatment. 2) The increase induced by ACTH of plasma corticosterone level was not affected by diazepam or naloxone pretreatment. 3) The picrotoxin markedly increased plasma corticosterone level, and the inceease was not affected by diazepam or naloxone pretreatment. This above results suggest that the increase induced by opioids of plasma corticosterone level seems to be rather related with other than opiate- or GABArerecptor.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.274.2-274.2
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• 2002

Some experiments have been reported that magnetic fields can cause the change of numerous neurotransmitters including excitatory and inhibitory transmitters, which are involved in seizures. In this study we aimed to examine the effect of extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) on the sensitivity of seizure response to bicuculline, picrotoxin and NMDA in mice. Mouse were exposed to sham or 20 G ELF-MF for 24 hours and then convulsants were administered i.p. at various doses. (omitted)