• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제9권5호
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• pp.263-268
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• 2005

Striatum has important roles in motor control, habitual learning and memory. It receives glutamatergic inputs from neocortex and thalamus, and dopaminergic inputs from substantia nigra. We examined effects of dopamine (DA) on the corticostriatal synaptic transmission using in vitro extracellular recording technique in rat brain corticostriatal slices. Synaptic responses were elicited by stimulation of cortical glutamatergic inputs on the corpus callosum and recorded in the dorsal striatum. Corticostriatal population spike (PS) amplitudes were decreased ($39.4{\pm}7.9$%) by the application of $100{\mu}M$ DA. We applied receptor subtype specific agonists and antagonists and characterized the modulation of corticostriatal synaptic transmission by different DA receptor subtypes. $D_2$ receptor agonist (quinpirole), antagonist (sulpiride), and $D_1$ receptor antagonist (SKF 83566), but not $D_1$ receptor agonist (SKF 38393), induced significantly the reduction of striatal PS. Pretreatment neither with SKF 83566 nor sulpiride significantly affected corticostriatal synaptic inhibition by DA. However, the inhibition of DA was completely blocked by pretreatment with mixed solution of both SKF 83566 and sulpiride. These results suggest that DA inhibits corticostriatal synaptic transmission through both $D_1$ and $D_2$ receptors in concert with each other.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제17권5호
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• pp.405-409
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• 2013

We studied the sex different nicotine effect on evoked population spike amplitudes (ePSA) and connexin (Cx) expression in the hippocampus CA1 area of gerbils. Acute doses of nicotine bitartrate (0.5 mg/kg: NT-0.5) slightly reduced ePSA in males but markedly augmented that in females. Acute NT (5.0 mg/kg) markedly increased the ePSA in all gerbils. Unlike acute NT-0.5, repeated NT-0.5 injection (twice a day for 7 days) significantly increased the ePSA in males and slightly affected the NT-0.5 effect in females. The Cx36 and Cx43 expression levels as well as Cx expressing neuronal populations were significantly increased by repeated NT-0.5 in in both male and female gerbils, and particularly, Cx43 expression was somewhat prominent in females. These results demonstrated a sex difference with respect to the nicotine effect on hippocampal bisynaptic excitability, irrelevant to connexin expression.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제7권6호
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• pp.295-301
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• 2003

Striatum plays a crucial role in the movement control and habitual learning. It receives an information from wide area of cerebral cortex as well as an extensive serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) input from raphe nuclei. In the present study, the effects of 5-HT to modulate synaptic transmission were studied in the rat corticostriatal brain slice using in vitro extracellular recording technique. Synaptic responses were evoked by stimulation of cortical glutamatergic inputs on the corpus callosum and recorded in the dorsal striatum. 5-HT reversibly inhibited coticostriatal glutamatergic synaptic transmission in a dose-dependent fashion (5, 10, 50, and $10{\mu}M$), maximally reducing in the corticostriatal population spike (PS) amplitude to $40.1{\pm}5.0$% at a concentration of $50{\mu}M$ 5-HT. PSs mediated by non-NMDA glutamate receptors, which were isolated by bath application of the NMDA receptor antagonist, d,l-2-amino-5-phospohonovaleric acid (AP-V), were decreased by application of $50{\mu}M$ 5-HT. However, PSs mediated by NMDA receptors, that were activated by application of zero $Mg^{2+}$ aCSF, were not significantly affected by $50{\mu}M$ 5-HT. To test whether the corticostriatal synaptic inhibitions by 5-HT might involve a change in the probability of neurotransmitter release from presynaptic nerve terminals, we measured the paired-pulse ratio (PPR) evoked by 2 identical pulses (50 ms interpulse interval), and found that PPR was increased ($33.4{\pm}5.2$%) by 5-HT, reflecting decreased neurotransmitter releasing probability. These results suggest that 5-HT may decrease neurotransmitter release probability of glutamatergic corticostriatal synapse and may be able to selectively decrease non-NMDA glutamate receptor-mediated synaptic transmission.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.33.1-33.13
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• 2023

Vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been acknowledged as an effective mean of preventing infection and hospitalization. However, the emergence of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) has led to substantial increase in infections among children and adolescents. Vaccine-induced immunity and longevity have not been well defined in this population. Therefore, we aimed to analyze humoral and cellular immune responses against ancestral and SARS-CoV-2 variants after two shots of the BNT162b2 vaccine in healthy adolescents. Although vaccination induced a robust increase of spike-specific binding Abs and neutralizing Abs against the ancestral and SARS-CoV-2 variants, the neutralizing activity against the Omicron variant was significantly low. On the contrary, vaccine-induced memory CD4⁺ T cells exhibited substantial responses against both ancestral and Omicron spike proteins. Notably, CD4⁺ T cell responses against both ancestral and Omicron strains were preserved at 3 months after two shots of the BNT162b2 vaccine without waning. Polyfunctionality of vaccine-induced memory T cells was also preserved in response to Omicron spike protein. The present findings characterize the protective immunity of vaccination for adolescents in the era of continuous emergence of variants/subvariants.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제1권6호
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• pp.681-690
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• 1997

Loss of synaptic transmission and accumulation of extracellular $K^+([K^+]_O)$ are the key features in ischemic brain damage. Here, we examined the effects of several $K^+$channel modulators on the early ischemic changes in population spike (PS) and $[K^+]_o$ in the CA1 pyramidal layer of the rat hippocampal slice using electrophysiological techniques. After onset of anoxic aglycemia (AA), orthodromic field potentials decreased and disappeared in $3.3{\pm}0.22\;min$ $(mean{\pm}SEM,\;n=40)$. The hypoxic injury potential (HIP), a transient recovery of PS appeared at $6.0{\pm}0.25\;min$ (n=40) in most slices during AA and lasted for $3.3{\pm}0.43\;min$. $[K^+]_o$ increased initially at a rate of 0.43 mM/min (Phase 1) and later at a much faster rate (12.45 mM/min, Phase 2). The beginning of Phase 2 was invariably coincided with the disappearance of HIP. Among $K^+$ channel modulators tested such as 4-aminopyridine (0.03, 0.3 mM), tetraethylammonium (0.1 mM), NS1619 $(0.3{\sim}10\;{\mu}M)$, niflumic acid (0.1 mM), glibenclamide $(40\;{\mu}M)$, tolbutamide $(300\;{\mu}M)$ and pinacidil $(100\;{\mu}M)$, only 4-aminopyridine (0.3 mM) induced slight increase of $[K^+]_o$ during Phase 1. However, none of the above agents modulated the pattern of Phase 2 in $[K^+]_o$ in response to AA. Taken together, the experimental data suggest that 4-aminopyridine-sensitive $K^+$channels, large conductance $Ca^{2+}-activated$ $K^+$ channels and ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels may not be the major contributors to the sudden increase of $[K^+]_o$ during the early stage of brain ischemia, suggesting the presence of other routes of $K^+$ efflux during brain ischemia.

• 한국지하수토양환경학회지:지하수토양환경
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.156-168
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• 2016

The Korean government is planning to invest a lot of funds for conservation of the soil. Accordingly, it needs quantitative information on the soil. This paper attempts to analyze the total value of soil quantitatively: the total economic value of soil can be divided into use value and non-use value. To this end, we apply a replacement cost method (RCM) and contingent valuation method (CVM). Especially, CVM is most widely used to measure the non-use value such as environment goods. We employed the one-and-one-half-bounded dichotomous choice (OOHBDC) for willingness to pay (WTP) elicitation and a spike model. The monthly mean WTP was estimated to be KRW 3,949 per household for the next 10 years, which is statistically significant at the 1% level. Expanding the value to the relevant population gives us KRW 897.9 billion per year and as of the end of 2015, the non-use value of soil was assessed to be KRW 838.6 billion. Meanwhile, use value is subdivided into direct use value and indirect use value. This value was calculated KRW 3,277 trillion and KRW 51.8 trillion, respectively. As a result, total economic value of soil is estimated to be KRW 3,330 trillion in Korea.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제17권
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• pp.257-261
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• 2001

Recently, a traditional medicine called Gouteng-san, which consists of eleven herbs, was reported to be effective in treating vascular dementia with a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Gout-eng-san is also used for patients with vascular dementia in combination with Si-Wu-Tang. The effect of Gouteng-san and Si-Wu-Tang on deficit of learning behavior was investigated using step-down passive avoidance task in mice. Hot-water extract of Gouteng-san (1.5 and 6 g/kg, p.o.) significantly prolonged the step-down latency shortened by scopolamine. The extract of Uncaria hook (150 mg/kg, p.o.), one of the component herb of Gouteng-san, significantly prevented the decrease in the latency after scopolamine. Hot-water extract of Si-Wu-Tang (1.5 and 6 g/kg of dried herbs, p.o.) prevented dose-dependently scopola-mine-induced disruption qf learning behavior. Si-Wu-Tang also prevented the ischemia-induced deficit of learning behavior. Both hot water extract of peony and angelica (1.5 g/kg, p.o.), which are component herbs qf Si-Wu-Tang, prevented the scopolamine-induced learning behavior deficit. Scopolamine (10 uM) suppressed long-term potentiation (LTP) of population spike in the CA1 region of the rat hippocampal slices. Peoniflorin (0.1~ 1uM) extracted from paeony root significantly ameliorated scopolamine-induced inhibition of LTR These results suggest that improvement of deficit of learning behavior by Gouteng-san and Si-Wu-Tang is mediated by direct and/or indirect activation of the cholinergic system in the brain.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.99-103
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• 2005

중간습원 무제치 습원의 현존식생도와 오리나무 개체군의 공간적 분포양식을 규명하였으며, 그 보존을 위한 생태학적 정보를 발굴하였다. 자늪과 웅늪의 1:100 실측지형도 상에서 총3,036개의 격자(5m $\times$ 5m)를 이용하여 1996년 상세 현장조사가 이루어졌다. 현존식생도는 쇠털골형, 진퍼리새형, 오리나무형, 억새형, 삼림형 그리고 개방나지 등의 6 가지 식생범례로 제작되었으며, 습원 고유의 진퍼리새형과 비고유의 억새형이 가장 넓은 면적을 차지하고 있었다. 오리나무 1,491개체에 대한 매목조사와 티센망도(thiessen polygons) 분석으로부터 오리나무 개체군의 발달은 습원의 훼손(토사 및 산화 등)으로부터 매우 급속히 진행되고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 웅늪은 자늪에 비하여 보다 온전한 구조로 유지되고 있는 중간습원으로 평가되었으나, 자늪과 웅늪 모두 다년생 목본 식물종에 의한 산지 참나무림과 오리나무 우점의 산지 습생림의 발달에 의한 진퍼리새군강으로 대표되는 중간습원의 입지환경 변화와 그 소멸이 급격히 진행되고 있었다. 결국 진퍼리새군강의 중간습원 보존은 임도와 산불에 따른 토양의 부영양화에 대한 응급조치가 필요함이 지적되었다.

• 해양환경안전학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.101-111
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• 2018

정부는 기후변화로 인하여 변화하고 있는 해양생태계를 보전하기 위해 노력하고 있다. 이와 관련하여 정부는 해양생태계를 보전하고 관리하기 위하여 보호대상해양생물 77종을 지정하여 특별히 관리하고 있다. 산호의 경우 해양생태계를 예측할 수 있는 중요한 생물군 중 하나이며, 해양생물에게는 서식지를 제공하는 매우 중요한 역할을 하고 있다. 인간의 다양한 활동으로 인해 산호는 위협받고 있으며, 이에 대한 보전과 관리가 시급하다. 따라서 산호의 가치를 평가하여 이해하는 것은 정책 입안자 및 일반 대중 모두에게 산호의 지속적인 관리의 혜택을 입증 할 수 있는 효과적인 방법이 될 수 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 조건부 가치측정법을 적용하여, 국내 대표 산호군락지인 문섬 등 주변해역 생태계보호구역 내 산호군락지의 보전가치를 평가해보고자 한다. 이를 위해 전국 1,000가구를 대상으로 일대일 개별면접을 실시하여, 문섬 등 주변해역 생태계보호구역 내 산호군락지의 보전을 위한 대중의 지불의사를 평가하였다. 질문법으로 1.5경계 양분선택형 모형을 활용하였으며, 0의 WTP를 처리하기 위해 스파이크 모델을 적용하였다. 그 결과 문섬 등 주변해역 생태계보호 구역 내 산호군락지의 보전을 위한 가구당 연간 평균 WTP는 3,016원이었으며, 유의수준 1 %에서 통계적으로 유의했다. 이 값을 모집단 전체로 확장하면, 문섬 등 주변해역 생태계보호구역 내 산호군락지의 보전가치가 연간 589억원으로 계산된다. 본 연구는 산호군락지 보전을 위해 국민들이 상당한 금액을 기꺼이 지불 할 의향이 있다고 판단하였다.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.148-154
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• 2005

망막에서 나오는 활동전위와 같이 복잡한 신경망을 거쳐 처리되는 전기신호를 분석하기 위해서는 기존의 단일 전극 기록법으로는 어렵다. 단일 전극을 통한 활동전위의 기록은 개개의 신경세포 특성을 알아내는 데에는 유용한 방법이나 신경세포 간의 시간적, 공간적인 관계는 알아낼 수 없다는 한계를 가지고 있으므로 이같은 한계를 극복하기 위하여 다채널 전극을 이용한 신경신호 기록방법이 최근에 개발되어 널리 이용되고 있다. 다채널전극 기록 방식인 MEA60 시스템은 세포 밖에 위치한 60개의 전극이 생체신호를 동시에 기록한다. 세포 fi에 위치한 각각의 전극이 포착한 신경 신호는 하나의 망막신경절세포 반응이라기보다는 여러 세포의 반응이 동시에 기록될 가능성이 높다. 그러므로 여러 세포의 반응이 함께 기록된 신호로부터 각각의 세포로부터 나오는 파형을 구분하는 작업이 반드시 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 다채널 전극으로 기록한 망막 신경절세포 신호로부터 MATLAB을 이용하여 활동전위 파형을 검출하고 분류하는 과정을 구현하여 보았다. 이러한 분류과정은 추후 진행되는 신호분석방법인 자극 후 시간 히스토그램(poststimulus time histogram, PSTH), 자기상관관계(autocorrelogram), 상호상관관계(cross-correlogram)를 보기 위하여 반드시 거쳐야 하는 전처리(preprocess) 과정이다. 본 연구에서는 MATLAB을 이용한 파형 구분 프로토콜을 확립하였을 뿐만 아니라 이러한 프로토콜이 신경절 세포의 활동전위 파형을 검출하는 데 유용한 방법임을 입증하였다