• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.443-454
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• 1998

The present study was attempted to investigate the effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on secretion of catecholamines (CA) and to establish whether there is the existence of a noncholinergic mechanism in adrenomedullary CA secretion from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland. The perfusion into an adrenal vein of VIP $(3{\times}10^{-6}\;M)$ for 5 min or the injection of acetylcholine (ACh, $5.32{\times}10^{-3}\;M$) resulted in great increases in CA secretion. Tachyphylaxis to releasing effect of CA evoked by VIP was not observed by the repeated perfusion. The net increase in adrenal CA secretion evoked by VIP still remained unaffected in the presence of atropine or chlorisondamine. However, the CA release in response to ACh was greatly inhibited by the pretreatment with atropine or chlorisondamine. The releasing effects of CA evoked by either VIP or ACh were depressed by pretreatment with nicardipine, TMB-8, and the perfusion of $Ca^{2+}$-free medium. Moreover, VIP- as well as ACh-evoked CA secretory responses were markedly inhibited under the presence of $(Lys^1,\;Pro^{2.5},\;Arg^{3.4},\;Tyr^6)-VIP$ or naloxone. CA secretory responses induced by ACh and high $K^+\;(5.6{\times}10^{-2}\;M)$ were potentiated by infusion of VIP $(3{\times}10^{-6}M\;for\;5\;min)$. Taken together, these experimental results indicate that VIP causes CA release in a fashion of calcium ion -dependence, suggesting strongly that there exists a noncholinergic mechanism that may be involved in the regulation of adrenomedullary CA secretion through VIP receptors in the rat adrenal gland, and that VIP may be the noncholinergic excitatory secretagogue present in the chromaffin cells.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.215-224
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• 1998

To investigate ultrastructural changes on the adrenal glands of the developmental rats, tissues were collected at 20 days of gestation, at birth, 7 days, 15 days and 30 days after birth and studied by electron microscope. In the medulla of adrenal gland of the rat, two types of granules were observed at ultrastructural level. The one were adrenaline $(123\sim200nm)$ and the others were noradrenaline ($177\sim279nm$ of long axis, $124\sim194$ of short axis). Adrenaline granules were characterized by presence of round or spherical with low or moderate electron density. The granules showed a wide lucent or clean halo between the contents and the limiting membrane. On the other hand noradrenaline granules were characterized by the presence of irregular shape with high electron density. This granules showed a wide lucent between the contents and limiting membrane. These two types of granules were co-existed in one cell in the late gestation and at birth, but after that two types of cells were clearly observed. The different sizes and numbers of granules were observed with ages.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.299-311
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• 1994

The present study was attempted to investigate whether pentazocine, which is known to possess both opioid agonistic and antagonistic properties, produces catecholamines (CA) secretion from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland, and to establish the mechanism of its action, and also to compare its action with that of some opioids. Pentazocine (30 to 300 ug) injected into an adrenal vein caused a dose-dependent secretory response of CA from the rat adrenal medulla. The pentazocine-evoked secretion of CA was remarkably diminished by the preloading with chlorisondamine $(10^{-6}\;M)$, naloxone $(1.22{\times}10^{-7}\;M)$, morphine $(1.7{\times}10^{-5}\;M)$, met-enkephalin $(9.68{\times}10^{-6}\;M)$, nicardipine $(10^{-6}\;M)$ and TMB-8 $(10^{-5}\;M)$ while was not influenced by the pretreatment of pirenzepine $(2{\times}10^{-6}\;M)$. The perfusion of $Ca^{++}$-free Krebs solution for 30 min into the gland also led to the marked reduction in CA secretion evoked by pentazocine. Furthermore, the CA release evoked by ACh and/or DMPP was greatly inhibited by the pretreatment with pentazocine $(1.75{\times}10^{-4}\;M)$ for 20 min. From these experimental results, it is thought that pentazocine causes markedly the increased secretion of CA from the isolated perfused rat adrenal medulla by a calcium-dependent exocytotic mechanism. The secretory effect of pentazocine appears to be mediated through activation of opioid receptors located on adrenal chromaffin cells, which may be also associated with stimulation of cholinergic nicotinic receptors.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.43-55
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• 1993

The present study was conducted to examine the characteristics of histamine on catecholamine secretion in the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland and to clarify the mechanism of its secretory action. Histamine (37.5 to 150 ug) injected into an adrenal vein evoked a dose-dependent significant secretory response of catecholamines (CA) from the rat adrenal gland. However, upon the repeated injection of histamine (150 ug) at 120 min intervals, CA secretion was rapidly decreased after third injection of histamine. Tachyphylaxis to releasing effects of CA evoked by histamine was observed by the repeated administration. The histamine-induced CA secretion was markedly inhibited by the pretreatment with chlorisondamine, diphenhydramine, ranitidine, $Ca^{++}-free$ Krebs solution, nicardipine and TMB-8 while was not affected by pirenzepine. Moreover, the CA secretion evoked by ACh was considerably reduced by the prior perfusion of histamine $(6.8{\times}10^{-5} M)$ for 30 min. These experimental data suggest that histamine causes secretion of CA in a calcium dependent manner from the perfused rat adrenal gland and that its secretory effect is mediated through activation of both $H_1-$ and $H_2-histaminergic$ receptors located in adrenal medulla, which may be associated with stimulation of cholinergic nicotinic receptors.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.17-17
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• 2003

Enzymes involved in catecholamine synthesis are present in the highest concentration in the adrenal medulla, however they were found also in other, mainly nervous tissues. Increased transcription of genes for catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes is an important mechanism to increase the capacity for epineprine/norepinephrine biosynthesis with stress. Gastrodia elata(Chinese name: Tienma), are very important Chinese herbal medicines used for the medical treatment of headaches, migraine, dizziness, epilepsy, rheumatism, neuralgia, paralysis and other neuralgic and nervous disorders. Immobilize stressed rat markedly increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA and dopamine-${\beta}$-hydroxylase (DBH) mRNA transcriptior level more than control group. But treated Gastrodia elata extracts in immobilized stressed rat slightly increased TH mRNA and DBH mRNA transcription level more than normal group. In addition, we are obtained identical results in PC12 cell line. Decrease of transcription level of TH mRNA and DBH mRNA is indicating that Gastrodia elata have a anti-stress effects which decrease the transcription level of TH and DBH mRNA on catecholamine biosynthesis pathway.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.37-37
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• 2003

Enzymes involved in catecholamine synthesis are present in the highest concentration in the adrenal medulla, however they were found also in other, mainly nervous tissues. Increased transcription of genes for catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes is an important mechanism to increase the capacity for epineprine/norepinephrine biosynthesis with stress. Gastrodia elata(Chinese name: Tienma), are very important Chinese herbal medicines used for the medical treatment of headaches, migraine, dizziness, epilepsy, rheumatism, neuralgia, paralysis and other neuralgic and nervous disorders. Immobilize stressed rat markedly increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA and dopamine-$\beta$-hydroxylase (DBH) mRNA transcription level more than control group. But treated Gastrodia elata extracts in immobilized stressed rat slightly increased TH mRNA and DBH mRNA transcription level more than normal group. In addition, we are obtained identical results in PC12 cell line. Decrease of transcription level of TH mRNA and DBH mRNA is indicating that Gastrodia elata have a anti-stress effects which decrease the transcription level of TH and DBH mRNA on catecholamine biosynthesis pathway.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.393-397
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• 1996

Sprague-Dawley male rats (150 g) were chronically treated with 5 v/v % ethanol admixed with nutritionally complete liquid diet and fed ad libitum for 3 weeks. Controls were pair fed with the isocaloric sucrose liquid diet. One half of each group was exposed to cold stress at $4^{\circ}C$ either for 24 h (for determination of mRNA by in situ hybridization) or for 48 h (for determination of enzyme activity). Chronic ethanol treatment (ethanol) did not affect tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA level in locus coeruleus (LC) of brain and adrenal medulla (AM) compared to controls. Cold stress showed strong increase of TH mRNA level in LC and AM compared to controls. Pretreated ethanol reduced the increased TH mRNA level by cold stress in LC and AM. Ethanol did not affect TH activity in LC and adrenal glands (adrenals). Cold stress increased TH activity in LC but not in adrenals. Pretreated ethanol did not reduce the increased TH activity by cold stress in LC but this result was not shown in adrenals. It is suggested that ethanol does not affect the message level and enzyme protein level for TH in LC and AM in normal rat. It is also hypothesized that pretreated ethanol reduces the magnitude of acute cold stress response, that is induction of TH mRNA in LC and AM, and does not reduce the increased TH enzyme protein that is also acute cold stress response in LC.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.77-97
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• 1993

Human and animals are living by acclimation to environmental changes like high and cold temperature, nose, confinement, etc. If the above changes reach a defined levels, some physiological abnormal state could appear, which we call them as stress state. Catecholamines are excreted by the sympathetic-adrenomedullary system in free from in urine. Catecholamines are derived from the adrenal medulla and urinary epinephrine can be taken as a rough estemation of the activity of this gland. Many scientist reported the endocrinological change, excretion of catecholamine and its metabolites, stomach ulcer formation, etc. under the condition of the confinement and high temperature. In this study author gave restraint, electric shock and immersion stress to rats by administrating by HPLC and got the following results. 1. In the restriant experiment, epinephrine contents in control rat was 194.7 ng, but in Bohyulanshintang administered rat urine 198.9 ng of epinephrine was found. 2. In the electrical shock experiment, 199.5 ng of epinephrine was found in the control rat urine, but in Bohyulanshintang administered rat urine epinephrine content was 142.4 ng. 3. Dopamine contents in control rat urine the immersion environment was 118.9 ng, but in Bohyulanshintang administered rat urine only 55.2 ng of dopamine was found. 4. Incontrol rat stomach there appeared focal erosion and inflamatory exudate, but in experimental group these symptom were turned to mild condition.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.37-43
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• 1990

The term of stress was used by many scientists, but there were several difinitions about stress, and this term are using in societies frequently. Generally stress is defined as equilibrium, harmony, and adaptation to external stimulations, in 1930 s Hans Selye was the first scientist who used the term of stress and he pointed out the stress mean the function of force in body. When we get stress the stimulation go to the sympathetic-adrenomedulla system and epinephrine and norepinnephrine are secreted from adrenal medulla. Author tried to investigate the change of catecholamine secretion from rat urine which were exposed to 80 dB noise environment. The control rat urine released 0.03 $\pm$ 0.01 ng/ml of epinephrine and 0.18 $\pm$ 0.04 ng/ml, but in noise exposed group the epinephrine was 0.42 $\pm$ 0.07 ng/ml and norepinephrine was 2.16 $\pm$ 0.48 ng/ml.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.1 s.57
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• pp.63-74
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• 1995

It has been known that, during hypoxia, the adrenal medulla is activated to release catecholamines (CA) while hypoxia also inhibits high $K^+$ -induced CA secretion in the cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. The present study was attempted to examine the effect of hypoxia on CA secretion evoked by chlinergic stimulation and membrane-depolarization from the isolated perfused rat adrenal glands and also to clarify its mechanism of action. For this purpose, using the isolated rat adrenal glands, the effects of hypoxia on CA release evoked by nicotinic ($N_1$) and muscarinic ($M_1$) receptor agonists, membrane-depolarizing agent, $Ca^{++}$-channel activator, intracellular $Ca^{++}$-releaser and ACh were determined. Experiments were carried out, perfusing Krebs solution pre-equilibrated with a gas mixture of 95% N_2$ and 5% $CO_2$. Hypoxia was maintained for $3{\sim}4$ hours through the experiments. Hypoxia gradually caused a time-dependent seduction in CA secretion evoked by DMPP ($100{\mu}M$), McN-A-343 ($100{\mu}M$), ACh (5.32 mM), Bay-K-8644 ($10{\mu}M$) and high $K^+$ (56 mM) respectively. How-ever, it did not affect CA secretion evoked by cyclopiazonic acid ($10{\mu}M$). Hypoxia itself also did fail to produce any influence on spontaneous secretory response of CA. These experimental results suggest that hypoxia depresses CA release evoked by both cholinergic stimulation and membrane-depolarization from the isolated rat adrenal medulla, and that this inhibitory activity may be due to the result of the direct inhibition of $Ca^{++}$ influx into the chromaffin cells without any effect on the calcium mobilization from the intracellular store.