• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.530-539
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• 2019

Brain aging is an inevitable process characterized by structural and functional changes and is a major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. Most brain aging studies are focused on neurons and less on astrocytes which are the most abundant cells in the brain known to be in charge of various functions including the maintenance of brain physical formation, ion homeostasis, and secretion of various extracellular matrix proteins. Altered mitochondrial dynamics, defective mitophagy or mitochondrial damages are causative factors of mitochondrial dysfunction, which is linked to age-related disorders. Etoposide is an anti-cancer reagent which can induce DNA stress and cellular senescence of cancer cell lines. In this study, we investigated whether etoposide induces senescence and functional alterations in cultured rat astrocytes. Senescence-associated ${\beta}$-galactosidase (SA-${\beta}$-gal) activity was used as a cellular senescence marker. The results indicated that etoposide-treated astrocytes showed cellular senescence phenotypes including increased SA-${\beta}$-gal-positive cells number, increased nuclear size and increased senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASP) such as IL-6. We also observed a decreased expression of cell cycle markers, including PhosphoHistone H3/Histone H3 and CDK2, and dysregulation of cellular functions based on wound-healing, neuronal protection, and phagocytosis assays. Finally, mitochondrial dysfunction was noted through the determination of mitochondrial membrane potential using tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester (TMRM) and the measurement of mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR). These data suggest that etoposide can induce cellular senescence and mitochondrial dysfunction in astrocytes which may have implications in brain aging and neurodegenerative conditions.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.199-209
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• 1984

Pregnant rats were fed a pyridoxine deficient diet during the gestation and lactation. DEF I group received the deficient diet from delivery ; DEF II group, from the 15 th day of gestation. Body and brain weights, brain protein, DNA, RNA, plasma GOT and GPT, and catecholamines were measured. Effect of MAO inhibiting drug, pargyline, was determined. Brain protein, DNA, and RNA of offsprings of deficient groups were significantly lower than the control group, but RNA/ DNA, brain weight/DNA, and protein/DNA show that cell number were more affected than cell size by the pyridoxine deficiency during the 3rd week of gestation and lactation. Plasma GOT activities were more significantly different than plasma GPT between the control and deficient group. Brain norepinephrine of offsprings of deficient group were significantly lower than the control, but brain dopamine content was not significantly different from the control. At 2nd and 3rd week, norepinephrine was significantly depressed in deficient groups. Pargyline treatment affected a 1.2 fold increase in catecholamines in 3hr while the control had a 1.5 fold increase. Thus norepinephrine and dopamine synthesis was depressed in the deficient groups. Dopaminergic neurons may be less dependent on pyridoxine level than neurons from norepinephrine. Pyridoxine deficiency in maternal diet is not so critical to brain catecholamines of offspring except to the neonatal rats.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2001

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of n-6(corn oil) & n-3(fish oil) fatty acids on infarction size and the cerebral activities of antioxidant enzyme in rat focal brain ischemia model. Weaning Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with either corn oil supplemented diet(COD, 14% corn oil) or fish oil supplemented diet(FOD, 14% menhaden oil) for 6 weeks. The right middle cerebral artery was occluded for 2 hours with a silicon rubber coated nylon surgical thread. After 24 hours of recirculation, the rats were sacrificed and brain sections were photographed using CCD camera after staining with 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride for 60 minutes in room temperature. The infarcted area was measured and the volume of infarction was calculated. Catalase(CAT), superoxide dismutase(SOD) activities, and fatty acid composition in the brain were also measured. The total and corrected infarction volumes were not significantly different between FOD and COD group. The docosagexaenoic acid(DHA) and DHA content/arachidonic acid(AA) ratio of the cerebral cortex, an index of defense against lipid oxidation, were significantly increased in FOD group compared to those of COD group(p<0.05). In the left cortex(non-infarction side) as well as the right cortex(infarction side) of FOD group, CAT and Cu/Zn SOD activities were higher than those of the COD group(p<0.05). However, CAT and Cu/Zn SOD activities were not significantly different between the left cortex(non-infarction side) and the right cortex(infarction side) of both FOD and COD group. GPx activities were also not significantly different between two groups. Our results demonstrate that the brain infarction size in FOD and COD were not significantly different. However, cerebral lipid composition and antioxidant enzyme activities in FOD and COD group were different. Fish oil, a source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA) and corn oil, that of n-6(PUFA) may have a protective effect against oxidative stress induced via different mechanisms.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.153-164
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• 1995

Sympathomimetic amines, especially ephedrine, are a major ingredient in proprietary medications for symptomatic treatment of upper respiratory infections. Their frequent uses can lead to occasional instances of abuse and habituation. The clinical symptoms of ephedrine abuse are similar to that of amphetamine psychosis and resemble closely that of schizophrenia. Because both amphetamine psychosis and schizophrenia are thought to be mediated primarily through the action on catecholamines, ephedrine-induced changes of the biogenic amines can be suspected. However, there were few studies about the central effects of ephedrine because of the milder central action than peripheral. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken to elucidate the relations between the effects of single or repeated administration of ephedrine on the regional levels of biogenic amines in rat brain and ephedrine-induced CNS stimulation. The male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing $100{\sim}200\;g$ were used. After single or repeated administrations of ephedrine, blocks of tissue were obtained from frontal cortex, corpus striatum, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, substantia nigra and cerebellum. The concentration of biogenic amines(norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)) and their metabolites (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid(HVA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA)) were measured by means of high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detector(HPLC-ECD). The results obtained were as follows: 1) In the normal rat, the concentration of norepinephrine was the highest in hypothalamus. Dopamine, DOPAC and HVA were highest in corpus striatum, and 5-HT and 5-HIAA were highest in substantia nigra. Epinephrine was not detectable in any part of the brain tissue. 2) In a single administration of ephedrine, the concentration of DOPAC was decreased in corpus striatum. However, the other biogenic amines and their metabolites were not changed. 3) In repeated administration of ephedrine, the concentration of norepinephrine was decreased in all brain region checked. Dopamine was decreased in corpus striatum and substantia nigra and, increased in hypothalamus, and HVA was decreased in corpus striatum. 5-HT was decreased in all brain region except cerebellum and, 5-HIAA was decreased only in frontal cortex. The ratio of 5-HIAA/5-HT was increased in corpus striatum, thalamus, hypothalamus and substantia nigra. These data indicated that, although a single administration of ephedrine did not change the central neurotransmitters, repeated administration of ephedrine caused the decreases of norepinephrine and 5-HT in the most regions of brain, which may be responsible for the emergence of abnormal behavioral effect after ephedrine abuse.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.50-59
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• 1987

(E)-2-Phenylcyclopropylamine ((E)-TCP), (Z)-2-Phenylacyclopropylamine ((Z)-TCP), (E)-1-methyl-2-phenylcyclopropylamine ((E)-MTCP), and (Z)-1-methyl-2-phenylcyclopropylamine ((Z)-MTCP) were synthesized and used to determine to what extent 1-methylsubstitution and stereochemistry of 2-phenycyclopropylamines affect inhibition of monoamine oxidase (MAO). Inhibition of rat brain mitochondrial MAO-A and B by the compounds were measured using serotonin and benzylamine as the substrate, respectively and $IC_{50}$ values obtianed with 95% confidence limits by the method of computation. For the inhibition of MAO-A, (E)-MTPC ($IC_{50}$ = 6.2 * $10^{-8}$M) was found to be 37 times more potent than (Z)-MTCP ($IC_{50}$ = 7.8 * $10^{-8}$M), was 7 times more potent than (Z)-MTCP($IC_{50}$= 4.7 * $10^{-7}$M) and (E)-TCP($IC_{50}$ =7.8 * $10^{-8}$M),0.6 times as potent as (Z)- TCP ($IC_{50}$ = 4.4 * $10^{-8}$M). The results suggested that while without 1-methyl group, potency of a (Z)-isomer was comparable to that of (E)-isomer, the methyl group in its (Z)-position was very unfavorable to the inhibition of MAO and that in its (E)-position, the methyl group contributed positively to the potency as found by the fact that (E)-MTCP was 1-5 times more potent than (E)-TCP. In view of the selective inhibition of MAO-A- or B over MAO-A and 1-methyl substitution as well as the stereochemical factors did not significantly influence the selectivity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.799-806
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• 2011

This study was performed in order to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of Boyanghwano-tang (BYT) water extract on intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). ICH was induced by the stereotaxic intrastriatal injection of bacterial collagenase type IV in Sprague-Dawley rats. BYT was orally given once a day for 3 days after ICH. Hematoma volume and percentage edema were examined. As imflammatory markers, myeloperoxidase (MPO)-positive neutrophils infiltration and iNOS expression in the peri-ICH regions were examined using immunohistochemistry. As cellular damage markers, c-Fos, Bax, and HSP72 positive cells in the peri-ICH regions were measured also. BYT significantly reduced the hematoma volume and percentage edema of the ICH-induced rat brain. In the peri-hematoma regions, BYT significantly reduced MPO-positive neutrophil infiltration and iNOS expression of the ICH-induced rat brain. Additionally, BYT significantly reduced c-Fos, Bax, and HSP72 positive cells in the peri-hematoma regions of the ICH-induced rat brain. These results suggest that BYT plays a neuroprotective role against ICH through suppression of inflammatory responses, apoptosis and cellular damage.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.441-447
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• 2006

Abuse of drugs can elicit compulsive drug seeking behaviors upon repeated administration, and ultimately leads to the phenomenon of addiction. We developed a procedure for the standardization of microarray gene expression data of rat brain in drug addiction and stored them in a single integrated database system, focusing on more effective data processing and interpretation. Another characteristic of the present database is that it has a systematic flexibility for statistical analysis and linking with other databases. Basically, we adopt an intelligent SQL querying system, as the foundation of our DB, in order to set up an interactive module which can automatically read the raw gene expression data in the standardized format. We maximize the usability of this DB, helping users study significant gene expression and identify biological function of the genes through integrated up-to-date gene information such as GO annotation and metabolic pathway. For collecting the latest information of selected gene from the database, we also set up the local BLAST search engine and non-redundant sequence database updated by NCBI server on a daily basis. We find that the present database is a useful query interface and data-mining tool, specifically for finding out the genes related to drug addiction. We apply this system to the identification and characterization of methamphetamine-induced genes' behavior in rat brain.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.722-727
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• 1999

We carried out immunoblot analyses to study expression and subcellular distribution of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor(NR) subunits in salmon (Chum Salmon, Oncorhynchus keta). We prepared subcellular fractions such as brain homogenates, synaptosomes, and postsynaptic density (PSD) from salmon brains, and analyzed protein compositions by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). In a Coomassie-stained 6% SDS-gel, about 20 distinct major protein bands could be identified in the PSD fraction. Immunoblot analyses using antibodies against rat NR subunit 2A and 2B antigens (NR2A and NR2B, respectively) showed weak but evident signals at the 180 kDa positions in the salmon PSD fractions. However, in contrast to rat NRs, the salmon NR2A and NR2B are not recognized by a phosphotyrosine-specific antibody suggesting that the salmon NRs are regulated differently from those of the rat by protein tyrosine kinases. Our results indicate that NR2A and NR2B subunits are expressed in the salmon PSD fraction but not regulated by tyrosine phosphorylation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2001

The caffeine intake cause a local or wide ranges of convulsion and it is associated with release of dopamine (DA) receptors into the brain striatum. However, the effect of caffeine addiction on expression of DA receptors gene in the rat caudate-putamen (CPu), nucleus accumbens (NAc), and olfactory tubercle (OTu) has not been elucidated. In this study, we examined the influence of caffeine addiction on DA D $_1$and D$_2$receptor mRNAs after the treatment of caffeine for four weeks. Using the specific antisense ribo-probes for DA D$_1$and D$_2$receptor cDNAs, in situ hybridization was performed on the CPu, NAc, and OTu of the adult male Sprague Dawely rats. In caffeine-treated group, DA D$_1$and D$_2$receptor mRNAs were highly increased in CPu, NAc, and OTu. The expression density of DA D$_1$receptor mRNAs were 2.52${\pm}$1.40 (CPu), 2.78${\pm}$1.69 (NAc), and 3.91${\pm}$1.28 (OTu) in control group and 7.76${\pm}$2.09 (CPu), 4.2 ${\pm}$1.85 (NAc), and 8.21${\pm}$1.72 (OTu) in caffeine-treated group. The expression density of DA D$_2$receptor mRNA was 2.32${\pm}$1.52 (CPu), 2.63${\pm}$2.11 (NAc), and 3.61${\pm}$1.43 (OTu) in control group, and 6.41${\pm}$1.82 (CPu), 6.89${\pm}$1.32 (NAc), and 6.82${\pm}$1.18 (OTu) in caffeine-treated group. DA D$_1$receptor mRNA was higher expressed than DA D$_2$ receptor mRNA in CPu and NAc. These results suggest that caffeine reacts as a upregulator of the expression of DA D$_1$and D$_2$receptor mRNA among the neurotransmitters.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.65-76
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• 2010

1. Objectives The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Soyangin Hyeongbangdojeok-san(HBDJS) on acute cocaine-induced behavior effect and gene expression in the rat brain. 2. Methods Experimental animals were composed of saline(SAL), cocaine(COC), HBDJS + COC, HBDJS + SAL group. Rats received HBDJS(100, 200 mg/kg, p.o.) 1 h prior to cocaine hydrochloride(20 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment respectively. After cocaine injection, locomotor activity and rearing were measured in a rectangular container equipped with a video camera above the center of the floor for 60 min. In addiction, c-Fos expression in the rat brain was detected using immunohistochemistry 2 h after cocaine injection. And the effect of HBDJS on acute cocaine-induced pERK, pElk, pCREB upstream of c-Fos expression was detected using western blotting and immunohistochemistry 15 min after cocaine challenge. 3. Results The present results show that HBDJS at dose of 200 mg/kg attenuated cocaine-induced both locomotor activity and rearing. Also HBDJS at dose of 200 mg/kg significantly decreased c-Fos expression in the rat brain(nucleus accumebns and striatum). However HBDJS at dose of 200 mg/kg have no effect on cocaine-induced pERK, pCREB, pElK-1 expression. HBDJS is c-Fos expression through ERK-independent pathway. 4. Conclusions. These results suggest that HBDJS may be effective in suppressing the reinforcing effects of cocaine.