• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.56 no.10
• /
• pp.446-450
• /
• 2013

Purpose: This study evaluated the extent of damage due to hypothermia in the mature and immature brain. Methods: Hippocampal tissue cultures at 7 and 14 days in vitro (DIV) were used to represent the immature and mature brain, respectively. The cultures were exposed at $25^{\circ}C$ for 0, 10, 30, and 60 minutes (n=30 in each subgroup). Propidium iodide fluorescent images were captured 24 and 48 hours after hypothermic injury. Damaged areas of the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1), CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG) were measured using image analysis. Results: At 7 DIV, the tissues exposed to cold injury for 60 minutes showed increased damage in CA1 (P<0.001) and CA3 (P=0.005) compared to the control group at 48 hours. Increased damage to DG was observed at 24 (P=0.008) and 48 hours (P=0.011). The 14 DIV tissues did not demonstrate any significant differences compared with the control group, except for the tissues exposed for 30 minutes in which DG showed less damage at 48 hours than the control group (P=0.048). In tissues at 7 DIV, CA1 (P=0.040) and DG (P=0.013) showed differences in the duration of cold exposure. Conclusion: The immature brain is more vulnerable to hypothermic injury than the mature brain.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.65-70
• /
• 2010

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) transport of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, donepezil and tacrine suggested to be mediated by choline transport system in our previous study. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the interaction of other AChE inhibitors, rivastigmine and galantamine with choline transporter at the BBB. The effects of rivastigmine and galantamine on the transport of choline by conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cell lines (TR-BBB cells) were characterized by cellular uptake study using radiolabeled choline. The uptake of [$^3H$]choline was inhibited by rivastigmine and galantamine, with $IC_{50}$ values (i.e. concentration necessary for 50% inhibition) for 1.13 and 1.15 mM, respectively. Rivastigmine inhibited the uptake of [$^3H$]choline competitively with $K_i$ of 1.01 mM, but galantamine inhibited noncompetitively. In addition, the efflux of [$^3H$]choline was significantly inhibited by rivastigmine and galantamine. Our results indicated that the BBB choline transporter may be involved in a part of the influx and efflux transport of rivastigmine across the BBB. These findings should be therapeutically relevant to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with AChE inhibitors, and, more generally, to the BBB transport of CNS-acting cationic drugs via choline transporter.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.103-108
• /
• 2014

Head restraining is an experimental technique that firmly secures the animal's head to a fixation apparatus for the precise control and sensing of behaviors. However, procedural and surgical difficulties and limitations have been obstructing the use of the technique in neurophysiological and behavioral experiments. Here, we propose a novel design of the head-restraining apparatus which is easy to develop and convenient for practical use. Head restraining procedure can be completed by sliding the head mounter, which is molded by dental cement during implantation surgery, into the port, which serves as matching guide rails for the mounter, of the fixation bar. So neither skull-attached plates nor screws for fixation are needed. We performed intracranial self stimulation experiment in rats using the newly designed device. Rats were habituated to acclimatize the head-restraint environment and trained to discriminate two spatially distinguished cues using a customized push-pull lever as an operandum. Direct electrical stimulation into the medial forebrain bundle served as reward. We confirmed that head restraining was stable throughout experiments and rats were able to learn to manipulate the lever after successful habituation. Our experimental framework might help precise control or sensing of behavior under head fixed rats using direct electrical brain stimulation as a reward.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.187-190
• /
• 2002

Crude synaptic membrane fractions from the frontal cortex, striatum, brain stem and whole brain of rat were prepared to assay the effects of ginseng total saponin (GTS) on [$^3$H]DAGO bindings of the opioid $\mu$-receptors. Scatchard plots analysis binding data demonstrated that GTS (0.1 mg/ml) decreased the affinity of specific [$^3$H]DAGO bindings without changes in B$\_$max/ in the frontal cortex and striatum. On the other hand, GTS did not affect the [$^3$H]DAGO bindings iii the brain stem and whole brain. These results suggest that the regulation of [$^3$H]DAGO bindings by GTS may play roles in the change of the pharmacological responses of $\mu$-opioids.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.495-500
• /
• 1998

The effect of acute toluene exposure on behaviour and monoamine concentrations in the various brain regions were investigated in the rat. Toluene was adminstered via inhalation to rats at concentrations of 0, 1000, 10000, 40000 ppm for 20 min. During exposure to toluene, spontaneous locomotor activity was counted. After exposure, animals were sacrificed instantly and brains were separated. Regional concentratons of brain monoamines (norepinephrine, NE; dopamine, DA; 5- hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and its metabolites (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, DOPAC; homovanillic acid, HVA; 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, 5-HIAA) were determined. The changes in locomotor activity during toluene exposure depended on the toluene concentration. At 1000 ppm concentration, spontaneous locomotor activity increased initially and thereafter decreased. At higher concentrations (10000 ppm and 40000 ppm), spontaneous locomotor activity decreased and eventually ceased. A regional analysis of VA, NE, 5-HT, VOPAC, HVA, and 5-HIAA indicated a significant decrease in VA concentrations in cerebellum and striatum while NE and 5-HT concentrations were significantly increased in the cerebellum and cortex. 5-HIAA concentrations were significantly increased in all brain regions. DOPAC concentrations were significantly increased in cerebellum and cortex while decreased in striatum. These results especially indicated that metabolic conversion of DA to HVA in striatum was highly increased by toluene inhalation. However, It remains to elucidate between behavioural responses and monoamine changes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.415-425
• /
• 2022

Memory formation in the hippocampus is formed and maintained by circadian clock genes during sleep. Sleep deprivation (SD) can lead to memory impairment and neuroinflammation, and there remains no effective pharmacological treatment for these effects. Myricetin (MYR) is a common natural flavonoid that has various pharmacological activities. In this study, we investigated the effects of MYR on memory impairment, neuroinflammation, and neurotrophic factors in sleep-deprived rats. We analyzed SD-induced cognitive and spatial memory, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokine levels during SD. SD model rats were intraperitoneally injected with 10 and 20 mg/kg/day MYR for 14 days. MYR administration significantly ameliorated SD-induced cognitive and spatial memory deficits; it also attenuated the SD-induced inflammatory response associated with nuclear factor kappa B activation in the hippocampus. In addition, MYR enhanced the mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. Our results showed that MYR improved memory impairment by means of anti-inflammatory activity and appropriate regulation of BDNF expression. Our findings suggest that MYR is a potential functional ingredient that protects cognitive function from SD.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.179-187
• /
• 2008

Objectives & Methods : This study was to investigate effect of low frequency electroacupuncture on NADPH-d positive neurons in the brain cortex of rat with adjuvant induced rheumatoid arthritis. Experimental groups were divided into 6 groups ; Normal, Control, $ST_{36}$, $SP_9$, $ST_{36}+SP_9$ and Non-Acupoint. Normal group, non-arthritic group, was injected normal saline, and the other groups were injected FCA. Each acupoint groups were treated by 2Hz electroacupuncture at each acupoints and NA group was treated by 2Hz electroacupuncture at non-acupoint. Each groups were evaluated by the number of NADPH-d positive neurons in primary somatosensory area(S1), secondary somatosensory area(S2), motor area and caudate putamen by using an image analyzer and a microscope. Results : 1. In S1, the number of NADPH-d positive neuron cells in the $ST_{36}$ group were significantly(p<0.05) increased compared with the control group. 2. In S2, the number of NADPH-d positive neuron cells in all electroacupuncture groups were not significantly changed compared with the control group. 3. In motor area, the number of NADPH-d positive neuron cells in $ST_{36}$ group, $SP_9$ group, NA group were significantly(p<0.05) increased compared with the control group. 4. In Caudate putamen, the number NADPH-d positive neuron cells in all electroacupuncture groups were significantly(p<0.05) decreased compared with the control group. Conclusions : Our result demonstrated that low frequency electroacupuncture on $ST_{36}$ & $SP_9$ normalized expression of NADPH-d positive neurons in the brain cortex of the rheumatoid arthritis model in rats.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.79-93
• /
• 1999

This experiment was done to investigate the effects of Ojajiwhangeumja(OJWEJ) to the symptoms of senility. To prove the effects of OJWEJ we injected scopolamine(1mg/kg) to the vein of rats. And we measured the blood cells(WBC, RBC, Platelet), constituents of serum(BUN, creatinin, glucose, uric acid), endurance of films of the red blood cell to erythrocyte hemolises, the activity of cholinesterase in serum, TBA and the activity of catalase, SOD in the purified microsome of brain tissue of rats. The results were as follows; 1. The number of white blood cells, platelet was increased significantly in the group treated by OJWEJ in comparison with control group. 2. The number of BUN, creatinin, glucose of serum decreased significantly in the OJWEJ treated group compared with control group. 3. The erythrocyte hemolises in red blood cells restrained significantly in the group treated by OJWEJ in comparison with control group. 4. The activity of cholinesterase in OJWEJ treated group increased significantly compared with control group. 5. The amounts of malondialdehyde of serum decreased significantly in the OJWEJ treated group in comparison with control group. 6. The catalase in the microsome of rat brain was activated significantly in the group treated by OJWEJ compared with control group. 7. The superoxide dismutase in the group treated by OJWEJ activated significantly in comparison with control group. According to this experiment it is suggested that OJWEJ accelerates the activity of colinesterase and restrains the creation of erythrocyte hemolises and accumulation of senile substance. But I look forward to see the further research to be made.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 1997.04a
• /
• pp.85-85
• /
• 1997

스트레스가 유발된 랫드의 대뇌에서 Vasopressin-catecholamine pathway의 활성도를 알아보기 위해 면역화학염색법으로 vasopressin 호르몬의 분비와 catecholamine의 생성변화를 tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) 효소의 발현변화로 규명하고, arginine vasopressin (AVP)과 V1 vasopressin receptor의 유전자 발현변화를 in situ hybridization 방법을 이용하여 살펴보았다. 수컷 SD rat를 7시간동안 stress cage에 넣어 16$\pm$1$^{\circ}C$의 물에 수침구속 스트레스를 준 후 대조군과 함께 관류고정하여 brain을 적출하였다. Brain의 hypothalamus 부위를 중심으로하여 동결절편하여 면역조직화학 염색과 in situ hybridization을 시행하였다. TH 면역조직화학 염색에서 대뇌의 줄무늬체 부위의 꼬리조가비핵에서와 시상하부 부위의 내측등쪽시상하부와 흑색질부위에서 스트레스군이 대조군에 비해 TH 면역염색성이 증가되어 관찰되었으나 시상하부 부위의 시삭위핵, 뇌실주위핵, 뇌실옆핵에서는 두 군간의 큰 면역염색성의 차이는 보이지 않았다. AVP 면역조직화학 염색에서는 시삭위핵에 많은 수의 AVP 양성 신경세포체들이 밀집되어 있으며 뇌실옆핵에서는 스트레스군에서 AVP 면역염색성이 약간 증가되어 관찰되었으나 신경섬유의 분포양상은 비슷하였다. 중간융기에서는 모두 강한 염색성의 신경섬유들이 관찰되어 두 군간에 큰 차이는 없었다. AVP 유전자에 대한 in situ hybridization 결과 시삭위핵의 신경세포에서 AVP mRNA 양성반응을 관찰할 수 있었으나 다른 시상하부핵에서는 관찰할 수 없었으며, V1 vasopressin receptor에 대한 in situ hybridization 결과는 두 군의 대뇌에서 모두 양성반응을 관찰할 수 없었으며 V1 vasopressin receptor 유전자의 조직별 발현정도와 스트레스에 의한 발현량 조절을 관찰할 필요가 있다고 사료된다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.455-461
• /
• 2007

Objective : It was hypothesized that dopamine agonist administration and subthalamic nucleus (STN) lesion in the rat might have a synergistic effect on the neuronal activities of substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNpr) as observed in patients with Parkinson's disease. The effects of SKF38393 (a $D_1$ receptor agonist) and Quinpirole (a $D_2$ receptor agonist) were compared in parkinsonian rat models with 6- hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) after STN lesion. Methods : SKF38393 and Quinpirole were consecutively injected intrastriatally. SNpr was microrecorded to ascertain the activity of the basal ganglia output structure. The effect of SKF38393 or Quinpirole injection on the firing rate and firing patterns of SNpr was investigated in medial forebrain bundle (MFB) lesioned rats and in MFB+STN lesioned rats. Results : The administration of SKF38393 decreased SNpr neuronal firing rates and the percentage of burst neurons in the MFB lesioned rats, but did not alter them in MFB+STN lesioned rats. The administration of Quinpirole significantly decreased the spontaneous firing rate in the MFB lesioned rats. However, after an additional STN lesion, it increased the percentage of burst neurons. Conclusion : This study demonstrated that dopamine agonists and STN lesion decreased the hyperactive firing rate and the percentage of burst neurons of SNpr neurons in 6-OHDA lesioned rats, respectively. Quinpirole with STN lesion increased a percentage of burst neurons. To clear the exact interactive mechanism of $D_1$ and $D_2$ agonist and the corresponding location, it should be followed a study using a nonselective dopamine agonist and $D_1$, $D_2$ selective antagonist.