• Applied Microscopy
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.15-24
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• 1993

버들붕어 뇌와 아가미의 미세구조에 미치는 메틸수은의 독성적 영향과 이에 대한 홍삼의 보상효능을 전자현미경적 방법에 의하여 연구하였다. 뇌 신경세포의 미세구조 변화에 있어서 대조군에 비하여 메틸수은만을 투여한 군에서는 수상돌기와 축색돌기가 상당히 확장되고 핵질과 세포질이 부분적으로 손실되었으며 ribosome의 수적감소와 mitochondria의 팽대가 관찰되었다. 그리고 파괴된 핵과 공포화된 mitochondria를 함유한 괴사세포의 출현은 특이한 관찰이었다. 반면 메틸수은과 홍삼을 병행 투여한 군에서는 메틸수은만을 투여한 군에서 보다 수상돌기와 축색돌기의 확장이 감소되고 ribosome의 수가 증가되었으며 mitochondria의 팽대정도가 상당히 감소되었다. 아가미 새판의 미세구조에 있어서는 Pillar cell과 arm의 붕괴, 표피세포의 확장 및 기저막의 비후가 메틸수은만을 투여한 군에서 관찰되었고 메틸수은과 홍삼을 병행 투여한 군에서는 메틸수은만을 투여한 군에서 보다 arm의 붕괴정도와 기저막의 비후정도가 감소되어 정상세포와 거의 같은 정도로 호전되었다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.22-26
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• 1995

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the characteristics of red ginseng total saponin in behavioral changes on ambulation, forced swim test and convulsion in mice. The ambulation and the duration of immobility on forced swim test were not affected by red ginseng total saponin. On the other hand, the duration of immobility inducted by DMI, PGL but not CIP was significantly decreased, and the onset of convulsion induced by pentylenetetrazole was significantly shortened by preadministration of red ginseng total saponin. These results suggest that red ginseng total saponin component may play an important role in modulating synergism with drugs acting on depression and convulsion, and that the characteristics of synergetic effect induced by red ginseng total saponin potentate the central norepinephrine neuron activity.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.1
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• pp.204.2-205
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• 2003

Microglial cell is a monocyte involved in the brain, which acts for a primary immune reaction and phagocytosis. Microglia has also been considered to have a great role in AD pathogenesis due to its intact inflammatory and phagocytic responses against foreign invaders. In the study, we tried to investigate the modulation of activation of microglia using Rg1, a class of ginsenoside from red ginseng. which are known to protect neuron cells. (omitted)

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.248-256
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• 2014

N-acetylglucosamine kinase (GlcNAc kinase or NAGK; EC 2.7.1.59) is a N-acetylhexosamine kinase that belong to the sugar kinase/heat shock protein 70/actin superfamily. In this study, we investigated both the expression and function of NAGK in neurons. Immunohistochemistry of rat brain sections showed that NAGK was expressed at high levels in neurons but at low levels in astrocytes. Immunocytochemistry of rat hippocampal dissociate cultures confirmed these findings and showed that NAGK was also expressed at low levels in oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, several NAGK clusters were observed in the nucleoplasm of both neuron and glia. The overexpression of EGFP- or RFP (DsRed2)-tagged NAGK in rat hippocampal neurons (DIV 5-9) increased the complexity of dendritic architecture by increasing the numbers of primary dendrites and dendritic branches. In contrast, knockdown of NAGK by shRNA resulted in dendrite degeneration, and this was prevented by the co-expression of RFP-tagged NAGK. These results suggest that the upregulation of dendritic complexity is a non-canonical function of NAGK.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.343-347
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• 2002

In order to darify the neuroprotective effect of Gamibojungikki-tang(GBJIKT) water extract on cultured mouse spinal sensory neuron damaged by glucose Oxidase (GO), NR (Neutral Red) assay and LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase) activity assay were carried out after the cultured mouse spinal sensory neuron were preincubated with various concentrations of GBJIKT water extract for 3 hours prior to exposure of GO. Cell viability of cultured mouse spinal sensory neurons exposed to various concentrations of GO for 8 hours was decreased in a dose-dependent manner. NR/sub 50/ values were 50 mU/ml GO. Cultured mouse spinal sensory neurons in the medium containing various concentration of GO for 8 hours showed increasing of LDH activity. We knew that GO was toxic on cultured spinal sensory neurons. Pretreatment of GBJIKT water extract for 3 hours following GO prevented the GO-induced neurotoxicity such as increasing of LDH activity. These results suggest that GO shows toxic effect on cultured spinal sensory neurons and GBJIKT water extract is highly effective in proecting the neurotoxicity induced by GO.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.401-412
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• 2013

Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is an oriental herbal preparation obtained from Panax ginseng Meyer (Araliaceae). To expand our understanding of the action of KRG on central nervous system (CNS) function, we examined the effects of KRG on tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression in rat primary astrocytes. KRG extract was treated in cultured rat primary astrocytes and neuron in a concentration range of 0.1 to 1.0 mg/mL and the expression of functional tPA/PAI-1 was examined by casein zymography, Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. KRG extracts increased PAI-1 expression in rat primary astrocytes in a concentration dependent manner (0.1 to 1.0 mg/mL) without affecting the expression of tPA itself. Treatment of 1.0 mg/mL KRG increased PAI-1 protein expression in rat primary astrocytes to $319.3{\pm}65.9%$ as compared with control. The increased PAI-1 expression mediated the overall decrease in tPA activity in rat primary astrocytes. Due to the lack of PAI-1 expression in neuron, KRG did not affect tPA activity in neuron. KRG treatment induced a concentration dependent activation of PI3K, p38, ERK1/2, and JNK in rat primary astrocytes and treatment of PI3K or MAPK inhibitors such as LY294002, U0126, SB203580, and SP600125 (10 ${\mu}M$ each), significantly inhibited 1.0 mg/mL KRG-induced expression of PAI-1 and down-regulation of tPA activity in rat primary astrocytes. Furthermore, compound K but not other ginsenosides such as Rb1 and Rg1 induced PAI-1 expression. KRG-induced up-regulation of PAI-1 in astrocytes may play important role in the regulation of overall tPA activity in brain, which might underlie some of the beneficial effects of KRG on CNS such as neuroprotection in ischemia and brain damaging condition as well as prevention or recovery from addiction.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.164-173
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the direct neurotoxicity of alcohol on CNS and the effects of piracetam or vitamins on ultrastructural changes of the rat cerebellar and hippocampal neurons during long-term alcohol treatment. To evaluate the results, quantitative analysis were done for light and electronic microscopic findings. On the light microscopy, red degeneration of pyramidal cells and Purkinje cells was found more apparently in the alcohol only treated group than in the control group. On the electron microscopy, increased lipofuscin pigments were found in cerebellum and hippocampus. In quantitative analysis, vitamins significantly reduced red degeneration in both hippocampus and cerebellum. However, piracetam significantly reduced red degeneration in cerebellum but not in hippocampus. Lipofuscin pigments in Purkinje cells and pyramidal cells were significantly reduced in the alcohol with piracetam treated group than the alcohol only treated group. However, vitamins had no significant reducing effect of lipofuscin pigments in Purkinje cells and pyramidal cells. According to the results, it is concluded that vitamins deficiency might cause red degeneration of pyramidal cell after long-term alcohol treatment, but increment of lipofuscin pigments in pyramidal and Purkinje cell may be caused by alcohol itself or its metabolite rather than vitamins deficiency. Piracetam seems to improve cognitive function impairment caused by alcohol consumption.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.53-60
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• 1997

The changes in aldehyde dehydrogenase(ALDH, E.C. 1.2.1.3.) activity in neurons and astrocytes isolated from rat brains were investigated after administration of ethanol and Korean red ginseng(Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) saponln. The cerebral ALDH activity with acetaldehyde and Propionaldehyde was higher in the white matter than in the gray matter. However, using indole-3-a-cetaldehyde and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde as substrates, there was no significant difference in activity between two regions in cerebrum. In ethanol treated group, ALDH activity with all the substrates in the gray and white matter was lower than in normal group. In ethanol-saponin treated group, the enzyme activity in the white matter remarkably Increased. The ALDH activity in neurons isolated from cerebral cortex in ethanol-treated group was lower than in normal group. In ethanol-saponin treated group, neuronal ALDH activity with propionaldehyde was significantly recovered but not with Indole-3-acetaldehyde. In astrocytes, although the ALDH activity with propionaldehyde in the ethanol-treated group was not changed as compared with normal group, considerable increase in activity was found in ethanol-saponin treated group. These results suggest that Korean red ginseng saponin may protect the neuronal functions from the toxic effects of acetaldehyde derived from ethanol by stimulation of ALDH activity in astrocytes surrounding nerve cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.219-225
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• 2011

Korean red ginseng (KRG) is a valuable and important traditional medicine in East Asian countries and is currently used extensively for botanical products in the world. KRG has both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on the central nervous system (CNS) suggesting its complicated action mechanisms. The substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons of the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) are involved in orofacial nociceptive processing. Some studies reported that KRG has antinociceptive effects, but there are few reports of the functional studies of KRG on the SG neurons of the Vc. In this study, a whole cell patch clamp study was performed to examine the action mechanism of a KRG extract on the SG neurons of the Vc from juvenile mice. KRG induced short-lived and repeatable inward currents on all the SG neurons tested in the high chloride pipette solution. The KRG-induced inward currents were concentration dependent and were maintained in the presence of tetrodotoxin, a voltage gated $Na^+$ channel blocker. The KRG-induced inward currents were suppressed by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione, a non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor antagonist and/or picrotoxin, a gamma-aminobutyric acid $(GABA)_A$ receptor antagonist. However, the inward currents were not suppressed by d,l-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid, an NMDA receptor antagonist. These results show that KRG has excitatory effects on the SG neurons of the Vc via the activation of non-NMDA glutamate receptor as well as an inhibitory effect by activation of the $GABA_A$ receptor, indicating the KRG has both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on the CNS. In addition, KRG may be a potential target for modulating orofacial pain processing.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.52-58
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• 2024

Background: Skeletal muscle denervation leads to motor neuron degeneration, which in turn reduces muscle fiber volumes. Recent studies have revealed that apoptosis plays a role in regulating denervation-associated pathologic muscle wasting. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has various biological activities and is currently widely consumed as a medicinal product worldwide. Among them, ginseng has protective effects against muscle atrophy in in vivo and in vitro. However, the effects of KRG on denervation-induced muscle damage have not been fully elucidated. Methods: We induced skeletal muscle atrophy in mice by dissecting the sciatic nerves, administered KRG, and then analyzed the muscles. KRG was administered to the mice once daily for 3 weeks at 100 and 400 mg/kg/day doses after operation. Results: KRG treatment significantly increased skeletal muscle weight and tibialis anterior (TA) muscle fiber volume in injured areas and reduced histological alterations in TA muscle. In addition, KRG treatment reduced denervation-induced apoptotic changes in TA muscle. KRG attenuated p53/Bax/cytochrome c/Caspase 3 signaling induced by nerve injury in a dose-dependent manner. Also, KRG decreases protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, reducing restorative myogenesis. Conclusion: Thus, KRG has potential protective role against denervation-induced muscle atrophy. The effect of KRG treatment was accompanied by reduced levels of mitochondria-associated apoptosis.