• Applied Microscopy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.90-104
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• 1990

This study was carried out to investigate the ultrastructural changes of the proximal epiphyseal plate of the femur in young chickens that had been treated with monosodium glutamate(MSG). Eighty 1-day old broiler chickens(Hubbard strain) were divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group received daily administration of MSG(3mg/g of body weight in 0.75% saline) per orally for 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 days, and were sacrificed with exanguination. The control group received an equal volume of 0.75% saline. For the transmission electron microscopy, the prehypertrophic cartilage zone of epiphyseal plate was cleaved, fixed with 2% glutaraldehyde(containing 0.2% ruthenium red), postfixed with 1 % osmium tetroxide, embedded in Epon 812, and stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. For the scanning electron microscopy, the calcified zone of epiphyseal plate was cleaved and coated with gold palladium. The results obtained were as follows; 1. On transmission electron microscopic examination, the sacculation decreased from 12 day to 21 day MSG administrated groups, and the vesiculation decreased in 18 and 21 day MSG administrated groups in rough endoplasmic reticulum of chondrocytes in prehypertrophic cartilage zone. The ruthenium red binding particles in pericellular rim, territorial matrix and interterritorial matrix increased from 9 day to 21 day MSG administrated groups, but the crystalloid materials decreased. 2. On scanning electron microscopic examination, the trabecular formation and calcospherites of calcification zone decreased in 18 and 21 day MSG administrated groups. The resorption cavities widened from 15 day to 21 day MSG administrated groups.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.252-252
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• 1996

We Investigated the peripheral excitatory effect of capsaicin and KR-25018, a newly synthesized capsaicin derivative which was demonstrated to have a potent analgesic activity. KR-25018 and capsaicin were found to be both potent efficacious contractors of isolated guinea pig bronchial smooth muscle. KR-25018 was equipotent with capsaicin and [Sar$\^$9/,Met(O$_2$)$\^$11/]-substance P, 10-fold more potent than histamine and 10-fold less potent than (${\beta}$ -Ala$\^$8/)-neurokinin A(4-10), and their -log(M)EC$\_$50/ values were 6.94${\pm}$0.08, 6.86${\pm}$0.05, 6.96${\pm}$0.07, 5.64${\pm}$0.04, 7.96${\pm}$0.02, respectively. Contractile responses to KR-25018 and capsaicin were potentiated by phosphoramidon (1 ${\mu}$M), an inhibitor of neuropeptide-inactivating endopeptidase, but completely abolished in a calcium-free medium. These responses to KR-25018 and capsaicin were unaffected by the NK-1 antagonist CP96345 (1${\mu}$M), partially inhibited by the NK-2 antagonist SR48968 (1 ${\mu}$M) but almost completely abolished by a combination of the antagonists. A vanilloid receptor antagonist capsazepine competitively antagonized the responses to both KR-25018 and capsaicin (pA$_2$: aganst KR-25018, 5.98${\pm}$0.47; against capsaicin, 5.80${\pm}$0.31), and a capsaicin-sensitive cation channel antagonist ruthenium red caused significant reduction in the maximum responses to KR-25018 and capsaicin (pD'$_2$: against KR-25018, 4.61${\pm}$0.33; against capsaicin 4.96${\pm}$0.21). In conclusion, the present results suggest that KR-25018 and cpasaicin act on the same vanilloid receptor inducing the influx of calcium through ruthenium red-sensitive cation channel and produce contractile responses via the release of tachykinins that act on both NK-1 and NK-2 receptor subtypes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.377-384
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• 1997

To investigate the properties of ryanodine binding sites of the bird skeletal SR vesicles, SDS PAGE, purification of RyR, and $[^3H]ryanodine$ binding study were carried out in the SR vesicles prepared from the chicken pectoral muscle. The chicken SR vesicles have two high molecular weight (HMW) protein bands as in eel SR vesicles on SDS PAGE. The HMW bands on SDS PAGE were found in the $[^3H]ryanodine$ peak fraction $(Fr_{3-5})$ obtained from the purification step of the ryanodine receptor protein. Bmax and KD of the chicken $[^3H]ryanodine$ binding sites were 12.52 pmol/mg protein and 14.53 nM, respectively. Specific $[^3H]ryanodine$ binding was almost maximal at $50{\sim}100$ ${\mu}M$ $Ca^{2+}$, but was not increased by 5 mM AMP and not inhibited by high $Ca^{2+}$. Binding was significantly inhibited by $20{\sim}100$ ${\mu}M$ ruthenium red and 1 mM tetracaine, but slightly inhibited by $Mg^{2+}$. From the above results, it is suggested that chicken SR vesicles have the ryanodine binding sites to which the binding of ryanodine is almost maximal at $50{\sim}10$ ${\mu}M$ $Ca^{2+}$, is significantly inhibited by ruthenium red and tetracaine, slightly inhibited by $Mg^{2+}$, but not affected by AMP and not inhibited by high $Ca^{2+}$.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.550-555
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• 2012

TRPA1 and TRPV1 are members of the TRP superfamily of structurally related, nonselective cation channels. TRPA1 and TRPV1 are often co-expressed in sensory neurons and play an important role in somatosense such as cold, pain, and irritants. The first leaves of Kalopanax pictus Nakai (Araliaceae) have long been used as a culinary ingredient in Korea because of their unique chemesthetic flavor. In this study, we observed the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ response to cultured cells expressing human TRPA1 (hTRPA1) and human TRPV1 (hTRPV1) by $Ca^{2+}$ imaging analysis to investigate the ability of the first leaves of K. pictus to activate the hTRPA1 and hTRPV1. An 80% ethanol extract of K. pictus (KPEx) increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ influx in a response time- and concentration-dependent manner via either hTRPA1 or hTRPV1. KPEx-induced response to hTRPA1 was markedly attenuated by ruthenium red, a general blocker of TRP channels, and HC-030031, a specific antagonist of TRPA1. In addition, the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ influx attained with KPEx to hTRPV1 was mostly blocked by ruthenium red, and capsazepine, a specific antagonist of TRPV1. These results indicate that KPEx selectively activates both hTRPA1 and hTRPV1, which may provide evidence that the first leaves of K. pictus primarily activate TRPA1 and TRPV1 to induce their unique chemesthetic sense.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.449-457
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• 2016

N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and cysteine have been implicated in a number of human neutrophils' functional responses. However, though $Ca^{2+}$ signaling is one of the key signalings contributing to the functional responses of human neutrophils, effects of NAC and cysteine on intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) in human neutrophils have not been investigated yet. Thus, this study was carried out with an objective to investigate the effects of NAC and cysteine on $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in human neutrophils. We observed that NAC ($1{\mu}M{\sim}1mM$) and cysteine ($10{\mu}M{\sim}1mM$) increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in human neutrophils in a concentration-dependent manner. In NAC pre-supplmented buffer, an additive effect on N-formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in human neutrophils was observed. In $Ca^{2+}$-free buffer, NAC- and cysteine-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase in human neutrophils completely disappeared, suggesting that NAC- and cysteine-mediated increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in human neutrophils occur through $Ca^{2+}$ influx. NAC- and cysteine-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase was effectively inhibited by calcium channel inhibitors SKF96365 ($10{\mu}m$) and ruthenium red ($20{\mu}m$). In $Na^+$-free HEPES, both NAC and cysteine induced a marked increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in human neutrophils, arguing against the possibility that $Na^+$-dependent intracellular uptake of NAC and cysteine is necessary for their $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increasing activity. Our results show that NAC and cysteine induce $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase through $Ca^{2+}$ influx in human neutrophils via SKF96365- and ruthenium red-dependent way.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.125-136
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• 1994

To characterize the SR Ca-release channel protein complex of crustacean, $^{45}Ca-release,\;[^3H]ryanodine$ binding, and immunoblot studies were carried out in the crayfish and/or lobster skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum. Bmax and affinity of crayfish SR to ryanodine were lower than those of lobster SR. AMP (5mM) increased $[^3H]ryanodine$ binding significantly in both vesicles (P<0.05). $Mg^{2+}$(5mM) or tetracaine(1mM) inhibited $[^3H]ryanodine$ binding significantly in both vesicles (P<0.001), but ruthenium red $(10\;{\mu}M)$ inhibited it moderately. In SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of crayfish SR vesicles, there was a high molecular weight band that showed similar mobility with Ca-release channel protein of lobster skeletal SR, but more rapid mobility (HMWBr) than that of rabbit skeletal SR (HMWBS). Immunoblot analysis showed that polyclonal Ab to lobster skeletal SR Ca-release channel protein was react with HMWBr of crayfish skeletal SR, but not with that of HMWBs of rabbit skeletal SR. ^{45}Ca-release from crayfish skeletal SR vesicles was increased by the increase of extravesicular calcium from $1{\mu}M$ to 1mM. This Ca-release phenomenon was similar, but more sensitive in the low concentration of $Ca^{2+}$, compared to that from lobster SR vesicles. AMP (5mM) or caffeine (10mM) did not affect to $^{45}Ca-release.\;^{45}Ca-release$ was inhibited slightly ($3{\sim}8%\;by\;Mg^{2+}$) (5mM) or tetracaine (1mM), and moderately (23%) by high concentration of ruthenium red $(300\;{\mu}M)$. From the above results, it is suggested that SR Ca-release channel protein of crustacean has different properties from that of the rabbit, and similar properties between crayfish and lobster in functional and immunological aspects, but Ca-release via crayfish channel may be more sensitive to calcium.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.317-322
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• 1988

Premicellar precipitation, resolubilization and luminescing behaviors of $RuL_3^{2+}$ (L = bpy, phen, $Me_2bpy$) in aqueous alkylsulfate and sulfonate solutions were studied. Addition of the anionic surfactants to $RuL_3\;^{2+}$ solutions caused initial precipitation which was redissolved by further addition of the surfactants. The apparent solubility products $K_{sp}$'s of the precipitates were evaluated assuming 1:2 salt formation. The values were smaller as the ligand is more hydrophobic and the length of hydrocarbon chain of the surfactant is longer. The $K_{sp}$ values for L = bpy were constant over wide surfactant concentration range. However, those for L = $Me_2bpy$ and also for phen, but to less extent, increased with the surfactant concentration. The resolubilization of 1:2 salts was followed by red-shift of emission band and extensive emission quenching above critical concentration of the surfactants. The critical concentration was lower for more hydrophobic surfactant. For L = $Me_2bpy$, the blue-shifted emission band with enhanced emission intensity was observed in intermediate surfactant concentration region. The high ionic strength of media prevented the precipitate formation, but facilitated the red-shift of the emission bands. The results support that the precipitate is dissolved by accretion of surfactant anions to the salts to form water-soluble surfactant-rich $RuL_3$-surfactant anionic species. These species appeared to aggregate cooperatively to produce large clusters which exhibited the red-shifted emission.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.435-437
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• 1997

The role of $Ca^{2+}$ in making functional malate synthase in Corynebacterium glutamicum was investigated using the cloned DNA coding for the enzyme. Introduction of cloned aceB into C. glutamicum overexpressed malate synthase as judged by SDS-PAGE. However, the increase in enzyme activity of the expressed malate synthase did not match the level of overexpression observed in SDS-PAGE. Addition of $Ca^{2+}$ to the growth medium specifically increased the activity. The malate synthase could be stained with ruthenium red in a $Ca^{2+}$-specific manner. This agrees with the previous observation which reported a potential $Ca^{2+}$-binding domain in the N-terminal region of the protein.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1052-1054
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• 2000

Binding geometries of $[Ru(II)(110-phenanthroline)_2L]^2+$, complexes (where L = dipyrido [3,2-a:2',3'-c]phena-zine (DPPZ) or benzodipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c] phenazine (BDPPZ)) to poly(dG)${\cdot}$poly(dC)${\cdot}$poly(dC) + triplex DNA (CGC + triplex) has been investigated by linear dichroism and normal absorption spectroscopy. Analysis of the linear dichroism for the CGC+ triplex and $[Ru(II)(phen)_2BDPPZ]^2+$ complex indicates that the extended ligand of the metal complex lie perpendicular to the polynucleotide helix axis. Together with strong hypochromism and red shift in the interligand absorption region, we concluded that the extended BDPPZ or DPPZ ligand in-tercalated between the bases of polynucleotide. The spectral properties of the metal complexes bound to CGC+ triplex are similar to those bound to $poly(dA)[poly(dT)]^2$ triplex (Choi et al., Biochemistry 1997, 36, 214), sug-gesting that the metal complex is located in the minor groove of the CGC+ triplex.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.129-135
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• 2010

Recent studies have implicated reactive oxygen species (ROS) as determinants of the pathological pain caused by the activation of peripheral neurons. It has not been elucidated, however, how ROS activate the primary sensory neurons in the pain pathway. In this study, calcium imaging was performed to investigate the effects of NaOCl, a ROS donor, on the intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]i$) in acutely dissociated dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. DRG was sequentially treated with 0.2 mg/ml of both protease and thermolysin, and single neurons were then obtained by mechanical dissociation. The administration of NaOCl then caused a reversible increase in the $[Ca^{2+}]i$, which was inhibited by pretreatment with phenyl-N-tertbuthylnitrone (PBN) and isoascorbate, both ROS scavengers. The NaOCl-induced $[Ca^{2+}]i$ increase was suppressed both in a calcium free solution and after depletion of the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ pool by thapsigargin. Additionally, this increase was predominantly blocked by pretreatment with the transient receptor potential (TRP) antagonists, ruthenium red ($50\;{\mu}M$) and capsazepine ($10\;{\mu}M$). Collectively, these results suggest that an increase in the intracellular calcium concentration is produced from both extracellular fluid and the intracellular calcium store, and that TRP might be involved in the sensation of pain induced by ROS.