• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.159-167
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• 1994

The contraction of rabbit basilar artery was examined as a function of changes in the $Na^+$ electrochemical gradient in order to determine the contribution of $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange to the modulation of contractility. Ouabain $(10^{-5}\;M)$ or $K^+-free$ Tyrode solution caused an increase in tonic tension even in the presence of a $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker $(10^{-6}\;M\;verapamil)$ and an ${\alpha}-receptor$ blocker $(10^{-5}\;M\;phentolamine)$. After treatment with ouabain $(10^{-5}\;M)$, contractions were augmented by reduction of external $Na^+$ concentration. The longer the treatment with ouabain $(10^{-5}\;M)$ was, the larger the amplitude of $Na^+-free$ contracture was. $Na^+-free$ contracture wag induced by either substitution of equimolar Tris for $Na^+$ or substitution of equimolar $Li^+\;for\;Na^+$. The competition between $Na^+\;and\;Ca^{2+}$ for the $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange carrier would exist, because it was observed that contractility was dependent on the $Na^+$ electrochemical gradient or the extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration (2 mM, 4 mM). Ryanodine $(10^{-7}\;M)$, the blocker of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, did not suppress the development of $Na^+-free$ contracture. The contractile response to norepinephrine $(10^{-6}\;M)$ was augmented by reducing the extracellular $Na^+$ concentration. The relaxation rate from caffeine-induced contraction was dependent on the extracellular $Na^+$ concentration (0 mM, 140 mM). From the above results, it could be suggested that $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange can move $Ca^{2+}$ either into or out of rabbit basilar arterial smooth muscle. $Ca^{2+}$ entry or extrusion is dependent upon the $Na^+$ electrochemical gradient. $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange plays a significant role in the regulation of contractility in rabbit basilar arterial smooth muscle.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 1992

The effects of $Cd^{2+}$ on spontaneous contraction, and the contractures induced by $0mM\;Na^+,\;60mM\;K^+\;and\;10^{-6}\;M$ acetylcholine, 1mM caffeine were studied in order to elucidate diverse actions of $Cd^{2+}$ on the $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization related with contractility in the antral circular muscle of guinea pig stomach. $Cd^{2+}$ inhibited the spontaneous contraction in a does dependent manner $(10^{-6}\;M\;10^{-4}\;M).\;Cd^{2+}\;(3{\times}10^{-5}M)$ suppressed 60 mM $K^+$ induced contracture composed or a phasic and a tonic response and the increased tonic response by the increased external $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. $Cd^{2+}$ also suppressed acetylcholine induced contracture composed of repetitive phasic and a tonic component and the increased tonic response by the increased external $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. Caffeine in the concentration of 1mM evoked contracture but $Cd^{2+}$ suppressed the contracture. $Cd^{2+}$ suppressed the amplitude of the $Na^+$ tee contracture dose dependently and the amplitude of $Na^+$ free contracture almost decreased to 20% of control amplitude in the concentration of $10^{-4}\;M\;Cd^{2+}$. From the above results, it is suggested that $Cd^{2+}$ may inhibit not only $Ca^{2+}$ influx via voltage sensitive, receptor operated $Ca^{2+}$ channel and Na/ca exchange but also intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the antral circular muscle of guinea pig stomach.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.439-445
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• 1999

This study is to investigate the mechanism of inhibitory effect of imipramine on the calcium utilization in single cells isolated from canine detrusor. 2 mm thick smooth muscle chops were incubated in 0.12% collagenase solution at $36^{circ}C,$ and aerated with 95% $O_2/5%\;CO_2,$ and then cell suspension was examined. Acetylcholine (ACh) evoked a concentration-dependent contraction of the isolated detrusor cells in normal physiologic salt solution (PSS), and the ACh-induced contraction was significantly inhibited by imipramine. In $Ca^{2+}-free$ PSS, ACh-induced contraction was less than those in normal PSS and it was not affected by the pretreatment with imipramine. $Ca^{2+}-induced$ contraction in $Ca^{2+}-free$ PSS was supressed by imipramine, but addition of A 23187, a calcium ionophore, overcomed the inhibitory effect of imipramine. High potassium-depolarization (40 mM KCl) evoked cell contraction, which was inhibited by imipramine. Caffeine, a releasing agent of the stored $Ca^{2+}$ from sarcoplasmic reticulum, evoked a contraction of the cells that was not blocked by the pretreatment with imipramine. These results suggest that imipramine inhibits the influx of calcium in the detrusor cells through both the receptor-operated- and voltage-gated-calcium channels, but does not affect the release of calcium from intracellular storage site.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.501-510
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• 1992

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of pretreatment with coenzyme {{{{ { Q}_{10 } }}}} on adriamycin-induced myocardial ultrastructural changes in rats. Except control group 6 treat-ments included three levels of dietary conenzyme {{{{ { Q}_{10 } }}}} (0, 0.1 or 0.5g/kg diet) and two levels of ADR(1.0 or 2.0mg/kg B.W/week) Adriamycin treatment significantly decreased growth perfo-rmance of rats. But this decrement was not modified by dietary supplementation of coenzyme{{{{ { Q}_{10 } }}}} Electron microscopic examination revealed a progression of myocardial lesions were depen-dent upon the level of ADR injection. The most frequently observed fin structural alterations in rat myocardium were mitochondrial swelling dilation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the appearance of a perinuclear vacuolication. But these structural changes were somewhat reduced by dietary supplementation of coenzyme {{{{ { Q}_{10 } }}}}.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.431-436
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• 2011

Vascular smooth muscle cells can obtain a proliferative function in environments such as atherosclerosis in vivo or primary culture in vitro. Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells is accompanied by changes in ryanodine receptors (RyRs). In several studies, the cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ response to caffeine is decreased during smooth muscle cell culture. Although caffeine is commonly used to investigate RyR function because it is difficult to measure $Ca^{2+}$ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) directly, caffeine has additional off-target effects, including blocking inositol trisphosphate receptors and store-operated $Ca^{2+}$ entry. Using freshly dissociated rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs) and cultured RASMCs, we sought to provide direct evidence for the operation of RyRs through the $Ca^{2+}$- induced $Ca^{2+}$ -release pathway by directly measuring $Ca^{2+}$ release from SR in permeabilized cells. An additional goal was to elucidate alterations of RyRs that occurred during culture. Perfusion of permeabilized, freshly dissociated RASMCs with $Ca^{2+}$ stimulated $Ca^{2+}$ release from the SR. Caffeine and ryanodine also induced $Ca^{2+}$ release from the SR in dissociated RASMCs. In contrast, ryanodine, caffeine and $Ca^{2+}$ failed to trigger $Ca^{2+}$ release in cultured RASMCs. These results are consistent with results obtained by immunocytochemistry, which showed that RyRs were expressed in dissociated RASMCs, but not in cultured RASMCs. This study is the first to demonstrate $Ca^{2+}$ release from the SR by cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ elevation in vascular smooth muscle cells, and also supports previous studies on the alterations of RyRs in vascular smooth muscle cells associated with culture.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2001

The effects of cardiac ischemia-reperfusion and $\beta$-adrenergic stimulation on metabolic function and energetics were investigated in Lan gendorff-perfused spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) hearts. Sarcoplasmic reticulum {TEX}$Ca^{2+}${/TEX}-dependent ATPase and cardiac lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) are additionally studied. The perfusion medium (1.0 mM {TEX}$Ca^{2+}${/TEX}) contained 5 mM glucose(+5 U/L insulin) and 2 mM pyruvate as substrates. Global ischemia was induced by reducing perfusion pressure of 100 to 40 cm {TEX}$H_{2}${/TEX}O, followed by 20 min reperfusin. Isoproterenol (ISO, 1$\mu$M) was infused for 10 min. Coronary vascular resistance and myocardial oxygen consumption ({TEX}$MVO_{2}${/TEX}) of SHR were increased in parallel with enhanced venous lactate during ischemia and reperfusion compared to those of Sprague Dawley (SD) hearts. Although ischemia-induced increase in venous lactate and combined adenosine plus inosine was abolished, coronary vasodilation produced in SD during reperfusion. In SHR, depressed reactive hyperemia was associated with a fall in cardiac ATP and CrP/Pi ratio and a rise in intracellular lactate/Pyruvate ratio. On the other hand, ISO produced coronary functional hyperemia and an increase in {TEX}$MVO_{2}${/TEX}. However, these responses were less than those in SHR hearts. The ATPase activity of SHR was attenuated in free {TEX}$Ca^{2+}${/TEX} concentrations used under basal condition and with ISO compared to that of SD. Venous lactate output and cardiac LDH activity were augmented in SHR as influenced by ISO. These results demonstrate that coronary reactive and functional hyperemia was dpressed in SHR, which cold be explained by alterations in the cytosolic phosphorylation potential and the cytosolic redox state manipulated by LDH, and by abnormal free calcium handling.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2004

It is widely accepted that smooth muscle contraction is triggered by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) released from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores such as sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and from the extracellular space, The increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ can phosphorylate the 20-kDa myosin light chain ($MLC_{20}$) by activating MLC kinase (MLCK), and this initiates smooth muscle contraction. In addition to the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$-MLCK-tension pathway, a number of intracellular signal molecules, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase C (PKC), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and Rho-associated coiled coil-forming protein kinase (ROCK), play important roles in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction. However, the mechanisms regulating contraction of caldesmon (CaD), actin-binding protein, are not entirely elucidated in the presence of $Ca^{2+}$. It is known that CaD tightly interacts with actin and inhibits actomyosin ATPase activity. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the roles of $Ca^{2+}$-dependent CaD in smooth muscle contraction. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), G-protein coupled receptor agonist and vasoconstrictor, increased both vascular smooth contraction and phosphorylation of CaD in the presence of $Ca^{2+}$. These results suggest that ET-1 induces contraction and phosphorylation of CaD in rat aortic smooth muscle, which may he mediated by the increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$.

• 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 $Ca^{2+}$.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.99-118
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• 1989

The cardiotoxic effects of acute and chronic administration of adriamycin (ADR) were evaluated in A/J Swiss albino mice. In acute studies, male mice received intravenous ADR, 5mg or 15mg/kg per day for 3 or 1day and were sacrifice 12 hours later. Because the glutathione-glutathione peroxidase system is major pathway for free radical detoxication, glutathione levels and glutathione peroxidase activity was measured. In acute studies, ADR-treated mice exhibited significantly decreased levels(p<0.05) of total glutathione and unchanged levels of oxidized glutathione and percentage of oxidized glutathione. The earliest myocardial fine structural alterations included swelling and degeneration of mitochondria and dilatation of sarcoplasmic reticulum at all dosage of acute models. In chronic studies, mice received 5mg/kg ADR once a week for up to 16 weeks. Levels of total and reduced glutathione were decreased significantly(p<0.01) and oxidized glutathione and percentage of oxidized glutathione were increased significantly (p<0.05). Chronic myocardial lesions included perinuclear vacuolization, seperation of myofibrils and the fasciae adherens of intercalated disc and hypercontraction band within myocyte. Glutathione peroxidase activity reduced significantly (p<0.01) in any group of acute and chronic ADR-treated animals. Test for lipid peroxidation(malondialdehyde) was increased significantly(P<0.01). Thus, we conclude 1) ADR significantly lowers glutathione levels in heart tissue, and 2) cellular damage progress produced by alteration of this system in mouse models of ADR cardiotoxicity. These results suggest that the glutathione-glutathione peroxidase system may be involved in the modulation of ADR-induced cardiotoxicity.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.71-85
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• 1985

The ultrastructure on the dorsal vessel of 5-day-old cabbage butterfly, Pieris rapae L., was carried out using the transmission and scanning electron microscope. The results are as follows. 1) The aorta. The aorta is simple tubular type and consists of the inner and outer membrane of the myocardium and thick myocardium is located between them. However the inner membrane with $0.26{\mu}m$ thickness and outer membrane with $0.08{\mu}m$ are composed of fibrous materials, the former is composed of low and high densed fibrous materials and the latter appears homogeneous layer. The myocardium consists of typical striated muscles. The sarcomere with $1.6{\mu}m$ length and in cross section, each thick filaments are surrounded by $7{\sim}8$ thin filaments. The intercalated disc is joining the end of the two muscle cells, desmosomes and septate junctions are appeared between the neighboring muscle cells. 2) The heart. The heart composing of myocardium enclosed by its inner and outer membrane as the aorta has a series of well formed segmental chamber. The arrangement of myofilaments, cell adhensions and membrane elements are observed as same as at the aorta. The inner membrane of the heart is deeply invaginated into the myocardium than the outer membrane and a lot of well developed mitochondria with rod shape are aggregated in the folds. The longitudinally and transversely oriented tubule system formed by invagnation of the sarcolemma into the muscle bundle is built up dyad with the sarcoplasmic reticulum as the aorta. The slit is formed by deeply invagination of the inner membrane of myocadium toward the muscle layer and then the inner and outer membrane of myocardium are fused. Therefore, the ostium is formed between the myocardium and situated at the lateral side of the myocardium.