• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.5-8
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• 2003

Alcohol abuse and cigarette smoking have been on the rise worldwide and it has been reported that alcohol and nicotine influence serotonergic neuronal activity in the dorsal raphe. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of various neuropsychiatric disorders. In the present study, the effects of alcohol and nicotine on the synthesis of 5-HT and the expression of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), the rate limiting enzyme of 5-HT synthesis, in the dorsal and median raphe of young rats were investigated via immunohistochemistry. The numbers of the 5-HT-positive and TPH-positive cells in raphe nuclei were reduced by alcohol and nicotine treatment, and these numbers were reduced more potently by co-administration of alcohol and nicotine. Based on the results, it can be suggested that the pathogenesis of alcohol- and nicotine-induced neuropsychological disorders involves alcohol- and nicotine-induced suppression of 5-HT synthesis and TPH expression in raphe, and that this may be of particular relevance in the consumption of alcohol and nicotine during adolescence.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.3-12
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• 2005

Most suicides(about 90%) occur in the context of psychiatric disorders. Prediction of suicide risk in patients with mental illness is very important in preventing suicide attempts. However, current approaches to predict suicidality are based on clinical history and have low specificity and biological markers are not yet included. Many studies have explored the association between different biological parameters and suicidality. Studies of cerebro-spinal fluid(CSF) demonstrated that 5-HIAA and HVA levels were lower in patients with a history of suicide. Platelet serotonin transporter and the 5-HT2 serotonin receptor have also been studied in relation to violence and suicide. Depressive patients with greater suicidal tendency had significantly lower cholesterol concentrations but some researchers failed to find the correlation. DST non-supression is reported to predict suicidality in major depression. Several studies demonstrated a relationship between intron 7 polymorphism of tryptophan hydroxylase and suicidal behavior. Since suicide is not occurred in a single disease, the systematic and comprehensive study in large samples with various diagnoses is necessary to find the biological and genetic predictors of suicidal behavior.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1993.04a
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• pp.156-156
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• 1993

본 연구에서는 생체 뇌 국소부위의 세포외액을 대상으로 실험할 수 있는 뇌 미세투석법을 이용하여 후시상하부에서 유리되는 monoamine의 세포외액 농도에 대한 전신 혈압변화의 영향을 관찰함으로써, 심혈관 조절에 대한 후시상하부의 monoamine성 뉴론의 생리적 역할을 규명하고자 하였다. 마취한 흰쥐의 머리를 뇌정위 고정장치에 고정시키고 미세투석관 (microdialysis probe)을 후시상하부에 위치시킨 후 링거액으로 관류하였다. 미세투석액내에 존재하는 monoamine성 신경 전달물질들과 그 대사체들의 정량분석은 고속액체크로마토그라피와 전기화학검출기를 이용하여 실시하였다. 전신 혈압을 40분 동안 약 40mmHg 상승 혹은 30mmHg 감소시키기 위하여 L-phenylephrine hydrochloride (800ng/100 g/min) 혹은 nitroprusside dihydrate (500 ng/100 g/min)를 대퇴정맥을 통하여 주사하였다. 후시상하부로 부터 20분 간격으로 얻은 투석액에서 신정화학물질들의 농도는 미세투석관 삽입후 2시간에 안정되었다. 관류액의 $K^{＋}$ 농도를 90 mM로 증가시켰을 때 후시상하부의 투석액에서 norepinephrine (NE) 과 serotonin (5-HT)의 농도는 각각 기준치의 176.5 $\pm$ 14.8%, 149.1 $\pm$ 2.3%로 증가하였다. Phenylephrine (i.v.)으로 유발된 전신 혈압상승에 의하여 NE과 5-HT의 양은 각각 기준치의 79.3 $\pm$ 4.4%, 61.4 $\pm$ 10.3%로 유의하게 감소하였다. 또한 nitroprusside (i.v.)에 의하여 전신혈압이 감소하였을 때 투석액내 5-HT의 양은 기준치의 195.0 $\pm$ 23.0% 로 유의하게 증가하였다. 후시상하부의 투석액내 monoamine성 대사체들의 경우에는 전신 혈압의 변화에 대한 유의한 반응을 나타내지 않았다. 이상을 종합하면 전신 혈압이 증가되었을 때는 말초 압수용체의 흥분에서 기시한 신경충동이 후시상하부에 전달되어 신경말단에서 5-HT 과 NE 의 유리가 감소되고, 5-HT의 경우에는 전신 혈압이 감소되었을때 그 반대 현상이 일어난다는 가설을 제시할 수 있다. 본 연구의 결과는 생체상태에서 혈압변화에 대한 후시상하부의 monoamine성 조절양상을 규명한 것으로서 특히 후시상하부의 serotonin성 신경계를 통한 심혈관 중추조절의 가능성을 처음으로 제시한 것이다.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.2371-2374
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• 2010

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.259-263
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• 1999

Nefazodone, a newer antidepressant is a phenylpiperazine derivative that inhibits the reuptake of both norepinephrine and serotonin, and antagonizes $5-HT_{2A}$ and ${\alpha}_1$ adrenergic receptors. Compared with SSRIs, nefazodone caused the fewer activating symptoms, adverse gastrointestinal effects(nausea, diarrhea, anorexia) and adverse effects of sexual function, but is associated with the more dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, visual disturbances and confusion. We report on 4 cases of visual disturbances and hallucinations in patients taking nefazodone. It is not certain what mechanisms mediated these side effects, but three mechanisms are possible. 1) Nefazodone, as a 5-HT2 antagonist, might induce visual disturbances. 2) mCPP, metabolite of nefazodone might contribute to the hallucination through action on 5-HT receptor. 3) Dopaminergic enhancing activity of nefazodone might cause hallucination. These case report raises the possibility that dose-related perceptual disturbances may exist with nefazodone. The fact emphasizes the need to pay close attention to all possible drug interactions, particularly in patients treated with multiple psychoactive agents, older patients, and patients with decreased hepatic function.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.215-220
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• 1995

A simple, efficient and sensitive method was described for the simultaneous determination of catecholamine, indoleamine and related metabolites from the homogenates of the rat brain striatum by HPLC-ECD. The optimum mobile phase on a reverse phase $C_{18}$ column was 35mM sodium acetate buffer(included 10mM citric acid, 0.13mM $Na_4EDTA$, 0.58mM SOS, pH3-4):MeOH=85:15. The column temperature was $30^{\circ}C$. Dopamine(DA), 3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid(DOPAC), homovanilic acid(HVA), 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid(5-HIAA), serotonin(5-HT) and noradrenaline(NA) could be separated and analysed to very small amount. The detection limits of this method were 2~10pg per injection for all components. The effects of age and sex of rat on the contents of the catecholamines and their metabolites in rat brain striatum were studied. The levels of DA and 5-HT contents of the 7 week old female rats were higher than those of the 7 week old male rats. As the age of rat increases, the contents of DOPAC increased significantly.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.355-359
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• 1995

To find serotonin(5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT)-antagonizing activities in traditional herbal drugs, crude extracts from 66 kinds of traditional herbal drugs were randomly screened for inhibitory effects on 5-hydroxytryptophan(HTP)-induced diarrhea in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of 5-HTP(2.5 mg/kg) induced diarrhea in 92% of mice, when observed from 10 to 15 min after injection. Crude extracts(2 g/kg) from 66 kinds of traditional herbal drugs were orally pretreated for 1 h before 5-HTP injection. Of the 66 herbal drugs screened, Ephedrae Herba(麻黃), Cimicifugae Rhizoma(升麻), Anisi stellati Fructus(八角茴香), Aurantii Fructus(枳實), Polygalae Radix(遠志) showed the most potent inhibiting activities against 5-HTP(2.5 mg/kg)-induced diarrhea in mice. There are at least 3 possible mechanisms that would be responsible for the inhibitory effect of crude extracts on 5-HTP-induced diarrhea; 1) crude extract-induced inhibition of the activity of aromatic aminoacid decarboxylase catalyzing the conversion of 5-HTP to 5-HT, 2) crude extract-induced blockade of 5-HT receptor(s) in the gastrointestinal tract responsible for 5-HTP-induced diarrhea, 3) crude extract-induced inhibition of gastrointestinal activity, irrespective of 5-HT system. The exact mechanisms and molecules, responsible for the inhibitory effect of crude extracts on 5-HTP-induced diarrhea remain to be clarified.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.425-434
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• 2011

In the present study was to examine the influence of cold stress conditions on memory function in relation with 5-hydroxytryptamine(serotonin, 5-HT), trptophanhydroxylase(TPH) expression and cell proliferation in the hippocampus. For this study, male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing $250{\pm}10g$ (7 weeks in age) were used. The rats were randomly divided into three groups(n = 10 in each group): the $22^{\circ}C$-control group, the $4^{\circ}C$-3 days group, the $4^{\circ}C$-5 weeks group. The environmental temperature at $22^{\circ}C$ set as the normal conditions, $4^{\circ}C$ was as the cold stress conditions. The present results showed that cold stress conditions shorten latency, representing cold stress disturbed memory function. 5-HT and TPH expressions in the dorsal raphe were increased cold stress. Neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus was increased under cold conditions. The present study revealed that cold stress exerted deteriorative memory function. However, through increasing of 5-HT, TPH and BrdU expression under cold stress conditions did not show memory enhancing effect.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2001

Ziprasidone is equally effective as haloperidol in treating schizophrenia with fewer side effects and drug interactions. Ziprasidone is an atypical antipsychotic agent and works by blocking serotonin and dopamine receptors in the central nervous system, specifically 5-HT2A and D2 receptors. Low anticholinergic side-effects and low EPS would recommend the drug for use in the elderly. Ziprasidone inhibits reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin at neurojunction sites in vitro, indicating a potential efficacy for depression and negative symptoms which often follow after exacerbation of schizophrenia. Patients with recent acute myocardial infarction and uncompensated heart failure are contraindicated to the drug due to a possibility of QT prolongation. Although ziprasidone is metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4, there is no significant drug interaction with the drugs that induce or inhibit the isoenzyme. Ziprasidone is safe with coadministration of lithium and there has been no significant drug interaction reported with oral birth control pills.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.2 s.133
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• pp.185-189
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• 2003

We examined the inhibitory activities against monoamine oxidase (MAO) of Morus alba in vitro and in vivo methods. Methanolic extract of M. alba showed significantly inhibitory activities on MAO-A and MAO-B that were prepared from rat brain and liver in vitro. The inhibitory activities were measured by serotonin and benzylamine as substrates, respectively. MAO-A and MAO-B activities were potently inhibited by ethylacetate extracts of M. alba in vitro tests. Those activities in vivo tests have different tendency each other. MAO-A activity was increased by the oral administration of methanolic extract of M. Alba, while, MAO-B activity was decreased. Consequently, we can suggest that M. alba may have the effects on the inhibitory activities against MAO both in vitro and in vivo.