• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.156-160
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• 2009

The present study was undertaken to determine whether transgelin participates in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle contraction and, if so, to investigate the mechanism. By PCR homology cloning, the cDNA sequence of ferret transgelin was determined and phosphorothioate antisense and random oligonucleotides were synthesized and introduced into strips of ferret aorta by a chemical loading procedure. Treatment of ferret aorta with transgelin antisense oligonucleotides resulted in a significant decrease in protein levels of transgelin to sham- or random sequence-loaded muscles, but no change in the protein levels of actin. Contraction in response to a phorbol ester was significantly decreased in antisense-treated muscles compared to sham- or random sequence-loaded controls. Neither basal intrinsic tone nor the contraction in response to phenylephrine was significantly affected by the antisense treatment. The data indicate that transgelin plays a significant role in the regulation of contraction and suggest that in a tonically active smooth muscle transgelin may function as a signalling protein to facilitate PKC or ERK-dependent signalling rather than thick filament regulation including $Ca^{2+}$ or calmodulin dependent regulation of myosin light chain kinase.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.74-83
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• 2006

Ssanghwatang (SHT) has been known to prove effective in the treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), and its modified formula is widely used in clinical practice. However, its fundamental mechanism of action is not clearly known. It is well known that endothelial cells can achieve the relaxation of vascular smooth muscles by the release of nitric oxide (NO). NO is synthesized by the enzyme NO synthase (NOS) from L-arginine and oxygen. It is widely accepted that NO plays an important role in the relaxation of corpus cavernous smooth muscle and vasculature. In addition, in terms of the penile erection, the NO/cGMP pathway is more potent than the PCE1/cAMP pathway. The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of the erectile effects of SHT by focusing on its direct effects on corpus cavernous smooth muscle cells. We investigated the NOS activity, nitrite concentration and cGMP levels in rat corpus cavernous smooth muscle cell lines activated by SHT extracts. Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of SHT extracts on penile smooth muscle relaxation following oral administration of SHT extract powder to rats by the dosage of 1 g/kg over fifteen days. As a result, we found that SHT stimulated NO release. NOS activity and cGMP levels were increased by SHT respectively. Furthermore, SHT relaxed the corpus cavernous smooth muscle. These results are consistent with the concept that penile erection by SHT is carried out through the NO/cGMP pathway. In conclusion, the present study shows that SHT increases the NOS activity, synthesizes NO and augments the cGMP, which mediates penile erection. Further determination of the SHT mechanism related with the NO/cGMP pathway strongly indicates that SHT can be used as a remedy for erectile impotence.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 1994

We investigated the alterations in basal tone of aortic strips by changing the Ca concentration, basal $^{45}Ca$ uptake and $^3H-nitrendipine$ binding of the single cells of aortic smooth muscles in the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. While the basal tone of the aortic strips in WKY rats was not affected by alteration of Ca concentration, that in SHR was decreased by the removal of Ca from the bath solution and was recovered by the restoration of Ca to normal levels. This contraction increased in a Ca concentration-dependent manner and reached a maximum at 2 mM Ca. The basal tone of aorta in SHR was suppressed by verapamil $(10^{-6}M)$. The basal tone of aorta in SHR increased about 50% in the strips of endothelial rubbing, compared with that of intact endothelium. Basal $^{45}Ca$ uptake in the aortic single smooth muscle cells of SHR was greater than that of WKY (p<0.01), Specific bindings of $[^3H]nitrendipine$ in the aortic single smooth muscles of SHR and WKY were saturable. The dissociation constant $(K_d)\;was\;0.71{\pm}0.15\;and\;1.18{\pm}0.08nM$ SHR, respectively, and the difference in $K_d$ between two strains was statistically significant (p<0.03). The maximal binding capacity $(B_{max})\;was\;34.6{\pm}3.2\;and\;47.4{\pm}4.3\;fmol/10^6$ SHR respectively, and the difference of $(B_{max})$ between two strains was statistically significant (p<0.05). from the above results, it is suggested that the increase of Ca influx via potential-operated Ca channels and the increase of the number of dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca channels contribute to high basal tone of the aortic strips in SHR.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1831-1835
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• 2014

Background: To investigate the relationship between extracellular matrix parameters and texture of prostatic lesions evaluated by transrectal real-time tissue elastography (TRTE). Methods: 120 patients suspicious for prostate cancer underwent TRTE. Targeted biopsies were carried out after 12-core systematic biopsy. Epithelia were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and Victoria blue and Ponceau S were used to stain elastic-collagen fibers, and picric acid-sirius red for visualization of collagen type I (Col1) and III (Col3). Smooth muscles were visualized by immunohistochemistry. All image analyses were performed in a blind manner using Image Pro Plus 6.0, and the area ratios of epithelium, elastic fibers, collagen fibers and Col1/Col3 were determined. Results: 42 patients with typical elastograms were included in the final data analysis. Significant differences were detected between the benign and malignant groups in the area ratios of epithelium (P = 0.01), smooth muscles and Col1/Col3 (P = 0.04, P = 0.02, respectively). There were no significant differences in the area ratios of epithelium, smooth muscle and elastic fibers between the stiff and soft lesion groups. The area ratio of Col1 was ($0.05{\pm}0.03$) in the stiff group, and ($0.02{\pm}0.01$) in the soft group (P= 0.00). However, the area ratio of Col3 was ($0.03{\pm}0.02$) in the stiff group, and ($0.05{\pm}0.04$) in the soft group (P = 0.16). Col1/Col3 in the stiff group ($1.99{\pm}1.59$) was greater than in the soft group ($0.71{\pm}0.64$) (P = 0.01). Conclusions: Tissue hardness of prostatic tumors was mainly dependent on the Col1 content, Col1/Col3 being higher in malignant than in benign lesions, so the prostate tissue texture can be used as a target for distinguishing between the two with TRTE.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.63-66
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• 2009

Cutaneous leiomyomas (leiomyosarcomas) are smooth muscle tumors that occur single or as multiple lesions. They usually arise from the arrector pili muscles (piloleiomyomas) and less commonly from the muscle of veins (angioleiomyomas). This report describes histologic and immunohistochemical features of one cutaneous piloleiomyoma and two angioleiomyosarcomas. Three 7-12-year-old female dogs were presented with single or double cutaneous nodules. Histologically, the neoplastic masses were composed of densely or loosely arranged interlacing bundles. The neoplastic cells were ovoid to elongate, and had eosinophilic cytoplasms and perinuclear cytoplasmic vacuolation. Nuclei were central to eccentric, cigar shaped, oval to elongate. In two cases, high mitotic index in high power field, multifocal necrosis and local invasion were also noted. Masson's trichrome and van Gieson staining revealed muscle origin tumors in these cases. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were strongly positive for smooth muscle actin. In our best knowledge, this is the first report of cutaneous smooth muscle tumors in dogs in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.43 no.4 s.287
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• pp.203-206
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• 2006

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers, which are pH-sensitive and exhibit soft actuation as a linear actuator and artificial muscles, were prepared by electrospinning to investigate the effect of viscosity on the morphology of PAN fibers. Experimental results revealed that higher viscosity is critical for the formation of unbeaded nanofibers because surface tension is almost constant throughout the experiment. Uniform, smooth, and continuous fibers with diameters of about 700 nm were achieved for the 10 wt% PAN fibers at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/h and an electric field of 0.875 kV/cm.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.94-97
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• 2019

The patients with myotonic dystrophy (MD) show ocular motor abnormalities including strabismus, vergence deficits, and inaccurate or slow saccades. Two theories have been proposed to explain the oculomotor deficits in MD. The central theory attributes the defects of eye movements of MD to the involvement of the central nervous system while the muscular theory attributes to dystrophic changes of the extraocular muscles. A 58-year-old woman with MD showed selective slowing of horizontal saccades and reduced peak velocities for both horizontal canals in head impulse tests, while smooth-pursuit eye movements and vertical head impulse responses were normal. This case suggests that the extraocular muscles-as a final common pathway of the voluntary saccade and reflexive vestibular eye movements-may better explain the defective rapid eye movements observed in MD.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 1999

Mammalian gastric smooth muscles generate spontaneous rhythmic contractions which are associated with slow oscillatory potentials (slow waves) and spike potentials. Spike potentials are blocked by organic $Ca^{2+}-antagonists,$ indicating that these result from the activation of L-type $Ca^{2+}-channel.$ However, the cellular mechanisms underlying the generation of slow wave remain unclear. Slow waves are insensitive to $Ca^{2+}-antagonists$ but are blocked by metabolic inhibitors or low temperature. Recently it has been suggested that Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC) serve as pacemaker cells and a slow wave reflects the coordinated behavior of both ICC and smooth muscle cells. Small segments of circular smooth muscle isolated from antrum of the guinea-pig stomach generated two types of electrical events; irregular small amplitude (1 to 7 mV) of transient depolarization and larger amplitude (20 to 30 mV) of slow depolarization (regenerative potential). Transient depolarization occurred irregularly and membrane depolarization increased their frequency. Regenerative potentials were generated rhythmically and appeared to result from summed transient depolarizations. Spike potentials, sensitive to nifedipine, were generated on the peaks of regenerative potentials. Depolarization of the membrane evoked regenerative potentials with long latencies (1 to 2 s). These potentials had long partial refractory periods (15 to 20 s). They were inhibited by low concentrations of caffeine, perhaps reflecting either depletion of $Ca^{2+}$ from SR or inhibition of InsP3 receptors, by buffering $Ca^{2+}$ to low levels with BAPTA or by depleting $Ca^{2+}$ from SR with CPA. They persisted in the presence of $Ca^{2+}-sensitive$ $Cl^--channel$ blockers, niflumic acid and DIDS or $Co^{2+},$ a non selective $Ca^{2+}-channel$ blocker. These results suggest that spontaneous activity of gastric smooth muscle results from $Ca^{2+}$ release from SR, followed by activation of $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ ion channels other than $Cl^-$ channels, with the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from SR being triggered by membrane depolarization.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.55-67
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• 1997

The morphological development of lungs in fetuses of 60, 90 and 120 days of gestation and neonates of Korean native goats was investigated by light, scanning and transmission electron mictroscope. The results were summarized as follows ; 1. Gross findings ; In the 60-days-old fetus, the lung was developed and differentiated into six lobes. 2. Light microscopic findings : The gland-like bronchioles were formed in loose mesenchyme at 60 days of gestation and the bronchial wall contained smooth muscles. The loose mesenchyme had been replaced by compact parenchymal tissue at 90 days of gestation and the cartilage plates appeared in bronchial wall which contained blood vessels, submucosal glands and smooth muscles. The lung parenchyma consisted of a fine network of alveoli at 120 days of gestation and the bronchial wall contained well-developed blood vessels, submucosal glands, cartilage plates and smooth muscles. In neonates, the lung tissue was similar to the mature lung tissue and the bronchial wall contained well developed cartilage plates. 3. Scanning electron microscopic findings : The epithelial cells lining the tubules were composed of cuboidal or columnar at 60 days of gestation and the epithelial cells lining the large airways were often ciliated : some were covered with stubby microvilli. The epithelial cells lining the canals were cuboidal at 90 days of gestation and the epithelial cells lining the bronchioles were ciliated cells or nonciliated(clara) cells, The clara cells contained row microvilli. The alvealor development of this stage was rapidly progressed ; the subdivision of canals by alveolar crests and assosiated wall attenuation resulted alveoli at 120 days of gestation and the respiratory bronchioles were lined by ciliated or nonciliated epithelial cells. In neonates, the epithelial cells lining the alveolar walls were mainly covered with pneumocyte type I ; Some were covered with pneu-mocyte type II. 4. Transmission electron microscopic findings : The epithelial cells lining the tubules were adhered with tight junction at apical borders of the adjacent cells at 60 days of gestation, which contained few organells and glycogen. The epithelial cells lining the canals were composed mostly of cuboidal cell at 90 days of gestation and the epithelial cells lining of the bronchioles were ciliated of nonciliated cell, which contained few organelles and abundant glycogen. The epithelial cells lining the alveolar walls were composed of pneumocyte type I and a few pneumocyte type II at 120 days of gestation. The epithelial cells lining of the bronchioles were ciliated or nonciliated cells. In neonates, pneumocyte type I was observed as flat and thin cytoplasmic extension in shape. Otherwise, pneumocyte type II was observed as cuboidal type with apical microvilli and contained osmiophillic lamellar inclusion bodies. Putting these various experiment results together, the lung development was slowly progressed at early stage, which was rapidly progressed in the late stage of gestation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.452-464
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• 1990

It is well known that extracellular Calcium plays a very important role in several steps of smooth muscle excitability and contractility, and there have been many concerns about factors influencing the distribution of extracellular Ca++ and the Ca++ flux through the cell membrane of the smooth muscle. Based on the assumption that Mg++ may also play an important role in the excitation and contraction processes of the smooth muscle by taking part in affecting Ca++ distribution and flux, many researches are being performed about the exact role of Mg++, especially in the vascular smooth muscle. But yet the effect of Mg++ in the smooth muscle activity is not clarified, and moreover the mechanism of Mg++ action is almost completely unknown. Present study attempted to clarify the effect of Mg++ on the excitability and contractility in the multiunit and unitary smooth muscle, and the mechanism concerned in it. The preparations used were the guinea-pig aortic strip as the experimental material of the multiunit smooth muscle and the rat uterine strip as the one of the unitary smooth muscle. The tissues were isolated from the sacrificed animal and were prepared for recording the isometric contraction. The effects of Mg++ and Ca++ were examined on the electrically driven or spontaneous contraction of the preparations. And the effects of these ions were also studied on the K+ or norepinephrine contracture. All experiments were performed in tris-buffered Tyrode solution which was aerated with 100% 02 and kept at 35oC. The results obtained were as follows: 1] Mg++ suppressed the phasic contraction induced by electrical field stimulation dose-dependently in the guinea-pig aortic strip, while the high concentration of Ca++ never recovered the decreased tension. These phenomena were not changed by the a - or b - adrenergic blocker. 2]Mg++ played the suppressing effect on the low concentration [20 and 40 mM] of K+-contracture in the aortic muscle, but the effect was not shown in the case of 100mM K+-contracture. 3] Mg++ also suppressed the contracture induced by norepinephrine in the aortic preparation. And the effect of Mg++ was most prominent in the contracture by the lowest [10 mM] concentration of norepinephrine. 4] In both the spontaneous and electrically driven contractions of the uterine strip, Mg++ decreased the amplitude of peak tension, and by the high concentration of Ca++ the amplitude of tension was recovered unlike the aortic muscle. 5] The frequency of the uterine spontaneous contraction increased as the [Ca++] / [Mg++] ratio increased up to 2, but the frequency decreased above this level. 6] Mg++ decreased the tension of the low[20 and 40mM] K+-contracture in the uterine smooth muscle, but the effect did not appear in the 100mM K+-contracture. From the above results, the following conclusion could be made. 1] Mg++ seems to suppress the contractility directly by acting on the smooth muscle itself, besides through the indirect action on the nerve terminal, in both the aortic and uterine smooth muscles. 2] The fact that the depressant effect of Mg++ on the K+-contracture is in inverse proportion to an increase of K+ concentration appears resulted from the extent of the opening state of the Ca++ channel. 3] Mg++ may play a depressant role on both the potential dependent and the receptor-operated Ca++ channels. 4] The relationship between the actions of Mg++ and Ca++ seems to be competitive in uterine muscle and non-competitive in aortic strip.