• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.45-56
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• 2003

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Bee Venom on the lipopolysaccharide(LPS), sodium nitroprusside(SNP), hydrogen peroxide$(H_2O_2)$-induced expression inducilble nitric oxide synthetase(iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$) and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-kB) in RAW 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line. Method : The expressions of expression iNOS and TNF-${\alpha}$ were determined by western blotting with corresponding antibodies. The expressions of expression NF-kB was assayed by EMSA method. Results : 1. The 0.5, 1 and $5{\mu}g/mg$ of bee venom on LPS-induced expression of iNOS, the $5{\mu}g/mg$ of bee venom on SNP-induced expression of iNOS and the $1{\mu}g/mg$ of bee venom on $H_2O_2$-induced expression of iNOS compared with control were inhibited significantly. 2. The 0.5, 1 and $5{\mu}g/mg$ of bee venom inhibited significantly LPS and $H_2O_2$-induced expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ compared with control, respectively. The $0.5{\mu}g/mg$ of bee venom increased significantly SNP-induced expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ compared with control. 3. The $5{\mu}g/mg$ of bee venom on LPS-induced expression of NF-kB, the $0.5{\mu}g/mg$ of bee venom on SNP-induced expression of NF-kB and the 0.5, $5{\mu}g/mg$ of bee venom on $H_2O_2$-induced expression of NF-kB were inhibited significantly compared with control, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.199-205
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• 2002

The role of peripheral vestibular receptors in acute hypotension was investigated in anesthetized rats. Acute hypotension was induced by either intravenous infusion of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or by experimental hemorrhage, and electrical activity and expression of cFos-like immunoreactive (cFL) protein were measured in the medial vestibular nuclei (MVN). Blood pressure decreased proportionately to the does of intravenous SNP and to the volume of the hemorrhage. Blood pressure decreased 10, 30, 50% for the 5, 10, $15{\mu}g/kg$ SNP injection, respectively, and also decreased 30 and 50% after 1- and 2-ml blood loss, respectively, due to hemorrhage. In animals with intact labyrinths, acute hypotension induced by either intravenous infusion of SNP or hemorrhage produced different electrical activities with three different patterns in type I and II neurons of MVN. The responses of type I neurons showed excitatory in 2/3 of recorded neurons and inhibitory or no change in 1/3 of neurons, while the responses of type II neurons showed inhibitory in 2/3 of recorded neurons and excitatory or no change in 1/3 of neurons. In unilateral labyrinthectomized animals, 2/3 of type I neurons ipsilateral to the lesion showed an inhibitory response, and 2/3 of contralateral type I neurons showed an excitatory response after the induction of acute hypotension. The response patterns of type II neurons were opposite from those of the type I neurons. After 30% decrease in blood pressure, cFL protein expressed in the bilateral vestibular nuclei of control animals with intact labyrinths. Expression of cFL protein increased significantly proportionately to the reduction of blood pressure. The unilateral labyrinthectomized animals with acute hypotension produced expression of cFL neurons in contralateral vestibular nuclei to the lesion side, but not in ipsilateral vestibular nuclei. However, cFL protein was not expressed in bilateral vestibular nuclei after acute hypotension in bilateral labyrinthectomized animals. These results suggest that the peripheral vestibular receptors might play a significant role in controlling blood pressure following acute hypotension via activation of type I neurons and inhibition of type II neurons in the vestibular nuclei.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.83-94
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• 2004

Objective: To investigate whether GnRH-agonist (GnRH-Ag) using in IVF-ET affects apoptosis of human granulosa-luteal cells and expression of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) protein involved in the apoptosis of the cells. Methods: Granulosa-luteal cells obtained during oocyte retrieval were cultured and treated with $10^{-5}M$ GnRH-Ag. Apoptosis of the cells by the treatment was confirmed using DNA fragmentation analysis 24 h after culture. The presence of PBR protein within the cells was examined by immunofluorescence staining and the expression of the protein was analyzed by Western blotting. In addition, it was measured for progesterone and nitric oxide (NO) produced by granulosa-luteal cells after GnRH-Ag treatment. To evaluate the relationship between NO production and PBR expression, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as a NO donor was added in media and investigated the expression of PBR protein by Western blotting. Results: Apoptosis increased in the granulosa-luteal cells 24 h after GnRH-Ag treatment, whereas the expression of PBR protein significantly decreased. Furthermore, the production of progesterone and nitric oxide (NO) by the cells significantly fell from 12 h after the treatment. In the results of Western blotting after SNP treatment, the expression of PBR protein increased in the treatment with SNP alone to the granulosa-luteal cells, but was suppressed in the treatment with GnRH-Ag and SNP. Additionally, the staining result of PBR protein in the cells showed the even distribution of it through the cell. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that GnRH-Ag treatment induces apoptosis, decreasing expression of PBR protein and NO production in human granulosa-luteal cells. The present study suggests that one of the apoptosis mechanism of human granulosa-luteal cells by GnRH-Ag might be a signal transduction pathway via NO and PBR.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.181-190
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• 1994

Endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) activates guanylate cyclase which mediates the formation of cGMP from GTP in vascular smooth muscle. It is well known that endothelium-dependent relaxation is impaired in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). However, it is still unknown whether the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in SHR results from the reduced release of EDRF or from the decrease of vascular response to EDRF. We investigated the effects of cGMP on the contractility and Ca movement in the aorta of SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The amplitude of the endothelium-dependent relaxation to actylcholine (ACh) was significantly less in SHR than in WKY. L-arginine $(10^{-3}M)$ did not increase endothelium-dependent relaxation in both strains. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an activator of guanylate cyclase, relaxed the 40 mM $K^+-induced$ contraction in a dose-dependent manner $(10^{-10}{\sim}10^{-6}\;M)$ in the endothelium-rubbed aortic strips of both strains. However, there was no significant difference in these relaxations between WKY and SHR. 8-bromo-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (8-Br-cGMP), a cell membrane-permeable derivative of cGMP relaxed the 40 mM $K^+-induced$ contraction in a dose-dependent manner $(10^{-6}{\sim}10^{-4}\;M)$ in the endothelium-rubbed aortic strips of both strains. Also norepinephrine $(10^{-6}\;M)-induced$ contractions in normal and Ca-free Tyrode's solution were suppressed by the pretreatment with 8-Br-cGMP $(10^{-4}\;M)$ in either strain. However, the amplitudes of suppression induced by 8-Br-cGMP were greater in SHR than that in WKY. Basal $^{45}Ca$ uptake and 40mM $K^+-stimulated\;^{45}Ca$ uptake were not suppressed by pretreatment with 8-Br-cGMP $(10^{-4}\;M)$ in single aortic smooth muscle cells of both SHR and WKY. From the above results, it is suggested that cGMP decreases Ca sensitivity in vascular smooth muscle cells and that the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in the aortic strips of SHR is not the result of a reduced vascular response to EDRF.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.19-36
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• 2004

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Bee Venom and Melittin Solution on the lipopolysaccharide(LPS) and sodium nitroprusside(SNP)-induced expression of prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$, cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), nuclear factor kappa B($NF-{\kappa}B$) and nuclear factor kappa B($NF-{\kappa}B$) dependent luciferase activity in RAW 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line. Methods : The expression of PGE2 was determined by determination of $PEG_2$, COX-2 was by western blotting with corresponding antibodies, $NF-{\kappa}B$ was by gel mobility shift assay method and $NF-{\kappa}B$ dependent luciferase activity was investigated by luciferase assay in RAW 264.7 cells. Results : 1. LPS and SNP-induced expression of $PEG_2$ was significant after 24hour. 2. The 0.5, 1 and $5{\mu}g/mL$ of bee venom and the 5 and $10{\mu}g/mL$ of melittin solution inhibited significantly LPS-induced expression of $PEG_2$ and, the $5{\mu}g/mL$ of bee venom and the 5 and $10{\mu}g/mL$ of melittin solution inhibited significantly SNP-induced expression of $PEG_2$ compared with control, respectively. The 0.5 and $1{\mu}g/mL$ of bee venom could not significantly inhibit SNP-induced expression of $PEG_2$ compared with control. 3. The $5{\mu}g/mL$ of bee venom and the 5 and $10{\mu}g/mL$ of melittin solution inhibited significantly LPS and SNP-induced expression of COX-2 compared with control, respectively. The 0.5 and $1{\mu}g/mL$ of bee venom inclined to decrease LPS and SNP-induced expression of COX-2 compared with control. 4. The 0.5, 1 and $5{\mu}g/mL$ of bee venom and the 5 and $10{\mu}g/mL$ of melittin solution inhibited significantly LPS and SNP-induced expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ compared with control, respectively. 5. The 0.5, 1 and $5{\mu}g/mL$ of bee venom and the 5 and $10{\mu}g/mL$ of melittin solution inhibited significantly LPS-induced expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ dependent luciferase activity and the 1 and $5{\mu}g/mL$ of bee venom and the 5 and $10{\mu}g/mL$ of melittin solution inhibited significantly SNP-induced expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ dependent luciferase activity compared with control, respectively. The $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitor also inhibited significantly LPS and SNP-induced expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ dependent luciferase activity compared with control. 6. The 0.5, 1 and $5{\mu}g/mL$ of bee venom and the 5 and $10{\mu}g/mL$ of melittin solution inhibited significantly LPS + IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$ and LPS + TNF-${\alpha}$-induced expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ dependent luciferase activity compared with control, respectively. The $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitor also inhibited significantly LPS and SNP-induced expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ dependent luciferase activity compared with control. Conclusions : These results suggest the inhibitory action of bee venom and melittin solution on the inflammatory mediators such as $PEG_2$, COX-2 and $NF-{\kappa}B$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.343-351
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• 2001

This study was undertaken to investigate the mechanism of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and nitric oxide (NO) as a regulator of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. VSMC was primarily cultured from rat aorta and confirmed by the immunocytochemistry with anti-smooth muscle myosin antibody. The number of viable VSMCs were counted, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was measured to assess the degree of cell death. Concentrations of nitrite in the culture medium were measured as an indicator of NO production. LPS was introduced into the medium to induce the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in VSMC, and Western blot for iNOS protein and RT-PCR for iNOS mRNA were performed to confirm the presence of iNOS. Inhibitors of iNOS and soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and L-arginine were employed to observe the action of LPS on the iNOS-NO-cGMP signalling pathway. LPS and SNP decreased number of VSMCs and increased the nitrite concentration in the culture medium, but there was no significant change in LDH activity. A cell permeable cGMP derivative, 8-Bromo-cGMP, decreased the number of VSMCs with no significant change in LDH activity. L-arginine, an NO substrate, alone tended to reduce cell count without affecting nitrite concentration or LDH level. Aminoguanidine, an iNOS specific inhibitor, inhibited LPS-induced reduction of cell numbers and reduced the nitrite concentration in the culture medium. LY 83583, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor, suppressed the inhibitory actions of LPS and SNP on VSMC proliferation. LPS increased amounts of iNOS protein and iNOS mRNA in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that LPS inhibits the VSMC proliferation via production of NO by inducing iNOS gene expression. The cGMP which is produced by subsequent activation of guanylate cyclase would be a major mediator in the inhibitory action of iNOS-NO signalling on VSMC proliferation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.369-378
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• 2000

This study was undertaken to investigate an involvement of nitroxergic innervation in gastric smooth muscle of rat. Isometric tension study, the measurement of single cell length, NADPH diaphorase stain of smooth muscle layers and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) western blotting were performed. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide donor, relaxed the muscle strips precontracted by acetylcholine (ACh) in a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment of L-arginine decreased the contraction induced by electric field stimulation (EFS). Pretreatment of $N^G-nitro-L-arginine$ methyl ester (L-NAME), a NOS inhibitor, increased the EFS-induced contractions. LY 83583, a guanylate cyclase (GC) inhibitor, reversed the inhibitory actions of L-arginine on the muscle contractions. The effects of L-Arginine, L-NAME and LY 83583 on ACh-induced contractions were not significant. L-arginine reduced the EFS-induced contraction in circular muscle, whereas L-NAME enhanced the EFS-induced contraction in longitudinal strips. By EFS, the phasic contractions appeared approximately $20{\sim}25$ seconds later. L-NAME significantly shortened the delay time to about $2{\sim}3$ seconds. In single cell study, ACh contracted gastric smooth muscle cells, SNP relaxed the cells, and the latter also inhibited the ACh-induced contraction. LY 83583 enhanced the ACh-induced contraction and antagonized SNP-induced relaxation. NADPH diaphorase activity was assessed by a histochemistry, nitroblue tetrazolium (NTB) staining. Positive staining was observed in both circular and longitudinal muscle layers. L-arginine increased the staining, while L-NAME decreased the staining. Western blotting for nNOS proved the presence of nNOS in rat gastric smooth muscle. EFS and additional $Ca^{2+}$ increased nNOS protein expression. These results suggest that in rat stomach, both circular and longitudinal muscle layers are innervated with nitroxergic nerves which relax the gastric smooth muscle via NO-cGMP pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.427-434
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• 2015

Significant evidence supports the role of the vestibular system in the regulation of blood pressure during postural movements. In the present study, the role of the vestibulo-spino-adrenal (VSA) axis in the modulation of blood pressure via the vestibulosympathetic reflex was clarified by immunohistochemical and enzyme immunoassay methods in conscious rats with sinoaortic denervation. Expression of c-Fos protein in the intermediolateral cell column of the middle thoracic spinal regions and blood epinephrine levels were investigated, following microinjection of glutamate receptor agonists or antagonists into the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) and/or sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced hypotension. Both microinjection of glutamate receptor agonists (NMDA and AMPA) into the MVN or rostral ventrolateral medullary nucleus (RVLM) and SNP-induced hypotension led to increased number of c-Fos positive neurons in the intermediolateral cell column of the middle thoracic spinal regions and increased blood epinephrine levels. Pretreatment with microinjection of glutamate receptor antagonists (MK-801 and CNQX) into the MVN or RVLM prevented the increased number of c-Fos positive neurons resulting from SNP-induced hypotension, and reversed the increased blood epinephrine levels. These results indicate that the VSA axis may be a key component of the pathway used by the vestibulosympathetic reflex to maintain blood pressure during postural movements.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.668-674
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• 2014

The objective of the present study was to investigate the protective and free radical scavenging effects of conventionally and organically cultivated kale juices against oxidative damage in $LLC-PK_1$ cells. The DPPH, NO, $O_2{^-}$, and ${\cdot}OH$ radical scavenging activities of organically cultivated kale were higher than those of conventionally cultivated kale juice. Oxidative damage induced by AAPH (2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride), SNP (sodium nitroprusside), pyrogallol, and SIN-1 (3-morpholinosydnonimine) led to loss of cell viability and increased lipid peroxidation in LLC-PK1 cells, whereas treatment with vegetable juices, especially organically cultivated kale juices, significantly increased cell viability and inhibited lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). These results suggest that organically cultivated kale juices have protective roles against oxidative stress induced by free radicals.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.181-190
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• 2001

This study was designed to investigate the effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on DNA stability in human spermatozoa. To verify human spermatozoa were incubated with xanthine-xanthine oxidase (X 100$\mu$M-XO 50 mlU ~ 400 mIU), $H_2O_2$ (125 $\mu$M ~ 1 mM), sodium nitroprusside (SNP 0.1 $\mu$M ~ 100 $\mu$M) or lymphocyte. Otherwise, spermatozoa were incubated under low $O_2$ (5%) condition. Damage of sperm DNA was analyzed by single cell electrophoresis (Comet assay) and flow cytometry after acridine orange staining. In the presence of ROS, there was increase in DNA damage. The rate of DNA single strand breakage (9.0$\pm$1.0% ~ 46.0$\pm$4.6%) and DNA fragmentation (7.51$\pm$1.0% ~ 29.5$\pm$4.6%) were similar regardless of the kinds of ROS and exposure time. DNA damage in the lower $O_2$ condition (5%) was lower than ambient $O_2$ condition (20%). Taken together, it suggested that sperm DNA might be damaged by ROS. In the presence of ROS, increase in DNA damage and chromatin instability was obvious in spite of short exposure. Although present study reconfirmed that sperm incubation in the low concentration of ROS have the benefit m the induction of capacitation and Ah, the increase in DNA damage by ROS and possible genetic problem should be considered before the human trials.