• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.219-227
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• 2001

Little is known about processing mechanism of pain sensation of the oral cavity at the 1st synapse of trigeminal sensory nuclei. Serial ultrathin sections of tooth pulp afferent terminals, identified by the transganglionic transport of 1% wheatgerm agglutinin conjugated horseradish peroxidase, were investigated with electron microscope. Quantitative ultrastructural analysis was performed on digitizing tablet connected to Macintoshi personal computer (software; NIH Image 1.60, NIH, Bethesda, MD). Labeled boutons could be classified into two types by the shapes of containing vesicles : S bouton, which contained mainly spherical vesicles (Dia. 45-55 nm) and few large dense cored vesicles (Dia, 80-120nm), and LDCV bouton, which contained spherical vesicles as well as large number of large dense cored vesicles. Most of the parameters on the ultrastructural characteristic and synaptic organization of labeled boutons were similar between S and LDCV boutons, except shapes of containing vesicles. Majority of the labeled boutons showed simple synaptic arrangement. The labeled boutons were frequency presynaptic to dendritic spine, and to a lesser extent, dendritic shaft. They rarely synapsed with soma and adjacent proximal dendrite. A small proportion of labeled boutons made synaptic contacts with presynaptic, pleomorphic vesicles containing endings and synaptic triad. Morphometric parameters of labeled boutons including volume and surface area, total apposed area, mitochondrial volume, active zone area, vesicle number and density showed wide variation and these were not significantly different between S and LDCV boutons. The present study revealed characteristic features on ultrastructure and synaptic connection of pulpal afferents which may involved in transmission of oral pain sensation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.163-172
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• 2023

Background: Synaptic plasticity contributes to nociceptive signal transmission and modulation, with calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II) playing a fundamental role in neural plasticity. This research was conducted to investigate the role of CaMK II in the transmission and regulation of nociceptive information within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of naïve and morphine-tolerant rats. Methods: Randall Selitto and hot-plate tests were utilized to measure the hindpaw withdrawal latencies (HWLs) in response to noxious mechanical and thermal stimuli. To induce chronic morphine tolerance, rats received intraperitoneal morphine injection twice per day for seven days. CaMK II expression and activity were assessed using western blotting. Results: Intra-NAc microinjection of autocamtide-2-related inhibitory peptide (AIP) induced an increase in HWLs in naïve rats in response to noxious thermal and mechanical stimuli. Moreover, the expression of the phosphorylated CaMK II (p-CaMK II) was significantly decreased as determined by western blotting. Chronic intraperitoneal injection of morphine resulted in significant morphine tolerance in rats on Day 7, and an increase of p-CaMK II expression in NAc in morphine-tolerant rats was observed. Furthermore, intra-NAc administration of AIP elicited significant antinociceptive responses in morphine-tolerant rats. In addition, compared with naïve rats, AIP induced stronger thermal antinociceptive effects of the same dose in rats exhibiting morphine tolerance. Conclusions: This study shows that CaMK II in the NAc is involved in the transmission and regulation of nociception in naïve and morphine-tolerant rats.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.209-214
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• 2009

The striatum receives glutamatergic afferents from the cortex and thalamus, and these synaptic transmissions are mediated by ${\alpha}$-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) and N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. The purpose of this study was to characterize glutamate receptors by analyzing NMDA/AMPA ratio and rectification of AMPA and NMDA excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) using a whole-cell voltage-clamp method in the dorsal striatum. Receptor antagonists were used to isolate receptor or subunit specific EPSC, such as (DL)-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV), an NMDA receptor antagonist, ifenprodil, an NR2B antagonist, CNQX, an AMPA receptor antagonist and IEM-1460, a GluR2-lacking AMPA receptor blocker. AMPA and NMDA EPSCs were recorded at - 70 and + 40 mV, respectively. Rectification index was calculated by current ratio of EPSCs between + 50 and - 50 mV. NMDA/AMPA ratio was 0.20${\pm}$0.05, AMPA receptor ratio of GluR2-lacking/GluR2-containing subunit was 0.26${\pm}$0.05 and NMDA receptor ratio of NR2B/NR2A subunit was 0.32${\pm}$0.03. The rectification index (control 2.39${\pm}$0.27) was decreased in the presence of both APV and combination of APV and IEM-1460 (1.02${\pm}$0.11 and 0.93${\pm}$0.09, respectively). These results suggest that the major components of the striatal glutamate receptors are GluR2-containing AMPA receptors and NR2A-containing NMDA receptors. Our results may provide useful information for corticostriatal synaptic transmission and plasticity studies.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.127-132
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• 2010

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which include hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), the superoxide anion (${O_2}^-{\cdot}$), and the hydroxyl radical ($OH{\cdot}$), are generated as by-products of oxidative metabolism in cells. The cerebral cortex has been found to be particularly vulnerable to production of ROS associated with conditions such as ischemia-reperfusion, Parkinson's disease, and aging. To investigate the effect of ROS on inhibitory GABAergic synaptic transmission, we examined the electrophysiological mechanisms of the modulatory effect of $H_2O_2$ on GABAergic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic current (mIPSCs) in mechanically isolated rat cerebral cortical neurons retaining intact synaptic boutons. The membrane potential was voltage-clamped at -60 mV and mIPSCs were recorded and analyzed. Superfusion of 1-mM $H_2O_2$ gradually potentiated mIPSCs. This potentiating effect of $H_2O_2$ was blocked by the pretreatment with either 10,000-unit/mL catalase or $300-{\mu}M$ N-acetyl-cysteine. The potentiating effect of $H_2O_2$ was occluded by an adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin, and was blocked by a protein kinase A inhibitor, N -(2-[p-bromocinnamylamino] ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide hydrochloride. This study indicates that oxidative stress may potentiate presynaptic GABA release through the mechanism of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent pathways, which may result in the inhibition of the cerebral cortex neuronal activity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2000

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a gastrointestinal hormone which plays an important role in satiety and gastric motility. It is also widely distributed throughout the central nervous system, where it appears to be involved in the central control of anxiety, feeding behavior and nociception. Two distinct CCK receptor types, $CCK_A$ and $CCK_B,$ have been found in the brain. Both CCK receptors coexist in the rat nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), which is the primary center for the coordination of peripheral and central activities related to gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and respiratory functions. In order to study ionic actions of CCK on each type of receptor, we investigated the effects of CCK-8S on neurons located in the NTS of the rat using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in brainstem slices. Application of CCK-8S, under current clamp, produced a membrane depolarization accompanied by action potential firing. This CCK-evoked excitation was dose-dependent $(10\;nM{\sim}10\;{\mu}M)$ and observed in more than 60% of NTS neurons. Under voltage clamp conditions, CCK-8S induced an inward current with a notably increased spontaneous excitatory synaptic activity. However, CCK-8S did not significantly change the amplitude of pharmacologically isolated and evoked EPSP(C)s. Using selective $CCK_A$ and $CCK_B$ receptor antagonists, we observed two different effects of CCK-8S, which suggest $CCK_A$ receptor-mediated inhibitory and $CCK_B$ receptor-mediated excitatory effects in the NTS. These results may help to explain the ability of CCK to modulate gastrointestinal and other reflex systems in the NTS.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.715-725
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• 1994

The ultrastructural investigations of the parotid gland of Korean native goat were carried out by transmission electron microscopy. The results were as follows; 1. The acini of parotid gland were composed of light and dark acinar cells. 2. In the light acinar cells, the secretory granules were classified into three types according to their electron densities and dense bodies. One type of granules was low electron density and had no dense bodies. Another type was low electron density and had dense bodies, and the other type was low electron density and had granular dense bodies. 3. The secretory granules of dark acinar cells showed high electron density and were also calssified into three types by dense bodies as the same way as in the light acinar cells. 4. The intercalated ducts consisted of simple cuboidal epithelium. The nuclei of epithelial cells were oval or round form, located at the central part, and had infolding nuclear membranes and one or two nucleoli. 5. The cells of both of the striated and excretory ducts were composed of light cells, dark cells, specific light cells and basal cells. 6. The nerve terminals were distinguished into two types. One had large granular synaptic vesicles, and another had small agranular synaptic vesicles.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.457-461
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• 2014

Using $0.18{\mu}m$ CMOS process silicon neuron circuit of the pulse type for modeling biological neurons, were designed in the semiconductor integrated circuit. Neuron circuiSt providing is formed by MOS switch for initializing the input terminal of the capacitor to the input current signal, a pulse signal and an amplifier stage for generating an output voltage signal. Synapse circuit that can convert the current signal output of the input voltage signal, using a bump circuit consisting of NMOS transistors and PMOS few. Configure a chain of neurons for verification of the neuron model that provides synaptic neurons and two are connected in series, were performed SPICE simulation. Result of simulation, it was confirmed the normal operation of the synaptic transmission characteristics of the signal generation of nerve cells.

• Journal of information and communication convergence engineering
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.104-108
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• 2003

A biologically inspired fuzzy multilayer perceptron is proposed in this paper. The proposed algorithm is established under consideration of biological neuronal structure as well as fuzzy logic operation. We applied this suggested learning algorithm to benchmark problem in neural network such as exclusive OR and 3-bit parity, and to digit image recognition problems. For the comparison between the existing and proposed neural networks, the convergence speed is measured. The result of our simulation indicates that the convergence speed of the proposed learning algorithm is much faster than that of conventional backpropagation algorithm. Furthermore, in the image recognition task, the recognition rate of our learning algorithm is higher than of conventional backpropagation algorithm.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1463-1467
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• 2003

In the present study, the effects of Ginseng radix and Ophiopogonis tuber on field potentials in rat hippocampal slices and cardiac muscle slices were investigated by multi-channel extracellular recording using MED64 system. The field potentials in the brain slices represent synaptic transmission and nerve excitability, and the field potentials in heart muscles represent muscle contractility. The present results show that the aqueous extract of Ginseng radix enhanced field potentials in the both hippocampal slices and cardiac muscle slices. In contrast, the aqueous extract Ophiopogonis tuber exerted no significant effect on the field potentials in the hippocampal slices and cardiac muscle slices. These results suggest the possibility that Yin-Yang theory could be studied in relation with excitability in neurons and muscles.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.93-106
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• 1990

The Drosophila temperature-sensitive mutant shibire (shi) is paralyzed at restrictive temperature by a reversible block in synaptic transmission. To explore the functional relationship among shi gene products, viability and temperature-sensitive paralytic behavior were quantitaively analyzed for four shi alleles, shi$^{ts1}$, shi$^{ts2}$, shi$^{ts4}$, and shi$^{ST139}$, and their heteroallelic combinations. The hemizygous combination of shi alleles over deficiency was not completely lethal. shi$^{ts2}$ exhibited distinctively higher viability than other alleles. A novel behavior, bang sensitivity, was also found in shi/Df(1). This bang-sensitive paralytic behavior was compared with that of the typical bang-sensitive mutant flies. Heterozygotes, shi/+, are more severe in temperature sensitivity than deficiency hemizygotes, Df(1)/+. Heteroallelic combinations of shi were less sensitive to high temperature than homozygotes. Among all allelic combinations, shi$^{ts2}$/shi$^{ts4}$ showed an unexpected extreme reduction in temperature sensitivity. The results of allelic interactions among 4 shi alleles suggest that the shi mutations examined behave as antimorphic alleles and that the gene product of shi are likely to function in multimeric forms.