• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.360-369
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• 2021

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) and tetrodotoxin (TTX) are neurotoxins that display pharmacological activity that is similar to that of specific sodium channel blockers; they are the principle toxins involved in shellfish and puffer fish poisoning. In Korea, puffer fish is a very popular seafood, and several cases of accidental poisoning by TTX have been reported. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether puffer fish poisoning incidents are caused by PSTs or by TTX. In this study, we used mouse bioassay (MBA) and liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to determine the presence of PSTs and TTX in puffer fish from an area near Mireuk-do, Tong-Yeong on the southern coast of Korea from January through March, 2014. The toxicity of PSTs and TTX extracts prepared from three organs of each specimen was analyzed by MBA. Most of the extracts killed mice with typical signs of TTX and PSTs. The LC-MS/MS analysis of seven specimens of Takifugu pardalis and Takifugu niphobles, each divided into muscles, intestines, and liver, were examined for TTX. In T. pardalis, the TTX levels were within the range of 1.3-1.6 ㎍/g in the muscles, 18.8-49.8 ㎍/g in the intestines, and 23.3-96.8 ㎍/g in the liver. In T. niphobles, the TTX levels were within the range of 2.0-4.5 ㎍/g in the muscles, 23.9-71.5 ㎍/g in the intestines, and 28.1-114.8 ㎍/g in the liver. Additionally, the toxicity profile of the detected PSTs revealed that dcGTX3 was the major component in T. pardalis and T. niphobles. When PSTs were calculated as saxitoxin equivalents the levels were all less than 0.5 ㎍/g, which is below the permitted maximum standard of 0.8 ㎍/g. These findings indicate that the toxicity of T. pardalis and T. niphobles from the southern coast of Korea is due mainly to TTX and that PSTs do not exert an effect.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.91-92
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• 2003

복어는 tetrodotoxin이라는 맹독을 함유하고 있음에도 불구하고 매운탕등 여러 가지로 요리하여 많은 사람들이 즐겨 먹는 음식의 하나이다. 복어 요리시에는 독을 함유한 내장이나 간장을 제외하고 세척하여 독을 제거하지만 조리과정에서 독이 완전히 제거되지 않거나 독성이 강한 복어의 경우는 독소가 남아 있어 식중독의 원인이 된다. 최근 부산에서는 2건의 복어요리에 의한 중독으로 수명의 중독환자가 발생하는 사고가 발생하였는바 다행히 사망하지는 않았으나, 복어요리는 항상 식중독의 위험성이 있음을 보여주고 있다. (중략)

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.219-229
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• 1996

In order to investigate intra-pancreatic cholinergic roles on insulin action in exocrine secretion, the pancreas was isolated from rats and continuously perfused with modified Krebs-Henseleit solution. Intra-arterial infusion of insulin (100 nM) or cholecystokinin (CCK, 14 pM) alone resulted in stimulation of the volume flow and amylase output. Also insulin potentiated the action of CCK in the exocrine secretion. Tetrodotoxin and atropine completely abolished the potentiating action of insulin and CCK as well as the action of insulin alone, but did not change the action of CCK alone. In order to see an effect of intra-pancreatic neural activation on the insulin action, electrical field stimulation (EFS) with parameters of 20 V, 2 msec and 8 Hz was applied to the isolated pancreas for 10 min under 2.5 or 18 mM glucose background. The EFS voltage-dependently elevated the flow rate and amylase output, and potentiated exocrine secretion in 18 mM glucose infusion compared with 2.5 mM glucose. The potentiating effects of EFS and 18 mM glucose were not observed in the streptozotocin-treated pancreas although it was perfused with 18 mM glucose. However, it was restored when the diabetic pancreas was perfused with porcine insulin(100 nM). Tetrodotoxin and atropine inhibited the pancreatic secretion induced by EFS with the background of 18 mM glucose. The results of present investigation indicate that the intra-pancreatic cholinergic tone exerts a stimulatory influence on the action of insulin in pancreatic exocrine secretion of rats.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.203-216
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• 1995

The effects of ${\alpha}_1-adrenergic$ receptor stimulation on membrane potential, intracellular $Na^+$ activity, and twitch force were investigated in ventricular muscles from guinea-pig hearts. Action potentials, intracellular $Na^+$ activity, and twitch force of ventricular papillary muscles were measured simultaneously under various experimental conditions. Stimulation of the ${\alpha}_1-adrenergic$ receptor by phenylephrine produced variable changes in action potential duration, a slight hyperpolarization of the diastolic membrane potential, a decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity, and a biphasic inotropic response in which a transient negative inotropic response was followed by a sustained positive inotropic response. These changes were blocked by prazosin, an antagonist of the ${\alpha}_1-adrenergic$ receptor, but not by atenolol, an antagonist of the ${\beta}-adrenergic$ receptor. This indicates that the changes in membrane potential, intracellular $Na^+$ activity, and twitch force are mediated by stimulation of the ${\alpha}_1-adrenergic$ receptor, but not by stimulation of ${\beta}-adrenergic$ receptor. The decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity was not observed in quiescent muscles, depending on the rate of the action pontentials in beating muscles. The intracellular $Na^+$ activity decrease was substantially inhibited by tetrodotoxin. However, the decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity was not affected by an inhibition of the $Na^+-K^+$ pump. Therefore, the decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity mediated by the ${\alpha}_1-adrenergic$ receptor appears to be due to a reduction of $Na^+$ influx during the action potential, perhaps through tetrodotoxin sensitive $Na^+$ channels. Our study also revealed that the decrease in intracellular $Na^+$ activity might be related to the transient negative inotropic response. The intracellular $Na^+$ activity decrease could lower intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ through the $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchanger and thereby produce a decline in twitch force.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2011

Purpose: Ingestion of puffer fish can be poisonous due to the presence of potent neurotoxins such as tetrodotoxin (TTX) found in its tissues. There are few clinical reports related to TTX. We performed this study to evaluate the clinical characteristics of TTX poisoning. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of the 41 patients diagnosed with TTX poisoning who visited the Seoul Asan medical center from July 2004 and December 2010. A review of patients' electronic medical records and patient telephone interviews were conducted. Diagnosis of TTX poisoning was confirmed by observing the casual link between puffer fish consumption and the development of typical TTX intoxication symptoms. Results: The mean age of the patients included in the study was 46.6 years. The highest incidence of intoxication was observed in patients in their 50s (10 patients). Seasonal distribution of intoxication events included 10 in spring, 7 in summer, 10 in fall, and 14 in winter. In most cases, symptoms occurred within 1 hour of ingestion. A wide range of symptoms were associated with puffer fish ingestion affecting multiple body systems including neuromuscular (27 patients), gastrointestinal (19 patients), and cardiopulmonary/vascular (19 patients). All patients were treated with symptomatic and supportive therapy and recovered completely, without sequelae, within 48 hours. In three cases, ventilator support was required. Conclusion: TTX poisoning is not seasonally related, and patients admitted to the emergency room were observed with a wide range of symptoms. Where TTX poisoning is diagnosed, supportive therapy should be performed. Early intubation and ventilation is important, especially is cases of respiratory failure.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2003

${\gamma}$-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been reported to enhance exocrine secretion evoked not only by secretagogues but also by intrinsic neuronal excitation in the pancreas. The pancreas contains cholinergic neurons abundantly that exert a stimulatory role in exocrine secretion. This study was undertaken to examine effects of GABA on an action of cholinergic neurons in exocrine secretion of the pancreas. Intrinsic neurons were excited by electrical field stimulation (EFS; 15 V, 2 msec, 8 Hz, 45 min) in the isolated, perfused rat pancreas. Tetrodotoxin or atropine was used to block neuronal or cholinergic action. Acetylcholine was infused to mimic cholinergic excitation. GABA $(30{\mu}M)$ and muscimol $(10{\mu}M)$, given intra-arterially, did not change spontaneous secretion but enhanced cholecystokinin (CCK; 10 pM)-induced secretions of fluid and amylase. GABA (3, 10, $30{\mu}M$) further elevated EFS-evoked secretions of fluid and amylase dose-dependently. GABA (10, 30, $100{\mu}M$) also further increased acetylcholine $(5{\mu}M)$-induced secretions of fluid and amylase in a dose-dependent manner. Bicuculline $(10{\mu}M)$ effectively blocked the enhancing effects of GABA $(30{\mu}M)$ on the pancreatic secretions evoked by either EFS or CCK. Both atropine $(2{\mu}M)$ and tetrodotoxin $(1{\mu}M)$ markedly reduced the GABA $(10{\mu}M)$-enhanced EFS- or CCK-induced pancreatic secretions. The results indicate that GABA enhances intrinsic cholinergic neuronal action on exocrine secretion via the $GABA_A$ receptors in the rat pancreas.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 1986

The effect of dopamine on the propagation and the frequency electrical activities (slow wave) of the stomach was studied in isolated stomach muscle strips of 145 cats, The gastric slow wave monopolarly recorded by four capillary electrodes (Ag-AgCl) in Krebs-Ringer solution $(ph\;7.4,\;temperature\;36{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C)$ bubbled with 5% $CO_2$ in $O_2$. Dopamine caused concentration-dependent changes of direction of slow wave propagation with decline in development of irregular propagation by domperidone pretreatment. Dopamine also increased the variation of slow wave frequency concentration-dependently. The variation of slow wave frequency induced by dopamine was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with domperidone and phentolamine but not with propranolol, hexamethonium and tetrodotoxin. It is therefore suggested that dopamine plays a role in the genesis of gastric electrical abnormality acting on dopamine receptors and partly on ${\alpha}-adrenergic$ receptors in cats.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 1988

Glutamate and aspartate may evoke an increase in membrane permeability to monovalent cations and $Ca^{++}$. However, it is uncertain whether $Ca^{++}$ influx is mediated by voltage dependent $Ca^{++}$ channels or by excitatory amino acid activated channels. In addition, the influences of excitatory amino acids on $Ca^{++}$ uptake by neuronal tissues as well as the responses of their actions to extracellular $Mg^{++}$ concentration are different. $K^{+}$ induced $Ca^{++}$ uptake by synaptosomes was dependent on extracellular $Mg^{++}$ up to 5 mM and at concentration of 10 mM, $Ca^{++}$ influx was rather reduced. In $Na^{+}$ rich media, glutamate-and aspartate-induced $Ca^{++}$ uptake was increased by $Mg^{++}$ in a dose independent manner. However, the response for NMDA was inhibited by $Mg^{++}$ at concentrations above 2 mM. $K^+$-and glutamate-induced $Ca^{++}$ influx s were inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol, chlorprom-azine and verapamil but not by tetraethylammonium chloride. Tetrodotoxin effectively inhibited the action of glutamate but did not affect that of $K^+$. The response for MNDA was inhibited by 2, 4-dinitrophenol and tetrodotoxin, slightly inhibited by verapamil, and not affected by tetraethylammonium chloride. In $Na^{++}$ rich medium, depolarizing action of glutamate, aspartate and MNDA on synaptosomes was not demonstrated, whereas these agents stimulated $Ca^{++}$ uptake and caused $Ca^{++}$ influx induced depolarization at mitochondria. On the other hand, the activities of synaptosomal ATPases were not affected by excitatory amino acids at 5 mM. The results suggest that glutamate or NMDA induced $Ca^{++}$ influx at synaptosomes exhibits different responses for extracellular $Mg^{++}$ Ex citatory amino acids induced $Ca^{++}$ influx at synaptosomes may be associated with increased permeability of membrane for $Na^{++}$ and $Ca^{++}$ except $K^{++}$ and membrane depolarization due to increased ionic permeability.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.389-395
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• 1991

가토 적출 신동맥에 있어서 purinergic 신경 분포를 perivascular nerve stimulation을 통해서 확인하였다. 1. 가토 적출 신동맥은 perivascular nerve stimulation에 의해 수축성 반응을 나타내었다. 2. Perivascular nerve stimulation에 의한 수축현상은 자극의 크기와 자극의 빈도에 의존적이었으며, 내피세포의 유무에는 영향을 받지 않았다. 3. Perivascular nerve stimulation에 의한 수축현상은 prazosin$(1{\mu}M)$에 의해 강하게 억제되어졌으며, tetrodotoxin$(1{\mu}M)$ 또는 ${\alpha},{\beta}-methylene$ATP$(10{\mu}M)$에 의한 $P_{2x}-purinoceptor $ desensitization에 의해 완전히 수축현상이 사라졌다. 이와같은 결과는 가토 신동맥에는 purinergic신경이 분포되어 있으며, perivascular nerve stimulation에 의해 purinergic 신경전달물질이 norepinephrine과 함께 유리되어지는 것을 시사하고 있다.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.138-151
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• 1994

These studies were carried out to investigate the effect of Onpaetang water extract on the inhibitory contractile action of acetylcholine in sensitized rat. The results of these studies were as follows; 1. Contractile force of acetylcholine from trachea smooth muscle in sensitized rat was significantly inhibited by Onpaetang. 2. Dose-response of acetylcholine pretreated Onpaetang in sensitized rat was not significantly changed. 3. Inhibitory contractile action of acetylcholine pretreated propranolol in sensitized rat was decreased. 4. Inhibitory contractile action of acetylcholine pretreated indomethacin was not significantly changed by Onpaetang. 5. Inhibitory contractile action of acetylcholine pretreated methylene blue was not significantly changed by Onpaetang. 6. Inhibitory contractile action of acetylcholine pretreated tetrodotoxin was not significantly changed by Onpaetang.