• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2002

Numerous hormones are involved in the regulation of reproduction. Among them, estrogen and progesterone are the most important ovarian steroid hormones regulating female fertility. On the other hand, diverse stressors impede female receptivity and fertility. Since norepinephrine(NE) and epinephrine(E) are released from the adrenal during stress, it might play a role in stress-induced disruptions of fEmale reproductive parameters. The present study was performed to analyze the changes in adrenal catecholaminergic activities in cycling rats. The tissue content and secretion level of catecholamines were determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detector(HPLC-ECD). Adrenomedullary content of norepinephrine(NE) was increased on proestrus stage (59.47 $\pm$ 6.86 ug/gland), peaked on diestrus I stage(65.22 $\pm$ 5.99 ug/gland), and was nadir on diestrus II stage(41.63 $\pm$ 1.33 ug/gland). The highest E content was observed on proestrus stage(361.86 $\pm$ 15.58 ug/gland) while the lowest level was on diestrus II stage(285.58 $\pm$ 12.25 ug/gland). In addition to these observations, a significant reduction of the NE : E ratio was observed (1 : 4.81 on diestrus I vs 1 : 6.13～7.02 on other stages). In vitro secretion of adrenal NE and E was increased on proestrus stage, peaked on estrus stage, and decreased on diestrus II stage. Interestingly, the NE : E ratio in conditioned media was significantly increased on estrus stage (1 : 3.32 vs 1 : 2.34～2.65 on other stages. The biosynthesis of NE and E is mediated by tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase(PNMT) which acts conversion of tyrosine into DOPA and NE into E, respectively. These finding demonstrated that sex steroids, during setrous cycle, seem to be able to modify the adrenal catecholamines biosynthesis and secretion with stage-specific manner by modulation of the enzyme activities.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.20 no.5 s.94
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• pp.363-370
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• 2005

Neural stem cells (NSCs) of the central nervous system (CNS) have raised a great interest not only for their importance in basic neural development but also for their therapeutic potentials in neurologically degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer and stroke. During the CNS development, two molecular cascades determine specification of midbrain dopamine system. In one pathway, FGF-8, sonic hedgehog and transcription factor Nurr1 specify dopamine neurotransmitter phenotype. In the other, transcription factors $Lm{\times}lb\;and\;Pt{\times}3$ are required for induction of dopaminergic neurons. In Nurr1 knockout mouse, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive cells fail to appear in substantia nigra, indicating that Nurr1 is essential in specification of dopaminergic cell phenotype. In this study, we used the immortalized human NSCs retrovirally transduced with Nurr1 gene to probe the Nurr1 mediated mechanism to induce dopamine phenotype. While Nurr1 over-expression alone did not generate dopamine phenotype in NSCs, applications of retinoid and forskolin induced expression of TH and AADC mRNAs. In addition, co-cultures of Nurr1 expressing NSCs with human astrocytes induced a marked increase of TH expression. In this co-culture system, the addition of retinoid and forskolin dramatically increased expression of TH. These results indicate that the immortalized human NSCs with Nurr1 gene could have a clinical utility for cell replacement for the Parkinson patients.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.197-211
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• 2000

The pineal body have been known to be affected by superior cervical ganglia, and most of its nerve fibers containing peptidergic neurotransmitters have been considered to be originated from this ganglia. To confirm this relationships, some peptidergic neurotransmitters were identified in both of pineal body and superior cervical ganglia of the Korean native goat, which were divided into two group; breeding season and non-breeding season. The localizations of two catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes; tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), were investigated by immunohistochemistry in the superior cervical ganglia and the pineal body of adult Korean native goats. Substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and galanin (GAL) were also identified in these organs by immunohistochemical and double immunofluorescent methods. In superior cervical ganglia, immunoreactivities for TH and DBH were confirmed in the same ganglion cells. The immunoreactivites for SP, VIP(only in male), NPY and GAL were identified in both of ganglion cell bodies and nerve fibers in the ganglia. CGRP immunoreactivity, however, was observed only in nerve fibers. Most NPY- and VIP-immunoreactive(IR) ganglion cells also contained TH. SP and TH were colocalized in the cell bodies, but not in the nerve fibers. TH immunoreactivity was shown in almost all of ganglion cells in the superior cervical ganglia. The immunoreactivity for NPY had some seasonal variation and was stronger in breeding season than in non-breeding season. In pineal body, lots of TH-IR fibers were observed throughout the parenchyma including the pineal stalk and most of them also contained DBH. SP- and NPY-IR fibers were also immunostained with TH or DBH. But a few SP- and NPY-IR fibers were not colocalized with TH or DBH. Exceptionally, a bipolar neuron-like cell was observed to be immunostained with NPY in the pineal body. A few CGRP and GAL-IR fibers were observed, while VIP-IR fibers were not present. It is concluded that most TH- and DBH-IR fibers as well as the peptidergic immunoreactive fibers of the pineal body might be originated from the superior cervical ganglia. Some peptidergic immunoreactive fibers, however, might be come from other regions of brain. We also suggest that NPY in pineal body plays a important role for pineal function. The seasonal variation of NPY immunoreactivity indicates that the synthesis and use of NPY may be different between in breeding and non-breeding seasons.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.279-286
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• 2011

Hypoxic ischemia injury is a common cause of functional brain damage, resulting from a decrease in cerebral blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain. The main problems associated with hypoxic ischemia to the brain are memory impairment and dopamine dysfunction. Hypothermia has been suggested to ameliorate the neurological impairment induced by various brain insults. In this study, we investigated the effects of hypothermia on memory function and dopamine synthesis following hypoxic ischemia to the brain in rats. For this purpose, a step-down avoidance task, a radial eight-arm maze task, and immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) were performed. The present results indicated that the hypoxic ischemia-induced disturbance of the animal's performances and spatial working memory was associated with a decrement in TH expression in the substantia nigra and striatum, and an increase in cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Hypothermia treatment improved the animals' performance and spatial working memory by suppressing the decrement in TH expression in the substantia nigra and striatum and the increase in cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus. We suggest that hypothermia can be an efficient therapeutic modality to facilitate recovery following hypoxic ischemia injury to the brain, presumably by modulating the dopaminergic cell loss.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.102-102
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• 2003

Embryonic stem (ES) cells proliferate extensively in the undifferentiated state and have the potential to differentiate into a variety of cell types in response to various environmental cues. The generation of functional dopaminergic neurons from ES cells is promising for cell replacement therapy to treat Parkinson's disease. We compared the in vitro differentiation potential of pluripotent human embryonic stem (hES, MB03) cells induced with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or retinoic acid (RA). Both types of treatment resulted in similar neural cell differentiation patterns at the terminal differentiation stage, specifically, 75% neurons and 11% glial cells. Additionally, treatment of hES cells with brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or transforming growth factor (TGF)- $\alpha$ during the terminal differentiation stage led to significantly increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression, compared to control (P<0.05). In contrast, no effect was observed on the rate of mature or glutamic acid decarboxylase-positive neurons. Immunostaining and HPLC analyses revealed the higher levels of TH (20.3%) and dopamine in bFGF and TGF-$\alpha$ treated hES cells than in RA or BDNF treated hES cells. The results indicate that TGF-$\alpha$ may be successfully used in the bFGF induction protocol to yield higher numbers of functional dopaminergic neurons from hES cells.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.451-461
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• 2000

The locus coeruleus(LG) is known to be observed a sexual dimorphism in rat CNS. LC is the largest collections of norepinephrine(NE)-containing neurons in the mammalian brain. Especially in rat, all LC neurons contained NE unlike other mammalians, so that specific reactions were found in the tyrosine-hydroxylase(TH) immunoreactive neurons. Sexual dimorphism of rat LC has affected by genes before sex hormone appeared, thereafter affected by sex hormones. In these day, many scientists founded morphological differences between male and female LC morphology, but differences of entire structure was not founded. Thus we investigated sex differences of the LC neuron's morphology in rat by three-dimensional(3-D) reconstruction using Confocal laser scanning microscopy(CLSM). We reported that neuron's shape was relatively-large multipolar neurons and neuron's processes in dorsal LC proceeded to ventral direction in the male and female rat. Male had a longer anterior-posterior length than female had in dorsal LC. In addition to middle-LC, male rat's LC had a more thicker posterior region but had not viewed in a previous study. In reverse, female rat's LC had a thicker anterior region like a previous study. This results using 3-D reconstruction by CLSM showed that the male's LC was more wide-ranging than female's relatively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.233-233
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• 1994

인삼 성분이 학습 및 기억력 중진에 미치는 효과를 연구하기 위하여, 학습 및 기억력 저하를 유발하는 약물들에 대한 아답타겐 (상품명) 과 인삼 수 엑기스산의 효과를 관찰하였다. Ethylcholine aziridium ion(AF64A), scopolamine 및 morphine을 쥐 및 생쥐의 해마와 복강에 각 각 주입하여 학습 및 기억력 저하를 유발한 후 아답타겐을 경구 투여하여 학습 및 기억력에 미치는 효과를 수로시험을 통하여 측정하였다. 또한 인삼 수 엑기스산을 일주일 동안 복강 주사하여 각 효과를 수로시험을 통하여 측정하였다. 또한 인삼 수 엑기스산을 일주일동안 복강 주사하여 각종 신경계에 미치는 변화를 효소 활성도, 신경전달물질의 농도, 수용체 결합을 지표로 하여 살펴보았다. AF64A 투여군 중 플랫폼을 전혀 인지치 못한 군에 아답타겐을 투여시에는 투여 횟수에 따라 플랫폼을 인지하는 비율이 증가했다. 연습 후 일주일간 물을 투여한 대조군의 도달 시간에 큰 변화가 없음에 반해, 아답타겐을 투여시에는 3일 투여 후 최대 시간이 걸리고, 투여횟수가 증가할수록 점차 도달 시간이 단축되었다. 인공 뇌척수액 및 AF64A의 투여군에서 아답타겐을 5일간 투여한 경우 대조군보다 각각 3배 빠른 속도로 플랫폼을 기억하였다. 한편 scopola mine 투여시에는 아답타겐을 투여한 군이 투여하지 않은 군보다 약 3배 빨리 플랫폼에 도달하였으나 각 투여군의 매일의 도달 시간 차이에는 변화를 나타내지 않았다. 또한 4일 전에 아답타겐을 투여시에는 saline 및 merphine 투여시 약 1.4배 빨리 플랫폼을 인지하였다. 인삼 추출물을 7일 투여 했을 경우 선조체에서 도파민 합성 효소인 tyrosine hydroxylase 활성이 유의성 있게 증가했으며, 대사체인 DOPAC의 농도도 증가를 나타냈다. 그러나, 도파민, HVA및 대사율인 DOPAC/DA와 HVA/DA에는 변화를 보이지 않았다. 또한 선조체의 GABA농도는 약 66%로 낮아졌지만 AChE의 활성도는 변화가 없었다. 인삼 수 추출물을 2주일 투여시 선조체의 도파민 수용체의 특성변화는, D1 수용체의 친화력에는 변화가 없는 반면, 최대 결합 수용체 수는 약간 낮아졌고, D2 수용체의 경우 최대 결합 수용체수는 변화가 없었으나 친화력은 감소하였다. 또한 피질의 benzodiazipine수용체 결합 친화력에는 변화가 없는 반면 최대 결합 수용체 수는 약 15%의 증가를 나타내었고 연수의 benzodiazepine 및 피질의 GABA 수용체의 특성에는 에는 변화를 나타내지 않았다. 이상의 결과, AF64A, 아급성 scopolamine 및 급성 morphine꽈 투여로 학습능이 저하되고 아답타겐을 경구 투여시엔 저하된 학습능력 빛 기억력의 증가를 보였다. 또한 본 결과는 인삼성분 중에는 도파민 및 GABA신경계에 영향을 주는 성분이 있음을 제시하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.85-85
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• 1997

스트레스가 유발된 랫드의 대뇌에서 Vasopressin-catecholamine pathway의 활성도를 알아보기 위해 면역화학염색법으로 vasopressin 호르몬의 분비와 catecholamine의 생성변화를 tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) 효소의 발현변화로 규명하고, arginine vasopressin (AVP)과 V1 vasopressin receptor의 유전자 발현변화를 in situ hybridization 방법을 이용하여 살펴보았다. 수컷 SD rat를 7시간동안 stress cage에 넣어 16$\pm$1$^{\circ}C$의 물에 수침구속 스트레스를 준 후 대조군과 함께 관류고정하여 brain을 적출하였다. Brain의 hypothalamus 부위를 중심으로하여 동결절편하여 면역조직화학 염색과 in situ hybridization을 시행하였다. TH 면역조직화학 염색에서 대뇌의 줄무늬체 부위의 꼬리조가비핵에서와 시상하부 부위의 내측등쪽시상하부와 흑색질부위에서 스트레스군이 대조군에 비해 TH 면역염색성이 증가되어 관찰되었으나 시상하부 부위의 시삭위핵, 뇌실주위핵, 뇌실옆핵에서는 두 군간의 큰 면역염색성의 차이는 보이지 않았다. AVP 면역조직화학 염색에서는 시삭위핵에 많은 수의 AVP 양성 신경세포체들이 밀집되어 있으며 뇌실옆핵에서는 스트레스군에서 AVP 면역염색성이 약간 증가되어 관찰되었으나 신경섬유의 분포양상은 비슷하였다. 중간융기에서는 모두 강한 염색성의 신경섬유들이 관찰되어 두 군간에 큰 차이는 없었다. AVP 유전자에 대한 in situ hybridization 결과 시삭위핵의 신경세포에서 AVP mRNA 양성반응을 관찰할 수 있었으나 다른 시상하부핵에서는 관찰할 수 없었으며, V1 vasopressin receptor에 대한 in situ hybridization 결과는 두 군의 대뇌에서 모두 양성반응을 관찰할 수 없었으며 V1 vasopressin receptor 유전자의 조직별 발현정도와 스트레스에 의한 발현량 조절을 관찰할 필요가 있다고 사료된다.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.351-356
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• 2009

Many isoquinoline alkaloids including berberine lower dopamine content by reducing tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity and aggravate L-DOPA-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells. In this study, the effects of berberine on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells and on unilateral 6-OHDA-lesioned rat models were investigated. Berberine at 10-30 ${\mu}M$ did not affect cell viability in PC12 cells. However, berberine at concentrations higher than $50{\mu}M$ caused cytotoxicity at 24 h. Berberine (10-50 ${\mu}M$) also enhanced 6-OHDA (10-50 ${\mu}M$)-induced cytotoxicity at 24 h compared to 6-OHDA alone with an apoptotic process. In addition, treatment with berberine (5 and 30 mg/kg, i.p.) for three weeks showed a dopaminergic cell loss in substantia nigra of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats: 30 mg/kg berberine was more intensive cytotoxic. The levels of dopamine were also decreased by berberine (5 and 30 mg/kg) in the ipsilateral substantia nigra of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. These results suggest that berberine aggravated 6-OHDA-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells and treatment with berberine (5 and 30 mg/kg) in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats also enhanced the degeneration of dopaminergic cell death and the decrease in dopamine levels in substantia nigra. Therefore, the long-term L-DOPA therapeutic patients with isoquinoline compounds including berberine may need to be checked for the adverse symptoms.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.75-75
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• 2003

Since the establishment of embryonic stem cell, pluripotency of the cells was known to allow differentiation of the cells into various cell types consisting whole body. Several protocols have been developed to induce expression of specific genes.. However, no precise protocol that will generate a single type of the cells from stem cells has been reported. In order to produce cells suitable for transplantion into brain of PD animal model, which arouse due to a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in midbrain, human embryonic stem cell (hESC, MB03) was transfected with cDNAs cording for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Successful transfection was confirmed by western immunoblotting. Newly transfected cell line (TH#2/MB03) was induced to differentiate by the two neurogenic factors retinoic acid (RA) and b-FGF. Exp. I) Upon differentiation using RA/ascorbic acid (AA), embryoid bodies (EB, for 4days) derived from hES cells were exposed to RA (10$^{-6}$ M)/AA (50 mM) for 4 days, and were allowed to differentiate in N2 medium for 7, 14, 21, or 28 days. Exp. II) When bFGF was used, neuronal precursor cells were selected for 8 days in N2 medium after EB formation. After selection, cells were expanded at the presence of bFGF (20 ng/ml) for another 6 days followed by a final differentiation in N2 medium for 7, 14, 21 or 28 days. By indirect immunocytochemical studies, proportion of cells expressing NF200 increased rapidly from 20% at 7 days to 70 % at 28 days in RA/AA-treated group, while those cells expressing NF160 decreased from 80% at 7 days to 10% at 28 days upon differentiation in N2 medium. However, in differentiation by RA/AA treatment system, there was a significant increase in proportion of neuron maturity (73%) at day 14 after N2 medium. TH#2/MB03 cells expressing TH are >90% when matured at the absence of either bDNF or TGF-$\alpha$. These results suggested that TH#2/MB03 cells could be differentiated in vitro into mature neurons by RA/AA.