• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제13권3호
• /
• pp.241-249
• /
• 2009

Although extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ entry through the voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels plays an important role in the spontaneous phasic contractions of the pregnant rat myometrium, the role of the T-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels has yet to be fully identified. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the T-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel in the spontaneous phasic contractions of the rat myometrium. Spontaneous phasic contractions and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ were measured simultaneously in the longitudinal strips of female Sprague-Dawley rats late in their pregnancy (on day 18 ${\sim}$ 20 of gestation: term=22 days). The expression of T-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel mRNAs or protein levels was measured. Cumulative addition of low concentrations (< 1 ${\mu}M$) of nifedipine, a L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, produced a decrease in the amplitude of the spontaneous $Ca^{2+}$ transients and contractions with no significant change in frequency. The mRNAs and proteins encoding two subunits (${\alpha}$ 1G, ${\alpha}$ 1H) of the T-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels were expressed in longitudinal muscle layer of rat myometrium. Cumulative addition of mibefradil, NNC 55-0396 or nickel induced a concentration-dependent inhibition of the amplitude and frequency of the spontaneous $Ca^{2+}$ transients and contractions. Mibefradil, NNC 55-0396 or nickel also attenuated the slope of rising phase of spontaneous $Ca^{2+}$ transients consistent with the reduction of the frequency. It is concluded that T-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels are expressed in the pregnant rat myometrium and may play a key role for the regulation of the frequency of spontaneous phasic contractions.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제22권6호
• /
• pp.697-703
• /
• 2018

Myoblast fusion depends on mitochondrial integrity and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ signaling regulated by various ion channels. In this study, we investigated the ionic currents associated with $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ regulation in normal and mitochondrial DNA-depleted(${\rho}0$) L6 myoblasts. The ${\rho}0$ myoblasts showed impaired myotube formation. The inwardly rectifying $K^+$ current ($I_{Kir}$) was largely decreased with reduced expression of KIR2.1, whereas the voltage-operated $Ca^{2+}$ channel and $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channel currents were intact. Sustained inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport by antimycin A treatment (24 h) also decreased the $I_{Kir}$. The ${\rho}0$ myoblasts showed depolarized resting membrane potential and higher basal $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. Our results demonstrated the specific downregulation of $I_{Kir}$ by dysfunctional mitochondria. The resultant depolarization and altered $Ca^{2+}$ signaling might be associated with impaired myoblast fusion in ${\rho}0$ myoblasts.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
• /
• 제21권1호
• /
• pp.11-18
• /
• 2017

Potassium channels, the largest group of pore proteins, selectively regulate the flow of potassium ($K^+$) ions across cell membranes. The activity and expression of $K^+$ channels are critical for the maintenance of normal functions in vessels and neurons, and for the regulation of cell differentiation and maturation. However, their role and expression in stem cells have been poorly understood. In this study, we isolated perivascular stem cells (PVCs) from human umbilical cords and investigated the expression patterns of big-conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ ($BK_{Ca}$) and voltage-dependent $K^+$ ($K_v$) channels using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. We also examined the effect of high glucose (HG, 25 mM) on expression levels of $BK_{Ca}$ and $K_v$ channels in PVCs. $K_{Ca}1.1$, $K_{Ca}{\beta}_3$, $K_v1.3$, $K_v3.2$, and $K_v6.1$ were detected in undifferentiated PVCs. In addition, HG treatment increased the amounts of $BK_{Ca}{\beta}_{3a}$, $BK_{Ca}{\beta}_4$, $K_v1.3$, $K_v1.6$, and $K_v6.1$ transcripts. These results suggested that ion channels may have important functions in the growth and differentiation of PVCs, which could be influenced by HG exposure.

• 한국표면공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국표면공학회 2017년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
• /
• pp.157-157
• /
• 2017

Titanium and its alloys that have a good biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and mechanical properties such as hardness and wear resistance are widely used in dental and orthopedic implant applications. They can directly connect to bone. However, they do not form a chemical bond with bone tissue. Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) that combines the high voltage spark and electrochemical oxidation is a novel method to form ceramic coatings on light metals such as titanium and its alloys. This is an excellent reproducibility and economical, because the size and shape control of the nano-structure is relatively easy. Silicon (Si), manganese (Mn), and magnesium (Mg) has a useful to bone. Particularly, Si has been found to be essential for normal bone, cartilage growth and development. Manganese influences regulation of bone remodeling because its low content in body is connected with the rise of the concentration of calcium, phosphates and phosphatase out of cells. Insufficience of Mn in human body is probably contributing cause of osteoporosis. Pre-studies have shown that Mg plays very important roles in essential for normal growth and metabolism of skeletal tissue in vertebrates and can be detected as minor constituents in teeth and bone. The objective of this work was to study nucleation and growth of bone-like apatite formation on Ti-6Al-4V in solution containing Mn, Mg, and Si ions after plasma electrolytic oxidation. Anodized alloys was prepared at 270V~300V voltages. And bone-like apatite formation was carried out in SBF solution for 1, 3, 5, and 7 days. The morphologies of PEO-treated Ti-6Al-4V alloy in containing Mn, Mg, and Si ions were examined by FE-SEM, EDS, and XRD.

• 한국표면공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국표면공학회 2017년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
• /
• pp.80-80
• /
• 2017

Titanium and its alloys that have a good biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and mechanical properties such as hardness and wear resistance are widely used in dental and orthopedic implant applications. However, they do not form a chemical bond with bone tissue. Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) that combines the high voltage spark and electro-chemical oxidation is a novel method to form ceramic coatings on light metals such as tita-nium and its alloys. This is an excellent re-producibility and economical, because the size and shape control of the nano-structure is relatively easy. Silicon (Si), manganese (Mn), and magne-sium (Mg) have a useful to bone. Particularly, Si has been found to be essential for normal bone, cartilage growth, and development. Mn influences regulation of bone remodeling be-cause its low content in body is connected with the rise of the concentration of calcium, phosphates and phosphatase out of cells. Pre-studies have shown that Mg plays very im-portant roles in essential for normal growth and metabolism of skeletal tissue in verte-brates and can be detected as minor constitu-ents in teeth and bone. In this study, Electrochemical behavior of plasma electrolytic oxidized films formed in solution containing Mn, Mg and Si ions were researched using various experimental in-struments. A series of Si-Mn-Mg coatings are produced on Ti dental implant using PEO, with the substitution degree, respectively, at 5 and 10%. The potentiodynamic polarization and AC impedance tests for corrosion behav-iors were carried out in 0.9% NaCl solution at similar body temperature using a potentiostat with a scan rate of 1.67mV/s and potential range from -1500mV to + 2000mV. Also, AC impedance was performed at frequencies anging from 10MHz to 100kHz for corrosion resistance.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제10권1호
• /
• pp.19-24
• /
• 2006

The intermediate conductance $Ca^{2+}-activated$ $K^+$ channels (SK4, IKCa1) are present in lymphocytes, and their membrane expression is upregulated by various immunological stimuli. In this study, the activity of SK4 was compared between Bal-17 and WEHI-231 cell lines which represent mature and immature stages of murine B lymphocytes, respectively. The whole-cell patch clamp with high-$Ca^{2+}$ ($0.8{\mu}M$) KCl pipette solution revealed a voltage-independent $K^+$ current that was blocked by clotrimazole (1 mM), an SK4 blocker. The expression of mRNAs for SK4 was confirmed in both Bal-17 and WEHI-231 cells. The density of clotrimazole-sensitive SK4 current was significantly larger in Bal-17 than WEHI-231 cells ($-11.4{\pm}3.1$ Vs. $-5.7{\pm}1.15$ pA/pF). Also, the chronic stimulation of B cell receptors (BCR) by BCR-ligation (anti-IgM Ab, $3{\mu}g$/ml, 8∼12 h) significantly upregulated the amplitude of clotrimazolesensitive current from $-11.4{\pm}3.1$ to $-53.1{\pm}8.6$ pA/pF in Bal-17 cells. In WEHI-231 cells, the effect of BCR-ligation was significantly small ($-5.7{\pm}1.15$ to $-9.0{\pm}1.00$ pA/pF). The differential expression and regulation by BCR-ligation might reflect functional changes in the maturation of B lymphocytes.

• 한국지하수토양환경학회지:지하수토양환경
• /
• 제10권2호
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2005

본 논문은 납 오염토에 대한 정회를 목적으로 EK 기법을 적용할때 기존의 EK 기법의 한계성을 극복하고자 향상기법으로써 흡착재(Apatite, Zeolite)를 이용하여 중금속의 고정화를 시도하였다. EK 추출을 위해서 우선 납에 대한 흡착능 실험을 실시하였고 오염농도, 전압조건, 가동시간 등을 달리하여 납이온을 흡착재 설치 위치로 이동시켜 고정화를 유도하였다. 그 결과 설험 조건에 따라 오염물의 이동 특성이 달라 정화 효율에 차이가 있었으며 전극교환과 흡착재의 설치 위치의 추가로 고정화 효율을 증진시켜 시료의 전 구간에서 미국 EPA의 TCLP 용출기준을 만족시킬 수 있었다. 특히 인회석의 흡착 고정화 능력은 탁월한 것으로 판명되어 EK 향상기법으로써 흡착재의 적용 기능성을 확인하였다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• 제26권1호
• /
• pp.28-33
• /
• 2003

Ginsenosides, major active ingredients of Panax ginseng, are known to regulate excitatory ligand-gated ion channel activity such as nicotinic acetylcholine and NMDA receptor channel activity. However, it is not known whether ginsenosides affect inhibitory ligand-gated ion channel activity. We investigated the effect of ginsenosides on human recombinant $GABA_A$ receptor (${\alpha}_1{\beta}_1{\gamma}_{2s}$) channel activity expressed in Xenopus oocytes using a two-electrode voltage-clamp technique. Among the eight individual ginsenosides examined, namely, $Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, $Rg_1$ and $Rg_2$, we found that Rc most potently enhanced the GABA-induced inward peak current ($I_{GABA}$). Ginsenoside Rc alone induced an inward membrane current in certain batches of oocytes expressing the $GABA_A$ receptor. The effect of ginsenoside Rc on $I_{GABA}$ was both dose-dependent and reversible. The half-stimulatory concentration ($EC_{50}$) of ginsenoside Rc was 53.2$\pm$12.3 $\mu$M. Both bicuculline, a $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist, and picrotoxin, a $GABA_A$ channel blocker, blocked the stimulatory effect of ginsenoside Rc on $I_{GABA}$. Niflumic acid (NFA) and 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), both $CI^{-1}$ channel blockers, attenuated the effect of ginsenoside Rc on I$I_{GABA}$. This study suggests that ginsenosides regulated $GABA_A$ receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes and implies that this regulation might be one of the pharmacological actions of Panax ginseng.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• 제11권6호
• /
• pp.870-879
• /
• 2011

Regulated peak power tracking (RPPT) systems such as the series structure and the series-parallel structures are commonly used in satellite space power systems. However, these structures process the solar array power or the battery power to the load through two cascaded regulators during one orbit cycle, which reduces the energy transfer efficiency. Also the battery charging time is increased due to placement of converter between the battery and the solar array. In this paper a parallel structure has been proposed which can improve the energy transfer efficiency and the battery charging time for satellite space power RPPT systems. An analogue controller is used to control all of the required functions, such as load voltage regulation and solar array stabilization with maximum power point tracking (MPPT). In order to compare the system efficiency and the battery charging efficiency of the proposed structure with those of a series (conventional) structure and a simplified series-parallel structure, simulations are performed and the results are analyzed using a loss analysis model. The proposed structure charges the battery more quickly when compared to the other two structures. Also the efficiency of the proposed structure has been improved under different modes of solar array operation when compared with the other two structures. To verify the system, experiments are carried out under different modes of solar array operation, including PPT charge, battery discharge, and eclipse and trickle charge.

• 대한의생명과학회지
• /
• 제15권1호
• /
• pp.31-35
• /
• 2009

High blood pressure (BP) is the most frequent risk factor among metabolic syndrome components. The control of hypertension is very important to prevent the cardiovascular risk in metabolic syndrome. The dysfunction of calcium channel is responsible in the regulation of the vascular muscle contribution to hypertension. Calcium channel, voltage-dependent, P/Q type, alpha-1A subunit (CACNA1A) gene is located in brain and known to control the intracranial hypertension. In this study, we investigate whether the polymorphisms of CACNA1A gene is associated with hypertension. The 49 CACNA1A genotypes were determined using the Affymetrix Genotyping chip array in 92 hypertension and 279 control individuals from a Korean population. Logistic and multiple regression models were employed to analyze the genetic contributions of polymorphisms. Out of 49 polymorphisms, six SNPs (rs12611029, rs16035, rs7259944, rs10419472, rs17777900, and rs4926294) showed a significant association with hypertension in three alternative models (codominant, dominant, and recessive models; P<0.05 after adjusting for age and sex). Our results suggest that the CACNA1A gene may be associated with hypertension in the Korean population.