• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.166-170
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• 2009

NIRS (Near-infrared spectroscopy) is a relatively, new, non-invasive, and non-ionizing method of measuring hemodynamic responses in thick biological tissues such as the cerebral cortex. In this study, we measured the hemodynamic responses of the rat barrel cortex to whisker stimulation by using a frequency-domain NIRS system. We designed multiple optical probes comprising multi-mode optical fibers and manipulating arms, both of which can be easily applied to small animals. Various electrical stimulations were applied to rat whiskers at different voltage levels and stimulation frequencies. Our results show that the hemodynamic responses are highly dependent on the stimulation voltage level, and not so much on stimulation frequency. This paper suggests that NIRS technology is highly suitable for the study of small animal brains.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.365-373
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations in meningeal blood flow by stimulation of trigeminovascular system. An open cranial window was prepared on the right parietal bone of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Trigeminovascular system was stimulated by electrical stimulation of trigeminal ganglion (ETS), somatosensory (whisker) stimulation, or topical applications of capsaicin and neuropeptides including substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Neonatal capsaicin pretreatment was performed with subcutaneous administration of capsaicin (50 mg/kg) within the first 24 hours after birth. Changes in regional blood flow of dural artery (rDBF) and pial artery (rPBF) were continuously measured through the cranial window by laser-Doppler flowmetry. Both ETS and capsaicin caused a chain of alterations in rPBF and rDBF responses, i.e., an immediate transient decrease followed by rapid and marked increase in rPBF, which were significantly attenuated not only by pretreatments with L-733,060, a $NK_1$ receptor blocker, $CGRP_{8-37}$, a $CGRP_1$ receptor blocker, and 7-nitroindazole monosodium salt (7-NINA), a neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor but also by neonatal capsaicin treatment. Exogenous neuropeptides including substance P and CGRP increased the meningeal blood flow, which was significantly attenuated not only by pretreatment with L-733,060 and $CGRP_{8-37}$, respectively, but also by pretreatment with 7-NINA. The rPBF response to whisker stimulation was significantly attenuated not only by trigeminovascular system injuries including nasociliary nerve denervation and neonatal capsaicin treatment but also by pretreatments with L-733,060, $CGRP_{8-37}$ and 7-NINA. These results suggest that the stimulation of trigeminovascular system causes prominent alterations in meningeal blood flow, and that neuropeptides as well as nitric oxide in the trigeminovascular system are importantly implicated in the regulation of meningeal blood flow.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.211-219
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• 2005

Trigeminovascular system plays an important role for the cerebral memodynamics. The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations in cerebrovascular reactivity by trigeminovascular system injury in rats. Trigeminovascular system of male Sprague-Dawley rats was injured by either denervation of nasocilliary nerve or neonatal capsaicin treatment. Trigeminovascular system was stimulated by controlled hemorrhagic hypotension or somatosensory (whisker) stimulation. Changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and pial arterial diameter were continuously measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry and videomicroscopy, respectively. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in cerebral cortex was determined by measuring the conversion of $L-^3H-arginine\;to\;L-^3H-citrulline$. Cyclic GMP levels in cerebral cortex and pial artery were determined using the cyclic GMP $^{125}I$ scintillation proximity assay system. rCBF autoregulation was impaired or almost abolished by trigeminovascular system injury. rCBF response to whisker stimulation was significantly attenuated by trigeminovascular system injury. NOS activity as well as cyclic GMP level in cerebral cortex and pial artery were significantly reduced in the group of trigeminovascular system injury. These results suggest that trigeminovascular system injury causes prominent alterations in cerebrovascular reactivity, and that NO, which is generated by neuronal NOS in the trigeminovascular system, is implicated in the regulation of rCBF.

• Proceedings of the Optical Society of Korea Conference
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• 2007.07a
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• pp.79-80
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Optical Society of Korea Conference
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• 2008.02a
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• pp.455-456
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• 2008

근적외선 분광법(Near-infrared spectroscopy, NIRS)은 대뇌피질에서의 혈류변화(oxy-, deoxyhemoglobin의 농도변화)를 비침습적으로 측정할 수 있는 방법이다. 본 논문에서는 향후 뇌-컴퓨터 접속기술(Brain computer interface)에 적용하기위한 초기 연구단계로, 쥐의 수염을 자극시 활성화되는 대뇌수염피질 영역에서의 혈류변화 및 전기신호를 동시에 측정하고 두 신호의 패턴을 분석한다.