• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.175-182
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• 1993

As it has been reported that the depolarization-induced ACh release is modulated by activation of presynaptic $A_1-adenosine$ heteroreceptor in hippocampus and various lines of evidence indicate the adenosine effect is magnesium dependent, the present study was undertaken to delineate the role of endogenus adenosine as a modulator of hippocampal acetylcholine release in this study. Slices from the rat hippocampus were equilibrated with $[^3H]-choline$ and the release of the labelled product, $[^3H]-ACh$, was evoked by electrical stimulation(3Hz, $5\;V\;cm^{-1},$ 2ms, rectangular pulses), and the influence of various agents on the evoked tritium outflow was investigated. Adenosine, in concentrations ranging from $0.3\;to\;100\;{\mu}M$, decreased the $[^3H]-ACh$ release in a dose-dependent manner without changing the basal rate of release. $DPCPX(1{\sim}10{\mu}M)$, a selective $A_1-receptor$ antagonist, increased the $[^3H]-ACh$ release in a dose-related fashion with slight increase of basal tritium release. And the effects of adenosine were significantly inhibited by $DPCPX(2{\mu}M)$ treatment. CPCA, a specific $A_2-agonist$, in concentration ranging from $0.3\;to\;30\;{\mu}M$ decreased evoked tritium outflow with increase of basal rate of tritium release, and these effects were also abolished by $DPCPX(2{\mu}M)$ pretreatment. But, $CGS(0.1{\sim}10{\mu}M)$, a recently introduced potent $A_2-agonist$, did not alter the evoked tritium outflow. When the magnesium concentration of the medium was reduced to 0 mM, there was no change in evoked ACh release by adenosine. In contrast, increasing the magnesium concentration to 4 mM, the inhibitory effects of adenosine were significantly potentiated. These results indicate that $A_1-adenosine$ heteroreceptor is involved in ACh-release in the rat hippocampus and the inhibitory effects of adenosine mediated by $A_1-receptor$ is magnesium-dependent.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 1988

This study aimed to investigate the autonomic innervations of human vas deferens and the effect of diazepam, a benzodiazepine sedative antianxiety drug, on the smooth muscle contractility of vas deferens. The specimens were obtained from healthy volunteers undergoing elective vasectomy with local anesthesia. The muscle preparation did not show any spontaneous contraction, but showed a good contraction induced by norepinephrine exerting the strongest response at $33^{\circ}C$. Phentolamine inhibited the norepinephrine-induced contraction concentration-dependently. Isoproterenol, a beta-adrenergic agonist evoked a considerable extent of contraction, and this contractile activity was antagonized by propranolol, a beta-adrenergic blocking agent. Acetylcholine induced a dashing contraction of the human vas deferens, and atropine, a muscarinic receptor blocking agent abolished the acetylcholine-induced contraction. Diazepam inhibited the norepinephrine-induced contraction in a concentration dependent manner. These results suggest that the smooth muscle of human vas deferens has cholinergic muscarinic and beta adrenergic receptors as well as the predominant alpha adrepergic receptor. Diazepam inhibits the motility, especially norepinephrine-induced contraction of human vas deferens.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.465-468
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• 2006

A 3-year-old, spayed female Shih-tzu dog was presented due to acute vomiting, diarrhea, and generalized weakness. The dog had generalized weakness, increased respiratory rate, and respiratory muscle effect. Neurologic examination revealed appendicular muscular weakness and decreased in tone of the anal sphincter. Megaesophagus was confirmed by radiographic examinations. Other than type 2 fiber atrophy, no specific abnormalities were identified in histopathologic examinations of muscle biopsies from the left pelvic limb. Serum acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody titer was increased (0.78 nmol/L reference range, less than 0.6 nmol/L), confirming a diagnosis of acute fulminating myasthenia gravis. The dog dramatically responded to pyridostigmine bromide and had marked improvement in muscle strength, megaesophagus, and respiratory function. The dog has been successfully managed for 7 months after initial treatment.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2000

Depending on the fish species the vascular tone is distinctively regulated by numerous vasoactive substances. In most fish species the regulatory role of autonomic neurotransmitters and other vasoactive substances are not well defined. This research was designed to delineate the regulatory role of various endogenous autonomic neurotransmitters known to be important in mammalian vascular systems on isolated Israeli carp ventral aorta. Acetylcholine(ACh) contracted the aorta regardless of the pre-existing level of vascular tone, and the contraction was almost completely abolished by a cholinergic-muscarinic antagonist atropine. Endogenous, multiple receptor ($\alpha$ and $\beta$)-acting adrenergic agonist epinephrine (Epi) relaxed the vessel in the presence and absence of the pre-existing tones. Another endogenous multiple receptoracting agonist norepinephrine (NE) weakly contracted the aorta in non-preconstrcted state, but the response was reversed to relaxation when preconstricted. Isoproterenol, ${\alpha}\;{\beta}$ adrenergic receptor agonist, was a potent vasodilator whereas an ${\alpha}_1$ agonist phenyephrine was a contractor. The ${\alpha}_2$ adrenergic receptor agonist clonidine has not any significant effect in altering the vascular tone. The vasorelaxing action of Epi, NE and isoproterenol was significantly attenuated by $\beta$ receptor antagonist propranolol. These results imply that ACh may primarily play a contractor role via muscarinic receptor activation while adrenergic agonists, Epi and NE, are relaxants through activation of $\beta$ adrenergic receptors in vivo.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.143-151
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• 2010

In Vivo and In vitro antispasmodic effects of Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San, a Traditional Korean Polyherbal Medicineconsisted of 7 types of herbs were observed in the present study. To clarify the effects of Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San, on accelerating small intestinal movement induced by the stimulation of cholinergic neurotransmission, we evaluated the effects of Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San on In vivo carbachol (an acetylcholinergic agent)-accelerated mice small intestinal transit and on In vitro contractions induced by low-frequency electrostimulation, KCl, histamine or acetylcholine using isolated guinea pig ileum. To induce the acceleration of mice small intestinal transit, Carbachol 1 mg/kg was once subcutaneously dosed 15min before last administration of the test drugs. In the present study, Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg or domperidone 20 mg/kg were orally pretreated on the carbachol-accelerated mice small intestinal transit once a day for 7 days and the small intestinal transit rateof activated charcoal powder were monitored. In vitro assays, Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San1, 0.1, 0.01 and 0.001 mg/ml or domperidone $2{\times}10^{-5}M$ were treated 10min before ileal contraction was induced by filed stimulation, acetylcholine, KCl and histamine, and the % changes of contractions were observed compared to the treatment of inducer alone. In spontaneous contraction, the % changes of contractions were observed compared to treatment of vehicle alone at 10min after Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San or domperidone treatment. The efficacy of Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San was compared to those of domperidone. High concentration, 1 mg/ml of Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San was found to decrease the spontaneous contraction of the isolated guinea-pig ileum. In addition, Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San decrease contractions induced by electrostimulation, acetylcholine, histamine and KCl in the isolated guinea-pig ileum. In addition, Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San effectively inhibited the accelerated small intestinal movement induced by carbachol stimulation of cholinergic neurotransmission in In vivo. Based on the results, although the exact molecular or action mechanism and which herbs or compound in Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San are responsible for actions, it was concluded that Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San normalization in the accelerated intestinal motility might be interfere with a variety of muscarinic, adrenergic and histaminic receptor activities or with the mobilization of calcium ions required for smooth muscle contraction non-specificly. Therefore, it is expected that Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San will be promising as a prescription of clinical treatment of digestive tract disorders such as accelerated the motility of intestine, diarrhea or intestinal painful contractions.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.228-235
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• 2010

This study was performed to investigate the memory enhancing effect of Poria cocos Wolf (Hoelen cum radix) against scopolamine-induced amnesia in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. To induce amnesia, scopolamine (0.75 mg/kg) was intraperitonically injected into SD rats 30 min before starting behavior tests. We have conducted Morris water-maze and Y-maze tests to monitor learning and memory functions. Poria cocos effectively reversed scopolamine-induced memory impairment in SD rats which was represented by an improvement of mean escape latency in water-maze test and spontaneous alterations in Y-maze test. To elucidate possible molecule mechanism, we have measured mRNA as well as protein expression of acetylcholine esterase (AchE), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAchR), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Poria cocos increased mRNA levels of ChAT and mAchR in rat hippocampus compared with those in the scopolamine-injected amnesic group. In addition, protein expression of ChAT and BDNF was also elevated by Poria cocos intake. Furthermore, as an upstrem regulator, the activation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) was assessed by immunohistochemistry. In this immunohistochemical analysis, the phosphorylation of CREB (p-CREB) was reduced by scopolamine injection, which was restored back to control levels by administration of Poria cocos. These results suggest that Poria cocos may improve memory and cognitive deficit in amnesia and have therapeutic potentials through up-regulation of ChAT, mAchR, and BDNF, which seemed to be mediated by activation of CREB.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.199-207
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Fermented Laminaria japonica (FL), a type sea tangle used as a functional food ingredient, has been reported to possess cognitive improving properties that may aid in the treatment of common neurodegenerative disorders, such as dementia. MATERIALS/METHODS: We examined the effects of FL on scopolamine (Sco)- and ethanol (EtOH)-induced hippocampus-dependent memory impairment, using the Passive avoidance (PA) and Morris water maze (MWM) tests. To examine the underlying mechanisms associated with neuroprotective effects, we analyzed acetylcholine (ACh) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, brain tissue expression of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR), cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), and immunohistochemical analysis, in the hippocampus of mice, compared to current drug therapy intervention. Biochemical blood analysis was carried out to determine the effects of FL on alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels. 7 groups (n = 10) consisted of a control (CON), 3 Sco-induced dementia and 3 EtOH-induced dementia groups, with both dementia group types containing an untreated group (Sco and EtOH); a positive control, orally administered donepezil (Dpz) (4mg/kg) (Sco + Dpz and EtOH + Dpz); and an FL (50 mg/kg) treatment group (Sco + FL50 and EtOH + FL50), orally administered over the 4-week experimental period. RESULTS: FL50 significantly reduced EtOH-induced increase in AST and ALT levels. FL50 treatment reduced EtOH-impaired step-through latency time in the PA test, and Sco- and EtOH-induced dementia escape latency times in the MWM test. Moreover, anticholinergic effects of Sco and EtOH on the brain were reversed by FL50, through the attenuation of AChE activity and elevation of ACh concentration. FL50 elevated ERK1/2 protein expression and increased p-CREB (ser133) in hippocampus brain tissue, according to Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis, respectively. CONCLUSION: Overall, these results suggest that FL may be considered an efficacious intervention for Sco- and EtOH-induced dementia, in terms of reversing cognitive impairment and neuroplastic dysfunction.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.69-77
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• 1982

$Na^+,\;K^+-ATPase$ is a component of plasma membrane in almost all animal cell, and maintains ionic distribution and membrane potential of normal cell. In the mechanism of adrenergic transmission, it is relatively well known that drug-receptor combination leads to stimulate adenylate cyclase and so on. In the cholinergic transmisison, the mechanism is not well known but is simply interpreted as the change of membrane permeability results from acetylcholine receptor interaction. To study the relationship between cholinergic transmission and membrane $Na^+,\;K^+-ATPase$, the effect of carbachol on $Na^+,\;K^+-ATPase$ activity in rabbit erythrocyte membrane is studied. The results are summarized as follows. 1) Total ATPase, $Mg^{+2}-ATPase$ and $Na^+,\;K^+-ATPase$ of rabbit erythrocyte membrane show maximum activities at 1mM of tris-ATP. 2) Total ATPase activity tends to increase when treated with carbachol $(10-^{-9}M-10^{-3}M)$. 3) The $Mg^{+2}-ATPase$ activity also tends to increase when treated with carbachol $(10-^{-9}M-10^{-3}M)$. 4) The $Na^+,\;K^+-ATPase$ activity is inhibited when treated with carbachol $(10-^{-9}M-10^{-7}M)$. It is suggested that the inhibition of $Na^+,\;K^+-ATPase$ by cholinergic drugs may be considered as one part of mechanism of cholinergic transmission.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2004

People in tropics have the ability to tolerate heat by residential permanence in the tropics. Previously, we have shown that African and Thai subjects who lived for whole their lives in only their respective countries sweat less under hot conditions than South Koreans who also lived whole their lives in Korea. The difference in sweating responses was attributed to the dissimilar central and peripheral sweating mechanisms operating in people from both groups. In the present study, acetylcholine (ACh), the primary transmitter for the sudomotor functions, was iontophoretically administered to South Koreans and Africans to determine the characteristic sudorific responses of their acclimatized biologic make-up to their respective environments. Using quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test (QSART), direct (DIR) and axon reflex (AXR) responses were evaluated. The findings revealed that the sweat onset-time among South Koreans was 0.91 min earlier than among Africans (P<0.01). The axon reflex sweat volume of nicotine receptor activity AXR(1) and sweat volume of muscarinic receptor activity DIR(2) among South Koreans were 79% and 53% greater (P<0.01), respectively. These results indicate that the reduced thermal sweating among Africans is at least in part attributed to the diminished sensitivity of sweat glands to ACh.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.365-373
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• 2020

We previously reported the potential of Senna tora L. seeds fermented by Lactobacillus casei (FSL) as a laxative agent in a loperamide-induced constipation rat model. Here, we examine the mechanism of action of FSL and its bioactive compound, revealed herein, on loperamide-induced constipation Sprague Dawley rat model. We identified the compound aurantio-obtusin (AO) using HPLC quantitative analysis. Rats were randomly assigned to six experimental groups (eight rats each)-normal and constipated groups (loperamide, FSL [100, 300, 500 mg/kg], and AO [1 mg/kg]). The FSL and AO-treated group showed an increase in the frequency, amount, and water content of feces in the constipated rat. Moreover, FSL and AO increased the intestinal transit speed in the constipated rat. Histological analysis revealed that FSL and AO recovered the intestinal mucus, the number of goblet cells, as well as thickness of the mucosa layer and muscle. Furthermore, the protein levels of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M3, which is involved in intestine contraction, were recovered in the FSL and AO-treated group. Its downstream signaling pathway (p-protein kinase C) was recovered by FSL and AO treatment. In conclusion, fermentation of S. tora L. seeds increases AO, which improves intestinal function, indicating that FSL is effective for treating constipation.