• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.423-428
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• 1998

The ligand binding signals to a wide variety of seven transmembrane cell surface receptors are transduced into intracellular signals through heterotrimeric G-proteins. Recently, there have been reports which show diverse coupling patterns of ligand-activated receptors to the members of Gq family $\alpha$ subunits. In order to shed some light on these complex signal processing networks, interactions between G$\alpha$q family of G protein and neurokinin-2 receptor as well as muscarinic M$_{1}$ receptor, which are considered to be new thearpeutic targets in asthma, were studied. Using washed membranes from Cos-7 cells co-transfected with different G.alpha.q and receptor cDNAs, the receptors were stimulated with various concentrations of carbachol and neurokinin A and the agonist-dependent release of [$^3H$]inositol phosphates through phospholipase C beta-1 activation was measured. Differential coupling of Gaq family of G-protein to muscarinic M$_{1}$ receptor and neurokinin-2 receptor was observed. The neurokinin-2 receptor shows a ligand-mediated response in membranes co-transfected with G$\alpha$q, G$\alpha$11 and G$\alpha$14 but not G$\alpha$16 and the ability of the muscarinic $M_1$ receptor to activate phospholipase C through G$\alpha$/11 but not G$\alpha$14 and G$\alpha$16 was demonstrated. Clearly G$\alpha$/11 can couple $\M_1$ and neurokinin-2 receptor to activate phospholipase C. But, there are differences in the relative coupling of the G$\alpha$14 and G$\alpha$16 subunits to these receptors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.5
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• pp.485-493
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• 1997

We investigated the effect of ${\alpha}-adrenergic$ and cholinergic receptor agonists on $Ca^{2+}$ current in adult rat trigeminal ganglion neurons using whole-cell patch clamp methods. The application of acetylcholine, carbachol, and oxotremorine ($50\;{\mu}M\;each$) produced a rapid and reversible reduction of the $Ca^{2+}$ current by $17{\pm}6%,\;19{\pm}3%,\;and\;18{\pm}4%$, respectively. Atropine, a muscarinic antagonist, blocked carbachol- induced $Ca^{2+}$ current inhibition to $3{\pm}1%$. Norepinephrine ($50\;{\mu}M$) reduced $Ca^{2+}$ current by $18{\pm}2%$, while clonidine ($50\;{\mu}M$), an ${\alpha}2-adrenergic$ receptor agonist, inhibited $Ca^{2+}$ current by only $4{\pm}1%$. Yohimbine, an ${\alpha}2-adrenergic$ receptor antagonist, did not block the inhibitory effect of norepinephrine on $Ca^{2+}$ current, whereas prazosin, an ${\alpha}1-adrenergic$ receptor antagonist, attenuated the inhibitory effect of norepinephrine on $Ca^{2+}$ current to $6{\pm}1%$. This pharmacology contrasts with ${\alpha}2-adrenergic$ receptor modulation of $Ca^{2+}$ channels in rat sympathetic neurons, which is sensitive to clonidine and blocked by yohimbine. Our data suggest that the modulation of voltage dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel by norepinephrine is mediated via an α1-adrenergic receptor. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin (250 ng/ml) for 16 h greatly reduced norepinephrine- and carbachol-induced $Ca^{2+}$ current inhibition from $17{\pm}3%\;and\;18{\pm}3%\;to\;2{\pm}1%\;and\;2{\pm}1%$, respectively. These results demonstrate that norepinephrine, through an ${\alpha}1-adrenergic$ receptor, and carbachol, through a muscarinic receptor, inhibit $Ca^{2+}$ currents in adult rat trigeminal ganglion neurons via pertussis toxin sensitive GTP-binding proteins.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.318-325
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• 1996

Background: Sympathectomy relieves pain in sympathectically maintained pain, and subcutaneous injection of norepinephrine(NE) can rekindle mechanical allodynia. However, the mechanism of rekindling is not clear. The purpose of this study is to investigate which subtype of $\alpha$-adrenoceptor is involved in NE-induced rekindling of mechanical allodynia in sympathectomized neuropathic rats. Methods: Neuropathic injury was produced by tightly ligating the left L5 and L6 spinal nerves of 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats and bilateral lumbar sympathectomy was done at two weeks postoperatively. Starting at 7 days after sympathectomy, rekindling of mechanical allodynia was induced by NE and clonidine injected into the left paw, which was reversed by pretreatment of phentolamine and idazoxan. Mechanical allocynia was quantified by measuring the frequency of foot lifts to two von Frey filaments applied to the paw. Results: All tested rats displayed well-developed signs of mechanical allodynia at the left paw that were abolished by a bilateral lumbar sympathectomy. Subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of NE (0.05 ${\mu}g$) into the affected paw of sympathectomized neuropathic rats rekindled previous mechanical allodynia. These effects could be mimicked by an ${\alpha}_2$-receptor agonist clonidine, but not by an ${\alpha}_1$-receptor agonist phenylephrine. The NE-induced rekindling of mechanical allodynia was significantly reduced by prior s.c. injection of a mixed $\alpha$-receptor antagonist phentolamine (20${\mu}g$) and ${\alpha}_2$-receptor antagonist idazoxan(20${\mu}g$), but not by a ${\alpha}_1$-receptor antagonist terazosin (20${\mu}g$). The pretreatment of idazoxan produced dose-related inhibition of NE-induced rekindling of mechanical allodynia. The rekindling induced by ${\alpha}_2$-receptor agonist clonidine (5${\mu}g$) was also reversed by prior s.c. injection of ${\alpha}_2$-receptor antagonist idazoxan (20${\mu}g$). Conclusion: Subcutaneous injection of NE into the paw of sympathectomized neuropathic rats rekindles mechanical allodynia, which is reversed by an ${\alpha}_2$-, but not by an ${\alpha}_1$-receptor antagonist. Therefore, rekindling of mechanical allodynia in sympathectomized neuropathic rats is mediated by ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.29-35
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• 1995

The effects of prostaglandin $F_2{\alpha}$ were investigated on the uterine smooth muscle motility in the pig. The results were summarized as follows : 1. Prostaglandin $F_2{\alpha}$ caused the contraction of the porcine uterine smooth muscle and the contractile responses increased between the concentration of prostaglandine $F_2{\alpha}$ $10^{-9}$ M and $5{\times}10^{-8}$ M with a dose-dependent manner. 2. The contractile response induced by prostaglandine $F_2{\alpha}$($10^{-8}$ M) was not blocked by pre-treatment with cholinergic receptor blocker, atropine ($10^{-6}$ M). 3. The contractile response induced by prostaglandine $F_2{\alpha}$(10$^{-8}$ M) was not blocked by pretreament with ${\alpha}$-adrenergic receptor blocker, phentolamine($10^{-6}$ M) and ${\beta}$-adrenergic receptor blocker, propranolol($10^{-6}$ M). From these results, it was concluded that the effects of uterine smooth muscle by prostaglandine $F_2{\alpha}$ were only the contraction mediated by prostaglandine TEX>$F_2{\alpha}$ receptor in pig, and that it may not be related to the cholinergic and adrenergic receptor.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.285-290
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to prove how magnetic field (MF) acts on sympathetic neuro-transmissions using thermal response. Mice were divided into two groups and each one was exposed to MF (20 G, 24 hrs) or sham. Every vehicle or drugs were treated a half hour before the thermal response test. The pain threshold was lowered by MF (20 G, 24 hrs) alone. This reduction of pain threshold by MF was not blocked by a single treatment of $\alpha$-receptor antagonist (prazosin), $\alpha$$_2$-receptor agonist (clonidine, guanabenz), $\beta$$_1$-receptor antagonist (atenolol) or $\beta$$_1$,$\beta$$_2$-receptor antagonist (propranolol). But administration of $\alpha$$_2$-receptor antagonist (yohimbine) completely inhibited the decrease in pain threshold by MF. Moreover, it increased by high dose of yohimbine over normal condition. These results suggest that MF acts on sympathetic nerve terminal to induce hyperalgesia, in which pre-synaptic az receptor might be involved.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.481-485
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• 2011

T0901317 is a potent synthetic ligand for liver X receptor (LXR, NR1H2/3), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily that functions as a transcription factor. However, T0901317 has been also reported to modulate the activity at least four other nuclear receptors (NRs), acting as agonists for farnesoid X receptor (FXR, NR1H4) and pregnane X receptor (PXR, NR1I2) and as antagonists for androgen receptor (AR, NR3C4) and retinoid-related orphan receptor-${\alpha}$ (ROR-${\alpha}$, NR1F1). We report here that T0901317 can also function as an inhibitor for constitutive androstane receptor (CAR, NR1I3). Since CAR is a major player of xenobiotic and cholesterol metabolism in the liver, along with PXR, FXR and LXR, which are reported to be regulated by T0901317, this further complicates the interpretation of potential results with T0901317 in liver cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.483-489
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• 2002

The role of $G{\alpha}12\;and\;G{\alpha}13$ in modulating the IgE receptor-mediated histamine secretion in the streptolysin-o-permeabilized human cultured mast cell was investigated. The expression of $G{\alpha}12\;and\;G{\alpha}13$ proteins were regulated during human cultured mast cell differentiation, and a significant correlation was observed between the levels of expression of $G{\alpha}12\;and\;G{\alpha}13$ proteins and IgE receptor-mediated histamine secretion capability in human cultured mast cells. Antibodies against $G{\alpha}12\;and\;G{\alpha}13$ effectively inhibited the IgE receptor-induced histamine release, and the concentration of anti-$G{\alpha}12$ antibody used to inhibit histamine secretion was shown to also inhibit the IgE receptor-mediated elevation of intracellular $Ca^2+$. Therefore, the results suggest that $G{\alpha}12\;and\;G{\alpha}13$ play roles in modulating IgE receptor-activated $Ca^2+$ influx, thereby regulating histamine release in cultured human mast cells. This is the first report to show that $G{\alpha}12\;and\;G{\alpha}13$ are involved in the regulation of $Ca^2+$ mediated exocytosis in human cultured mast cells.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.228.2-229
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• 2003

Estrogen Receptor is a ligand-activated transcription factor. The concentration of the receptor is a major component that regulates expression of estrogen-responsive genes. We have studied mechanism of estrogen receptor alpha (ER${\alpha}$) downregulation by HIF-1 using HIF-1${\alpha}$/VP16 constructs. ER${\alpha}$ is known to be downregulated under hypoxic condition. Transcriptional response under hypoxia is mediated through Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), a transcription factor that is usullaly degraded but stabilized under hypoxia. (omitted)

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.57-67
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• 2011

목적 : Collagenase-induced osteoarthritis(OA) 동물 모델에서 전침의 adrenergic mechanism을 연구하고자 한다. 방법 : Collagenase-induced arthritis(CIA)를 유발하기 위하여 5주령의 male Sprague-Dawley rat의 뒷다리 좌측 무릎 관절에 0.05ml의 4mg/ml collagenase solution을 intra-articular 주입하고, 다시 4일 후에 같은 부위에 같은 농도의 collagenase solution을 intra-articular boosting injection 시행한 뒤, gross, histopathological features 및 biomarker activity 변화를 관찰하였다. 예비실험을 통하여 CIA rat model에서 진통효과를 발휘하는 것으로 확인한, 족삼리(足三里) ($ST_{36}$)에 대한 저빈도 train pulse EA stimulation (2Hz, 0.07 mA, 0.3ms)을 침치료 방법으로 적용하였다. 전침의 진통기전을 확인하기 위하여, ${\alpha}1$-adrenergic antagonist (prazosin, 1 mg/kg, i.p.), ${\alpha}2$-adrenergic receptor antagonist (yohimbine, 2mg/kg, i.p.), ${\alpha}1$-adrenergic receptor agonist(phenylephrine, 2mg/kg, i.p.), ${\alpha}2$-adrenergic receptor agonist(clonidine, $40{\mu}g$/kg, i.p.)을 전침시행 20분 전에 복강 내로 전처치하였다. Tail flick unit(Ugo Basile Model 7360)을 이용하여 열자극에 대한 통증역치를 측정하였다. 결과 : 퇴행성관절염 징후(gross, histopathological features)와 통증역치의 변화가 최대값을 나타내는 CIA 유발 4주차에 저빈도 전침자극(train pulse, 2Hz, 0.07mA, 0.3ms)을 족삼리($ST_{36}$)에 적용하였으며, 족삼리 전침의 진통효과는 ${\alpha}2$-adrenergic receptor antagonist(yohimbine, 2mg/kg, i.p.)전처치에 의해 억제되었으나, ${\alpha}1$-adrenergic antagonist(prazosin, 1 mg/kg, i.p.)전처치에는 억제되지 않았다. 또 ${\alpha}2$-adrenergic receptor agonist(clonidine, $40{\mu}g$/kg, i.p.)의 전처치를 통하여 유의한 synergistic analgesic effect가 관찰되었으나, ${\alpha}1$-adrenergic receptor agonist(phenylephrine, 2mg/kg, i.p.)의 전처치는 전침의 진통효과에 synergistic effect를 미치지 않는 것으로 나타났다. 결론 : 저빈도 족삼리 전침은 CIA로 유발된 염증성 통증에 대하여 진통효과를 발휘하며, 이는 ${\alpha}2$-adrenergic receptor에 의하여 매개되는 것으로 보이며 ${\alpha}1$-adrenergic receptor는 영향을 미치지 않는 것으로 사료된다.