• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.1 s.38
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• pp.24-33
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• 1986

To ascertain the existence of various adrenoceptors involved in active transport of sodium in the frog skin and to delineate their physiological roles, the influence of various adrenergic agonists and antagonists on the potential difference (PD), short-circuit current (SCC) and total skin conductance (TSC) of the isolated frog skin of Rana nigromaculata were investigated. PD and SCC were determined with Ussing's technique. Drugs were administered to the serosal side of the skin. Experimental results were summarized as follows: 1. The responses to norepinephrine (NE, $6{\times}10^{-8}-6{\times}10^{-5})M$), phenylephrine (PE, $5{\times}10^{-6}-5{\times}10^{-4}M$) and epinephrine (Epi, $5.5{\times}10^{-7}-5.5{\times}10^{-5}M$) were characterized by marked elevation of PD & SCC in dose-related fashion, but the maximal effect attained by Epi was less than those of NE and PE. 2. These increments of PD & SCC were significantly inhibited by prazosin $(2{\times}10^{-6}M)$, a speciflc ${\alpha}_1$-adrenoceptor blocker. The stimulatory effect on PD & SCC were completely abolished by phenoxybenzamine (PBZ, $3.3{\times}10^{-5}M$), an irreversible ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptor blocking agent. Furthermore, with a larger doses of Epi produced marked decline of PD & SCC after the PBZ pretreatment. 3. Isoproterenol (ISP), a ${\beta}$-adrenoceptor agonist, in concentrations ranging from $5{\times}10^{-7}$ to $5{\times}10^{-6}M$ produced dose-related decrease in PD & SCC, which could be abolished by pretreatment with propranolol $(4{\times}10^{-6}M)$, a specific ${\beta}$-adrenoceptor blocker. It was further noted that the effects of Epi on PD & SCC were markedly potentiated by Propranolol pretreatment. 4. Clonidine as well as guanabenz produced increases in PD & SCC and these effects were inhibited more specifically by prazosin pretreatment than by yohimbine. These results indicated that there exist in the frog skin two distinctive types of adrenoceptors, ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$, which roughly corresponds to those in mammals, and that the ${\alpha}$ type of adrenoceptors mediate the stimulation of PD & SCC, whereas ${\beta}$-adrenoceptors mediate the inhibition. However, based on evidence at hand, no conclusion could be drawn on the subtype of ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptors which is involved in the stimulation of sodium transport in the frog skin.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.4949-4954
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• 2015

The present study was planned to investigate the role of sex hormone receptor gene expression in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Adult male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups. Group (1) was negative control. Groups (2), (5), (6), and (7) were orally administered with N-nitrosodiethylamine for the induction of HCC, then group (2) was left untreated, group (5) was orally treated with curcumin, group (6) was orally treated with carvacrol, and group (7) was intraperitoneally injected with doxorubicin, whereas groups (3) and (4) were orally administered only curcumin and carvacrol, respectively. The HCC group showed significant upregulation in the androgen receptor (AR) and the estrogen receptor-alpha ($ER{\alpha}$) gene expression levels in the liver tissue. On the contrary, HCC groups treated with either curcumin or carvacrol showed significant downregulation in AR and $ER{\alpha}$ gene expression levels in the liver tissue. In conclusion, the obtained data highlight that both AR and $ER{\alpha}$ but not estrogen receptor-beta ($ER{\beta}$) gene expression may contribute to the male prevalence of HCC induced in male rats. Interestingly, both curcumin and carvacrol were found to have a promising potency in alleviating the male predominating HCC.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.356-361
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• 2015

Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with insulin resistance and diabetes. We previously showed that retinoid X receptor ${\alpha}$ ($RXR{\alpha}$) played an important role in transcriptional regulation of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) genes in cells with mitochondrial dysfunction caused by mitochondrial DNA mutation. In this study, we investigated whether mitochondrial dysfunction induced by incubation with OXPHOS inhibitors affects insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) mRNA and protein levels and whether $RXR{\alpha}$ activation or overexpression can restore IRS1 expression. Both IRS1 and $RXR{\alpha}$ protein levels were significantly reduced when C2C12 myotubes were treated with the OXPHOS complex inhibitors, rotenone and antimycin A. The addition of $RXR{\alpha}$ agonists, 9-cis retinoic acid (9cRA) and LG1506, increased IRS1 transcription and protein levels and restored mitochondrial function, which ultimately improved insulin signaling. $RXR{\alpha}$ overexpression also increased IRS1 transcription and mitochondrial function. Because $RXR{\alpha}$ overexpression, knock-down, or activation by LG1506 regulated IRS1 transcription mostly independently of mitochondrial function, it is likely that $RXR{\alpha}$ directly regulates IRS1 transcription. Consistent with the hypothesis, we showed that $RXR{\alpha}$ bound to the IRS1 promoter as a heterodimer with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\delta}$ ($PPAR{\delta}$). These results suggest that $RXR{\alpha}$ overexpression or activation alleviates insulin resistance by increasing IRS1 expression.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.210-215
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• 2009

Background: Several studies have indicated that a nerve injury enhances the expression of the voltage-gated calcium channel ${\alpha}2{\delta}1$ subunit (Cav ${\alpha}2{\delta}1$) in sensory neurons and the dorsal spinal cord. This study examined whether NMDA receptor activation is essential for Cav ${\alpha}2{\delta}1$-mediated tactile allodynia in Cav ${\alpha}2{\delta}1$ overexpressing transgenic mice and L5/6 spinal nerve ligated rats (SNL). These two models show similar Cav ${\alpha}2{\delta}1$ upregulation and behavioral hypersensitivity, without and with the presence of other injury factors, respectively. Methods: The transgenic (TG) mice were generated as described elsewhere (Feng et al., 2000). The left L5/6 spinal nerves in the Harlan Sprague Dawley rats were ligated tightly (SNL) to induce neuropathic pain, as described by Kim et al. (1992). Memantine 2 mg/kg (10 ul) was injected directly into the L5/6 spinal region followed by $10{\mu}l$ saline. Tactile allodynia was tested for any mechanical hypersensitivity. Results: The tactile allodynia in the SNL rats could be reversed by an intrathecal injection of memantine 2 mg/kg at 1.5 hours. The tactile allodynia in the Cav ${\alpha}2{\delta}1$ over-expressing TG mice could be reversed by an intrathecal injection of memantine 2 mg/kg at 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 hours. Conclusions: The behavioral hypersensitivity was similar in the TG mice and nerve injury pain model, supporting the hypothesis that elevated Cav ${\alpha}2{\delta}1$ mediates similar pathways that underlie the pain states in both models. The selective activation of spinal NMDA receptors plays a key role in mediating the pain states in both the nerve-injury rats and TG mice.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.67-70
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• 1973

This experiment was carried out to investigate the influence of adrenergic receptor blockade. on digitalis intoxication. The effects of adrenergic alpha and beta receptor blockade on the lethal dose of digitonin were evaluated. $LD_{50}$ and dose mortality curve of digitonin in mice pretreated with dibenzylin or propranolol hydrochloride (Inderal) were obtained. All drugs were injected subcutaneously. Digitonin toxicity was significantly decreased in mice pretreated with beta·blockade compare with alpha-blockade and control groups.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.23-23
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• 2003

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and other aryl hydrocarbon (AhR) ligands suppress 17${\beta}$-estradiol (E)-induced responses in the rodent uterus and mammary tumors and in human breast cancer cells. Treatment of ZR-75, T47D and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells with TCDD induces proteasome-dependent degradation of endogenous estrogen receptor ${\alpha}$ (ER${\alpha}$).(omitted)

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.112-116
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• 2011

We investigated the effect of paternal folate status on folate content and expression of the folate transporter folate receptor ${\alpha}$ ($FR{\alpha}$) in rat placental tissues. Rats were mated after males were fed a diet containing 0 mg of folic acid/kg of diet (paternal folate-deficient, PD) or 8 mg folic acid/kg of diet (paternal folate-supplemented, PS) for 4 weeks. At 20 days of gestation, the litter size, placental weight, and fetal weight were measured, and placental folate content (n=8/group) and expression of $FR{\alpha}$ (n=10/group) were analyzed by microbiological assay and Western blot analysis, respectively. Although there was no difference observed in litter size or fetal weight, but significant reduction (10%) in the weight of the placenta was observed in the PD group compared to that in the PS group. In the PD group, placental folate content was significantly lower (by 35%), whereas $FR{\alpha}$ expression was higher (by 130%) compared to the PS group. Our results suggest that paternal folate status plays a critical role in regulating placental folate metabolism and transport.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.227-231
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• 2005

The estrogen receptor (ER) is activated and degraded by estrogen. We have examined ER downregulation and activation under hypoxia mimetic conditions. Cobalt chloride induced ER downregulation at 24 h of treatment. This degradation involved hypoxia-inducible factor-1$\alpha$ (HIF-1$\alpha$) as examined by using a constitutively active form of HIF-1$\alpha$, HIF-1$\alpha$/VP16, constructed by replacing the transactivation domain of HIF-1$\alpha$ with that of VP16. Western blot analysis revealed that E2-induced ER downregulation was observed within ${\~}6h$, whereas HIF-1$\alpha$/VP16-induced ER degradation was observed within 12${\~}$20h. HIF-1$\alpha$/VP16 activated the transcription of estrogen-responsive reporter gene in the absence of estrogen. These results suggest that ER downregulation and activation under hypoxia maybe mediated in part by a HIP-1$\alpha$ expression.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.102-105
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• 2010

Our previous results showed that hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) activated estrogen receptor (ER) in the absence of ligand. In this study, we have studied the effect ER overexpression on the activation of HIF-1. ER overexpression induced transcription activation of hypoxia response element driven luciferase and vascular endothelial growth factor. As a negative control, the effect of ER on androgen receptor response element was used. Our result indicate that the two ER$\alpha$ and HIF-1 signaling pathways shares part of the activation pathway.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1589-1603
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• 2018

Twenty analogs of $[Orn^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor$ were synthesized and assayed for their biological activities: seven analogs of $[Orn^6,X^9]{\alpha}-factor$, seven analogs of $[X^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor$, five analogs of $[X^5,X^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor$, and native ${\alpha}-factor$ (X = amino acids). Their biological activities (halo, gene induction, and affinity) were measured using S. cerevisiae Y7925 and LM102 and compared with those of native ${\alpha}-factor$ (100%). G protein-coupled receptor was expressed in strain LM102 containing pESC-LEU-STE2 vector. $[Dap^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor$ with weak halo activity (10%) showed the highest receptor affinity (> 230%) and the highest gene induction activity (167%). $[Arg^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor$ showed the highest halo activity (2,000%). The number of active binding sites per cell (about 20,000 for strain LM102) was determined using a newly-designed fluorescence-based detector, $[Arg^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor-Edan$, with high sensitivity (12,500-fold higher than the absorption-based detector $[Orn^6]{\alpha}-factor-[Cys]_3$).