• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.79-94
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• 2003

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-stress effects of Palmuljungjiwon and Gamipalmuljungjiwon on the contents of monoamines in the regional brain of mice immobilized stress. The experimental animals were immobilized in stress cylinder(height: 15cm, diameter: 3cm) for 15 minutes, and administered of Palmuljungjiwon(1.14mg/l0g) and Gamipalmuljungjiwon(1.17mg/10g) water extract for 7 days before stress. The monoamines contents were measured by HPLC method in various part(frontal cortex, hypothalamus, corpus striatum and hippocampus) of mice brain. The following results were obtained : 1. In frontal cortex, the contents of norepinephrine a little decreased in all of the administered group, but the statistical significance was not recognized. The contents of dopamine were decreased with statistical significantly in Gamipalmuljungjiwon administered group compared to control group. The contents of serotonin were decreased with statistical significance in PalmulJungjiwon administered group compared to control group. 2. In hypothalamus, the contents of norepinephrine were decreased with statistical significantly in all of the administered group compared to control group. The contents of dopamine were decreased in all of the administered group compared to control group, but the statistical significance was not recognized. The contents of serotonin were decreased with statistical significantly in Gamipalmuljungjiwon administered group compared to control group. 3. In corpus striatum, the contents of norepinephrine were decreased with statistical significantly in Gamipalmuljungjiwon administered group compared to control group. The contents of dopamine were decreased in all of the administered group compared to control group, but the statistical significance was not recognized. The contents of serotonin were decreased with statistical significance in all of the administered group compared to control group 4. In hippocampus, the content of norepinephrine and dopamine a little decreased in all of the administered group, but the statistical significance was not recognized. The contents of serotonin were decreased with statistical significance in all of the administered group compared to control group. In conclusion, this study shows that Palmuljungjiwon and Gamipalmuljungjiwon are significantly effective on reducing and preventing stress in mice.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.392-409
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• 1998

The present experiment was designed to examine the effects of Jeongjihwan on carecholamines, serotonin, amino acids, lipid peroxide, free radical scavenging activity, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase activity in senile brain. It was performed by administering Jeongjihwan extracts of a variety of concentration to senile rats to experimentally determine effects of Jeongjihwan on biochemical changes in senile brain and examine protective effects against neurotoxin. To examine survival rate, the rat's spinal cord sensory ganglion cell pretreated in Jeongjihwan extracts was cultured in oxygen free radical. The results were summarized as follows: 1. Jeongjihwan significantly increased noradrenaline in the hippocampus and hypothalamus of the brain tissue of senile rats, and even though Jeongjihwan increased noradrenaline also in other brain tissue, there was no significance. 2. Jeongjihwan had no effects on dopamine changes in all brain tissue of senile rats. 3. Jeongjihwan significantly increased serotonin, but decreased in other brain tissue. 4. Jeongjihwan increased amino acid in the brain tissue of senile rats. 5. Jeongjihwan significantly decreased lipid peroxide and free radical in the brain tissue of senile rats. 6. Jeongjihwan significantly increased survival rate of nerve cell exposed to oxygen free radical. According to the above results, Jeongjihwan is assumed to improve brain function by reacting on biochemical changes of the senile brain and carries effects of protecting against neurocytotoxicity, and that Jeongjihwan can be used to treat regressive brain disease carrying symptoms of psychoactive disorders.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.188-193
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• 1997

Along with psychosocial factors of suicide, biological backgrounds of suicide are explored by extensive works mostly on biological markers, neurobiological models, genetic bases, and relationships with aggression and violence. The biology of suicide confers on neurotransmitters in central nervous system exploring metabolites, receptor binding affinities, neuroendocrine challenge tests in brain, cerebrospinal fluid, blood and etc. The major concerns with suicide are focused mainly on serotonin system : low CSF 5-HIAA concentration, higher $5-HT_2$ receptor binding, and blunt prolactin response to fenfluramine. Postmortem study, in vivo study, genetic contributions, and some other issues such as suicidal methods, serum cholesterol, alcohol, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are reviewed and discussed.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.184-189
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• 2015

We compared impulsive behaviors in Wistar rats and in Wistar-Kyoto rats. There was no significant difference in locomotor activity between them. However, Wistar rats showed high activity in 5-choice serial reaction time track. When Wistar rats were treated with atomoxetin (3 mg/kg), methylphenidate (2 mg/kg) or amphetamine (2 mg/kg), they showed less impulsive behavior. Serotonin contents in prefrontal cortex and brain stem also increased. In conclusion, we suggest that Wistar rats could be used as animal model for impulsive behavior analysis. In addition, serotonin might be related with this impulsivity.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2010

Gene-environment interactions are important in pathogenesis of suicide or suicidal behavior. Twin and adoption studies and family studies show that genetic factors play a critical role in suicide or suicidal behavior. Given the strong association between serotonergic neurotransmission and suicide, recent molecular genetic studies have focused on polymorphisms of serotonin genes, especially on serotonin transporter and tryptophan hydroxylase genes. Some studies have revealed a significant interaction between s allele of the serotonin transporter gene and the risk of suicide attempt associated with childhood trauma. In addition, the polymorphism of brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene also may influence the effect of childhood trauma in relation to the risk of attempting suicide. Future studies should explore genetic and environmental factors in suicide or suicidal behavior and examine for gene and environment interaction.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.301-307
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• 1988

Relationship between the maintenance of hypertension and central serotonergic nervous system activity in opontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was studied. Serotonin turnover-rates were measured in 5 brain areas as an index of serotonergic neuronal activity and compared at the ages of 14 weeks in two types of animals; (1) spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) (2) normotensive wistar kyoto rats (WKY). In 14-week old SHR, central serotonin turnover rate was significantly lower in telencephalon, hypothalamus/thalamus and midbrain than normotensive rat, but significantly higher in cerebellum. There were no significant differences between serotonin turnover rate in pons/medulla of SHR and that of normotensive rat. THese data suggest that the abnormally lower turnover rates of serotonin in telencephalon, hypothalamus/thalamus and midbrain may be one of the underlying neuronal factors for manifestation of hypertension in SHR.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.552-560
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• 2023

Background: Ginseng Radix (Panax ginseng Meyer, Araliaceae) has been used medicinally to treat the brain and nervous system problems worldwide. Recent studies have revealed physiological effects that could potentially benefit cognitive performance or mood. The present study aimed to investigate the antidepressant effects of Korean red ginseng water extract (KGE) and its active component in an unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS)-induced animal model and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The antidepressant potential of the UCMS model was evaluated using the sucrose preference test and open field tests. The behavioral findings were further corroborated by the assessment of neurotransmitters and their metabolites from the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of rats. Three doses of KGE (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) were orally administered during the experiment. Furthermore, the mechanism underlying the antidepressant-like action of KGE was examined by measuring the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/CREB, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) proteins in the prefrontal cortex of UCMS-exposed rats. Results: KGE treatment normalized UCMS-induced depression-related behaviors. Neurotransmitter studies conducted after completing behavioral experiments demonstrated that KGE caused a reduction in the ratio of serotonin and dopamine, indicating a decrease in serotonin and dopamine turnover. Moreover, the expression of BDNF, Nrf2, Keap1 and AKT were markedly increased by KGE in the prefrontal cortex of depressed rats. Conclusion: Our results provide evidence that KGE and its constituents exert antidepressant effects that mediate the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems and expression of BDNF protein in an animal model.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2006

Fluoxetine, widely used for the treatment of depression, is known to be a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), however, there are also reports that fluoxetine has direct effects on several receptors. Employing whole-cell patch clamp techniques in rat brain slice, we studied the effects of fluoxetine on corticostriatal synaptic transmission by measuring the change in spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSC). Acute treatment of rat brain slice with fluoxetine ($10{\mu}M$) significantly decreased the amplitude of sEPSC ($8.1{\pm}3.3$%, n=7), but did not alter its frequency ($99.1{\pm}4.7$%, n=7). Serotonin ($10{\mu}M$) also significantly decreased the amplitude ($81.2{\pm}3.9$%, n=4) of sEPSC, but did not affect its frequency ($105.8{\pm}8.0$, n=4). The effect of fluoxetine was found to have the same trend as that of serotonin. We also found that the inhibitory effect of fluoxetine on sEPSC amplitude ($93.0{\pm}1.9$%, n=8) was significantly blocked, but not serotonin ($84.3{\pm}1.6$%, n=4), when the brain slice was incubated with p-chloroamphetamine ($10{\mu}M$), which depletes serotonin from the axon terminals and blocks its reuptake. These results suggest that fluoxetine inhibits corticostriatal synaptic transmission through postsynaptic, and that these effects are exerted through both serotonin dependent and independent mechanism.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.365-369
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• 2014

Cedrus deodara (Pinaceae) has been used traditionally in Ayurveda for the treatment of central nervous system disorders. 3,4-bis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)furan-2,5-dione (BDFD) was isolated from heart wood of Cedrus deodara and was shown to have antiepileptic and anxiolytic activity. Thus, the present study was aimed to explore its anti-depressant effect and to correlate the effect with serotonin and nor adrenaline levels of brain. Albino mice were used as experimental animal. Animals were divided in to three groups; vehicle control, imipramine (30 mg/kg i.p.), BDFD (100 mg/kg i.p.). Tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST) was performed to evaluate antidepressant effect of BDFD. BDFD (100 mg/kg, i.p.) showed a significant decrease in immobility time when subjected to FST whereas immobility time was not significantly altered in TST. BDFD treatment increased serotonin and noradrenaline levels in the brain which is indicative of BDFD having possible atypical antidepressant action.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 2016

As a neurotransmitter, serotonin plays important roles in brain. It relates various neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia. [$^{11}C$]DASB is a well-known PET tracer for serotonin transporter imaging. In this study, we synthesized [$^{11}C$]DASB in HPLC loop for simple and rapid production. Total synthesis time was about 40 minutes and the radiochemical purities were over 99%. The specific activity was $51.4GBq/{\mu}mole$ (n=16). [$^{11}C$]DASB showed highest uptake in mid-brain that serotonergic nerves are abundant and lowest uptake in cerebellum. In conclusion, we used HPLC loop method for [$^{11}C$]DASB labeling and this method is useful for production of $^{11}C$ labeled PET tracers.