• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.121-125
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study is to investigate the antinociceptive effects of ginsenosides on toothache. c-Fos immunoreactive (IR) neurons were examined after noxious intrapulpal stimulation (NS) by intrapulpal injection of 2 M KCl into upper and lower incisor pulps exposed by bone cutter in Sprague Dawley rats. The number of Fos-IR neurons was increased in the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) and the transitional region between Vc and subnucleus interpolaris (Vi) by NS to tooth. The intradental NS raised arterial blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). The number of Fos-IR neurons was also enhanced in thalamic ventral posteromedial nucleus (VPMN) and centrolateral nucleus (CLN) by NS to tooth. The intradental NS increased the number of Fos-IR neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN), central cardiovascular regulation centers. Ginsenosides reduced the number of c-Fos-IR increased by NS to tooth in the trigeminal Vc and thalamic VPMN and CLN. Naloxone, an opioid antagonist, did not block the effect of ginsenoside on the number of Fos-IR neurons enhanced by NS to tooth in the trigeminal Vc and thalamic VPMN and CLN. Ginsenosides ameliorated arterial BP and HR raised by NS to tooth and reduced the number of Fos-IR neurons increased by NS to tooth in the NTS, RVLM, hypothalamic SON, and PVN. These results suggest that ginsenosides have an antinociceptive effect on toothache through non-opioid system and attenuates BP and HR increased by NS to tooth.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.170-180
• /
• 2009

Objectives : To assess clinical improvement and change in plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) level after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS) in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Methods : Seven patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia, who were proven to be treatment-resistant, were treated with 15 sessions of rTMS for three weeks as an adjuvant therapy to antipsychotic treatment. Clinical improvement and change in plasma BDNF level were measured after the treatment period. The symptom severity was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS) and the Korean Version of Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia(K-CDSS) at baseline and 7 days after the treatment. Plasma BDNF level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) at baseline and 7 days after the treatment. Results : After the rTMS treatment, there was no significant improvement in PANSS total score(Z=-1.693, p=0.090) and no significant change in plasma BDNF was found(Z=-1.183, p=0.237). Negative correlations were found between percentage change in PANSS positive subscale score and duration of illness(rho=-0.991, N=7, p<0.0005, two-tailed), and PANSS negative subscale score at baseline and percentage change in plasma BDNF level(rho=-0.821, N=7, p=0.023, two-tailed). Conclusion : This preliminary study suggests that rTMS didn't make a significant change in clinical symptoms nor in plasma BDNF level in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Percentage change in plasma BDNF, however, might be correlated with treatment resistance in schizophrenic patients. This is a pilot study with a small sample size, therefore, a further study with a larger sample size is needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.109-119
• /
• 2001

Objective : There are many reports that acupuncture has thermoregulatory effects on human and animals. To investigate the effect and mechanism of antipyretic action of acupuncture, we observed the body temperature and cytokine expressions in the hypothalamus of rats. Methods : Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, i.p., 2.5mg/kg) was injected to conscious rats (Sprague-Dawley, male, n=4l) to cause hyperthermia and simple needling (stainless steel, 0.25 mm o.d., 5 mm insertion for 10 sec with no manipulation) was performed bilaterally with the measurement of rectal temperature. Next, we sacrificed rats to remove brain and determined the level of mRNA for interleukin-6 (IL-6), $interleukin-1{\beta}{\;}(IL-1{\beta})$, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and $interferon-{\gamma}{\;}(IFN-{\gamma})$ in the hypothalamus by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Resul1s : Needling on forepaw (acupoint HT8) and needling on hindpaw (acupoint BL66 and acupoint LR2) significantly inhibited LPS-induced fever of rats (P<0.01, 10 min after treatment respectively), but same treatment on proximal tail (non-acupoint) did not cause any change on fever. The levels of IL-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$ mRNA in the hypothalamus was significantly enhanced by LPS-injection, while the level of IL-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$ mRNA was markedly reduced after treatment on BL66 (P<0.01). Treatment on forepaw reduced it slightly, but not significantly. Equivalent stimulation on proximal tail did not cause any changes. Conclusions : Our results indicate that acupuncture stimulation on various body parts has differential thermoregulatory effects on LPS-induced fever of rats with site-specificity. And, we suggest that its antipyretic action might be accompanied with the suppression of hypothalamic production of pro-inflammatory cytokine of immune system, IL-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.3-16
• /
• 1998

The neurophysiological study has been widely used in search of the relationship between brain and behavior. The basic techniques for the animal experiments of this kind such as stereotaxic techniques, lesioning methods, the methods of electrical stimulation and recording, and confirmation of histological location were briefly reviewed. Nevertheless, the importance of complementary neurochemical, neuroanatomical and behavioral studies can not be neglected.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.135-145
• /
• 2006

Objectives and Methods : Using the 2-channel DROS SQUID (Korea Research Institute of Standards of Science, 1999), the present study was carried out to record changes elicited in the auditory cortex by acupuncture stimulus on right TE5 (Waiguan) and GB43 (Xiaxi). Needle-retention stimulation of TE5 and GB43 were done for acquiring the brain activities changed by acupuncture. Acupoint TE5 and GB43 is known to be effective for the treatment of ear-related disease, such as deafness and tinnitus, and to be suspected to be related to the auditory cortex. Auditory evoked magnetic fields were recorded hem the left hemisphere of five subjects, in response to contralateral ear stimulation by irregularly spaced 170 msec long 1kHz tone busts (Korea Research Institute of Standards of Science) Results and Conclusions : The result as follows. The latency and amplitude of SQUID MEG responses at the human auditory cortex changed by needle-retention condition on TE5 were 4msec and 9.2 fT, respectively, which were slower and smaller than those of no-acupuncture condition. The latency and amplitude of SQUID MEG responses at the human auditory cortex changed by needle-retention condition on GB43 were 7.2 msec and 1.6 fT, respectively, which were slower and larger than those of no-acupuncture condition. The latency of SQUID MEG responses at the human auditory cortex changed by needle-retention condition on GB43 condition was slower than that of TE5 acupuncture condition.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.13-19
• /
• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: One of the mechanisms considered to be prevalent in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is hyper-stimulation of microglia. Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocapa L.) is widely used to treat diabetes and atherosclerosis, and is known to exert anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects; however, its neuroprotective effects have not been elucidated thus far. MATERIALS/METHODS: We undertook to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of the ethanolic extract of black chokeberry friut (BCE) in BV2 cells, and evaluate its neuroprotective effect in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse model of AD. RESULTS: Following stimulation of BV2 cells by LPS, exposure to BCE significantly reduced the generation of nitric oxide as well as mRNA levels of numerous inflammatory factors such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), interleukin 1 beta ($IL-1{\beta}$), and tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$). In addition, AD was induced in a mouse model by intraperitoneal injection of LPS ($250{\mu}g/kg$), subsequent to which we investigated the neuroprotective effects of BCE (50 mg/kg) on brain damage. We observed that BCE significantly reduced tissue damage in the hippocampus by downregulating iNOS, COX-2, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels. We further identified the quinic acids in BCE using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS). Furthermore, we confirmed the neuroprotective effect of BCE and quinic acid on amyloid beta-induced cell death in rat hippocampal primary neurons. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that black chokeberry has protective effects against the development of AD.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.1032-1038
• /
• 2005

Using the 2-channel DROS SQUID (Korea Research Institute of Standards of Science, 1999), the present study was carried out to record changes elicited in the auditory cortex by acupuncture stimulus (right GB43, Xiaxi). Needle-retention and manual needle-twitching stimulation of GB43 and SP1 were done for acquiring the brain activities changed by acupuncture. Acupoint GB43 is known to be effective for the treatment of ear-related disease, such as deafness and tinnitus, and to be suspected to be related to the auditory cortex. Auditory evoked magnetic fields were recorded from the left hemisphere of five or four subjects, in response to contralateral ear stimulation by irregularly spaced 170msec long 1kHz tone busts (Korea Research Institute of Standards of Science). The result as follows The latency and amplitude of SQUID MEG responses at the human auditory cortex changed by needle-retention condition on GB43 were 7.2msec and 1.617, respectively, which were slower and larger than those of no-acupuncture condition. The amplitude of SQUID MEG responses at the human auditory cortex changed by needle-twitching condition on GB43 was 13.517, which was larger than that of no-acupuncture condition. The change in SP1 following GB43 needle-twitching condition were not observed in latency. The amplitude changed by needle-twitching condition on SP1 was 12.2fT, which was not significant. These results suggested that auditory cortex can be affected by acupuncture stimulus, though not specific or significant because of small number of subjects.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.360-366
• /
• 2000

The in vivo binding of dopamine (DA) radioligands to $D_2$receptors can be affected by competition with endogenous dopamine. In the present study, we used a brain slice preparation that provides more controlled conditions than in vivo preparations in order to examine the relationship between synaptic DA and the binding of [$^3H$] raclopride to $D_2$receptors. We also estimated the synaptic DA concentration in rat striatal slices by determining the changes in [$^3H$] raclopride binding. To correlate the changes in [$^3$H]raclopride binding with the concentration of synaptic DA, the kinetic parameters were determined. [$^3H$] Raclopride reached equilibrium binding conditions within two hours. The K value for DA in inhibiting [$^3$H]raclopride binding was about 2.2 nM. The increase in synaptic DA evoked by electrical stimulation decreased the striatal binding of [$^3H$] raclopride in a frequency-dependent manner. Increases in the DA concentration evoked by amphetamine (AMPH) or cocaine decreased [$^3H$] raclopride binding by 74% or 20%, respectively, corresponding to increases in the synaptic DA concentrations of 1.6 nM or 0.6 nM, respectively. Pargyline also decreased [$^3H$] raclopride binding by 36%corresponding at a concentration of 1.2 nM. In contrast, the depletion of synaptic DA by $\alpha$-methyl-p-tyrosine ($\alpha$-MpT) increased the specific binding of [$^3H$] raclopride by 43%when the DA concentration was decreased to 0.7 nM. The changes in the DA concentration at the synapse were responsible for the changes in the striatal binding of [$^3H$] raclopride. The values calculated in this study may therefore approximate the changes in the synaptic DA concentration in rat striatal slices following manipulation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.13-24
• /
• 2010

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effects of bee venom acupuncture at Shinsu($BL_{23}$) and Daejangsu($BL_{25}$) on neuropathic pain induced by tibial and sural nerve injury in rats. Methods : Neuropathic pain model was made by partial resection of tibial and sural nerve. Three weeks after the neuropathic surgery, bee venom acupuncture was firstly injected at $BL_{23}$ and $BL_{25}$, then we measured withdrawal responses induced by von Frey filament and acetone stimulation. Bee venom acupunctures were injected 6times on every 2days. Measurement of withdrawal responses were conducted on the same days. After bee venom acupuncture injection, expression levels of c-Fos, nocieptin and KOR-3 were observed through using immunohistochemistry. Results : In this experiment, bee venom acupunctures at $BL_{23}$ and $BL_{25}$ decreased levels of withdrawal responses induced by von Frey filament and acetone stimulation respectively. In addtion, expression levels of c-Fos, nociceptin and KOR-3 in central gray part of brain in rats were decreased by bee venom acupuncture. Conclusions : These results imply that bee venom acupuncture was useful to treat patients with neuropathic pain, and related mechanisms were involved in opioid and their receptors such as nociceptin and KOR-3.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.101-109
• /
• 1988

최근에 마취한 흰쥐에서 중뇌망상체를 전기적으로 자극하면 췌장의 외분비 기능이 증가하며 이러한 결과는 망상체의 자극으로 인하여 교감신경계의 활성도가 상승하기 때문이라는 보고가 있다. 한편 교감신경계의 활성도가 상승할 경우 교감신경계의 전달 물질인 catecholamine이 교감신경 종말 뿐만 아니라 부신수질에서도 유리된다고 알려져 있다. 그러므로 본 연구에서는 중뇌망상체의 자극으로 인하여 췌장의 외분비 기능이 증가함에 있어 교감신경계가 중요한 역할을 담당하는지를 확인하고, 이때 부신수질이 관여하는가를 알아보고자 하였다. 마취한 흰쥐에게 atropine (1mg/kg) 또는 reserpine (5mg/kg)을 투여하거나 또는 부신을 적출한 다음 중뇌망상체를 전기 자극하면서 췌장액을 채취하였다. 사용한 전기자극의 매개변수는 1.3V, 40Hz, 2msec이었다. atropine과 reserpine을 투여하면 마취한 흰쥐의 자발적 췌장액 분비량과 단백질 분비량은 모두 유의하게 감소하였으나 부신을 제거하면 췌장액 분비량에는 이렇다할 변동이 없는 반면에 단백질 분비량은 유의하게 감소하였다. 중뇌망상체를 전기자극하면 췌장액 분비량과 단백질 분비량 모두가 유의하게 증가하였다. 이러한 망상체의 자극효과는 atropine 전처치에 의하여 이렇다할 영향을 받지 않았으나 reserpine 전처치에 의하여 소실되었다. 그러나 부신을 적출하면 망상체 자극에 의한 췌장액 분비량의 증가는 유지되는 반면에 단백질 분비량의 증가는 소실되었다. 한편 미주신경을 절단한 흰쥐에서 중뇌망상체를 자극하는 동안에 경동맥의 수축기 및 이완기 혈압이 상승하였는데 이러한 망상체의 자극효과도 reserpine의 투여에 의하여 유의하게 감소되었다. 본 실험의 결과를 종합하여 보면 마취한 흰쥐에서 중뇌망상체의 자극은 교감신경계를 활성화시켜 췌장액 분비량과 단백질 분비량에 촉진적인 영향을 미치며, 이때 활성화된 교감신경계는 부분적으로 부신을 경유하게 췌장의 단백질 분비에 촉진적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 생각된다.