• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.556-563
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• 2008

Peripheral nerve injuries are a commonly encountered clinical problem and often result in a chronic pain and severe functional deficits. The expression of c-Fos is sometimes used as a marker of increased neuronal activity. We have prepared the aqueous extract of amygdalin from Armeniacae semen for pain control. In the present study, we investigated the effects of amygdalin on the recovery rate of the locomotor function and on the expression of c-Fos in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) region following sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats. Walking track analysis for the evaluation of functional recovery and immunohistochemistry for the c-Fos expression were used in this study. In the present results, characteristic gait change with dropping of the sciatic function index (SFI) was observed and c-Fos expression in the vlPAG was suppressed following sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats. Amygdalin enhanced SFI value and restored c-Fos expression in the vlPAG to the control value. The present our study indicated that amygdalin activates neurons in the vlPAG, and it facilitates functional recovery following peripheral nerve injury.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.891-900
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• 2003

Cellular FOS(c-fos) protein is a transcription factor that forms heterodimers mostly with c-jun family and stimulates the transcription of genes containing AP-1 regulatory elements. This c-fos expression can control growth and differentiation of various precursor cells including myoblasts. The controls by c-fos gene have been identified for affecting skeletal muscle fiber traits which are the key determinants of meat quality in pigs. As a first step for identifying the relationship between c-fos gene and meat quality traits in cattle, we fully sequenced 1,443 bp of Hanwoo c-fos mRNA and analyzed expression patterns from various organs and muscle tissues. The sequence identities of Hanwoo c-fos with that of human, pig and mouse showed 89.8%, 93.3% and 87%, respectively. Analyses of the northern blot showed high c-fos expressions were obtained in spleen and rib muscle from 7 organs and 9 different parts of muscles investigated. These results presented here can be used as a valuable marker for meat quality related traits in cattle with further verification.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.224-229
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• 2005

Ginseng radix, the root of Panax ginseng C.A.Meyer (Araliaceae), has traditionally been used for the treatment of various disorders including cerebrovascular accident (CVA). In the present study, the effect of Ginseng radix on c-Fos expression and apoptosis in the hippocampal CA1 region of gerbils following transient global ischemia was investigated via immunohistochemistry for c-Fos and caspase-3 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Enhanced c-Fos-, TUNEL-, and caspase-3-positivities were detected in the hippocampal CA1 region in ischemic gerbils. Administration of the aqueous extract of Ginseng radix suppressed this ischemia-induced increment in the numbers of c-Fos-, TUNEL-, and caspase-3-positive cells. These results suggest that Ginseng radix has an inhibitive effect on the induction of c-Fos expression and apoptosis seen following transient global ischemia.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.129-140
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• 2009

Objectives : The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of Moutan Cortex as antidepressant in forced swimming test(FST) model. Methods : The expressions of corticotropin-releasing Factor(CRF), c-Fos and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) were measured with immunohistochemical method at paraventricular nucleus (PVN), locus coeruleus(LC) and ventral tegmental area(VTA). Results : The duration of immobility in the forced swimming test was significantly decreased in the Moutan Cortex 100 mg/kg treated group in comparison with the control group(p<0.01). CRF and c-Fos expressions at PVN were decreased in the Moutan Cortex 100mg/kg treated group in comparison with the control group. But only the expression of c-Fos was shown the significance(p<0.05). TH expressions at LC and VTA were significantly decreased in the Moutan Cortex 100mg/kg and 400mg/kg treated group in comparison with the control group(p<0.001). Conclusion : According to the results, Moutan Cortex has the antidepressant effect by showing the reduced immobility through the reduction of c-Fos expression at PVN and the reduction of TH expression at LC and VTA.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2007

Altered environmental gravity, including both hypo- and hypergravity, may result in space adaptation syndrome. To explore the characteristics of this adaptive plasticity, the expression of immediate early gene c-fos mRNA in the vestibular related tissues following an exposure to hypergravity stimulus was determined in rats. The animals were subjected to a force of 2 g (twice earth's gravity) for 1, 3, or 12 h, and were examined poststimulus at 0, 2, 6, 12, and 24 h. RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) and real-time quantitative RT-PCR were adopted to analyze temporal changes in the expression of c-fos mRNA. The hypergravity stimulus increased the expression of c-fos mRNA in the vestibular ganglion, medial vestibular nucleus, inferior vestibular nucleus, hippocampus, cerebellum, and cortex. The peak expression occurred at 0 h poststimulation in animals stimulated with hypergravity for 1 h, and at 6 h poststimulus in those stimulated for 3 h. In contrast, those stimulated for 12 h exhibited dual peaks at 0 and 12 h poststimulus. Bilateral labyrinthectomy markedly attenuated the degree of c-fos mRNA expression. Glutamate receptor antagonist also dramatically attenuated the degree of c-fos mRNA expression. These results indicate that expression of c-fos mRNA in response to hypergravity occurs in the vestibular related tissues of the central nervous system, in which peripheral vestibular receptors and glutamate receptors play an important role. The temporal pattern of c-fos mRNA expression depended on the duration of the hypergravity stimulus.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.533-542
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• 2005

Objectives : In this study, aged BCAO rats were used to observe the effect of Bupleuri Radix on brain ischemic injury because aging is an important factor in storke. Methods : The brain ischemic injury was induced by temporary closing carotids on both sides in a low blood pressure state, and Bupleuri Radix was orally administered to 18 month-old BCAO rats. The ischemic damaged hippocampus and c-Fos and c-Jun expression were analyzed by the immunohistochemical staining. Result and Conclusions : Results are summarized as fellows; 1. The c-Fos expression after inducing a brain ischemic injury in the hippocampus was more inhibited in the experimental group than in the control group. 2. The normalized optical density of c-Fos expression was more reduced in cornu ammonis(CA)1, dentate gyrus(DG) areas in the experimental group than in the control group. 3. The c-Jun expression after inducing a brain ischemic injury in the hippocampus was more inhibited in the experimental group than in the control group. 4. The normalized optical density of c-Jun expression was more reduced in CA1 and DG areas in the experimental group than in the control group.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.85-95
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• 2001

This study was designed to examine the effects of two antidepressant drugs on the expression of c-fos mRNA in cultured embryonic rat hippocampal neurons. The drugs used were imipramine and amitriptyline. On the fourth day of culture, hippocampal neurons were treated with variable concentrations of each drug. Competitive RT-PCR(Reverse Transcriptase-PCR) analysis was used to quantify the c-fos mRNA expression induced by each drug. Experimental results showed that acute and direct treatment with imipramine and amitriptyline with relatively low concentrations(imipramine ${\leq}10{\mu}M$, amitriptylne ${\leq}10{\mu}M$) had no inductive effect on the expression of c-fos mRNA in the rat hippocampal neurons. However, after treatment with relatively high concentrations(imipramine ${\geq}100{\mu}M$, amitriptyline ${\geq}100{\mu}M$) c-fos mRNA was not detected. These findings suggest the followings. Firstly, the action mechanisms of these drugs on the hippocampal neurons might not be mediated by c-fos but by other immediate-early genes(IEGs). Secondly, their actions may be mediated indirectly via other areas of the brain. Thirdly, the expression of c-fos might be inhibited by high concentrations of these drugs, or the high concentrations could induce cell death. Finally, though cell death remains to be confirmed, the inhibition of c-fos induction or cell death could play a role in the cognitive impairments known to be adverse effects of some antidepressants. This study is believed to be a first step toward understanding the mechanisms of learning and memory. Further studies are needed to investigate the expression of various IEGs and changes in the hippocampal neurons of rat resulting from chronic treatment with antidepressant drugs.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.155-167
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• 2010

Objectives : In order to investigate the antidepressant effects of Forsythiae Fructus(FF), we performed the Forced Swimming Test(FST). Also the expressions of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), c-Fos and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) were measured by immunohistochemical method at paraventricular nucleus(PVN), ventral tegmental area(VTA) and locus coeruleus(LC). Methods : Spraque-Dawley rats were administered FF extract(100 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg) intragastrically three times prior to the FST. Results : The duration of immobility in the FST was significantly decreased in the FF 100 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg groups(p<0.05). The expression of CRF was significantly reduced in the FF 100 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg groups(p<0.001). c-Fos expression was significantly decreased at PVN in the FF 100 mg/kg group(p=0.069). TH expression at VTA was significantly increased in the FF 100 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg groups(p<0.05). TH expression at LC was not significantly changed(p=0.346). Conclusion : According to the results, it can be suggested that Forsythiae Fructus has antidepressant effect via the decreased immobility through the reduction of CRF and c-Fos expression at PVN.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.523-527
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• 2007

Previous studies reported that exposure to noise during pregnancy adversely influenced the development of the fetus and neonate. In Oriental medicine, medications based on Angelicae gigantis radix have been known to be of efficacy in the treatment of various diseases. c-Fos, an immediate early gene whose expression is sometimes used as a marker for stimulus-induced changes in the metabolic activity of neurons. In the present study, the influence of postnatal Angelicae gigantis radix administration on c-Fos expression in the each region of hippocampus of offspring rats with prenatal noise stress during pregnancy was investigated. From the present results, exposure to the prenatal stress during pregnancy enhanced c-Fox expression, whereas exposure to postnatal Angelice gigantis radix suppressed c-Fos expression in the offsprings with prenatal noise stress during pregnancy. Based on the present study, Angelicae gigantis radix may provide new therapeutic opportunities as an agent to counteract the effects of prenatal noise stress- induced hippocampal dysfunction, and may be useful in the treatment of psychiatric problems in children of mothers who have experienced noise stress during pregnancy.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.299-305
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• 2001

Activation of D1-like dopamine receptors by psychostimulants, such as amphetamine, upregulates the expression of immediate early gene and opioid peptide gene in the striatum. The genomic changes are regulated by phosphorylated transcription factors via complicated intracellular events. To evaluate temporal expression of the transcription factors by dopaminergic stimulation, the D1-like dopamine agonist, amphetamine or SKF82958, was systematically delivered. As intracellular markers in response to the agonist, phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB), Fos-related antigens (FRA) and FosB immunoreactivity (IR) was compared at 20 and 120 min time points in the selected areas of the striatum. Semi-quantitative immunocytochemistry showed that amphetamine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased pCREB-IR at 20 min, sustained up to 60 min and decreased at 120 min after the infusion. Like amphetamine, the full D1 agonist, SKF82958 (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.), also increased pCREB-IR at 20 min, but not at 120 min after the infusion in the dorsal striatum (caudoputaman, CPu) and shell of ventral striatum (nucleus accumbens, NAc). In contrast, FRA- and FosB-IR induced by SKF82958 was significantly increased at 120 min, but not at 20 min after the administration. These data indicate that SKF82958 mimics induction of CREB phosphorylation by amphetamine and differentially regulates temporal induction of pCREB, and FRA and FosB expression in the striatum.