• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.159-165
• /
• 2011

To explore the role of histone deactylase (HDAC) activation in an in vivo model of hypertrophy, we studied the effects of Trichostatin A (TSA). TSA subjected to thoracic aortic banding (TAB)-induced pressure stress in mice. In histological observations, TAB in treated mice showed a significant hypertrophic response, whereas the sham operation remained nearly normal structure with partially blunted hypertrophy. TSA treatment had no effect (measured as HW/BW) on sham-operated animals. TAB animals treated with vehicle manifested a robust ~50% hypertrophic response (p<0.05 vs sham). TAB mice treated with 2 mg/kg/day TSA manifested a blunted growth responses, which was significantly diminished (p<0.05) compared with vehicle-treated TAB mice. TAB mice treated with a lower dose of TSA (0.5 mg/kg/day) manifested a similar blunting of hypertrophic growth (~25% increase in heart mass). Furthermore, to determine activity duration of TSA in vitro, 1 nM TSA was added to H9c2 cells. Histone acetylation was initiated at 4 hr after treatment, and it was peak up to 18 hr, then followed by significantly reduced to 30 hr. We also analyzed the expression of p53 following TSA treatment, wherein p53 expression was elevated at 4 hr, and it was maintained to 24 hr after treatment. ERK was activated at 8 hr, and maintained till 30 hr after treatment suggesting an intracellular signaling interaction between TSA and p53 expression Taken together, it is suggested that HDAC activation is required for pressure-overload growth of the heart. Eventually, these data suggest that histone acetylation may be a novel target for therapeutic intervention in pressure-overloaded cardiac hypertrophy.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.241-245
• /
• 2017

Aged garlic has been reported to possess beneficial pharmacological activities, including anti-stress and anti-fatigue properties, and to exert protective effects on the cardiovascular system and liver. Pine needles are widely used in folk medicine and as food additives owing to their pharmacological properties such as anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects. It has long been known that combining certain phytochemicals with other phenols or organic acids can produce synergistic effects. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop an optimal formula of aged garlic with added pine needle powder for improved antioxidant activity using the statistical technique of response surface methodology. The antioxidant activities of aged garlic mixed with pine needle powder were confirmed by measuring oxygen radical absorbance capacity and total polyphenol content. An optimized antioxidant formula was identified that contained 5.08 g aged garlic and 1.97 g pine needle powder. The antioxidant activities of the mixture prepared using this optimal formula were significantly higher than the predicted values according to an additive model. Hence, this study confirms that the addition of pine needle powder to aged garlic can improve its antioxidant activity. This study demonstrated an optimal mixing ratio to produce an aged garlic product with improved functionality through the addition of pine needle powder that could be successfully employed by the food industry to prepare functional foods.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.191-196
• /
• 2011

Purpose: We investigated the effects of group III mechanoreceptors to cardiovascular responses in both pre-menopausal woman and post-menopausal woman during passive ankle dorsiflexion (PAD). Methods: Twenty healthy volunteers (10 post-menopausal women and 10 pre-menopausal women) were recruited for this study. Stroke volume (SV), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), and total vascular conductances (TVC) were measured continuously throughout the experiment. To stimulate the group III mechanoreceptors, PAD was performed for one minute. Results: The results showed that mean arterial pressure (MAP) mediated by the mechanoreflex activation was significantly increased in both groups. However, this pressor response was significantly higher in post-menopausal women. This reflex significantly increased both SV and CO in pre-menopausal women, while there were no differences in post-menopausal women. There was no difference in HR in either group. The mechanoreflex significantly decreased TVC in post-menopausal woman, while there was no difference in pre-menopausal woman. Conclusion: The results indicate that the excessive pressor response mediated by the mechanoreflex occurs due to overactivity of group III mechanorecptors and the mechanism is produced mainly via peripheral vasoconstriction in post-menopausal women.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.215-222
• /
• 2017

Obesity has been directly associated with the development of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the blood pressure response during graded exercise test in obese adults. 189 subjects (age: $47.96{\pm}10.23$) were assigned to two groups: non-obese group (N=105, BMI: $22.05{\pm}1.57$, waist circumference: $76.90{\pm}6.17$) and obese group (N=84, BMI: $26.96{\pm}2.51$, waist circumference: $88.29{\pm}6.41$). The subjects underwent health screening and exercise treadmill test from January 2012 to December 2014. Graded exercise test was performed according to the Bruce protocol. Exercise duration (P=0.046) and METs (P=0.015) were significantly lower in obese group than non-obese group. There was no difference in the rate of change in blood pressure response between obese group and non-obese group during exercise, and the recovery rate of systolic blood pressure was delayed in the obese group compared to non-obese group in the first recovery period (P=0.020). The significant factors of increasing rate of change in maximum systolic blood pressure was waist (P=0.046) and hip circumference (P=0.008). In conclusion, these results demonstrate that, for hypertension prevention in obese adults, waist and hip circumference levels should be managed within normal range.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.496-502
• /
• 2013

Grapes (Vitis vinifera) are one of the most important fruits worldwide and are eaten raw or after conversion to jelly, jam, juice and wine. Grape skins are a major source of resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene), which has the ability to reduce blood sugar as well as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and other beneficial cardiovascular effects. In this study, we investigated the increased accumulation of resveratrol in grape skin and leaves following ultrasonication treatment, which has been shown to induce resveratrol accumulation in several plants. Various ultrasonication treatment times and incubation periods were employed to identify the optimum conditions for the maximum accumulation of resveratrol. Treatment and further incubation led to increased resveratrol in both grape skins and leaves, with the highest increases of 7.7-fold and 1.9-fold occurring in response to 5 min ultrasonication treatment followed by 6 hour incubation and 15 min ultrasonication treatment followed by 3 hour incubation, respectively. The underlying mechanism for the increased amounts of resveratrol were studied by employing a semi-quantitative RT-PCR to monitor the expression levels of the resveratrol synthase (RS) gene in response to ultrasonication treatment. The RS gene increased the expression in response to ultrasonication treatment, suggesting that up-regulation of the RS gene by ultrasonication treatment triggers increased amounts of resveratrol. Taken together, these data indicate that this simple ultrasonication treatment of grapes can be an efficient post-harvest technology for increasing resveratrol in grape skins in addition to cleaning the fruits.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.6-12
• /
• 2006

Background: The Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis is an important regulator for the body's stress response. As a primary stress responsive system, HPA-axis secretes various neurotransmitters, hormones, and cytokines, which regulates the immune system. Natural killer (NK) cell which is plays an important role in the innate immune response, is specially decreased their numbers and loose cytolytic activity in response to stress. However, the effect of HPA-axis secreted proteins on NK cell activity has not been defined. Herein, we studied the effect of adrenal secreted adiponectin on NK cell cytotoxicity. Adiponectin which is well-known metabolic control protein, plays important roles in various diseases, including hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory disorders, and cancer. Methods: Signal sequence trap was used to find stress novel secretory protein from HP A-axis. Selected adiponectin was treated mouse mature primary NK cells and then examined the effect of adiponectin to NK cell cytotoxicity and cytokine expression level. Results: We found that adiponectin which is secreted from adrenal gland, suppress IL-2 induced NK cell cytotoxicity. And also investigated cytolytic cytokines are suppressed by adiponectin. Conclusion: These data suggest that adiponectin inhibites NK cell cytotoxicity via suppression of cytotoxicity related target gene.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.69-74
• /
• 1992

Central cardiovascular effects of bradykinin were examined in anesthetized normotensive (NTR) and 2-kidney, 1 clip Goldblatt hypertensive rats (GHR). Bradykinin ($0.5{\sim}10nmol$) was administered into the right lateral cerebral ventricle, while blood pressure and heart rate (HR) were continuously monitored. In both NTR and GHR, intracerebroventricular bradykinin produced a dose dependent increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) without significant changes in HR. GHR were more sensitive in the pressor response than NTR. The pressor response to bradykinin was attenuated by treatment with hexamethonium (2.5mg/kg/min, IV) or phentolamine (2mg/kg, IV) in both NTR and GHR. Reserpine treatment (2mg/kg/day, intramuscularly,2 days) did not affect the central pressor effect of bradykinin in NTR but it attenuated the pressor effect in GHR. Pretreatment with indomethacin (10mg/kg, intraperitoneally) or saralasin ($20{\mu}g$/kg/min, IV) was without effects on the pressor response to bradykinin. These results indicate that the central pressor effect of bradykinin is, at least in part, due to excitation of the autonomic nervous activity. Mechanisms other than the enhanced sympathetic nervous activity ran. not be ruled out, However. It is also suggested that the sensitivity to bradykinin is increased in the GHR.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.2 s.30
• /
• pp.433-446
• /
• 1995

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of water extract and 70% ethanol extract from Gastrodiae Rhizoma on cardiovascular activities and plasma levels of catecholamines in unanaesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats. The depressor response in SHR was observed during three to six hour period after an oral administration of water extract from Gastrodiae Rhizoma(GR). There was a statistically significant correlation between the magnitude of the depressor response induced by an oral administration of water extract from GR and the initial control blood pressure level. The increase in blood pressure induced by norepinephrine was less in Wistar rat treated with GR water extract than those without GR extract. No significant change in heart rate was observed in SHR receiving either water extract or ethanol extract from GR. Associated with the depressor response, there was a concomitant reduction in plasma levels of norepinephrine in SHR at 4 hour after an oral administration of water extract from GR. Plasma levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine were decreased slightly at 2 hour after an oral administration of ethanol extract from GR. These results suggest that the depressor effect of water extract from GR may be due, in part, to a decreased sympathoadrenal activity.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 1988

To examine the selectivity of verapamil, used in the cardiovascular diseases, on alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenoceptor-induced pressor rsponses, effects of verapamil on alpha-adrenoceptor agonist-induced pressor responses were investigated in urethane-anesthetized rabbits, spinal rabbits, rats and pithed rats. To evaluate the effects of verapamil on each pressor response induced by norepinephrine, phenylephrine and clonidine, these agonists were previously injected into a ear vein, and then same procedures were performed 1~2 min after treatment with intravenous verapamil. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Intravenous verapamil produced dose-dependent depressor response in rabbits and rats. 2. Pressor responses to intravenous norepinephrine($10{\mu}g/kg$) and phenylphrine($30{\mu}g/kg$) were inhibited by pretreatment with intravenous verapamil in rabbits and no difference was noted between the degree of both inhibitions of the pressor response by verapamil. 3. Pressor responses to intravenous norepinephrine($3{\mu}g/kg$), phenylephrine($20{\mu}g/kg$) and clonidine ($300{\mu}g/kg$) were inhibited by pretreatment with intravenous verapamil in spinal rabbits. No difference was noted between the inhibition of norepinephrine-induced pressor response and that of phenylephrine-induced pressor response by verapamil. The inhibition of clonidine-induced pressor response by verapamil was more prominent than that of norepinephrine- or phenylephrine-induced pressor response. 4. Pressor responses to intravenous norepinephrine($3{\mu}g/kg$) and phenylephrine($10{\mu}g/kg$) were inhibited by pretreatment with intravenous verapairlil in rats and no difference was noted between the degree of both inhibitions of the pressor response by verapamil. 5. Pressor responses to intravenous norepinephrine ($3{\mu}g/kg$), phenylephrine($30{\mu}g/kg$) and clonidine($100{\mu}g/kg$) were inhibited by pretreatment with intravenous verapamil in pithed rats. No difference was noted between the inhibition of norepinephrine-induced pressor response and that of phenylephrine-induced pressor response by verapamil. The inhibition of clonidine-induced pressor response by verapamil was more prominent than that of norepinephrine- or phenylephrine-induced pressor response. These results suggest that verapamil significantly inhibits both pressor responses mediated by alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenoceptors and the inhibition is greater in alpha-2 adrenoceptor-induced response than in alpha-1 adrenoceptor-induced one, and calcium channel takes part in the process of the pressor response mediated by alpha-1 adrenoceptors as well as alpha-2 adrenoceptors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.1 no.6
• /
• pp.647-655
• /
• 1997

The purpose of present study is to investigate the influence of a spinal gamma-aminobutyric acid B($GABA_B$) receptor on a central regulation of blood pressure(BP) and heart rate(HR), and to define its mechanism in the spinal cord. In urethane-anesthetized, d-tubocurarine-paralyzed and artificially ventilated male Sprague-Dawley rats, intrathecal administration of drugs were carried out using injection cannula(33-gauge stainless steel) through the guide cannula(PE 10) which was inserted intrathecally at lower thoracic level through the puncture of a atlantooccipital membrane. Intrathecal injection of an $GABA_B$ receptor agonist, baclofen(30, 60, 100 nmol) decreased both BP and HR dose-dependently. Pretreatment with 8-bromo-cAMP(50 nmol), a cAMP analog, or glipizide(50 nmol), a ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel blocker, attenuated the depressor and bradycardic effects of baclofen(100 nmol), but not with 8-bromo-cGMP(50 nmol), a cGMP analog. These results suggest that the $GABA_B$ receptor in the spinal cord plays an inhibitory role in central cardiovascular regulation and that this depressor and bradycardic actions are mediated by the decrease of cAMP via the inhibition of adenylate cyclase and the opening of $K^+$ channel.