• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.592-597
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• 2010

Cinnamomi Ramulus is one of the medicinal plants that have been used to improve various diseases caused by insufficient blood circulation. This study was performed for the investigation of vasodilation efficacy ethanol extract of Cinnamomi Ramulus (CR). CR exhibited vascular relaxation against phenylephrine (PE, $10^{-6}M$)-, KCl- and NaF-induced contraction in rat thoracic aorta. In addition, its relaxation was endothelium-independent. Treatment of potassium channel blockers such as gilbenclamide (Gli, $10^{-5}M$), tetraethylammonium (TEA, 1 mM) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, 0.2 mM) did not effect on the relaxation of CR. The relaxant effects were also not inhibited by pre-treatment of rat aorta with L-NAME ($10^{-4}M$), methylene blue ($10^{-5}M$), indomethacin ($10^{-5}M$), and atropine ($10^{-6}M$). However, nifedipine ($10^{-5}M$), L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, in part attenuated the relaxation of CR ($0.2\;mg/m{\ell}$), but SK&F96365 ($3{\times}10^{-5}M$), receptor activated $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker and 2-APB ($10^{-4}M$), store operated $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker did not affact dilation of CR. These findings suggest that the endothelium-independent relaxation effect of CR is partly related with inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ influx via voltage dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.30 no.3 s.246
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• pp.255-261
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• 2006

Flow characteristics of DI water in a microchannel with a stenosis were investigated using .a micro PIV system with varying flow rate. The width and depth of the PDMS micro-channel were $100{\mu}m\;and\;50{\mu}m$, respectively. To Investigate flow characteristics in the micro-stenosis, the same experiment was carried out in a straight microchannel under the same flow rate. The measured mean velocity fields were almost symmetric with respect to the channel centerline. The experimental results are well agreed with the theoretical Hagen-Poiseuille profile. In the contraction part of the micro-stenosis, the oncoming flow is accelerated rapidly and the maximum velocity occurs at the throat, almost 4.99 time faster than that without the stenosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.147-158
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• 1991

The effects of noradrenaline on the spontaneous contraction recorded from a strip of mucosa-free antral circular muscle were studied in the guinea-pig stomach, and the changes in slow waves and membrane resistance were analyzed in order to elucidate the mechanism for the excitatory response to noradrenaline. Electrical responses of circular muscle cells were recorded using glass microelectrodes filled with 3 M KCI. Electrotonic potentials were produced to estimate membrane resistance by the partition stimulating method. All experiments were performed in tris-buffered Tyrode solution which was aerated with 100% $O_2$ and kept at $35^{\circ}C$. The results obtained were as follows: 1) The spontaneous contractions were potentiated dose-dependently by the application of noradrenaline. 2) Through the experiments using adrenoceptor-blockers, the strong excitatory effect via $[\alpha}-adrenoceptors$ and the weak inhibitory efffect via ${\beta}-adrenoceptors$ were noted. 3) Noradrenaline produced hyperpolarization of membrane potential, and increases in the amplitude and the maximum rate of rise of slow waves. 4) In the presence of apamin, Ca-dependent K channel blocker, the characteristic hyperpolarization was not developed. However, the excitatory effect of noradrenaline on spontaneous contraction remained. 5) Membrane resistance was reduced during the hyperpolarized state by the application of noradrenaline, and the change of membrane resistance and the hyperpolarized state were completely abolished by apamin. From the above results, following conclusions could be made: Excitatory responses to noradrenaline result from the dominant ${\alpha}-excitatory$, and the weak ${\beta}-inhibitory$ action of noradrenaline. Hyperpolarization of membrane potential by noradrenaline is due to the activation of Ca-dependent K channel.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.573-577
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• 2001

The mammalian heart is known to undergo significant mechanical changes during fetal and neonatal development. The objective of this study was to define the ontogeny of the ryanodine receptor/$Ca^{2+}$ release channel and SERCA that play the major roles in excitation-contraction coupling. Whole ventricular homogenates of fetal (F) (19 and 22 days in gestation), postnatal (N) (1 and 7 days postnatal), and adult (A) (5 weeks postnatal) Sprague-Dawley rat hearts were used to study [$^3H$]ryanodine binding and oxalate-supported $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake. For the ryanodine receptor, the major findings were: (1) The ryanodine receptor density, as determined by maximal [$^3H$]ryanodine binding ($B_{max}$), increased 3 fold between the F22 and A periods ($0.26{\pm}0.1$ vs. $0.73{\pm}0.07$ pmoles/mg protein, p<0.01), whereas there was no significant change during the F22 and N1 development phases ($0.26{\pm}0.1$ vs. $0.34{\pm}0.01$). (2) Affinity of the ryanodine receptor to ryanodine did not significantly change, as suggested by the lack of change in the $K_d$ during the development and maturation. For SERCA, changes started early with an increased rate of $Ca^{2+}$ uptake in the fetal periods (F19: $8.1{\pm}1.1$ vs. F22: $19.3{\pm}2.2$ nmoles/g protein/min; p<0.05) and peaked by 7 days (N7) of the postnatal age ($34.9{\pm}2.1$). Thus, we conclude that the quantitative changes occur in the ryanodine receptor during myocardial development. Also, the maturation of the $Ca^{2+}$ uptake appears to start earlier than that of the $Ca^{2+}$ release.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2004

Safety pharmacological properties of CJ-11555, an anti-cirrhotic agent, were investigated in experimental animals and in vitro test system. CJ-11555 had no effects on normal body temperature in rats, motor coordination, chemoshock induced by pentetrazol, electric shock induced by electric shocker and writhing syndromes in mice at dose levels of 100, 300 and 1,000 mg/kg. CJ-11555 inhibited intestinal activity and prolonged hexobarbital-induced sleeping time in mice at the dose level of 1,000 mg/kg. CJ-11555 affected on general activity and behaviour tests in SD rats, such as lacrimation, ptosis, piloerection, decreased body tone, abnormal dispersion within the cage, diarrhoea, red colored faeces, slight hypothermia and decreased grooming, at the dose level of 1,000 mg/kg in rats. CJ-11555 was effected on cardiovascular and respiratory system in anesthetized beagle dogs, such as tachycardia, increase of mean blood pressure and decrease of PR interval, decrease of respiratory rate and minute volume, at dose levels of 10 and 30 mg/kg. However, these effects were also observed in vehicle treated anesthetized beagle dogs. In in vitro experiments, CJ-11555 inhibited agonists (histamine, acetyl-choline or $BaCl_2$) induced contraction of isolated guinea-pig at the concentration of 30$\times$$10^6$ M. CJ-11555 was weekly inhibited hERG channel current at concentrations of 10 and 30$\times$$10^6$ M, and $IC_{50}$ was estimated to be higher than 30${\times}$$10^6$M. Based on these results, it was concluded that CJ-11555 affected on cardiovascular and respiratory system, general activity and behaviour and hexobarbital-induced sleeping time at the dose level of 1,000 mg/kg and contraction of the smooth muscle and hERG channel current at the concentration of 30$\times$$10^6$ M.

• Water for future
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.87-96
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• 1992

Hydraulic characteristics such as velocity, surface level and flow pattern in the curved channel are analyzed by model experiment, where model is scaled down by 1:20 for prototype channel containing side branch and curved section. The withdrawal of channel flow from channel is analyzed to find the effect on the curve section. The numerical scheme for shallow water equation using ADI method is verified through the comparison of hydrauric characteristics by experiment with that by numerical analysis in the side section of model channel. The comparison of numerical results with experimental data shows that velocity, surface level and flow pattern agree well for overall channel. Because fo the relative contraction of cross section in the curved section caused by rectangular system, the velocity calculated by numerical analysis is faster in curved section than that from experiment, which can be improved using finer spatial grid in curved section. The characteristics of the curved section such that the surface level is higher in the outer zone of curved section and the velocity is faster in the inner zone are well simulated by both experiment and numerical analysis. The effect of side branch reaches within the zone of the curved section.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.80-86
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• 2000

TEA, glibenclamide, L-NAME and SKF 525A-induced contraction were investigated using acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside (SNP, NO donor) and pinacidil (ATP sensitive $K^{+}$ channel opener) in rat abdominal and thoracic aorta. The relaxant effects of acetylcholine, SNP and pinacidil were not different in the abdominal aorta and in the thoracic aorta. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation was dependent on endothelial cell, but pinacidil was independent endothelia cell. In the presence of TEA, glibenclamide, L-NAME, mepacrine and SKF 525A, acetylcholine and SNP did not change, but pinacidil-induced relaxation was significantly reduced in presence of glibenclamide, which is ATP sensitive $K^{+}$ channel blocker. SKF 525A, which is inhibitor of cytochrome P$_{450}$ dependent epoxygenase, partially inhibited the pinacidil-induced relaxation. These results indicate that the pinacidil-induced relaxation may be mediated by ATP sensitive $K^{+}$ channel and partially by EETs, which is produced by cytochrome P$_{450}$ dependent epoxygenase.enase.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.365-368
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• 2008

Calcium entry through $Ca_v3.2Ca^{2+}$ channels plays essential roles for various physiological events including thalamic oscillation, muscle contraction, hormone secretion, and sperm acrosomal reaction. In this study, we examined how protein tyrosine phosphatases or protein tyrosine kinases affect $Ca_v3.2Ca^{2+}$ channels reconstituted in Xenopus oocytes. We found that $Ca_v3.2$ channel activity was reduced by 25% in response to phenylarsine oxide (tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor), whereas it was augmented by 19% in response to Tyr A47 or herbimycin A (tyrosine kinase inhibitors). However, other biophysical properties of $Ca_v3.2$ currents were not significantly changed by the drugs. These results imply that $Ca_v3.2$ channel activity is capable of being increased by activation of tyrosine phosphatases, but is decreased by activation of tyrosine kinases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.463-469
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• 2000

It has been well known that 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) has an excitatory effect on vascular smooth muscle due to causing membrane depolarization by blocking $K^+-channel$. However, we observed that 4-AP had an inhibitory effect on the mesenteric artery of rat. Therefore, we investigated the mechanism of 4-AP-induced vasorelaxation. The mesenteric arcuate artery and its branches were isolated and cut into ring. The ring segment was immersed in HEPES-buffered solution and its isometric tension was measured. 4-AP $(0.1{\sim}10\;mM)$ induced a concentration-dependent relaxation, which was unaffected by NO synthase inhibitor, $N^G-nitro-L-arginine$ methylester $(100\;{\mu}M)$ or soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, methylene blue $(100\;{\mu}M).$ Glibenclamide $(100\;{\mu}M)$, ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel blocker, did not exert any effect on the 4-AP-induced vasorelaxation. 4-AP relaxed the sustained contraction induced by 100 mM $K^+$ or $Ca^{2+}$ ionophore, A23187 $(100\;{\mu}M)$ in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, 4-AP significantly decreased the phasic contractile response to norepinephrine in the absence of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$. However, 4-AP did not block the $^{45}Ca$ influx of rat aorta. From the above results, we suggest that 4-AP may not block the $Ca^{2+}$ influx through $Ca^{2+}-channel,$ but act as a nonspecific vasorelaxant in arterial smooth muscle.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.373-380
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• 1996

Recently we reported that GS 386, 1-(4'-methoxybenzyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline, inhibited amplitude of the $Ca^{2+}$ current by reducing the probability of $Ca^{2+}$ channel opening without changing channel kinetics in isolated rabbit atrial myocyte. In the present study, further investigation of the mechanism of action of GS 386 was performed using isolated rat trachealis. GS 386 concentration-dependently relaxed rat trachealis contracted by carbachol $(0.3{\mu}M)$ and high $K^+$(65.4 mM) with $IC_{50}$ 5.24 and 5.67 ${\mu}M$, respectively. Verapamil inhibited more effectively the high $K^+-contracted$ tissues than those with carbachol in the rat trachealis muscle. In $Ca^{2+}-free$ media, $Ca^{2+}-induced$ contraction was inhibited by GS 386. Furthermore, high concentration of GS 386 $(100{\mu}M)$ but not verapamil, attenuated a phasic contraction induced not only by carbachol but also caffeine, indicating that GS386 can enter into the cytoplasm where it may exert secondary actions on internal sites of the muscle, such as sarcoplasmic reticulum. Moreover, GS 386 showed verapamil-resistant component of relaxation and increased cAMP levels in rat trachal smooth muscle. These results suggest that the mechanism of action of GS 386 attributes to not only $Ca^{2+}$ antagonistic action but also weak phosphodiesterase inhibitory action.