• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.393-402
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• 1997

In the present study, we characterized the angiotensin II (AII)-induced relaxations in the phenylephrine-precontracted rabbit mesenteric arteries with endothelium. 1) AII-induced relaxation was consistently observed in the rabbit mesenteric arteries with and without endothelium, but not in the aortic segment with endothelium. 2) AII-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation was markedly inhibited by $N^w-nitro-L-arginine$ (L-NNA, $100\;{\mu}M$), methylene blue ($10\;{\mu}M$) and LY83583 ($10\;{\mu}M$), respectively. 3) Inhibition of cyclooxygenase with indomethacin ($10\;{\mu}M$) strongly decreased the vasorelaxant response to AII irrespective of the presence of endothelium. 4) 7-Ethoxyresorufin ($1\;{\mu}M$) and clotrimazole ($1\;{\mu}M$), inhibitors of cytochrome P-450-dependent arachidonic acid metabolism, greatly attenuated the vasodilator response to AII. 5) Carbacyclin, arachidonic acid and prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ ($PGF_{2{\alpha}}$) caused concentration-dependent relaxations in the mesenteric artery with endothelium, which were inhibited by L-NNA and methylene blue. 6) AII and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ significantly stimulated cyclic GMP formation in the mesenteric arteries with endothelium, which was inhibited by L-NNA and methylene blue, respectively. 7) AII enhanced synthesis of $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ and 6-keto $PGF_{1{\alpha}}$ from the arterial segments with endothelium, which was inhibitable by indomethacin, but not by L-NNA. In conclusion, the vasorelaxant responses to AII of the rabbit mesenteric artery with endothelium are subserved by arachidonic acid and its metabolites produced via activation of cyclooxygenase and cytochrome P-450 enzyme as well as by nitric oxide.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.553-562
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• 2005

Melatonin, the principal hormone of the vertebral pineal gland, participates in the regulation of cardiovascular system in vitro and in vivo. Lithium inhibits both inositol polyphosphate phosphatase (IPPase) and inositol monophosphatase (IMPase), which are involved in a wide range of signal transduction pathways. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of lithium on endothelial-dependent relaxation to melatonin and on the melatonin-induced inhibition of contraction by phenylephrine (PE) in isolated rat aorta. Melatonin induced a concentration-dependent relaxation in PE-precontracted in endothelium-intact (+E) aortic rings. Melatonin inhibited a PE-induced sustained contraction in +E aortic rings. These effects of melatonin on relaxation and contractile responses were inhibited by pretreatment with lithium. In PE-precontracted +E aortic rings, the melatonin-induced vasorelaxations and the inhibitory effects of melatonin on maximal contractions were inhibited by endothelium removal or by pretreatment with L-$N^G$-nitro-arginine (L-NNA), 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo-[4,3-a] quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) and nifedipine and verapamil, but not by tetrabutylammonium, clotrimazole and glibenclamide, However, in endothelium-denuded (-E) aortic rings and in the presence of L-NNA and ODQ in +E aortic rings, the melatonin-induced residual relaxations and the melatonin-induced residual contractile responses to PE were not affected by lithium. It is concluded that the inositol phosphate pathway may be involved in endothelial-dependent relaxation induced by melatonin.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.203-209
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• 2006

Azoles are widely used antifungal agents, which inhibit the biosynthesis of fungal cell-membrane ergosterol. In this study, using an amphibian follicle culture system, the effects of azoles on follicular steroidogenesis in frogs were examined. Itraconazole (ICZ), clotrimazole (CTZ) and ketoconazole (KCZ) suppressed pregnenolone ($P_5$) production by the follicles ($ED_{50};\;0.04_{\mu}M,\;0.33_{\mu} M,\;and\;0.91_{\mu}M$, respectively) in response to frog pituitary homogenates (FPH). However, fluconazole (FCZ), miconazole (MCZ) and econazole (ECZ) were not effective in the suppression of $P_5$ production. Not all the azoles examined suppressed the conversion of exogenous $P_5$ to progesterone ($P_4$) (by $3{\beta}$- HSD) or $P_4$ to $17{\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone ($17{\alpha}$-OHP) (by $17{\alpha}$-hydroxylase), or androstenedione (AD) to testosterone (T) (by $17{\beta}$-HSD). In contrast, CTZ, MCZ and ECZ in medium partially suppressed the conversion of $17{\alpha}$-OHP to AD (by C17-20 lyase) ($ED_{50};\;0.25{\mu} M,\;4.5{\mu}M,\;and\;0.7{mu}M$, respectively) and CTZ, KCZ, ECZ and MCZ strongly suppressed the conversion of exogenous T to estradiol ($E_2$) (by aromatase) ($ED_{50};\;0.02{\mu}M,\;8{\mu}M,\;0.07{\mu}M,\;0.8{\mu}M$, respectively). These results demonstrated that some azole agents strongly suppress amphibian follicular steroidogenesis and particularly, P450scc and aromatase are more sensitive to azoles than other steroidogenic enzymes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.560-565
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• 1999

The present work was conducted to investigate the drug susceptibility of microorganisms isolated from canine external ear canals. Antifungal susceptibility test of M pachydermatis (17 strains) was perfomed by agar dilution method, using 11 antifungal drugs including amphotericin B(A), nystatin(N), pimaricin(P), griseofulvin(G), bifonazole(B), clotrimazole(C), miconazole(M), econazole(E), ketoconazole(K), tolnaftate(T), 5-fluorocytosine(F). All isolates were highly sensitive to K, M, T(geometric mean MIC ; GM $MIC{\leq}0.16{\mu}g/ml$) but they weren't sensitive to P, F and G(GM $MIC{\geq}92.37{\mu}g/ml{\sim}{\geq}128{\mu}g/ml$). Antibacterial susceptibility test against 119 isolates of bacteria was performed by agar dilution method, using 9 antibacterial drugs including erythromycin(ET), chloramphenicol(CP), gentamycin(G), vancomycin(V), ampicillin(AP), amoxacillin(AX), chlortetracycline(CT), ciprofloxacin(CF), enrofloxacin(EF). All isolates of Staphylococcus spp(101 strains) were highly sensitive to EF, CF, G(GM MIC $0.33{\sim}1.47{\mu}g/ml$). In other gram positive cocci(4 strains), they were highly sensitive to EF, CF, V(GM MIC $1{\sim}4.76{\mu}g/ml$) and CT(GM MIC 1 UFL unit/ml). In gram positive rods(13 strains), they were highly sensitive to EF, CF, G(GM $MIC{\leq}0.19{\sim}1{\mu}g/ml$). In Pseudomonas aeruginosa(1 strain), it was highly sensitive to AX, EF, ET, CF(GM MIC $0.06{\sim}1{\mu}g/ml$) and CT(GM MIC 1 UFL unit/ml). All isolates weren't sensitive to AP(GM MIC 16~>$32{\mu}g/ml$).

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.389-397
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• 2004

The therapeutic efficacy of xylamine in the field of psychological medicine has been recognized for years and the drug is used to treat depression and some other conditions, but little is known about its mechanism of action on vascular system. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the influence of xylamine on the contractile responses of isolated rat thoracic arteries to phenylephrine(PE) and potassium chloride(KCl). Xylamine produced a concentration-dependent relaxation in PE-precontracted endothelium intact(+E) rat aortic rings, but not in a KCl-precontracted aortic rings. Also, xylamine inhibited the PE-induced contraction in concentration-dependent manner, but not in the high KCl-induced contraction in +E rings. This concentration-dependent inhibition was suppressed by the removal of the endothelium (-E). The inhibitory effects of xylamine($0.3{\mu}M$) on the PE-induced contractions were suppressed by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine(L-NNA), N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME), aminoguanidine, dexamethasone, methylene blue, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo [4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one(ODQ), indomethacin, ryanodine, tetrabutylammonium(TBA), lidocaine, procaine and 0 mM extracellular $Na^+$, but not by 2-nitro-4-carboxyphenyl-n,n-diphenylcarbamate(NCDC), lithium, nifedipine, verapamil, 0 mM extracellular $Ca^{2+}$, glibenclamide and clotrimazole. These findings suggest that xylamine could act as a vasorelaxant and direct inhibitor of arterial contraction. This vasorelaxation involves an endothelial nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP (guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate) pathway or cyclooxygenase system, and an interference with $Ca^{2+}$ release, TBA-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels and $Na^+$$ channels.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.95-99
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• 2006

Employing electrophysiological and cell proliferation assay techniques, we studied the effects of $Ca^{2+}$ -activated $K^+$ channel modulators on the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts, which is important in wound healing. Macroscopic voltage-dependent outward $K^+$ currents were found at about -40 mV stepped from a holding potential of -70 mV. The amplitude of $K^+$ current was increased by NS1619, a specific large-conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ (BK) channel activator, but decreased by iberiotoxin (IBTX), a specific BK channel inhibitor. To investigate the presence of an intermediate-conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ (IK) channels, we pretreated the fibroblasts with low dose of TEA to block BK currents, and added 1-EBIO (an IK activator). 1-EBIO recovered the currents inhibited by TEA. When various $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channel modulators were added into culture media for 1∼3 days, NS1619 or 1-EBIO inhibited the cell proliferation. On the other hand, IBTX, clotrimazole or apamin, a small conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channel (SK) inhibitor, increased it. These results suggest that BK, IK, and SK channels might be involved in the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts, which is inversely related to the channel activation.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2007

Recently, we have shown that some endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, organotins and azoles suppressed steroidogenic enzymes such as P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) and aromatase in bullfrog ovarian follicles. In the present study, by using an amphibian ovarian follicle culture system, we examined the effects of these endocrine disruptors on maturation and ovulation of oocytes from Rana dybowskii in vitro. Ovarian fragments or isolated follicles were cultured for 24 h in a medium containing frog pituitary homogenate (FPH) or progesterone ($P_{4}$) with or without endocrine disruptors, and oocyte maturation (germinal vesicle breakdown, GVBD) and ovulation were examined. Among the organotins, tributyltin (TBT) strongly inhibited both FPH-and $P_{4}-induced$ oocyte maturation ($ED_{50}$:0.6 and 0.7 ${\mu}M$, respectively); however, tetrabutyltin (TTBT) and dibutyltin (DBT) showed only partial suppression, while monobutyltin (MBT) showed no inhibitory effect. All of the organotins suppressed $P_{4}-induced$ oocyte ovulation very effectively at a low concentration, and TBT and DBT exerted an inhibitory effect on FPH-induced ovulation. Among the heavy metals, mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and cobalt (Co) were very effective in inhibiting FPH-induced oocyte maturation and ovulation, while lead (Pb), arsenite (As) and zinc (Zn) were less effective. However, all of the heavy metals suppressed FPH-induced oocyte ovulation at a high dose ($100{\mu}M$). Among the azoles, itraconazole (ICZ), ketoconazole (KCZ) and clotrimazole (CTZ) effectively inhibited FPH-induced oocyte maturation and ovulation, while econazole (ECZ), miconazole (MCZ) and fluconazole (FCZ) were considerably less effective. These results demonstrated that the abovementioned endocrine disruptors exhibited differential effects on oocyte maturation and ovulation in amphibian follicles and that the frog ovarian culture system could be used as an effective experimental tool to screen and evaluate the toxicity of various endocrine disruptors in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.393-405
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• 1989

This study was carried out to treatment test for bovine mastitis by the determination of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) based on firefly bioluminescence. The results obtained are followed; 1. In the susceptibility test, cephalothin which looks the most effective were sensitive to Staphylococcus sp. (72.3%), Micrococcus sp. (84.2%), Streptococcus sp. (72.7%) and Gram positive bacilli (72.7%), Gram negative bacilli were sensitive to gentamicin (92.3%) and Yeast-like-fungi was the most sensitive to clotrimazole, and nystatin in order. 2. When the number of bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Candida tropicalis isolated from the mastitis milk were counted by conventional agar plating technique, and compared with the concentration of bacterial ATP, it gave a good linear relationship. The content of ATP per Staphylococcus aureus, cell was 3.1fM and Candida tropicalis showed the high level of A TP (90fM). 3. The ATP assay was applied to the determination of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of various antibiotics. When Staphylococcus aureus was incubated in the presence of different concentration of tetracycline, erythromycin, kanamycin and streptomycin sulfate and the growth was monitored by the conventional agar plating technique and ATP assay, both methods shown the same results that they were 1mcg/ml, 2mcg/ml, 6.25mcg/ml and 8mcg/ml, respectively. 4. For the determination of susceptibility of sensitive and resistant Staphylococcus au reus isolated for the milk with mastitis to tetracycline, erythromycin kanamycin and streptomycin sulfate, the minimum time required for the test was determined by the assay of ATP every 30 minutes during incubation of 3 hours at $37^{\circ}C$. ATP concentration time curve calculated on both resistant and sensitive strains incubated 3 hours as the optimum time for the determination of susceptibilities of various antibiotics exemed. The ATP concentration of each test broth (antibiotic containing), expressed as a percentage of its own control brith (antibioticfree) indicated values of 30% to be indicative of each antibiotic sensitivity. Single time point ATP assay carried out on the various sensitive and resistant of Staphylococcus aureus to antibiotics examined after 3 hours at $37^{\circ}C$ correlated exactly with disc diffusion and MIC. 5. In the cure of intramammary treatment of bovine mastitis in lactating quarters, the cure rate of Staphylococcal mastitis showed to cephalexin (80%), cloxacillin and gentamicin (70%), ampicillin and oxytetracycline (60%), and Streptococcal mastitis showed to cephalexin (85%), penicillin (80%), cloxacillin and oxytetracycline (75%), and ampicillin (70%), but intramammary antimycotic drug (clotrimazol) were only a little effect about fungal mastitis.