• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.809-817
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanism of vasodilation of Lespedezea cuneata(LC) in rabbit common carotid artery and cavernosal smooth muscle. LC relaxed arterial strips precontracted with norepinephrine and cavernosal strips precontracted with phenylephrine. The arterial relaxation effects of LC was endothelium-dependent. $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine(L-NNA), NOS inhibitor, methylene blue(MB), cGMP inhibitor, indomethacin(IM), cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor and tetraethylammonium chloride(TEA), KCa-channel blocker attenuate the relaxation responses of LC in arterial strips. In $Ca^{2+}$-free krebs-ringer solution, pretreatment of LC extract significantly reduced the contraction induced by addition $Ca^{2+}$. L-NNA reduced LC extract-induced relaxation in cavernosal strips, but IM, TEA and MB didn't affect LC extract-induced relaxation. When LC extract was applicated on human umbilical vein endothelial cell, the nitric oxide concentration was increased. We conclude that in rabbit common carotid artery, LC may suppress influx of extra-cellular $Ca^{2+}$ through the release of endothelium derived relaxing factor including nitric oxide, prostacyclin, endothelium derived hyperpolarizing factor. And LC exerts a relaxing effect on corpus cavernosum through activating the NO.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.260-265
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• 2002

There are many methods for muscle strengthening. Muscle strengthening with eccentric contraction work is the best way by researcher's report. Also, eccentric contraction need proper resistance for muscle strengthening. Combination of isotonic in PNF is a muscle strengthening method with manual resistance. It makes concentric contraction $\rightarrow$ eccentric contraction $\rightarrow$ concentric contraction with continually and without muscle relaxation. Combination isotonic technique use with PNF pattern. Therefore, it will make development and increasing of active control motion, coordination, actual range of motion, strengthen and functional training in eccentric control of movement. Concentric contraction have the 3rd lever system and eccentric contraction have the 2nd lever system with combination of isotonic. Serial concentric contraction $\rightarrow$ eccentric contraction $\rightarrow$ concentric contraction make strong SEC and PEC. It will be increase elasticity of SEC, PEC and contractile components either.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 1983

Intestine is innervated by an interconnected plexus of both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers. Sympathetic influence causes inhibition of intestinal motility mediated by both ${\alpha}-\;and\;{\beta}-adrenergic$ receptors. The mechanism of intestinal relaxation by ${\beta}-receptors$ has been extensively studied, but the function of ${\alpha}-receptors$ in intestinal motility is still unclear. Although it is suggested that catecholamine reduces acetylcholine release and this may play an important role in ${\alpha}-receptor$ mediated intestinal relaxation, there is no definite evidences about the mechanism and site of action of ${\alpha}-receptor$ mediated relaxation. In this experiment, therefore, the effect and site of action of ${\alpha}-receptor$ agonists were investigated in the guinea pig ileum using electrical field stimulation. The results are summarized as follows : 1) Electrical field stimulation elicited tonic contraction in isolated guinea pig ileum ana this contraction was completely inhibited by the pretreatment of tetrodotoxin or atropine. 2) Norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine inhibited the contraction induced by electrical field stimulation but methoxamine and phenylephrine had little effects. 3) Inhibitory effects of norepinephrine and dopamine was partially blocked by yohimbine and phentolamine pretreatment. But haloperidol and propranolol pretreatment cause no effects on the electrical field stimulation induced contraction. Inhibitory effect of dopamine was completely blocked by both haloperidol and yohimbine pretreatment. 4) Inhibitory effects of norepinephrine and dopamine were little affected by the pretreatment with hexamethonium. It is suggested that electrical field stimulation causes tonic contraction of guinea pig ileum by releasing acetylcholine from postganglionic fiber, and this release is blocked by presynaptic ${\alpha}-receptor$ activation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1078-1082
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of medicinal plants application as an edible functional food resources. We carried out to develop a traditional functional beverage by using hot-water extraction of 4 medicinal plants(Polygonatun sibiricum, Ophiopogonis radix, Lycii fructus, Schizandriae fructus) and we examined the effects of drink on physiological function in aorta relaxation. Thus, the effect of developed beverage on phenylephrine induced contraction of isolated rat thoracic aorta. Contractile force was measured with force displacement transducer under 1.5g loading tension. Brix, pH and titratable acidity of developed drink were 9.5%, 3.3 and 0.22%. The approximate nutritional composition of beverage was carbohydrate, 5.98%, crude protein, 0.70%, crude fat, 0.20% and crude ash, 0.20%. Developed beverage contained K(4.00 ㎎%), Na(3.68 ㎎%), Ca(2.54 ㎎%), Mg(1.60 ㎎%) and Fe(0.29㎎%). The contraction forces by injection of phenylephrine in isolated thoracic aorta were significantly low in each experimental groups compared with control groups, These results that developed drink with medicinal plants can be used as a functional material to decrease aorta contraction.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.275-282
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• 1999

Muscle strips and muscle cells from cat stomach were used to investigate whether spontaneously formed cyclic nucleotides were involved in the inhibition of gastric smooth muscle contraction. A phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), increased the levels of both cyclic GMP (cGMP) and cyclic AMP (cAMP) in resting state cells, while decreasing acetylcholine-induced muscle contraction. Under the influence of IBMX, SQ22536, an adenylyl cyclase inhibitor and methylene blue, a guanylyl cyclase inhibitor completely blocked increases in cAMP and cGMP respectively, without any effect on contraction. However, the combination of SQ22536 and methylene blue completely blocked increases in both cAMP and cGMP levels and stimulated contractions markedly even in the presence of IBMX. Muscle contraction inhibitors such as isoprenaline, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and sodium nitroprusside also appeared to increase cyclic nucleotide levels which decreased contraction. Which nucleotide increased the most was dependent on the agonist used. Therefore, irrespective of the cyclic nucleotide class, the spontaneous formation of cyclic nucleotides should be considered in evaluating the mechanism of gastric smooth muscle relaxation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.119-125
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• 2005

The previous reports demonstrated that ginseng saponins, active ingredient of Panax ginseng, inhibited blood vessel contraction induced by various hormones or high $K^+$. Recently, we demonstrated that 20(R)- and 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$. regulate ion channel activities with differential manners. The aim of this study was to examine whether ginsenoside $Rg_3$ isomers also show differential effects on swine coronary artery contractionresponses induced by high $K^+$, serotonin (5-HT) or acetylcholine. Treatment of 20(S)- but not 20(R)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ caused a concentration-dependent relaxation of coronary artery contracted by 25mM KCI. 20(S)- and 20(R)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ induced significant relaxations of coronary artery contraction induced by 5-HT $(3{\mu}M)$ in the presence of endothelium with concentration-dependent manner and, also in the absence of endothelium only 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ induced a strong Inhibition of coronary artery contraction induced by 5-HT in a concentration-dependent manner. 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ caused relaxation of coronary artery in the absence and presence of endothelium. In contrast, treatment of 20(S)- and 20(R)-ginsenoside $Rg_3\;(100{\mu}M)$ did not show significant inhibition of coronary artery contraction induced by acetylcholine $(0.01\;to\;30{\mu}M)$ in the presence of endothelium, whereas both isomers caused significant inhibition of coronary artery contraction induced by acetylcholine $(0.01\;to\;30{\mu}M)$ in the absence of endothelium in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings indicate that 20(S)-or 20(R)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ exhibits differential relaxation eff3cts of swine coronary artery contractions caused by high $K^+$, acetylcholine, and 5-HT treatment and that this differential vasorelaxing effects of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ isomers also might be dependent on endothelium.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.421-426
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• 2006

The effects of transmural nerve stimulation induced releasing neurotransmitters on the changes of swine uterine smooth muscle motility were examined by polygraph through isometric force transducer. The frequency dependent relaxation and rebound contraction were revealed on precontraction with histamine by transmural nerve stimulation. The rebound contraction by transmural nerve stimulation was inhibited by nonselective ${\alpha}$-adrenergic receptor antagonist, phentolamine, and the relaxation by transmural nerve stimulation was blocked by nonselective ${\beta}$-adrenergic receptor antagonist, propranolol. The relaxation induced by nonselective ${\beta}$-adrenergic receptor agonist, isoproterenol on precontraction with histamine were the dose dependent manner and this relaxation was blocked by nonselective ${\beta}$-adrenergic receptor antagonist, propranolol in isolated uterine smooth muscle of pig. These results suggest that endogenous neurotransmitters on smooth muscle relaxation was influenced by ${\beta}$-adrenergic receptor in swine.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.392-397
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• 2010

The aim of present study was to investigate the possible influence and related mechanism of additional alcohol on the flavonoid- induced arterial relaxation. Agonist-induced vascular smooth muscle contractions involve the activation of thick or thin filament pathway. However, there are no reports addressing the question whether this pathway is involved in quercetin-induced relaxation cotreated with alcohol in rat aortae contracted with phorbol ester, fluoride or thromboxane $A_2$ mimetic U-46619. We hypothesized that cotreated alcohol plays a role in vascular relaxation evoked by quercetin in rat aortae. Endothelium-denuded arterial rings from male Sprague-Dawley rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded using a computerized data acquisition system. Quercetin inhibited phorbol ester, fluoride or thromboxane $A_2$-induced contraction regardless of endothelial function. However, alcohol didn't decrease any agonist-induced contraction. Interestingly, only in thromboxane $A_2$-induced contraction, synergistic results were observed in aortae denuded and cotreated with quercetin and alcohol suggesting that additional pathways different from antioxidation or endothelial nitric oxide synthesis might be involved in the vasorelaxation. In conclusion, in the agonists-contracted rat aortae, quercetin and alcohol together showed synergistic response regardless of endothelial function in an agonist-dependent manner.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2011

The aim of present study was to investigate the possible influence and related mechanism of resveratrol on U-46619 (high concentration)-induced vasoconstriction. Agonist-induced vascular smooth muscle contractions involve the activation of thick or thin filament pathway. However, there are no reports addressing the question whether this pathway is involved in resveratrol-induced relaxation in rat aortae contracted with high U-46619. We hypothesized that MEK or Rho-kinase inhibition plays a role in vascular relaxation evoked by resveratrol in rat aortae. Endothelium-denuded arterial rings from male Sprague-Dawley rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded using a computerized data acquisition system. Resveratrol fully inhibited U-46619 in low concentration-induced contraction regardless of endothelial function. However, resveratrol partially decreased U-46619 in high concentration-induced contraction regardless of endothelial function. Interestingly, only in U-46619 (high concentration)-induced contraction, no significant decrease was observed in phospho-ERK1/2 levels and slight decrease in phospho-MYPT1 levels suggesting that additional pathways different from them or endothelial nitric oxide synthesis might be involved in the vasorelaxation. In conclusion, in high U-46619-contracted rat aortae, resveratrol showed relaxation response regardless of endothelial function significantly but slightly decreasing MYPT1 phosphorylation rather than ERK1/2 phosphorylation.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.293-299
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• 2006

The aim of present study was to investigate the possible influence of Rho-kinase inhibition on the plant-derived estrogen-like compounds-induced arterial relaxation. Agonist- or depolarization-induced vascular smooth muscle contractions involve the activation of Rho-kinase pathway. However there are no reports addressing the question whether this pathway is involved in genistein-or daidzein-induced vascular relaxation in rat aortae precontracted with phenylephrine or thromboxane $A_2$ mimetic U-46619. We hypothesized that Rho-kinase inhibition plays a role in vascular relaxation evoked by genistein or daidzein in rat aortae. Endothelium-intact and denuded arterial rings from male Sprague-Dawley rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded using a computerized data acquisition system. Genistein concentration-dependently inhibited phenylephrine or thromboxane $A_2-induced$ contraction regardless of endothelial function. Surprisingly, in the agonists-induced contraction, similar results were also observed in aortae treated with daidzein, the inactive congener for protein tyrosine kinase inhibition, suggesting that Rho-kinase might act upstream of tyrosine kinases in phenylephrine-induced contraction. In conclusion, in the agonists-precontracted rat aortae, genistein and daidzein showed similar relaxant response regardless of tyrosine kinase inhibition or endothelial function.