• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.179-185
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• 2007

Purpose : Catecholamines are the neuro-transmitters in the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and are activated by stress stimulus. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and Dopamine-${\beta}$-Hydroxylase (DBH) are very important enzymes in the catecholamine synthesis. Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) is released in the process of reacting to stresses. The aim of this study is to find out what effects immobilization stresses have on the expression of TH, BDH and CRH mRNA in a rat's brains. Methods : We compare expression levels in rat's brains of TH, DBH and CRH mRNA induced by immobilization stresses between the test group and controled group. The expression levels of TH, DBH and CRH mRNA are measured by RT-PCR and the Western Blotting Analysis (WBA). Results : In brains and adrenal glands of the immobilization stress group, the expression levels of TH and DBH mRNAs are significantly two to three times higher (P<0.01), and CRH mRNAs are approximately one and a half times higher (P<0.05) than those of controlled group. Conclusion : This study suggest that the expression levels of TH, DBH and CRH mRNAs are activated by stress stimulus in a rat's brains and adrenal glands.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.270-275
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• 2010

Catecholamines are among the first molecules that displayed a kind of response to prolonged or repeated stress. It is well established that long-term stress leads to the induction of catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes such as tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine ${\beta}$-hydroxylase (DBH) in adrenal medulla. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ginseng on TH and DBH mRNA expression. Repeated (2 h daily, 14 days) immobilization stress resulted in a significant increase of TH and DBH mRNA levels in rat adrenal medulla. However, ginseng treatment reversed the stress-induced increase of TH and DBH mRNA expression in the immobilization-stressed rats. Nicotine as a ligand of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) in adrenal medulla stimulates catecholamine secretion and activates TH and DBH gene expression. Nicotine treatment increased mRNA levels of TH and DBH by 3.3- and 3.1-fold in PC12 cells. The ginseng total saponin exhibited a significant reversal in the nicotine-induced increase of TH and DBH mRNA expression, decreasing the mRNA levels of TH and DBH by 57.2% and 48.9%, respectively in PC12 cells. In conclusion, immobilization stress induced catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes gene expression, while ginseng appeared to restore homeostasis via suppression of TH and DBH gene expression. In part, the regulatory activity in the TH and DBH gene expression of ginseng may account for the anti-stress action produced by ginseng.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2014

This study aimed at finding a fast, sensitive, and efficient protocol for molecular identification of intracellular protozoa Toxoplasma (T.) gondii. For molecular detection of T. gondii, we developed a polymerase chain reaction coupled with dot blot hybridization assay (PCR/DBH). For DBH analysis, the amplified DNA of T. gondii tachyzoite was labeled by incorporation of digoxigenin. The DBH assay alone was capable of detecting down to $1{\times}10^4$ pg of T. gondii genomic DNA. The PCR alone was capable of detecting down to $1{\times}10^3$ pg of T. gondii genomic DNA, whereas the PCR/DBH assay was capable of detecting down to $1{\times}10^2$ pg of T. gondii genomic DNA, indicating that sensitivity of the PCR/DBH method was approximately 10 to 100 times higher than PCR or DBH alone. Our PCR/DBH assay will be useful for confirming the presence of T. gondii on the samples and differentiating T. gondii infection from other intracellular protozoa infections.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.505-510
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• 2013

Electroacupuncture (EA) is a modified form of acupuncture that utilizes electrical stimulation. We previously showed that EA stimulated rats were divided into responders that were sensitive to EA and non-responders that were insensitive to EA based on the tail flick latency (TFL) test. The dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) gene was more abundantly expressed in the hypothalamus of responder rats than non-responder rats. To determine whether overexpression of DBH gene expression in the hypothalamus modulate EA analgesia, we constructed a DBH encoding adenovirus and which was then injected into the hypothalamus of SD rats. Microinjection of DBH or control GFP virus into the hypothalamus had no changes on the basal pain threshold measured by a TFL test without EA treatment. However, the analgesic effect of EA was significantly enhanced from seven days after microinjection of the DBH virus, but not after injection of the control GFP virus. DBH expression was significantly higher in the hypothalamus of DBH virus injected rat than control GFP virus or PBS injected rats. Moreover, expression of the DBH gene did not affect the body core temperature, body weight, motor function or learning and memory ability. Although the functional role of DBH in the hypothalamus in the analgesic effect of EA remains unclear, our findings suggest that expression of the DBH gene in the hypothalamus promotes EA analgesia without obvious side-effects.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.77-86
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• 2022

The effect of PHAR-DBH-Me, a cannabinoid receptor agonist, on different cardiovascular responses in adult male rats was analyzed. The blood pressure was measured directly and indirectly. The coronary flow was measured by Langendorff preparation, and vasomotor responses induced by PHAR-DBH-Me in aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine (PHEN) were analyzed. The intravenous injection of the compound PHAR-DBH-Me (0.018-185 ㎍/kg) resulted in decreased blood pressure; maximum effect was observed at the dose of 1,850 ㎍/kg. A concentrationdependent increase in the coronary flow was observed in a Langendorff preparation. In the aortic rings, with and without endothelium, pre-contracted with PHEN (10^-6 M), the addition of PHAR-DBH-Me to the superfusion solution (10^-12-10^-5 M), produced a vasodilator response, which depends on the concentration and presence of the endothelium. L-NAME inhibited these effects. Addition of CB₁ receptor antagonist (AM 251) did not modify the response, while CB₂ receptor antagonist (AM630) decreased the potency of relaxation elicited by PHAR-DBH-Me. Indomethacin shifted the curve concentration-response to the left and produced an increase in the magnitude of the maximum endothelium dependent response to this compound. The maximum effect of PHAR-DBH-Me was observed with the concentration of 10^-5 M. These results show that PHAR-DBH-Me has a concentration-dependent and endothelium-dependent vasodilator effect through CB₂ receptor. This vasodilation is probably mediated by the synthesis/release of NO. On the other hand, it is suggested that PHAR-DBH-Me also induces the release of a vasoconstrictor prostanoid.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.194-197
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• 1997

Dopamine ${\beta}-hydroxylase\;(DBH)$ catalyses the enzymatic reaction of dopamine to norepinephrine. For the purpose of screening DBH inhibitory activity from edible mushrooms, Ganoderma lucidum, Agaricus bisporus and Lentinus edodes were examined by tracing inhibitory activities against bovine adrenal DBH, utilizing tyramine as a substrate. Among the three edible mushrooms tested, Ganoderma lucidum showed potent enzyme inhibitory activilies above 100% against DBH in chloroform fraction. Lentinus edodes and Agaricus bisporus showed inhibitory activities in ethylacetate fraction on 79.7% and 64.7%, respectively. Each solvent fraction of these mushrooms were assessed in the aspects of their inhibitory activities against DBH, and their $IC_{50}$ values were calculated. $IC_{50}$ value of chloroform fraction of Ganoderma lucidum was $1.60{\times}10^{-4}\;g$, and those of ethylacetate fractions of Agaricus bisporus and Lentinus edodes were $5.50{\times}10^{-4}\;g\;and\;2.35{\times}10^{-4}\;g$, respectively.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.235-241
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• 2018

This study was conducted to find out the growth pattern of Pinus koraiensis plantation over 34 years, focusing on DBH, height, basal area and allometric change. Total increment (TI), mean annual increment (MAI) and correlation coefficient were calculated and compared with stand and dominants. Total increment and mean annual increment of both DBH and height of dominants were bigger than those of stand. The difference was apparently shown bigger in DBH than height. Unlike DBH and height the total increment and mean annual increment of basal area per hectare of dominants were distinctively smaller than those of stand. Furthermore MAI of dominant was increasing until age 42, while MAI of stand increased at early ages and then gradually decreased after culmination like MAIs of DBH and height. MAIs of basal area of dead trees at each measurement tended to increase until early age (18 years in this study), while it reached a peak and gradually decrease after that (21 years in this study). Correlation coefficient between DBH and height tended to decrease as both dominant and stand age and the difference between dominant and stand was not clearly shown over the measurement period. Correlation coefficients between DBH and crown width tended to decrease as the trees age and correlation coefficients of dominant were clearly shown smaller than that of stand. Correlation coefficients of height and crown width also was found to be similar to correlation coefficients between DBH and crown. Meanwhile correlation coefficient of height and crown width dropped more radically than coefficient of DBH and crown width as the trees age.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.101-106
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• 2014

The purpose of this research was to figure out the stand structure and growth characteristic with relation to DBH, height, and volume in sixteen Pinus koraiensis plantations of Gangwon province region. Age class was diversely distributed from age class II (16 yr) to age class VIII (77 yr), and, in terms of site index, sixteen regions were superior: nine regions 'high', seven regions 'middle'. The distribution of DBH by sites appeared a bell-shaped curve, and the number of trees was the most in diameter section of 18-22 cm. The dispersion of DBH was various with age and widest ranging from 18 cm to 58 cm in age class VII-VIII. The distribution of height was also a bell-shaped curve with the smaller deviation than the distribution of DBH, and most of trees were in height section of 14-18 m. The correlation of DBH and height was high (r=0.75), and the volume bigger than 1.0 $m^3$ was presented from DBH 35 cm, height 20 m.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.99-103
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• 2004

The aim of the present study was to develop a sensitive and specific assay for the diagnosis of alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1) which is a cause agent of malignant catarrhal fever in ruminants. A1HV-1 is a gamma herpesvirus, which is frequent latent, and it is often difficult to detect its antigens or specific nucleic acids because of its low genomic copies in the infected tissues. In this study, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-dot blot hybridization (DBH) assay for detecting AlHV-1 DNA was developed and evaluated for its sensitivity and specificity as comparison with PCR and DBH alone. The developed PCR-DBH was more sensitive than PCR or DBH alone and also very specific. The results showed that the sensitivity of PCR-DBH were higher and stronger than those of PCR and DBH alone. This PCR-DBH assay can be applied efficiently to confirm the presence of AlHV-1 virus on clinical samples and to differentiate specifically between AlHV-1 infection and other viral infections.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.76-86
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• 1991

Plasma $dopamine-{\beta}-hydroxylase(DBH)$ activity was measured in 37 autistic disorders, 26 atypical pervasive developmental disorders and 23 controls, to elucidate the biological etiology in pervasive developmental disorders. The results are summarized as follows : 1) In the autistic group, the mean plasma DBH activity was significantly elevated compared to the atypical and control groups. The mean plasma DBH activity was also significantly elevated in pervasive developmental disorders(autistic disorder+atypical developmental disorder) compared to control group. 2) In the atypical and control groups, the DBH activity significantly increased with age, but in the autistic group, the DBH activity was not significantly correlated with age. 3) No significant correlation was found between the DBH activity and the severity of psychopathology. These findings support the hypothesis of a possible involvement of brain catecholamine dysfunction in the production of autistic symptoms, and this dysfunction might be due to the abnormal ontogenetic process of DBH activity in autistic disorders.