• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제4권6호
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• pp.455-461
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• 2000

Zinc contained in the neurons of central nervous system is activity-dependently released and then attenuates NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate)-induced neurotoxicity while augmenting non-NMDA-induced neurodegeneration. Zinc also has been reported to produce antinociceptive action on the inflammation- and nerve injury-induced hyperalgesia in the behavioral test. In this study, we investigated the effects of zinc on the responses of dorsal horn cells to NMDA, kainate and graded electrical stimulation of C-fibers. In the majority of WDR cells (70.6%), zinc current-dependently inhibited WDR cell responses to NMDA and in the remaining cells, produced biphasic responses; excitation followed by inhibition. Zinc augmented the responses of WDR cells to iontophoretical application of kainate. The dominant effect of $Zn^{2+}$ on the responses of WDR cells to C-fiber stimulation was excitatory, but inhibition, excitation-inhibition and no change of the responses to C-fiber stimulation were induced. $Ca^{2+}-EDTA$ antagonized the excitatory or inhibitory effects of $Zn^{2+}$ on the WDR cell responses. These experimental findings suggest that $Zn^{2+}$ modulates the transmission of sensory information in the rat spinal cord.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.102-109
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• 2011

턱끝혀근은 호흡을 위해 상부기도를 확보하는 중요한 근육이지만 정상적으로 수축하지 못하면 상부기도를 폐쇄함으로써 호흡장애가 생길 수있다. 이것은 턱끝혀근을 지배하는 운동신경원의 연접입력 이상으로 생각하고 있으나 이러한 연접입력에 대해서는 잘 알려져 있지 않다. 본 연구에서는 흰쥐의 턱끝혀근을 지배하는 운동신경원과 연접하는 억제성 및 흥분성 신경종말의 분포 양식에 대해 분석하고자 하였으며, 이를 위해 신경추적자인 HRP를 주입하여 턱끝혀근 지배 운동신경원을 표식하고, 운동신경원을 세포체와 가지돌기의 근위부, 중간부 및 원위부로 구분한 후, 전자현미경용 연속절편을 제작하여 GABA, glycine 및 glutamate 항체를 사용한 postembedding immunogold histochemistry를 시행하였다. 정량적 분석은 3개의 턱끝혀근 운동신경원에 연접한 622개의 신경종말 중 157개는 세포체에서, 188개는 14개의 가지돌기 근위부에서, 181개는 35개의 가지돌기 중간부에서, 96개는 28개의 가지돌기 원위부에서 각각 연접 양상을 분석하였다. 관찰한 신경종말의 71.9%에서 사용된 3종류의 아미노산에 대한 면역양성반응이 나타났는데 이 중 32.8%는 GABA 또는 glycine에 대한 면역양성반응을 보였고, 39.1%는 glutamate에 대한 면역양성반응을 보였다. GABA 또는 glycine에 대한 면역양성 신경종말 중 14.2%는 glycine에만 면역양성반응을 보였고, 13.3%는 glycine과 GABA에 동시에 면역양성반응을 보였으며, 5.3%만이 GABA에만 면역양성반응을 보였다. 억제성 아미노산에 면역양성반응을 보인 신경종말에는 납작하거나, 타원형 또는 둥근 형태의 연접소포가 함유된 반면, 흥분성 아미노산에 면역양성반응을 보인 신경종말에는 구형의 소포와 약간의 큰 치밀연접소포가 함유되어 있었다. 억제성 신경종말과 흥분성 신경종말의 분포 비율은 가지돌기 원위부에서 각각 23.9% 대 43.8%로 가장 높았지만, 세포체(35.7% 대 38.2%), 가지돌기의 근위부(34.6% 대 37.8%), 및 중간부(33.1% 대 38.7%)에서는 큰 차이를 보이지 않았다. 억제성 신경종말의 synaptic covering (%)은 세포체에서 가지돌기 원위부로 갈수록 감소되었지만, 흥분성 신경종말의 synaptic covering (%)은 각 부위에서 큰 차이를 나타내지 않았다. 본 연구를 통하여 턱끝혀근 지배 운동신경원은 세포체와 가지돌기의 부위에 따라 GABA, glycine 및 glutamate를 함유하는 전운동신경원들에 의해 서로 다른 양식의 제어를 받고 있다는 것을 알 수 있었으며, 운동신경원의 부위에 따른 이러한 억제성 및 흥분성 연접입력 양식의 차이는 유연한 혀운동의 제어기전과 밀접한 관련이 있을 것으로 추정된다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.91-96
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• 1995

The effects of toluene inhalation on the contents of amino acid neurotransmitters in rat brain were investigated and blood toluene concentrations inducing changes of behavior and amino acid neurotransmitter contents in rat brain were observed. Male wistar rats were exposed to toluene vapor (single dose : 1700, 5000 and 10000 ppm for 2 hrs, repeated dose : 1700 and 5000 ppm for 2 hrs/day$\times$6 days). Toluene concentrations in blood and the inhalation chamber were assayed by GC with headspace sampler. HPLC method following PITC derivatization was used to measure the amino acid contents in brain tissues such as frontal cortex, caudate, hippocampus, cerebellum and brain stem. Glutamic acid and aspartic acid levels were increased by single inhalation of toluene (5000 ppm) in all the brain areas assayed in this experiment. In caudate and cerebellum, taurine levels were decreased by single inhalation of low dose toluene (1700 ppm), but increased by repeated administration. At high blood toluene concentration, GABA levels were increased in all the brain areas assayed in this experiment and the increasing extents of inhibitory amino acid contents measured in caudate and hippocampus were greater than those of excitatory amino acids. These results suggest that the changes of amino acid neurotransmitter contents in brain by exposure to toluene may modulate toluene-induced behaviors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.237-244
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• 1999

Magnesium ion is known to selectively block the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced responses and to have anticonvulsive action, neuroprotective effect and antinociceptive action in the behavioral test. In this study, we investigated the effect of $Mg^{2+}$ on the responses of dorsal horn neurons to cutaneous thermal stimulation and graded electrical stimulation of afferent nerves as well as to excitatory amino acids and also elucidated whether the actions of $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$ are additive or antagonistic. $Mg^{2+}$ suppressed the thermal and C-fiber responses of wide dynamic range (WDR) cell without any effect on the A-fiber responses. When $Mg^{2+}$ was directly applied onto the spinal cord, its inhibitory effect was dependent on the concentration of $Mg^{2+}$ and duration of application. The NMDA- and kainate-induced responses of WDR cell were suppressed by $Mg^{2+}$, the NMDA-induced responses being inhibited more strongly. $Ca^{2+}$ also inhibited the NMDA-induced responses current-dependently. Both inhibitory actions of $Mg^{2+}$ and $Ca^{2+}$ were additive, while $Mg^{2+}$ suppressed the EGTA-induced augmentation of WDR cell responses to NMDA and C-fiber stimulation. Magnesium had dual effects on the spontaneous activities of WDR cell. These experimental findings suggest that $Mg^{2+}$ is implicated in the modulation of pain in the rat spinal cord by inhibiting the responses of WDR cell to noxious stimuli more strongly than innocuous stimuli.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.153-158
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• 1995

The levels of extracellualr glutamate, intracellular $Ca^{2+}\;([Ca2+]_i)$ and cGMP were determined for 1 h with the excitatory amino acids, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) or kainate in cultured cerebellar granule cells. Both NMDA and kainate produced a time-dependent release of glutamate, and kainate was more potent than NMDA in glutamate elevation. The elevation of extracellular glutamate was not purely governed by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. However, in opposite to the time-dependent elevation of glutamate, the elevation of cGMP by NMDA and kainate were at maximum level in short-time (1 min) incubation then remarkably decreased with longer incubation times. Post-applications (30 min after agonist) of EAA antagonist did not block EAAs-induced glutamate elevation. However, NMDA antagonist, phencyclidine (PCP), blocked NMDA-induced cGMP elevation at pre- or post-application, but kainate antagonist, 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX), paradoxically augmented kainate-induced cGMP elevation for 1 h incubation. These results show that NMDA or kainate induces time-dependent elevations of extracellular glutamate, while the elevations of cGMP by these EAAs are remarkably decreased with longer incubation times. However, NMDA- arid kainate-indcued glutamate release was blocked by pre-application of each receptor antagonist but not by post-application while EAA-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was blocked by post-application of antagonist. These observations suggest that EAA-induced elevation of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ is not parallel with elevation of glutamate release or cGMP.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.535-543
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• 1998

In the present study, we designed and constructed new microdialysis probe in order to improve the efficacy and accuracy of microdialysis method. In addition, extracellular concentrations of GABA, glutamate, aspartate and glycine were monitored with new designed probe in the lateral portion of the ventrocaudal periaqueductal gray using unanesthetized and unrestrained rats. Furthermore, the effect of opiates on release of these amino acids, especially GABA, was analyzed by measuring their concentration in PAG dialysates following veratridine administration in the presence of systemic morphine. The results were summerized as follow : 1. The damaging rates of 1.0mm or 1.5mm window probe were 12.5% or 42.8%, respectively. In the group using 1.5mm window probe, the damaging area was extended into mesencephalic aqueduct because of microdialyzing pressure. 2. Because of the unique design of our probes with an opening facing one side, dialysis occurs in a hemisphere($600{\mu}m$ in mediolateral direction and $100{\mu}m$ in opposite side of the dialysis probe) around the opening rather than in a spherical shaped configuration which is typical of most commercially available probe designs. 3. Glutamate, taurine and glycine were present in the highest concentration in the dialysate sample obtained before treatment with veratridine, whereas, aspartate and GABA were present in the lowest concentration. 4. The concentration of all 5 amino acids increased significantly following $75{\mu}m$ veratridine perfusion into lateral ventrocaudal PAG. 5. There was no significant difference between basal and peak amino acid concentrations according to window sizes. 6. Morphine had no effect on baseline concentrations of amino acids in dialysates obtained from the lateral PAG as compared to saline treated controls. However, following veratridine treatment, morphine selectively affected GABA release in the lateral ventrocaudal PAG as compared to saline treated controls. These results suggest that GABAergic interneurons in the PAG are inhibited by opioids. Therefore, endogenous enkephalins or endorphins may directly inhibit intrinsic GABAergic intemeurons and block their tonic inhibition of PAG-NMR projection neurons. Moreover, new designed probes demonstrate improved efficiency and accuracy in collecting samples as compared to commercial types of microdialysis probes.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 1996년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.211-211
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• 1996

Changes in glutamate release and uptake on cerebellar cells after the chronic exposure to lead were investigated. Rats were received 0.25% lead acetate in drinking water from the beginning of the pregnancy. The control group was given 0.125% sodium acetate in drinking water. The cerebellar cells from 7 or 8 day-old pups were cultured. Amino acid release from cerebellar granule cells and the glutamate uptake into cerebellar glial cells were measured using HPLC-ECD. Basal glutamate release and NMDA-induced glutamate release didn't show significant difference. However, the other amino acids in the granule cells obtained from lead exposed pups were less released than the control after the stimulation by NMDA (50$\mu$M). SNAP-induced (50$\mu$M) glutamate release was significantly reduced in granule cells prepared from lead exposed pups. The basal glutamate uptake in glial cells didn't show any difference. However, the uptake in glial cells prepared from lead exposed pups was significantly less blocked by PDC (24$\mu$M) compared to the control group. These results indicate that lead exposure to the mother might affect the Excitatory amino acid system during the development of the offspring.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.116-125
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• 2000

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate that Sunghyangjeongki-San which has been frequently medicated in the early stage of stroke can protect against ischemic damage in rat brain Methods : Extracellular levels of amino acids(glutamate, aspartate, GABA, glycine, taurine, tyrosine, alanine), organic acids(pyruvate, lactate), and cerebral infarction volume were measured at the striatum of rats subjected to permanant focal cerebral ischemia induced by 2 hours of middle cerebral artery occiusion(MCAO). Rats were orally administered with Sunghyangjeongki-San at 30mins before MCAO and the microdialysate was collected by intracerebral microdialysis three times before MCAO and six times after MCAO at 20mins interval and analyzed by HPLC. After a microdialysis study, the brain was sliced and stained with cresyl violet buffer for the measurement of cerebral infarcted area and volume by image analyzer system Results : The concentrations of glutamate, aspartate, and tyrosine known as excitatory neurotransmitters were significantly decreased in Sunghyangjeongki-San group compared with control group, The concentrations of GABA, glycine, taurine and alanine known as inhibitory neurotransmitters were significantly increased in Sunghyangjeongki-San group compared with control group. The concentrations of pyruvate and lactate showed little significant change in Sunghyangjeongki-San group compared with control group. The measurement of cerebral infarcted area and volume by image analyzer system were significantly decreased in Sunghyangjeongki-San group compared with control group. Conclusions : Sunghyangjeongki-San can affect on protecting against cerebral ischemia by regulating extracellular levels of excitatory and inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitters and improve the conditions of the patients in the early stage of stroke.

• 한국버섯학회지
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.275-283
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• 2019

Sparassis latifolia is a fungus abundant in β-glucan and amino acids and is highly valued as a medicinal mushroom. Among amino acids, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a free amino acid and has biological effects, such as increase/decrease of hypertension, improvement of cerebral blood flow, and prevention of dementia. In this study, biological elicitors were used to increase bioactive substances as a biofortification method. Sodium alginate extracted from seaweed (Sargassum horneri, Sargassum fulvellum, Sargassum fusiforme) were used as the elicitor. The levels of β-glucan and GABA in the mycelium and fruiting body grown by adding the elicitor to the medium were investigated. Addition of sodium alginate positively affected GABA production and negatively affected the β-glucan production in these fungi. Sodium alginates extracted from S. fulvellum induced the highest increase in GABA in the mycelium and fruiting bodies. Moreover, we investigated the effects of the extracts from mycelium and fruiting bodies on dendrite development in primary cortical neurons. We found that the extract from the fruiting bodies of sodium alginate treated fungi with increased levels of GABA inhibited the dendrite outgrowth of excitatory neurons, but not inhibitory neurons.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.71-81
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• 1988

Glutamate와 aspartate는 단가 양이온과 칼슘에 대한 세포막의 투과성을 증가시키는 것으로 시사되고 있다. 그러나 칼슘 유입이 voltage에 의존적인 칼슘 통로에 의하여 또는 흥분성 아미노산에 활성적인 통로에 의하여 이루어지는가는 분명하지 않다. 더우기, 신경세포의 칼슘 유입에 미치는 흥분성 아미노산의 영향과 세포의 마그네슘에 대한 이들의 반응이 다른 것으로 추정하고 있다. Synaptosome에서 포타슘에 의한 칼슘 흡수는 세포외 마그네슘에 의존적이었으나 10 mM 농도에서는 그 이하의 농도에서보다 오히려 감소하였다. 소듐이 주된 반응액에서 glutamate와 aspartate에 의한 칼슘 흡수는 마그네슘에 의하여 용량에 비의존적인 양상으로 증가하였다. 그러나 NMDA의 작용은 2 mM 이상의 마그네슘에 의하여 억제되었다. 포타슘과 glutamate에 의한 칼슘 흡수는 2,4-dinitrophenol, chorpromazine과 verapami에 의하여 억제되었으나 tetraethylammonium chloride의 영향은 받지 아니하였다. Tetrodotoxin은 효과적으로 glutamate의 작용을 억제하였으나 $K^+$의 작용에는 영향을 주지 않았다. NMDA의 작용은 2,4-dinitrophenol과 tetrodotoxin에 의하여 억제되었고 verapamil에 의하여 약간 억제되었으며 tetraethylammonium chloride의 영향은 받지 아니하였다. 소듐이 주된 반응액에서 glutamate,, aspartate와 NMDA에 의한 synaptosome의 탈분극은 관찰되지 않았으나 이들은 mitochondria에서 칼슘 유입에 따른 탈분극을 초래하였다. 한편, 흥분성 아미노산은 synaptosoine의 ATPase활성도에 영향을 나타내지 않았다. 이상의 결과로부터 glutamate 또는 NMDA에 의한 synaptosome의 칼슘 흡수는 세포외 마그네슘에 각기 다른 양상을 나타내며 이들에 의한 칼슘 흡수는 포타슘을 제외한 소듐과 칼슘에 대한 세포막 투과성의 증가 그리고 이에 따른 탈분극에 연관이 있을 것으로 시사되있다.