• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.287-291
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• 2008

Ampicillin, a $\beta$-lactam antibiotic, has been reported to induce astrocytic glutamate transporter-l which plays a crucial role in protecting neurons against glutamate excitotoxicity. We investigated the effect of ampicillin on neuronal damage in the mouse hippocampus and neostriatum following transient global forebrain ischemia. Male C57BL/6 mice were anesthetized with halothane and subjected to bilateral occlusion of the common carotid artery for 40 min. Ampicillin was administered post-ischemically (for 3 days) and/or pre-ischemically (for $3{\sim}5$ days until one day before the onset of ischemia). Pre- and post-ischemic treatment with ampicillin (50 mg/kg/day or 200 mg/kg/day) prevented ischemic neuronal death in the medial CAI area of the hippocampus as well as the neostriatum in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, ischemic neuronal damage was reduced by pre-ischemic treatment with ampicillin (200 mg/kg/day). In summary, our results suggest that ampicillin plays a functional role as a chemical preconditioning agent that protects hippocampal neurons from ischemic insult.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.397-401
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• 2009

Olig2 transcription factor is widely expressed throughout the central nervous system; therefore, it is considered to have multiple functions in the developing, mature and injured brain. In this mini-review, we focus on Olig2 in the forebrain (telencephalon and diencephalon) and discuss the functional significance of Olig2 and the differentiation properties of Olig2-expressing progenitors in the development and injured states. Short- and long-term lineage analysis in the developing forebrain elucidated that not all late Olig2+ cells are direct cohorts of early cells and that Olig2 lineage cells differentiate into neurons or glial cells in a region- and stage-dependent manner. Olig2-deficient mice revealed large elimination of oligodendrocyte precursor cells and a decreased number of astrocyte progenitors in the dorsal cortex, whereas no reduction in the number of GABAergic neurons. In addition to Olig2 function in the developing cortex, Olig2 is also reported to be important for glial scar formation after injury. Thus, Olig2 can be essential for glial differentiation during development and after injury.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.135-152
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• 2005

Prefrontal cortex is a psychological and metaphysical cortex, which deals with feeling, memory, planning, attention, personality, etc. And it also integrates above-mentioned events with motor control and locomotor activities. Prefrontal cortex works as a highest CNS center, since the above mentioned functions are very important for one's successful life, and further more they are upgraded every moments through memory and learning. Many of these highest functions are supposed to be generated via forebrain basal nuclei (caudate nucleus, fundus striati nucleus, accumbens septi nucleus, septal nucleus, etc.). In this experiment, prefrontal efferent terminals within basal forebrain nuclei were ultrastructurally studied. Spraque Dawley rats, weighing $250{\sim}300g$ each, were anesthetized and their heads were fixed on the stereotaxic apparatus (experimental model, David Kopf Co.). Rats were incised their scalp, perforated a 3mm-wide hole on the right side of skull at the 11mm anterior point from the frontal O point (Ref. 13, Fig. 1), suctioned out the prefrontal cortex including cortex of the frontal pole, with suction instrument. Two days following the operations, small tissue blocks of basal forebrain nuclei were punched out, fixed in 1% glutaraldehyde-1% paraformaldehyde solution followed by 2% osmium tetroxide solutions. Ultrathin sections were stained with 1% borax-toluidin blue solution, and the stained sections were obserbed with an electron microscope. Degenerating axon terminals were found within all the basal forbrain nuclei. Numbers of degenerated terminals were largest in the caudate nucleus, next in order, in the fundus striati nucleus, in the accumbens septi nucleus, and the least in the septal nucleus. Only axospinous terminals were degenerated within the caudate nucleus and the fundus striati nucleus, and they showed the characters of striatal motor control system. Axodendritic and axospinous terminals were degenerated within the accumbens septi nucleus and the lateral septal nucleus, and they showed the characters of visceral limbic system. Prefrontal role in integrating the limbic system with the striatal system, en route basal forebrain nuclei, was discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.15-16
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• 2000

Transient forebrain ischemia results in delayed neuronal death in the CA1 region of the hippocampus after injury, which is, at least in part, a consequence of excessive generation of reactive oxygen species. Previous in vitro studies using cell cultures or brain slices have demonstrated that phospholipase D (PLD) in the nervous system is involved in the signaling mechanism in response to a variety of agonists. Several recent studies have shown that reactive oxygen species stimulate phospholipase D (PLD) activity in several kinds of cells. Therefore, this raises the possibility that PLD activity is enhanced in the ischemic brain. Meanwhile, osteopontin (OPN) was initially identified as a sialoglycoprotein in bone, but has since been found in various tissues. Although not much is known about its function, OPN seems to play an important role in inflammation and tissue repair. Recently, it was reported that OPN was upregulated in the activated microglia after focal brain ischemia, suggesting that OPN might play a role in wound healing after a focal stroke.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.161-166
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• 2015

Neuronal activities of taste-responsive cells in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) are affected by various physiological factors, such as blood glucose level or sodium imbalance. These phenomena suggest that NST taste neurons are under the influence of neural substrates that regulate nutritional homeostasis. In this study, we reviewed a series of in vivo electrophysiological investigations that demonstrate that forebrain nuclei, such as the lateral hypothalamus or central nucleus of the amygdala, send descending projections and modulate neuronal activity of gustatory neurons in the NST. These centrifugal modulations may mediate plasticity of taste response in the NST under different physiological conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2001

It has been demonstrated that multipotent neuronal progenitor cells can be isolated from the developing or adult CNS and proliferated in vitro in response to epidermal growth factor. The present study was undertaken to investigate the differentiation of neuronal progenitor cells after transplantation into the neonatal rat forebrain striatum. Primary cultured progenitor cells were labeled with 3,3'-dioctadecycloxacarbonyl- amine perchlorate (DiO). DiO labeled progenitor cells were implanted into neonatal rat striatum. Implanted DiO labeled progenitor cells were differentiated into astrocytes and GABAergic neurons. These results suggest that implanted progenitor cells can be differentiated into neurons in host forebrain striatum. In addition, our data show that DiO labeling is a useful technique for tracing implanted progenitor cells.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.83-87
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• 2012

The study of pigs as a human disease model has been conducted in neuroscience. But the morphological development of pig brain by using MRI is rare. The purpose of this study is to determine whether cerebellum maintains consistent proportion to other brain regions in aging. Clinically healthy sixteen micropigs, 1, 2, 4, and 8 months were studied. The micropigs were anesthetized with isoflorane. MRI was acquired using a 0.3T system. To figure out development of ratio that allowed identification of normal cerebellum size, we measured the area of the cerebellum, brainstem, and forebrain from the mid-sagittal brain images on T1W. Mid-sagittal cross-sectional area (CSA) of total brain, forebrain, brainstem, and cerebellum were expressed as absolute values and also as percentages which were compared between the four age groups of micropigs for the purpose to define the effect of age on brain morphometry. It was found that there was not a significant difference in the percentage of the brain occupied by an individual region between groups although the absolute CSA differed significantly among age groups. There was no effect of age on the ratio between the cerebellum and total brain in 4 age groups. The normal size of cerebellum changes during brain development maintained a consistent ratio to other brain regions in normal micropigs. The ratio of CSA quantified on the mid-sagittal MR images offers a suitable method to detect presence of cerebellar anomalies in micropigs.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.145-160
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• 2001

Objectives : The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effect of Geupoongjibo-dan Extracts on Reversible Forebrain Ischemia in Mongolian Gerbils. Methods : The change rate of water content in cerebral tissues, the numercal change of the CA1 pyramidal neuron in the hippocampus, the change of delayed neuronal death(necrosis apoptosis) through light microscopy, the reactivity change of glycoprotein in neuronal membrane and the ultrastructural change of pyramidal neuron through electron microscopy caused by dalayed neuronal death were investigated. Results : 1. The change rate of water content in the normal group showed 78.90% on the third day, and 79.12% on the seventh day after an attack of ischemia. The rate in the control group showed 82.25% and 85.13%, respectively. The rate in the sample group showed a significant decrease: 81.72% and 83.66%. 2. Light microscopy revealed that the cells, continuous and systematic forms in the pyramidal cells of hippocampus, changed into discontinuous and unsystematic forms in the normal group when compared with the control group. The cells were less damaged in the sample group. 3. The mean of the numerical change of the CA1 pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus was 104 in the normal group. The mean of the control group was decreased to 27. The mean of the sample group was 44. 4. TUNEL staining examination reveals that the whole part of the hippocampus of the normal group had negative reactivity. As far as CA1 pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus, the control group had positive reactivity. The sample group was more positive than the control group. 5. Electron microscopy reveals that the ischemic injury of the control group had both necrotic and apoptotic morphology. The sample group was less necrotic, and more apoptotic morphology than the control group. 6. Lectin histochemisrical examination reveals that the normal group had positive reactivity to PNA and SBA in interneuron, and weak positive reactivity to WGA Con A LCA in intercelluar space. The reactivity to PNA and WGA decreased in the control group. The reactivity to PNA and WGA tended to increase in the sample group. Conclusions : The data shows that the effect of Geupoongjibo-dan Extracts on Reversible Forebrain Ischemia in MG is a significant result.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.161-174
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• 2001

Objectives : The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effect of Chungpesagan-Tang Extracts on reversible forebrain ischemia in Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : the volume of cerebral infarction and edema, the pathohistological change of neurons, the number of survived neurons, neurotransmitters through immunohistochemical methods, proteins connected with neurotransmitters through immunohistochemical methods and the pathohistological change of neurons through electro-microscopy were investigated. From these reseach data, the protection of neurons and the activity of brain cells were examined. Results : 1. The infaction volume of the control group was 23.9%, and that of the sample group was 16%. 2. The brain edema volume of the control group increased by 17% compared to the normal group and that of the sample group increased by 10%. 3. The light microscopy revealed that the neurons in the ischemia-induced area and CA1 area of hippocampus were most heavily damaged and that the sample group was less damaged compared with the control group. Most pyramidal neurons died in 7 days when brain ischemia was induced. 4. The number of survived pyramidal neurons in the CA1 area of the hippocampus were studied. The normal group had 93 neurons/mm, survived the control group(after 3 days) had 21/mm, the control group(after 7 days) had 3/mm and the sample group 33/mm. 5. The immunohistochemical methods revealed that: (1) In the control group, the sensitivity of GABA, NOS, DBH were increased, and those of Synapsin, eEF-$1{\alpha}$ decreased. NOS and DBH had positive reactions in the control group, but negative in the normal group. (2) In thd sample group, the sensitivity of GABA, NOS, DBH were attenuated, and those of NPY, Synapsin, CaMKII, eEF-$1{\alpha}$ increased when compared to the control group. 6. The electro-microscopy revealed that most neurons died by necrosis and some neurons died by apoptosis. Several imflammation cells appeared in the injured area of neurons. The number of neurons in the sample group that died by ischemia decreased. But, the number that died by apoptosis did not significantly change. Conclusions : The data shows that the effect of Chungpesagan-Tang Extracts on reversible forebrain ischemia in Sprague-Dawley rats is significant.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 1999

Both direct and indirect environmental stress to brain were increase the expression of transcription factor c-fos in various populations of neurons. In this study, we examined whether the intraperitoneal injections of lidocaine at doses inducing convulsion within 10 min increased the level of c-fos mRNA and protein in forebrain areas. In situ hybridization using $[^{35}S]UTP-labeled$ antisense c-fos, cRNA increased c-fos mRNA levels though hippocampal formation, piriform cortex, septum, caudate-putamen, neostriatum, and amygdala within 2 hr. In parallel with the mRNA expression, c-FOS protein immunoreactivity was also observed in the same forebrain areas. In contrast to the seizure activity and widespread neuronal degeneration following a kainate treatment, injections of lidocaine did not produce neuronal death within 3 days. The present study indicates that lidocaine induces convulsion and c-fos expression without causing neurotoxicity.