• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2013

Objectives : Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) is an active ingredient in Ligusticum wallichii and has a wide range of neuroprotection effects. This study investigated anti-neuroinflammatory effect of TMP on brain regions in intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated C57BL/6 mice. Methods : TMP was administered intraperitoneally at doses of 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg at 1 h prior to LPS (3 mg/kg) i.c.v. injection. mRNA level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6, was measured in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and hypothalamus tissue using real-time polymerase chain reaction at 24 h after the LPS injection. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) positive cells in the hypothalamus was also observed using immunohistochemistry at 24 h after the LPS injection. Results : At a dose of 30 mg/kg TMP significantly attenuated up-regulation of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA in the cerebral cortex and IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA in the hippocampus. In the hypothalamus, doses of 20 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg TMP significantly attenuated up-regulation of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 mRNA induced by the LPS injection. In addition, TMP (30 mg/kg) significantly reduced the number of COX-2 positive cells in the hypothalamus. Conclusion : These results indicate that TMP has an anti-inflammatory effect on neuroinflammation, especially in the hypothalamus, induced by LPS i.c.v. injection and suggest that TMP-containing Ligusticum wallichii may play a modulatory role on the systemic responses following hypothalamic inflammation.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2002

Dopamine(DA), norepinephrine(NE), and epinephrine(E) belong to a class of neurotransmitters known as catecholamine (CA) which are synthesized and secreted by mammalian brain and adrenal medulla. CA regulate several behavior patterns connected with breeding, and regulate GnRH-gonadotropin hormone axis' vitality between hypothalamus-pituitary gland linking with reproduction freeze. The present study examined effects of sex steroid hormone on the transcriptional activities of CA biosynthesis enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase(TH), dopamine $\beta$ -hydroxylase(DBH), and phenylethaolamine-N-methyl transferase(PNMT). Mature female rats were ovariectomized(OVX) and implanted with 17 $\beta$-estradiol(E$_2$: 500 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) or sesame oil. Forty-eight hours after implantation all the animals were sacrificed. Total RNAs were extracted immediately and were applied to semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The expression level of TH was appeared by hypothalamus > SNc> adrenal medulla orders in OVX＋Oil group, and by SNc > hypothalamus) adrenal medulla orders in OVX+E$_2$ group. Treatment with E$_2$ significantly increased TH expression in SNc and adrenal medulla but in hypothalamus, the reduced TH expression was observed. The expression level of DBH was appeared by adrenal medulla > SNc > hypothalamus orders in OVX＋Oil group and in OVX＋E$_2$ group. Administration of E$_2$ significantly reduced DBH expression in SNc, and increased in adrenal medulla. Two cDNA products, large(PNMT1) and small(PMNTs) species of 110bp difference, were amplified in SNc and hypothalamus, but only PNMTs was observed in adenal medulla. The PNMTs expression level was in the order of adrenal medulla > hypothalamus > SNc in both OVX＋Oil and OVX＋E$_2$ group. The PNMTs expression in SNc and adrenal medulla was significantly increased byE$_2$. The present report demonstrated that estrogen effects on transcriptional activities for CA biosynthethic enzymes were tissue specific in adrenal medulla as well as different region of brain. These results suggest that it might be crucial relationship between the type of estrogen receptor and CA enzyme gene expression.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.384-394
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• 1990

We studied the effect of carbon monoxide(CO)-induced bypoxia on monoamine neurotransmitter and their syntheitc enzyme in rat brain. When the rats were acute or chronic intoxicated at CO 5000 ppm for 30 minutes or 2000 ppm for 1 week each 3 hours, dopamine content increased significantly with decreasing of its turnover in striatum and norepinephrine content was diminished in hypothalamus. 5-hydroxytryptamine content was increased significantly and its turnover was decreased both in striatum and hypothalamus. Tyrosine hydroxylase activity was reduced in striatum. These results suggest that inhibition of TH activity in CO-induced hypoxia is owing to lack of oxygen supply threfore NE content is decreased. We suggest that increasing of dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine are due to reduction of its turnover.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.334-342
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• 1986

The relationship between the maintenance of hypertension and the central noradrenergic nervous system activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was studied. The norepinephrine turnover rates in 5 brain areas; telencephalon, hypothalamus/thalamus, midbrain, pons/medulla, cerebellum as a measure of noradrenergic neuronal activity were measured at the ages of 14 weeks in SHR and normotensive Wistar rats. In 14-week old SHR, blood pressure was significantly higher than in normotensive rat, and central norepinephrine turnover rates were significantly greater in telencephalon, hypothalamus/thalamus, midbrain. There were no differences between norepinephrine turnover rates in pons/medulla, cerebellum of SHR and those of normotensive rats.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.295-300
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• 1991

Ralationship between noradrenergic nervous system activity and luteinizing hormone releasing hormone(LHRH) content mediated by testosterone in hypothalamus was tested. Three groups of adult male animals were prepared; (1) Intact; (2) Castration+Vehicle (Cast+V); (3) Castration+Testosterone (Cast+T). Silastic capsule containing vehicle or testosterone was implanted into neck region of animals two weeks following castration. Norepinephrine content, alpha-adrenergic receptor binding characteristics using H$^{3}$-WB4101, and content of LHRH by LHRH RIA procedure were determined. Testosterone replacement to castrated male rats augmented the content of norepinephrine and LHRH. Testosterone replacement increased the alpha-adrenergic receptor density but did not change alpha-receptor affinity. The data from the present study suggest that increase in LHRH content by testosterone may be positively coupled to the activity of central noradrenergic nervous system.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.50-54
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• 1988

A simple and sensitive method was studied for the simultaneous determination of catecholamine, indoleamine and their related metabolites by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detector. Norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin and their metabolites of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid, 5-indoleacetic acid were resolved from rat brain tissue homogenates by separation on reversed phase $C_{18}$ column with mobile phase consisting of monochloroacetate buffer (pH2.47), 1.42mM sodium octyl sulfonate and 7% acetonitrile. Both catechols and indoles can be eluted in 15min. The sensitivities of this method are sufficient for determination of at least 100 pg of neurochemical amines in brain samples, for example, frontal cortex, olfactory bulb, striatum, septum, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, medulla & pons and cerebellum. The highest level of dopamine was observed in striatum whereas norepinephrine and serotonin were in hypothalamus.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.301-307
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• 1988

Relationship between the maintenance of hypertension and central serotonergic nervous system activity in opontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was studied. Serotonin turnover-rates were measured in 5 brain areas as an index of serotonergic neuronal activity and compared at the ages of 14 weeks in two types of animals; (1) spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) (2) normotensive wistar kyoto rats (WKY). In 14-week old SHR, central serotonin turnover rate was significantly lower in telencephalon, hypothalamus/thalamus and midbrain than normotensive rat, but significantly higher in cerebellum. There were no significant differences between serotonin turnover rate in pons/medulla of SHR and that of normotensive rat. THese data suggest that the abnormally lower turnover rates of serotonin in telencephalon, hypothalamus/thalamus and midbrain may be one of the underlying neuronal factors for manifestation of hypertension in SHR.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.83.1-83.1
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• 2003

The heterotrimeric G protein subunits (G ) are region-specifically expressed in brain such as hypothalamus and pituitary gland in abundant, suggesting that is may be associated with “stress-axis”. This study was designed to examine the effect of stress on the region-specific expression of various G subunits in rat brain. The localization of mRNAs encoding seven of G and striking region-specific patterns of expression were observed in 12 different regions of both non-stressed and stressed rat brain; (1) frontal cortex area, (2) cerebral cortex area, (3) striatum, (4) hippocampus area, (5) thalamus, (6) brain stem, (7) cerebellum area, (8) hypothalamus, (9) septum, (10) amygdala, (11) preoptic area, and (12) pituitary gland. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the KSCN Conference
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• 1999.05a
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• pp.127-127
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• 1999

• Proceedings of the KSCN Conference
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• 1999.05a
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• pp.126-126
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• 1999