• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2017

Progressive memory impairment such as that associated with depression, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) can interfere with daily life. In particular, AD, which is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, prominently features a memory and learning impairment that is related to changes in acetylcholine and abnormal ${\beta}$-amyloid ($A{\beta}$) deposition in the brain. In the present study, we investigated the effects of dehydroevodiamine HCl (DHED) on cognitive improvement and the related mechanism in memory-impaired rat models, namely, a scopolamine-induced amnesia model and a $A{\beta}_{1-42}$-infused model. The cognitive effects of DHED were measured using a water maze test and a passive avoidance test in the memory-impaired rat models. The results demonstrate that DHED (10 mg/kg, p.o.) and Donepezil (1 mg/kg, p.o.) ameliorated the spatial memory impairment in the scopolamine-induced amnestic rats. Moreover, DHED significantly improved learning and memory in the $A{\beta}_{1-42}$-infused rat model. Furthermore, the mechanism of these behavioral effects of DHED was investigated using a cell viability assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurement, and intracellular calcium measurement in primary cortical neurons. DHED reduced neurotoxicity and the production of $A{\beta}$-induced ROS in primary cortical neurons. In addition, similar to the effect of MK801, DHED decreased intracellular calcium levels in primary cortical neurons. Our results suggest that DHED has strong protective effects against cognitive impairments through its antioxidant activity and inhibition of neurotoxicity and intracellular calcium. Thus, DHED may be an important therapeutic agent for memory-impaired symptoms.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2016

Objectives : The present study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of the water extracts of Portulacae Herba (PH).Methods : We measured the effects of the water extracts of Portulacae Herba (PH) on the cell viability of mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, the intracellular calcium production, and the proinflammatory mediators including nitric oxide (NO), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, which are induced by the lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and obtained the results shown below.Results : After the cultivation of the PH extracts along with the mouse macrophages, the cell survival rate did not decrease with the MTT assay. However, the PH extracts did significantly suppress the production of NO by the mouse macrophages induced by LPS at the concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 ㎍/mL. The PH extract also significantly suppressed the VEGF, PDGF-BB and intracellular calcium production of the mouse macrophages by LPS at concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 ㎍/mL. As shown in the results above, the PH extracts do not have a toxic effect on the macrophages, but still have an anti-inflammatory effect that significantly reduces the intracellular calcium production as well as the production of NO, VEGF and PDGF-BB at concentrations above 25 ㎍/mL.Conclusions : In conclusion, the inhibitory anti-inflammatory effects of the PH extract can be used for a new treatment of anti-inflammatory diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 1992

We used the whole cell patch clamp technique to examine the ionic basis for the tail current after depolarizing pulse in single atrial myocytes of the rabbit. We recorded the tail currents during various repolarizations after short depolarizing pulse from a holding potential of -70 mV. The potassium currents were blocked by external 4-aminopyridine and replacement of internal potassium with cesium. The current was reversed to the outward direction above +10 mV. High concentrations of intracellular calcium buffer inhibited the activation of the current. Diltiazem and ryanodine blocked it too. These data suggest that the current is activated by intracellular calcium released from sarcoplasmic reticulumn. When the internal chloride concentration was increased, the inward tail current was increased. The current was partially blocked by the anion transport blocker niflumic acid. The current voltage curve of the niflumic acid sensitive current component shows outward rectification and is well fitted to the current voltage curve of the theoretically predicted chloride current calculated from the constant field equation. The currents recorded in rabbit atrial myocytes, with the method showing isolated outward Na Ca exchange current in ventricular cells of the guinea pig, suggested that chloride conductance could be activated with the activation of Na/ca exchange current. From the above results it is concluded that a chloride sensitive component which is activated by intracellular calcium contributes to tail currents in rabbit atrial cells.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.809-817
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• 1999

The effect of 2-(4-cyanophenyl)amino-1,4-naphthalenedione-3-pyridinium perchlorate (PQ5) on pla-telet aggregation and its action mechanisms were investigated with rat platelet. PQ5 inhibited the platelet aggregation induced by collagen ($6{\;}{\mu\textrm{g}}/ml$), thrombin (0.4 U/ml) and A23187 ($3{\mu}M$) in concentration-dependent manner with $IC_{50}$ values of 5.50, 25.89 and $37.12{\;}{\mu}M$, respectively. PQ5 also significantly reduced the thromboxane $A_2$ (TXA2) formation in a concentration dependent manner. The collagen-induced arachidonic acid (AA) release in [-3H]-AA incorporated platelet, an indication of the phospholipase $A_2$ activity, was decreased by PQ5 pretreatment PQ5 significantly inhibited the activity of thormboxane synthase only at high concentration ($100{\mu}M$), but did not affect the cyclooxygenase activity at all. Collagen-induced ATP release was significantly reduced by PQ5. Calcium-induced platelet aggregation experiment suggests that the elevation of intracellular free $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) by collagen stimulation is decreased by the pretreatment of PQ5, which is due to the inhibition of calcium release from intracellular store and influx from outside of the cell. PQ5 did not showed the effect of anticoagulation as prothrombin time (PT) or activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Form these results, it is suggested that PQ5 exerts its antiplatelet activity through the inhibition of the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization and the decrease of the $TXA_2$ synthesis.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.115-125
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• 1992

An attempt was made to investigate the effect of TMB-8[3, 4, 5-trimethoxybenzoate-8 (N, N-diethylamino) octyl ester], which is known to be an inhibitor of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release, on catecholamines (CA) secretion evoked by Ach, excess $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343 and caffeine from the isolated perfused rat adrenal glands and to cleaify its mechanism of action. The pretreatment with a low dose of TMB-8 $(10 \mu{M)}$ for 20 min led to marked inhibition in CA secretion evoked by Ach (5.32 mM), excess K^+$ (56 mM), DMPP $(100\;\mu{M)}$, McN-A-343 $(100 \mu{M)}$ and BAY-K 8644 $(10^{-5}M)$. Caffeine-induced CA secretion was simimlar to that of control only during the first periods (0-3 min) but thereafter maked inhibition in CA secretion evoked by caffeine was observed during the rest periods up to 30 min. The increased moderate concentration of TMB-8 $(30 \;\mu{M)}$ caused the result similar to that of $10 \;\mu{M}$ TMB-8. However, in adrenal glands preloaded with a high dose of TMB-8 $(100\;\mu{M)}$, CA releases evoked by Ach, excess $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343 and caffeine were almost completely blocked by the drug. These experimental data demonstrate that TMB-8 may inhibit cholinergic receptor-mediated and also depolarization-dependent Ca secretion, suggenesting that these TMB-8 effects seem to be mediated through inhibiting influx of extracellular calcium into the rat adrenal medullary chromaffin cells as well as reducing the release of calcium from intracellular sources.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.302-306
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• 1995

E. coli was tested for their ability to uptake cadmium intracellularly, and the effect of zinc and calcium on cadmium toxicity to E. coli was observed. In addition, the effect of zinc and calcium on the uptake of cadimium was also studied. This study showed that living E. coli cells took up more cadmium than the dead cells. E. coli in the log phase uptake cadimiumm more actively than E. coli in the stationary phase. These results suggested that there may be metabolic reactions or compounds which encourage the uptake of cadimium. This study also showed that cadimium was sequestered by cell components of which molecular weight is about 30,000. Adding of zinc and calcium chloride reduced cadmium toxicity in E. coli and encouraged intracellular uptake by E coli. However adding of heavy metal solutions helped the microorganisms to adsorb more cadmium. Extremely high or low concentrations of zinc, however, did not affect cell viability.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.34-44
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• 1999

Ischemic damage in the selectively vulnerable populations of neurons is thought to be caused by an abnormal accumulation of intracellular calcium. It has been reported that the neurons, expressing specific calcium binding proteins, might effectively control intracellular calcium concentrations because of a high capacity to buffer intracellular calcium in the brain ischemic condition. It is uncertain that parvalbumin, one of the calcium binding proteins, can protect the neurons from the cerebral ischemic damage. Recently, treatment of kappa opioid agonists increased survival rate, improved neurological function, and decreased tissue damage under the cerebral ischemic condition. Many evidences indicate that these therapeutic effects might result from regulation of calcium concentration. This study was designed to analyze the changes of number in parvalbumin-positive neurons after cerebral ischemic damage according to timepoints after cerebral ischemic induction. In addition, we evaluated the effect of GR89696 (kappa opioid agonist) or naltrexone(non selective opioid antagonist) on the changes of number in parvalbumin expressing neurons under ischemic condition. Cerebral ischemia was induced by occluding the common carotid artery of experimental animals. The hippocampal areas were morphometrically analyzed at different time point after ischemic induction(1, 3, 5 days) by using immuno-histochemical technique and imaging analysis system. The number of parvalbumin-positive neurons in hippocampus was significantly reduced at 1 day after ischemia(p<0.05). Furthermore, the number of parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons was dramatically reduced at 3 and 5 days after cerebral ischemic induction(p<0.05) as compared to 1 day group after ischemia, as well as sham control group. Significant reduction of parvalbumin positive neurons in CA1 region of hippocampus was observed at 1 day after cerebral ischemic induction. However, significant loss of MAP2 immunoreactivity was observed at 3 day after cerebral ischemia. The loss of parvalbumin-positive neurons and MAP2 immunoreactivity in CA1 region was prevented by pre-administration of GR89696 compared to that of saline-treated ischemic group. Furthermore, protective effect of GR89696 partially reversed by pre-treatment of naltrexone. These data indicate that parvalbumin-positive neurons more sensitively responded to cerebral ischemic damage than MAP2 protein. Moreover, this loss of parvalbumin-positive neurons was effectively prevented by the pretreatment of kappa opioid agonist. It was also suggested that the changes of number in parvalbumin-positive neurons could be used as the specific marker to analyze the degree of ischemic neuronal damage.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2008

Cell death of trophoblast, particularly by abnormal release of physiological nitric oxide (NO) has been known to be a causative factor of pre-eclampsia. In the present study, effects of intracellular calcium increase enhancing the activity of NO synthases (neuronal NO synthase, nNOS in this trophoblast cells) on the cell death were examined in a human placental full-term cell line (HT-1). Furthermore, we analyzed the possible mechanisms underlying the augmentation of $Ca^{++}$-mediated NOS activity mediated by protein kinases like PKC, PKA, or CaM-KII. In experiments for cell toxicity, a calcium ionophore (ionomycin $10{\mu}M$) enhanced cell death confirmed by MTT assay, and increased significantly nNOS activity determined with a hemoglobin oxidation assay. This cell death was partially protected by pre-treatment of 7-nitroindazole (7-NI, $10{\mu}M$ and $100{\mu}M$), a nNOS-specific inhibitor. Additionally, $Ca^{++}$-ionophore -induced increase of nNOS activity also was partially normalized by pre-treatment of specific inhibitors of protein kinases, PKC, PKA or CaM-KII. Therefore, we suggest that an increase of calcium influx, leading to the activation of nNOS activity, which in turn may result in the death of trophoblast cells by involvement of signaling mechanisms of protein kinases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.177-183
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• 2016

We fortuitously observed a human neutrophil intracellular free-calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) increasing activity in the commercially available phosphodiesterase I (PDE I), which is actually dried crude venom of Crotalus atrox. As this activity was not observed with another commercially available pure PDE I, we tried to find out the causative molecule(s) present in 'crude' PDE, and identified Lys49-phospholipase A2 (Lys49-PLA2 or K49-PLA2), a catalytically inactive protein which belongs to the phospholipase A2 family, by activity-driven three HPLC (reverse phase, size exclusion, reverse phase) steps followed by SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS. K49-PLA2 induced $Ca^{2+}$ influx in human neutrophils without any cytotoxic effect. Two calcium channel inhibitors, 2-aminoetoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) ($30{\mu}M$) and SKF-96365 ($20{\mu}M$) significantly inhibited K49-PLA2-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase. These results suggest that K49-PLA2 modulates $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in human neutrophils via 2-APB- and SKF-96365-sensitive calcium channels without causing membrane disruption.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 1990

The effect of calcium-free reperfusion for 5, 10, and 15 minutes, respectively, followed by continuous reperfusion with normal Tyrode solution containing 1.0mM calcium chloride, after global ischemia in the isolated perfused guinea pig heart by Langendorff techniques was examined with transmission electron microscope. Compared to the nomal Tyrode solution-perfused control hearts, the 5 minute calcium-free-reperfused hearts showed loss or thickening of Z lines, focal sarcolemmal disruption, mitochondrial swelling, clumping of chroma-tin, intracellular fluid accumulation, and some separation of cell junctions, especially the fasciae adherentes. These changes became more severe in the hearts of 10 minute calcium-free reperfusion. Subsarcolemmal larger bleb and near complete separation of cell junctions were noticed. In the 15 minute calcium-free-reperfused hearts, irreversible ultrastructural changes including contraction bands, biazrre mitochondria, and sarcolemmal destruction were widely distributed. The severity of myocardial changes were in accordance with the duration of calcium-free reperfusion. These changes indicate that calcium-free reperfusion regardless of its duration could not salvage the post-ischemic myocardium probably due to development of calcium paradox.