• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.379-386
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether berberine (BER) administration could attenuate depression- and anxiety-like behaviors and increase corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression following chronic morphine withdrawal in rats. Male rats were exposed to chronic, intermittent, escalating morphine (10~50 mg/kg) for 10 days. After the last morphine injection, depression- and anxiety-like beahvior associated with morphine discontinuation persisted for at least three days during withdrawal without any change in ambulatory activity. Daily BER administration significantly decreased immobility in the forced swimming test and increased open-arm exploration in the elevated plus maze test. BER administration also significantly blocked the increase in hypothalamic CRF expression and TH expression in the locus coeruleus (LC) and the decrease in hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that BER administration significantly reduced morphine withdrawal-associated behaviors following discontinuation of repeated morphine administration in rats, possibly through modulation of hypothalamic CRF and the central noradrenergic system. BER may be a useful agent for treating or alleviating complex withdrawal symptoms and preventing morphine use relapses.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.141-150
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• 2009

Objectives : The investigation of the antidepressant effects of Citri Reticulatae Viride Pericarpium (CR) Methods : we performed the forced swimming test. Also the expression of Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) was measured with immunohistochemical method at the Ventral Tegmental area (VTA), Locus coeruleus (LC). The Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) level was measured in plasma. Results: 1. The duration of immobility in the forced swimming test was significantly decreased in the CR 100 mg/kg, CR 400 mg/kg groups, comparing with the control group (p < 0.05, p < 0.001). 2. TH expressions in the VTA, LC were significantly reduced in the CR 100mg/kg and CR 400mg/kg treated group, comparing with the control group (p < 0.05, p < 0.001). 3. ACTH expression in plama was significantly reduced in the CR 100 mg/kg treated group, comparing with the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions : According to the above results, it can be considered that Citri Reticulatae Viride Pericarpium has antidepressant effect through the reduction of TH expression at VTA, LC and ACTH level in plasma.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.143-153
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• 2001

Objective : To investigate the relation to the organs, shu points and mu points. The labeled common locations of the spinal cord and brain were observed following injection of pseudorabies virus(PRV) into the the kidney, UB23 and GB25. Methods : After survival times of 96 hours following injection of PRV, The fifteen rats were perfused, and their spinal cord and brain were frozen sectioned($30{\mu}m$). These sections were stained by PRV immunohistochemical staining method, and observed with light microscope. Results : In spinal cord, PRV labeled neurons projecting to the kidney, BL23 and GB25 were founded in cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal segments. Dense labeled areas of cervical segments were overlap in lateral cervical n. and lamina III-V area. Thoracic segments were overlap in lateral spinal n., intermediolateral n. and lamina V-X areas. Lumbar segments were overlap in lamina I-V areas. Sacral segments were overlap in lamina IV, V and X areas. In brain, PRV labeled areas projecting to the kidney, UB23 and GB25 were overlap in the A1 noradrenalin cells/C1 adrenalin cells/caudoventrolateral reticular n./rostroventrolaterai n., raphe obscurus n,, raphe pallidus n., raphe magnus n., gigantocellular reticular n., locus coeruleus, subcoeruleus n., A5 cell group and paraventricular hypothalamic n.. Conclusions : This results suggest that PRV labeled overlap areas of projecting to the kidney may be correlated to shu and mu points related to the kidney. These morphological results provide that organs-shu(transport) and mu(alarm) points interrelationship may be related to the central autonomic pathways.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.133-144
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• 2010

Object : The effects of Rehmanniae Radix(RR) on HPA Axis system and Catecholaminergic system was investigated. Methods : we performed the Forced Swimming Test(FST). Also the expression of Corticotropin -Releasing Factor(CRF), c-Fos and Tyrosine Hydorxylase(TH) was measured by immunohistochemical method at Paraventricular Nucleus(PVN), Locus Coeruleus(LC) and Ventral Tegmental Area(VTA). Results : 1. The duration of immobility in the Forced Swimming Test was significantly decreased in the Rehmanniae Radix 400 mg/kg groups in comparison with the control group(p<0.05). 2. Comparing to the control group, CRF expression was significantly decreased in the Rehmanniae Radix 400 mg/kg treated group in comparison with the control group(p<0.01). 3. c-Fos expression was significantly decreased at PVN in the Rehmanniae Radix 100 mg/kg treated group in comparison with the control group(p<0.01). 4. TH expression was significantly increased at LC in the Rehmanniae Radix 100 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg treated group in comparison with the control group(p<0.001). 5. TH expression was significantly decreased at VTA in the Rehmanniae Radix 100 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg treated group in comparison with the control group(p<0.001). Conclusion : According to the results, it can be considered that Rehmanniae Radix has antidepressant effect by showing the reduction of immobility in FST through the decreased expression of CRF, c-Fos in PVN and TH in VTA.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.131-135
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• 2006

Coeruleo-vestibular pathway which connects locus coeruleus and vestibular nuclei is noradrenergic. This study was designed to elucidate the effects of phenylephrine on the spontaneous activity of acutely isolated medial vestibular nuclear neurons of rat by whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 14 to 16 days, were used. After enzymatic digestion, dissociated medial vestibular neurons were transferred to a recording chamber mounted on an inverted microscope, and spontaneous action potentials were recorded by standard patch-clamp techniques. In current-clamp mode, the frequency of spontaneous action potential of medial vestibular nuclear neurons was decreased by phenylephrine (n=15). Phenylephrine increased the amplitude of afterhyperpolarization without changes in the resting membrane potential and spike width. In voltage-clamp mode, the whole potassium currents of the medial vestibular nuclear neurons were increased by phenylephrine (n=12). These experimental results suggest that ${\alpha}-receptor$ mediates the inhibitory effects on the neuronal activity of the medial vestibular nuclear neuron.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.191-200
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• 2014

We investigated the anxiolytic-like activity of ${\alpha}$-asarone (AAS) from Acorus gramineus in an experimental rat model of anxiety induced by repeated administration of the exogenous stress hormone corticosterone (CORT). The putative anxiolytic effect of AAS was studied in behavioral tests of anxiety, such as the elevated plus maze (EPM) test and the hole-board test (HBT) in rats. For 21 consecutive days, male rats received 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg AAS (i.p.) 30 min prior to a daily injection of CORT. Dysregulation of the HPA axis in response to the repeated CORT injections was confirmed by measuring serum levels of CORT and the expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in the hypothalamus. Daily AAS (200 mg/kg) administration increased open-arm exploration significantly in the EPM test, and it increased the duration of head dipping activity in the HBT. It also blocked the increase in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in the locus coeruleus (LC) and decreased mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor, TrkB, in the hippocampus. These results indicated that the administration of AAS prior to high-dose exogenous CORT significantly improved anxiety-like behaviors, which are associated with modification of the central noradrenergic system and with BDNF function in rats. The current finding may improve understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms responsible for changes in emotions induced by repeated administration of high doses of CORT or by elevated levels of hormones associated with chronic stress. Thus, AAS did exhibit an anxiolytic-like effects in animal models of anxiety.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.31-40
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• 2001

This experimental studies was to investigate location of labeled neurons in CNS following injection of pseudorabies virus(PRV), Bartha strain, into the uterus and Sanyinjiao(Sp6) of rats. After survival times of 4-5 days following the injection of PRV, the rats were perfused, and their brain and spinal cord were frozen sectioned($30\mu\textrm{m}$). These sections were stained by PRV immunohistochemical staining methods, and observed with light microscope. The results were as follows: 1. In the spinal cord, overlap areas of PRV labeled neurons projecting to uterus and Sp6 were observed in lamina VII, IX and X areas of cervical segments. In thoracic segments, overlap areas were observed in lamina IV, VII, X and intermediolateral n.. In lumbar segments, overlap area of PRV labeled neurons were observed in lamina I, V-VII, IX, X and intermediolateral n.. In sacral segments, overlap areas of PRY labeled neurons were observed in lamina N, V, VII, X and sacral parasympathetic n.. 2. In the brain, overlap areas of PR V labeled neurons projecting to the uterus and Sp6 were observed in lateral paragigantocellular n., rostroventrolateral reticular n., raphe obscurus n., raphe pallidus n., raphe magnus n., locus coeruleus n., Barrington's n., A5 cell group, central gray n., paraventricular hypothalamic n. and arcuate n. This results suggest that overlap areas of PRV labeled neurons of the spinal cord projecting to the uterus and Sp6 might be the first-order neurons related to the viscera-somatic sensory and sympathetic preganglionic neurons. PRV labeled neurons of the brain may be the second and third-order neurons response to the movement of smooth muscle of uterus. These PRV labeled neurons may be central autonomic center related to the integration and modulation of reflex control linked to the sensory and motor system monitoring the internal environment. These overlap areas of spinal cord and brainmay be related to autonomic centers related to regulation of uterus.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.69-76
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• 2015

Objectives : The effect of mixture extracted from Bupleuri Radix and Physalidis Herba(BR+RH) on the LPS-induced Depression in rats was investigated. Methods : Rats were administered intragastrically BR+PH after injectio of LPS to induce deprssion. Immobility was examined using Tail Suspension Test(TST), Forced Swimming Test(FST). The level of plasma corticosterone was measured by an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay(ELISA) method. The expressions of c-Fos, Corticotropin Releasing Factor(CRF), NADPH-d in the Paraventricular nucleus(PVN) and TH in the Locus coeruleus(LC) were measured by immunohistochemical method. Results : In the effect of BR + PH on TST, immobility was significantly decreased comparing with the LPS group. In FST, immobility was shown decrease tendency in the BR+PH group. The expression of c-Fos in the PVN was significantly decreased at BR + PH400 group, comparing with the LPS group. The expression of CRF in PVN was shown dto have the decrease tendency in the BR+PH group, comparing with the LPS group. The expression of NADPH-d in PVN was not significantly decreased at BR+PH groups, comparing with the LPS group. The expression of TH in the LC was shown to have the decrease tendency at BR + RH groups, but not significantly, comparing with the LPS group. Conclusions : Anti-depressant effect of mixture after extracted from Bupleuri Radix and Physalidis Herba was through the anti-inflammatory effect via inhibition of HPA axis. NO and catecholamine system is not involved.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제1권3호
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• pp.241-249
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• 1997

The aim of the present study is to examine the brainstem sites where the electrical stimulation produces a suppression of dorsal horn neuron responses of neuropathic rats. An experimental neuropathy was induced by a unilateral ligation of L5-L6 spinal nerves of rats. Ten to 15 days after surgery, the spinal cord was exposed and single-unit recording was made on wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons in the dorsal horn. Neuronal responses to mechanical stimuli applied to somatic receptive fields were examined to see if they were modulated by electrical stimulation of various brainstem sites. Electrical stimulation of periaqueductal gray (PAG), n. raphe magnus (RMg) or n. reticularis gigantocellularis (Gi) significantly suppressed responses of WDR neurons -to both noxious and non-noxious stimuli. Electrical stimulation of other brainstem areas, such as locus coeruleus. (LC) and n. reticularis paragigantocellularis lateralis (LPGi), produced little or no suppression. Microinjection of morphine into PAG, RMg, or Gi also produced a suppression as similar pattern to the case of electrical stimulation, whereas morphine injection into LC or LPGi exerted no effects. The results suggest that PAG, NRM and Gi are the principle brainstem nuclei involved in the descending inhibitory systems responsible for the control of neuropathic pain. These systems are likely activated by endogenous opioids and exert their inhibitory effect by acting on WDR neurons in the spinal cord.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.313-322
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• 2013

Previous studies have demonstrated that repeated administration of the exogenous stress hormone corticosterone (CORT) induces dysregulation in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and results in depression and anxiety. The current study sought to verify the impact of catechin (CTN) administration on chronic CORT-induced behavioral alterations using the forced swimming test (FST) and the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Additionally, the effects of CTN on central noradrenergic systems were examined by observing changes in neuronal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity in rat brains. Male rats received 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg CTN (i.p.) 1 h prior to a daily injection of CORT for 21 consecutive days. The activation of the HPA axis in response to the repeated CORT injections was confirmed by measuring serum levels of CORT and the expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in the hypothalamus. Daily CTN administration significantly decreased immobility in the FST, increased open-arm exploration in the EPM test, and significantly blocked increases of TH expression in the locus coeruleus (LC). It also significantly enhanced the total number of line crossing in the open-field test (OFT), while individual differences in locomotor activities between experimental groups were not observed in the OFT. Taken together, these findings indicate that the administration of CTN prior to high-dose exogenous CORT significantly improves helpless behaviors, possibly by modulating the central noradrenergic system in rats. Therefore, CTN may be a useful agent for the treatment or alleviation of the complex symptoms associated with depression and anxiety disorders.