• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.327-335
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to determine whether losartan, an angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 ($AT_1$) receptor could influence the CA release from the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal medulla. Losartan (5${\sim}$50 ${\mu}$M) perfused into an adrenal vein for 90 min produced dose- and time-dependent inhibition of the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh (5.32 mM), high $K^+$ (56 mM, a direct membrane depolarizer), DMPP (100 ${\mu}$M) and McN-A-343 (100 ${\mu}$M). Losartan failed to affect basal CA output. Furthermore, in adrenal glands loaded with losartan (15 ${\mu}$M) for 90 min, the CA secretory responses evoked by Bay-K-8644 (10 ${\mu}$M, an activator of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels), cyclopiazonic acid (10 ${\mu}$M, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$ -ATPase), veratridine (100 ${\mu}$M, an activator of $Na^+$ channels), and Ang II (100 nM) were markedly inhibited. However, at high concentrations (150${\sim}$300 ${\mu}$M), losartan rather enhanced the CA secretion evoked by ACh. Collectively, these experimental results suggest that losartan at low concentrations inhibits the CA secretion evoked by cholinergic stimulation (both nicotininc and muscarinic receptors) as well as by membrane depolarization from the rat adrenal medulla, but at high concentration it rather inhibits ACh-evoked CA secretion. It seems that losartan has a dual action, acting as both agonist and antagonist to nicotinic receptors of the rat adrenal medulla, which might be dependent on the concentration. It is also thought that this inhibitory effect of losartan may be mediated by blocking the influx of both $Na^+$ and $Ca^{2+}$ into the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells as well as by inhibiting the $Ca^{2+}$ release from the cytoplasmic calcium store, which is thought to be relevant to the $AT_1$ receptor blockade, in addition to its enhancement of the CA release.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.145-150
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• 2010

Adenosine (Ado) is an important mediator of the endogenous defense against ischemia-induced injury in the heart. The action of Ado is mediated by activation of G protein-gated inwardly rectifying $K^+$ (GIRK) channels. In turn, GIRK channels are inhibited by reducing phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate ($PIP_2$) through Gq protein-coupled receptors (GqPCRs). We previously found that GIRK channels activated by acetylcholine, a muscarinic M2 acetylcholine receptor agonist, are inhibited by GqPCRs in a receptor-specific manner. However, it is not known whether GIRK channels activated by Ado signaling are also regulated by GqPCRs. Presently, this was investigated in mouse atrial myocytes using the patch clamp technique. GIRK channels were activated by $100\;{\mu}M$ Ado. When Ado was repetitively applied at intervals of 5~6 min, the amplitude of second Ado-activated GIRK currents ($I_{K(Ado)}$) was $88.3{\pm}3.7%$ of the first $I_{K(Ado)}$ in the control. Pretreatment of atrial myocytes with phenylephrine, endothelin-1, or bradykinin prior to a second application of Ado reduced the amplitude of the second $I_{K(Ado)}$ to $25.5{\pm}11.6%$, $30.5{\pm}5.6%$, and $96.0{\pm}2.7%$, respectively. The potency of $I_{K(Ado)}$ inhibition by GqPCRs was different with that observed in acetylcholine-activated GIRK currents ($I_{K(ACh)}$) (endothelin-1>phenylephrine>bradykinin). $I_{K(Ado)}$ was almost completely inhibited by $500\;{\mu}M$ of the $PIP_2$ scavenger neomycin, suggesting low $PIP_2$ affinity of $I_{K(Ado)}$. Taken together, these results suggest that the crosstalk between GqPCRs and the Ado-induced signaling pathway is receptor-specific. The differential change in $PIP_2$ affinity of GIRK channels activated by Ado and ACh may underlie, at least in part, their differential responses to GqPCR agonists.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.577-584
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• 2018

Bladder dysfunction is a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, there have been a few studies evaluating bladder smooth muscle contraction in DM in the presence of pharmacological inhibitors. In the present study, we compared the contractility of bladder smooth muscle from normal rats and DM rats. Furthermore, we utilized pharmacological inhibitors to delineate the mechanisms underlying bladder muscle differences between normal and DM rats. DM was established in 14 days after using a single injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Bladder smooth muscle contraction was induced electrically using electrical field stimulation consisting of pulse trains at an amplitude of 40 V and pulse duration of 1 ms at frequencies of 2-10 Hz. In this study, the pharmacological inhibitors atropine (muscarinic receptor antagonist), U73122 (phospholipase C inhibitor), DPCPX (adenosine $A_1$ receptor antagonist), udenafil (PDE5 inhibitor), prazosin (${\alpha}_1$-receptor antagonist), verapamil (calcium channel blocker), and chelerythrine (protein kinase C inhibitor) were used to pretreat bladder smooth muscles. It was found that the contractility of bladder smooth muscles from DM rats was lower than that of normal rats. In addition, there were significant differences in percent change of contractility between normal and DM rats following pretreatment with prazosin, udenafil, verapamil, and U73122. In conclusion, we suggest that the decreased bladder muscle contractility in DM rats was a result of perturbations in $PLC/IP_3$-mediated intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release and PDE5 activity.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.357-366
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• 2004

We studied the effect of propofol (PPF) on the endothelium-dependent vascular responses in isolated rat thoracic aorta. In aortic rings with endothelium, PPF inhibited the phenylephrine (PE)-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. In PE-precontracted preparations, PPF attenuated the endothelium-dependent relaxation by acetylcholine but not by A23187. And PPF did not attenuate the endothelium-independent relaxation by sodium nitroprusside (SNP). The relaxation induced by acetylcholine in PE-precontracted aortic rings was significantly augmented by zaprinast, a cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and this augmentation was inhibited by PPF. Although SNP-induced relaxation was significantly augmented by zaprinast, this augmentation was not inhibited by PPF. In preparations preconstricted with PE, the PPF-induced relaxation was inhibited by atropine. In addition, PPF attenuated the vasorelaxation by phosphodiesterase inhibitors (IBMX, Ro20-1724 or zaprinast except milrinone). In vivo, the infusion of acetylcholine and SNP showed decreased arterial blood pressure in rats. The pre-injection of PPF inhibited the acetylcholine-induced blood pressure lowering, but not the SNP-induced blood pressure lowering. These results suggest that PPF can attenuate in part the acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation and blood pressure lowering through the inhibition of the acetylcholine receptor-mediated endothelium-derived relaxing factor by acting on endothelium. It is considered that the inhibitory effect of PPF on the vasorelaxation is due to the decreased level of cGMP which can be attributed to the inhibition of the muscarinic receptor and/or receptor-G-protein interaction.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.197-206
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• 2007

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of 6-chloro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine(SKF81297), a selective agonist of dopaminergic $D_1$ receptor, on the secretion of catecholamines(CA) evoked by cholinergic stimulation and membrane-depolarization in the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland, and also to elucidate the mechanism involved. SKF81297($10{\sim}100{\mu}M$) perfused into an adrenal vein for 60 min produced dose- and time-dependent inhibition of CA secretory responses evoked by ACh(5.32 mM), high $K^+$(56 mM), DMPP($100{\mu}M$) and McN-A-343($100{\mu}M$). Also, in adrenal glands loaded with SKF81297($30{\mu}M$), the CA secretory responses evoked by Bay-K-8644($10{\mu}M$), an activator of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels and cyclopiazonic acid($10{\mu}M$), an inhibitor of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase were also inhibited. However, in the presence of the dopamine $D_1$ receptor antagonist, (R)-(+)-8-chloro-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-benzazepine-7-ol(SCH23390, $3{\mu}M$), which is a selective antagonist of dopaminergic $D_1$ receptor, the inhibitory responses of SKF81297($30{\mu}M$) on the CA secretion evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644, and cyclopiazonic acid were significantly reduced. Collectively, these experimental results suggest that SKF81297 inhibits the CA secretion from the rat adrenal medulla evoked by cholinergic stimulation(both nicotininc and muscarinic receptors) and membrane depolarization. This inhibitory of SKF81297 seems to be mediated by stimulation of dopaminergic $D_1$ receptors located on the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells, which are relevant to extra- and intracellular calcium mobilization. Therefore, it is thought that the presence of the dopaminergic $D_1$ receptors may be involved in regulation of CA release in the rat adrenal medulla.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.401-415
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• 2002

Lim and his coworkers (1987; 1988; 1989) have also found that all of total Ginseng saponin, panaxadiol-and panaxatriol-type saponins cause the increased secretion of catecholamines (CA) in a $Ca^{2+}$ -dependent fashion from the isolated perfused rabbit adrenal glands through the activation of cholinergic (both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors. These CA secretory effects are partly due to the direct action on the rabbit adrenomedullary chromaffin cells. However, the present study was designed to examine the effect of total ginseng saponin on CA secretion evoked by activation of cholinergic nicotinic receptors in the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal gland. Total ginseng saponin given (100 ${\mu}g$/20 min) into an adrenal vein did fail to produce alteration of spontaneous CA release from the rat adrenal medulla. Acetylcholine(5.32 mM)- and DMPP(100 ${\mu}M$, a selective nicotinic receptor agonist)-evoked CA secretory responses were reduced markedly after the pretreatment with the total ginseng saponin at a rate of 100 ${\mu}g$/6.2 ml/20 min, respectively. Pretreatment with total ginseng saponin also depressed greatly high potassium (56 mM, a membrane depolarizing agent)- and Bay-K-8644 (10 ${\mu}M$, a calcium channel activator)-induced CA secretions. Taken together, it is thought that total ginseng saponin can inhibit the releasing effect of CA evoked by nicotinic receptor stimulation from the isolated perfused rat adrenal medulla, which seems to be associated to the direct inhibition of influx through L-type calcium channel into the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells. It seems that there is species differences in the adrenomedullary catecholamine secretion between the rabbit and rat.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.101-106
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• 2019

Most diabetic patients experience diabetic mellitus (DM) urinary bladder dysfunction. A number of studies evaluate bladder smooth muscle contraction in DM. In this study, we evaluated the change of bladder smooth muscle contraction between normal rats and DM rats. Furthermore, we used pharmacological inhibitors to determine the differences in the signaling pathways between normal and DM rats. Rats in the DM group received an intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg streptozotocin and measured blood glucose level after 14 days to confirm DM. Bladder smooth muscle contraction was induced using acetylcholine (ACh, $10^{-4}M$). The materials such as, atropine (a muscarinic receptor antagonist), U73122 (a phospholipase C inhibitor), DPCPX (an adenosine $A_1$ receptor antagonist), udenafil (a PDE5 inhibitor), prazosin (an ${\alpha}_1$-receptor antagonist), papaverine (a smooth muscle relaxant), verapamil (a calcium channel blocker), and chelerythrine (a protein kinase C inhibitor) were pre-treated in bladder smooth muscle. We found that the DM rats had lower bladder smooth muscle contractility than normal rats. When prazosin, udenafil, verapamil, and U73122 were pre-treated, there were significant differences between normal and DM rats. Taken together, it was concluded that the change of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release mediated by PLC/IP3 and PDE5 activity were responsible for decreased bladder smooth muscle contractility in DM rats.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.209-218
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• 1996

Acetylcholine (ACh) activates the inwardly rectifying muscarinic $K^{+}$ channel in rat atrial cells via pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive G-protein ($G_k$) coupled with the muscarinic receptor (mAChR). Although this $K^{+}\;(K_{ACh})$ channel function has reported to be modulated by the phosphorylation process, a kinase and phosphatase involved in these processes are still unclear. Since either PKA or PKC was not effective on this ATP-modulation, the present study examined the possible involvement of the protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) and protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) in the function of the $K_{ACh}$ Channel. In the inside-out (I/O) patch preparation excised from the adult rat atrial cell, when activated by 10 ${\mu}M$ ACh in the pipette and 100 ${\mu}M$ GTP in the bath, the mean open time (${\tau}_{o}$) and the channel activity ($K_{ACh}$) was 1.13 ms (n=5) and 0.19 (n=6), respectively. Following the application of 1 mM ATP into the bath, ${\tau}_{o}$ increased by 34% (1.54 ms, n=5) and $K_{ACh}$ by 66% (0.28, n=6). Channel function elevated by ATP was lasted after washout of ATP. However, this ATP-induced increase in the $K_{ACh}$ channel function did not occur in pretreated cells with genistein ($50{\sim}100 {\mu}M$), a selective PTK inhibitor, but occurred in pretreated cells with equimolar daidzein, a negative control of the genistein. On the contrary, PTP which acts on tyrosine residue conversely reversed both ATP-induced increased ${\tau}_{o}$ by 32% (1.20 ms, n=3) and $K_{ACh}$ by 41% (0.15, n=3), respectively. Taken together, these results suggest that $K_{ACh}$ channel may, at least partly, be regulated by the tyrosyl phosphorylation, although it is unclear where this process exerts on the muscarinic signal transduction pathway comprising the mAChR-$G_{k}$-the $K_{ACh}$ channel.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.147-160
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• 2008

The present study was designed to examine effects of polyphenolic compounds isolated from red wine (PCRW) on the release of catecholamines (CA) from the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal medulla, and to clarify its mechanism of action. PCRW (20${\sim}$180 ${\mu}$g/mL), given into an adrenal vein for 90 min, caused inhibition of the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh (5.32 mM), high $K^+$ (a direct membrane-depolarizer, 56 mM), DMPP (a selective neuronal nicotinic $N_N$ receptor agonist, 100 ${\mu}$M) and McN-A-343 (a selective muscarinic $M_1$ receptor agonist, 100 ${\mu}$M) in dose- and time-dependent fashion. PCRW itself did not affect basal CA secretion (data not shown). Following the perfusion of PCRW (60 ${\mu}$g/mL), the secretory responses of CA evoked by Bay-K-8644 (a L-type dihydropyridine $Ca^{2+}$ channel activator, 10 ${\mu}$M), cyclopiazonic acid (a cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor, 10 ${\mu}$M) and veratridine (an activator of voltage-dependent $Na^+$ channels, 10 ${\mu}$M) were also markedly blocked, respectively. Interestingly, in the simultaneous presence of PCRW (60 ${\mu}$g/mL) and L-NAME (a selective inhibitor of NO synthase, 30 ${\mu}$M), the inhibitory responses of PCRW on the CA secretion evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644 and cyclpiazonic acid were recovered to considerable level of the corresponding control release compared with those effects of PCRW-treatment alone. Practically, the amount of NO released from adrenal medulla after loading of PCRW (180 ${\mu}$g/mL) was significantly increased in comparison to the corresponding basal released level. Collectively, these results obtained here demonstrate that PCRW inhibits the CA secretory responses evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both muscarinic and nicotinic) receptors as well as by direct membrane-depolarization from the isolated perfused adrenal gland of the normotensive rats. It seems that this inhibitory effect of PCRW is mediated by blocking the influx of both ions through $Na^+$ and $Ca^+{2$} channels into the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells as well as by inhibiting the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from the cytoplasmic calcium store, which are due at least partly to the increased NO production through the activation of nitric oxide synthase. Based on these data, it is also thought that PCRW may be beneficial to prevent or alleviate the cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension and angina pectoris.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.231-238
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• 2003

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of bradykinin on secretion of catecholamines (CA) evoked by stimulation of cholinergic receptors and membrane depolarization from the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal glands, and to elucidate its mechanism of action. Bradykinin $(3{\times}10^{-8}M)$ alone produced a weak secretory response of the CA. however, the perfusion with bradykinin $(3{\times}10^{-8}M)$ into an adrenal vein of the rat adrenal gland for 90 min enhanced markedly the secretory responses of CA evoked by ACh $(5.32{\times}10^{-3}M)$, excess $K^+$ ($5.6{\times}10^{-2}M$, a membrane depolarizer), DMPP ($10^{-4}$ M, a selective neuronal nicotinic agonist) and McN-A-343 ($10^{-4}$ M, a selective M1-muscarinic agonist). Moreover, bradykinin ($3{\times}10^{-8}$ M) in to an adrenal vein for 90 min also augmented the CA release evoked by BAY-K-8644, an activator of the dihydropyridine L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels. However, in the presence of $(N-Methyl-D-Phe^7)$-bradykinin trifluoroacetate salt $(3{\times}10^{-8}M)$, an antagonist of $BK_2$-bradykinin receptor, bradykinin no longer enhanced the CA secretion evoked by Ach and high potassium whereas the pretreatment with Lys-$(des-Arg^9,\;Leu^9)$-bradykinin trifluoroacetate salt $(3{\times}10^{-8}M)$, an antagonist of $BK_1$-bradykinin receptor did fail to affect them. Furthermore, the perfusion with bradykinin $(3{\times}10^{-6}M)$ into an adrenal vein of the rabbit adrenal gland for 90 min enhanced markedly the secretory responses of CA evoked by excess $K^+$ $(5.6{\times}10^{-2}M)$. Collectively, these experimental results suggest that bradykinin enhances the CA secretion from the rat adrenal medulla evoked by cholinergic stimulation (both nicotininc and muscarinic receptors) and membrane depolarization through the activation of $B_2$-bradykinin receptors, not through $B_1$-bradykinin receptors. This facilitatory effect of bradykinin seems to be associated to the increased $Ca^{2+}$ influx through the activation of the dihydropyridine L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels.