• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.108-118
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• 2021

Background: Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) contains a variety of ginsenosides that can be metabolized to a biologically active substance, compound K. Previous research showed that compound K could be enriched in the red ginseng extract (RGE) after hydrolysis by pectinase. The current study investigated whether the enzymatically hydrolyzed red ginseng extract (HRGE) containing a notable level of compound K has cognitive improving and neuroprotective effects. Methods: A scopolamine-induced hypomnesic mouse model was subjected to behavioral tasks, such as the Y-maze, passive avoidance, and the Morris water maze tests. After sacrificing the mice, the brains were collected, histologically examined (hematoxylin and eosin staining), and the expressions of antioxidant proteins analyzed by western blot. Results: Behavioral assessment indicated that the oral administration of HRGE at a dosage of 300 mg/kg body weight reversed scopolamine-induced learning and memory deficits. Histological examination demonstrated that the hippocampal damage observed in scopolamine-treated mouse brains was reduced by HRGE administration. In addition, HRGE administration increased the expression of nuclear-factor-E2-related factor 2 and its downstream antioxidant enzymes NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase and heme oxygenase-1 in hippocampal tissue homogenates. An in vitro assay using HT22 mouse hippocampal neuronal cells demonstrated that HRGE treatment attenuated glutamate-induced cytotoxicity by decreasing the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species. Conclusion: These findings suggest that HRGE administration can effectively alleviate hippocampus-mediated cognitive impairment, possibly through cytoprotective mechanisms, preventing oxidative-stress-induced neuronal cell death via the upregulation of phase 2 antioxidant molecules.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.97-109
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• 2021

Neonatal hypoxia/ischemia (H/I), injures white matter, results in neuronal loss, disturbs myelin formation, and neural network development. Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress have been reported in neonatal hypoxic brain injuries. We investigated whether Paeoniflorin treatment reduced H/I-induced inflammation and oxidative stress and improved white matter integrity in a neonatal rodent model. Seven-day old Sprague-Dawley pups were exposed to H/I. Paeoniflorin (6.25, 12.5, or 25 mg/kg body weight) was administered every day via oral gavage from postpartum day 3 (P3) to P14, and an hour before induction of H/I. Pups were sacrificed 24 h (P8) and 72 h (P10) following H/I. Paeoniflorin reduced the apoptosis of neurons and attenuated cerebral infarct volume. Elevated expression of cleaved caspase-3 and Bad were regulated. Paeoniflorin decreased oxidative stress by lowering levels of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species generation and while, and it enhanced glutathione content. Microglial activation and the TLR4/NF-κB signaling were significantly down-regulated. The degree of inflammatory mediators (interleukin 1β and tumor necrosis factor-α) were reduced. Paeoniflorin markedly prevented white matter injury via improving expression of myelin binding protein and increasing O1-positive olidgodendrocyte and O4-positive oligodendrocyte counts. The present investigation demonstrates the potent protective efficiency of paeoniflorin supplementation against H/I-induced brain injury by effectually preventing neuronal loss, microglial activation, and white matter injury via reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.216-230
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• 2022

SERTA domain-containing protein 1 (Sertad1) is upregulated in the models of DNA damage and Alzheimer's disease, contributing to neuronal death. However, the role and mechanism of Sertad1 in ischemic/hypoxic neurological injury remain unclear. In the present study, our results showed that the expression of Sertad1 was upregulated in a mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion model and in HT22 cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R). Sertad1 knockdown significantly ameliorated ischemia-induced brain infarct volume, neurological deficits and neuronal apoptosis. In addition, it significantly ameliorated the OGD/R-induced inhibition of cell viability and apoptotic cell death in HT22 cells. Sertad1 knockdown significantly inhibited the ischemic/hypoxic-induced expression of p-Rb, B-Myb, and Bim in vivo and in vitro. However, Sertad1 overexpression significantly exacerbated the OGD/R-induced inhibition of cell viability and apoptotic cell death and p-Rb, B-Myb, and Bim expression in HT22 cells. In further studies, we demonstrated that Sertad1 directly binds to CDK4 and the CDK4 inhibitor ON123300 restores the effects of Sertad1 overexpression on OGD/R-induced apoptotic cell death and p-Rb, B-Myb, and Bim expression in HT22 cells. These results suggested that Sertad1 contributed to ischemic/hypoxic neurological injury by activating the CDK4/p-Rb pathway.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.647-655
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• 2011

Amyloid ${\beta}$ ($A{\beta}$)의 신경독성은 알츠하이머병의 주된 원인이 되고 이러한 신경독성은 일련의 신경세포 사멸반응에 의해 일어난다고 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 알츠하이머병의 실험모델로 mouse primary neuronal cell에 $A{\beta}_{25-35}$를 처리하여 세포독성을 유도하는 세포실험모델과 C57BL/6J mouse 뇌실에 $A{\beta}_{25-35}$를 주입하여 인지장애를 일으키는 동물실험모델을 이용하여 phosphodiesterase III 억제제인 cilostazol의 신경보호 효과에 대해 조사하였다. $A{\beta}_{25-35}$를 신경세포에 처리하면 세포생존율이 감소되었고, 세포사멸이 일어난 세포의 수도 증가되었다. 이러한 $A{\beta}_{25-35}$에 의한 세포독성이 cilostazol처리에 의해 회복되었으며, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR)-${\gamma}$ 항진제인 rosiglitazone 또한 동일한 회복효과를 나타내었다. Cilostazol과 rosiglitazone에 의한 이러한 회복효과가 PPAR-${\gamma}$ 길항제인 GW9662에 의해 다시 억제되는 결과를 통해 cilostazol의 효과는 PPAR-${\gamma}$가 매개하는 신호전달이 관여함을 알 수 있었다. 직접 PPAR-${\gamma}$ 활성화 정도를 측정한 결과, $A{\beta}_{25-35}$ 처리에 의해 감소된 PPAR-${\gamma}$ 활성화 정도가 cilostazol과 rosiglitazone에 의해 증가함을 관찰할 수 있었고, 이는 GW9662에 의해 다시 억제됨을 확인하였다. 게다가, cilostazol은 세포사멸이 일어난 세포의 수와 세포사멸 조절단백질인 Bax/Bcl-2의 비율도 감소시켰다. Cilostazol (20 mg/kg, 구강투여)을 C57BL/6J mice 뇌실에 $A{\beta}_{25-35}$를 주입하기 2주 동안 전처리하고, $A{\beta}_{25-35}$ 주입 후 4주 동안 처리하면, 기억력과 학습능력을 증진시킨다는 결과를 water maze 실험을 통해 알 수 있었으며, rosiglitazone (10 mg/kg)을 먹인 동물에서도 동일한 결과를 얻을 수 있었다. 본 연구를 통해서 cilostazol이 PPAR-${\gamma}$ 활성화를 통해 $A{\beta}_{25-35}$로 인한 신경세포 손상과 세포사멸을 약화시켜, 신경세포의 생존을 증진시키고, 알츠하이머에서 인지장애를 개선할 것으로 생각된다. 따라서, phosphodiesterase III 억제제인 cilostazol은 알츠하이머 질병 치료에 새로운 전략이 될 수 있을 것이다.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.101-109
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• 2016

Objectives : HT070 is a mixture of herbal extracts from root of Scutellaria baicalensis and stem bark of Eleutherococcus senticosus , which have long been used for stroke therapy in traditional Korean Medicine. The purpose of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of HT070 on global cerebral ischemia and its potential mechanisms.Methods : Transient global cerebral ischemia was produced by 10 min of four-vessel occlusion (4-VO) in male Wistar rats. HT070 was administered orally at a dosage of 200 mg/kg twice at 0 and 90 min after reperfusion. Hippocampal neuronal damage was measured 7 days after reperfusion. To explore the potential mechanisms, we used hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells as an in vitro model. PC12 cells were pretreated with HT070 for 1 h and then exposed to 100 μM H₂O₂ for 6 h in the presence of HT070. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay and the mRNA expression of Bax, Bcl-2, iNOS and COX-2 were measured by quantitative RT-PCR.Results : Oral administration of HT070 at a dose of 200 mg/kg significantly reduced neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region by 13.4% as compared to the vehicle-treated group. HT070 increased cell viability, reversed the down-regulated Bcl-2 mRNA level, and suppressed the up-regulated mRNA expressions of Bax, iNOS, and COX-2 in H₂O₂-treated PC12 cells.Conclusions : HT070 protects against delayed neuronal death after global cerebral ischemia and its neuroprotection properties might be attributed to the inhibition of mitochondrial apoptosis and ROS-generating enzymes.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.458-468
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• 2023

Background: As a complication of Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of cognitive dysfunction are still undefined. Recent studies demonstrated that Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) has promising neuroprotective properties, but the effect and mechanism in diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction (DACD) deserve further investigation. Methods: After establishing the T2DM model with a high-fat diet and STZ intraperitoneal injection, Rg1 was given for 8 weeks. The behavior alterations and neuronal lesions were judged using the open field test (OFT) and Morris water maze (MWM), as well as HE and Nissl staining. The protein or mRNA changes of NOX2, p-PLC, TRPC6, CN, NFAT1, APP, BACE1, NCSTN, and Ab1-42 were investigated by immunoblot, immunofluorescence or qPCR. Commercial kits were used to evaluate the levels of IP3, DAG, and calcium ion (Ca²⁺) in brain tissues. Results: Rg1 therapy improved memory impairment and neuronal injury, decreased ROS, IP3, and DAG levels to revert Ca²⁺ overload, downregulated the expressions of p-PLC, TRPC6, CN, and NFAT1 nuclear translocation, and alleviated Aβ deposition in T2DM mice. In addition, Rg1 therapy elevated the expression of PSD95 and SYN in T2DM mice, which in turn improved synaptic dysfunction. Conclusions: Rg1 therapy may improve neuronal injury and DACD via mediating PLC-CN-NFAT1 signal pathway to reduce Aβ generation in T2DM mice.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.73-88
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• 2009

목 적 : 규칙적인 운동이 신경보호 효과와 도파민성 신경원의 재구축, 운동기능 향상에 영향을 미친다는 실험실적 연구결과에도 불구하고, 아직까지 파킨슨병 질환자의 트레드밀 운동이 뇌신경 변화에 영향을 미치는지에 대해서는 논란이 되고 있는 상황이다. 더군다나, 증상의 진전이 흑질선조체의 뇌신경 변화에 의한 것인지, 운동에 의한 전반적인 효과인지, 의욕에 영향을 받은 것이지 또한 확실치 않은 상황이다. 이에 본 연구자는 트레드밀 운동이 파킨슨 유발 실험쥐의 뇌신경 변화를 유발하는 것을 밝히고자 본 실험을 수행하였다. 방 법 : 본 실험에서는 파킨슨 모델을 만들기 위해 수컷 C57BL/6 쥐에 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP) 30 mg/kg과 프로베네시드 20 mg/kg을 매 12시간마다 10회 투여(총 5일)하여 파킨슨병을 유발하였다. 이후 운동군을 경사도 $0^{\circ}$, 18 m/min의 속도로, 하루 40분의 트레드밀 운동을 수행하였다. 운동수행의 마지막에는 모든(염류 비교군, 비운동 비교군) 동물의 뇌를 적출하여 신경원성, 신경화학적 변화가 어떤지 비교군, 비운동군과 비교분석하였다. 본 실험에서 Synphilin 단백질은 알파시누크린의 발현 징후로 사용되었다. 흑질과 선조체의 뇌세포를 western blotting에 의해 염색하여 분석하였다. 결 과 : 염류 비교군의 경우 synphilin 단백질의 발현이 발견되지 않았다. 파킨슨 유발을 위한 MPTP(1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) 투여는 알파시누크린의 응집을 의미하는 synphilin 단백질의 발현이 급증하였다. 하지만, 트레드밀 운동군에서는 synphilin 단백질의 발현이 비운동군에 비해 유의하게 낮았다. 이는 트레드밀 운동이 알파시누크린의 응집도를 낮추는데 영향을 미친다는 것으로 사료된다. 결 론 : 본 연구에는 트레드밀 운동이 파킨슨 모델의 뇌에서 알파시누크린 응집체의 제거를 촉진하고, 병의 진행, 세포사멸을 억제하는 것으로 밝혀졌다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.413-422
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigated the mechanism of pharmacological action of local anesthetic and provide the basic information about the development of new effective local anesthetics. Fluorescent probe techniques were used to evaluate the effect of lidocaine HCl on the physical properties (transbilayer asymmetric lateral and rotational mobility, annular lipid fluidity and protein distribution) of synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles (SPMV) isolated from bovine cerebral cortex, and liposomes of total lipids (SPMVTL) and phospholipids (SPMVPL) extracted from the SPMV. An experimental procedure was used based on selective quenching of 1,3-di(1-pyrenyl)propane (Py-3-Py) and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) by trinitrophenyl groups, and radiationless energy transfer from the tryptophans of membrane proteins to Py-3-Py. Lidocaine HCl increased the bulk lateral and rotational mobility of neuronal and model membrane lipid bilayes, and had a greater fluidizing effect on the inner monolayer than the outer monolayer. Lidocaine HCl increased annular lipid fluidity in SPMV lipid bilayers. It also caused membrane proteins to cluster. The most important finding of this study is that there is far greater increase in annular lipid fluidity than that in lateral and rotational mobilities by lidocaine HCl. Lidocaine HCl alters the stereo or dynamics of the proteins in the lipid bilayers by combining with lipids, especially with the annular lipids. In conclusion, the present data suggest that lidocaine, in addition to its direct interaction with proteins, concurrently interacts with membrane lipids, fluidizing the membrane, and thus inducing conformational changes of proteins known to be intimately associated with membrane lipid.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.149-152
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• 1999

Transgenic mice models of Alzheimer's disease were produced by overexpressing APP(amyloid precursor protein) mutant and presenilin mutant genes using the promotors that induced neuronal expression. The neuropathologies, electrophysiological changes and behavioral changes that were demonstrated in these transgenic mice models were amyloid changes, gliotic changes, A-beta increases, deficit in LTP(long-term potentiation) and behavioral changes. Some or all of the above changes were found in each transgenic mice model. These models generally showed amyloid neuropathology but they usually lacked the neurofibrillary tangles. So, they can be regarded as partial models of Alzheimer's disease. The development of them is undoubtedly the great progress toward future research.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.20-44
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• 2003

Schizophrenics suffer not only psychotic symptoms but also cognitive deficits such as an attentional difficulty, memory impairment, poor abstraction, etc. These cognitive abnormalities have been reported to be significantly related to the social and occupational outcome in schizophrenia. Thus, it is important to explore the cause and pathophysiology for the cognitive abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia. In this regard, hippocampus is one of the most promising brain areas to search for the clue because it is closely involved in memory related function. In fact, during the past several decades, there have been extensive studies supporting hippocampal abnormalities as a cause of schizophrenia in both clinical and preclinical field. In this review, basic anatomical knowledge about hippocampus and major findings of preclinical and clinical studies which investigated the correlation between schizophrenia and hippocampus were highlighted. The contents are 1) anatomical structure of hippocampus, 2) neuronal pathway and receptor distribution in hippocampus, 3) function of hippocampus, 4) hippocampal animal model for schizophrenia, 5) hippocampus-related studies on antipsychotic drugs, and 6) clinical studies in hippocampus in patients with schizophrenia.