• BMB Reports
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• 제43권9호
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• pp.593-598
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• 2010

Tetrahydrobiopterin ($BH_4$) is a pivotal cofactor for enzymes responsible for the synthesis and release of monoamine neurotransmitters including dopamine and serotonin as well as the release of glutamate. Deficiencies in $BH_4$ levels and reduced activities of $BH_4$-associated enzymes have been recently reported in patients with schizophrenia. Accordingly, it is possible that abnormalities in the biochemical cascades regulated by $BH_4$ may alter DA, 5-HT and Glu neurotransmission, and consequently contribute to the pathophysiology of different neuropsychiatric diseases including schizophrenia. The development of a novel strain of mutant mice that is deficient in $BH_4$ by knocking out the expression of a functional sepiapterin reductase gene (spr -/-) has added new insights into the potential role of $BH_4$ in the pathophysiology and improved treatment of schizophrenia.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.152-157
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• 2012

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the major polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in the brain and a structural component of neuronal membranes. Changes in DHA content of neuronal membranes lead to functional changes in the activity of receptors and other proteins which might be associated with synaptic function. Accumulating evidence suggests the beneficial effects of dietary DHA supplementation on neurotransmission. This article reviews the beneficial effects of DHA on the brain; uptake, incorporation and release of DHA at synapses, effects of DHA on synapses, effects of DHA on neurotransmitters, DHA metabolites, and changes in DHA with age. Further studies to better understand the metabolome of DHA could result in more effective use of this molecule for treatment of neurodegenerative or neuropsychiatric diseases.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.25-29
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• 2014

This research was aimed to fabricate an optical fiber-based SERS substrate which can detect dopamine neurotransmitters. Chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) were firstly anchored on the surface of optical fiber, and then gold layer was subsequently deposited on the anchored chitosan NPs via electroless plating method. Finally, chitosan-gold nanocomposites combined with optical fiber reacted with dopamine molecules of 100-1500 mg/day which is a standard daily dose for Parkinson's disease patients. The amplified Raman signal at $1348cm^{-1}$ obtained from optical fiber-based SERS substrate was plotted versus dopamine concentrations (1-10 mM), demonstrating an approximate linearity of Y = 303.03X + 2385.8 ($R^2$ = 0.97) with narrow margin errors. The optical fiber-based Raman system can be potentially applicable to in-vitro (or in-vivo) detection of probe molecules.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.361-364
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• 2004

The potentiometric response of electrode no. 4 based on 1,3-bisbridged cofacial-calix[6]crown-5-ether (IV) gave a sub-Nernstian (45.0 mV/decade) response and the best detection limit (-log $a_{ep}$ = 4.73) towards epinephrine. The responses are decreasing in the order of epinephrine > $K^+$, dopamine > $NH_4^+$ > norepinephrine > $Na^+$. It is remarkable that the proposed electrode shows the reasonable selectivity to epinephrine against other catecholamine neurotransmitters (dopamine and norepinephrine) as well as alkali metal ions.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제13권3_4호
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• pp.143-149
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• 1998

To elucidate the preventive effect of Danchisoyosan (DS) on stress, we investigated the physiological change of rats which were applied immobilization stress. For immobilization stress, rats were placed in restrainer for 12 hours a day for 3 days. During application of stress, body weight of rats was measured. After sacrifice, 8 organs were taken for measurement of organ weight. Brain was sectioned into 4 parts that are Frontal Cortex, Corpus Striatum, Hypothalamus and Hippocampus. Each part was homogenated and its catecholamine and serotonin contents were measured with HPLC. In our study, stress mainly induced increase of concentration of neurotransmitters in brain without other significant physical change of rats. DS inhibited stress induced changes of neurotransmitter content in brain.

• 한국생물물리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물물리학회 2002년도 제9회 학술 발표회 프로그램과 논문초록
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• pp.22-23
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• 2002

In neurons and some endocrine cells, $Ca^{2＋}$ plays a pivotal role as the final signal for rapid stimulus-evoked release of neurotransmitters and hormones. In contrast, intracellular signals other than $Ca^{2＋}$, such as protein A and C, were mor emphasized the exocytosis in non-neuronal cells. We questioned if the regulatory mechanisms of exocytosis are fundamentally different between cell types.(omitted)

• 생물정신의학
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.128-140
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• 2014

Anxiety disorders are characterized by dysregulation of neuroendocrine, neurotransmitter and neuroanatomical functions. Substantial advances in research method offered new insights into the neurobiologic mechanisms in anxiety disorders. Advances in molecular biology have enabled illumination of hormone and neurotransmitters that have important roles in anxiety. The neuroanatomic circuits related to anxiety are also being elucidated by improvements in neuroimaging technology such as structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging. This article reviews the research data in relation to the neurobiology underlying fear and pathologic anxiety and discusses their implications for development of biological treatments for anxiety disorders.

• BMB Reports
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• 제50권5호
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• pp.237-246
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• 2017

Synapse is the basic structural and functional component for neural communication in the brain. The presynaptic terminal is the structural and functionally essential area that initiates communication and maintains the continuous functional neural information flow. It contains synaptic vesicles (SV) filled with neurotransmitters, an active zone for release, and numerous proteins for SV fusion and retrieval. The structural and functional synaptic plasticity is a representative characteristic; however, it is highly vulnerable to various pathological conditions. In fact, synaptic alteration is thought to be central to neural disease processes. In particular, the alteration of the structural and functional phenotype of the presynaptic terminal is a highly significant evidence for neural diseases. In this review, we specifically describe structural and functional alteration of nerve terminals in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington's disease (HD).

• 약학회지
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• 제54권5호
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• pp.323-327
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• 2010

Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) activates basophils to release histamine and causes chronic inflammation. It was also reported that TCTP significantly reduced in brain of Alzheimer's Disease and Down Syndrome as compared to normal person, suggesting that TCTP might be involved in cognitive function. We wondered whether TCTP could act as a general inducer in neurotransmitters release in brain. We, therefore, investigated the role of TCTP in PC12 cell line which expressed neuronal properties. We found that TCTP could activate JNK, and the activity was inhibited by pretreatment of dicoumarol, a JNK inhibitor. However, TCTP could not activate ERK that has known to be involved in neurotransmitter release. These suggest TCTP did not participate in neurotransmitter release from PC12 cells, and TCTP might not be a general inducer in neurotransmitter release.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.680-691
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• 1993

Rats were fed for an 8-week period a low riboflavin diet(5ug riboflavin/day) or a control diet(30ug/day) supplied either ad libitum or by pair feeding in order to study the effect of riboflavin on the metabolism of lipids and neurotransmitters. Erythrocyte glutathione reductase (EGR) and monomine oxidase(MAO) activity in the liver and brain were assayed. EGR activity coefficient in riboflavin deficient rats was significantly higher than in ad libitum controls whereas MAO activity was decreased in the deficient rats. Fatty acid composition showed a different trend in the serum, liver and brain. In the serum, the concentrations of essential fatty acids and $\omega$-3 fatty acids(eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid)were decreased about 20-40% in the deficient and pair-fed than in the ad libitum controls. Brain serotonin and 5-HIAA(5-hydroxyindole acetic acid) concentrations were decreased in the riboflavin deficient rats. Learning ability measured by a water maze and exploratory activity using the open field test were not impaired in the deficient rats. These results indicate that brain lipid metabolism was protected in subclinical riboflavin deficiency, however, riboflavin deficiency affected brain serotonin content.