• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.91-103
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• 2023

As one of the most common mood disorders, numerous studies have shown depression is the main risk factor for non-suicidal self-harm. The pathogenesis of depression is complex, and a comprehensive and rapid measurement of monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites will be very helpful in understanding the pathogenesis of depression. Therefore, a rapid and sensitive underivatized liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the simultaneous monitoring of the levels of ten neurotransmitters and their metabolites in rat serum and limbic system and successfully applied to quantify the changes of neurotransmitter levels in chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced rats. The analytes studied were mainly involved in tyrosine metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, and glutamate cycling pathways, which are important in the pathogenesis of depression. It had been verified the method was sensitive and effective, with satisfactory linearity, and met the requirements of biological sample determination. Levels of neurotransmitters in rat serum, hippocampus, amygdala, prefrontal cortex, striatum, and hypothalamus were determined via the method. The results showed serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and their metabolites were decreased, glutamine was increased, and glutamate was disturbed in chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression rats. This method provides a new approach to studying the pathogenesis of depression and other neurological disorders.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.143-150
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• 2009

The effects of aqueous extract of Schizandrae Fructus (AESC) on lead (Pb)-induced changes of monoamine neurotransmitters in the hippocampus (HIP) of adult rats were investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were received intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of Pb acetate (5 mg/kg/d) for 28 days and sacrificed 7 days after the last administration. Concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in HIP were measured by HPLC. There were significant decreases of NE, DA, 5-HT and 5-HIAA in Pb treated rats (P < 0.05), while pretreatment with AESC (100 mg/kg/d or 300 mg/kg/d, p.o., 2 h before Pb) greatly inhibited the decrease of monoamine transmitters, respectively (P < 0.05). Also, AESC (300 mg/kg/d) significantly increased the reduction of glutathione contents and superoxide dismutase activities in HIP induced by chronic Pb. These results suggest that AESC ameliorates Pb-induced depletion of monoamine neurotransmitters in HIP through its antioxidant activity.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2000

Depending on the fish species the vascular tone is distinctively regulated by numerous vasoactive substances. In most fish species the regulatory role of autonomic neurotransmitters and other vasoactive substances are not well defined. This research was designed to delineate the regulatory role of various endogenous autonomic neurotransmitters known to be important in mammalian vascular systems on isolated Israeli carp ventral aorta. Acetylcholine(ACh) contracted the aorta regardless of the pre-existing level of vascular tone, and the contraction was almost completely abolished by a cholinergic-muscarinic antagonist atropine. Endogenous, multiple receptor ($\alpha$ and $\beta$)-acting adrenergic agonist epinephrine (Epi) relaxed the vessel in the presence and absence of the pre-existing tones. Another endogenous multiple receptoracting agonist norepinephrine (NE) weakly contracted the aorta in non-preconstrcted state, but the response was reversed to relaxation when preconstricted. Isoproterenol, ${\alpha}\;{\beta}$ adrenergic receptor agonist, was a potent vasodilator whereas an ${\alpha}_1$ agonist phenyephrine was a contractor. The ${\alpha}_2$ adrenergic receptor agonist clonidine has not any significant effect in altering the vascular tone. The vasorelaxing action of Epi, NE and isoproterenol was significantly attenuated by $\beta$ receptor antagonist propranolol. These results imply that ACh may primarily play a contractor role via muscarinic receptor activation while adrenergic agonists, Epi and NE, are relaxants through activation of $\beta$ adrenergic receptors in vivo.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.630-635
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• 2000

The concentration of neurotransmitters in rat brain was determined by HPLC-ECD (electrochemical detection) method and the effects of methanol extracts of some crude drugs, such as Polygala Radix, Myristicae Semen, Zizyphi Semen, Acori graminei Rhizoma, Visci Herba, Liriopsis Tuber, Myrrha on the concentration of neurotransmitters in the ethanol-treated rat brain were investigated. By the administration of ethanol, dopamine (DA), 3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (DOPAC) and serotonin (5-HT) levels in frontal cortex and 5-HT level in hippocampus were significantly increased compared with the neurotransmitter levels in the brain of saline-treated rats. The ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) level in frontal cortex was decreased by the same treatment. There was a tendency that the DA level in frontal cortex and striatum of ethanol-treated rats were increased by the administration of crude drug extracts. Especially, Myrrha and Visci Herba significantly increased the DA level of frontal cortex in ethanol-treated rats, while they significantly decreased the 5-HT level in the same region of the brain. GABA level in striatum of ethanol-treated rats was significantly decreased by Myristicae Semen, Visci Herba and Myrrha. These results suggest that the tested crude drug extracts have selective interaction with neurotransmitters in specified region of central nervous system.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 1995

Effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBE) and its components kaempferol-coumaroyl glucosyl rhamnoside (Kc), quercetin-coumaroyl glucosyl rhamnoside (Qc), ginkolide (G) and bilobalide (B) on blood pressure and on the levels of neurotransmitters in the spontaneously hypertensive rat brain were examined. Blood pressure decreased about 10 mmHg after administration of GBE but without significance. The concentration of norepinephrine increased (3 times) and that of DOPAC was decreased (38%) after administration of Qc. And 3-MT concentration was increased (36%) by Kc administration in striatum. While Qc administration increased the concentration of Ach (260%) and Ch(29%) significantly, B administration increased Ch concentration in cerebral cortex.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2007

The definite causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are still unknown. OCD has been suggested to be related to many neurotransmitters in brain, such as serotonin, dopamine and glutamate. It has been shown that serotonergic neurons play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of OCD. Recently, it is known that neurotransmitters other than serotonin also play a role in the pathophysiology of OCD, and a series of studies have provided a few evidence that glutamate may be involved in some OCD patients. The purpose of this article was to review the literatures on glutamatergic dysfunction in OCD. We suggest that glutamatergic dysfunction may be implicated in the pathophysiology of OCD.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.285-290
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• 1992

After rats were exposed to 5,000 ppm carbon monoxide for 30 minutes, the amounts of catecholamine neurotransmitters in stratum were measured using high performance liquid chromatograph equipped with electrochemical detector. The concentration of dopamine in stratum was significantly decreased after carbon monoxide intoxification, but those of dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, norepinephrine, and epinephrine was not changed. However the pretreatments of Ginseng total saponin and panaxatriol saponin increased the concentrations of dopamine and its acidic metabolites (DOPAC and HVA). Ginseng total saponin also increased the concentrations of norepinephrine and epinephrine. Similar results were obtained from aged rats.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2006

Anxiety and anxiety disorders are related to many neurotransmitters, such as norepinephrine, serotonine, dopamine, glutamate, and Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the CNS, is known to counterbalance the action of the excitatory neurotransmitters and control anxiety. GABA acts on 3 GABA receptor subtypes, $GABA_A$, $GABA_B$, and $GABA_C$. $GABA_A$ and $GABA_c$ receptors are oligomeric transmembrane glycoproteins composed of 5 subunits that are arranged around a central chloride channel. $GABA_B$ receptor comprises two 7-transmembraneis-spanning proteins that are coupled to either calcium or potassium channel via G proteins. This article highlights neurobiological interactions between anxiety and GABA system.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 1998

The fractions of Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus seemed to be closely related with the levels of amino acids and other components which concerns with formation and metabolism of neurotransmitters in brain. The pretreatments of methanolic extract and its fractions prohibited the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced convulsion. In such cases, lowered levels of ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid and glutathione in brain were significantly recovered. And also the increased levels or activities of lipid peroxide, ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid aminotransferase, xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase by PTZ-convulsion were lowered to normal state.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 1998

The ethyl acetate fraction of Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus, which showed anticonvulsant effects against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) treated mice, were subjected to column chromatography to isolate ursolic acid and hyperin from active eluate. Hyperin decreased the elevated activities of GABA-T and xanthine oxidase and lipid peroxide level dose-dependently in PTZ treated mice brain tissue in vitro, but no effect on superoxide dismutase activity. The effects on such enzyme and component seemed to be related with biosynthesis or metabolism of neurotransmitters.