• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.86-91
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• 2012

The objective of this study is to examine how different concentration of neurotransmitters in plasma between patients with dementia and normal people regarding the inhalation of lavender oil. This study subjects were 9 elderly patients with dementia who live in nursing home and 9 normal women. Before and after inhalation, they were collected blood sample. Norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and r-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration analysis were performed. Before inhalation, dementia patients were significantly different with the normal group in GABA and DA, NE. Following inhalation in experimental group, dementia patients and normal group were only significantly increased in 5-HT. But it did not significantly change in the other neurotransmitters. After inhalation, dementia patients were significantly different with the normal group in GABA and 5-HT. This result suggests that the increase of 5-HT release by the inhalation of lavender oil related to reduce the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 1990

The vascular responses to the vasoactive drugs were evaluated using aortic ring preparations obtained from propylthiouracil (PTU)-treated rats. The body weights and the levels of serum thyroxine $(T{_4})$ and triiodothyronine $(T{_3})$ were significantly decreased in propylthiouracil-treated rats as compared with those in age-matched control rats. The contractile responses to norepinephrine and potassium and calcium ions were significantly attenuated in aortic rings of PTU-treated rats 4 weeks after when compared with those from age-matched control animals. By the PTU treatment, however, the sensitivity to norepinephrine but not to calcium was decreased while the maximal responses to norepinephrine and calcium were reduced together. The attenuated contractile responses to the vasoconstrictors in PTU-treated rats are ascribed to the decreased ability of the muscle cells to contract. On the other hand, the relaxation responses induced by acetylcholine and histamine (endothelium-dependent relaxants) and isoproterenol and sodium nitroprusside (endothelium-independent relaxants) had tendencies to be augmented in aortic rings of PTU-treated rats when compared with those of age-matched control animals. However, the sensitivities to the endothelium-independent relaxants were different between PTU-treated and control rats whereas those to the endothelium-dependent relaxants were not. These results suggest that the altered vascular responsiveness in the PTU-treated rats seems to be due to the alteration of smooth muslce cells rather than the Influence of endothelium, and that this change is slowly progressive after hypothyroidism is evident.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.32-32
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• 1998

The effect of neurotensin (NT) was investigated in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. When PC12 cells were treated with micromolar concentrations of NT, [$^3$H]norepinephrine ([$^3$H]NE) secretion and elevation of cytosolic Ca$\^$2＋/ concentration ([Ca$\^$2＋/]i) were evoked in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC$\sub$50/ of 50 ${\mu}$M.(omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.37-41
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• 2011

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) evoke pacemaker activities in many tissues. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between interstitial cell and pacemaker activity in the human ureter through the recording of spontaneous contractions. Spontaneous contractions of eight circular and longitudinal smooth muscle strips of the human ureter to acetylcholine (ACh) and/or norepinephrine (NE) were observed. Human ureteral strips were divided into proximal and distal groups, and each group was subdivided into circular and longitudinal groups. The proximal group showed spontaneous activities of 3~4 times within 5 minutes in the longitudinal group. ACh ($10^{-4}\;M$) augmented the frequency of the spontaneous contractions. The cumulative application of NE also augmented the frequency in a dose-dependent manner. The effects of NE application were inhibited by concomitant application of $10^{-5}\;M$ glibenclamide. Receptor tyrosine kinase (c-kit) staining revealed abundant ICCs only in proximal tissues. Therefore, spontaneous contractions of the human ureter might be modulated by ICC in the proximal region, and the actions might be related with the activation of cholinergic and/or adrenergic system mediated by a glibenclamide-sensitive pathway.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.495-500
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• 1998

The effect of acute toluene exposure on behaviour and monoamine concentrations in the various brain regions were investigated in the rat. Toluene was adminstered via inhalation to rats at concentrations of 0, 1000, 10000, 40000 ppm for 20 min. During exposure to toluene, spontaneous locomotor activity was counted. After exposure, animals were sacrificed instantly and brains were separated. Regional concentratons of brain monoamines (norepinephrine, NE; dopamine, DA; 5- hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and its metabolites (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, DOPAC; homovanillic acid, HVA; 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, 5-HIAA) were determined. The changes in locomotor activity during toluene exposure depended on the toluene concentration. At 1000 ppm concentration, spontaneous locomotor activity increased initially and thereafter decreased. At higher concentrations (10000 ppm and 40000 ppm), spontaneous locomotor activity decreased and eventually ceased. A regional analysis of VA, NE, 5-HT, VOPAC, HVA, and 5-HIAA indicated a significant decrease in VA concentrations in cerebellum and striatum while NE and 5-HT concentrations were significantly increased in the cerebellum and cortex. 5-HIAA concentrations were significantly increased in all brain regions. DOPAC concentrations were significantly increased in cerebellum and cortex while decreased in striatum. These results especially indicated that metabolic conversion of DA to HVA in striatum was highly increased by toluene inhalation. However, It remains to elucidate between behavioural responses and monoamine changes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.216-216
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• 1996

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether in vivo noradrenergic neural activity in the locus coeruleus is related to the development of hypertension. Two groups of animals were prepared, 1) young spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and 2) age-matched normotensive wistar kyoto rats (WKY). At il weeks of age, the release of norepinephrine (NE) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DOPEG) from locus coeruleus of young SHR and WKY as an index of neural activity were determined by in vivo microdialysis along with blood pressure (BP) at three conditions : 1) normal; 2) elevated BP by systemic injection of phenylephrine and 3) alpha-1 adrenoceptor stimulated by perfusion of phenylephrine into the locus coeruleus through microdialysis probe. Basal releases of NE and DOPEG from the iocus coeruleus were 0.415+/-0.089pg/20min, 1.311+/-0.293 pg/20min in SHR and 0.204+/-0.078 pg/20min, 1.492+/-0.365 pg/20min in WKY respectively. Basal release of NE from the locus coeruleus of SHR was significantly greater than that of WKY. Phenylephrine systemic injection caused elevation of BP in both SHR and WKY in a dose related manner. Following phenyephrine injection, the releases of NE and DOPEG from the locus coeruleus of SHR were significantly decreased, whereas there were no significant changes in the releases of NE and DOPEG In young WKY. Alpha-1 adrenoceptor stimulation in the locus coeruleus by perfused phenylephrine through microdialysis probe caused pressor responses in both SHR and WKY, but the magnitude of pressor response in SHR was larger compared with that in WKY. The result from the present study suggests that noradrenergic neural activity in locus coeruleus may contribute as one of triggering factors for the expression of hypertension in young SHR.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.336-343
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• 1997

The purpose of the present study was to address whether the in vivo noradrenergic neural activities in the locus coeruleus are related to the development of hypertension. Two groups of the animals were prepared, 1) young SHR and 2) age-matched normotensive control, WKY. At the age of 6 weeks, blood pressure and the releases of NE and DOPEG from the locus coeruleus in young SHR and WKY were measured by in vivo microdialysis at two different conditions; 1) normal and 2) elevated state of blood pressure by systemically injected phenylephrine. Basal releases of NE and OOPEG from the locus coeruleus were $0.415 \pm$0.089 pg/20 min and $1.311 \pm0.293$ pg/20 min in SHR and $0.204\pm0.078$ pg/20 min and $1.472\pm 0.365$ pg/20 min in WKY The basal release of NE of SHR was significantly greater than that of WKY. Phenylephrine treatment caused elevation of blood pressure in both SHR and WKY in dose-dependent manner. Following phenylephrine injection, the releases of NE and DOPEG from the locus coeruleus of SHR were significantly decreased, whereas there was no significant changes of NE in WKY. The results from the present study suggests that the noradrenergic nervous system in the locus coeruleus may contribute as one of the triggering factors for the expression of hypertension in young SHR.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.637-646
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• 1991

Effect of noradrenaline and endothelium on the high K+ or Ach-induced contraction were investigated in the pig myocardial coronary artery. The helical strip of isolated pig myocardial coronary artery was immersed in the Tris-buffered Tyrode`s solution equilibrated with 100% O2 at 37oC and its isometric tension was measured. High K+ and Ach-induced contraction were dose-dependent. By denuding the endothelium, dose-contraction curve of K+ was not shifted significantly to the left and upward, but that of Ach was shifted significantly to same direction 25 mM K+ - and Ach-induced contraction were relaxed by norepinephrine[NE]. NE-induced relaxation was blocked by the pretreatment of propranolol, which was known as b-adrenoceptor blocker. And, phenylephrine known as a-adrenoceptor agonist, and clonidine known as a-adrenoceptor agonist increased the 25mM K+ - induced contraction respectively. Denuding of endothelium did not show any significant effects on NE-induced relaxation and contraction increased by phenylephrine and clonidine. Tyramine increased 25mM K+ - induced contraction further. The contractile response by tyramine on the 25mM K+ - induced contraction was not blocked by the pretreatment of phentolamine, but was partially blocked by the pretreatment of atropine. From the above results, it is suggested that activation of a1-and a2-adrenoceptors induce the contraction, activation of b-adrenoceptors induce the relaxation, and NE-induced relaxation is mainly due to activation of b-adrenoceptors. Also it is suggested that denudation of endothelium did not influence NE-induced relaxation, but influence Ach-induced contraction in the pig myocardial coronary artery.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.451-461
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• 2000

The locus coeruleus(LG) is known to be observed a sexual dimorphism in rat CNS. LC is the largest collections of norepinephrine(NE)-containing neurons in the mammalian brain. Especially in rat, all LC neurons contained NE unlike other mammalians, so that specific reactions were found in the tyrosine-hydroxylase(TH) immunoreactive neurons. Sexual dimorphism of rat LC has affected by genes before sex hormone appeared, thereafter affected by sex hormones. In these day, many scientists founded morphological differences between male and female LC morphology, but differences of entire structure was not founded. Thus we investigated sex differences of the LC neuron's morphology in rat by three-dimensional(3-D) reconstruction using Confocal laser scanning microscopy(CLSM). We reported that neuron's shape was relatively-large multipolar neurons and neuron's processes in dorsal LC proceeded to ventral direction in the male and female rat. Male had a longer anterior-posterior length than female had in dorsal LC. In addition to middle-LC, male rat's LC had a more thicker posterior region but had not viewed in a previous study. In reverse, female rat's LC had a thicker anterior region like a previous study. This results using 3-D reconstruction by CLSM showed that the male's LC was more wide-ranging than female's relatively.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.79-83
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• 2013

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of Lycii Radicis Cortex (LRC) and betaine (BT) on immobility and neurochemical change in the forced swimming test (FST) in the rat. LRC, BT or fluoxentine was administered intraperitoneally to Sprague-Dawley rats three times (1, 5 and 23.5 h) before the FST. To investigate antidepressant-like effect, serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) were examined in the hippocampus and hypothalamus of rats. LRC (100 mg/kg) and BT (30, 100 mg/kg) significantly decreased the immobility time in the FST. LRC (100 mg/kg) significantly increased both 5-HT and NE levels in the hypothalamus of rats exposed to FST. BT (100 mg/kg) significantly increased 5-HT levels in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats. Taken together, these results demonstrated that improvement in the behavioral changes after LRC and BT administration may be mediated by elevation of 5-HT level in the hypothalamus and hippocampus, indicating a possible antidepressant-like activity. The present results suggest that the efficacy of LRC and BT in an animal model of depression may provide anti-depressant effects in human, which remains to be determined.