• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.13-24
• /
• 2005

Background and Objectives : Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely used for the treatment of many functional disorders such as substance abuse and mental dysfunction. Clinical trials are currently underway to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of drug addiction. Yet, there are still many unanswered questions about the basic mechanism of acupuncture. Studies have shown that both the psychomotor stimulant effects and rewarding properties of addictive drugs, including morphine, are sensitized by repeated drug administration and raised the possibility that both of these effects may be linked to the same or closely overlapping the mesolimbic dopamine systems. Neiguan (PC6) point on the pericardium channel which is associated with the brain and its mental function, has been used to treat mental, psychosomatic disorders and gastroenterological disorders. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of acupuncture on repeated morphine-induced changes in extracellular dopamine levels using in vivo microdialysis and to measure the effect of acupuncture on Fos-like immunoreactivity. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated twice a day for three days with increasing doses of morphine (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, s.c.) or with saline. After 15 days of withdrawal, rats were challenged with morphine hydrochloride (5 mg/kg, s.c.). Acupuncture was applied at bilateral Neiguan (PC6) points for 1 min after the morphine challenge. Results showed that acupuncture at the specific acupoint PC6, but not at control points (tail and HE8) significantly decreased Fos-like immunoreactivity induced by a systemic morphine challenge or a single s.c. morphine injection in the morphine-repeated animals. Results and Conclusions : These results suggest that reduction in sensitization may be one mechanism whereby acupuncture alleviates morphine craving in addicts. Moreover, in a more general sense these results suggest that acupuncture can be used as a therapeutic intervention for correcting reversible malfunction of the body by direction of brain pathway and thus acupuncture can contribute to the biochemical balance in the central nervous system by regulating neurotransmitters.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.315-327
• /
• 1995

Diverse neurotoxic insults result in proliferation and hypertrophy of astrocytes, a subtype of glia in central nervous system. The hallmark of this response, often terms "reactive gliosis", is the enhanced expression of the major intermediate filament protein of castrocytes, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). These changes in the astrocytes suggest that GFAP may be a useful biochemical indicator of neurotoxicity. To investigate this possibility, we administered intra-peritoneally prototype nerotoxicants, metharnphetamine (MAP, 5 mg/kg), cocaine (30 mg/kg), N-buthyl benzenesulfonamide (NBBS, 300 mg/kg) and trimethytin (TMT, 8 mg/kg) to Wistar Rats and then assessed the effects of these agents on content of GFAP, which were determined by Sandwish ELISA and evaluated with neurotoxic symptoms, and quantitative changes of imrnunoreactivity of GFAP by light microscopic image analysis in specific regions. We found that assay of GFAP revealed time- and region-dependant patterns of neurotoxicity. The GFAP immunoreactivity of rat brain was increased in substantia nigra and hippocampus by MAP, NBBS and TMT; in roedial septal nucleus and nucleus accurnbens, it was also increased by RrBBS. Sandwich ELISA showed that GFAP levels of cerebrum in all groups on days 3 and 7 and that of brainstem(including cerebellum) in MAP, NBBS groups on day 1 and 3 were increased. A review of the background, design and results of these experiments are presented in this paper. Our findings indicate that GFAP is a sensitive and specific biomarker of neurotoxicity.otoxicity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.10
• /
• pp.1412-1421
• /
• 2002

To examine the feasibility of using a sperm vector system for gene transfer, we have investigated the binding and the uptaking of foreign DNA into the sperm nucleus by PCR, in situ hybridization and LSC. We have also examined the transportation of exogenous DNA into oocytes by immunofluorescene via PCR. Sperm cells were incubated with DNA/liposome complexes (1:4 ratio) in fertilization medium with BSA or without BSA. In situ hybridization demonstrated that the transfection rate of sperm cells with and without BSA was 41 and 68% respectively, when the cells were treated with liposome/DNA complexes and 13% for DNA alone. LSC analysis showed that the binding of exogenous DNA was greatly reduced by DNase I treatment which digests DNA bound onto spermatozoa, suggesting that some of the DNA was internalized into the sperm membrane. To find out whether transfected DNA was internalized into sperm intracytomembrane, sperm DNA was amplified by inverse PCR. No PCR products were detected from sperm cells, indicating that the foreign DNA was simply bound onto the sperm membrane. To investigate transfer rates of exogenous DNA into oocytes via sperm cells, we used immunofluorescene method to follow the distribution of foreign DNA via spermatozoa: a few exogenous DNA was located in the cytoplasm of early embryos (13/60, 21.7% for DNA+/liposome+/BSA) and was not located in the pronucleus and/or nucleus. These results suggest that most of the transfected sperm cells could carry the foreign DNA into the egg by in vitro fertilization, but that the transferred DNA is degraded in the developing embryos without stable integration into the zygote genome. Therefore, we have directly injected with transfected sperm cell into oocyte cytoplasm and observed that some of the exogenous DNA was detected in preimplantation embryonic cytoplasm and expressed at preimplantation stages, suggesting that exogenous DNA in early zygote has their integrity. In this study, we have not identified a noble mechanism that interfering transportation of foreign DNA into zygote genome via spermatozoa. Our data, however, demonstrated that inverse PCR and immunofluorescene methods would be used as a new tool for follow-up of gene distribution in oocyte via sperm cells.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.57-75
• /
• 1987

Two modalities of gonadotropin secretion, pulsatile gonadotropin and preovulatory gonadotropin surge, have been identified in the mammals. Pulsatile gonadotropin secretion is modulated by the pulsatile pattern of GnRH release and complex ovarian steroid feedback actions. The neural mechansim that regulates the pulsatile release of GnRH in the hypothalamus is called "GnRH pulse generator". Ovarian steroids, estradiol and progesterone, appear to exert thier feedback effects both directly on the pituitary to modulate gonadotropin release and on a hypothalamic site to modulate GnRH release; estradiol primarily affects the amplitude while progesterone decreases the frequency of the pulsatile GnRH. Steroid hormones are known to affect catecholamine transmission in brain. MBH-POA is richly innervated by NE systems and close apposition of NE terminals and GnRH cell bodies occurs in the MBH as well as in the POA. NE normally facilitates pulsatile LH release by acting through ${\alpha}-receptor$ mechanism. However, precise nature of facilitative role of NE transmission in maintaining pulsatile LH has not been clearly understood. Close apposition of DA and GnRH terminals in ME might permit DA to influence GnRH release. Action of DA transmission probably is mediated by axo-axonic contacts between GnRH and DA fibers in the ME. Dopamine transmission does not normally regulate pulsatile LH release, but under certain conditions, increased DA transmission inhibit LH pulse. Endogenous opioid acts to suppress the secretion of GnRH into hypophysial portal circulation, thereby inhibiting gonadotropin secretion. However, an interaction between endogenenous opioid peptides and gonadotropin release is a complex one which involves ovarian hormones as well. LH secretion appears to be most suppressed by endogenenous opioids during the luteal phase, at a time of elevated progesterone secretion. The arcuate nucleus contains not only cell bodies for GnRH and ${\beta}-endorphin$ but also a dense aborization of fibers suggesting that GnRH release is changed by the interactions between GnRH and ${\beta}-endorphin$ cell bodies within the arcuate nucleus. The frequency and amplitude of pulsatile LH release seem to be increased during the preovulatory gonadotropin surge. Estradiol exerts positive feedback action on the hypothalamo-pituitary axis to trigger preovulatory LH surge. GnRH is also crucial hormonal stimulus for preovulatory LH surge. It is unlikely, however, that increased secretion of GnRH during the preovulatory gonadotropin surge represents an obligatory neural signal for generation of the LH discharge in primates including human. Modulation of preovulatory LH surge by catecholamines has been studied almost exclusively in rats. NE and E may be involved in distinct way to accumulate GnRH in the MBH and its release into the hypophysial portal system during the critical period for LH surge on proestrus in rats. However, the mechanisms whereby augmented adrenergic transmission may facilitate the formation and accumulation of GnRH in the ME-ARC nerve terminals before the LH surge have not been clearly understood.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.982-992
• /
• 2005

Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely used for the treatment of many functional disorders such as substance abuse and mental dysfunction. Clinical trials are currently underway to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of drug addiction. Yet, there are still many unanswered questions about the basic mechanism of acupuncture. Studies have shown that both the psychomotor stimulant effects and rewarding properties of addictive drugs, including morphine, are sensitized by repeated drug administration and raised the possibility that both of these effects may De linked to the same or closely overlapping the mesolimbic dopamine systems. Neiguan (PC6) point on the pericardium channel which is associated with the brain and its mental function, has been used to treat mental, psychosomatic disorders and gastroenterological disorders. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of acupuncture on repeated morphine-induced changes in extracellular dopamine levels using in vivo microdialysis and to measure the effect of acupuncture on repeated morphine-induced behavioral changes. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated twice a day for three days with increasing doses of morphine (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, s.c.) or with saline. After 15 days of withdrawal, rats were challenged with morphine hydrochloride (5 mg/kg, s.c.). Acupuncture was applied at bilateral Neiguan (PC6) points for 1min after the morphine challenge. Results showed that acupuncture at the specific acupoint PC6, but not at control points (tail and HE8) significantly decreased both dopamine release, behavior induced by a systemic morphine challenge or a single s.c. morphine injection in the morphine-repeated animals. These results suggest that reduction in sensitization may be one mechanism whereby acupuncture alleviates morphine craving in addicts. Moreover, in a more general sense these results suggest that acupuncture can be used as a therapeutic intervention for correcting reversible malfunction of the body by direction of brain pathway and thus acupuncture can contribute to the biochemical balance in the central nervous system by regulating neurotransmitters.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.427-434
• /
• 2015

Significant evidence supports the role of the vestibular system in the regulation of blood pressure during postural movements. In the present study, the role of the vestibulo-spino-adrenal (VSA) axis in the modulation of blood pressure via the vestibulosympathetic reflex was clarified by immunohistochemical and enzyme immunoassay methods in conscious rats with sinoaortic denervation. Expression of c-Fos protein in the intermediolateral cell column of the middle thoracic spinal regions and blood epinephrine levels were investigated, following microinjection of glutamate receptor agonists or antagonists into the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) and/or sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced hypotension. Both microinjection of glutamate receptor agonists (NMDA and AMPA) into the MVN or rostral ventrolateral medullary nucleus (RVLM) and SNP-induced hypotension led to increased number of c-Fos positive neurons in the intermediolateral cell column of the middle thoracic spinal regions and increased blood epinephrine levels. Pretreatment with microinjection of glutamate receptor antagonists (MK-801 and CNQX) into the MVN or RVLM prevented the increased number of c-Fos positive neurons resulting from SNP-induced hypotension, and reversed the increased blood epinephrine levels. These results indicate that the VSA axis may be a key component of the pathway used by the vestibulosympathetic reflex to maintain blood pressure during postural movements.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.81-100
• /
• 2000

Transsynaptic tracer이며 신경친화성 virus인 pseudorabies virus(PRV)를 방광(膀胱), 방광유(膀胱兪), 위중(委中) 및 중추(中極)에 주입(注入)한 후 4일간의 생존기간이 경과한 후 희생시켜 면역조직화학침액법(免疫組織化學染色法)에 의하여 뇌척수에 표지된 공통된 영역들을 비교하여 관찰한 결과는 다음과 같다. 1. 방광벽(膀胱壁), 방광유(膀胱兪), 위중(委中) 및 중추(中極)에서 척수에 투사된 영역은 흉수(胸髓), 요수(腰髓) 및 천수(薦髓)에 모두 표지되었으며 공통적으로 표지된 부위는 척수(脊髓)의 층판 IV, V, VII, IX, X영역에 표지되었으나 주로 강하게 표지된 공통된 영역은 층판 VII의 중간외측핵, 가슴기둥 및 층판 X영역이었다. 2. 방광벽(膀胱壁), 방광유(膀胱兪), 위중(委中) 및 중추(中極)에서 뇌(腦)에 투사된 공통된 영역은 연수(延髓)에서는 A1 noradrenalin cells/C1 adrenalin cells/caudoventrolateral reticular nucleus에서 양성반응을 나타내었다. 솔기핵의 경우 아핵인 불명솔기핵, 창백솔기핵 및 큰솔기핵에서 양성반응을 보였다. 다리뇌에서는 청색반점, Barrington's nucleus, A5세포군 및 삼차신경운동핵에서 양성반응을 보였고, 중뇌에서는 눈돌림신경핵, 눈돌림신경섬유 및 다리핵에서 양성반응을 보였다. 간뇌에서는 시상하부(視床下部)의 뇌실(腦室)곁핵과 시상의 뇌실곁핵에서 양성반응을 보였고 대뇌(大腦)에서는 septal nucleus, 피질(皮質)의 뒷다리영역, 마루엽, 이마엽에서 양성반응을 보였다. 이상의 결과를 종합하면 방광(膀胱)에서 투사되는 뇌척수의 영역과 방광유(膀胱兪)나 위중(委中)에서 투사되는 공통된 표지영역들은 방광(膀胱)과 족태양방광경(足太陽膀胱經) 그리고 그 경락(經絡)의 경혈(經穴)들이 어떤 상관성(相關性)을 가지고 연결(連結)되어 있다는 사실을 실험적으로 알 수 있었다. 특히 방광(膀胱)과 방광유(膀胱兪), 위중(委中)에서 투사된 공통된 표지영역, 즉 배뇨중추인 Barrington's nucleus에 표지되는 것은 내장(內臟)-경락(經絡)이 central autonomic pathway에 의하여 서로 연결되었음을 입증하는 중요한 결과(結果)라고 사려(思慮)된다.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.7 no.1 s.12
• /
• pp.5-14
• /
• 2004

Acupuncture has fairly good weight-reducing effect in treating simple obesity due to the neuroendocrine regulation. In this study, the antiobesity effects of herbal acupuncture(HA) with Sang-hwang(phellinus linteus) at Fuai(SP16) were investigated in the rat fed on high-fat(HF) diet. Sang-hwang mushroom has been proven to have anti-carcinogenic effects and Sang-hwang extracts are highly effective in treatment and preventive treatment of AIDS, diabetes and high blood-pressure. To determine whether the Sang-hwang herbal acupuncture may have the anti-obesity effect, male Sprague-Dawley(4-wk-old) rats were fed a HF diet for 5 wk, which produced significant weight gain compared to rats were fed a normal diet, and then herbal acupuncture were treated for 3 wk in HF diet group. The body weight, food consumption, food effeciency ratio(FER), body fat mass, plasma nitric oxide(NO) were investigated in rats fed on normal diet, HF diet, and HF diet with HA(HF-diet-HA) groups. NO has been proposed to be involved in the regulation of food intake. In addition, the expression of appetite peptides such as orexigenic peptide neuropeptide Y(NPY) and the anorectic peptide cholecystokinin(CCK) were observed in the hypothalamus. HF-HA group reduced body weight gain, FER, body fat contents and NO concentration compared to HF diet group. The expression of NPY was reduced in arcuate nucleus(ARC), and CCK was increased in the paraventricular nucleus(PVN) after treatment of HA. In conclusion, Sang-hwang HA reduced adipocity, plasma NO and hypothalamic NPY, but increased CCK expression in the HF dietinduced obesity rat, therefore HA may have anti-obesity action through regulating body weight and appetite peptide of the central nervous system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.69-74
• /
• 2018

Fog to which environmental impacts are sensitive has a danger to the safety of citizens due to the difficulty in predicting the specific area/time zone. Therefore, we propose a white smoke fog reduction technique using a fog removal device that can remove fog particles directly through dry air and anionic condensation nucleus instead of conventional passive countermeasures. In this study, to verify the effect of reducing fog and the effect of temperature on the white smoke fog which is frequently occurred in the detention basin. As a result, the visible distance of 100m or more was secured within 30 seconds, and it was confirmed that the fog reduction effect is more effective. Also, the lower the temperature, the larger the amount of white smoke fog was. However, the effect of reducing the white smoke fog by temperature was insignificant. Through this experiment, it was possible to verify the reduction effect of the white smoke fog generated in the detention basin through fog removal device.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 1994.10a
• /
• pp.477-482
• /
• 1994

As the need for switchover to FA and for rationalization increases in the industrial world, educational courses in schools are more and more taking up the subjects of electronic machines, mechatronics and systems, etc., subjects which are a fusion of the previous subjects of electricity, electronics and machines. At our junior college, a control engineering course was inaugurated in 1974 prior to any other schools that offered such courses. As automation progressed, the use of industrial robots spread rapidly. The year of 1980 is regarded as the first year that the use of industrial robots become widespread. Responding to the current requests, a one-year research course was added to the control engineering course in 1983. Moreover, a robot engineering course was newly established in 1984, in which mechatronics and industrial robotics were instructed intensively in high efficiency. As a teaching aid, an air robot system which was based particularly on the FMS model and possessed pattern recognition capabilities was completed in 1982. This system has been used since then as the nucleus for hands-on training with robots and systems. As more and more intelligent machines and artificial intelligence become widespread in industry, these subjects are taking on greater importance and greater sophistication in the education offered by this department. Educational institutions are seeking to provide facilities and curricula which will meet the technological needs of this age. Our college is not an institution at the graduate school level, but rather a school which is at the more practical junior college level. An outline of the facilities introduced at our school is presented and the results of utilizing it in industrial robot engineering education is reported.