• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.547-556
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• 2016

Myometrial relaxation of mouse via expression of two-pore domain acid sensitive (TASK) channels was studied. In our previous report, we suggested that two-pore domain acid-sensing $K^+$ channels (TASK-2) might be one of the candidates for the regulation of uterine circular smooth muscles in mice. In this study, we tried to show the mechanisms of relaxation via TASK-2 channels in marine myometrium. Isometric contraction measurements and patch clamp technique were used to verify TASK conductance in murine myometrium. Western blot and immunehistochemical study under confocal microscopy were used to investigate molecular identity of TASK channel. In this study, we showed that TEA and 4-AP insensitive non-inactivating outward $K^+$ current (NIOK) may be responsible for the quiescence of murine pregnant longitudinal myometrium. The characteristics of NIOK coincided with two-pore domain acid-sensing $K^+$ channels (TASK-2). NIOK in the presence of $K^+$ channel blockers was inhibited further by TASK inhibitors such as quinidine, bupivacaine, lidocaine, and extracellular acidosis. Furthermore, oxytocin and estrogen inhibited NIOK in pregnant myometrium. When compared to non-pregnant myometrium, pregnant myometrium showed stronger inhibition of NIOK by quinidine and increased immunohistochemical expression of TASK-2. Finally, TASK-2 inhibitors induced strong myometrial contraction even in the presence of L-methionine, a known inhibitor of stretch-activated channels in the longitudinal myometrium of mouse. Activation of TASK-2 channels seems to play an essential role for relaxing uterus during pregnancy and it might be one of the alternatives for preventing preterm delivery.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.223-229
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• 1982

Uremia is associated with defective protein binding of weakly acidic drugs, whereas the protein binding of basic drugs tends to be normal. The exact chemical nature of compound(s) and mechanism for these changes as yet is unknown, and has not been defined. Organic solvent extraction of pooled normal human urine following hydrolysis by hydrochloric acid produced an extract, which when added to normal human serum, was capable of inducing binding defects similar to those in uremia. Binding defects were observed with the weakly acidic drugs such as nafcillin, salicylate, sulfamethoxazole and phenytoin while the binding of the basic drugs such as trimethoprim and quinidine were unaffected. The binding defects induced by the hydrolyzed urine extract could readily be corrected by same organic solvent extraction of acidified serum and the defects could be transferred to the normal human serum using the organic solvent layer at the physiologic pH (7.4). Followed by reacidification ind extraction of the binding defects induced serum with the same solvent, separated several fractions were obtained on thin-layer chromatography. One of these fractions could reinduce the binding defects and this factor(s) is apparently weakly acidic compounds and tightly bound to serum at physiologic pH, but extractable at acidic pH, and its molecular weight range is approximately 500 or less similar to those seen in uremia. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that the drug binding defect in uremia is due to the accumulation of endogenous metabolic products which arc normally excreted by the kidneys but accumulate in renal failure.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.157-161
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• 2004

We showed the effects of the traditional herbal medicine, Jukyeoondam-tang (JO-T, Zhu-ru-Wen-Dan-Tang in Chinese), on ventricular arrhythmia induced by aconitine. Electrophysiological experiments with conventional microelectrode techniques revealed that JO-T potently suppressed the aconitine-induced arrhythmias in ventricular strips of the rat. In the aconitine-induced arrhythmia model of the rat, pretreatment with JO-T $(100\;{\mu}g/ml)$ completely occluded the appearance of ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) induced by aconitine. Furthermore, the aconitine-induced ventricular arrhythmia was occluded by $Na^+$ channel blocker quinidine but was not occluded by $K^+$ channel blocker glibenclamide $(3\;{\mu}mol/L)\;and\;Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker nifedipine $(10\;{\mu}mol/L)$. We also confirmed the effect of JO-T in the ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced arrhythmia model of the rat. JO-T did not affect the I/R-induced arrhythmias in rats. JO-T may alleviate the risk of ventricular arrhythmias following aconitine. These results suggest that JO-T is a potent antiarrhythmic drug having a$Na^+$ channel-blocking action.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.1 s.17
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• pp.7-13
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• 1975

In Chinese medicine, it is said that Aconiti tuber has cardiotonic, diuretic and analgesic effects. Kim et al reported that alkaloid free part of Aconiti tuber, $CHCI_3$ insoluble fraction, showed inotropic effect on isolated frog heart and inotropic effect is potenciated by n-butanol fractionation. To investigate the effect of Aconiti tuber butanol fraction on the mechanical and electrical properties of heart, change of active tension, excitability and refractory period of isolated rabbit atrium in the presence of butanol fraction were measured and the comparison with that of ouabain and quinidine was done. The observed results are as follows. 1. $5{\times}10^{-4}g/ml$ concentration of Aconiti tuber butanol fraction showed approximately same effect with therapeutic concentration of ouabain on the increment of contractile force, and the effect of $2{\times}10^{-3}g/ml$ was greater than that of $1{\times}10^{-5}g/ml$ of ouabain. 2. Acceleration of rate of contractile force increment in the presence of Aconiti tuber butanol fraction was greater than in ouabain, and the time to maximum tension was shorter in Aconiti tuber butanol fraction than in ouabain. 3. The excitability of isolated atrium was slightly increased at low concentration of Aconiti tuber butanol fraction, while decreased at higher concentration. 4. Aconiti tuber butanol fraction slightly prolonged refractory period of isolated right atrium at the concentration of $2{\times}10^{-3}g/ml$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 1988

This study was carried out to investigate the action of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on the motility of immature pig uterine smooth muscle. ATP appeared contractile responses in a dose-dependent manner, showing the maximal contraction at the concentration of $10^{-3}M$ in the uterine smooth muscle strip. The contractile responses by $ATP(10^{-4}M)$ were not affected by atropine $(10^{-6}M)$, phentolamine $(10^{-6}M)$, propranolol $(10^{-6}M)$, pyrilamine $(10^{-6}M)$, cimetidine $(10^{-6}M)$, and theophyulline $(5{\times}10^{-5}M)$, but were inhibited uncompetitively by quinidine. The effects of these drugs on the contractile responses by prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}(PGF_{2{\alpha}})$ were also comparable to those observed with ATP. When muscle strips were pretreated with indomethacin $(5{\times}10^{-5}M)$ for 20 min., the contractile responses by $ATP(10^{-4}M)$ were completely inhibited. But the contractile responses by $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ were not affected by indomethacin. These results suggest that ATP elicited the contraction through noncholinergic- and nonadrenergic-receptor mediated by prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ in pig uterine smooth muscle.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.359-365
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• 2013

Plasma pH can be altered during pregnancy and at labor. Membrane excitability of smooth muscle including uterine muscle is suppressed by the activation of $K^+$ channels. Because contractility of uterine muscle is regulated by extracellular pH and humoral factors, $K^+$ conductance could be connected to factors regulating uterine contractility during pregnancy. Here, we showed that TASK-2 inhibitors such as quinidine, lidocaine, and extracellular acidosis produced contraction in uterine circular muscle of mouse. Furthermore, contractility was significantly increased in pregnant uterine circular muscle than that of non-pregnant muscle. These patterns were not changed even in the presence of tetraetylammonium (TEA) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). Finally, TASK-2 inhibitors induced strong myometrial contraction even in the presence of L-methionine, a known inhibitor of stretch-activated channels in myometrium. When compared to non-pregnant myometrium, pregnant myometrium showed increased immunohistochemical expression of TASK-2. Therefore, TASK-2, seems to play a key role during regulation of myometrial contractility in the pregnancy and provides new insight into preventing preterm delivery.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.207-213
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• 2007

This study was designed to characterize ureteral smooth muscle motility and also to study the effect of forskolin(FSK) and isoproterenol(ISO) on smooth muscle contractility in murine ureter. High $K^+$(50 mM) produced tonic contraction by $0.17{\pm}0.06mN$(n=19). Neuropeptide and neurotransmitters such as serotonin($5{\mu}M$), histamine($20{\mu}M$), and carbarchol(CCh, $10{\sim}50{\mu}M$) did not produce significant contraction. However, CCh($50{\mu}M$) produced slow phasic contraction in the presence of 25 mM $K^+$. Cyclopiazonic acid(CPA, $10{\mu}M$), SR $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase blocker, produced tonic contraction(0.07 mN). Meanwhile, inhibition of mitochondria by protonophore carbnylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone(CCCP) also produced weak tonic contraction(0.01 mN). The possible involvement of $K^+$ channels was also pursued. Tetraethyl ammonium chloride(TEA, 10 mM), glibenclamide($10{\mu}M$) and quinidine($20{\mu}M$) which are known to block $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels($K_{Ca}$ channel), ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels($K_{ATP}$) and nonselective $K^+$ channel, respectively, did not elicit any significant effect. However, $Ba^{2+}$($1{\sim}2mM$), blocker of inward rectifier $K^+$ channels($K_{IR}$ channel), produced phasic contraction in a reversible manner, which was blocked by $1{\mu}M$ nicardipine, a blocker of dehydropyridine-sensitive voltage-dependent L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels($VDCC_L$) in smooth muscle membrane. This $Ba^{2+}$-induced phasic contraction was significantly enhanced by $10{\mu}M$ cyclopiazonic acid(CPA) in the frequency and amplitude. Finally, regulation of $Ba^{2+}$-induced contraction was studied by FSK and ISO which are known as adenylyl cyclase activator and $\beta$-adrenergic receptor agonist, respectively. These drugs significantly suppressed the frequency and amplitude of $Ba^{2+}$-induced contraction(p<0.05). These results suggest that $Ba^{2+}$ produces phasic contraction in murine ureteral smooth muscle which can be regulated by FSK and $\beta$-adrenergic stimulation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.39-39
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• 2003

In our previous study, WEHI-231, an immature B cell line, showed intractable increase in [C $a^{2+}$]$_{c}$ after the B-cell receptor (BCR) ligation and treatment with 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborate (2-APB), which was never observed in Bal-17, a mature B cell line (Nam et al., 2003, FEBS Lett). In this study, a whole cell voltage clamp study revealed a specific expression of a novel type of $K^{+}$ current, namely voltage-independent background-type $K^{+}$ channels (IK-bg), in WEHI-231 cells. IK-bg was dramatically increase by the application of 2-APB (50 $\square$M), which induced severe hyperpolarization of WEHI-231 from -45 ㎷ to -90 ㎷, When dialyzed with $Mg^{2+}$ and ATP-free pipette solution, a spontaneous development of IK-bg and membrane hyperpolarization were observed. IK-bg was insensitive to classical $K^{+}$ channel blockers (TEA, glibenclamide, $Ba^{2+}$(1 mM)), whereas blocked by quinine and quinidine in a voltage-dependent manner ($IC_{50}$/=6~9 $\square$M at +60㎷). Phorbol myrstate, a PKC activator, decreased the amplitude of IK-bg. Extracellular acidification (pH 6.5) slightly inhibited IK-bg. Arachidonic acid, riluzole, or hyposmotic stress could not affect the IK-bg after the full development by the intracellular dialysis with Mg-ATP-free solution. In a cell-attached mode of single channel recording from WEHI231, we found two types of voltage-independent $K^{+}$ channels with unitary conductance of 300 pS and 120 pS, respectively. Both channels showed very short mean open times and their open probabilities were increase by the application of 2-APB. In Bal-17 cells, no such $K^{+}$ current was observed in 50 cells tested. In summary, WEHI-231 immature B cells express background $K^{+}$ channels. The pharmacological properties and the large unitary conductance suggest that novel types of two-pore domain $K^{+}$ channels (2-P-K channels) might be expressed in WEHI-231, which may provide an intriguing targets of signal transduction in the immature B lymphocytes.e B lymphocytes.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 1986

This study was undertaken to search for a new antiarrhythmic agent in natural plants. Extracts of Buxus microphylla var. koreana Nakai have been used as folk remedies of several diseases, including malaria and venereal disease, but any study on the pharmacological actions of this plant has not yet been carried out and its active ingredients have not been identified. In our laboratory, we isolated buxuletin (nonalkaloid) and cyclobuxine D (steroidal alkaloid) from Buxus microphylla var. koreana Nakai and reported their pharmacological actions: diuretic effects of buxuletin in rabbits and hypotensive effect of cyclobuxine D in rats. In the present study, we investigated the effect of cyclobuxine D on isolated frog heart and heart rate in urethane anesthetized rats. In order to clarify the mechanism of bradycardic effect of cyclobuxine D, we examined the changes of the ECG parameters (PR, QRS and R ${\alpha}$ T interval) produced by intravenous injection of cyclobuxine D in anesthetized rats. Cyclobuxine D depressed the contractile force in isolated frog heart and exerted a dose-dependent bradycardic effect in anesthetized rats. Intracerebroventricular injection of cyclobuxine D caused a fall in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate, but those effects were not significant. Cyclobuxine D prolonged the PR interval and RaT interval (${\alpha}$ Tindicates the apex of T), but was without significant effects on the duration of the QRS complex and PRc in urethane anesthetized rats.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.180-189
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• 2004

Although the outcome of cancer patients after cytotoxic chemotherapy is related diverse mechanisms, multidrug resistance (MDR) for chemotherapeutic drugs due to cellular P-glycoprotein (Pgp) or multidrug-resistance associated protein (MRP) is most important factor in the chemotherapy failure to cancer. A large number of pharmacologic compounds, including verapamil, quinidine, tamoxifen, cyclosporin A and quinolone derivatives have been reported to overcome MDR. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) are available for the detection of Pgp and MRP-mediated transporter. $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI and other $^{99m}Tc$-radiopharmaceuticals are substrates for Pgp and MRP, and have been used in clinical studies for tumor imaging, and to visualize blockade of PgP-mediated transport after modulation of Pgp pump. Colchicine, verapamil and daunorubicin labeled with $^{11}C$ have been evaluated for the quantification of Pgp-mediated transport with PET in vivo and reported to be feasible substrates with which to image Pgp function in tumors. Leukotrienes are specific substrates for MRP and $N-[^{11}C]acetyl-leukotriene$ E4 provides an opportunity to study MRP function non-invasively in vivo. SPECT and PET pharmaceuticals have successfully used to evaluate pharmacologic effects of MDR modulators. Imaging of MDR and reversal of MDR with bioluminescence in a living animal is also evaluated for future clinical trial. We have described recent advances in molecular imaging of MDR and reviewed recent publications regarding feasibility of SPECT and PET imaging to study the functionality of MDR transporters in vivo.