• 약학회지
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.535-540
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• 1999

Glutamate (Glu) receptor-mediated excitoxicity has been implicated in many acute and chronic types of neurological disorders. Exposure of mature rat cortical neurons (15-18 days in culture) to the various concentrations of Glu resulted in a marked neuronal death, whereas immature rat cortical neurons (4∼5 days in culture) were resistant to the Glu-induced toxicity. Glu receptor subtype-specific agonists showed differential extent of toxicity in the immature neurons. The neurons treated with NMDA or kainate (KA) did not exhibit damage. However, quisqualate (QA) treatment induced a considerable cell death (36.1%) in immature enurons. The non-NMDA antagonist DNQX did not reduce this response. Interestingly, the QA-induced toxicity was potentiated by spermine in a concentration-dependent manner. Again, the spermine-enhanced damage was not altered by the polyamine antagonist ifenprodil. Taken together, unlike NMDA or KA, QA can induce neurotoxicity in immature rat cortical neurons and the QA-induced toxicity was potentiated by spermine. The lack of antagonizing effects of DNQX and ifenprodil on QA-induced toxicity and the potentiated toxicity by spermine, respectively, implies that both QA receptor and the polyamine site of NMDA receptor may not mediate the neurotoxicity observed in this study, and that a distinct mechanism(s) may be involved in excitotoxicity in immature neurons.

• 약학회지
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.444-449
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• 1995

Primary cultures of rat cortical and chicken embryonic brain cells were employed to establish a reliable screening method for natural products blocldng or enhancing glutamate-induced neurotoxicity. Exposure of primary cultured rat cortical cells or chicken embryonic brain cells to high dose of glutamate resulted in the fragmentation of neutites and consequent neuronal death. The level of cytoplasmic lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), indicator for cell survival in cultures, was significantly reduced at exposure to glutamate. For the practical application of the methods, series of concentrations of plants extracts and positive control were applied prior to the glutamate insult on primary cultures of rat cortical and chicken embryonic, brain cells. Relative LDH level in cells was measured for the estimation of the effect of the test materials on the glutamatergic neurons. The validity of the present screening method for natural products acting on glutamatergic neurons was examined with dextromethorphan, a known glutamatergic antagonist. The treatment of 100 $\mu{M}$ dextromethorphan prevented the reduction of LDH in rat cortical and chicken embryonic brain cells caused by glutamate insult keeping 60% and 90% of LDH level in normal control, respectively. Above results indicate that primary cultures of rat cortical and chicken embryonic brain cells could be proper systems for the screening of potential natural agents acting on glutamatergic, neurons. Between the two types of cultures, primary culture of chicken embryonic brain cells seemed to be a better system for the primary screening, since it is technically easier and economical compared to that of rat cortical cells.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.169-175
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• 1996

The reactivity of the sulfhydryl (thiol) group of homocysteine has been associated with an Increased risk of atherosclerosis, thrombosis and stroke. Thiols also react with nitric oxide (NO, an endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) ), forming S-nitrosothiols that have been reported to have potent vasodilatory and antiplatelet effects and been expected to decrease adverse vascular effects of homocysteine. The present study was aimed to Investigate whether the S-nitrosation of homocysteine modulates the neurotoxic effects of homocysteine. An 18 hour-exposure of cultured rat cortical neurons to homocysteine ( >1 mM) resulted in a significant neuronal cell death. At comparable concentrations ( <10 mM), however, S-nitrosohomocysteine did not induce neuronal cell death. Furthermore, S-nitrosohomocysteirle partially blocked NMDA-mediated neurotoxicity. S-nitrosohomocysteine also decreased NMDA-mediated increases in intracellular calcium concentration. The present data indicate that in brain nitric oxide produced from neuronal and nonneuronal cells can modulate the potential, adverse properties of homocysteine.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.311-317
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• 2008

Pathophysiological oxidative stress results in neuronal cell death mainly due to the generation reactive oxygen species (ROS). In low oxygen situation such as hypoxia and ischemia, excessive ROS is generated. Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) is a traditional medicine used for the incipient stroke. In this report we show that CR water extracts $(1\;{\mu}g/ml)$ exhibited protective effects of neuronal cell death in a hypoxic model (2% $O_2/5%\;CO_2,\;37^{\circ}C,$ 3 hr) of cultured rat cortical cells. We further show that CR water extracts significantly reduced the intensity of green fluorescence after staining with $H_2DCF-DA$ on one hour and three days after hypoxic shock and in normoxia as well. Our results indicate that CR water extracts prevent neuronal death by suppressing ROS generation.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.835-845
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of FS for the modulation of ROS and MMP in a hypoxic model of cultured rat cortical cells. Methods : For the effect of FS on the viability, FS was added to culture media (neurobasal supplemented with B27) and cell viability was measured by LDH assay. To investigate the effects of FS on ROS generation and MMP preservation, cells grown in FS-containing media were given a hypoxic shock(2% $O_2/5%$ $CO_2$, $37^{\circ}C$, 3 hrs) on DIV 10, stained with $H_2DCF-DA$(10 nM) and JC-1, respectively, and observed by fluorescent microscope. Results : 1. FS has a protective effect of cortical cells in both normoxia and hypoxia. 2. FS reduced the generation of ROS and this reduction was especially significant at 3 days after hypoxia. 3. FS was effective for the maintenance of MMP in hypoxia, and this efficacy was especially significant at 3 days after hypoxia. Conclusions : Taken together, these results indicate that FS attenuates ROS generation and MMP dissipation, which eventually protects from neuronal cell death in hypoxia.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.150-161
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• 2007

Acori graminei Rhizomn (AGR) is a perennial herb which has been used clinically as a traditional oriental medicine against stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular dementia. We investigated the effect of AGR on the modulation of gene expression profile in a hypoxic model of cultured rat cortical cells. Rat cerebrocortical cells were grown in Neurobasal medium. On DIV12, cells were treated with AGR $(10ug/m\ell)$, given a hypoxic shock (2% $O_2$, 3 hr) on DIV14, and total RNAs were prepared one day after shock. Microarray analyses indicated that the expression levels of most genes were altered within the global M values +0.5 and -0.5, i.e., 40% increase or decrease. There were 750 genes which were upregulated by < global M +0,2, while 700 genes were downregulated by > global M -0.2. The overall profile of gene expression suggests that AGR suppresses apoptosis (upregulation of anti-apopotic genes such as TEGT, TIEG, Dad, p53, and downregulation of pro-apopotic genes such as DAPK, caspase 2, pdcd8), ROS (upregulation of RARa, AhR), and that AGR has neurotrophic effects (upregulation of Aktl, Akt2). These results provide a platform for investigation of the molecular mechanism of the effect of AGR in neuroprotection.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권7호
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• pp.905-916
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• 2009

본 연구는 저산소증에서 반하가 대뇌신경세포의 유전자 표현에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 배양한 $E_{18}$의 흰쥐 대뇌 신경세포를 반하로 처리하고, 저산소증을 유도한 후 microarray 기법으로 유전자 표현 변화를 조사하였다. Microarray 결과 tubb5, tgfa, ptpn11, n-ras, pdgfa 등 세포의 성장 분화에 관여하는 유전자들의 표현이 증가하였으며, 세포 자연사를 억제하는 mcl-1 유전자의 표현 또한 증가하였다. 한편 세포 자연사를 유도하는 tieg 유전자는 표현이 감소하였다(Fig. 3). 반하에 의하여 수많은 유전자의 표현이 변화되었고, 세포사를 촉진하는 유전자의 표현이 크게 증가되는 경우(예, alox12, faf1)도 있어 본 연구결과만으로 일반적인 결론을 유도하기는 어려웠다. 그러나 대략적으로 반하는 저산소증에서 주로 세포의 성장과 분화를 유지하고, 세포 자연사를 방지하는 유전자들의 표현을 증가시켜 신경 세포사를 보호하는 것으로 이해된다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.756-764
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• 2009

Scutellariae baicalensis GEORGt Acorus gramineus SOLAND and Gastrodia elata BLUME are traditional medicines used in the treatment of incipient stoke. In this study we investigated their effects on various aspects of neuronal differentiation in single or composite forms. Water-extracts of these medicines showed neuroprotective effects on cultured rat cortical neurons in normoxia and hypoxia. To understand the mechanism for neuroprotection we carried out various cell biological assays. They stimulated initial differentiation of neuronal development (transition from stage 1 to 2), and increased the number of spines and the length and number of dendritic processes. These effects were best manifested in the experimental group, which were given a mixture of the three kinds of extracts (p<0.01). To assess improvement of brain functions we carried out Morris water-maze tests for the mice that were fed on these extracts instead of water for 4 weeks. The experimental groups, especially those which were given the mixture of the three kinds of extract, showed significant (p<0.01) enhancement in memory as early as one day after the learning trial. These results indicate that these three kinds of extracts have synergistic effects on neuronal protection and improvement of brain functions.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제17권5호
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• pp.706-713
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• 2007

Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI(SB) is used in oriental medicine for the treatment of incipient strokes. Although it has been reported that SB is neuroprotective in a hypoxia model, its mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effect of SB on the modulation of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1), which has important biological roles in regulating mitochondrial heme protein turnover and in protecting against conditions such as hypoxia, neurodegenerative diseases, or sepsis. Rat cerebrocortical day In vitro(DIV)12 cells were grown in neurobasal medium. On DIV12 cells were treated with SB($20{\mu}g/ml$) and given a hypoxic shock ($2%\;O_2/5%\;CO_2,\;3\;hr$) on DIV14. In situ hybridization results revealed that SB upregulated HO-1 mRNA in neuronal dendrites in both normoxia and hypoxia(38.5% and 59.2%, respectively). At the protein level, SB upregulated HO-1 in the neuronal soma in both normoxia and hypoxia(22.4% and 15.7%, respectively). Interestingly, most significant increase was associated with astrocytes, which increased HO-1 protein by 77.5% compared to SB-untreated culture. These results indicate that SB upregulates both neuronal and glial HO-1 expression, which contributes to the neuroprotection efficacy in hypoxia).

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권5호
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• pp.598-606
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• 2009

본 연구는 저산소증에서 반하가 대뇌신경세포에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 $E_18$의 배양 흰쥐 대뇌신경세포를 반하로 전처리한 후, LDH assay와 tryphan blue 염색으로 세포 생존율을 측정하였고, $H_2DCF-DA$, JC-1 염색으로 MMP, ROS 및 RNS 변화를 조사하였다. 이에 반하는 저산소증으로 유발된 대뇌신경세포를 2.5 ${\mu}g/ml$까지 농도의존적으로 세포 생존률을 증가시켰으며, 시간에 따른 생존율을 살펴보면 저산소증 유발 후 1 시간에는 별 차이를 보이지 않았지만 3 일, 5 일 후에는 각각 10.2%, 17.8%로 매우 유의한 증가를 보였다. 저산소증에서 반하가 MMP에 미치는 영향을 보기 위해 저산소증 유발직전과 유발 후 1 일, 3 일, 5 일에 JC-1으로 염색하고 미토콘드리아의 염색강도를 측정한 결과 적색형광은 실험군에서 전반적으로 대조군에 비하여 강하게 염색되는 미토콘드리아의 비율을 증가시킨 반면 녹색형광은 대조군과 뚜렷한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 즉 반하가 저산소증으로 유발된 MMP의 소실을 감소시킴을 알 수 있다. 또한 반하는 전반적으로 $H_2DCF-DA$에 염색되는 세포 비율을 현저하게 낮추는 것으로 나타나 저산소증으로 유발된 ROS 및 RNS의 생성을 유의성 있게 감소시켰다. 따라서 반하는 저산소증에서 ROS의 생성을 억제하고 MMP의 소실을 막아 세포의 에너지고갈을 방지함으로서 신경세포를 보호하는 것으로 이해된다.