• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
• /
• 2001.03a
• /
• pp.51-51
• /
• 2001

Cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is a satiety factor that is regulated by leptin. It was reported that the mice intracerebroventricularly injected with CART showed behavioral changes resembled with the typical behavioral alterations found in the mice carrying disorders in the brain serotonergic (5-HT) system. Hence, this study was conducted to find out the relationships between CART and 5-HT. We first examined the mRNA levels of CART after the injections of para-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA, 300 mg/kg i.p., single injection or daily for three consecutive days) in the rat brains by in situ hybridization using the mouse CART cDNA probe cloned in our laboratory. Systemic administrations of pCPA, a potent inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase, the rate limiting enzyme of 5-HT biosynthesis, acutely depletes the brain 5-HT transporter (5-HTT) in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), which reuptakes terminal 5-HT. Results indicated that the mRNA level of CART significantly decreased in the arcuate nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, and lateral hypothalamic nucleus by three days of daily injection with pCPA with no noticeable change detected 24 hrs after the single injection. The message levels of 5-HTT in DRN decreased in both single and three days of injections. Secondly, to investigate whether CART affect to 5-HT, mouse genomic CART gene, which is consist of 3 exons and 2 introns and mouse neurofilament light (NF-L) chain promoter were cloned. Then, we constructed neuron specific expression vector, which was transfected into HeLa cell using lipid-mediated transfection system. Expression of GFP and CART linked to NF-L-chain promoter in the transfected HeLa cell were detected by using fluorescent microscope and RT-PCR. These results confirmed normal expression of DNA constructs in vitro. Then, to increase brain specific expression of CART in vivo transgenic mice carrying CART gene controlled the deleted NF-L-chain promoter were generated by the DNA microinjection into pronuclei of fertilized embryos. Transgenic mice were detected by Southern blot. Further study is necessary to examine CART expression and 5-HTT in these transgenic mice. Therefore, these results suggest that there maybe a positive molecular correlation between CART and 5-HT in responding to the stimuli.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.280-320
• /
• 2023

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the antidepressant effects of capsaicin in chronic depressive rats and elucidate the mechanism underlying its effects. Methods: Male Wistar rats (280~320 g, 8 weeks of age) were subjected to depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stresses. The rats were exposed to 8 kinds of stresses for 8 weeks. In the last 2 weeks, fluoxetine or capsaicin was injected subcutaneously. The dose of fluoxetine was 10 mg/kg (body weight), while the doses of capsaicin consisted of low (1 mg/kg), middle (5 mg/kg), and high (10 mg/kg). The forced swim test (FST) was conducted to evaluate the immobility time of rats. The immobility time indicates despair, one of symptoms of depression. The change of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) in the dorsal raphe was investigated using immunohistochemistry. In the hippocampus cornu ammonis (CA) 1 and 3, glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression was measured. Results: The immobility time in the FST was significantly lower (p < .05) in the low-dose (M = 32.40 ± 13.41 seconds) and middle-dose (M = 28.48 ± 19.57 seconds) groups than in the non-treated depressive rats (M = 90.19 ± 45.34 seconds). The amount of TPH in the dorsal raphe was significantly higher (p < .05) in the middle-dose (M = 249.17 ± 35.02) and high-dose (M = 251.0 ± 56.85) groups than in the non-treated depressive rats (M = 159.78 ± 41.16). However, GR expression in the hippocampus CA1 and CA3 did not show significant differences between the non-treated depressive rats and the capsaicin-injected rats. Conclusion: This study suggests that capsaicin produces an antidepressant-like effect on chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression in rats via the serotonin biosynthesis pathway.

• Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.21-33
• /
• 2019

Objectives: The current study covers a secondary revision of the guidelines for the pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia issued by the Korean Medication Algorithm for Schizophrenia (KMAP-SCZ) 2001, specifically for co-existing symptoms and antipsychotics-related side-effects in schizophrenia patients. Methods: An expert consensus regarding the strategies of pharmacotherapy for positive symptoms of schizophrenia, co-existing symptoms of schizophrenia, and side-effect of antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia was retrieved by responses obtained using a 30-item questionnaire. Results: For the co-existing symptoms, agitation could be treated with oral or intramuscular injection of benzodiazepine or antipsychotics; depressive symptoms with atypical antipsychotics and adjunctive use of antidepressant; obsessive-compulsive symptoms with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and antipsychotics other than clozapine and olanzapine; negative symptoms with atypical antipsychotics or antidepressants; higher risk of suicide with clozapine; comorbid substance abuse with use of naltrexone or bupropion/varenicline, respectively. For the antipsychotics-related side effects, anticholinergics (extrapyramidal symptom), propranolol and benzodiazepine (akathisia), topiramate or metformin (weight gain), change of antipsychotics to aripiprazole (hyperprolactinemia and prolonged QTc) or clozapine (tardive dyskinesia) could be used. Conclusion: Updated pharmacotherapy strategies for co-existing symptoms and antipsychotics-related side effects in schizophrenia patients as presented in KMAP-SCZ 2019 could help effective clinical decision making of psychiatrists as a preferable option.

• Mood & Emotion
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.13-21
• /
• 2012

Suicide is a complex behavior associated with various neurobiological and psychosocial factors. It is considered that genetic polymorphism combined with environmental stress such as child-adolescent trauma make differences in neurobiological systems, which cause psychiatric disorders or pessimistic personality, impulse-aggressive behaviors, lack of judgment, and finally result in suicidal behavior. Much progress in the neurobiology of suicide has been made over the several decades. There seems to be a hereditary disposition to suicide independent of psychiatric disorder. The changes in neurotransmitters, neurohormones, neurotrophic factors, cytokines, lipid metabolisms related with their genetic polymorphism can contribute to disturbance of signal transductions and neuronal circuits vulnerable to suicide. It is likely that the main factors are dysfunctions of serotonin (5-HT) and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Our understanding about the neurobiology of suicide is still limited. However, clinical practice could be assisted by neurobiological findings capable of making the detection of risk populations with higher sensitivity and the development of new treatment interventions. The settlement of biological markers in suicidal behaviors and their relationships is required.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.522-535
• /
• 2024

Objective: Transition period is considered from 3 weeks prepartum to 3 weeks postpartum, characterized with dramatic events (endocrine, metabolic, and physiological) leading to occurrence of production diseases (negative energy balance/ketosis, milk fever etc). The objectives of our study were to analyze the periodic concentration of serum beta-hydroxy butyric acid (BHBA), glucose and oxidative markers along with identification, and validation of the putative markers of negative energy balance in buffaloes using in-silico and quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. Methods: Out of 20 potential markers of ketosis identified by in-silico analysis, two were selected and analyzed by qRT-PCR technique (upregulated; acetyl serotonin o-methyl transferase like and down regulated; guanylate cyclase activator 1B). Additional two sets of genes (carnitine palmotyl transferase A; upregulated and Insulin growth factor; downregulated) that have a role of hepatic fatty acid oxidation to maintain energy demands via gluconeogenesis were also validated. Extracted cDNA (complementary deoxyribonucleic acid) from the blood of the buffaloes were used for validation of selected genes via qRTPCR. Concentrations of BHBA, glucose and oxidative stress markers were identified with their respective optimized protocols. Results: The analysis of qRT-PCR gave similar trends as shown by in-silico analysis throughout the transition period. Significant changes (p<0.05) in the levels of BHBA, glucose and oxidative stress markers throughout this period were observed. This study provides validation from in-silico and qRT-PCR assays for potential markers to be used for earliest diagnosis of negative energy balance in buffaloes. Conclusion: Apart from conventional diagnostic methods, this study improves the understanding of putative biomarkers at the molecular level which helps to unfold their role in normal immune function, fat synthesis/metabolism and oxidative stress pathways. Therefore, provides an opportunity to discover more accurate and sensitive diagnostic aids.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
• /
• v.37 no.3 s.122
• /
• pp.171-181
• /
• 2007

Objective: The present study was aimed at an analytical formulation of the micro-implant related torque as a function of implant size, i.e. the diameter and length, screw size, and the bony resistance at the implant to bone interface. Methods: The resistance at the implant to cancellous bone interface $(S_{can})$ was assumed to be in the range of 1.0-2.5 MPa. Micro-implant model of Absoanchor (Dentos Inc. Daegu, Korea) was used in the course of the analysis. Results: The results showed that the torque was a strong function of diameter, length, and the screw height. As the diameter increased and as the screw size decreased, the torque index decreased. However the strength index was a different function of the implant and bone factors. The whole Absoanchor implant models were within the safe region when the resistance at the implant/cancellous bone $(=S_{can})$ was 1.0 or less. Conclusion: For bone with $S_{can}$ of 1.5 MPa, the cervical diameter should be greater than 1.5 mm if micro-implant models of 12 mm long are to be placed. For $S_{can}$ of 2.0 MPa, micro-implant models of larger cervical diameter than 1.5 mm were found to be safe only if the endosseous length was less than 8 mm.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.260-266
• /
• 2020

Alcohol impacts many central nervous systems, such as dopamine, serotonin, opioids, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), leading to addiction. Many studies have investigated the relationship between GABA and alcoholism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of GABA high and low rice intake on the alcohol intake behavior of mice. Black sticky rice with giant embryo (BSRGE), black sticky rice (BSR), giant embryo rice (GER), and rice (Rice) were germinated for 48 hr in brown rice. The embryos were then collected and used in the study. The diets were fed to respective C57BL/6 mouse groups ad libitum for 16 days and investigated for 2 hr alcohol intake, 22 hr water intake, 24 hr feed intake, and body weight. As a result of the repeated measure of ANOVA for the daily change of alcohol intake for 2 hr daily between the BSRGE and BSR groups, there was a significant difference in the number of days of intake (DF = 7, F = 4.812, p = 0.026). A significant daily decrease in alcohol intake was observed in the BSRGE group compared to the BSR group. This reduction was consistent from Day 10 to Day 16. Alcohol consumption also significantly decreased in the GER group compared to the Rice group. This decrease was observed from Day 12 to Day 16. In conclusion, BSRGE and GER resulted in decreased alcohol intake in C57BL/6 mice compared to BSR and rice. This suggests that BSRGE may prevent relapse in patients with alcohol use disorder.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.223-230
• /
• 2007

We have previously reported that green tea catechins(GTC) displayed potent antithrombotic effect, which was due to the antiplatelet activity. In the present study, the antiplatelet activity of each green tea catechin components was compared in vitro. Galloylated catechins including (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (-)-gallocatechin gallate (GCG), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG) and (-)-catechin gallate (CG), significantly inhibited collagen $(5{\mu}g/mL)-induced$ rabbit platelet aggregation with $IC_{50}$ values of 79.8, 63.0, 168.2 and $67.3{\mu}M$, respectively. EGCC GCG and CG also significantly inhibited arachidonic acid (AA, $100{\mu}M$)-induced rabbit platelet aggregation with $IC_{50}$ values of 98.9, 200.0 and $174.3{\mu}M$, respectively. However catechins without gallate moiety showed little inhibitory effects against rabbit platelet aggregation induced by collagen or AA compared with galloylated catechins. These observations suggest that the presence of gallate moiety at C-3 position may be essential to the antiplatelet activity of catechins and the presence of B ring galloyl structure may also contribute to the antiplatelet activity of GTC. In line with the inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation, EGCG caused concentration-dependent decreases of cytosolic calcium mobilization, AA liberation and serotonin secretion. In contrast, epigallocatechin (EGC), a structural analogue of EGCG lacking a galloyl group in the 3' position, although slightly inhibited collagen-stimulated cytosolic calcium mobilization, failed to affect other signal transductions as EGCG in activated platelets. Taken together, these observations suggest that the antiplatelet activity of EGCG may be due to inhibition of arachidonic acid liberation and inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization and that the antiplatelet of EGCG is enhanced by the presence of a gallate moiety esterified at carbon 3 on the C ring.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.730-737
• /
• 2006

High performance liquid chromatographic methods for the simultaneous determination of 12 biogenic amines were developed and contents of biogenic amines in 23 varieties of Korean commercial fermented food were analyzed. Dansyl derivatives of biogenic amine were very stable and had good peak resolution. Except agmatine, the recovery of biogenic amines from soybean paste with extraction of 0.1 N HC1 added biogenic amines to soybean paste was greater 85%. The calibration curve showed good linearity over a concentration range up to 50 ${\mu}g/mL$. In the determination of biogenic amine level in Korean commercial fermented foods, doenjang and chungkukjang (fermented soybean pastes), soy sauce, anchovy and pacific sand lance liquid jeotkal (fermented fish sauce products), and cabbage kimchi had high level biogenic amines. Especially, traditional doenjang had a histamine (HIS) level of 952.0 mg/kg, a tyramine (TYR) level of 1,430.7 mg/kg. Most cheese had low level of biogenic amines, but one Gouda cheese had a tyramine (TYR) level of 97.5 mg/kg. A low level of biogenic amines was detected in wines, beer, yoghurt, and sausage. Putrescine (PUT), cadaverine (CAD), tryptamine (TRY), histamine (HIS), tyramine (TYR), and 2-phenylethylamine (PHE) were mainly formed in fermented foods by the action of microorganism, so their levels were high with a range. On the other hand, spermidine (SPD), spermine(SPM), serotonin (SER), noradrenaline (NOR), and dopamine (DOP) were formed originally via biosynthesis with consequent low level.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.75-84
• /
• 2005

Objectives : This study was conducted to look over the current status of psychiatric consultation in a general hospital. Methods : We analyzed 664 medical records : 317 in 2002 and 347 in 1997, and compared the records of 1997 and 2002. Results 1) The average age of the patients increased from 45.9 years(1997) to 53.2 years of age (2002). Dividing the referred patients into 3 age-brackets as below 40, between 40 and 60, and above 60, the number of patients in the age group above 60 was significantly increased, more prominently in women. 2) Overall consultation rate was 2.29% in 2002 and 2.2% in 1997 .44.2% and 57.1% of the whole referrals were from the department of internal medicine in each year, and the department of rehabilitation medicine was leading in consultation rate in both years. 3) 'Mood disorders' and 'Substance related disorders' were the most frequent diagnoses in 2002 and 1997 respectively. 4) Use of psychotropic drugs was the most frequent recommendations of psychiatric consultation, in both years, and the most frequently prescribed drugs were anti-anxiety drugs in both years. The use of SSRI and atypical anti-psychotics were increased, while the use of typical anti-psychotics was decreased significantly in 2002. Conclusion : In 2002, compared with 1997, the average age of the patients was increased, and the consultation of the patients with the diagnosis of 'mood disorders' and 'cognitive disorders' was done more frequently than in 1997. The recommendation to use psychotropic drugs was well accepted, but the concern to diagnostic procedure was relatively low.