• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제12권6호
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• pp.349-355
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• 2008

To determine the peripheral mechanisms involved in thermal sweating during the hot summers in July before acclimatization and after acclimatization in September, we evaluated the sweating response of healthy subjects (n=10) to acetylcholine (ACh), a primary neurotransmitter involved in peripheral sudomotor sensitivity. The quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test (QSART) measures sympathetic C fiber function after iontophoresed ACh evokes a measurable reliable sweat response. The QSART, at 2 mA for 5 min with 10% ACh, was applied to determine the directly activated (DIR) and axon reflex-mediated (AXR) sweating responses during ACh iontophoresis. The AXR sweat onset-time by the axon reflex was $1.50{\pm}0.32$ min and $1.84{\pm}0.46$ min before acclimatization in July and after acclimatization in September, respectively (p<0.01). The sweat volume of the AXR(l) [during 5 min 10% iontophoresis] by the axon reflex was $1.45{\pm}0.53\;mg/cm^2$ and $0.98{\pm}0.24\;mg/cm^2$ before acclimatization in July and after acclimatization in September, respectively (p<0.001). The sweat volume of the AXR(2) [during 5 min post-iontophoresis] by the axon reflex was $2.06{\pm}0.24\;mg/cm^2$ and $1.39{\pm}0.32\;mg/cm^2$ before and after acclimatization in July and September, respectively (p<0.001). The sweat volume of the DIR was $5.88{\pm}1.33\;mg/cm^2$ and $4.98{\pm}0.94\;mg/cm^2$ before and after acclimatization in July and September, respectively (p<0.01). These findings suggest that lower peripheral sudomotor responses of the ACh receptors are indicative of a blunted sympathetic nerve response to ACh during exposure to hot summer weather conditions.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.9-14
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• 1995

The immune system is partially under the control of the sympathetic and parasymphathetic nervous systems through the regulatory feedback loop. Methamphetamine (MA) is a neurotoxic chemical which affects the neurotransmitter system. The objective of this study was to investigate the immunotoxic effect of MA on the major immune target organ and lymphocyte proliferation to the various mitogens. Female Balb/C mice, 15 to 20 g, were injected subcutaneously with 0, 0.5, or 5 mg MA/kg for 14 consecutive days. In MA treated mice, the body weight gain and relative spleen and thymus weight were decreased in doserelated manner. Histopathologically, there was a paucity of lymphold follicles and germinal centers in the spleen, and thymic cortical atrophy with lymphophagocytosis was prominent. Apoptosis also occurred in germinal centers of spleen and thymic cortex. The threshold and peak of lymphocyte proliferation at various concentration of mitogens showed similar patterns. However, the response to lipopolysaccaride (LPS) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) in the 5 mg MA/kg treated group showed threshold and peak proliferation at high concentration of mitogens (25${\mu}g$ LPS/ml for MA vs 15${\mu}g$ LPS/ml for control; 60${\mu}g$ PWM/ml for MA vs 45${\mu}g$ PWM/ml for control), which suggest that MA impairs T cell dependent-B cell function. This preliminary study indicated that MA affected the lymphold organs and immune function.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.1163-1170
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• 2017

Clostridium difficile releases two exotoxins, toxin A and toxin B, which disrupt the epithelial cell barrier in the gut to increase mucosal permeability and trigger inflammation with severe diarrhea. Many studies have suggested that enteric nerves are also directly involved in the progression of this toxin-mediated inflammation and diarrhea. C. difficile toxin A is known to enhance neurotransmitter secretion, increase gut motility, and suppress sympathetic neurotransmission in the guinea pig colitis model. Although previous studies have examined the pathophysiological role of enteric nerves in gut inflammation, the direct effect of toxins on neuronal cells and the molecular mechanisms underlying toxin-induced neuronal stress remained to be unveiled. Here, we examined the toxicity of C. difficile toxin A against neuronal cells (SH-SY5Y). We found that toxin A treatment time- and dose-dependently decreased cell viability and triggered apoptosis accompanied by caspase-3 activation in this cell line. These effects were found to depend on the up-regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the subsequent activation of p38 MAPK and induction of $p21^{Cip1/Waf1}$. Moreover, the N-acetyl-$\text\tiny L$-cysteine (NAC)-induced down-regulation of ROS could recover the viability loss and apoptosis of toxin A-treated neuronal cells. These results collectively suggest that C. difficile toxin A is toxic for neuronal cells, and that this is associated with rapid ROS generation and subsequent p38 MAPK activation and $p21^{Cip1/Waf1}$ up-regulation. Moreover, our data suggest that NAC could inhibit the toxicity of C. difficile toxin A toward enteric neurons.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.273-278
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• 2010

Tropical inhabitants are able to tolerate heat through permanent residence in hot and often humid tropical climates. The goal of this study was to clarify the peripheral mechanisms involved in thermal sweating pre and post exposure (heat-acclimatization over 10 days) by studying the sweating responses to acetylcholine (ACh), a primary neurotransmitter of sudomotor activity, in healthy subjects (n=12). Ten percent ACh was administered on the inner forearm skin for iontophoresis. Quantitative sudomotor axon reflex testing, after iontophoresis (2 mA for 5 min) with ACH, was performed to determine directly activated (DIR) and axon reflex-mediated (AXR) sweating during ACh iontophoresis. The sweat rate, activated sweat gland density, sweat gland output per single gland activated, as well as oral and skin temperature changes were measured. The post exposure activity had a short onset time (p<0.01), higher active sweat rate [(AXR (p<0.001) and DIR (p<0.001)], higher sweat output per gland (p<0.001) and higher transepidermal water loss (p<0.001) compared to the pre-exposure measurements. The activated sweat rate in the sudomotor activity increased the output for post-exposure compared to the pre-exposure measurements. The results suggested that post-exposure activity showed a higher active sweat gland output due to the combination of a higher AXR (DIR) sweat rate and a shorter onset time. Therefore, higher sudomotor responses to ACh receptors indicate accelerated sympathetic nerve responsiveness to ACh sensitivity by exposure to environmental conditions.

• 한국응급구조학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.165-173
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• 2019

Purpose: Norepinephrine (NE) is a neurotransmitter of the sympathetic nervous system. It is used for treating hypotension on distributive shock, central nervous system injury, or sepsis. There are several reports that state that alcohol suppresses vasoconstriction by NE. Thus, our hypothesis is that the effect of NE is reduced in alcohol-drinking patients with distributive shock. We investigated whether alcohol suppresses NE-induced contraction and aimed at finding a solution to this problem. Methods: For this study, we used the aorta from male Sprague-Dawley rats (9-11 weeks) and an isometric contraction system. Results: Our results showed that alcohol suppresses NE contraction and does not affect epinephrine induced a contraction. Moreover, in the presence of alcohol, a 7:3 mixture of NE and epinephrine induced a contractile force similar to that induced by NE under normal conditions. Conclusion: We found that the vasoconstrictive force of NE decreased in the blood vessels in which alcohol was present, which was not because endothelial cells. The reduced contractile force was most similar to that induced by a 7:3 mixture of NE and epinephrine.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2021

Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A), onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for temporary improvement of glabellar lines in patients 65 years and younger in 2002, and has also been used widely for aesthetic purposes such as hyperhidrosis, body shape contouring, and other noninvasive facial procedures. BoNT-A inhibits presynaptic exocytosis of acetylcholine (ACh)-containing vesicles into the neuromuscular junction at cholinergic nerve endings of the peripheral nervous system, thereby paralyzing skeletal muscles. ACh is the most broadly used neurotransmitter in the somatic nervous system, preganglionic and postganglionic fibers of parasympathetic nerves, and preganglionic fibers or postganglionic sudomotor nerves of sympathetic nerves. The scientific basis for using BoNT-A in various cosmetic procedures is that its function goes beyond the dual role of muscle paralysis and neuromodulation by inhibiting the secretion of ACh. Although the major target organs for aesthetic procedures are facial expression muscles, skeletal body muscles, salivary glands, and sweat glands, which are innervated by the somatic or autonomic nerves of the peripheral cholinergic nerve system, few studies have attempted to directly explain the anatomy of the areas targeted for injection by addressing the neural physiology and rationale for specific aesthetic applications of BoNT-A therapy. In this article, we classify the various cosmetic uses of BoNT-A according to the relevant component of the peripheral nervous system, and describe scientific theories regarding the anatomy and physiology of the cholinergic nervous system. We also review critical physiological factors and conditions influencing the efficacy of BoNT-A for the rational aesthetic use of BoNT-A. We hope that this comprehensive review helps promote management policies to support long-term, safe, successful practice. Furthermore, based on this, we look forward to developing and expanding new advanced indications for the aesthetic use of BoNT-A in the future.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.87-100
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• 1994

도파민 함유세포가 교감신경절에 존재하는 것으로 알려져 있으나, 말초에서 신경전달 물질로써 그의 역할과 작용기전에 대해서 아직까지 알려진 바가 많지 않다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 도파민 $D_2$-수용체의 선택적인 효능약으로 알려진 apomorphine이 흰쥐 적출 관류 부신에서 카테콜아민(CA)분비작용에 미치는 영향을 연구코자 시도하여 다음과 같은 연구결과를 얻었다. $10{\um}M\;Apomorphine$의 비교적 낮은 농도를 부신정맥내에 20분간 관류 하였을때 5.32mM ACh, 56mM KCl, $100{\mu}M$ DMPP 및 $100{\mu}M$ McN-A-343 등의 투여에 의한 CA 분비작용이 의의 있게 감소되었다. Apomorphine 농도를 $30{\mu}M$로 증가시켜 관류하였을때 상기약물에 의한 CA 분비작용은 더욱 억제되었으며 또한 Bay-K-8644에 의한 $100{\mu}M$의 고농도로 전처치 하였을때, ACh, excess $K^+$, DMPP 및 McN-A-343에 의한 CA분비작용은 현저히 차단되었다. 도파민 $D_2$-수용체 차단제인 metoclopramide $(30{\mu}M)$으로 20분간 관류 하였을때 ACh, DMPP 및 McN-A-343에 의한 CA 분비작용은 유의하게 억제된 효과를 나타내었으나 $excess\;{K^+}$에 의한 CA분비작용은 별다른 영향을 받지 않았다. 그러나 metoclopramide $(30{\mu}M)$ 존재하에서 $30{\mu}M$ apomorphine으로 20분간 전처치 하였을때 $excess{K^+}$ 뿐만 아니라 DMPP의 CA 분비작용은 별다른 변화를 받지 않았다. 이상과 같은 실험 연구결과를 종합하여 보면, apomorphine은 cholinergic receptor stimulation과 membrane depolarization에 의한 CA 분비작용을 용량의존적으로 억제하여, 이러한 작용은 억제성 도파민 수용체를 활성화 시킴으로써 흰쥐 부신 수질의 chromaffin cell 내로 칼슘의 유입을 억제하여 나타나는 것으로 사료된다.