• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.55-61
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• 2015

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the effects of Shingi-whan(SG) on the male reproductive and sexual function, so we measured the spermatogenesis and the testicular toxicity in mice and the vasorelaxation in isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle. Methods : To evaluate effect on the spermatogenesis in mice, we prepared two groups, control group and SG group that was orally administered SG(1,000mg/kg) for 20 days, and compared. To analyze testicular toxicity in mice, we also prepared two groups, doxo group that was injected with doxorubicin (3mg/kg) on three times and doxo + SG group that was injected with doxorubicin and SG for 20 days, and compared. To investigate sexual function of SG in mice, we prepared three groups, normal group and aging elicited group consisting of 18-month-old mice, SG treated aging group that was orally administered SG for 60 days, and compared using histochemical staining on mice corpus cavernous tissues. In order to define the relaxation effects of SG, rabbit corpus cavernous tissues were prepared in $2{\times}2{\times}6mm$ sized strip. Then the dose-dependent relaxation responses of SG at 0.01-3.0 mg/ml in contracted strips induced by phenylephrine were measured. Results : The sperm density in dutus epididymis and the diameter of seminiferous tubules of SG group was significantly increased when compared to control group. The testicular weight and the diameter and height of epithelial layer of seminiferous tubules of doxo + SG group was significantly increased when compared to doxo group. The cavernous strips were significantly relaxed by SG extract In SG treated aging group, ratio of smooth muscles to collagen fibers and red blood cell count in venous sinus was increased as compared to aging elicited group. Conclusions : Our findings have shown that SG extract have effect on spermatogenesis and mitigating effect on doxo-induced testicular toxicity. Further, it also have the vasorelaxant effect on rabbit corpus cavernosum.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.53-68
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to characterize the genetic contribution to endothelial adaptation to exercise training. Vasoreactivity was assessed in aortas from four inbred mouse strains (129S1, B6, NON, and SJL) after 4 weeks of moderate intensity continuous exercise training (MOD), high intensity interval training (HIT) or in sedentary controls (SED). Intrinsic variations in endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation (EDR) to acetylcholine (ACh) as well as vasocontractile responses were observed across SED groups. For responses to exercise training, there was a significant interaction between mouse strain and training intensity on EDR. Exercise training had no effect on EDR in aortas from 129S1 and B6 mice. In NON, EDR was improved in aortas from MOD and HIT compared with respective SED, accompanied by diminished responses to PE in those groups. Interestingly, EDR was impaired in aorta from SJL HIT compared with SED. The transcriptional activation of endothelial genes was also influenced by the interaction between mouse strain and training intensity. The number of genes altered by HIT was greater than MOD, and there was little overlap between genes altered by HIT and MOD. HIT was associated with gene pathways for inflammatory responses. NON MOD genes showed enrichment for vessel growth pathways. These findings indicate that exercise training has non-uniform effects on endothelial function and transcriptional activation of endothelial genes depending on the interaction between genetic background and training intensity.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.197-200
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• 2008

The antioxidant activity of Isaria (Paecilomyces) sinclairii was determined by measuring its radical scavenging effect on 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. The n- BuOH extract of P. sinclairii showed strong scavenging activity to DPPH. The anti-oxidant potential of the individual fraction was in the order of ethylacetate> n- BuOH>chloroform>n-hexane. The n-BuOH soluble fraction exhibiting strong anti-oxidant activity was further purified by repeated silica gel column chromatography. N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)adenosine (HEA) was isolated as one of the active principles from the n-BuOH layer. The n-BuOH layer, particularly HEA, did not increase the level of nitric oxide (NO) production in vascular endothelial cells that might be related to vasorelaxation such as the action of viagra. In addition, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels showed little or no increase compared with control group with the treatment of I. sinclairii.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2008

This study examined the mechanisms underlying the effects of the vasorelaxation active substance(VAS), dimethyladenosine-5'-L-arabinose, and its partial purification fraction on nitric oxide synthase in improving erectile dysfunction with particular focus on the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathways. Two rat models, 9-month-old SD rats and 11-month-old SD rats, were given VAS(40 mg/kg per day) for 4 days, The aqueous fraction of silworm male pupae extract; semi-purified VAS(100 mg/kg per day) for 10 days, respectively. The NOS activities of the following three enzymes were examined: neuronal NO synthase(nNOS), inducible NOS(iNOS), endothelial NOS(eNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor on endothelial cells(VEGF) and anti-inflammation effect of Tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$. The results showed increases in the nitric oxide synthase activities. Western blotting of the tissue homogenate showed an increase in the nNOS level in the brain and tongue, and an increase in the endothelial NO synthase(eNOS) level in penis. However, there was little association with VEGF production in HUVEC endothelial cells and no relationship with TNF-$\alpha$ which showed low levels.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.37 no.1 s.144
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• pp.56-59
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• 2006

The vascular relaxant effets of Alpinia officinarum(Zingiberaceae) were evaluated on isolated thoracic aorta from rats. The methanolic extract of rhizome of Alpinia officinarum caused a concentration-dependent relaxation of rat aortic preparations precontracted with $0.3{\mu}M$ phenylephrine, The intensive investigation of the extract by way of activity-guided fractionation led us to yield three kind of active components, galangin(1), kaempferide(2), and kaempferol(3), which were responsible for the vasodilating property of the extract. Stuctures of the isolated active components were established by chemical and spectroscopic means.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2011

The aim of present study was to investigate the possible influence and related mechanism of resveratrol on U-46619 (high concentration)-induced vasoconstriction. Agonist-induced vascular smooth muscle contractions involve the activation of thick or thin filament pathway. However, there are no reports addressing the question whether this pathway is involved in resveratrol-induced relaxation in rat aortae contracted with high U-46619. We hypothesized that MEK or Rho-kinase inhibition plays a role in vascular relaxation evoked by resveratrol in rat aortae. Endothelium-denuded arterial rings from male Sprague-Dawley rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded using a computerized data acquisition system. Resveratrol fully inhibited U-46619 in low concentration-induced contraction regardless of endothelial function. However, resveratrol partially decreased U-46619 in high concentration-induced contraction regardless of endothelial function. Interestingly, only in U-46619 (high concentration)-induced contraction, no significant decrease was observed in phospho-ERK1/2 levels and slight decrease in phospho-MYPT1 levels suggesting that additional pathways different from them or endothelial nitric oxide synthesis might be involved in the vasorelaxation. In conclusion, in high U-46619-contracted rat aortae, resveratrol showed relaxation response regardless of endothelial function significantly but slightly decreasing MYPT1 phosphorylation rather than ERK1/2 phosphorylation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.39-47
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• 2023

Objectives : The objective of present study was to investigate the vasorelaxant effects of 20 Korean native plants on isolated rat thoracic aorta precontracted with phenylephrine (PE). Methods : Dried 20 plant materials were extracted 3 times with water, ethanol, or methanol for 3h in the reflux apparatus at 70 ± 5℃. Male SD rats were anesthetized by ether inhalation, and their aorta rings were isolated and placed in 10 ㎖ Krebs Henseleit (KH) buffer. While using an isolated organ-chamber technique, the aorta rings were maintained by bubbling with a gas mixture of 95% O₂-5% CO₂ at 37℃. Changes in isometric tension of aorta rings were recorded via isometric transducers connected to a Powerlab Data Acquisition System. Results : Among the 20 native plants, Chrysanthemum indicum L. flower, Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. rhizome, Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. fruit, Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm. root, Corydalis turtschaninovii Besser tuber, Corydalis decumbens (Thunb.) Pers. tuber, and Dolichos lablab L. seed showed significant vasorelaxant effect on the contraction of aorta rings induced by PE. In contrast, Mertensia maritima subsp. asiatica Takeda whole plant, Ajuga decumbens Thunb. whole plant, Trigonotis peduncularis (Trevis.) Benth. ex Baker & S.Moore whole plant, Dioscorea quinquelobate Thunb. rhizome, Allium microdictyon Prokh aerial part, Momordica charantia L. fruit, Carthamus tinctorius L. flower, and Clematis terniflora DC. root constricted more the aorta rings precontracted by PE Conclusion : These results suggest that the possibility as useful herbal resources for the development of functional foods or medicines for hypertension treatment.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.353-358
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• 2016

The generation and collection of cigarette smoke (CS) is a prerequisite for any toxicology study on smoking, especially an in vitro CS exposure study. In this study, the effects on blood and vascular function were tested with two widely used CS preparations to compare the biological effects of CS with respect to the CS preparation used. CS was prepared in the form of total particulate matter (TPM), which is CS trapped in a Cambridge filter pad, and cigarette smoke extract (CSE), which is CS trapped in phosphate-buffered saline. TPM potentiated platelet reactivity to thrombin and thus increased aggregation at a concentration of $25{\sim}100{\mu}g/mL$, whereas 2.5~10% CSE decreased platelet aggregation by thrombin. Both TPM and CSE inhibited vascular contraction by phenylephrine at $50{\sim}100{\mu}g/mL$ and 10%, respectively. TPM inhibited acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation at $10{\sim}100{\mu}g/mL$, but CSE exhibited a minimal effect on relaxation at the concentration that affects vasoconstriction. Neither TPM nor CSE induced hemolysis of erythrocytes or influenced plasma coagulation, as assessed by prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Taken together, CS affects platelet activity and deteriorates vasomotor functions in vitro. However, the effect on blood and blood vessels may vary depending on the CS preparation. Therefore, the results of experiments conducted with CS preparations should be interpreted with caution.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 2004

We have examined the relaxative response to the water extract of Rheum undulatum L. (ERU) and water extract of alcohol steamed Rheum undulatum L. (SRU) with isolated thoracic aorta from sprague dawley (SD) rat. Rat thoracic aorta was investigated in vessel segments suspended for isometric tension recording by polygraph. Responses to ERU and SRU were investigated in vessels precontracted with 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT). We found that the thoracic aorta segments responded to ERU and SRU with a dose-dependent vasorelaxation : The thoracic aorta segments responded to ERU and SRU with a dose-dependent vasodilation. The amounts of emodin were 0.063%, 0.076% and 0.145% in ERU and SRU, respectable. The 5-HT induced contraction at 10-4M were inhibited by 85.2±4.76% and 84.0±2.91% after addition of the 0.1mg/mL water extract of ERU and SRU. The 5-HT induced contraction at 10/sup -3/M were inhibited by 100% after 10/sup -3/M emodin. In conclusion, vasodilation effect of the water extract of Rheum undulatum L. in rat thoracic aorta was not decreased according to the processing of alcohol steamed Rheum undulatum L.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.553-562
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• 2005

Melatonin, the principal hormone of the vertebral pineal gland, participates in the regulation of cardiovascular system in vitro and in vivo. Lithium inhibits both inositol polyphosphate phosphatase (IPPase) and inositol monophosphatase (IMPase), which are involved in a wide range of signal transduction pathways. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of lithium on endothelial-dependent relaxation to melatonin and on the melatonin-induced inhibition of contraction by phenylephrine (PE) in isolated rat aorta. Melatonin induced a concentration-dependent relaxation in PE-precontracted in endothelium-intact (+E) aortic rings. Melatonin inhibited a PE-induced sustained contraction in +E aortic rings. These effects of melatonin on relaxation and contractile responses were inhibited by pretreatment with lithium. In PE-precontracted +E aortic rings, the melatonin-induced vasorelaxations and the inhibitory effects of melatonin on maximal contractions were inhibited by endothelium removal or by pretreatment with L-$N^G$-nitro-arginine (L-NNA), 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo-[4,3-a] quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) and nifedipine and verapamil, but not by tetrabutylammonium, clotrimazole and glibenclamide, However, in endothelium-denuded (-E) aortic rings and in the presence of L-NNA and ODQ in +E aortic rings, the melatonin-induced residual relaxations and the melatonin-induced residual contractile responses to PE were not affected by lithium. It is concluded that the inositol phosphate pathway may be involved in endothelial-dependent relaxation induced by melatonin.