• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 1987

Higenamine, a benzyltetrahydroisopuinoline analog isolated from aconite tuber, has potent isotropic action. Recent studies suggest it may have beta receptor agonistic property in that its inotropic action is blocked by propranolol in isolated rabbit heart. However, no study has been carried out on other organs than heart. Higenamine is expected to have pharmacological actions on smooth muscle on the ground that it has catecholamine moiety and tetrahydrosioquinoline nucleus in its chemical structure, both of which are well known to have smooth muscle relaxation effects. Therefore present study was aimed at determining whether higenamine has bronchodilating effect in isolated guinea pig trachea smooth muscle rich in adrenergic beta receptor and if any, it has agonistic effect on beta receptor. The results were summarized as follows : 1. Higenamine had remarkable bronchodilating effect in guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle in a dose-dependent manner. 2. Bronchodilator effect of higenamine in isolated guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle was blocked competitively by propranolol. The $pD_2$ value of higenamine in isolated guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle was 5.65 and the $pA_2$ value of propranolol against higenamine in the same preparation was 7.97.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.253-258
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• 1991

The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which has been known as the neurotransmitter of nonadrenergic, noncholinergic nerves, and the source of $Ca^{\sharp}$ in the effect of ATP on the isolated renal artery of pig. The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1. ATP caused the contraction and the contractile responses were increased in a dose-dependent manner between the concentration of ATP $2{\times}10^{-3}M$ and $10^{-2}M$ on the isolated renal artery of pig. 2. The contractile responses induced by ATP $(5{\times}10^{-3}M)$ were not blocked by pretreatment with cholinergic receptor blocker (atropine, $10^{-6}M$), $\alpha$-adrenergic recptor blocker(phentolamine, $10^{-6}M$) or $\beta$-adrenergic receptor blocker (propranolol, $10^{-6}M$), and $H_1$-receptor blocker (pyrilamine, $10^{-6}M$) or $H_2$-receptor blocker (cimetidine, $10^{-6}M$) on the isolated renal artery of pig. 3. The contractile responses induced by ATP $(5{\times}10^{-3}M)$ were not appeared in $Ca^{\sharp}$-free medium. As the concentration of $Ca^{\sharp}$ in $Ca^{\sharp}$-free medium was increased, the contractile responses induced by ATP $(5{\times}10^{-3}M)$ were enhanced but were completely inhibited by pretreatment with $Ca^{\sharp}$-channel blocker, papaverine $(5{\times}10^{-5}M)$ or verapamil $(5{\times}10^{-5}M)$ on the isolated renal artery of pig.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8031-8039
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• 2016

Background: Preclinical studies have demonstrated that ${\beta}$-adrenergic receptor antagonists could improve the prognosis of breast cancer. However, the conclusions of clinical and pharmacoepidemiological studies have been inconsistent. This review was conducted to re-assess the relationship between beta-adrenoceptor blockers and breast cancer prognosis. Materials and Methods: The literature was searched from PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Nature (Thompson Reuters) databases through using key terms, such as breast cancer and beta-adrenoceptor blockers. Results: Ten publications met the inclusion criteria. Six suggested that receiving beta-adrenoceptor blockers reduced the risk of breast cancer-specific mortality, and three of them had statistical significance (hazard ratio (HR)=0.42; 95% CI=0.18-0.97; p=0.042). Two studies reported that risk of recurrence and distant metastasis (DM) were both significantly reduced. One study demonstrated that the risk of relapse-free survival (RFS) was raised significantly with beta-blockers (BBS) (HR= 0.30; 95% CI=0.10-0.87; p=0.027). One reported longer disease-free interval (Log Rank (LR)=6.658; p=0.011) in BBS users, but there was no significant association between overall survival (OS) and BBS (HR= 0.35; 95% CI=0.12-1.0; p=0.05) in five studies. Conclusions: Through careful consideration, it is suggested that beta-adrenoceptor blockers use may be associated with improved prognosis in breast cancer patients. Nevertheless, larger size studies are needed to further explore the relationship between beta-blocker drug use and breast cancer prognosis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nutrition Society Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.144-144
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• 2002

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.1 s.2
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• pp.41-48
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• 1966

The author studied the adrenotropic receptors of the non-pregnant uteri of the rabbit and rat, using epinephrine (alpha and beta activator), phenoxybenzamine(alpha blocking agent) and nethalide (beta blockade), and obtained the following results: 1. The spontaneous motility of isolated non-pregnant uteri from rabbits were stimulated by epinephrine, whereas that of isolated non-pregnant rat uterus was inhibited by epinephrine. 2. Both alpha and beta adrenergic receptors were present in the uterine muscle of both animals. 3. In the non-pregnant rabbit uterus, alpha receptors were predominant, whereas in the non -pregnant rat uterus, beta receptors preponderated over alpha receptors.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2021

This study aimed to investigate whether neurotransmitter receptors in the nervous system were also expressed in oral keratinocytes. Expressions of various neurotransmitter receptor genes in immortalized mouse oral keratinocyte (IMOK) cells were examined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. IMOK cells expressed calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor subunit genes Ramp1 and Ramp3 and glutamate receptor subunit genes Grina, Gria3, Grin1, Grin2a, and Grin2d. Moreover, IMOK cells expressed Adrb2 and Chrna5 that encode beta 2 adrenergic receptor and cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 5 for sympathetic and parasympathetic neurotransmitters, respectively. The expression of Bdkrb1 and Ptger4, which encode receptors for bradykinin and prostaglandin E2 involved in inflammatory responses, was also observed at low levels. Expressions of Ramp1 and Grina in the mouse gingival epithelium were also confirmed by immunohistochemistry. When the function of neurotransmitter receptors expressed on IMOK cells was tested by intracellular calcium response, CGRP, glutamate, and cholinergic receptors did not respond to their agonists, but the bradykinin receptor responded to bradykinin. Collectively, oral keratinocytes express several neurotransmitter receptors, suggesting the potential regulation of oral epithelial homeostasis by the nervous system.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.252-261
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• 2007

Background : Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in Western society as well as in Korea. Obesity results from a combination of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. Materials and Methods : In an attempt to investigate the association of obesity with its candidate genes, ${\beta}3$ adrenergic receptor (${\beta}_3AR$) and uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), we analyzed polymorphisms of ${\beta}_3AR$ Trp64Arg and UCP2 -866G/A by PCR-RFLP analysis and the obesity-related phenotypes, including body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose concentration, and plasma lipid profiles in 750 subjects. Results : The Trp64Arg polymorphism in the ${\beta}_3AR$ gene was not statistically associated with the BMI. The UCP2 -866G/A polymorphism was significantly higher in obese than in non-obese subjects (P<0.05). However, the UCP2 -866A/A polymorphism was higher in the non-obese subjects. Conclusion : These results suggest that the UCP2 -866G/A polymorphism might be more useful for the prediction of obesity and obesity-associated diseases in Korean patients than the ${\beta}_3AR$ Trp64Arg polymorphism.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.9-17
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• 1975

The adrenergic blocking activity and refractory period of cardiac muscle on isolated rabbit atria were measured after administration of Scutellaria. In rabbits and cats the antiarrhythmic action of Scutellaria on atrial and ventricular arrhythmias produced by epinephrine or ouabain was examined and also compared with that of propranolol and quinidine. The alcoholic extract of Scutellaria produced a marked decrease in heart rate and contractile amplitude of the isolated rabbit atria. Pretreatment with Scutellaria rendered the atria to fail to respond to epinephrine, indicating that this crude drug possesses an adrenergic blocking activity. The extract produced a marked prolongation of the refractory period of atrial muscle. The extract effectively abolished the spontaneous arrhythmia occurring in the isolated rabbit atria. As propranolol and quinidine it also suppressed the atrial arrhythmia induced by ouabain. The extract prevented, as propranolol and quinidine, the induction of ventricular arrhythmia arising from excessive dose of epinephrine in anesthetized rabbits and cats. With regard to the ventricular arrhythmia induced by a continuous infusion of ouabain, the alcoholic extract of Scutellaria exerted some suppressive effect in anesthetized rabbits but no effect on cats. From the above results, it may be concluded that Scutellaria is effective against atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. The antiarrhythmic effects of this drug may be the result of adrenergic beta receptor blocking and cardiac depressive activities including prolongation of the refractory period of cardiac muscle.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.580-587
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• 2005

New evidence is emerging that airway smooth muscle(ASM) may act as an immunomodulatory cell by providing pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, polypeptide growth factors, extracellular matrix proteins, cell adhesion receptors and co-stimulatory molecules. ASM can promote the formation of the interstitial extracellular matrix, and potentially contribute to the alterations within the extracellular matrix in asthma. In addition, extracellular matrix components can alter the proliferative, survival, and cytoskeletal synthetic function of ASM cells through integrin-directed signaling. Increased ASM mass is one of the most important features of the airway wall remodeling process in asthma. Three different mechanisms may contribute to the increased ASM mass : cell proliferation, increased migration and decreased rate of apoptosis. The major signaling pathways of cell proliferation activated by ASM mitogens are those dependent on extracellular signal-regulated kinase and phosphoinositide 3'-kinase. The key signaling mechanisms of cell migration have been identified as the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and the p21-activated kinase 1 pathways. ASM cells contain ${\beta}2$-adrenergic receptors and glucocorticoid receptors. They may represent a key target for ${\beta}2$-adrenergic receptor agonist/corticosteroid interactions which have antiproliferative activity against a broad spectrum of mitogens.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 1967

Supplemental studies were made on the adrenotropic receptors of the rat uterus, using adrenergic activators such as phenylephrine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and isoproterenol and adrenergic blocking agents such as phenoxybenzamine and inderal. The studies have revealed the following results : 1. Phenylephrine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and isoproterenol inhibited the spontaneous motility of the isolated rat uterus in the following order : Isoproterenol>epinephrine>norepinephrine>phenylephrine. 2. The inhibitory responses of the isolated rat uterus to phenylephrine and epinephrine were abolished by the pretreatment with phenoxybenzamine. 3. The inhibitory responses of the isolated rat uterus to isoproterenol and epinephrine were not affected by phenoxybenzamine. 4. The motility of the isolated rat uterus pretreated with inderal was stimulated by phenylephrine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. 5. The inhibitory responses of the isolated rat uterus to isoproterenol were abolished by the pretreatment with inderal. 6. The motility of the isolated rat uterus pretreated with inderal and phenoxybenzamine was not affected by phenylephrine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. 7. It is, therefore, concluded that the rat uterus has both alpha excitatory and beta inhibitory receptors, with beta inhibitory receptors predominating.