• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.343-347
• /
• 2002

In order to darify the neuroprotective effect of Gamibojungikki-tang(GBJIKT) water extract on cultured mouse spinal sensory neuron damaged by glucose Oxidase (GO), NR (Neutral Red) assay and LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase) activity assay were carried out after the cultured mouse spinal sensory neuron were preincubated with various concentrations of GBJIKT water extract for 3 hours prior to exposure of GO. Cell viability of cultured mouse spinal sensory neurons exposed to various concentrations of GO for 8 hours was decreased in a dose-dependent manner. NR/sub 50/ values were 50 mU/ml GO. Cultured mouse spinal sensory neurons in the medium containing various concentration of GO for 8 hours showed increasing of LDH activity. We knew that GO was toxic on cultured spinal sensory neurons. Pretreatment of GBJIKT water extract for 3 hours following GO prevented the GO-induced neurotoxicity such as increasing of LDH activity. These results suggest that GO shows toxic effect on cultured spinal sensory neurons and GBJIKT water extract is highly effective in proecting the neurotoxicity induced by GO.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.77-82
• /
• 2011

The antioxidative activity of various enzymatic extracts from Sarcodon aspratus (S. aspratus) was evaluated by measuring 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and alkyl radical scavenging activity using an electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometer. For this study, the S. aspratus were enzymatically hydrolyzed by seven carbohydrases (Viscozyme, Celluclast, Dextrozyme, AMG, Promozyme, Maltogenase, and Termamyl) and eight proteases (${\alpha}$-chymotrypsin, Alcalase, Flavourzyme, Neutrase, papain, pepsin, Protamax, and trypsin). The DPPH radical scavenging activities of Viscozyme and pepsin extracts were the highest, and the half maximal inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) values were 0.896 and 0.734mg/mL, respectively. The Celluclast and trypsin extracts showed the highest scavenging activities on alkyl radical, and their $IC_{50}$ values were 0.278 and 0.575mg/mL, respectively. The Celluclast extracts was decreased cell apoptosis in PC-12 cells against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative damage. The findings of the present study suggest that enzymatic extracts of S. aspratus exhibit antioxidative activity against oxidative stress on PC-12 cells.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.113-125
• /
• 2011

In order to assess the survival success of microphytoplankton species in ship ballast water, we examined microphytoplankton diversity from international commercial ships berthed at Ulsan and Pyeongtaek Ports, Korea, and also subjected them to laboratory studies. The ages of ballast water in each ship ranged from 1 to 365 days. Vessels originated from coastal China (Weihai, Lianyunsang and Shanghai), Chile, and from the Yellow and Pacific Oceans. The numbers of species and phytoplankton standing crops in uploaded ballast water were significantly related to the age of ballast water. The most diverse taxonomic group was diatoms. In the laboratory study, the value of in vivo fluorescence in M/V Spring Lyra gradually increased with increasing nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate. Phytoplankton in new (9 days), medium (31 days) and old (365 days) ballast water successfully survived under typical nutrient condition of port water and F/2 medium at $15^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$, whereas phytoplankton in ballast water treatment did not survive, regardless of optimal temperature. Colonization process was dominated by diatoms; Skeletonema coastatum for M/V Spring Lyra, Thalassiosira pseudonana and Thalassiosira for M/V Han Yang, Thalassiosira pacifica and Odontella aurita for M/V Modern Express, and Chaetoceros pseudocurvisetus and Pseudo-nitzschia seriata for M/V Asian Legend. The successful establishment of non-native species was also related to nutrient richness. Our laboratory design can be applied as a practical tool to assess the survivability of invasive microphytoplankton introduced into local waters of Ulsan and Pyeongtaek.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.19-30
• /
• 2000

Background: Partial nerve injury to a peripheral nerve may induce the development of neuropathic pain which is characterized by symptoms such as spontaneous burning pain, allodynia and hyperalgesia. Though underlying mechanism has not fully understood, sensitization of dorsal horn neurons may contribute to generate such symptoms. Nitric oxide acts as an inter- and intracellular messenger in the nervous system and is produced from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Evidence is accumulating which indicate that nitric oxide may mediate nociceptive information transmission. Recently, it has been reported that NOS inhibitor suppresses neuropathic pain behavior in an neuropathic pain animal model. This study was conducted to determine whether nitric oxide could be involved in the sensitization of dorsal horn neurons in neuropathic animal model. Methods: Neuropathic animal model was made by tightly ligating the left L5 and L6 spinal nerves and we examined the effects of iontophoretically applied NOS inhibitor (L-NAME) on the dorsal horn neuron's responses to mechanical stimuli within the receptive fields. Results: In normal animals, NOS inhibitor (L-NAME) specifically suppressed the responses to the noxious mechanical stimuli. In neuropathic animals, the dorsal horn neuron's responses to mechanical stimuli were enhanced and NOS inhibitor suppressed the dorsal horn neuron's enhanced responses to non-noxious stimuli as well as those to noxious ones. Conclusions: These results suggest that nitric oxide may mediate nociceptive transmission in normal animal and also mediate sensitization of dorsal horn neurons in neuropathic pain state.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 1997.04a
• /
• pp.79-79
• /
• 1997

자연계에 존재하는 수은중 유기수은은 생태계 먹이사슬을 통하여 체내의 여러장기에 축적되어 조직손상을 일으키는 것으로 잘 알려져 있다. 그러나 이러한 세포독성에 대한 정확한 생화학적 기전에 대해서는 자세히 알려진 바가 없다. 포스포리파아제 $A_2$(PLA$_2$)는 세포막의 인지질로부터 Arachidonic acid (AA)와 Lysophospholipid를 유리시키는 효소로 최근 세포손상과 관련하여 그 역할이 주목되고 있으며, 극히 최근, 일차배양 소뇌신경세포를 이용한 연구에서 메칠수은처리에 의해 세포독성의 지표인 Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)의 유리와 함께 AA 유리가 증가되는 것이 관찰되었으나 여러형태의 PLA$_2$중 어느형태의 효소가 관련되어 있는지, 또한, 그 자세한 기전에 대해서는 불분명한 점이 많다. 본 연구에서는 신장세포의 일종인 MDCK세포를 이용하여 메칠수은의 처리에 의한 PLA$_2$의 활성화 및 그 생화학적인 기전을 구명하고자 하였다. [$^3$H]AA를 MDCK세포의 배양액에 첨가하여 라벨링한 후 메칠수은을 처리하였을때 [$^3$H]AA가 대조군에 비해 농도의존적 및 경시적으로 현저하게 증가하였으며 동시에 LDH의 유리도 함께 관찰되었다. 이러한 [$^3$H]AA의 유리 증가는 세포질 PLA$_2$에 특이적인 저해제로 알려진 AACOCF$_3$의 전처리에 의해 거의 완전히 억제되었으나 LDH의 유리는 오히려 증가하였다. 또한, 글루타치온(GSH)의 전구체인 NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine)에 의해 [$^3$H]AA의 유리는 부분적으로 감소하였으나, LDH의 유리는 변함이 없었다. 돼지비장이나 MDCK 세포에서 얻어진 세포질 PLA$_2$에 메칠수은을 직접 처리하였을때는 오히려 PLA$_2$의 활성은 감소되었다. 위의 결과들로부터 메칠수은에 의한 [$^3$H]AA의 유리 증가는 세포질 PLA$_2$효소에 대한 직접적인 작용이 아니라 세포내 -SH기의 차단이나 Oxidative Stress에 의해 간접적으로 활성화되는 것으로 예상되며, 세포질 PLA$_2$에 의해 유리된 AA의 세포독설과 관련된 세포내의 역할에 대해 의문이 제기되었다.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.11-16
• /
• 2014

Protocatechuic acid is an active phenolic acid compound from Momordica charantia. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of protocatechuic acid against oxidative stress under cellular system using C6 glial cell. The oxidative stress was induced by hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) and amyloid beta 25-35 ($A{\beta}_{25-35}$), and they caused the decrease of cell viability and overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the treatment of protocatechuic acid significantly elevated the decreased cell viability and inhibited the overproduction of ROS by $H_2O_2$. In addition, protocatechuic acid significantly recovered the cellular damage induced by $A{\beta}_{25-35}$. In particular, protocatechuic acid at the concentration $10{\mu}g/mL$ decreased the elevated ROS level to normal level. These results indicate that protocatechuic acid may have neuroprotective effect through attenuating oxidative stress.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.210-215
• /
• 2009

Background: Several studies have indicated that a nerve injury enhances the expression of the voltage-gated calcium channel ${\alpha}2{\delta}1$ subunit (Cav ${\alpha}2{\delta}1$) in sensory neurons and the dorsal spinal cord. This study examined whether NMDA receptor activation is essential for Cav ${\alpha}2{\delta}1$-mediated tactile allodynia in Cav ${\alpha}2{\delta}1$ overexpressing transgenic mice and L5/6 spinal nerve ligated rats (SNL). These two models show similar Cav ${\alpha}2{\delta}1$ upregulation and behavioral hypersensitivity, without and with the presence of other injury factors, respectively. Methods: The transgenic (TG) mice were generated as described elsewhere (Feng et al., 2000). The left L5/6 spinal nerves in the Harlan Sprague Dawley rats were ligated tightly (SNL) to induce neuropathic pain, as described by Kim et al. (1992). Memantine 2 mg/kg (10 ul) was injected directly into the L5/6 spinal region followed by $10{\mu}l$ saline. Tactile allodynia was tested for any mechanical hypersensitivity. Results: The tactile allodynia in the SNL rats could be reversed by an intrathecal injection of memantine 2 mg/kg at 1.5 hours. The tactile allodynia in the Cav ${\alpha}2{\delta}1$ over-expressing TG mice could be reversed by an intrathecal injection of memantine 2 mg/kg at 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 hours. Conclusions: The behavioral hypersensitivity was similar in the TG mice and nerve injury pain model, supporting the hypothesis that elevated Cav ${\alpha}2{\delta}1$ mediates similar pathways that underlie the pain states in both models. The selective activation of spinal NMDA receptors plays a key role in mediating the pain states in both the nerve-injury rats and TG mice.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.545-558
• /
• 2000

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of low power GaAsAl laser on Fos expression in the spinal cord induced by noxious mechanical stimulation. Noxious mechanical stimulation was applied to the right hind paw following 30min of low power laser treatment using different intensity and treatment point and the resulting Fos expression in the spinal cord dorsal horn was compared to that obtained in rats exposed only to the noxious mechanical stimulation. The results were summarized as follows: 1. In intact control rats, only a few Fos like immunoreactive(Fos-IR) neurons were evident in the lumbar spinal cord dorsal horn. Similarly, following prolonged inhalation anesthesia, Fos-IR neurons were absent in the dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord. In animals treated with noxious mechanical stimulation, neurons with nuclei exhibiting Fos immunostaining were distributied mainly in the medial half of ipsilateral laminae I-V at lumbar segments L3-5. These findings directly indicated that prolonged anesthesia used in this study did not affect the Fos expression in the spinal cord dorsal horn of intact animals and noxious mechanical stimulation treated animals. 2. In acupoint treated animals, 10mW of laser stimulation, not 3mW intensity, significantly reduced the number of Fos immunoreactive neurons in the spinal dorsal horn induced by noxious mechanical stimulation(P<.01). However, the supressive effect of low power laser stimulatin was not observed in 3m Wand 10m W of laser stimulation into non-acupoint. These data indicate that 10mW of low power laser stimulation into acupoint is capable of inhibiting the expression of Fos in the dorsal horn induced by noxious mechanical stimulation. In conclusion, these findings raise the possibility that low power laser stimulation into acupoint may be a promising alternative medicine therapy for the mechanical stimulation induced pain in the clinical field.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.19-25
• /
• 2006

There have been numerous modalities to recover blink function of orbicularis oculi muscle in patients with facial paralysis. However, there is still no optimal method for reanimation of eyelid. In this study, we tried to recover blink function of paralyzed rabbit's eyelid with the ion polymer metal composite (IPMC) which is one of the electroactive polymers that is spotlighted as artificial muscle. We manufactured IPMC by plating the platinum over perfluorosulphonic acid polymer ($Nafion^{(R)}$). IPMC was coated by Norland optical adhesive for the purpose of insulation and keeping it from dry. IPMC modifications by roughening the surface of Nafion, repetitive plating (maximum 4 times) with platinum, and lengthening the width of IPMC were done. The facial paralysis was induced in the rabbit by sectioning of facial nerve at the main trunk. After minimum period of 4 weeks, IPMC was inserted in the paralyzed rabbit's eyelid. By modification, the force generated by IPMC was enhanced. Restoration of blink function in paralyzed rabbit was achieved on electrical stimulation of the IPMC by 5 voltage direct current. IPMC can be promising option for facial reanimation, but further studies are needed to enhance the efficiency of IPMC.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.17-28
• /
• 1998

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of different stimulation-duration of high frequency electroacupuncturet(EA) treatment on the neuronal activities in the spinal cord and brainstem using Fos immunohistochemical technique. Three different stimulus-duration was used in this experiment : 30minutes, 1 hour and 2 hours. The summerized results were summerized as follow : 1. The number of Fos expression was significantly increased in the spinal cord dorsal horn depending upon the increase of stimulus-duration (P<0.05). Otherwise, there was no significant difference between 30 minutes EA treated group and anesthetic control. 2. High frequency EA biphasic stimulation significantly enhanced the Fos expression in the DR, middle and rostral portion of PAG LD, and caudal PAG LV after 1 hour and 2 hours treatment. The number of Fos immunoreactive neuron in the brainstem was increased accorcting to the length of stimulus-duration. Those results indicate that at least 1 hour EA treatment was necessary to increase the neuronal activities in the spinal cord and brainstem. Those basic data from this study can be applied to establish the effective treatment of EA for pain control in the clinical field.