• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.125-130
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• 2013

Calponin 3 is an F-actin-binding protein and plays a key role in regulating spine plasticity and synaptic activity in neurons. Unlike the other subtypes, calponin 1 and 2, which are expressed in smooth and cardiac muscle cells, calponin 3 is highly expressed in the brain. The goal of this study was to elucidate the spatiotemporal expression pattern of calponin 3 following repeated administration of 3-nitropropionic acid in mice. The repeated administration of 3-nitropropionic acid generated necrotic neuronal cell death in the striatum. Calponin 3 was up-regulated in the neuroprotective penimbral region from 1.5 days after the last injection and thereafter. Double immunofluorescence study revealed that calponin 3 was induced in GFAP-positive astrocytes. These results suggest that calponin 3 induction in the neuroprotective penumbral area following 3-nitropropionic acid intoxication may play a key role in reactive astrogliosis in the striatum.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.279-286
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• 2016

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), derived from honeybee hives, is a bioactive compound with strong antioxidant activity. This study was designed to test the neuroprotective effect of CAPE in 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP)-induced striatal neurotoxicity, a chemical model of Huntington's disease (HD). Initially, to test CAPE's antioxidant activity, a 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) antioxidant assay was employed, and CAPE showed a strong direct radical-scavenging effect. In addition, CAPE provided protection from 3NP-induced neuronal cell death in cultured striatal neurons. Based on these observations, the in vivo therapeutic potential of CAPE in 3NP-induced HD was tested. For this purpose, male C57BL/6 mice were repeatedly given 3NP to induce HD-like pathogenesis, and 30 mg/kg of CAPE or vehicle (5% dimethyl sulfoxide and 95% peanut oil) was administered daily. CAPE did not cause changes in body weight, but it reduced mortality by 29%. In addition, compared to the vehicle-treated group, robustly reduced striatal damage was observed in the CAPE-treated animals, and the 3NP-induced behavioral deficits on the rotarod test were significantly rescued after the CAPE treatment. Furthermore, immunohistochemical data showed that immunoreactivity to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and CD45, markers for astrocyte and microglia activation, respectively, were strikingly reduced. Combined, these data unequivocally indicate that CAPE has a strong antioxidant effect and can be used as a potential therapeutic agent against HD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2005

The number of reporting the effects on ginseng's physiological, pharmacological, and behavioral effects has been increased every year. Major active components of Panax ginseng, are the ginsenosides, which are mainly triterpenoid dammarane derivatives. 3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NP) is blown to induce cellular energy deficit and oxidative stress related neurotoxicity via an irreversible inhibition of the mitochondrial enzyme succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). Intraperitoneal injection of 3-NP produces striatal degeneration. Aged animals was more vulnerable to 3-NP than young animal. We used three different ages of 5-, 8-, and 26-week-old rats. 3-NP alone treatment induced striatal lesion and increased lesion volume with age-dependent manner in 5-, 8-, and 26-week-old rats by $30.2{\pm}5.8$, $v$, and $51.3{\pm}8.4mm^3$, respectively. However, pretreatment of GTS (100 mg/kg/day) before 3-NP reduced striatal lesion in 5-,8-, and 26-week-old rats by $3.15{\pm}6.1$, $8.89{\pm}1.9$, and $27.3{\pm}5.6mm^3$, respectively. Pretreatment of GTS also significantly increased survival rate in 5-week-old rats (3-NP alone: GTS +3-NP = $40.4{\pm}6.3$: $72.5{\pm}9.5\%$) than 8-week-old rats (3-NP alone: GTS + 3-NP : $13.5{\pm}5.2\%$ : $45.1{\pm}3.1\%$). In 26-week-old rats, 3-NP alone treated group died on day 18, whereas GTS +3-NP-treated group prolonged lifespan to 30 days. Thus, pretreatment of GTS before administration of 3-NP extended lifespan in all ages. The present results indicate that aged animals are more vulnerable to 3-NP and GTS pretreatment protected 3-NP-induced striatal damage in different ages of animals.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.325-331
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• 2003

3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NP) inhibits electron transport in mitochondria, leading to a metabolic failure. In order to elucidate the mechanism underlying this toxicity, we examined a few biochemical changes possibly involved in the process, such as metabolic inhibition, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA strand breakage, and activation of Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Exposure of SK-N-BE(2)C neuroblastoma cells to 3-NP for 48 h caused actual cell death, while inhibition of mitochondrial function was readily observed when exposed for 24 h to low concentrations (0.2${\sim}$2 mM) of 3-NP. The earliest biochemical change detected with low concentration of 3-NP was an accumulation of ROS (4 h after 3-NP exposure) followed by degradation of DNA. PARP activation by damaged DNA was also detectable, but at a later time. The accumulation of ROS and DNA strand breakage were suppressed by the addition of glutathione or N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), which also partially restored mitochondrial function and cell viability. In addition, inhibition of PARP also reduced the 3-NP-induced DNA strand breakage and cytotoxicity. These results suggest that oxidative stress and activation of PARP are the major factors in 3-NP-induced cytotoxicity, and that the inhibition of these factors may be useful in protecting neuroblastoma cells from 3-NP-induced toxicity.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2004.12a
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• pp.54-54
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• 2004