• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.709-715
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of atropine on peripheral vasodilation and the mechanisms involved. The isometric tension of rat mesenteric artery rings was recorded in vitro on a myograph. The results showed that atropine, at concentrations greater than 1$\mu$M, relaxed the noradrenalin (NA)-precontracted rat mesenteric artery in a concentration-dependent manner. Atropine-induced vasodilatation was mediated, in part, by an endothelium-dependent mechanism, to which endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor may contribute. Atropine was able to shift the NA-induced concentration-response curve to the right, in a non-parallel manner, suggesting the mechanism of atropine was not mediated via the ${\alpha}_1$-adrenoreceptor. The $\beta$-adrenoreceptor and ATP sensitive potassium channel, a voltage dependent calcium channel, were not involved in the vasodilatation. However, atropine inhibited the contraction derived from NA and $CaCl_2$ in $Ca^{2+}$-free medium, in a concentration dependent manner, indicating the vasodilatation was related to the inhibition of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ influx through the receptor-operated calcium channels and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release from the $Ca^{2+}$ store. Atropine had no effect on the caffeine-induced contraction in the artery segments, indicating the inhibition of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release as a result of atropine most likely occurs via the IP3 pathway rather than the ryanodine receptors. Our results suggest that atropine-induced vasodilatation is mainly from artery smooth muscle cells due to inhibition of the receptor-mediated $Ca^{2+}$-influx and $Ca^{2+}$-release, and partly from the endothelium mediated by EDHF.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.23-24
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• 2007

Purpose: 인삼이 항당뇨 활성을 가진다는 연구가 많은 연구자들에 의해 진행되었고, 이는 인삼의 구성 성분 중 ginsenoside에 기인한다는 보고가 있다. 본 연구는 ginsenoside의 항당뇨 작용기전을 in vitro에서 알아보고자 3T3-L1 지방세포에서 glucose uptake와 췌장 베타세포인 HIT-T15 세포에서 insulin 분비 효과를 확인하였다. 이를 위하여 인삼을 식초로 처리한 긴삼의 70% MeOH 분획으로부터 protopanaxadiol 계인 ginsenoside $Rb_2$, $Rg_3$ 그리고 protopanaxtriol 계인 $Rg_2$를 분리하여 본 실험에 사용하였다. Method: Ginsenoside $Rb_2$, $Rg_2$, $Rg_3$가 지방 세포에서 glucose uptake에 미치는 효과를 확인하기 위하여 3T3-L1 세포를 DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium) 배지에서 분화 유도시켰으며 3T3-L1 preadipocyte가 80% 정도 자라면 분화 유도 배지 (5% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 0.5 mM isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), 1 mM dexamethasone 그리고 $10{\mu}g/ml$ insulin가 포함된 DMEM)로 4일, $10{\mu}g/ml$ insulin가 포함된 DMEM으로 2일, FBS만 포함된 DMEM으로 2일 배양하여 총 8일 동안 분화를 유도하였다. 분화 유도된 3T3-L1 adipocytes 에 각각 $Rb_2$, $Rg_2$, $Rg_3$를 $20{\mu}M$로 처리하여 16시간 배양하여 low glucose DMEM에서 3시간 배양한 후에 $37^{\circ}C$에서 insulin 10 ng/ml 과 각각 $Rb_2$, $Rg_2$, $Rg_3$가 포함된 Krebs Ringer Hepes buffer(KRP buffer)에서 20분간 배양하였다. 2-deoxy-D-[$^3H$]-glucose를 넣고 10분 후에 차가운 PBS로 반응을 종결시켜 lysis buffer로 cell을 모은 후 scintillation counter를 이용하여 glucose를 측정하였다. Insulin 분비 효과는 HIT-T15 세포와 일차 배양한 흰쥐 소도세포(islets)를 사용하여 확인하였다. HIT-T15 세포는 24 well plate에 well 당 $2{\times}10^5$ 개씩 분주하여 24시간 동안 배양한 후 시료를 처리하였으며 소도 세포는 Sprague-Dawley rat의 췌장에 collagenase가 포함된 Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution(HBSS)을 주입하여 분리하고 islets을 얻었다. 분리한 소도세포를 $1{\sim}2$일 동안 배양하여 $Rb_2$, $Rg_2$, $Rg_3$가 각각 $20{\mu}M$의 농도로 첨가된 insulin 측정용 buffer인 Krebs-Ringer buffer (KRB+0.3% BSA, KRBB)에 $37^{\circ}C$에서 1시간 incubation 시킨 후 배양액으로 분비된 인슐린의 양을 측정하였다. 한편 ginsenoside의 인슐린 분비 촉진 기전을 알아보기 위한 실험에서는 ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel opener인 diazoxide (0.5 mM)가 ginsenoside에 의해 촉진된 인슐린 분비를 억제하는지 살펴보았다. Result: glucose uptake assay 에서는 $Rg_2$가 가장 크게 glucose uptake를 증가시켰고 $Rb_2$, $Rg_3$는 그 활성이 크지 않았다. 한편 Insulin 분비 효과는 diol계인 $Rg_3$에서 용량 의존적으로 인슐린의 분비를 촉진시켰으며 $20{\mu}M$ 농도에서 대조군과 비교해 1.5배 이상의 분비 촉진 효과를 보였고 triol계인 $Rg_2$ 에서는 이러한 효과가 나타나지 않았다. $Rg_3$의 인슐린 분비 촉진 기전을 0.5 mM 의 diazoxide를 이용하여 확인한 결과 $Rg_3$에 의해 촉진된 인슐린 분비를 감소시켰다. 이로 미루어보아 $Rg_3$의 인슐린 분비 촉진 기전은 ATP-sensitive $K^+$ 채널의 봉쇄에 의한 것임을 확인할 수 있었다.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.303-311
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• 2000

Purpose: Thallium behaves similarly to potassium in vivo. Potassium channel opener (K-opener) opens ATP-sensitive $K^+$-channel located at cell membrane, resulting in potassium efflux from cytosol. We have previously reported that K-opener can alter biokinetics of Tl-201 in cultured cells and in vivo. Malignant tumor cells have high Na-K ATPase activity due to increased metabolic activities and dedifferentiation, and differential delineation of malignant tumor can be possible with Tl-201 imaging. K-opener may affect tumoral uptake of Tl-201 in vivo. To investigate the effects of pinacidil (one of the potent K-openers) on the localization of the tumor with Tl-201 chloride, we evaluated the changes in biodistribution of Tl-201 with pinacidil treatment in tumor-bearing mice. Materials and Methods: Baltic mice received subcutaneous implantation of murine breast cancer cells in the thigh and were used for biodistribution study 3 weeks later. $100{\mu}g$ of pinacidil dissolved in $200{\mu}l$ DMSO/PBS solution was injected intravenously via tail vein at 10 min after 185 KBq ($5{\mu}Ci$) Tl-201 injection. Percentage organ uptake and whole body retention ratio of Tl-201 were measured at various periods after injection, and values were compared between control and pinacidil-treated mice. Results: Pinacidil treatment resulted in mild decrease in blood levels of Tl-201, but renal uptakes were markedly decreased at 30-min, 1- and 2-hour, compared to control group. Hepatic, intestinal and muscular uptake were not different. Absolute percentage uptake and tumor to blood ratios of Tl-201 were lower in pinacidil treated mice than in the control group at all time points measured. Whole body retention ratio of Tl-201 was lower in pinacidil treated mice ($58{\pm}4%$ ), than in the control group ($67{\pm}3%$) at 24 hours after with injection of $100{\mu}g$ pinacidil. Conclusion: K-opener did not enhance, but rather decreased absolute tumoral uptake and tumor-to-blood ratios of Tl-201. Decreased whole body retention ratio and renal uptake were observed with pinacidil treatment in tumor-bearing mice.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 1997

In the present study, it was aimed to further indentify the intracellular action mechansm of cromakalim and levcromakalim in the porcine coronary artery. In intact porcine coronary arterial strips loaded with fura-2/AM, acetylcholine caused an increase in intracellular free $Ca^{2+}$ $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ in association with a contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Cromakalim (1 ${\mu}M$) caused a reduction in acetylcholine-induced increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ not only in the mormal physiological salt solution (PSS) but also in $Ca^{2+}$-free PSS (containing 1 mM EGTA). In the skinned strips prepared by exposure of tissue to 20 .${\mu}M$ B-escin, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate ($IP_3$) evoked an increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, but it was without effect on the intact strips. The $IP_3$-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was inhibited by cromakalim by 78% and levcromakalim by 59% (1 .${\mu}M$, each). Pretreatment with glibenclamide (a blocker of ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels, 10 .${\mu}M$) and apamin (a blocker of small conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels, 1 .${\mu}M$) strongly blocked the effect of cromakalim and levcromakalim. However, charybdotoxin (a blocker of large conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels, 1 .${\mu}M$) was without effect. In addition, cromakalim inhibited the $GTP{\gamma}S$ (100 .${\mu}M$, non-hydrolysable analogue of GTP)-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. Based on these results, it is suggested that cromakalim and levcromakalim exert a potent vasorelaxation, in part, by acting on the $K^+$ channels of the intracellular sites (e.g., sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane), thereby, resulting in decrease in release of $Ca^{2+}$ from the intracellular storage site.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.507-515
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• 1996

Background : Potassium channel opener (K-opener) opens ATP-sensitive K'-channel located at cell membrane and induces potassium efflux from cytosol, resulting in intracellular hyperpolarization. Newly synthesized K-opener is currently examined for pharmacologic potency by means of rubidium release test from smooth muscle strip pre-incubated with Rb-86. Since in-vivo behavior of thallium is similar to that of rubidium, we hypothesized that K-opener can alter T1-201 kinetics in vivo. Purpose : This study was prepared to investigate the effects of pinacidil (one of potent K-openers) on the T1-201 uptake and clearance in cultured myocyte, and in-vivo biodistribution in mice. Methods : Spontaneous contracting myocytes were prepared to imitate in-vivo condition from 20 hearts of 3-5 days old Sprague-Dawley rat and cultured for 3-5 days before use ($5{\times}10^5$ cells/ml). Pinacidil was dissolved in 10% DMSO solution at a final concentration of 100nM or l0uM and was co-incubated with T1-201 in HBSS buffer for 20-min to evaluate its effect on cellular T1-uptake, or challenged to cell preparation pre-incubated with T1-201 for washout study. Two, 40 or $100{\mu}g$ of pinacidil was injected intravenously into ICR mice at 10 min after $5{\mu}Ci$ T1-201 injection, and organ uptake and whole body retention rate were measured at different time points. Results : Co-incubation of pinacidil with T1-201 resulted in a decrease in T1-201 uptake into cultured myocyte by 1.6 to 2.5 times, depending on pinacidil concentration and activity of T1-201 used. Pinacidil enhanced T1-201 washout by 1.6-3.1 times from myocyte preparations pre-incubated with T1-201. Pinacidil treatment appears to be resulted in mild decreases in blood and liver activity in normal mice, in contrast, renal and cardiac uptake were mildly decreased in a dose dependent manner. Whole body retention ratios of T1-201 were lower at 24 hour after injection with $100{\mu}g$ of pinacidil than control. Conclusion : These results suggest that treatment with K-opener may affect the interpretation of T1-201 myocardial images, due to decreasing thallium accumulation and enhancing washout from myocardium.