• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 1982

Force development of smooth muscle cells is directly regulated by the concentration of free calcium ions in the sarcoplasm, and the sarcoplasmic concentration of calcium ion can be modulated by electrogenic Na-K pump. The role of Na-K pump on vascular tone was studied in isolated rabbit renal artery. Helical strips of arterial muscle were prepared from left renal arteries. All experiments were performed in $HCO_3^--buffered$ Tyrode solution which was aerated with $3%CO_2-97%\;O_2$ mixed gas and kept at $35^{\circ}C$. In some experiments, rabbit was injected intraperitoneally $18{\sim}24$ hours prior to the experiments, with a large dose(5 mg/kg body wt) of reserpine, in order to eliminate the catecholamines present in intrinsic adrenergic nerve terminate. Treatment used in this experiment that inhibits Na-K pump was the exposure of strips to K-free Tyrode solution. Contractile response to K free Tyrode solution developed slowly and the time required for maximum contracture was $20{\sim}30$ minutes. This K-free contracture was rapidly relaxed by the addition of potassium to the bathing solution. No K-free contracture occurred in a Ca-free Tyrode solution. But contraction developed rapidly when calcium ion was added to the bathing solution after 30 minute exposure of the strip to Ca-free Tyrode solution. This contracture was completely inhibited by Ca-antagonist, verapamil. The K-free contracture was abolished by ${\alpha}-adrenergic$ blocker, phentolamine, as well as by the catecholamine depletion from adrenergic nerve terminals. Even in reserpinized strip, the exogenous norepinephrine-induced contraction in K-free Tyrode solution was rapidly suppressed by the addition of potassium ion. The results of this experiment suggest that K free contracture develops by norepinephrine release from adrenergic nerve terminals, while the relaxation of K-free contracture is induced by the activation of electrogenic Na-K pump.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.493-500
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• 1994

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of neurotransmitters and the source of $Ca^{2+}$ in the effects of neurotransmitters on the motility of pig oviductal isthmic smooth muscle. The motility of the isolated smooth muscle was recorded by using physiological recording system. The results were summarized as follows; Acetylcholine, norepinephrine, histamine and prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}(PGF_{2{\alpha}})$ caused the contraction and the contractile responses were increased in a dose-dependent manner from the concentration of $10^{-7}$ to $10^{-4}M$. The maximum contractility of acetylcholine, norepinephrine, histamine and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ was 65.99, 28.66, 83.99 and 47.33% of 100 mM K contraction, respectively. The contractile response induced by acetylcholine$(10^{-6}M)$ was completely blocked by the pretreatment with cholinergic receptor blocker, atropine$(10^{-6}M)$, the contractile response induced by norepinephrine$(10^{-5}M)$ was blocked by the pretreatment with ${\alpha}$-adrenergic receptor blocker, phentolamine$(10^{-6}M)$ but was not blocked and rather increased by the pretreatment with ${\beta}$-adrenergic receptor blocker. propranolol$(10^{-6}M)$, the contractile response induced by histamine$(10^{-6}M)$ was completely blocked by the pretreatment with $H_1$-histaminergic receptor blocker, pyrilamine$(10^{-6}M)$ but was increased by the pretreatment with $H_2$-histaminergic receptor blocker, cimetidine$(10^{-6}M)$. The contractile response induced by acetylcholine$(10^{-6}M)$, norepinephrine$(10^{-5}M)$ and histamine$(10^{-6}M)$ was weakly contracted response in $Ca^{2+}$-free medium, but the contractile response induced by $PGF_{2{\alpha}}(10^{-6}M)$ was disappeared. The contractile response induced by acetylcholine$(10^{-6}M)$, norepinephrine$(10^{-5}M)$ and histamine$(10^{-6}M)$ was powerfully depressed by the pretreatment with $Ca^{2+}$-channel blocker, verapamil$(10^{-5}M)$ but the contractile response induced by $PGF_{2{\alpha}}(10^{-6}M)$ was completely inhibited.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.53-73
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• 2002

It has been reported that degranulation of mast cells in rats, rabbits and dog was observed after dosing xylazine hydrochloride(Xh) which has been widely used as sedative, analgesic and muscular relaxant. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to examine the relations between Xh and histamine release and to identify the action of ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptors which exists on the suface of mast cells. 1. The content of histamine within serum was measured with HPLC by performing the O-phthalaldehyde(OPA) fluorescent derivation. The pretreatment method had a little modification from the conventional method. The pretreament was carried out in the following method. 0.2$m\ell$ of serum and 1$m\ell$ of butanol were added to mixed together and then the liquid was centrifugally separated at 4$^{\circ}C$ and 2,000 rpm for 3 minutes. 0.4$m\ell$ of 0.1N HCl and 1.6$m\ell$ of heptane were added to 0.8$m\ell$ of supernatant taken from the liquid, and they were mixed together. This mixture was also centrifugally separated at 4$^{\circ}C$ and 2,000 rpm for 5 minutes. The supernatant was thrown away and the OPA fluorescent derivation was carried out with 0.2$m\ell$ of the lower liquid then, 5 minutes after mixing 400${\mu}\ell$ of 0.1N HCl, 120${\mu}\ell$ of 1N NaOH and 40${\mu}\ell$ of 0.1% OPA in the 0.2$m\ell$ of the lower liquid,120${\mu}\ell$ of 3.57N H$_3$PO$_4$ was added to the mixed liquid, and the liquid, was mixed again and syringe-filtered. Then, the measurement was done with HPLC in the 30 : 70(ν/ν) ratio of 0.004M KH$_2$PO$_4$: CH$_3$CN, flow rate of 1.0$m\ell$/min., and a wavelength of λex= 350nm and λem=444nm at the column temperature of 27$^{\circ}C$, using the fluorescence detector. 2. The content of histamine in each laboratory animal appeared to be higher in such an order as rabbit, rat, guinea pig, dog, Korean indigenous goat, swine, Korean indigenous cattle, Holstein, and mouse, of which the individual mean values${\pm}$standard deviation were 2.0668 ${\pm}$ 0.6049. 0.4999 ${\pm}$ 0.2278, 0.4241 ${\pm}$ 0.1974, 0.1054 ${\pm}$ 0.0556, 0.1028 ${\pm}$ 0.0276, 0.0972 ${\pm}$ 0.0513, 0.0872 ${\pm}$ 0.0373, 0.0717 ${\pm}$ 0.0379, and 0.0706 ${\pm}$ 0.0366, respectively. 3. The content of histamine was measured at the moments of 15-, 30-, 60-, 120-minutes after inoamuscular injection of 20mg/100kg Xh into two to 4 years old Holstein weighing 600∼700kg. The result showed that there was a significant increase at the times of 30- and 90-minutes after injection(p<0.05). 4. Intramuscular injection of 3mg/10kg Xh was given to crossbred pug dogs weighing 2.5∼4.3kg. The content of histamine was measured at the times of 30-, 60-, 90- and 120-minutes after injection. The result revealed that there was a significant increase at the times of 60-and 90-minutes after injection(p<0.05). 5. Intramuscular injection of 10mg/$m\ell$∼25mg/$m\ell$ Xh in concentration of 0.1$m\ell$ was applied to Korean indigenous goat over 5 months old. Then, the content of histamine was measured at the times of 15-, 30-, 60- and 90-minutes after injection. A significant increase was shown at the times of 30- and 60-minutes after injection(p<0.05). 6. The content of histamine was measured at the moments of 30- and 60-minutes after intramuscular injection of 0.1-0.2$m\ell$ Xh (20mg/$m\ell$) into male rabbits weighting 2.5-4kg. A significant increase was found at the moment of 60 minutes after injection(p<0.001). 7. After administering Xh to the mast cell taken from the abdominal cavity of mouse, the content of histamine was measured. The result showed that the higher the concentration, the more significantly the content of histamine was increased(p<0.05). 8. Compound 48/80 was administered in concentration of 5$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ and 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ to the mast cell picked from the abdominal cavity of mouse. The result showed that there was a significant increase in the content of histamine in case of the concentration of 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$(p<0.05). It was found to be about 10,000 to 500,000 times stronger than the Xh. 9. After premedication of 1mg/kg of yohimbine hydrochloride as ${\alpha}$$_2$-adrenergic antagonist to rabbits, the Xh was administered to them. The result was that the value of histamine within serum was decreased significantly(p<0.001). 10. After premeditation of 1mg/kg of prazosin hydrochloride as ${\alpha}$$_1$-adrenergic antagonist to rabbits, the Xh was administered to them. It was found that the value of histamine within serum was decreased significantly(p<0.005). 11, Prazosin hydrochloride and yohimbine hydrochloride as ${\alpha}$$_1$-adrenergic antagonist, respectively, and ${\alpha}$$_2$-adrenergic antagonist were administerd. In this case, the value of histamine within serum was decreased significantly(p<0.0001). As the results, when the Xh is administered to various kinds of animals, the amount of histamine release within serum is increased. In view of the results so far achieved, it is concluded that Xh acted on both a$_1$-adrenoreceptor and ${\alpha}$$_2$-adrenoreceptor induces the degranulation of mast cell.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2014

Dexmedetomidine, an imidazoline compound, is a highly selective ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor agonist with sympatholytic, sedative, amnestic, and analgesic properties. In order to minimize the patients' pain and anxiety during minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) when compared to conventional surgery under general anesthesia, an adequate conscious sedation (CS) or monitored anesthetic care (MAC) should be provided. Commonly used intravenous sedatives and hypnotics, such as midazolam and propofol, are not suitable for operations in a prone position due to undesired respiratory depression. Dexmedetomidine converges on an endogenous non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep-promoting pathway to exert its sedative effects. The great merit of dexmedetomidine for CS or MAC is the ability of the operator to recognize nerve damage during percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy, a representative MISS. However, there are 2 shortcomings for dexmedetomidine in MISS: hypotension/bradycardia and delayed emergence. Its hypotension/bradycardiac effects can be prevented by ketamine intraoperatively. Using atipamezole (an ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor antagonist) might allow doctors to control the rate of recovery from procedural sedation in the future. MAC, with other analgesics such as ketorolac and opioids, creates ideal conditions for MISS. In conclusion, dexmedetomidine provides a favorable surgical condition in patients receiving MISS in a prone position due to its unique properties of conscious sedation followed by unconscious hypnosis with analgesia. However, no respiratory depression occurs based on the dexmedetomidine-related endogenous sleep pathways involves the inhibition of the locus coeruleus in the pons, which facilitates VLPO firing in the anterior hypothalamus.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.702-709
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• 1999

The present study was performed to elucidate the effects of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ on contractile responses in isolated porcine coronary artery ring using by perivascular nerve stimulation (PNS). Especially, the study was focused on the source of $Ca^{2+}$ on $P_{2X}$-purinoceptor mediated muscle contraction which one of $P_2$-purinoceptor subtypes. The following results can be drawn from these studies : 1. The phasic contractions induced by PNS were inhibited with muscarinic receptor antagonist, atropine ($10^{-6}M$). 2. The phasic contractions induced by PNS were significantly inhibited by sequential treatment with atropine and adrenergic neural blocker, guanethidine ($10^{-6}M$). 3. The phasic contractions induced by PNS were inhibited with $P_{2X}$-purinoceptor desensitization by repetitive application of $\alpha$,$\beta$-Me ATP ($10^{-4}M$). 4. The phasic contractions induced by PNS were so weakened in calcium-free medium. 5. The phasic contractions induced by PNS were inhibited with calcium channel blocker, verapamil ($10^{-6}{\sim}5{\times}10^{-6}M$). 6. The phasic contractions induced by PNS on pretreated with verapamil ($10^{-6}{\sim}5{\times}10^{-6}M$) were not changed by $\alpha$,$\beta$-Me ATP ($10^{-4}M$). These results demonstrate that the neurogenic phasic contractions induced by PNS are due to adrenergic-, cholinergic- and $P_{2X}$-purinergic receptors and the origin of $Ca^{2+}$ on $P_{2X}$-purinoceptor mediated muscle contraction is extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ through plasmalemmal $Ca^{2+}$ channels.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.11-23
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• 2003

Objective: In this study, the analgesic effect of gold injection aqua-acupuncture on CFA induced arthritis in rats was inverstigated. Furthermore, to determine the antinociceptive mechanism of gold injection aqua-acupuncture, naloxone and yohimbine were administrated intraperitoneally 15min prior to the gold injection aqua-acupuncture. Methods: The experimental groups were divided into 6 groups. Control group, NSI, AMI, AMI+SL : AMI+Nx, AMI+Yb. Thereafter we measured the chages of TFL between control and experimental groups. Results: 1. The tail flick latency induced by CFA was significantly increased on AMI as compared with the NSI group. 2. Effect of sodium aurothiomalate aqua-acupuncture in TFL on CFA was decreased after application of naloxone. The anti-nociceptive effect of AMI was completely antagonized by naloxone(an opioid receptor antagonist). 3. Effect of sodium aurothiomalate aqua-acupuncture in TFL on CFA was decreased after application of yohimbine. The anti-nociceptive effect of AMI was completely antagonized by yohimbine(${\alpha}2$-adrenoceptor antagonist). Conclusions: According to the results, gold injection aqua-acupuncture has significant analgesic effects on adjuvant induced arthritis in rats and the effect of anti-nociception was mediated by opiodergic system and ${\alpha}2$-adrenergic system.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.6
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• pp.687-693
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• 1998

This study was performed to examine the mean arterial pressure and nociceptive jaw opening reflex after microinjection of glutamate into the amygdala in freely moving rats, and to investigate the mechanisms of antinociceptive action of amygdala. Animals were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (40 mg/kg, ip). A stainless steel guide cannula (26 gauge) was implanted in the amygdala and lateral ventricle. Stimulating and recording electrodes were implanted into each of the incisor pulp and anterior digastric muscle. Electrodes were led subcutaneously to the miniature cranial connector sealed on the top of the skull with acrylic resin. After 48 hours of recovery from surgery, mean arterial pressure and digastric electromyogram (dEMG) were monitored in freely moving rats. Electrical shocks (200 ${\mu}sec$ duration, $0.5{\sim}2$ mA intensity) were delivered at 0.5 Hz to the dental pulp every 2 minutes. After injection of 0.35 M glutamate into the amygdala, mean arterial pressure was increased by $8{\pm}2$ mmHg and dEMG was suppressed to $71{\pm}5%$ of the control. Injection of 0.7 M glutamate elevated mean arterial pressure by $25{\pm}5$ mmHg and suppressed dEMG to $20{\pm}7%$ of the control. The suppression of dEMG were maintained for 30 minutes. Naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, inhibited the suppression of dEMG elicited by amygdaloid injection of glutamate from $28{\pm}4\;to\;68{\pm}5%$ of the control. Methysergide, a serotonin receptor antagonist, also inhibited the suppression of dEMG from $33{\pm}5\;to\;79{\pm}4%$ of the control. However, phentolamine, an ${\alpha}-adrenergic$ receptor antagonist, did not affect the suppression of dEMG. These results suggest that the amygdala can modulate both cardiovascular and nociceptive responses and that the antinociception of amygdala seems to be attributed to an augmentation of descending inhibitory influences on nociceptive pathways via serotonergic and opioid pathways.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.67-77
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• 2004

Objectives : Many studies have reported that acupuncture analgesia was mediated through the activation of peripheral and central opioid receptors. However, there has been little electrophysiological study on the adrenergic mechanism of acupuncture analgesia in chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the role of adrenoceptors in the production of acupuncture analgesia in the chronic pain model. Methods : In the rat with chronic inflammation and nerve injury, dorsal horn cell (DHC) responses to afferent C fiber stimulation were used as a pain index and changes in electroacupuncture (EA) analgesia were recorded before and after intravenous administration of selective adrenoceptor antagonists. EA stimulations (2Hz, 0.5msec, 3mA) were applied to the contralateral Zusanli point for 30 min. Results : EA stimulation induced long-lasting inhibition of DHC responses in the rat with chronic inflammation and nerve injury. In both models of inflammation and neuropathic pain, α-adrenoceptor antagonist (phentolamine) significantly attenuated an inhibitory effect of EA on DHC responses. Selective α2-adrenoceptor antagonist (yohimbine) also had a similar suppressive action on DHC responses to that of phentolamine. However, β-adrenoceptor antagonist (propranolol) did not have any inhibitory effect on DHC responses in either model of chronic pain. Conclusions : These experimental findings suggest that in rats with chronic pain, EA stimulation with low frequency and high intensity produced an analgesic effect which was mediated through an activation of α2-adrenoceptors.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.147-153
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• 2018

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the central antinociceptive effects of eugenol after intraperitoneal administration. Experiments were carried out using male Sprague-Dawley rats. Subcutaneous injection of 5% formalin-induced nociceptive behavioral responses was used as the pain model. Subcutaneous injection of 5% formalin significantly produced nociceptive responses by increasing the licking time during nociceptive behavior. Subsequent intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg of eugenol led to a significant decrease in the licking time. However, low dose of eugenol (50 mg/kg) did not affect the nociceptive behavioral responses produced by subcutaneous injection of formalin. Intrathecal injection of $30{\mu}g$ of naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, significantly blocked antinociceptive effects produced by intraperitoneal injection of eugenol. Neither intrathecal injection of methysergide ($30{\mu}g$), a serotonin receptor antagonist nor phentolamine ($30{\mu}g$), an ${\alpha}-adrenergic$ receptor antagonist influenced antinociceptive effects of eugenol, as compared to the vehicle treatment. These results suggest that central opioid pathway participates in mediating the antinociceptive effects of eugenol.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2014

Background: Nefopam has shown an analgesic effect on acute pain including postoperative pain. The reuptake of monoamines including serotonin and noradrenaline has been proposed as the mechanism of the analgesic action of nefopam, but it remains unclear. Although alpha-adrenergic agents are being widely used in the perioperative period, the role of noradrenergic modulation in the analgesic effect of nefopam has not been fully addressed. Methods: Changes in the antinociceptive effect of intrathecal (i.t.) nefopam against formalin-elicited flinching responses were explored in Sprague-Dawley rats pretreated with i.t. 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), which depletes spinal noradrenaline. In addition, antagonism to the effect of nefopam by prazosin and yohimbine was evaluated to further elucidate the antinociceptive mechanism of i.t. nefopam. Results: Pretreatment with i.t. 6-OHDA alone did not alter the flinching responses in either phase of the formalin test, while it attenuated the antinociceptive effect of i.t. nefopam significantly during phase 1, but not phase 2. The antagonist of the alpha-2 receptor, but not the alpha-1 receptor, reduced partially, but significantly, the antinociceptive effect of i.t. nefopam during phase 1, but not during phase 2. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that spinal noradrenergic modulation plays an important role in the antinociceptive effect of i.t. nefopam against formalin-elicited acute initial pain, but not facilitated pain, and this action involves the spinal alpha-2 but not the alpha-1 receptor.