• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.318-325
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• 1996

Background: Sympathectomy relieves pain in sympathectically maintained pain, and subcutaneous injection of norepinephrine(NE) can rekindle mechanical allodynia. However, the mechanism of rekindling is not clear. The purpose of this study is to investigate which subtype of $\alpha$-adrenoceptor is involved in NE-induced rekindling of mechanical allodynia in sympathectomized neuropathic rats. Methods: Neuropathic injury was produced by tightly ligating the left L5 and L6 spinal nerves of 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats and bilateral lumbar sympathectomy was done at two weeks postoperatively. Starting at 7 days after sympathectomy, rekindling of mechanical allodynia was induced by NE and clonidine injected into the left paw, which was reversed by pretreatment of phentolamine and idazoxan. Mechanical allocynia was quantified by measuring the frequency of foot lifts to two von Frey filaments applied to the paw. Results: All tested rats displayed well-developed signs of mechanical allodynia at the left paw that were abolished by a bilateral lumbar sympathectomy. Subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of NE (0.05 ${\mu}g$) into the affected paw of sympathectomized neuropathic rats rekindled previous mechanical allodynia. These effects could be mimicked by an ${\alpha}_2$-receptor agonist clonidine, but not by an ${\alpha}_1$-receptor agonist phenylephrine. The NE-induced rekindling of mechanical allodynia was significantly reduced by prior s.c. injection of a mixed $\alpha$-receptor antagonist phentolamine (20${\mu}g$) and ${\alpha}_2$-receptor antagonist idazoxan(20${\mu}g$), but not by a ${\alpha}_1$-receptor antagonist terazosin (20${\mu}g$). The pretreatment of idazoxan produced dose-related inhibition of NE-induced rekindling of mechanical allodynia. The rekindling induced by ${\alpha}_2$-receptor agonist clonidine (5${\mu}g$) was also reversed by prior s.c. injection of ${\alpha}_2$-receptor antagonist idazoxan (20${\mu}g$). Conclusion: Subcutaneous injection of NE into the paw of sympathectomized neuropathic rats rekindles mechanical allodynia, which is reversed by an ${\alpha}_2$-, but not by an ${\alpha}_1$-receptor antagonist. Therefore, rekindling of mechanical allodynia in sympathectomized neuropathic rats is mediated by ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.216-216
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• 1996

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether in vivo noradrenergic neural activity in the locus coeruleus is related to the development of hypertension. Two groups of animals were prepared, 1) young spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and 2) age-matched normotensive wistar kyoto rats (WKY). At il weeks of age, the release of norepinephrine (NE) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DOPEG) from locus coeruleus of young SHR and WKY as an index of neural activity were determined by in vivo microdialysis along with blood pressure (BP) at three conditions : 1) normal; 2) elevated BP by systemic injection of phenylephrine and 3) alpha-1 adrenoceptor stimulated by perfusion of phenylephrine into the locus coeruleus through microdialysis probe. Basal releases of NE and DOPEG from the iocus coeruleus were 0.415+/-0.089pg/20min, 1.311+/-0.293 pg/20min in SHR and 0.204+/-0.078 pg/20min, 1.492+/-0.365 pg/20min in WKY respectively. Basal release of NE from the locus coeruleus of SHR was significantly greater than that of WKY. Phenylephrine systemic injection caused elevation of BP in both SHR and WKY in a dose related manner. Following phenyephrine injection, the releases of NE and DOPEG from the locus coeruleus of SHR were significantly decreased, whereas there were no significant changes in the releases of NE and DOPEG In young WKY. Alpha-1 adrenoceptor stimulation in the locus coeruleus by perfused phenylephrine through microdialysis probe caused pressor responses in both SHR and WKY, but the magnitude of pressor response in SHR was larger compared with that in WKY. The result from the present study suggests that noradrenergic neural activity in locus coeruleus may contribute as one of triggering factors for the expression of hypertension in young SHR.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 1985

Either the contraction of isolated was deferens or the increase of heart rate in the pithed rats induced by electrical stimulation was significantly augmented by cadmium administration (10 ${\mu}mols$ of cadmium acetate every other day for 2 weeks i.p.). These stimulation-induced responses were diminished by ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor agonist, clonidine, and the inhibition was antagonized by yohimbine. Furthermore, the increase in diastolic blood pressure by clonidine was also significantly reduced after cadmium administration, whereas that by methoxamine was not influenced with this dose range of cadmium. With these results it may be postulated that the long-term cadmium exposure may preferentially affect the responsiveness of the presynaptic as well as the postsynaptic ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.383-391
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• 1999

This study was carried out to determine whether the effects of an ${\alpha}_2-adrenoceptor$ agonist, clonidine, on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) are influenced by mild hypothermia. Experiments were performed in respiration-controlled and spontaneously breathing pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Rectal temperature was maintained at $37.5{\pm}0.3^{circ}C$ for normothermic groups or at $35.2{\pm}0.3^{circ}C$ for mild hypothermic groups. Intravenous injection of clonidine (1 and 2 ${\mu}g/kg)$ produced depressor and bradycardic responses in spontaneously breathing rats under both normothermic and mild hypothermic condition: a decrease in MAP was not altered but bradycardic response was significantly augmented in the mild hypothermic group as compared with the normothermic group. Under the respiration-controlled condition, the hypotensive effect of clonidine $(2\;{\mu}g/kg)$ was reduced, whereas the bradycardic effect was increased in mild hypothermic rats as compared with normothermic rats. Both hypotensive and bradycardic effects of clondine $(2\;{\mu}g/kg)$ were blocked by pretreatment with an ${\alpha}_2-adrenoceptor$ antagonist, yohimbine (0.5 mg/kg), in both thermal conditions. Yohimbine (0.5 mg/kg, i.v.) alone produced signifcantly an increase in heart rate in the mild hypothermic group than in the normothermic group. Pretreatment with a muscarinic receptor antagonist, atropine methylnitrate (1 mg/kg, i.v.), attenuated the bradycardic effect of clonidine in the mild hypothermic group but not in the normothermic group. These results suggest that clonidine- induced bradycardia is amplified by mild hypothermia probably through an increased parasympathetic activity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.201-210
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• 1987

수온변화에 따른 심맥관계 및 신장기능의 변화와 생체실험을 통한 온도에 의한 adrenoceptor의 변형을 알아보기 위해, 무마취 자라에서 $18^{\circ}C$에서 $25^{\circ}C$로 수온을 증가시 나타나는 혈압, 심박동수 및 신장기능의 변화를 관찰하고, epinephrine 1 ug/kg과 10 ug/kg을 상이한 온도에 노출된 자라의 정맥내 투여하여 나타나는 효과를 비교하였다. 1) $18^{\circ}C$에서 $25^{\circ}C$로 수온을 증가시킴에 따라 심박동수는 현저히 증가하여 일정하게 유지되었으나, 혈압 및 혈장 renin 활성도는 변화하지 않았다. 온도증가에 의해 뇨량, 사구체여과율 및 전해질 배설량의 현저한 증가를 보였으나 90분부터는 서서히 감소하기 시작하였다. 2) 수온 $18^{\circ}C$에 노출된 자라에서 epinephrine은 dose-dependent한 양상으로 혈압 및 심박동수를 증가시켰으며, 다량의 epinephrine 투여시 작용시간은 현저히 연장되어 있었다. $25^{\circ}C$에 노출된 자라에서는 epinephrine에 의한 혈압상승 효과 및 심박동수 증가는 나타났으나, dose dependency나 작용시간의 차이는 발견할 수 없었다. 3) 동량의 epinephrine에 의한 혈압 및 심박동수의 증가효과는 $18^{\circ}C$와 $25^{\circ}C$에 노출된 자라에서 유의한 차이를 발견할 수 없었으나, $18^{\circ}C$에 노출된 자라에서 epinephrine의 작용시간 및 반감기가 현저히 연장되어 있었다. 4) Epinephrine 투여에 의해 뇨량, 사구체여과율 및 전해질 배설량의 증가를 관찰하였으며, 이는 dose-dependent 양상이었다. 그러나, 신장효과의 유의한 차이는 상이한 온도에 노출된 두 군에서 발견할 수 없었다. 이상의 결과로, 온도증가에 의한 이뇨 및 sodium 배설효과는 혈관이완에 의한 사구체여과율의 증가에 기인한 것으로 사료되며, 상이한 온도에 노출된 자라에서 epinephrine 효과의 차이를 발견할 수 없었던 것은 본 실험에서 가한 좁은 범위의 온도의 변화 내에서는 adrenoceptor의 변형이 나타나지 않을 것이라고 추론하였다. 그러나 저온에서의 epinephrine의 작용시간의 연장은 아마도 epinephrine의 파괴 효소의 활성도의 감소인 것으로 사료된다.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.258-273
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• 1988

In this study attempts were made to observe the effects of guanabenz on renal function in dog, which manifests the antihypertensive action by inhibition of sympathetic tone through stimulating the presynaptic adrenoceptor (${\alpha}_2-adrenoceptor$). Guanabenz, when injected at a dose of $30.0{\mu}g/kg$, or infused at a dose of $3.0{\mu}g/kg/min$ intravenously, produced diuretic action with increased amounts of $Na^+\;and\;K^+$ in urine, and with decreased reabsorption rates of $Na^+\;and\;K^+$ in renal tubules. It was also observed that the rates of osmolar and free water clearances were increased, but the glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow were not changed. Guanabenz injected at a dose of $3.0{\mu}g/kg$ into a carotid artery or infused intravenously at a dose of $3.0{\mu}g/kg/min$ in a state of water diuresis elicited the diuretic action of the similar aspect as a case of guanabenz given intravenously. The diuretic action produced by guanabenz was completly blocked by pretreatment of i.v. prazosin, ${\alpha}_1-adrenoblocking$ agent, or of i.v. yohimbine, ${\alpha}_2-adrenergic$ blocking agent. Prazosin, when given into a renal artery, inhibited the diuretic action by i.v. guanabenz in only injected kidney, whereas in case of yohimbine the action was inhibited in both kidney. Guanabenz infused at a dose of $1.0{\mu}g/kg/min$ into a renal artery exhibited no significant changes of renal function in both kidney. In denervation experiments, guanabenz given intravenously produced typical diuretic action in innervated kidney, whereas in denervated kidney, it did not affect the action at initial period but exhibited the action with increase of only free water clearance at later period. These results suggest that guanabenz produced diuretic action in dog by inhibition of electrolyte reabsorption rates in renal tabules, mainly proximal tubule and of ADH release, which is mediated by stimulating of central sympathetic ${\alpha}_2-receptor$.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.81-96
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of the present study is to determine the effective analgesic parameters of manual acupuncture (MA) and/or electroacupuncture (EA), thus how MA & EA of specific acupoint works after acute ankle sprain in rats. Thus, one series of experiments was designed to analyze the analgesic effects of acupuncture in either the normal or sprained rat, by comparing the behavioral features before and after MA or EA at several acupoints. Methods : Ankle sprain was induced manually by hyper-extension of ligaments of the right ankle in rat. Either MA or EA was applied to the LI4, TE17, 足三里 and SI-6 acupoints at an intensity of 2 mA (1 ms pulse duration) with a frequency of 10 Hz for 30 minutes. Results : Behaviorally, manual acupuncture or electroacupuncture produced potent analgesic effects on acute ankle sprained animals as measured by weight bearing capacity of the affected limb. Furthermore, antinociceptive effect of EA was suppressed by alpha adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) but not by opioid antagonist naltrexone (10 mg/kg, i.p.). Conclusions : It is suggested that acupuncture-induced antinociception may involve the descending inhibition of ${\alpha}2$-adrenoceptor.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.402-414
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• 1988

In order to clarify the receptor types and mechanisms underlying the positive inotropic effect of dopamine on the mammalian ventricular myocardium, the action potential, its first derivatives and isometric contraction of the rabbit papillary muscle were recorded using a force transducer and glass capillary microelectrodes filled with 3M KCl. The results were as follows; (1) In normal Tyrode solution, the contractile force was increased and duration of action potential was shortened with increments of dopamine concentration ($10^{-6}-10^{-4}M$). (2) The dose-response curve was markedly shifted to the right by pretreatment with reserpine (5mg/kg i.p., 24hrs prior to the experiment). (3) In 19mM $K^+-Tyrode$ solution, the duration of action potential, maximum rate of rise (V_{max}) of action potential and overshoot were significantly increased with increments of dopamine concentration ($10^{-6}-10^{-4}M$). (4) The inotropic effect of dopamine on the rabbit papillary muscle pretreated with reserpine was antagonized by atenolol ($10^{-6}M$), but not by phentolamine ($3{\times}10^{-6}M$). (5) In rabbit papillary muscle partially depolarized by 19mM $K^+-Tyrode$ solution, slow electrical response (calcium mediated action potential) as well as contraction were restored by dopamine ($10^{-4}M$); this restoration was blocked by calcium antagonists ($3{\times}10^{-5}M$ $LaCl_3{\cdot}6H_2O$, $3{\times}10^{-6}M$ diltiazem) or ${\beta}-adrenoceptor$ antagonist ($3{\times}10^{-6}M$ atenolol), but not affected by ${\alpha}-adrenoceptor$ antagonist ($10^{-5}M$ phentolamine, $3{\times}10^{-6}M$ yohimbine) or vascular dopaminergic receptor antagonist ($10^{-5}M$ haloperidol). The above results may be interpreted as that the positive inotropic effect of dopamine through both direct and indirect action are caused by increase in slow inward current ($Ca^{2+}$ influx into themyocardial cell), and the direct action is mainly due to the stimulation of ${\beta}-adrenoceptors$ in the rabbit papillary muscle.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture(EA) and radio-frequency warm needling(RFWN) stimulation in acupoint combination on ankle sprained pain in rats. Methods : The lateral ligaments of the Sprague-Dawley rats ankle were injured surgically resulting in sprain, of which was divided into EA, RFWN treatment groups and control group without treatment. The level of pain was measured through foot weight bearing force ratio followed by calculating pain relief. To stimulate proximal or distal area in ankle sprain, combination of proximal acupoints(GB34-GB39) and distal acupoints(GB39-GB42) from sprain area were applied, respectively, to either EA or RFWN stimulation. In addition, naltrexone or phentolamine was injected intraperitoneally before the stimulation to observe the pathway of analgesic effects. Results : In the proximal combination of GB34-GB39, EA and RFWN significantly increased pain relief compared to the control group (p<0.05). However, in distal combination with GB39-GB42, both EA and RFWN stimulation did not relieve pain due to ankle sprains. In the combination of GB34-GB39, the analgesia of EA was inhibited by blockade of the ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptor receptor. The analgesia of RFWN was inhibited by blockade of the ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptor receptor as well as ${\mu}$-opioid receptor. Conclusions : We observed that the proximal combination was effective in relieving pain when the treatment by acupoint combination was applied to the ankle sprain pain. Also, it was confirmed that this analgesia was also related to the pathways of ${\mu}$-opioid receptors and/or ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.441-447
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• 2016

Despite the complex vascular effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX), its actions on human pulmonary resistance arteries remain unknown. The present study tested the hypothesis that DEX inhibits vascular tension in human pulmonary arteries through the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mediated production of nitric oxide (NO). Pulmonary artery segments were obtained from 62 patients who underwent lung resection. The direct effects of DEX on human pulmonary artery tension and changes in vascular tension were determined by isometric force measurements recorded on a myograph. Arterial contractions caused by increasing concentrations of serotonin with DEX in the presence or absence of L-NAME (endothelial nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), yohimbine (${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor antagonist) and indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor) as antagonists were also measured. DEX had no effect on endothelium-intact pulmonary arteries, whereas at concentrations of $10^{-8}{\sim}10^{-6}mol/L$, it elicited contractions in endothelium-denuded pulmonary arteries. DEX (0.3, 1, or $3{\times}10^{-9}mmol/L$) inhibited serotonin-induced contraction in arteries with intact endothelium in a dose-dependent manner. L-NAME and yohimbine abolished DEX-induced inhibition, whereas indomethacin had no effect. No inhibitory effect was observed in endothelium-denuded pulmonary arteries. DEX-induced inhibition of vasoconstriction in human pulmonary arteries is mediated by NO production induced by the activation of endothelial ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor and nitric oxide synthase.