• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.165-175
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• 1985

It has been reported that clonidine is $\alpha_2$-adrenergic agonist, potnet new hypotensive drug in human with low dose. The change in blood pressure is implicated in the concentration, release, uptake and metabalism of catecholamine and activity of catecholamine synthesizing enzyme in specific brain areas. Thus the experiment was set up to investigate the effect on the enzyme activity of clonidine alone and that of clonidine pretreated with imipramine or tranylcypromine by measuring activity of the Dopa-forming enzyme, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and epinephrine forming enzyme, phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase (PNMT) in brain and adrenal gland. The TH activity in brainstem and substantia nigra is decreased by intraperitoneally administered clonidine 0.1mg/kg twice a day for 5 days, but increased in the rats pretreated with imipramine 10mg/kg intraperitoneally given 26 hrs and 5 hrs before decaptitation. However the TH activity in all regions of brain is increased in rats pretreated with tranylcypromine 10mg/kg intraperitoneally twice a day for 5 days. The effect of clonidine on TH activity is due to inhibition release of norepinephrine by activation of presynaptic $\alpha_2$-adrenoreceptor, axon terminal result in the decrease of TH activity in brain. The increasing of TH activity in brain results in attenuation of the role of clonidine by pretreated with imipramine or tranylcypromine in rats. The activity of PNMT was not significantly affected by clonidine, imipramine and tranylcypromine in adrenal gland.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.712-719
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• 1998

Thyroid function is mainly regulated through cAMP and phophatidylinositol, and it is well known that TSH-stimulated thyroxine ($T_4$) release is inhibited by catecholamine from mouse thyroids via the ${\alpha}_1$-adrenoceptor stimulation. Previous study has established that the inhibition of $T_4$ release by ${\alpha}_1$-adrenoceptor stimulation results in activated protein kinase C (PKC). The purpose of this study was to determine if ion transport systems are involved in the inhibition of $T_4$ release elicited by ${\alpha}_1$-adrenergic agonist in mouse thyroids. TSH-, IBMX- and cAMP analogue-stimulated $T_4$ release were significantly inhibited by methoxamine, R59022 (diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor), and MDL (adenylate cyclase inhibitor). TSH-stimulated $T_4$ release could be inhibited by Bay K 8644 and cyclopiazoic acid, but not by verapamil and tetrodotoxin. The addition of nifedipine ($Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker), tetrodotoxin and lidocaine ($Na^+$ channel blockers), but not amiloride (EIPA) and ryanodine, completely blocked the inhibitory effects of methoxamine on $T_4$ release. TSH-stimulated $T_4$ release was also inhibited by benzamil ($Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchange inhibitor). TSH-, IBMX- and cAMP-stimulated $T_4$ release were inhibited by methoxamine or R59022, these effects were reversed by nifedipine. but not by verapamil. Furthermore, nifedipine reversed the inhibitory effects of benzamil and R59022 on TSH-stimulated $T_4$ release. These data suggest that the observed ${\alpha}_1$-adrenoceptor-mediated inhibition of $T_4$ release in mouse thyroids is the result of an increase in intracellular $Na^+$ or $Ca^{2+}$ effected via activation of fast $Na^+$ or nifedipine-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ channels, and that $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchange may play an important role in reducing thyroid hormone by increasing intracellular $Ca^{2+}$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 1980

It has been well known that beta-adrenoceptor is responsible for the renin release stimulatory and alpha-adrenoceptor may be inhibitory. It has been observed accidently that alpha-adrenergic agonist can inhibit renin release by just changing the medium temperature in Vitro experiment in this laboratory. A series of experiments were performed to clarify this interesting phenomena in Vitro experiment. Rat renal slices were incubated in PSS medium under gas phase at $37^{\circ}C$. The following results were observed. 1) Isoproterenol and norepinephrine resulted in renin release stimulatory in dose-dependent by the concentrations of $10^{-9}$ to $10^{-5}\;M/L$ at $37^{\circ}C$. 2) Norepinephrine resulted in renin release inhibitory in dose dependent by the concentrations of $10^{-7}$ to $10^{-5}\;M/L$, and almost no effect by isoproterenol $10^{-6}\;M/L$ at $20^{\circ}C$. 3) Phenoxybenzamine pretreatment at $37^{\circ}C$ accentuated isoproterenol stimulatory effect at $37^{\circ}C$. 4) Phenoxybenzamine pretreatment at $20^{\circ}C$ attenuated isoproterenol stimulatory effect at $37^{\circ}C$. These data suggest that the renal adrenoceptor(s) related to renin release maybe a single entity, and can be interconverted different forms in certain conditions.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.585-591
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• 2014

The ${\beta}_2$ adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) is a G protein-coupled transmembrane receptor expressed in the human respiratory tract and widely recognized as a pharmacological target for treatments of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). Although a number of ADRB2 agonists have been developed for use in asthma therapy, indacaterol is the only ultra-long-acting inhaled ${\beta}_2$-agonist (LABA) approved by the FDA for relieving the symptoms in COPD patients. The precise molecular mechanism underlying the pharmacological effect of indacaterol, however, remains unclear. Here, we show that ${\beta}$-arrestin-2 mediates the internalization of ADRB2 following indacaterol treatment. Moreover, we demonstrate that indacaterol significantly inhibits tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$)-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activity by reducing levels of both phosphorylated-IKK and -$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, thereby decreasing NF-${\kappa}B$ nuclear translocation and the expression of MMP-9, an NF-${\kappa}B$ target gene. Subsequently, we show that indacaterol significantly inhibits TNF-${\alpha}$/NF-${\kappa}B$-induced cell invasiveness and migration in a human cancer cell line. In conclusion, we propose that indacaterol may inhibit NF-${\kappa}B$ activity in a ${\beta}$-arrestin2-dependent manner, preventing further lung damage and improving lung function in COPD patients.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.383-389
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• 2017

Dexmedetomidine is an ${\alpha}2$-adrenergic receptor agonist that exhibits a protective effect on ischemia-reperfusion injury of the heart, kidney, and other organs. In the present study, we examined the neuroprotective action and potential mechanisms of dexmedetomidine against ischemia-reperfusion induced cerebral injury. Transient focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by middle cerebral artery occlusion. After the ischemic insult, animals then received intravenous dexmedetomidine of $1{\mu}g/kg$ load dose, followed by $0.05{\mu}g/kg/min$ infusion for 2 h. After 24 h of reperfusion, neurological function, brain edema, and the morphology of the hippocampal CA1 region were evaluated. The levels and mRNA expressions of interleukin-$1{\beta}$, interleukin-6 and tumor nevrosis factor-${\alpha}$ as well as the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, nuclear factor-${\kappa}Bp65$, inhibitor of ${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and phosphorylated of ${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ in hippocampus were assessed. We found that dexmedetomidine reduced focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by inhibiting the expression and release of inflammatory cytokines and mediators. Inhibition of the nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ pathway may be a mechanism underlying the neuroprotective action of dexmedetomidine against focal cerebral I/R injury.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 1988

This study aimed to investigate the autonomic innervations of human vas deferens and the effect of diazepam, a benzodiazepine sedative antianxiety drug, on the smooth muscle contractility of vas deferens. The specimens were obtained from healthy volunteers undergoing elective vasectomy with local anesthesia. The muscle preparation did not show any spontaneous contraction, but showed a good contraction induced by norepinephrine exerting the strongest response at $33^{\circ}C$. Phentolamine inhibited the norepinephrine-induced contraction concentration-dependently. Isoproterenol, a beta-adrenergic agonist evoked a considerable extent of contraction, and this contractile activity was antagonized by propranolol, a beta-adrenergic blocking agent. Acetylcholine induced a dashing contraction of the human vas deferens, and atropine, a muscarinic receptor blocking agent abolished the acetylcholine-induced contraction. Diazepam inhibited the norepinephrine-induced contraction in a concentration dependent manner. These results suggest that the smooth muscle of human vas deferens has cholinergic muscarinic and beta adrenergic receptors as well as the predominant alpha adrepergic receptor. Diazepam inhibits the motility, especially norepinephrine-induced contraction of human vas deferens.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.319-325
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• 2001

Several recent studies demonstrate that cAMP accumulation evokes marked changes in magnesium ($Mg^{2+}$) homeostasis. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of melatonin, the principal hormone of the vertebral pineal gland, on $Mg^{2+}$ regulation in perfused guinea pig hearts. We hypothesized that melationin would regulate $Mg^{2+}$ efflux induced by adrenergic drugs and cAMP analogues because melatonin inhibites adneylate cyclase (AC) and phospholipase C(PLC) in the hearts. The $Mg^{2+}$ content in the perfusate was significantly higher in the presence than in the absence of melatonin. The addition of forskolin, isoproterenol or dimaprit to perfused hearts induced a marked $Mg^{2+}$ efflux. These effluxes were not inhibited by melatonin. The $Mg^{2+}$ efflux could also be induced by phenylephrine, a ${\alpha}_1$-adrenoceptor agonist. This phenylephrine-induced $Mg^{2+}$ efflux was inhibited by melatonin. In addition, the phenylephrine-induced $Mg^{2+}$ efflux was potentiated by PMA, a protein kinase C(PKC) activator. This $Mg^{2+}$ efflux was inhibited by melatonin. In conclusion, these data suggest that melatonin regulates $Mg^{2+}$ homeostasis and the inhibitory effect of melatonin on ${\alpha}_1$-adrenoceptor-stimulated $Mg^{2+}$ efflux may occur through an inhibition of PLC pathway in perfused guinea pig hearts.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.223-229
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• 2008

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in vascular homeostasis. This study investigated whether ${O_2}^{\cdot^-}$, the foundation molecule of all ROS, regulates vasomotor function. Hence, vascular reactivity was measured using rat thoracic aortas exposed to an ${O_2}^{\cdot^-}$ generator (pyrogallol) which dose-dependently regulated both $\alpha$-adrenergic agonist-mediated contractility to phenylephrine and endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine. Pyrogallol improved and attenuated responses to acetylcholine at its lower (10 nM - 1 ${\mu}M$) and higher (10 - 100 ${\mu}M$) concentrations, respectively while producing the inverse effects with phenylephrine. The endothelial inactivation by L-NAME abolished acetylcholine-induced vasodilatations but increased phenylephrine and KCl-induced vasoconstrictions regardless of the pyrogallol dose used. Relaxant responses to sodium nitroprusside, a nitric oxide donor, were not affected by pyrogallol. Other ROS i.e. peroxynitrite and $H_2O_2$ that may be produced during experiments did not alter vascular functions. These findings suggest that the nature of ${O_2}^{\cdot^-}$-evoked vascular function is determined by its local concentration and the presence of a functional endothelium.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.157-164
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• 1999

LB50016 was characterized as a selective and potent$ 5-HT_{1A}$ receptor agonist and evaluate it anxiolytic and antidepressant activities. It shows high affinity for $ 5-HT_{1A}$receptor, moderate affinity for $\alpha$2 adrenergic and $ 5-HT_{2A}$receptors and no significant affinity for other receptors tested. Hypothermia and increased serum corticosterone level were observed in LB50016-treated rats, which are mediated mostly by post synaptic $ 5-HT_{1A}$ receptor activation. In the mouse forced swim model for depression, LB50016-elicited dose-dependent reductions in immobility time, showing $ED_{50}$ of approximately 3 mg/kg i.p., which was blocked by pretreatment of NAN-190, $ 5-HT_{1A}$antagonist. In face-to-face test for anxiolytic activity in mice, estimated $ED_{50}$ was 2 mg/kg, i.p.. In isolation-induced aggression test with mice, fifty-fold increases in latency to attack were observed at 30 min and last up to 4 h after LB50016 treatment (3 mg/kg, i.p.). Taken together, LB50016-induced pharmacological activities are mediated by activation of $ 5-HT_{1A}$receptors, offering an effective therapeutic candidate in the management of anxiety and depression in humans.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 2001

Background: Clonidine, a selective ${\alpha}_2$ adrenergic agonist, increases the duration of anesthesia and analgesia when it is used with local anesthetics. This study was undertaken to evaluate whether clonidine, which was mixed with lidocaine for the brachial plexus block (BPB), has a local (peripheral) or a systemic (central) anesthetic effect. Methods: Seventy patients scheduled for upper extremity surgery were randomly allocated to two groups. In group IV (n = 35) an axillary perivascular BPB was performed with 40 ml of 1% lidocaine and 1：200,000 epinephrine, and just after BPB clonidine $2{\mu}g/kg$ was administered intravenously. In group BPB (n = 35) the same BPB was performed with 40 ml of 1% lidocaine, 1：200,000 epinephrine and clonidine $2{\mu}g/kg$. The following variables were recorded: onset time, duration of anesthesia and analgesia, and adverse effects. Results: Onset time was comparable in both groups. The duration of anesthesia and analgesia significantly increased to 306 min and 354 min in group BPB, when compared to 119 min and 151 min in group IV, respectively. No side effects such as hypotension, bradycardia, and sedation were reported. Conclusions: The duration of anesthesia and analgesia is prolonged by adding clonidine to lidocaine during brachial plexus block, which suggests that its effect is local rather than systemic.