• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.261-269
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• 2008

This experiment was performed to investigate the anxiolytic-like effects of cyclopeptide fraction alkaloids of Zizyphi Spinosi Semen (CFAZ), by using the experimental paradigms of anxiety, and compared with those of a known anxiolytic, diazepam. CFAZ (8.0 mg/kg, p.o.) increased the percentage of time spent on the open arms and the number of open arms entries in the elevated plus-maze test, increased the number of head dips in the hole-board test, and increased the percentage of center zone ambulatory time in the open-field box. However, CFAZ has no effect on the locomotor activity, while diazepam (2.0 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced locomotor activity. CFAZ did not influence the grip force in the grip strength meter test, either. From the molecular experiments, CFAZ increased chloride influx in cultured cerebellar granule cells. In addition, $GABA_A$ receptors $\gamma$-subunit were over-expressed by CFAZ in cultured cerebellar granule cells. It is concluded that CFAZ may have anxiolytic-like effects, and these effects may be mediated by $GABA_A$ receptors.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2011

The effects of herbal ethanol extract from Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP extract) on chronic stress-induced anxiety in mice were investigated. The animals were treated with GP extracts (50 and 100 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 21 days before exposure to electric footshock (EF; duration and interval 10 sec for 3 min, 2 mA) for chronic stress once a day. The ambulatory locomotor activity was reduced by chronic EF stress and it was recovered by 12.9-15.1% in GP extract-treated groups. The grip strength was also significantly decreased by chronic EF stress, however, the EF-stressed groups treated with GP extract increased grip strength from 13.9% to 56.8% compared to EF-stressed groups. In addition, the serum levels of corticosterone were significantly elevated by chronic EF stress to 197% of the control levels, which was reduced to 73.1% by treatment with GP extract (100 mg/kg). In contrast, the brain levels of dopamine and serotonin were reduced to 67.6% and 63.1% by chronic EF stress, which was recovered to 90% of the control levels by treatment with GP extract. These results indicate that GP extract shows the ameliorating effects on chronic EF stress-induced anxiety in mice and it can be developed as the promising anti-anxiety agent.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.179-194
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• 1995

This study aimed to determine whether exposure to stress during developmental period causes permanent behavioral and/or neurochemical alterations. Alterations of behavior were studied in young and aged rats which have been exposed to uncontrollable and unpredictable electric shocks on postnatal day(PND) 14 or PND 14 and 21. The concentrations of monoaminergic neurotransmitters were also measured to determine whether the behavioral alterations were accompanied by neurochemical changes. The results obtained are as follows: 1) The rate of increase in body weight was reduced at one day after exposure to the 1st series of shocks on PND14. However, these findings could not be observed after exposure to the 2nd series of shocks on PND 21. 2) Explorative activity decreased at one day after exposure to the 1st series of shocks on PND14. However this findings could not be observed after exposure to the 2nd series of shocks on PND 21. 3) At 100 days of age, there were little changes in the spontaneous locomotor activities measured for consecutive 23 hrs. However, there was positive correlation between the shock number showing the 1st helplessness during receiving the 1st series of shocks and the night time ambulatory activity of females, and was negative correlation between the shock number showing the 1st helplessness during receiving the 1st or 2nd series of shocks on PND 14 or 21 and the night time ambulatory activity of females. 4) At $360{\sim}390$ days of age, night time ambulatory activity decreased in female rats which have been exposed to shocks on PND 14 and 21, but not in males. 5) In the aged female rats, the concentrations of 5-HT, dopamine and their metabolites were not different among groups. However, the ratio of 5-HIAA/5-HT increased in the frontal cortices of rats exposed to shocks on PND 14 and 21. These results demonstrate that the early experience of serious stress results in persistent alterations of behavior accompanying altered neurochemistry, and aging may unmask a subtle neuronal deficit causes by the early experience of serious stress.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.423-427
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• 2012

Purpose: The cerebellum is a region of brain structure that plays an important role in calibrating two different information of neural signal from descending motor commands and from ascending sensory inputs. Damage of the cerebellum shows a variety of classic motor symptoms such as postural and locomotor dysfunctions. Therefore, we tried to investigate motor function and skill in stroke patients with cerebellar lesions in sub-acute stage, and compare with these functions of patients with non-cerebellar lesions. Methods: Total twelve stroke patients with cerebellar lesion and 130 stroke patients with non-cerebellar lesions were retrospectively recruited in this study. For evaluation of motor strength, Motricity index (MI) for upper and lower limbs was tested. For measurement of motor skill function, the modified Brunnstrom classification (MBC), Manual function test (MFT), functional ambulatory category (FAC), and Barthel index were adopted. Results: In comparison of motor strength and motor skill function between two groups, statistical differences between the two groups were significantly observed only in upper MI and FAC. Although no significant differences were found in other variables, stroke patients with cerebellar lesion had higher scores in lower and total MI, MBC, and MFT, whereas they had lower scores in FAC and Barthel index. Conclusion: Our results showed that stroke patients with cerebellar lesion had greater impact on movement functions related to hand motor and walking ability in activities of daily life, compared with patients with non-cerebellar lesion, in spite of similar degree of motor function and skill between the two different lesioned-groups.