• Animal cells and systems
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.279-286
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• 2011

Hypoxic ischemia injury is a common cause of functional brain damage, resulting from a decrease in cerebral blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain. The main problems associated with hypoxic ischemia to the brain are memory impairment and dopamine dysfunction. Hypothermia has been suggested to ameliorate the neurological impairment induced by various brain insults. In this study, we investigated the effects of hypothermia on memory function and dopamine synthesis following hypoxic ischemia to the brain in rats. For this purpose, a step-down avoidance task, a radial eight-arm maze task, and immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) were performed. The present results indicated that the hypoxic ischemia-induced disturbance of the animal's performances and spatial working memory was associated with a decrement in TH expression in the substantia nigra and striatum, and an increase in cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Hypothermia treatment improved the animals' performance and spatial working memory by suppressing the decrement in TH expression in the substantia nigra and striatum and the increase in cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus. We suggest that hypothermia can be an efficient therapeutic modality to facilitate recovery following hypoxic ischemia injury to the brain, presumably by modulating the dopaminergic cell loss.

• 감성과학
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.551-558
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• 2010

통증은 매우 복합적이고 다양한 수준의 경험으로 주관적이거나 객관적일 수 있다. 침술은 통증을 치료하기 위한 아주 오래된 방법이며, 경락 이론을 바탕으로 한다. 침의 효과에 대한 임상적 결과들은 수없이 많이 있지만, 그 기능에 대한 과학적인 이해는 부족한 상태이다. 또한, 실생활에서의 통증 유발 원인과 침술을 통한 통증 억제 또는 치료는 그 차이가 매우 크게 느껴진다. 그러나 최근 연구들을 통해 통증과 침술의 관련성이 밝혀지고 있다. 본 논문에서는 최근 급격히 발달하고 있는 뇌영상 기술들(functional magnetic resonance images, 및 positron emission tomography, electroencephalograph, magnetoencephalography)을 간략히 살펴보고, 이들을 이용한 통증 및 침술 연구들을 살펴보고자 한다. 통증과 침술에 관여하는 뇌 영역들을 확인하여, 이 둘의 유사성 및 차이를 비교하고, 뇌영상 기술을 통해 밝혀지는 뇌의 정보처리 과정을 통해 통증과 침술에 대한 이해를 넓히고자 한다.

• 대한핵의학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.165-169
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• 1993

Functional cerebral impairments have been verified objectively by brain SPECT and q-EEG (quantitative electroencephalography). Microcerebral circulatory defects without anatomical changes can-not be detected by the brain CT or MRI. Brain SPECT using $^{99m}Tc$-HMPAO (Hexamethyl propyleneamine oxime) as a key radioisotope may be accepted as the useful method for identifying functional cerebral impairments. We studied 25 patients with mild head trauma to define whether the SPECT was helpful in detecting cerebral impairment. Results were as follows: The SPECT was positive in 23 patients out of 25, q-EEG positive in 16 patients and brain CT was positive in 3 cases. SPECT and q-EEG were more sensitive than CT, SPECT would be more useful method than brain CT to investigate cerebral function after head injury.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제1권5호
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• pp.495-504
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• 1997

Water transport is mediated by two distinct pathways, diffusional and channel-mediated water transport. The first molecular water channel was identified from human erythrocytes in 1992. Genetically-related proteins from other mammalian tissues have subsequently been identified to transport water, and the group is referred to as th "Aquaporins". Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is most abundant in the brain, which may be involved in CSF reabsorption and osmoregulation. However, ontogeny and regulatory mechanisms of AQP4 channels have not been reported. Northern blot analysis showed that AQP4 mRNA began to be expressed in the brain just before birth and that its expression gradually increased by PN7 and then decreased at adult level. AQP4 was expressed predominantly in the ependymal cells of ventricles in newborn rats. And then its expression decreased in ependymal cells and increased gradually in other regions including supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei. AQP4 is also expressed in the subfornical organ, in which the expression level is not changed after birth. Cryogenic brain injury did not affect expression of AQP4 mRNA, while ischemic brain injury decreased it. Osmotic water permeability of AQP4 channel expressed in Xenopus oocytes was inhibited by the pretreatment of BAPTA/AM and calmidazolium, a $Ca^{2+}/Calmodulin$ kinase inhibitor, in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that the expression and the function of AQP4 channel are regulated by developmental processes and various pathophysiological conditions. These results will contribute to the understanding of fluid balance in the central nervous system and the osmoregulatory mechanisms of the body.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.311-318
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• 2005

Grp78, discovered as one of the putative target genes of Hoxc8, is a highly conserved stress protein and functions as a molecular chaperone in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In order to see the stage-specific expression pattern of Grp78 during development, mouse embryos from day 7.5 to 17.5 p.c. were isolated, and RT-PCR as well as in situ hybridization was performed. When RT-PCR was performed using Grp78 specific primers, periodic expression pattern was detected. And also a region-specific expression pattern was detected with a strong expression in the trunk part of day 11.5 p.c. embryo, like that of Hoxc8. When in situ hybridization was performed, Grp78 was revealed to be expressed in the endoderm, somite, neuroepithelium cells of neural tube in early embryos. In the case of late embryos, Grp78 expression was detected in the liver, segmental bronchus within cranial lobe of lung, ossification center within the cartilage primordium of rib and vertebra, submandibular gland, as well as metanephros. These expression patterns are very much similar to those of Hoxc8. Since Hoxc8 has been reported to regulate apoptosis during organogenesis, it might be possible that the apoptotic function could have been conveyed through the expression of Grp78, implying that the Grp78 is one of the Hoxc8 downstream target genes.

• 한국잠사곤충학회지
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.120-125
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• 2000

This study was designed to investigate the effects of silk fibroin (Mw 500) powder (SFP) on lipofuscin, acetylcholine (ACh) and its related enzyme activities in brain of rats. Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats (160$\pm$10 g) were fed basic diet (control group), and experimental diets (SFP-2.5 and SFp-5.0 groups) added 2.5 and 5.0 g/kg BW/day for 6 weeks. In case of liver membranes, lipofuscin (LF) levels resulted in a considerable decreases (11.5% and 13.8%, respectively) in SFP-2.5 and SFP-5.0 groups compared with control group. But in case of brain as the most sensitive organ, LF levels were remarkably inhibited about 18.3% and 21.7% in SFP-2.5 and SFP-5.0 groups compared with control group. Acetylcholine (ACh) levels were considerable decrease (3.0% and 9.2%, respectively) in brain membranes of SFP-2.5 and SFP-5.0 groups compared with control group. choine acetyltranferase (ChAT) activities as a synthesis enzyme of ACh, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities as a hydrolysis enzyme resulted in a slight increases (2.4% and 3.0%, 4.6% and 6.3%, respectively), but significance difference between ChAT and AChE activities by SFP administration could be not obtained. Monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) activities were significantly inhibited (9.5% and 12.6%, respectively) in brain of SEP-2.5 and SFP-5.0 groups compared with control group. These results suggest that inhibiting effects of LF accumulation and MAO-B activity of silk fibroin(SFP) may play a pivotal role in protecting learning memory impairments by attenuating a various age-related changes for improvement of brain function.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.3760-3768
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• 2015

본 연구는 인성과 뇌파의 상관관계를 알아보고자 하는 것이 목적이다. 연구의 대상자로는 기업체에 근무하는 팀장급 40명을 대상으로 인성검사와 뇌파측정을 동시에 진행하고 결과에 대한 상관관계를 분석하였다. 인성검사는 Big 5 검사지를 이용하였고, 뇌파검사는 2-Channel System 뇌파측정기를 이용하여 Fp1과 Fp2에서 측정하였다. 연구결과는 Big 5의 수용성은 BQ의 자기조절지수중 휴식상태 즉, 알파파의 활성화 정도와 정적 상관관계가 있고, 개방성은 자기조절지수중 집중상태 즉, 저베타파와 부적 상관관계가 있다는 것을 알 수 있었다. 이는 사람의 인성이 대뇌피질의 활성화와 관련이 있으며 뇌파분석을 통해서도 알 수 있다는데 의미가 있다.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.59-63
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• 1971

Current interest in ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has arisen from the convergence of several independent line of investigation leading to the demonstration that this and related substances are normal products of brain metabolism and that GABA has an important physiological action upon brain function as well as upon certain peripheral nervous structures. The interest for neurophysiologists has been enhanced by the importance of the discovery for the role of humoral mediator of synaptic transmission or regulator of neuronal activity in the central nervous system, particularly if it may shed some elight upon the nature of central inhibitory processes. In accordance with such an interest and importance, this work was performed in order to standardize the normal content as a preliminary investigation of so-called night active and daytime active animals GABA content in their brains when they are exposed to light and darkness. The method, through which the estimation has made in this work, was paper chromatographic method developed by Maynert and Klingman for the estimation of GABA content in animal tissues. The results obtained are summerized as follows: 1) GABA content in the cerebral cortex of house rat ranged from 90 to $310{\mu}g/gm$ of wet weight. 2) The content of GAGA ranging from 130 to $510{\mu}g/gm$ of wet weight was occurred from midbrain of the rat. 3) GABA content was ranged from 30 to $150 {\mu}g/gm$ of wet weight of the rat cerebellum. 4) The contents of fowl cerebral cortex, midbrain, and cerebellum are estimated as ranging 230-590, 250-620, $50-280{\mu}g/gm$ of wet weight, respectively. As a result, it may be concluded that among three brain tissues of both animals the midbrain is the highest region in GABA content. Fowl brain, on the other side, contains more higher GABA content than the house rat brain does.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.293-298
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the modification of expression and functionality of the drug transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We used immortalized human brain microvessel endothelial cells (iHBMEC) and primary human brain microvessel endothelial cells (pHBMEC) as in vitro BBB model. To investigate the change of p-gp expression, we carried out real time PCR analysis and Western blotting. To test the change of p-gp activity, we performed rhodamin123 (Rh123) accumulation study in the cells. In results of real time PCR analysis, the P-gp mRNA expression was increased by TNF-${\alpha}$ or IFN-${\gamma}$ treatment for 24 hr in both cell types. However, 48 hr treatment of TNF-${\alpha}$ or IFN-${\gamma}$ did not affect P-gp mRNA expression. In addition, co-treatment of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IFN-${\gamma}$ markedly increased the P-gp mRNA expression in both cells. TNF-${\alpha}$ or IFN-${\gamma}$ did not influence P-gp protein expression whatever the concentration of cytokines or duration of treatment in both cells. However, P-gp expression was increased after treatments of both cytokines together in iHBMEC cells only compared with untreated control. Furthermore, in both cell lines, TNF-${\alpha}$ or IFN-${\gamma}$ induced significant decrease of P-gp activity for 24 hr treatment. And, both cytokines combination treatment also decreased significantly P-gp activity. These results suggest that P-gp expression and function at the BBB is modulated by TNF-${\alpha}$ or/and IFN-${\gamma}$. Therefore, the distribution of P-gp depending drugs in the central nervous system can be modulated by neurological inflammatory diseases.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.286-294
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA), is acquired by dietary intake or the in vivo conversion of ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid. Many enzymes participating in LCPUFA synthesis are regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha ($PPAR{\alpha}$). Therefore, it was hypothesized that the tissue accretion of endogenously synthesized DHA could be modified by $PPAR{\alpha}$. MATERIALS/METHODS: The tissue DHA concentrations and mRNA levels of genes participating in DHA biosynthesis were compared among $PPAR{\alpha}$ homozygous (KO), heterozygous (HZ), and wild type (WT) mice (Exp I), and between WT mice treated with clofibrate ($PPAR{\alpha}$ agonist) or those not treated (Exp II). In ExpII, the expression levels of the proteins associated with DHA function in the brain cortex and retina were also measured. An n3-PUFA depleted/replenished regimen was applied to mitigate the confounding effects of maternal DHA. RESULTS: $PPAR{\alpha}$ ablation reduced the hepatic Acox, Fads1, and Fads2 mRNA levels, as well as the DHA concentration in the liver, but not in the brain cortex. In contrast, $PPAR{\alpha}$ activation increased hepatic Acox, Fads1, Fads2, and Elovl5 mRNA levels, but reduced the DHA concentrations in the liver, retina, and phospholipid of brain cortex, and decreased mRNA and protein levels of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor in brain cortex. CONCLUSIONS: LCPUFA enzyme expression was altered by $PPAR{\alpha}$. Either $PPAR{\alpha}$ deficiency or activation-decreased tissue DHA concentration is a stimulus for further studies to determine the functional significance.