• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.223-230
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• 2005

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, on secretion of catecholamines (CA) evoked by cholinergic nicotinic stimulation and membrane-depolarization from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland and to establish the mechanism of its action. Naltrexone $(3{\times}10^{-6}M)$ perfused into an adrenal vein for 60 min produced time-dependent inhibition in CA secretory responses evoked by ACh $(5.32{\times}10^{-3}M)$ , high $K^+$ $(5.6{\times}10^{-2}M)$ , DMPP ($10^{-4}$ M) and McN-A-343 $(10^{-4}M)$ . Naltrexone itself did also fail to affect basal CA output. In adrenal glands loaded with naltrexone $(3{\times}10^{-6}M)$ , the CA secretory responses evoked by Bay-K-8644, an activator of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels and cyclopiazonic acid, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$, were also inhibited. However, in the presence of met-enkephalin $(5{\times}10^{-6}M)$ , a well-known opioid agonist, the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644 and cyclopiazonic acid were also significantly inhibited. Collectively, these experimental results demonstrate that naltrexone inhibits greatly CA secretion evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors as well as that by membrane depolarization. It seems that this inhibitory effect of naltrexone does not involve opioid receptors, but might be mediated by blocking both the calcium influx into the rat adrenal medullary chromaffin cells and the uptake of $Ca^{2+}$ into the cytoplasmic calcium store, which are at least partly relevant to the direct interaction with the nicotinic receptor itself.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.313-317
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• 2004

The present study were designed to characterize the action mechanisms of acetylcholine (ACh)-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in arteries precontracted with high $K^+$(70 mM). For this, we simultaneously measured both muscle tension and cytosolic free $Ca^{2+}$ concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$, using fura-2, in endothelium-intact, rabbit carotid arterial strips. In the artery with endothelium, high $K^+$ increased both $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and muscle tension whereas ACh $(10{\mu}M)$ significantly relaxed the muscle and increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. In the presence of $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine (L-NAME, 0.1 mM), ACh increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ without relaxing the muscle. In the artery without endothelium, high $K^+$ increased both $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and muscle tension although ACh was ineffective. 4-DAMP (10 nM) or atropine $(0.1{\mu}M)$ abolished ACh-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and relaxation. The increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and vasorelaxation by ACh was siginificantly reduced by either $3{\mu}M$ gadolinium, $10{\mu}M$ lanthanum, or by $10{\mu}M$ SKF 96365. These results suggest that in rabbit carotid artery, ACh-evoked relaxation of 70 mM $K^+$-induced contractions appears to be mediated by the release of NO. ACh-evoked vasorelaxation is mediated via the $M_3$ subtype, and activation of the $M_3$ subtype is suggested to stimulate nonselective cation channels, leading to increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in endothelial cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.699-708
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• 2005

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of naloxone, a well known opioid antagonist, on the secretion of catecholamines (CA) evoked by cholinergic stimulation and membrane-depolarization in the isolated perfused rat adrenal glands, and to establish its mechanism of action. Naloxone ($10^{-6}\~10^{-5}$ M), perfused into an adrenal vein for 60 min, produced dose- and time-dependent inhibition of CA secretory responses evoked by ACh ($5.32\times10^{-3}$ M), high K+ ($5.6\times10^{-2}$ M), DMPP ($10^{-4}$ M) and McN-A-343 ($10^{-4}$ M). Naloxone itself also failed to affect the basal CA output. In adrenal glands loaded with naloxone ($3\times10^{-6}$ M), the CA secretory responses evoked by Bay-K-8644, an activator of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels, and cyclopiazonic acid, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase, were also inhibited. In the presence of met-enkephalin ($5\times10^{-6}$ M), a well known opioid agonist, the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644 and cyclopiazonic acid were also significantly inhibited. Taken together, these results suggest that naloxone greatly inhibits the CA secretion evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors as well as that by membrane depolarization. It seems that these inhibitory effects of naloxone does not involve opioid receptors, but might be mediated by blocking both the calcium influx into the rat adrenal medullary chromaffin cells and the uptake of $Ca^{2+}$ into the cytoplasmic calcium store, which are at least partly relevant to the direct interaction with the nicotinic receptor itself.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.58-63
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• 2020

The salivary glands secrete saliva, which plays a role in the maintenance of a healthy oral environment. Under physiological conditions, saliva secretion within the acinar cells of the gland is regulated by stimulation of specific calcium (Ca²⁺) signaling mechanisms such as increases in the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) via storeoperated Ca²⁺ entry, which involves components such as Orai1, transient receptor potential (TRP) canonical 1, stromal interaction molecules, and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP₃) receptors (IP₃Rs). Homer proteins are scaffold proteins that bind to G protein-coupled receptors, IP₃Rs, ryanodine receptors, and TRP channels. However, their exact role in Ca²⁺ signaling in the salivary glands remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the role of Homer2 in Ca²⁺ signaling and saliva secretion in parotid gland acinar cells under physiological conditions. Deletion of Homer2 (Homer2^-/-) markedly decreased the amplitude of [Ca²⁺]_i oscillations via the stimulation of carbachol, which is physiologically concentrated in parotid acinar cells, whereas the frequency of [Ca²⁺]_i oscillations showed no difference between wild-type and Homer2^-/- mice. Homer2^-/- mice also showed a significant decrease in amylase release by carbachol in the parotid gland in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that Homer2 plays a critical role in maintaining [Ca²⁺]_i concentration and secretion of saliva in mouse parotid gland acinar cells.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.73-79
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• 2009

Cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ is an important regulator of tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. Recently, the strategy of blocking receptors and channels specific to certain cancer cell types has emerged as a potentially viable future treatment. Oral squamous cell carcinoma is an aggressive form of cancer with a high metastasis rate but the receptor-mechanisms involved in $Ca^{2+}$ signaling in these tumors have not yet been elucidated. In our present study, we report that bradykinin induces $Ca^{2+}$ signaling and its modulation in the human oral squamous carcinoma cell line, HSC-3. Bradykinin was found to increase the cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ levels in a concentration-dependent manner. This increase was inhibited by pretreatment with the phospholipase C-${\beta}$ inhibitor, U73122, and also by 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate, an inhibitor of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor. Pretreatment with extracellular ATP also inhibited the peak bradykinin-induced $Ca^{2+}$ rise. In contrast, the ATP-induced rise in cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ was not affected by pretreatment with bradykinin. Pretreatment of the cells with either forskolin or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (activators of adenylyl cyclase and protein kinase C, respectively) prior to bradykinin application accelerated the recovery of cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ to baseline levels. These data suggest that bradykinin receptors are functional in $Ca^{2+}$ signaling in HSC-3 cells and may therefore represent a future target in treatment strategies for human oral squamous cell carcinoma.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 2019

Polycystic kidney disease 2-like-1 (PKD2L1), polycystin-L or transient receptor potential polycystin 3 (TRPP3) is a TRP superfamily member. It is a calcium-permeable non-selective cation channel that regulates intracellular calcium concentration and thereby calcium signaling. Although the calmodulin (CaM) inhibitor, calmidazolium, is an activator of the PKD2L1 channel, the activating mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to clarify whether CaM takes part in the regulation of the PKD2L1 channel, and if so, how. With patch clamp techniques, we observed the current amplitudes of PKD2L1 significantly reduced when co-expressed with CaM and $CaM{\triangle}N$. This result suggests that the N-lobe of CaM carries a more crucial role in regulating PKD2L1 and guides us into our next question on the different functions of two lobes of CaM. We also identified the predicted CaM binding site, and generated deletion and truncation mutants. The mutants showed significant reduction in currents losing PKD2L1 current-voltage curve, suggesting that the C-terminal region from 590 to 600 is crucial for maintaining the functionality of the PKD2L1 channel. With PKD2L1608Stop mutant showing increased current amplitudes, we further examined the functional importance of EF-hand domain. Along with co-expression of CaM, ${\triangle}EF$-hand mutant also showed significant changes in current amplitudes and potentiation time. Our findings suggest that there is a constitutive inhibition of EF-hand and binding of CaM C-lobe on the channel in low calcium concentration. At higher calcium concentration, calcium ions occupy the N-lobe as well as the EF-hand domain, allowing the two to compete to bind to the channel.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.199-205
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• 2006

The functional expression of potassium $(K^+)$ channels has electrophysiologically been studied in bone cells from several species, however, their identity and regulation of gene expressions in bone cells are not well known. In the present study, to investigate how $K^+$ channel expressions are regulated by estrogen, we measured changes of transcript levels of various $Ca^{2+}$-activated ($K_{Ca}$) and ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels in rat osteoblastic ROS 17/2.8 cells after treatment with estrogen. Application of 17${\beta}$-estradiol $(E_2)$ for 24 h and 48 h increased mRNA and protein expressions of inwardly rectifying $K^+$ channel (Kir) 6.2 and type 2 small conductance $K_{Ca}$ channel (SK2), respectively. Combined treatment of cells with 17${\beta}-E_2$ and ICI 182,780, a pure antiestrogen, suppressed 17${\beta}-E_2$-induced alterations of SK2 and Kir6.2 mRNA levels. In addition, treatment of cells with U0126, a specific inhibitor of extracellular receptor kinases (ERK)1/2, and SP600125, a specific inhibitor of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) blocked the enhancing effects of 17${\beta}-E_2$ on SK2 and Kir6.2 protein expressions. On the other hand, blocking of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase had no effect. Taken together, these results indicate that 17${\beta}-E_2$ modulates SK2 and Kir6.2 expressions through the estrogen receptor, involving ERK1/2 and JNK activations.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 1997

We studied the mechanism of arachidonic acid on the secretion of a neurotransmitter in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Arachidonic acid inhibited the 70 mM $K^+$-induced secretion of norepinephrine. Arachidonic acid also inhibited the 70 mM $K^+$-induced $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization which is due to the opening of the voltage-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ channels (VSCC). Both the half maximal inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) of the norepinephrine secretion and VSCC coincided at 30 uM. The major oxidized metabolites of arachidonic acid, prostaglandins did not mimic the inhibitory effect of arachidonic acid. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and indomethacin which are inhibitors of lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase, respectively, did not block the inhibitory effect of arachidonic acid. The results suggest that arachidonic acid serves as a signal itself, not in the form of metabolites. The pretreatment of various $K^+$ channel blockers such as 4-aminopyridine, tetraethylarnmonium, glipizide, or glibenclamide also did not show any effect on the inhibitory effect of arachidonic acid. Through these results we suggest that arachidonic acid regulates VSCC directly and affects the secretion of neurotransmitters.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.389-397
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• 2004

The therapeutic efficacy of xylamine in the field of psychological medicine has been recognized for years and the drug is used to treat depression and some other conditions, but little is known about its mechanism of action on vascular system. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the influence of xylamine on the contractile responses of isolated rat thoracic arteries to phenylephrine(PE) and potassium chloride(KCl). Xylamine produced a concentration-dependent relaxation in PE-precontracted endothelium intact(+E) rat aortic rings, but not in a KCl-precontracted aortic rings. Also, xylamine inhibited the PE-induced contraction in concentration-dependent manner, but not in the high KCl-induced contraction in +E rings. This concentration-dependent inhibition was suppressed by the removal of the endothelium (-E). The inhibitory effects of xylamine($0.3{\mu}M$) on the PE-induced contractions were suppressed by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine(L-NNA), N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME), aminoguanidine, dexamethasone, methylene blue, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo [4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one(ODQ), indomethacin, ryanodine, tetrabutylammonium(TBA), lidocaine, procaine and 0 mM extracellular $Na^+$, but not by 2-nitro-4-carboxyphenyl-n,n-diphenylcarbamate(NCDC), lithium, nifedipine, verapamil, 0 mM extracellular $Ca^{2+}$, glibenclamide and clotrimazole. These findings suggest that xylamine could act as a vasorelaxant and direct inhibitor of arterial contraction. This vasorelaxation involves an endothelial nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP (guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate) pathway or cyclooxygenase system, and an interference with $Ca^{2+}$ release, TBA-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels and $Na^+$$ channels.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.267-274
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• 2008

Since first discovered in chick skeletal muscles, stretch-activated channels (SACs) have been proposed as a probable mechano-transducer of the mechanical stimulus at the cellular level. Channel properties have been studied in both the single-channel and the whole-cell level. There is growing evidence to indicate that major stretch-induced changes in electrical activity are mediated by activation of these channels. We aimed to investigate the mechanism of stretch-induced automaticity by exploiting a recent mathematical model of rat atrial myocytes which had been established to reproduce cellular activities such as the action potential, $Ca^{2+}$ transients, and contractile force. The incorporation of SACs into the mathematical model, based on experimental results, successfully reproduced the repetitive firing of spontaneous action potentials by stretch. The induced automaticity was composed of two phases. The early phase was driven by increased background conductance of voltage-gated $Na^+$ channel, whereas the later phase was driven by the reverse-mode operation of $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange current secondary to the accumulation of $Na^+$ and $Ca^{2+}$ through SACs. These results of simulation successfully demonstrate how the SACs can induce automaticity in a single atrial myocyte which may act as a focus to initiate and maintain atrial fibrillation in concert with other arrhythmogenic changes in the heart.