• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.147-160
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• 2008

The present study was designed to examine effects of polyphenolic compounds isolated from red wine (PCRW) on the release of catecholamines (CA) from the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal medulla, and to clarify its mechanism of action. PCRW (20${\sim}$180 ${\mu}$g/mL), given into an adrenal vein for 90 min, caused inhibition of the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh (5.32 mM), high $K^+$ (a direct membrane-depolarizer, 56 mM), DMPP (a selective neuronal nicotinic $N_N$ receptor agonist, 100 ${\mu}$M) and McN-A-343 (a selective muscarinic $M_1$ receptor agonist, 100 ${\mu}$M) in dose- and time-dependent fashion. PCRW itself did not affect basal CA secretion (data not shown). Following the perfusion of PCRW (60 ${\mu}$g/mL), the secretory responses of CA evoked by Bay-K-8644 (a L-type dihydropyridine $Ca^{2+}$ channel activator, 10 ${\mu}$M), cyclopiazonic acid (a cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor, 10 ${\mu}$M) and veratridine (an activator of voltage-dependent $Na^+$ channels, 10 ${\mu}$M) were also markedly blocked, respectively. Interestingly, in the simultaneous presence of PCRW (60 ${\mu}$g/mL) and L-NAME (a selective inhibitor of NO synthase, 30 ${\mu}$M), the inhibitory responses of PCRW on the CA secretion evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644 and cyclpiazonic acid were recovered to considerable level of the corresponding control release compared with those effects of PCRW-treatment alone. Practically, the amount of NO released from adrenal medulla after loading of PCRW (180 ${\mu}$g/mL) was significantly increased in comparison to the corresponding basal released level. Collectively, these results obtained here demonstrate that PCRW inhibits the CA secretory responses evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both muscarinic and nicotinic) receptors as well as by direct membrane-depolarization from the isolated perfused adrenal gland of the normotensive rats. It seems that this inhibitory effect of PCRW is mediated by blocking the influx of both ions through $Na^+$ and $Ca^+{2$} channels into the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells as well as by inhibiting the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from the cytoplasmic calcium store, which are due at least partly to the increased NO production through the activation of nitric oxide synthase. Based on these data, it is also thought that PCRW may be beneficial to prevent or alleviate the cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension and angina pectoris.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.6
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• pp.783-796
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• 1997

The relaxation induced by stimulation of the inhibitory non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (iNANC) nerve is mediated by the release of iNANC neurotransmitters such as nitric oxide (NO), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The mechanisms of NO, VIP or ATP-induced relaxation have been partly determined in previous studies, but the detailed mechanism remains unknown. We tried to identify the nature of iNANC neurotransmitters in the smooth muscle of guinea pig ileum and to determine the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of nitric oxide. We measured the effect of NO-donors VIP and ATP on the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration$([Ca^{2+}]_i)$, by means of a fluorescence dye(fura 2) and tension simultaneously in the isolated guinea pig ileal smooth muscle. Following are the results obtained. 1. Sodium nitroprusside $(SNP:10^{-5}\;M)$ or S -nitro-N-acetyl-penicillamine $(SNP:10^{-5}\;M)$ decreased resting $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ I and tension of muscle. SNP or SNAP also inhibited rhythmic oscillation of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and tension. In 40mM $K^+$ solution or carbachol ($(CCh:10^{-6}\;M)$-induced precontracted muscle, SNP decreased muscle tension. VIP did not change $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and tension in the resting or precontracted muscle, but ATP increased resting $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and tension in the resting muscle. 2. 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazol(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1-one $(ODQ:1\;{\mu}M)$, a specific inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, limited the inhibitory effect of SNP 3. Glibenclamide $(10\;{\mu}M)$, a blocker of $K_{ATP}$ channel, and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP:5 mM), a blocker of delayed rectifier K channel, apamin $(0.1\;{\mu}M)$, a blocker of small conductance $K_{Ca}$ channel had no effect on the inhibitory effect of SNP. Iberiotoxin $(0.1\;{\mu}M)$, a blocker of large conductance $K_{Ca}$ channel, significantly increased the resting $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, and tension, and limited the inhibitory effect of SNP. 4. Nifedipine $(1\;{\mu}M)$ or elimination of external $Ca^{2+}$ decreased not only resting $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and tension but also oscillation of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and tension. Ryanodine $(5\;{\mu}M)$ and cyclopiazonic acid $(10\;{\mu}M)$ decreased oscillation of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and tension. 5. SNP decreased $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity of contractile protein. In conclusion, these results suggest that 1) NO is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the guinea pig ileum, 2) the inhibitory effect of SNP on the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and tension of the muscle is due to a decrease in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ by activation of the large conductance $K_{Ca}$ channel and a decrease in the sensitivity of contractile elements to $Ca^{2+}$ through activation of G-kinase.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.117-129
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• 2008

Background & Objective : Naeso-san(NSS) has been used for the treatment of functional dyspepsia, regarded as a gastric dysmotility disease. A main cause of gastric dysmotility is antral dilatation or antroduodenal uncoordination. Therefore, we investigated the effect of NSS on gastric motility and its mechanism of action, as well as the morphologic changes in antral dilatated rats. Methods : Antral dilatated rats were induced by wrapping a nonabsorbable rubber ring(D:6mm, W:4mm, T:1mm) around the 1st portion of the duodenum for 8 weeks. Then morphologic changes were investigated and compared with normal intact rats before and after 8 weeks. Gastric emptying was measured by administration of normal saline(NS) or NSS in normal intact and antral dilatated rats. In another series of experiments to evaluate the mechanism of NSS under delayed conditions, normal intact rats were treated with atropine sulfate(1mg/kg, s.c.), quinpirole HCl(0.3mg/kg, i.p.), $NAME(N^{G}-nitro-L-arginine$ methyl ester, 75mg/kg, s.c.) and cisplatin(10mg/kg, i.p.), respectively. The myoelectrical activity of the gastric smooth muscle was recorded in normal intact and antral dilatated rats. The contractile waves were measured for 30 minutes before and after administration of each solution(NS, NSS). Results : Body weight gain of antral dilatated rats was significantly lower than that of the controls. Futhermore, we found the thickness of the mucosal and muscular layers and surface area of the stomach increased significantly compared with controls. NSS 278㎎/㎏ improved gastric emptying more than normal saline or NSS 93mg/kg in normal intact(p=0.026) and antral dilatated rats(p=0.03). NSS enhanced gastric emptying significantly in the NAME treated group(p=0.002). NSS 278mg/kg increased the significant postprandial dominant power than that of NS in normal intact rats, whereas there was no statistical significance in antral dilatated rats. Conclusions : NSS stimulates gastric motility through the cholinergic pathway. We expect that pathologic model with antral dilatation can be used as an exprimental tool which is similar to dyspepsia and NSS would be effective especially in dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia with antral dilatation or impaired reservoir functions such as gastric adaptive relaxation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.259-270
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• 2001

The present study was attempted to investigate the characteristics of epibatidine on secretion of catecholamines (CA) from the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal gland, and to establish the mechanism of action. Epibatidine $(3{\times}10^{-8}\;M)$ injected into an adrenal vein produced a great inhibition in secretory response of CA from the perfused rat adrenal gland. However, upon the repeated injection of epibatidine $(3{\times}10^{-8}\;M)$ at 15 min-intervals, CA secretion was rapidly decreased after second injection of epibatidine. However, there was no statistical difference between CA secretory responses of both 1st and 2nd periods by the successive administration of epibatidine at 120 min-intervals. Tachyphylaxis to releasing effects of CA evoked by epibatidine was observed by the repeated administration. Therefore, in all subsequent experiments, epibatidine was not administered successively more than twice only 120 min-intervals. The epibatidine-induced CA secretion was markedly inhibited by the pretreatment with atropine, chlorisondamine, pirenzepine, nicardipine, TMB-8, and perfusion of $Ca^{2+}-free$ Krebs solution containing EGTA, while was not affected by diphenhydramine. Moreover, the CA secretion evoked by ACh for 1st period $(0{\sim}4\;min)$ was greatly potentiated by the simultaneous perfusion of epibatidine $(1.5{\times}10^{-8}\;M),$ but followed by time-dependently gradual reduction after 2nd period. The CA release evoked by high potassium $(5.6{\times}10^{-8}\;M),$ for 1st period $(0{\sim}4\;min)$ was also enhanced by the simultaneous perfusion of epibatidine, but those after 2nd period were not affected. Taken together, these experimental data suggest that epibatidine causes catecholamine secretion in a calcium dependent fashion from the perfused rat adrenal gland through activation of neuronal cholinergic (nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors located in adrenomedullary chromaffin cells. It also seems that epibatidine-evoked catecholamine release is not relevant to stimulation of histaminergic receptors.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.87-100
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• 1994

It has been known for some time that dopamine-containing cells are existed in sympathetic ganglia, i.e., small, intensely fluorescent cells. However, its role and mechanism of action as a peripheral neurotransmitter are poorly understood so far. In the present study, an attempt was made to examine the effect of apomorphine, which is known to be a selective agonist of dopaminergic $D_2$. receptor on secretion of catecholamines (CA) from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland. The perfusion of a low concentration of 10uM apomorphine into an adrenal vein for 20 min produced significant reduction in CA secretion induced by 5.32 mM ACh, 56 mM KCl, 100 uM DMPP and 100 uM McN-A-343. Increasing apomorphine concentration to 30 uM led to more markedly decreased CA secretion as compared to the case of 10 uM apomorphine and also did inhibit clearly CA release by $10^{-5}M$ Bay-K-8644. Furthermore, in adrenal glands preloaded with a higher dose of 100 uM apomorphine, CA releases evoked by ACh, excess $K^+$, DMPP and McN-A-343 were almost abolished by the drug. The perfusion of $3.3{\pm}10^{-5}M$ metoclopramide, which is well-known as a selective dopaminergic $D_2$ antagonist, produced significantly inhibitory effect of CA release by ACh, DMPP and McN-A-343 but did not affect that by excess $K^+$. However, preloading of 30uM apomorphine in the presence of metoclopramide did not modify the CA secretory effect of excess $K+$ and DMPP. These experimental results demonstrate that apomorphine causes dose-dependent inhibition of CA secretion by cholinergic receptor stimulation and also by membrane depolarization from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland, suggesting that these effects appear to be exerted by inhibiting influx of extracellular calcium into the rat adrenal medullary chromaffin cells through activation of inhibitory dopaminergic receptors.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.293-302
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• 1994

The objective of this study was to establish a good methodology to isolate single smooth muscle cells that are alive and respond properly to pharmacological agents. Canine urinary bladders were employed as the source of single cells, and acetylcholine, atropine and imipramine were used as indicators of pharmacological responsiveness. Imipramine, an antidepressant drug exhibited the anticholinergic and calcium antagonizing properties on rat detrusor muscle. To establish a control value for a further experiment to elucidate the mechanism of action of imipramine on detrusor muscle, we measured the concentration-response of single cells to acetylcholine in the presesnce of imipramine by length of the cells and compared the result with the response in the presence of atropine. Tiny chops of smooth muscle taken from anesthetized canine urinary bladder were incubated in collagenase solution at $36^{\circ}C$ for 17-20 minutes. The collagenase solution included collagenase 1.2 mg/ml, soybean tryspin inhibitor 0.08 mg/ml, bovine serum albumin 2% in 10 ml Krebs-Henseleit buffer solution aerated with a consistent breeze of 95/5% $O_2/CO_2$, to maintain the pH at 7.4. After washing with plain K-H solution on 450 mesh, cells were dissociated from the digested tissue for 12-15 minutes. Cell suspension was transfered in 5 ml test tubes and acetylcholine was added for the final concentration to be $10^{-14}M{\sim}10^{-9}M$. To find the optimal time to fix the cells to determine the contractile responses, 1% acrolein was added 5, 10, 20, 30, 60 and 120 seconds after the administration of ACh. The length of cells fixed by acrolein were measured by microscaler via CCTV camera on phaes-contrast microscope. The average length of 50 cells from a slide glass was taken as the value of a sample at the very concentration point. Single cells were isolated from canine detrusor. The length of untreated cells varied from 82 ${\mu}m$ to 94 ${\mu}m$. The maximal response to actylcholine $10^{-9}M$ was accomplished within 5 seconds of exposure, and the shortening was $19{\pm}3$%. Atropine reduced the contraction of the cells concentration-dependently. Imipramine which exerts a cholinergic blocking action on some smooth muscles also reduced the contraction concentration-dependently and by a similar pattern as atropine. These findings document that imipramine may exerts a cholinergic blocking activity in the single smooth muscle cells isolated from canine urinary bladder.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 1989

The effect of metoclopramide (MCP), which is well-known as a selective dopaminergic antagonist used in treating esophageal refulx, gastroparesis and emesis induced by anticancer chemotherapy, on secretion of catecholamines (CA) in the perfused isolated rat adrenal gland was investigated. MCP given into an adrenal vein produced the dose-related increase in CA secretion from the adrenal gland. The secretory effect of CA evoked by MCP was inhibited markedly by atropine-pretreatment. but only partially blocked when chlorisondamine was added. The secretion of CA induced by MCP was potentiated by pretreatment with physostigmine, adenosine or ouabain. However, MCP-induced CA secretion was suppressed significantly by perfusion of calcium-free Krebs solution containing 5 mM-EGTA for 30 min. Perfusion of MCP (200 ug/30 min.) attenuated the secretory effect of CA evoked by potassium chloride or acetylcholine. These experimental results demonstrate that metoclopramide releases CA significantly by a calcium-dependent exocy totic mechanism. It is thought that the secretory effect of metoclopramide is due to activation of cholinergic muscarinic receptors present in the adrenal gland rather than nicotinic receptors and partly to the direct action on the chromaffin cell itself.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.1 s.57
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• pp.27-37
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• 1995

In anesthetized rats, we examined the possibility that endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) or nitric oxide (NO) released in response to cholinergic mechanism may contribute to the reflex autoregulation of cerebral blood flow. Suffusion with mock cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), containing acetylcholine (ACh, $10^{-9}{\sim}10^{-6}M$) evoked concentration-dependent vasodilatation of the resting pial artery (mean, $19.3{\pm}1.7{\mu}m$, n=36), which was significantly inhibited not only by $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, $10^{-5}M$) but also by methylene blue ($10^{-6}M$) and oxyhemoglobin ($10^{-6}M$). The muscarinic receptors in the endothelium of pial artery implicated in the release of EDRF were considered to be $M_1\;and\;M_3$ subtypes. When suffused with mock CSF containing L-arginine it caused a transient vasodilatation, which was strongly inhibited by LY 83583 ($10^{-5}M$), but not by L-NNA ($10^{-5}M$). Additionally, both ACh- and L-arginine-induced vasodilation were significantly inhibited by glibenclamide, a specific ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel blocker. On the other hand, changes in pial arterial diameter were plotted as a function of changes in systemic arterial blood pressure. The slopes of regression lines for vasodilation and vasoconstriction were not affected by pretreatment with $10^{-5}M$ L-NNA, but significantly reduced by $3{\times}10^{-6}M$ glibenclamide. Thus it is suggested that the reflex vasodilation of rat pial arteries in response to a transient hypotension is not mediated by EDRF (NO).

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.415-421
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• 2003

It is now generally accepted that acupuncture is effective in diarrhea caused by bacterial infection. However, its effect on the intestinal smooth muscle dysfunction is not clear. Therefore, we investigated the effect of acupuncture therapy at Jiao-chao (GV-1) on the intestinal muscle dysfunction in weaning piglets orally infected by Escherichia coli. The animals are divided into four groups; 1) E. coli + no-treatment, 2) E. coli + antibiotic, 3) E. coli + acupuncture, 4) normal group. In the three E. coli infected groups, low frequency electrical field stimulation (EFS, 1 Hz) provoked triphasic responses composed of initial relaxation followed by on-contraction and off-contraction. While in the normal group, EFS (1Hz) induced biphasic responses composed of relaxation during the stimulation and off-contraction. At the high frequency (16Hz) EFS, both on-contraction and off-contraction of the E. coli + antibiotic, E. coli + acupuncture and the normal group were larger than those of the E. coli + no-treatment group. In the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) condition, only biphasic responses occurred to EFS in all experimental groups and the off-contraction of E. coli + antibiotic, E. coli + acupuncture and the normal group were larger than those of the E. coli + no-treatment group. The response to carbachol of those three groups was also significantly greater than that of the E. coli + no-treatment group. These results suggest that acupuncture is as effective as antibiotic in the dysfunction of colonic circular muscle caused by E. coli infection. The maintenance of contractile neuromuscular transmission seems to be involved in the mechanism of the acupuncture effects on diarrhea.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.629-639
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• 2016

The present study was designed to investigate the characteristics of gintonin, one of components isolated from Korean Ginseng on secretion of catecholamines (CA) from the isolated perfused model of rat adrenal gland and to clarify its mechanism of action. Gintonin (1 to $30{\mu}g/ml$), perfused into an adrenal vein, markedly increased the CA secretion from the perfused rat adrenal medulla in a dose-dependent fashion. The gintonin-evoked CA secretion was greatly inhibited in the presence of chlorisondamine ($1{\mu}M$, an autonomic ganglionic bloker), pirenzepine ($2{\mu}M$, a muscarinic $M_1$ receptor antagonist), Ki14625 ($10{\mu}M$, an $LPA_{1/3}$ receptor antagonist), amiloride (1 mM, an inhibitor of $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchanger), a nicardipine ($1{\mu}M$, a voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker), TMB-8 ($1{\mu}M$, an intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ antagonist), and perfusion of $Ca^{2+}$-free Krebs solution with 5mM EGTA (a $Ca^{2+}$chelater), while was not affected by sodium nitroprusside ($100{\mu}M$, a nitrosovasodialtor). Interestingly, LPA ($0.3{\sim}3{\mu}M$, an LPA receptor agonist) also dose-dependently enhanced the CA secretion from the adrenal medulla, but this facilitatory effect of LPA was greatly inhibited in the presence of Ki 14625 ($10{\mu}M$). Moreover, acetylcholine (AC)-evoked CA secretion was greatly potentiated during the perfusion of gintonin ($3{\mu}g/ml$). Taken together, these results demonstrate the first evidence that gintonin increases the CA secretion from the perfused rat adrenal medulla in a dose-dependent fashion. This facilitatory effect of gintonin seems to be associated with activation of LPA- and cholinergic-receptors, which are relevant to the cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$ increase by stimulation of the $Ca^{2+}$ influx as well as by the inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ uptake into the cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$ stores, without the increased nitric oxide (NO). Based on these results, it is thought that gintonin, one of ginseng components, can elevate the CA secretion from adrenal medulla by regulating the $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization for exocytosis, suggesting facilitation of cardiovascular system. Also, these findings show that gintonin might be at least one of ginseng-induced hypertensive components.