• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.73-77
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• 2008

Recent studies have documented that testosterone relaxes several smooth muscles by modulating $K^+$ channel activities. Smooth muscles of seminal vesicles playa fundamental role in ejaculation, which might involve testosterone. This study was aimed to assess the role of testosterone in seminal vesicular motility by studying its effects on contractile agents and on the ion channels of single vesicular myocytes in a rabbit model. The contractile responses of circular smooth muscle strips of rabbit seminal vesicles to norepinephrine ($10{\mu}M$), a high concentration of KCI (70 mM), and testosterone ($10{\mu}M$) were observed. Single vesicular myocytes of rabbit were isolated using proteolytic enzymes including collagenase and papain. Inside-out, attached, and whole-cell configurations were examined using the patch clamp technique. The applications of $10{\mu}M$ norepinephrine or 70 mM KCl induced tonic contractions, and $10{\mu}M$ testosterone (pharmacological concentration) evoked dose-dependent relaxations of these precontracted strips. Various $K^+$ channel blockers, such as tetraethylammonium (TEA; $10{\mu}M$), iberiotoxin ($0.1{\mu}M$), 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, $10{\mu}M$), or glibenclamide ($10{\mu}M$) rarely affected these relaxations. Single channel data (of inside-out and attached configurations) of BK channel activity were also hardly affected by testosterone ($10{\mu}M$). On the other hand, however, testosterone reduced L-type $Ca^{2+}$ currents significantly, and found to induce acute relaxation of seminal vesicular smooth muscle and this was mediated, at least in part, by $Ca^{2+}$ current inhibition in rabbit.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2000

To investigate the mechanism of smooth muscle contraction induced by emptying of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores, we measured isometric contraction and $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ influx. $CaCl_2$ increased $Ca^{2+}$ store emptying- induced contraction in dose-dependent manner, but phospholipase C activity was not affected by the $Ca^{2+}$ store emptying-induced contraction. The contraction was inhibited by voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonists dose dependently, but not by TMB-8 (intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release blocker). Both PKC inhibitors (H-7 and staurosporine) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein and methyl 2,5-dihydroxycinnamic acid) significantly inhibited the contraction, but calmodulin antagonists (W-7 and trifluoperazine) had no inhibitory effect on the contraction. The combined inhibitory effects of protein kinase inhibitors, H-7 and genistein, together with verapamil were greater than that of each one alone. In $Ca^{2+}$ store-emptied condition, $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ influx was significantly inhibited by verapamil, H-7 or genistein but not by trifluoperazine. However combined inhibitory effects of protein kinase inhibitors, H-7 and genistein, together with verapamil were not observed. Therefore, this kinase pathway may modulate the sensitivity of contractile protein. These results suggest that contraction induced by emptying of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores was mediated by influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ through voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel, also protein kinase C and/or tyrosine kinase pathway modulates the $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity of contractile protein.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2002.06a
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• pp.20-20
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• 2002

This study was to establish the use of parthenogenetic mouse ES (P-mES02) cells as a reproducible differentiation system for mouse cardiomyocytes. To induce differentiation, P-mES02 cells were dispersed by dissociation and the formation of ES cell aggregates in differentiation medium. After 7 days in differentiation culture, the embryoid bodies (EBs) were plated onto gelatin-coated dish. Cultures were observed daily using an inverted light microscope to determine the day of contraction onset and total duration of continuous contractile activity for each contracting focus. (omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 1994

A new method is used to record the actual shortening produced during the auxotonic activity of the sartorius (SAR), gastrocnemius (CAS) and rectus abdominis (RAB) muscles of a lizard Uromastix. The auxotonic twitch and tetanus records thus obtained were used for the first time to calculate the coefficient of linear shortening (COLS). This coefficient represent the relative Index between change in length $(\Delta\;L=L_0-L_1)$ and tension $({\Delta}P\;P_0-P_1)$ due to shortening at the steepest rising phase of the twitch and tetanus, recorded at resting length. In addition to this, maximum shortening $(S_{max})$ and auxotonic tensions were also determined at resting lengths of these muscles. The COLS was found to express the speed of shortening and auxotonic tensions are suggested to be of value to express the internal architecture of SAR, GAS & RAB muscles. The results are discussed in terms of contractile and elastic elements of the muscles alongwith the importance of shortening at resting lengths in skeletal muscles.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2017

Neuromedin, a neuropeptide, which is involved in various functions that include contractile activity on smooth muscle, controlling the blood flow and ion transport in the intestine, increased blood pressure and regulation of adrenocortical function. It is involved in the pathophysiology of various immune mediated inflammatory diseases like asthma. In this study, we have performed protein-protein docking analysis of neuromedin U - neuromedin U receptor 1 complex. We have developed homology models of neuromedin U, and selected a reliable model using model validation. The model was docked with the receptor model, to analyse the crucial interactions of the complex. This study could be helpful as a tool in developing novel and potent drugs for the diseases related with neuromedin U receptor 1.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.67-67
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• 2001

Our previous studies showed that the relaxation defect of diabetic heart was due to the changes in the expressional levels of SR $Ca^{2＋}$-ATPase and PLB. In the diabetic heart contractile abnormalities were also observed, and one of the mechanisms for these changes could include alterations in the expression and/or activity levels of various $Ca^{2＋}$ regulatory proteins involving cardiac contraction.(omitted)

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2001

In order to determine the role of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), the important sex-steroid hormone precursor, in vascular reactivity in rats, animals were treated for two weeks with DHEA or sex hormones, and the vascorelaxant and contractile responses of isolated aorta were examined. DHEA diminished the acetylcholine (ACh)-induced relaxation in female rats, while the drug was without effect in males. Testoterone lowered the vasorelaxant activity to ACh in either sex. 17$\beta$-Estradiol enhanced ACh-induced vasorelaxation in male rats, but this female sex hormone did not influence in females. In male rats, the androgen receptor antagonist flutamide also enhanced vasorelaxant action of ACh. When the male rat aorta was incubated in vitro with a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor L-NAME, phenylephrine-induced contraction was greatly potentiated in DHEA-pretreated rats compared to control ones. The present results suggest that DHEA stimulates mainly androgen in female, but both androgen and estrogen in male rats. The participation of NO In the modulation of vascular reactivity with pretreated DHEA was also considered.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1060-1065
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• 2002

LC20 phosphorylation and PKC α play an important role in modulation of contractile activity of smooth muscle. Besides, myosin phosphatase is also related with smooth muscle contraction in signaling pathways. We previously demonstrated that Crataegi Fructus inhibited phenylephrine-induced contraction and which might be implicated in nitrite formation(Son et al., 2002). In this study, we investigated the effects of butanol fraction of Crataegi Fructus(BFFC) on the localization of α-protein kinease C(PKC α) and myosin phosphatase subnits(MPs) in freshly isolated single ferret potal vein cells, and phosphorylation of LC20 during phenylephrine stimulation. In PKC α and MPs localization, BFFC blocked its translocation from the cytosol to the cell membrane by treatment of phenylephrine. BFFC have also dephosphorylated LC20 phosphorylation by phenylephrine stimulation under basal level, but no significant. These results indicate that the relaxation effect of BFFC is associated with inhibition of PKC α activation and MPs dissociation, and thus myosin phosphatase activity may be increased.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.140-152
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• 1993

This study was attempted to investigate the effect of Ganoderma lucidum extract on digestive system in experimental animals. Ganoderma lucidum water extract (GWE) was found to be promoted the charcol transport rate in the small intestine of mice. GWE exhibited the augmentation of spontaneus movement(motility) and contractile response(tension) in the ileum and colon strips of rabbit, and these action were inhibited by atropine. GWE given intraduodenaly(i.d.) exhibited the significant increase of gastric acid secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. GWE inhibited the formation of some experimental gastric ulcers(pylorus ligation ulcer i.d., indomethacin-induced ulcer p.o., i.d. and aspirin-induced ulcer p.o.) in rats, which are considered to relate to a protective action. GWE and EtOH extract(water soluble phase) were remarkably increase of bile excretion, when administration of i.d., intravenation(i.v.) and per os (p.o.) compared with normal-control group. GWE was observed antibacterial activity aginst several intestinal microoganisms and others bacteria in vitro test.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1147-1153
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• 2013

Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (formerly Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora) is a plant pathogen that causes soft rot and stem rot diseases in several crops, including Chinese cabbage, potato, and tomato. To control this bacterium, we isolated a bacteriophage, PP1, with lytic activity against P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the PP1 phage belongs to the Podoviridae family of the order Caudovirales, which exhibit icosahedral heads and short non-contractile tails. PP1 phage showed high specificity for P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, and several bacteria belonging to different species and phyla were resistant to PP1. This phage showed rapid and strong lytic activity against its host bacteria in liquid medium and was stable over a broad range of pH values. Disease caused by P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum was significantly reduced by PP1 treatment. Overall, PP1 bacteriophage effectively controls P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum.