• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.982-992
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• 2005

Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely used for the treatment of many functional disorders such as substance abuse and mental dysfunction. Clinical trials are currently underway to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of drug addiction. Yet, there are still many unanswered questions about the basic mechanism of acupuncture. Studies have shown that both the psychomotor stimulant effects and rewarding properties of addictive drugs, including morphine, are sensitized by repeated drug administration and raised the possibility that both of these effects may De linked to the same or closely overlapping the mesolimbic dopamine systems. Neiguan (PC6) point on the pericardium channel which is associated with the brain and its mental function, has been used to treat mental, psychosomatic disorders and gastroenterological disorders. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of acupuncture on repeated morphine-induced changes in extracellular dopamine levels using in vivo microdialysis and to measure the effect of acupuncture on repeated morphine-induced behavioral changes. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated twice a day for three days with increasing doses of morphine (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, s.c.) or with saline. After 15 days of withdrawal, rats were challenged with morphine hydrochloride (5 mg/kg, s.c.). Acupuncture was applied at bilateral Neiguan (PC6) points for 1min after the morphine challenge. Results showed that acupuncture at the specific acupoint PC6, but not at control points (tail and HE8) significantly decreased both dopamine release, behavior induced by a systemic morphine challenge or a single s.c. morphine injection in the morphine-repeated animals. These results suggest that reduction in sensitization may be one mechanism whereby acupuncture alleviates morphine craving in addicts. Moreover, in a more general sense these results suggest that acupuncture can be used as a therapeutic intervention for correcting reversible malfunction of the body by direction of brain pathway and thus acupuncture can contribute to the biochemical balance in the central nervous system by regulating neurotransmitters.

• The Zoological Society Korea : Newsletter
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.12-20
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• 2001

2000년도 노벨 의학상은 스웨덴의 아비스 칼슨 박사 등 3명 이 수상했다. 그들은 신경전달 물질(neurotransmitter) 중 도파민 (dopamine)과 시냅스(synapse)에 관한 연구로 항 우울제 치료제인 프로작 (prozac)을 개발하여 신경, 정신질환 치료제 개발에 기여한 공로였다. 도파민과 GABA는 신경전달 물질 중의 하나로 도파민은 운동, 정서, 행동, 희노애락 등을 조절하는 것으로 이상 분비될 때 파킨스씨병, 정신분열증, 우울증 등을 유발시킨다. GABA는 억제성 신경전달물질로 이상 분비시 간질 등을 유발시킨다. 도파민과 GABA의 분비는 시냅스 후(postsynapse) 수용체에서 그 기능이 조절된다. 그러나 마약성인 코카인, 헤로인, 몰핀, 암페타민 등 중 독성약물뿐만 아니라 일상 생활에서 흔히 접할 수 있는 흡연, 술 등에 의해서도 그 분비 이상을 초래한다. 따라서 본 논단에서는 최근 뇌신경생물 실험실에서 진행되고 있는 신경전달 물질 중에 도파민 및 GABA 분비에 대 한 연구결과를 바탕으로 소개 하고자 한다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.171-176
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• 1993

Purpose of the present study was to clarify the role of noradrenergic neural activities in hypothalamus for either triggering or maintaining hypertension in deoxycorticosterone (DOCA)-salt hypertensive rats. Two groups of animals were prepared: 1) normotensive Wistar rats and 2) DOCA-salt induced hypertensive rats. Voltage dependent $^{45}Ca^{++}$ uptake, endogenous norepinephrine release, and the catecholamine content in the hypothalamus of DOCA-salt hypertensive and normotensive Wistar rats were compared. Animals at 4, 6 and 16 week-old of two groups were sacrificed by decapitation and hypothalamus was dissected out. Voltage dependent calcium uptake and norepinephrine release were determined from hypothalamic synaptosomes either in low potassium or high potassium stimulatory condition by using $^{45}Ca^{++}$ isotope and HPLC-ECD technique. Degrees of voltage dependent $^{45}Ca^{++}$ uptake and norepinephrine release in hypothalamic synaptosomes of 16-week-old DOCA-salt hypertensive rats were significantly greater than those of age matched normotensive control rats. The norepinephrine and dopamine contents of hypothalamus were about the same in two groups of animals. These results suggest that the alteration of evoked norepinephrine release related to calcium uptake in hypothalamus may play a role in the maintenance of hypertension in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.105-112
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• 2014

Background and objective: Methamphetamine (Meth) is a widely abused psychostimulant that produces hyperlocomotion in rodents. Radix of Glycyrrhizae uralensis comprises a variety of bioactive components that have neuroprotective effects. In a previous study, we have demonstrated methanol extracts from radix of Glycyrrhizae uralensis (MEGR) suppress acute cocaine-induced extracellular dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. In the present study, we investigated the effect of MEGR on acute Meth-induced hyperlocomotion. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered with MEGR (60 mg/kg and 180 mg/kg) 60 min prior to an intraperitoneal injection of Meth (1.0 mg/kg). Results: Behavioral analysis showed acute Meth greatly increased locomotor activities, while pretreatment with MEGR dose dependently inhibited the hyperlocomotion. In parallel, there were markedly increased levels of dopamine and its metabolite 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in the nucleus accumbens tissues in Meth-treated rats, which were also almost completely reversed by 180 mg/kg MEGR. Conclusions: These results showed that radix of Glycyrrhizae uralensis attenuates Meth-induced hyperlocomotion by inhibiting dopamine synthesis and utilization, suggesting that radix of Glycyrrhizae uralensis might be effective in blocking the rewarding effect of Meth.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.183-188
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• 1993

Effects of glucose on the catecholamine release from the hypothalamic fragments in vitro were studied. Basal release of catecholamines was inversely related to the concentrations $(5{\sim}30\;mM)$ of glucose in the incubation medium. Glucose did not affect the 30 mM $K{^+}-stimulated$ release of catecholamine. In the presence of tetrodotoxin $(10\;{\mu}M)$, the inhibitory effect of glucose on the basal release of catecholamines was largely persisted, but the inhibitory effect of 30 mM glucose on dopamine release was largerly blocked. In the presence of both tetrodotoxin $(10\;{\mu}M)$ and desipramine $(3\;{\mu}M)$, glucose failed to affect the basal catecholamine release. The results suggest that glucose modulates the catecholamine release through a direct action on the catecholaminergic nerve terminals, as well as through a trans-synaptical action. The glucose-modulation of the catecholamine release may explain, at least in part, the diabetes-induced changes in the hypothalamic catecholamine metabolism.

• 대한핵의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.24.1-24.1
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• 2002

• 대한핵의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.317.2-317.2
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.268.2-269
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• 2002

The recombinant histamine-releasing factor (rHRF) has been reported to induce a secretion of histamine and cytokines from inflammation-related cell types such as basophils and eosinophils. and to function as a growth factor in immune B cells. Recently. decreased expression level of HRF protein was observed in brain of patients with Alzheimer disease and Downs syndrome. suggesting a possible significant role in neurological systems. (omitted)

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.756-763
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• 2002

We have previously demonstrated that repeated injections of nicotine produced an increase in locomotor activity, dopamine(DA), release and c-Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens, one of the major projection areas of the central DA system. Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely used for the treatment of many functional disorders such as substance abuse and mental dysfunction. And many studies have shown that Coptidis Rhizoma has a suppressive effect on the central nervous system (CNS) and can affect the neurotransmitter systems in the CNS. In order to investigate whether acupuncture and Coptidis Rhizoma have an influence on nicotine-induced reinforcing and behavioral effects, we examined the effect of zusanli(ST36) and Coptidis Rhizoma on repeated nicotine-induced locomotor activity, and zusanli(ST36) on c-Fos expression as an important maker of postsynaptic neuronal activity in nucleus accumbens. Male SD rats received Coptidis Rhizoma (100mg/kg, p.o.) 30 min before injections of nicotine (0.4 mg/kg, s.c.) for 7 days. Rats were followed withdrawal for 3 days and one challenge for 1 day. Systemic challenge with nicotine produced a much larger increase in locomotor activity. Pretreatment with acupuncture at zusanli(ST36, 100Hz) and Coptidis Rhizoma decreased in nicotine-induced locomotor activity. These results demonstrated that reduction in locomotor activity by acupuncture at zusanli(ST36, 100Hz) and Coptidis Rhizoma may be mediated by reduction of dopamine release. Our results suggest that acupuncture at zusanli(ST36, 100Hz) and Coptidis Rhizoma may have therapeutic effect on nicotine addiction.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2014

It has been suggested that transition metal ions such as iron can produce an oxidative injuries to nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, like Parkinson's disease (PD) and subsequent compensative increase of tetrahydrobiopterin ($BH_4$) during the disease progression induces the aggravation of dopaminergic neurodegeneration in striatum. It had been established that the direct administration of $BH_4$ into neuron would induce the neuronal toxicity in vitro. To elucidate a role of $BH_4$ in pathogenesis in the PD in vivo, we assessed the changes of dopamine (DA) and $BH_4$ at striatum in unilateral intranigral iron infused PD rat model. The ipsistriatal DA and $BH_4$ levels were significantly increased at 0.5 to 1 d and were continually depleting during 2 to 7 d after intranigral iron infusion. The turnover rate of $BH_4$ was higher than that of DA in early phase. However, the expression level of GTP-cyclohydrolase I mRNA in striatum was steadily increased after iron administration. These results suggest that the accumulation of intranigral iron leads to generation of oxidative stress which damage to dopaminergic neurons and causes increased release of $BH_4$ in the dopaminergic neuron. The degenerating dopaminergic neurons decrease the synthesis and release of both $BH_4$ and DA in vivo that are relevance to the progression of PD. Based on these data, we propose that the increase of $BH_4$ can deteriorate the disease progression in early phase of PD, and the inhibition of $BH_4$ increase could be a strategy for PD treatment.