• 대한본초학회지
• /
• 제28권1호
• /
• pp.83-90
• /
• 2013

Objectives : Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) is an active ingredient in Ligusticum wallichii and has a wide range of neuroprotection effects. This study investigated anti-neuroinflammatory effect of TMP on brain regions in intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated C57BL/6 mice. Methods : TMP was administered intraperitoneally at doses of 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg at 1 h prior to LPS (3 mg/kg) i.c.v. injection. mRNA level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6, was measured in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and hypothalamus tissue using real-time polymerase chain reaction at 24 h after the LPS injection. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) positive cells in the hypothalamus was also observed using immunohistochemistry at 24 h after the LPS injection. Results : At a dose of 30 mg/kg TMP significantly attenuated up-regulation of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA in the cerebral cortex and IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA in the hippocampus. In the hypothalamus, doses of 20 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg TMP significantly attenuated up-regulation of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 mRNA induced by the LPS injection. In addition, TMP (30 mg/kg) significantly reduced the number of COX-2 positive cells in the hypothalamus. Conclusion : These results indicate that TMP has an anti-inflammatory effect on neuroinflammation, especially in the hypothalamus, induced by LPS i.c.v. injection and suggest that TMP-containing Ligusticum wallichii may play a modulatory role on the systemic responses following hypothalamic inflammation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제8권4호
• /
• pp.195-200
• /
• 2004

Ghrelin is a newly discovered peptide, which is released from the stomach and neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), and potently stimulates growth hormone release and food intake. In the present study, we investigated the effect of ghrelin on $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in thyroid FRTL-5 cells. Ghrelin (5 nM) increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and TSH (1 unit/l) had an additive effect on $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ when extracellular normal solution was 1.1mM $Ca^{2+}$ containing Coon's modified Ham's F12 medium. When $Ca^{2+}-free$ medium containing 2 mM EGTA replaced the above normal solution, ghrelin also induced a similar rise in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. In the middle of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increment by ghrelin, nifedipine $(1\;{\mu}M)$, nickel $(100\;{\mu}M)$ and $La^{3+}\;(100\;{\mu}M)$ had no effect on $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. After endoplasmic reticulum was depleted by cyclopiazonic acid $(CPA;10\;{\mu}M)$, ghrelin caused no visible change on $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in $Ca^{2+}-free$/2 mM EGTA solution. These results suggest that ghrelin can increase $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ through endoplasmic reticulum in thyroid FRTL-5 cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제32권1호
• /
• pp.77-83
• /
• 2024

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by neuronal cell death and memory impairment. Corticosterone (CORT) is a glucocorticoid hormone produced by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in response to a stressful condition. Excessive stress and high CORT levels are known to cause neurotoxicity and aggravate various diseases, whereas mild stress and low CORT levels exert beneficial actions under pathophysiological conditions. However, the effects of mild stress on AD have not been clearly elucidated yet. In this study, the effects of low (3 and 30 nM) CORT concentration on Aβ_25-35-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells and underlying molecular mechanisms have been investigated. Cytotoxicity caused by Aβ_25-35 was significantly inhibited by the low concentration of CORT treatment in the cells. Furthermore, CORT pretreatment significantly reduced Aβ_25-35-mediated pro-apoptotic signals, such as increased Bim/Bcl-2 ratio and caspase-3 cleavage. Moreover, low concentration of CORT treatment inhibited the Aβ_25-35-induced cyclooxygenase-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokine expressions, including tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β. Aβ_25-35 resulted in intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, which were effectively reduced by the low CORT concentration. As a molecular mechanism, low CORT concentration activated the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2, a redox-sensitive transcription factor mediating cellular defense and upregulating the expression of antioxidant enzymes, such as NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase, glutamylcysteine synthetase, and manganese superoxide dismutase. These findings suggest that low CORT concentration exerts protective actions against Aβ_25-35-induced neurotoxicity and might be used to treat and/or prevent AD.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• 제22권4호
• /
• pp.263-269
• /
• 2016

Rhynchophylline (RP) is a major tetracyclic oxindole alkaloid of Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus which has been used to treat hypertension, seizures, pain and anxiety in the oriental countries. A recent report revealed that RP attenuated ischemia-induced neuronal damage and kainite-induced convulsions in animals. This study was performed to investigate whether RP enhances pentobarbital-induced sleep behaviors and modulates sleep architecture in mice. Locomotor activity was significantly inhibited by RP at 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg, similar to 2 mg/kg diazepam (a benzodiazepine agonist) in mice. RP shortened sleep latency and increased total sleep time in a dose-dependent manner when administrated with pentobarbital (42 mg/kg, i.p.). RP also increased the number of sleeping mice and total sleep time by concomitant administration with the sub-hypnotic dosage of pentobarbital (28 mg/kg, i.p.). On the other hand, RP (0.25 mg/kg, p.o.) itself significantly inhibited sleep-wake cycles, prolonged total sleep time, and rapid eye movement in rats. In addition, RP also increased chloride influx in the primary cultured hypothalamic neuronal cells. In addition, we found that glutamic acid decarboxylase ($GAD_{65/67}$) was activated by RP. In conclusion, RP augments pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors, and can be a candidate for treating insomnia.

• 대한한의학회지
• /
• 제26권3호
• /
• pp.162-175
• /
• 2005

Backgrounds : Two stress pathways, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system, regulate immune system responses through release of corticosteroids, norepinephrine and epinephrine. respectively. These neuromediators act on immune cells via specific receptors on their surface to modulate the production of key regulatory cytokines. Objectives : To evaluate the preventive effects of oriental medicine Hyeolbuchukyeo-tang (HC) on stress. Methods : Mice were divided into three groups: nounal group, control group under immobilization stress and HC group which received Hyeolbuchukyeo-tang (HC) under immobilization stress. following sacrifice, their splenocytes were isolated and splenocyte surface markers were determined. The brains were removed and mRNA determined. In vivo, we separated RNA Iron cultured macrophages (RAW264.7). Results : In our study, immune functions were decreased in stress due mainly to changes of various neuromediators, cytokines and macrophage activities, and the treatment of HC increased those expressions. Conclusions : In summary, the present study documents the anti-stress effects of HC through stress-immune regulation.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제22권1호
• /
• pp.30-35
• /
• 2006

Munc18, a mammalian homolog of C. elegans Unc, is essential for neurotransmitter release. The aim of this study was to identify estrogen-dependent expression of Munc18-1 and its role in the regulation of glutamate release for puberty onset. Hypothalamic munc18-1 mRNA levels were significantly increased by estrogen treatment in ovariectomized, immature female rats. During pubertal development, the munc18-1 mRNA levels dramatically increased between the juvenile period and the anestrous phase of puberty. Intracerebroventricular administration of an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide against munc18-1 mRNA significantly decreased glutamate release and delayed the day of puberty onset. These results suggest that Munc18-1, expressed in an estrogen-dependent manner, plays an important role in the onset of female puberty via the regulation of glutamate release.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• 제3권1호
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 1999

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was originally isolated as a hypothalamic peptide that regulates reproduction by stimulating the release of gonadotropins. Using comparative animal models has led to the discovery that GnRH has a more ancient evolutionary origin. Durinq evolution GnRH peptide underwent gene duplication and structural changes to give rise to multiple molecular forms of GnRHs. Mammalian GnRH initially considered to be the sole molecular form, is now grouped as a family of peptides along with GnRH variants determined from representatives in all classes of vertebrates. Vertebrate species including primates and humanshave more than one GnRH variant in individual brains; a unique GnRH form in the forebrain and chicken IIGnRH in the midbrain. Furthermore, several species of bony fish have three molecular variants of GnRH: salmon GnRH sea-bream GnRH and chicken II GnRH. Also, it has been shown that in addition to the olfactory placodes and the midbrain, there is a third embryonic source of GnRH neurons from the basal diencephalon in birds and fish, which might be true for other vertebrates. Therefore, comparative animal models like fish with discrete sites of expression of three molecular variants of GnRH in individual brains, could provide insight into novel functions of GnRH variants, conservation of gene regulation, and mechanisms governing reproduction in vertebrates.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
• /
• 제34권1호
• /
• pp.40-49
• /
• 2019

Chronic and unpredictable stress can disrupt the female reproductive system by suppression for secretion of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotrophin, resulted in ovarian malfunction and infertility. In the recent days, kisspeptin has been highly highlighted as a hypothalamic peptide which directly stimulates synthesis and release for GnRH. However, in spite of the key role of kisspeptin in the female reproductive system, little information is still available on the changes of its expression during ovarian cycle under stressed condition. Therefore, we induced chronic and unpredictable stress series to the female mice to analyze kisspeptin expression in the brain and ovary. Stressed mice exhibited changes of behavior and body weight gain during the stress assessment, which suggested that the present stress model in mice was successfully established. In the brain level, kisspeptin expression was attenuated than control. In the ovary level, the stressed mice displayed irregularly shrunk oocytes with broken zona pellucida throughout the follicle stages, pyknotic granulosa cells, decreased number of developing follicles and increased number of atretic follicles than the control. In case of kisspeptin expression in the whole ovary tissue, the expression level was decreased in the stressed mice. In detail, the less intensity of kisspeptin expression in the antral follicles phase was observed in the stressed mice than control mice, indicating that local function of kisspeptin during ovary cycle is highly associated with development of ovarian follicles. We expect that the present study has important implications for the fields of reproductive biology.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
• /
• 제1권2호
• /
• pp.189-202
• /
• 1997

The hypothalamic peptide GnRH plays a central role in the regulation of the mammalian reproductive axis. Recent studies suggested that GnRH stimulates or inhibits the ovarian steroidogenesis and gametogenesis directly. Our previous report indicated that GnRH gene is expressed in adult rat ovary as well as in hypothalamus and that the expressed GnRH may induce the follicular atresia and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells in rat. Therfore, we studied whether GnRH gene is expressed in the mouse fetal ovary, when the germ cells are degenerating by apoptosis during gonad diffeerentiation. Mouse fetal gonads were obtained on the 12, 15,18 and 20th day of gestation from the mother mice superovulated (10 IU PMSG and 10 IU hCG) and mated. The morphological changes of fetal ovaries were examined histochemically by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The fetal sex was confirmed by PCR methods for sexing. RT-PCR methods were used to examine the expression of GnRH gene and the sex steroid hormones were determined by conventional radioimmunoassays. The levels of estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) were increaseduntil 18th day of gestation and then E was decreased just before parturition. The morphological changes of fetal gonadal tissue sections showed the ovarian development and coincided with the result of PCR analysis for sexing using ovary- or testis- specific oligonucleotide primers. Immunoreactive GnRH in placenta was decreased gradually until the end of gestation but fetal brain and ovarian GnRH were increased. The level of GnRH gene expression was increased during fetal ovarian development from 12 till 18th day and decreased suddenly on 20th day just before birth. From these results, it is suggested that ovarian GnRh may play a regulatory role on the germ cell differentiation of fetal ovary.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제18권3호
• /
• pp.143-153
• /
• 2001

Objective : To investigate the relation to the organs, shu points and mu points. The labeled common locations of the spinal cord and brain were observed following injection of pseudorabies virus(PRV) into the the kidney, UB23 and GB25. Methods : After survival times of 96 hours following injection of PRV, The fifteen rats were perfused, and their spinal cord and brain were frozen sectioned($30{\mu}m$). These sections were stained by PRV immunohistochemical staining method, and observed with light microscope. Results : In spinal cord, PRV labeled neurons projecting to the kidney, BL23 and GB25 were founded in cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal segments. Dense labeled areas of cervical segments were overlap in lateral cervical n. and lamina III-V area. Thoracic segments were overlap in lateral spinal n., intermediolateral n. and lamina V-X areas. Lumbar segments were overlap in lamina I-V areas. Sacral segments were overlap in lamina IV, V and X areas. In brain, PRV labeled areas projecting to the kidney, UB23 and GB25 were overlap in the A1 noradrenalin cells/C1 adrenalin cells/caudoventrolateral reticular n./rostroventrolaterai n., raphe obscurus n,, raphe pallidus n., raphe magnus n., gigantocellular reticular n., locus coeruleus, subcoeruleus n., A5 cell group and paraventricular hypothalamic n.. Conclusions : This results suggest that PRV labeled overlap areas of projecting to the kidney may be correlated to shu and mu points related to the kidney. These morphological results provide that organs-shu(transport) and mu(alarm) points interrelationship may be related to the central autonomic pathways.