• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.76-76
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• 2006

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.517-526
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• 2009

The present study was attempted to investigate whether polyphenolic compounds isolated from wine, which is brewed from Rubus coreanum Miquel (PCRC), may affect the release of catecholamines (CA) from the isolated perfused adrenal medulla of the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), and to establish its mechanism of action. PCRC $(20\sim180\;{\mu}g/ml)$ perfused into an adrenal vein for 90 min relatively dose-dependently inhibited the CA secretory responses to ACh (5.32 mM), high $K^+$ (56 mM), DMPP $(100\;{\mu}M)$ and McN-A-343 $(100\;{\mu}M)$. PCRC itself did not affect basal CA secretion (data not shown). Also, in the presence of PCRC $(60\;{\mu}g/ml)$, the CA secretory responses to veratridine (a selective $Na^+$ channel activator $(10\;{\mu}M)$, Bay-K-8644 (a L-type dihydropyridine $Ca^{2+}$ channel activator, $10\;{\mu}M$), and cyclopiazonic acid (a cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor, $10\;{\mu}M$) were significantly reduced, respectively. In the simultaneous presence of PCRC $(60\;{\mu}g/ml)$ and L-NAME (an inhibitor of NO synthase, $30\;{\mu}M$), the inhibitory responses of PCRC on the CA secretion evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, and Bay-K-8644 were considerably recovered to the extent of the corresponding control secretion compared with that of PCRC-treatment alone. The level of NO released from adrenal medulla after the treatment of PCRC $(60\;{\mu}g/ml)$ was greatly elevated compared with the corresponding basal level. Taken together, these results demonstrate that PCRC inhibits the CA secretion from the isolated perfused adrenal medulla of the SHRs evoked by stimulation of cholinergic receptors as well as by direct membrane-depolarization. It seems that this inhibitory effect of PCRC is mediated by blocking the influx of calcium and sodium into the adrenal medullary chromaffin cells of the SHRs as well as by inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ release from the cytoplasmic calcium store at least partly through the increased NO production due to the activation of NO synthase.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.207-213
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• 2007

This study was designed to characterize ureteral smooth muscle motility and also to study the effect of forskolin(FSK) and isoproterenol(ISO) on smooth muscle contractility in murine ureter. High $K^+$(50 mM) produced tonic contraction by $0.17{\pm}0.06mN$(n=19). Neuropeptide and neurotransmitters such as serotonin($5{\mu}M$), histamine($20{\mu}M$), and carbarchol(CCh, $10{\sim}50{\mu}M$) did not produce significant contraction. However, CCh($50{\mu}M$) produced slow phasic contraction in the presence of 25 mM $K^+$. Cyclopiazonic acid(CPA, $10{\mu}M$), SR $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase blocker, produced tonic contraction(0.07 mN). Meanwhile, inhibition of mitochondria by protonophore carbnylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone(CCCP) also produced weak tonic contraction(0.01 mN). The possible involvement of $K^+$ channels was also pursued. Tetraethyl ammonium chloride(TEA, 10 mM), glibenclamide($10{\mu}M$) and quinidine($20{\mu}M$) which are known to block $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels($K_{Ca}$ channel), ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels($K_{ATP}$) and nonselective $K^+$ channel, respectively, did not elicit any significant effect. However, $Ba^{2+}$($1{\sim}2mM$), blocker of inward rectifier $K^+$ channels($K_{IR}$ channel), produced phasic contraction in a reversible manner, which was blocked by $1{\mu}M$ nicardipine, a blocker of dehydropyridine-sensitive voltage-dependent L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels($VDCC_L$) in smooth muscle membrane. This $Ba^{2+}$-induced phasic contraction was significantly enhanced by $10{\mu}M$ cyclopiazonic acid(CPA) in the frequency and amplitude. Finally, regulation of $Ba^{2+}$-induced contraction was studied by FSK and ISO which are known as adenylyl cyclase activator and $\beta$-adrenergic receptor agonist, respectively. These drugs significantly suppressed the frequency and amplitude of $Ba^{2+}$-induced contraction(p<0.05). These results suggest that $Ba^{2+}$ produces phasic contraction in murine ureteral smooth muscle which can be regulated by FSK and $\beta$-adrenergic stimulation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.5
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• pp.529-535
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• 1997

The present study was aimed at investigating whether the vascular calcium regulation is altered in hypertension. Two-kidney, one clip (2K1C) and deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension were made in rats, and their thoracic aortae were taken 4 weeks later. The isometric contractile response and calcium uptake of the endothelium-denuded aortic preparations were determined. Caffeine ($0.1{\sim}35\;mmol/L$) induced a greater contraction in 2K1C and DOCA-salt hypertension than in normotensive control. When the vascular calcium store was functionally-depleted by a repeated exposure to caffeine, it took longer to reload the store and to resume the initial contraction force in response to caffeine in both 2K1C and DOCA-salt hypertension. The vascular $^{45}Ca$ uptake following the functional depletion of the cellular store was also greater in both models of hypertension than in control. Ryanodine, calcium channel activator of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, attenuated the restoration of caffeine-induced vascular contraction, which was not affected by either 2K1C or DOCA-salt hypertension. Nifedipine, an L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, attenuated the restoration of caffeine-induced contraction, which was not affected by DOCA-salt hypertension, but was more pronounced in 2K1C hypertension. Nifedipine also diminished the vascular $^{45}Ca$ uptake, which was not affected by DOCA-salt hypertension, but was more pronounced in 2K1C hypertension. Ouabain, a $Na^+,\;K^+-ATPase$ inhibitor, increased the caffeine-induced contraction by a similar magnitude in control and 2K1C hypertension, which was, however, markedly attenuated in DOCA-salt hypertension. Ouabain enhanced the vascular $^{45}Ca$ uptake, the degree of which was not affected by 2K1C hypertension, but was markedly attenuated in DOCA-salt hypertension compared with that in control. Cyclopiazonic acid, a selective inhibitor of $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$ of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, attenuated the restoration of caffeine-induced contraction, which was not affected by 2K1C hypertension, but was more marked in DOCA-salt hypertension. These results suggest that the increased vascular calcium storage may be attributed to an enhanced calcium influx in 2K1C hypertension, and to an impaired $Na^+-K^+$ pump activity of the cell membrane and subsequently increased calcium pump activity of the cellular store in DOCA-salt hypertension.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.75-81
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• 2011

Objectives : Magnoliae officinalis Cortex (MOC) has been used in traditional medicine for digestive diseases in Korea, China and Japan. However, Machili thunbergii Cortex (MTC) also has been used as a substitute of MOC in Korea sometimes. Thus, this study was carried out to investigate and compare the effects of MOC and MTC on intestinal motility of isolated small intestinal segments from ICR mouse. Methods : Changes in motility were recorded via isometric transducers connected to a data acquisition system and amplitude, frequency and area under the curve (AUC) of intestinal spontaneous phasic contraction were compared. Results : The MOC extracts ($1{\sim}{\mu}g/mL$) dose-dependently decreased both amplitudes and frequencies of the spontaneous phasic contraction, but not AUC. However, high concentration of MOC (100 ${\mu}g$/mL) evoked tonic contraction. And it was not inhibited by tetrodotoxin, a sodium channel blocker, and nifedipine, a L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonist. These results suggested that MOC (100 ${\mu}g$/mL)-induced tonic contraction is not mediated by nerve or L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel. On the other hand, the MTC extracts dose-dependently inhibited amplitude and AUC, but not the frequency. Conclusions : Although both MOC and MTC affected intestinal motility, MOC is more effective on intestinal motility than MTC. And MOC has been used as a traditional medicine for a long time but not MTC. Thus, we suggested that MTC should not be used in Korea as a substitute of MOC and MOC might be useful traditional medicine for gastrointestinal disease. The mechanism of MOC is still remained to elucidate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.100-100
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• 2003

Pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells differentiate spontaneously into beating cardiomyocytes via embryo-like aggregates. We describe the use of mouse embryonic stem (mES03) cells as a reproducible differentiation system for cardiomyocyte. To induce cardiomyocytic differentiation, mES03 cells were dissociated and allowed to aggregate (EB formation) at the presence of 0 75% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for 4 days and then another 4 days without DMSO (4+/4-). Thus treated EBs were plated onto gelatin-coated dish for differentiation. Spontaneously contracting colonies which appeared in approximately 4-5 days upon differentiation. Expression of cardiac-specific genes were determined by RT-PCR. Rebust expression of myosin light chain (MLC-2V), cardiac myosin heavy chain $\alpha$, cardiac muscle heavy polypeptide 7 $\beta(\beta$-MHC), cardiac transcription factor GATA4 and skeletal muscle-specific ${\alpha}_1$-subunit of the L-type calcium channel (${\alpha}_1 CaCh_{sm}$) were detected as early as 8 days after EB formation, but message of cardiac muscle-specific $\alpha$$_1$-subunit of the L-type calcium channel (${\alpha}_1$CaCh) were revealed at a low level. Strikingly, the expression of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) was not detected. When spontaneous contracting cell masses were examined their electrophysiological features by patch-clamp technique, it showed ventricle-like action potential 17 days after the EB formation. This study indicates that mES03 cell-derived cardiomyocytes displayed biochemical and electrophysiological properties of cardiomyocytes and DMSO enhanced development of cardiomyocytes in 4+/4- method.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.76-76
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• 2003

Pluripotent embryonic stem cells can differentiate into beating cardiomyocytes with proper culture conditions and stimulants via embryo-like aggregates. We describe here the use of mouse embryonic stem (mES03) cells as a reproducible differentiation system for cardiomyocyte. mES03 cells growing in colonies were dissociated and allowed to re-aggregated in suspension [embryoid body (EB) formation〕. To induce cardiomyocytic differentiation, cells were exposed to 0.75% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) during EB formation for 4 days and then another 4 days without DMSO (4+/4-). Thus treated EB was plated onto gelatin-coated dishes for differentiation. Spontaneously contracting colonies which appeared in approximately 4~5 days upon differentiation were mechanically dissected, enzymatically dispersed, plated onto coverslips, and then incubated for another 48~72 hrs. By RT-PCR, robust expression of cardiac myosin heavy chain $\alpha$, cardiac muscle heavy polypeptide 7 $\beta$($\beta$-MHC), cardiac transcription factor GATA4, and skeletal muscle-specific $\alpha$$_1$-subunit of the L-type calcium channel ($\alpha$$_1$CaC $h_{sm}$ ) were detected as early as 8 days after EB formation, but message of cardiac muscle-specific $\alpha$$_1$-subunit of the L-type calcium channel ($\alpha$$_1$CaCh) were reveled at a low level. In contrast, expression of myosin light chain (MLC-2V) and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) were not detected during EB formation for 8 days. However, a strong expression of the atrial-specific ANF gene was expressed from day 8 onward, which were remained constant in EB. (cardiac specialization and terminal differentiation stage). Electrophysiological examination of spontaneously contracting cells showed ventricle-like action potential 17 days after the EB formation. This study indicates that mES03 cell-derived cardiomyocytes via 4+/4- protocol displayed biochemical and electrophysiological properties of subpopulation of cardiomyocytes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.101-109
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• 2008

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of ketamine, a dissociative anesthetics, on secretion of catecholamines (CA) secretion evoked by cholinergic stimulation from the perfused model of the isolated rat adrenal gland, and to establish its mechanism of action, and to compare ketamine effect with that of thiopental sodium, which is one of intravenous barbiturate anesthetics. Ketamine ($30{\sim}300{\mu}M$), perfused into an adrenal vein for 60 min, dose- and time-dependently inhibited the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh (5.32 mM), high $K^+$ (a direct membrane-depolarizer, 56 mM), DMPP (a selective neuronal nicotinic NN receptor agonist, $100{\mu}M$) and McN-A-343 (a selective muscarinic M1 receptor agonist, $100{\mu}M$). Also, in the presence of ketamine ($100{\mu}M$), the CA secretory responses evoked by veratridine (a voltage-dependent $Na^+$ channel activator, $100{\mu}M$), Bay-K-8644 (an L-type dihydropyridine $Ca^{2+}$ channel activator, $10{\mu}M$), and cyclopiazonic acid (a cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor, $10{\mu}M$) were significantly reduced, respectively. Interestingly, thiopental sodium ($100{\mu}M$) also caused the inhibitory effects on the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, veratridine, Bay-K-8644, and cyclopiazonic acid. Collectively, these experimental results demonstrate that ketamine inhibits the CA secretion evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors and the membrane depolarization from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland. It seems likely that the inhibitory effect of ketamine is mediated by blocking the influx of both $Ca^{2+}$ and $Na^+$ through voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ and $Na^+$ channels into the rat adrenal medullary chromaffin cells as well as by inhibiting $Ca^{2+}$ release from the cytoplasmic calcium store, which are relevant to the blockade of cholinergic receptors. It is also thought that, on the basis of concentrations, ketamine causes similar inhibitory effect with thiopental in the CA secretion from the perfused rat adrenal medulla.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2005

To study the direct effect of somatostatin (SS) on calcium channel current ($I_{Ba}$) in guinea-pig gastric myocytes, $I_{Ba}$ was recorded by using whole-cell patch clamp technique in single smooth muscle cells. Nicardipine ($1{\mu}M$), a L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, inhibited $I_{Ba}$ by $98{\pm}1.9$% (n=5), however $I_{Ba}$ was decreased in a reversible manner by application of SS. The peak $I_{Ba}$ at 0 mV were decreased to $95{\pm}1.5$, $92{\pm}1.9$, $82{\pm}4.0$, $66{\pm}5.8$, $10{\pm}2.9$% at $10^{-10}$, $10^{-9}$, $10^{-8}$, $10^{-7}$, $10^{-5}$ M of SS, respectively (n=3∼6; $mean{\pm}SEM$). The steady-state activation and inactivation curves of $I_{Ba}$ as a function of membrane potentials were well fitted by a Boltzmann equation. Voltage of half-activation ($V_{0.5}$) was $-12{\pm}0.5$ mV in control and $-11{\pm}1.9$ mV in SS treated groups (respectively, n=5). The same values of half-inactivation were $-35{\pm}1.4$ mV and $-35{\pm}1.9$ mV (respectively, n=5). There was no significant difference in activation and inactivation kinetics of $I_{Ba}$ by SS. Inhibitory effect of SS on $I_{Ba}$ was significantly reduced by either dialysis of intracellular solution with $GDP_{\beta}S$, a non-hydrolysable G protein inhibitor, or pretreatment with pertussis toxin (PTX). SS also decreased contraction of guinea-pig gastric antral smooth muscle. In conclusion, SS decreases voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel current ($VDCC_L$) via PTXsensitive signaling pathways in guinea-pig antral circular myocytes.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.241-250
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• 2004

We previously found that bisphenol A (BPA) caused neurotoxic behavioral alteration. Since disturbance of calcium homeostasis is an implicated contributor in the neurotoxic mechanism of environmental toxicants, we investigated whether BPA alters calcium homeostasis. Unlike other neurotoxic agents which cause increase of intracellular calcium level, BPA decreased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ dose-dependently in PC12 cells and cortical neuronal cells regardless of the calcium existence in buffer. BPA at greater concentrations than 100 $\mu\textrm{M}$ reduced cell viability significantly in both types of cells. BPA also suppressed L-glutamate (L-type channel activator, 30 mM) and trifluoperazine (calmodulin antagonist, 30 $\mu\textrm{M}$)-induced increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. BPA further lowered caffeine (RYR activator, 100 $\mu\textrm{M}$)-decreased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, but did not alter dantrolene (RYR inhibitor, 100 $\mu\textrm{M}$), heparin (IP3 inhibitor, 200 units/ml) and xestospongin C (IP3 inhibitor, 5 $\mu\textrm{M}$)-decreased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. Cell viability was not directly related to intracellular calcium change by bisphenol A that alternation of intracellular calcium may not be a direct causal factor of BPA-induced neuronal cell death.