• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.373-380
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• 1996

Recently we reported that GS 386, 1-(4'-methoxybenzyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline, inhibited amplitude of the $Ca^{2+}$ current by reducing the probability of $Ca^{2+}$ channel opening without changing channel kinetics in isolated rabbit atrial myocyte. In the present study, further investigation of the mechanism of action of GS 386 was performed using isolated rat trachealis. GS 386 concentration-dependently relaxed rat trachealis contracted by carbachol $(0.3{\mu}M)$ and high $K^+$(65.4 mM) with $IC_{50}$ 5.24 and 5.67 ${\mu}M$, respectively. Verapamil inhibited more effectively the high $K^+-contracted$ tissues than those with carbachol in the rat trachealis muscle. In $Ca^{2+}-free$ media, $Ca^{2+}-induced$ contraction was inhibited by GS 386. Furthermore, high concentration of GS 386 $(100{\mu}M)$ but not verapamil, attenuated a phasic contraction induced not only by carbachol but also caffeine, indicating that GS386 can enter into the cytoplasm where it may exert secondary actions on internal sites of the muscle, such as sarcoplasmic reticulum. Moreover, GS 386 showed verapamil-resistant component of relaxation and increased cAMP levels in rat trachal smooth muscle. These results suggest that the mechanism of action of GS 386 attributes to not only $Ca^{2+}$ antagonistic action but also weak phosphodiesterase inhibitory action.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.119-123
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• 1991

${\beta}-Adrenoceptor$ binding study of ${\beta}-agonist$ ((-)NE), ${\beta}-antagonists$ $(({\pm})\;propranolol,\;labetalol)$ and PDE inhibitors (imazodan, KR-30045, KR-30075 etc.) was performed using $(-)-[^3H]-DHA$, as a $non-{\beta}_1/{\beta}_2$ selective radioligand. In saturation studies, $K_d$ and $B_{max}$ of $(-)-[^3H]-DHA$ to ${\beta}-adrenoceptors$ in rat left ventricle in which both ${\beta}_1$ and ${\beta}_2$ receptors coexist were determined to be $1.5{\pm}0.43\;nM$ and $22.0{\pm}0.9\;fmol/mg$ protein, respectively. $({\pm})Propranolol$, labetalol and (-)NE competed for $(-)-[^3H]-DHA$ binding sites in an essentialy monophasic manner with $Ki=17.0{\pm}0.40\;nM,\;57.3{\pm}1.30\;nM,\;and\;1.57{\pm}0.95\;{\mu}M$, respectively. All of PDE inhibitors inhibited the $(-)-[^3H]-DHA$ binding by only below 10% even at the high concentration of $10^{-3}M$. The present results suggest that propranolol, labetalol and NE are $non-{\beta}_1/{\beta}_2$ selective antagonists and agonist, respectively. Additionally, this study shows that imazodan and new synthesized PDE inhibitors may hardly have the affinities to ${\beta}-adrenoceptors$ in cardiac muscle.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.166-170
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• 2010

Recently some researches have established that the melatonin, secreted by pineal gland, may evoke the changes of contractile responses on smooth muscles. We examined the effects of melatonin on the motility of rat pyloric antrum and which mechanism might be involved in the effects. Pyloric antral strips from the stomach of 20 Sprague-Dawley rats were prepared for isometric tension recording in organ bath. The strips were precontracted by acetylcholine and high-KCl solutions. In precontracted conditions the tensions were increased by accumulative application of melatonin ($10^{-8}-10^{-4}$ M) dose-dependently, even in resting states. And the effects were almost disappeared when the concentrations of ACh were over than 10 ${\mu}M$. The effects of melatonin were inhibited by pretreatment of 10 mM TEA and/or 10 ${\mu}M$ 4-AP and rarely affected by pretreatment of 1 mM TEA, 10 ${\mu}M$ glibenclamide and 10 ${\mu}M$ verapamil respectively. From these results it is concluded that the contractile responses of smooth muscles of rat pyloric antrum were enhanced by melatonin application and the mechanism might be concerned with the inhibition of some voltage-dependent potassium channels.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 1990

The present study exarnines the physiological alteradons in prolactin (PRL) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and serum PRL levels during the rat estrous cycle and the effed of naloxone, an endogenous oploid peptide receptor antagonist, on PRL gene expression during the rat estrous cycle. Adult female rats exhibiting at least two consecutive 4-day estrous cycles were used in this study. A single injection of naloxone (2mg/kg b.w.) or saline was given sc 30 mm prior to decapitation. Animals were sacrificed at 10:00 h of each stage of the estrous cycle, and at 2-h intervals from 10:00 h to 20:00 h during the proestrus. PRL mRNA and serum PRL levels were determined by a RNA-blot hybridization with the rat PRL cDNA probe and by a PRL radjoimmunoassay, respectively. PRL mRNA and serum PRL levels were not dramatically altered in the morning of each stage of diestrus I, II and proestrus, and naloxone failed to modify the two parameters. During estrus naloxone clearly suppressed serum PRL levels, but it was unable to modify PRL mRNA levels. A more detailed examination of the proestrus stage revealed that PRL mRNA and serum PRL levels were fluctuated as a function of time: PRL mRNA levels reached a maximum level at 12:00 h and gradually decreased until 18:00 h. PRL mRNA levels then rose at 20:00 h. No difference of PRL mRNA levels between the control and naloxone-treated groups was observed. Changes in serum PRL levek during proestrus were conversely related to changes in PRL mRNA: serum PRL levels were low from 10:00 h to 14:00 h, then increased and reached a maximum level at 16:00-18:00 h. Following then, serum PRL levels were decreased. Naloxone was effective in suppressing the charaderistic afternoon surge of PRL from 16:00 h to 20:00 h. These data clearly showed that alterations in PRL mRNA levels were conversely correlated with changes mn serum PRL levels on proestrus, indicating a differential regulation of PRL gene expression and secretion.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.401-412
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• 2013

Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is an oriental herbal preparation obtained from Panax ginseng Meyer (Araliaceae). To expand our understanding of the action of KRG on central nervous system (CNS) function, we examined the effects of KRG on tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression in rat primary astrocytes. KRG extract was treated in cultured rat primary astrocytes and neuron in a concentration range of 0.1 to 1.0 mg/mL and the expression of functional tPA/PAI-1 was examined by casein zymography, Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. KRG extracts increased PAI-1 expression in rat primary astrocytes in a concentration dependent manner (0.1 to 1.0 mg/mL) without affecting the expression of tPA itself. Treatment of 1.0 mg/mL KRG increased PAI-1 protein expression in rat primary astrocytes to $319.3{\pm}65.9%$ as compared with control. The increased PAI-1 expression mediated the overall decrease in tPA activity in rat primary astrocytes. Due to the lack of PAI-1 expression in neuron, KRG did not affect tPA activity in neuron. KRG treatment induced a concentration dependent activation of PI3K, p38, ERK1/2, and JNK in rat primary astrocytes and treatment of PI3K or MAPK inhibitors such as LY294002, U0126, SB203580, and SP600125 (10 ${\mu}M$ each), significantly inhibited 1.0 mg/mL KRG-induced expression of PAI-1 and down-regulation of tPA activity in rat primary astrocytes. Furthermore, compound K but not other ginsenosides such as Rb1 and Rg1 induced PAI-1 expression. KRG-induced up-regulation of PAI-1 in astrocytes may play important role in the regulation of overall tPA activity in brain, which might underlie some of the beneficial effects of KRG on CNS such as neuroprotection in ischemia and brain damaging condition as well as prevention or recovery from addiction.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.381-386
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• 2008

Lipophilic ammonia is toxic gas and can easily diffuse across cell membranes. Excess ammonia is implicated in the pathogenesis of several metabolic disorders including hepatic encephalopathy and may result in the death. The purpose of this study was to clarify the inhibition effect of metronidazole on liver cell damage due to ammonia in human Hep G2 cell and rat hepatocytes. The effects of metronidazole were studied in ammonium chloride treated human Hep G2 cell (75 mM) and rat hepatocyte (100 mM) following $0.1{\mu}M$ metronidazole treatment. In MTZ+AC group, cell viabilities increased prominently and LDH activities decreased over 25% than AC group. Furthermore, ammonia level according to ammonium chloride treatment reduced over 30% and lipid peroxidation as an index of cell membrane damage decreased more than twice. By comparison with control, catalase activity showed more than 30% reduction in AC group while less than 10% reduction in MTZ+AC group, respectively. In addition, MTZ+AC group showed the similar cell structure as control in cell morphology study by using light microscope, and represented fluorescent intensity decrement compared with AC group in fluorescent microscopic study with avidin-TRITC fluorescent dye. And cleaved PARP expression due to ammonia reduced twofold or more in MTZ+AC group. As the results suggest, metronidazole may protect the liver cell by inhibiting cell damages due to ammonia and be used for an effective antagonist of ammonia in hyperammonemia.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.119-130
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• 2010

Pulmonary toxicity of talc containing tremolite asbestos (TCT) has been studied in term sequential in Sprague-Dawely rats. UICC chrysotile(average diameter 0.03${\mu}m$, average length 2.93${\mu}m$) was applied as the positive control. TCT was analyzed for its physicochemical properties by transmission electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer(TEM-EDS). The effects of 2mg TCT(talc average diameter 9.7${\pm}$8.4${\mu}m$; tremolite average diameter 1.6${\pm}$1.6${\mu}m$, average length 10.8${\pm}$7.0${\mu}m$) on pathological changes were evaluated after 1, 8 weeks instilled into rat lungs. 2mg Chrysotile continuously affected lung pathological changes. Inflammation and granuloma response broke out from 1 week after instilled with chrysotile and the pathological examination further showed increased legions of lung after 8 weeks. But TCT did not showed lung pathological changes. The biopersistence of TCT and chrysotile was evaluated by TEM- EDS. Whereas chrysotile continuously have retained to 8 weeks instilled into rat lungs, talc of TCT showed statistically significant decrease of diameter from 1 weeks and statistically significant change in Si atomic % compositions at 8 weeks instilled into rat lungs. Physicochemical properties of tremolite of TCT were not affected until 8 weeks instilled into rat lungs. This study showed that the durability of TCT in the lungs is much weaker than chrysotile.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.227-235
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• 2004

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of leptin on CA release from the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal gland, and to establish its mechanism of action. Leptin $(1{\sim}100\;ng/ml)$, when perfused into an adrenal vein of the rat adrenal gland for 60 min, enhanced a dose-dependently the secretory responses of CA evoked by ACh $(5.32{\times}10^{-3}\;M)$, DMPP $(10^{-4}\;M)$ and McN-A-343 $(10^{-4}\;M)$, although it alone has weak effect on CA secretion. However, it did not affect the CA secretion evoked by excess $K^+\;(5.6{\times}10^{-2}\;M)$. Leptin alone produced a weak secretory response of the CA. Moreover, leptin (10 ng/ml) in to an adrenal vein for 60 min also augmented the CA release evoked by BAY-K-8644, an activator of the dihydropyridine L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels, and cyclopiazonic acid, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$ ATPase. However, in the presence of U0126 $(1\;{\mu}M)$, an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), leptin no longer enhanced the CA secretion evoked by ACh and DMPP. Furthermore, in the presence of anti-leptin (10 ng/ml), an antagonist of Ob receptor, leptin (10 ng/ml) also no longer potentiated the CA secretory responses evoked by DMPP and Bay-K-8644. Collectively, these experimental results suggest that leptin enhances the CA secretion from the rat adrenal medulla evoked by cholinergic stimulation (both nicotininc and muscarinic receptors), but does not that by membrane depolarization. It seems that this enhanced effect of leptin may be mediated by activation of U0126-sensitive MAPK through the leptin receptors, which is probably relevant to the activation of the dihydropyridine L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels located on the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.241-248
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• 2006

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have cardioprotective effects in different species including human. This cardioprotective effect is mainly due to the inhibition of bradykinin (BK) degradation rather than inhibition of the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensir. II. Bradykinin, a nonapeptide, has been considered to be the potential target for various enzymes including ACE, neutral endopeptidase 24.11, carboxypeptidase M, carboxypeptidase N, proline aminopeptidase, endopeptidase 24.15, and meprin. In the present study, the coronary vascular beds of Sprague Dawley rat isolated hearts were perfused (single passage) with Krebs solution alone or with different concentrations of BK i.e. $2.75{\times}10^{-10},\;10^{-7},\;10^{-6}\;and\;10^{-5}M$ solution. Percent degradation of BK was determined by radioimmunoassay. The degradation products of BK after passing through the isolated rat-hearts were determined using RP-HPLC and mass spectroscopy. All the four doses of BK significantly decreased the perfusion pressure during their passage through the hearts. The percentage degradation of all four doses was decreased as the concentration of drug was increased, implying saturation of a fixed number of active sites involved in BK degradation. Bradykinin during a single passage through the hearts degraded to give [1-7]-BK as the major metabolite, and [1-8]-BK as a minor metabolite, detected on HPLC. Mass spectroscopy not only confirmed the presence of these two metabolites but also detected traces of [1-5]-BK and arginine. These findings showed that primarily ACE is the major cardiac enzyme involved in the degradation of bradykinin during a single passage through the coronary vascular of bed the healthy rat heart, while carboxypeptidase M may have a minor role.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.606-613
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• 1998

Cadmium is one of the well-known environmental toxicants and induces cancer in rodents and human, but its carcinogenic mechanism has not been well demonstrated until now. Genotoxic effects of cadmium in Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100 and TA1535/pSK1002 or in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells were investigated to elucidate the tumor initiating effects of cadmium. TA98, TA100 and TA1535/pSK1002 tester strains were used to detect frameshift mutation, base-pair mutation and SOS repair response, respectively, in Salmonella mutation test. Reverse mutations from histidine to $histidin^+$ of Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 by $CdCl_2$ were not significantly different from control up to the maximum doses ($100{\mu}M$ and $200{\mu}M$ in TA98 and TA100, respectively) at which non-cytotoxicity was observed. DNA SOS repair responses(${\beta}$-galactosidase activity) generally did not show significant increases compared to control in both of the conditions with or without metabolic activation in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002 by $CdCl_2$. But the activities of ${\beta}$-galactosidase by $400{\mu}M$ of $CdCl_2$ in metabolic activation condition and by 130 and $400{\mu}M$ of $CdCl_2$ in non-metabolic activation condition were more decreased than those of control. DNA single strand breaks for 4hrs were observed only in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells treated with $200{\mu}M$ of $CdCl_2$. As a conclusion, $CdCl_2$ did not induce gene mutation in microbials but induce DNA single strand breaks in rat liver epithelial cells.