• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.219-224
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• 1995

The modulatory effects of total ginseng saponin (TGS) on the 1, 6, and opioid receptor binding in morphine tolerance and dependence were examined in this study. The specific [$^{3}H$]DAGO ([D-$Ala^2$, N-$Mephe^4$, $Glyco^4$] enkephalin) binding was significantly increased in chronic morphine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) treated mouse striatum. The specific [$^{3}H$]DPDPE ([D-$Pen^2$, D-$Pen^5$] enkephalin) binding was ignificantly increased following morphine treatment in the mouse striatum and cortex. Also, an apparent decrease in the affinity of [$^{3}H$]DPN (diprenorphine) was observed after chronic morphine treatment in mouse striatum and cortex. 7GS produced a sleight increase of specific [$^{3}H$]DAGO, [$^{3}H$]DPDPE binding and a significant increase of specific [$^{3}H$]DPN binding in the mouse brain striatum. In cortex, TGS produced an inhibition of specific [$^{3}H$]DAGO and [$^{3}H$]DPDPE binding and increase of the specific [$^{3}H$]DPN binding. The prolonged administration of TGS (25, 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg, i.p., 3 wks) produced an inhibition of increased [$^{3}H$]DAGO specific binding following morphine without significant changes in the agonist binding to and receptors in mouse striatum and cortex. These contracted alterations in $\mu$, $\gamma$ and $\kappa$ opiate receptor binding were dependent in TGS dogs and brain sites.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.85-96
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• 1996

Adenosine and its analogues are known to possess analgesic effects and to be involved in the opiate-induced antinociception as well. This study was designed to investigate the effects of three adenosine agonists, 5'- (N-cyclopropyl) -carboxamidoadenosine(CPCA), 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadeno-sine (NECA) and $N^6-cyclohexyladenosine$ (CHA) on the signal transmission in the spinal cord and also to elucidate mechanisms of their actions in the anesthetized cat. All the tested adenosine agonists(i.v,) exerted inhibitory effects on the responsiveness of the wide dynamic range (WDR) cells, the inhibitory action of CHA, an adenosine $A_1$ receptor agonist, $(80{\mu}g/Kg)$ being most weak. The intravenous CPCA, an adenosine $A_2$ receptor agonist, $(20{\mu}g\;/Kg)$ and NECA, nonspecific adenosine receptor agonist, $(20{\mu}g\;/Kg)$ inhibited the responses of WDR cells to pinch and C fiber stimulation more strongly than those to brush and A fiber stimulation. CPCA (i.v.) also suppressed the responses of WDR cells to thermal stimulus. And all the CPCA-induced inhibitions were caffeine-reversible. When CPCA was directly applied onto the spinal cord or intravenously administered into the spinal cat, on average, about three quarters of the CPCA-induced inhibitory effect was abolished. On the other hand, in the animal with spinal lesions in the ipsilateral dorsolateral area, the CPCA-induced inhibition was comparable to that observed in the spinal cats. In conclusion, this study shows that adenosine agonists strongly suppress the responses of WDR cells to pinch, C fiber stimulation and thermal stimuli mainly through the supraspinal adenosine $A_2-receptors$.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.299-311
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• 1994

The present study was attempted to investigate whether pentazocine, which is known to possess both opioid agonistic and antagonistic properties, produces catecholamines (CA) secretion from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland, and to establish the mechanism of its action, and also to compare its action with that of some opioids. Pentazocine (30 to 300 ug) injected into an adrenal vein caused a dose-dependent secretory response of CA from the rat adrenal medulla. The pentazocine-evoked secretion of CA was remarkably diminished by the preloading with chlorisondamine $(10^{-6}\;M)$, naloxone $(1.22{\times}10^{-7}\;M)$, morphine $(1.7{\times}10^{-5}\;M)$, met-enkephalin $(9.68{\times}10^{-6}\;M)$, nicardipine $(10^{-6}\;M)$ and TMB-8 $(10^{-5}\;M)$ while was not influenced by the pretreatment of pirenzepine $(2{\times}10^{-6}\;M)$. The perfusion of $Ca^{++}$-free Krebs solution for 30 min into the gland also led to the marked reduction in CA secretion evoked by pentazocine. Furthermore, the CA release evoked by ACh and/or DMPP was greatly inhibited by the pretreatment with pentazocine $(1.75{\times}10^{-4}\;M)$ for 20 min. From these experimental results, it is thought that pentazocine causes markedly the increased secretion of CA from the isolated perfused rat adrenal medulla by a calcium-dependent exocytotic mechanism. The secretory effect of pentazocine appears to be mediated through activation of opioid receptors located on adrenal chromaffin cells, which may be also associated with stimulation of cholinergic nicotinic receptors.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.61-74
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• 1992

Influence of the blockade of the three major pressor systems-sympathetic nervous system (SNS), renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and vasopressin system-on the pressor responsiveness to norepinephrine (NE), angiotensin II (AII), and vasopressin (VP) as well as on basal blood pressure (BP) levels was investigated in urethane-anesthetized rabbits. To block the SNS and RAS, chlorisondamine (CS) and pirenzepine (PZ), sympathetic ganglionic blockers, and enalapril (ENAL), an inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme, respectively were used. And for suppressing the VP system bremazocine (BREM), a kappa opiate receptor agonist shown to suppress plasma levels of VP, was employed. Each of CS (0.4 mg/kg), ENAL (2 mg/kg), and BREM (0.25 mg/kg) produced almost same levels of steady hypotensive state. The hypotensive effect of BREM was significantly attenuated by desmopressin, a synthetic VP-like analogue, suggesting the hypotension being at least in part due to suppression of plasma levels of VP. CS, ENAL and BREM elicited further fall of the BP which had been lowered by ENAL or BREM, CS or BREM, and CS or ENAL, respectively. The hypotension produced by both CS and PZ together with either of ENAL or BREM was more marked than that produced by the three drugs other than CS. CS potentiated the pressor response not only to NE but to AII and VP. The pressor effect of AII was increased by ENAL and BREM, too. The pressor response to VP was also enhanced by BREM. Blockade of ${\alpha}-adrenergic$ receptors with phentolamine or phenoxybenzamine potentiated the pressor response to AII and that to VP. The results on basal BP levels indicate that the three major pressor systems are all participating in control of BP, but SNS has the greatest potential for supporting BP. The finding that blockade of one of the pressor systems induced enhanced pressor responsiveness to the pressor hormone of that particular system as well as to the pressor hormone(s) of the other systems(s) provides evidence for important interactions among the three major pressor systems.