• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.143-151
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• 2001

Objective : This study was undertaken to determine whether Scutellaria balicalensis Georgi (SbG) extract exerts the protective effect against oxidant-induced alterations in organic cation transport in the renal proximal tubule. Methods : Organic cation transport was estimated by examining alterations in tetraethylammon - ium(TEA) uptake in rabbit renal cortical slices. The slices were treated with 0.2 mM tBHP for 60 min at $37^{\circ}C$. tBHP caused an inhibition in TEA uptake by renal cortical slices. Such an effect was accompanied by depressed Na+-K+-ATPase activity and ATP depletion. tBHP also induced a significant increase in LDH release. Results : SbG prevented tBHP-induced inhibition of TEA uptake in a dose-dependent manner at the concentration ranges of 0.05-0.1%. tBHP-induced inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase activity and ATP depletion were significantly prevented by 0.05% SbG. tBHP-induced LDH release also was blocked by SbG. tBHP caused a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and its effect was prevented by SbG. Conclusion : These results suggest that SbG prevents oxidant-induced alterations in organic cation transport in rabbit renal cortical slices. Such protective effects of SbG may be attributed to inhibition of peroxidation of membrane lipid.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.171-177
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• 1991

This study was carried out to determine effect of acute renal ischemia on transport function of organic cation, tetraethylammonium (TEA), in rabbit kidney proximal tubule. Clamping of the renal artery for 30 and 60 min produced a polyuria which was accompanied by an increase in $Na^+$ excretion. The capacity of kidney cortical slices to accumulate TEA was increased after 30 and 60 min of ischemia. When blood flow was restored for 30 min after 30 and 60 min of ischemia, the augmented TEA uptake was recovered to the control values. Oxygen consumption of cortical slices was stimulated after 30 min of ischemia, whereas it was not altered by 60 min of ischemia. A 90-min ischemia produced a significant inhibition of TEA uptake and tissue oxygen consumption. These results suggest that the basolateral transport system for organic cation persists after ischemic periods of 60 min despite evidence that tubular reabsorptive mechanism of $Na^+$ and water is markedly impaired. This may indicate that the active secretory systems of proximal tubule are more resistant to ischemic injury than the reabsorptive systems.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.211-220
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• 2002

Objective : This study was undertaken to determine whether Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract (SbG) exerts the protective effect against oxidant-induced alterations in organic cation transport in the renal proximal tubule. Methods : Organic cation transport was estimated by examining alterations in tetraethylammonium (TEA) uptake in rabbit renal cortical slices. The slices were treated with 0.2 mM tBHP for 60 min at $37^{\circ}C$. tBl-IP caused an inhibition in TEA uptake by renal cortical slices. Such an effect was accompanied by depressed Na+-K+-ATPase activity and ATP depletion. Result : SbG prevented tBHP-induced inhibition of TEA uptake in a dose-dependent manner at the concentration ranges of 0.05-0.1%. SbG also prevented H2O2-induced reduction in TEA uptake. tBHP-induced inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase activity and ATP depletion were significantly prevented by 0.05% SbG. Oxidants increased LDH release, which was blocked by SbG. Oxidants caused a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and its effect was prevented by SbG. Conclusion : These results suggest that SbG prevents oxidant-induced alterations in organic cation transport in rabbit renal cortical slices. Such protective effects of SbG may be attributed to inhibition of peroxidation of membrane lipid.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.443-450
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• 2005

In the present study, we have characterized the choline transport system and examined the influence of various amine drugs on the choline transporter using a conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cell line (TR-BBB) in vitro. The cell-to-medium (C/M) ratio of $[^3{H}]choline$ in TR-BBB cells increased time-dependently. The initial uptake rate of $[^3{H}]choline$ was concentration-dependent with a Michaelis-Menten value, $K_{m}$, of $26.2\pm2.7{\mu}M$. The $[^3{H}]choline$ uptake into TR-BBB was $Na^{+}-independent$, but was membrane potential-dependent. The $[^3{H}]choline$ uptake was susceptible to inhibition by hemicholinium-3, and tetraethy-lammonium (TEA), which are organic cation transporter substrates. Also, the uptake of $[^3{H}]choline$ was competitively inhibited with $K_{i}$ values of $274 {\mu}M, 251 {\mu}M and 180 {\mu}M$ in the presence of donepezil hydrochloride, tacrine and $\alpha-phenyl-n-tert-butyl nitrone$ (PBN), respectively. These characteristics of choline transport are consistent with those of the organic cation transporter (OCT). OCT2 mRNA was expressed in TR-BBB cells, while the expression of OCT3 or choline transporter (CHT) was not detected. Accordingly, these results suggest that OCT2 is a candidate for choline transport at the BBB and may influence the BBB permeability of amine drugs.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.323-327
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to examine the pharmacokinetics of organic cations in intrahepatic cholestatic rats. A pretreatment with $17{\alpha}$-ethynylestradiol was used to induce intrahepatic cholestasis, and tributylmethylammonium (TBuMA) was used as a representative model organic cation. When $[^3H]$TBuMA was intravenously administered, the AUC value for TBuMA was significantly increased by $79\%$ in cholestasis, and its total systemic clearance was consequently decreased by $46\%$. In addition, the in vivo hepatic uptake clearance of TBuMA from the plasma to the liver was decreased by $50\%$ in cholestasis. The concentration of bile salts in plasma was increased by 2.1 fold in cholestatic rats. Since TBuMA forms ion-pair complexes with anionic components such as bile salts, the decreased hepatic uptake of TBuMA in cholestasis may be due to a change in endogenous components, e.g., bile salts in the plasma. In isolated normal hepatocytes, the uptake clearance for TBuMA in the presence of cholestatic plasma was decreased by $20\%$ compared with normal plasma. Therefore, we conclude that the inhibition of the hepatic uptake process by the cholestasis may be in part due to the increased formation of ion-pair complexes of TBuMA with bile salts in the plasma.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.249-256
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• 1996

The effect of probenecid on the transport of tetraethylammonium (TEA) was studied in renal cortical slices and isolated membrane vesicles to investigate the interaction of organic anion with the organic cation transport system in proximal tubule. Probenecid reversibly inhibited TEA uptake by renal cortical slices in a dose-dependent manner over the concentration range of 1 and 5 mM. The efflux of TEA was not affected by the presence of 3 mM probenecid. Kinetic analysis indicated that probenecid decreased Vmax without significant change in Km. Probenecid inhibited significantly tissue oxygen consumption at concentrations of 3 and 5 mM. However, probenecid did not significantly reduce TEA uptake in brush border and basolateral membrane vesicles prepared from renal cortex even at a concentration as high as 10 mM. These results indicate that probenecid reduces TEA uptake in cortical slices by inhibiting tissue metabolism rather than by an interaction with the organic ration transporter.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.441-451
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• 2017

Imperatorin, a major bioactive furanocoumarin with multifunctions, can be used for treating neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of imperatorin transport in the brain. Experiments of the present study were designed to study imperatorin transport across the blood-brain barrier both in vivo and in vitro. In vivo study was performed in rats using single intravenous injection and in situ carotid artery perfusion technique. Conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cells were as an in vitro model of blood-brain barrier to examine the transport mechanism of imperatorin. Brain distribution volume of imperatorin was about 6 fold greater than that of sucrose, suggesting that the transport of imperatorin was through the blood-brain barrier in physiological state. Both in vivo and in vitro imperatorin transport studies demonstrated that imperatorin could be transported in a concentration-dependent manner with high affinity. Imperatorin uptake was dependent on proton gradient in an opposite direction. It was significantly reduced by pretreatment with sodium azide. However, its uptake was not inhibited by replacing extracellular sodium with potassium or N-methylglucamine. The uptake of imperatorin was inhibited by various cationic compounds, but not inhibited by TEA, choline and organic anion substances. Transfection of plasma membrane monoamine transporter, organic cation transporter 2 and organic cation/carnitine transporter 2/1 siRNA failed to alter imperatorin transport in brain capillary endothelial cells. Especially, tramadol, clonidine and pyrilamine inhibited the uptake of [$^3H$]imperatorin competitively. Therefore, imperatorin is actively transported from blood to brain across the blood-brain barrier by passive and carrier-mediated transporter.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 1999

Soil properties which affect the retention of Pb(I) were investigated in the laboratory. It was determined, through selective removal, that organic matter and Fe-oxides are of lesser importance in influencing Pb retention than are soil clay minerals. The following trend : clays ＞ organic matter ＞ Fe-oxides represents the relative importance of each constituent in the adsorption of Pb by soils. The consistently greater Pb uptake by surface over subsurface samples was apparently due to differences in organic matter content, inasmuch as organic matter removal from both resulted in similar adsorption characteristics. All five soils stooled exhibited a pH-dependent trend of adsorption. The extent of Pb adsorption was least at low pH values(4~5), was maximum in the neutral pH range, and leveled off or diminished under more alkaline conditions. There was no strong correlation between Pb uptake and soil cation exchange capacity as routinely measured by the NH$_4$OAc method. A knowledge of clay mineralogy in conjunction with soil pH is suggested as being the most reliable guide to predicting Pb retention by soils.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.331-337
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• 1994

In order to develop a $^{18}F$-labelled myocardial perfusion agent(flow tracer) for PET, $^{18}F$-labelled organic ammonium cations were synthesized and evaluated in relation to their biodistribution. Five quaternary organic ammonium compounds were labelled with $^{18}F$ in a side chain with moderate to good yields by direct introduction of $^{18}F$-fluoride. Radiochemical yields have been achieved in 30-40min by the precursors (tosylates) in dimethylsulfoxide 15-60% (decay corrected). The reaction was found to be autocatalyzed. A remote controlled procedure was developed in these synthesis. $^{18}F$-Labelling and HPLC-purification of com-pounds needed about 60 min(Yield; 7-20%). Up to now the two compounds N-4-[$^{18}F$]fluorobutyl-pyridinium cation(1) and N, N dibenzyl-4(2-[$^{18}F$]fluoroethyl)piperidinium cation(2) were investigated in relation to their biodistribution in mice. Compound 1 showed at 1 min post injection the high uptake of 19.22% ID/g organ in the myocardium but a following fast decline to 1.12% ID/g organ after 40min. Uptake of compound 2 was after 1min in the heart 5.90% ID/g organ but after 40min at the relative high value of 4.33% ID/g organ. Heart:blood ratio for compound(1) at 1 min was 8.3, at 40 min 2.6 for compound II 2.0(1min) and 15.0(40 min). As data of compound 2 showed greater heart uptake, slower myocardial release, and higher heart: blood ratios, compound 2 is a good candidate for further evaluation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.383-393
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• 2006

Little is known concerning the mechanisms responsible for the transplacental transfer of thiamine. So, the aim of this work was to characterize the placental uptake of thiamine from the maternal circulation, by determining the characteristics of $^3H$-thiamine uptake by a human trophoblast cell line (BeWo). Uptake of $^3H$-thiamine (50-100 nM) by BeWo cells was: 1) temperature-dependent and energy-independent; 2) pH-dependent (uptake increased as the extracellular medium pH decreased); 3) $Na^+$-dependent and $Cl^-$-independent; 4) not inhibited by the thiamine structural analogs amprolium, oxythiamine and thiamine pyrophosphate; 5) inhibited by the unrelated organic cations guanidine, N-methylnicotinamide, tetraethylammonium, clonidine and cimetidine; 6) inhibited by the organic cation serotonin, and by two selective inhibitors of the serotonin plasmalemmal transporter (hSERT), fluoxetine and desipramine. We conclude that $^3H$-thiamine uptake by BeWo cells seems to occur through a process distinct from thiamine transporter-1 (hThTr-1) and thiamine transporter-2 (hThTr-2). Rather, it seems to involve hSERT. Moreover, chronic (48 h) exposure of cells to caffeine ($1\;{\mu}M$) stimulated and chronic exposure to xanthohumol and iso-xanthohumol (1 and $0.1\;{\mu}M$, respectively) inhibited $^3H$-thiamine uptake, these effects being not mediated through modulation of the expression levels of either hThTr-1 or hSERT mRNA.