• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.147-160
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• 2008

The present study was designed to examine effects of polyphenolic compounds isolated from red wine (PCRW) on the release of catecholamines (CA) from the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal medulla, and to clarify its mechanism of action. PCRW (20${\sim}$180 ${\mu}$g/mL), given into an adrenal vein for 90 min, caused inhibition of the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh (5.32 mM), high $K^+$ (a direct membrane-depolarizer, 56 mM), DMPP (a selective neuronal nicotinic $N_N$ receptor agonist, 100 ${\mu}$M) and McN-A-343 (a selective muscarinic $M_1$ receptor agonist, 100 ${\mu}$M) in dose- and time-dependent fashion. PCRW itself did not affect basal CA secretion (data not shown). Following the perfusion of PCRW (60 ${\mu}$g/mL), the secretory responses of CA evoked by Bay-K-8644 (a L-type dihydropyridine $Ca^{2+}$ channel activator, 10 ${\mu}$M), cyclopiazonic acid (a cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor, 10 ${\mu}$M) and veratridine (an activator of voltage-dependent $Na^+$ channels, 10 ${\mu}$M) were also markedly blocked, respectively. Interestingly, in the simultaneous presence of PCRW (60 ${\mu}$g/mL) and L-NAME (a selective inhibitor of NO synthase, 30 ${\mu}$M), the inhibitory responses of PCRW on the CA secretion evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644 and cyclpiazonic acid were recovered to considerable level of the corresponding control release compared with those effects of PCRW-treatment alone. Practically, the amount of NO released from adrenal medulla after loading of PCRW (180 ${\mu}$g/mL) was significantly increased in comparison to the corresponding basal released level. Collectively, these results obtained here demonstrate that PCRW inhibits the CA secretory responses evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both muscarinic and nicotinic) receptors as well as by direct membrane-depolarization from the isolated perfused adrenal gland of the normotensive rats. It seems that this inhibitory effect of PCRW is mediated by blocking the influx of both ions through $Na^+$ and $Ca^+{2$} channels into the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells as well as by inhibiting the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from the cytoplasmic calcium store, which are due at least partly to the increased NO production through the activation of nitric oxide synthase. Based on these data, it is also thought that PCRW may be beneficial to prevent or alleviate the cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension and angina pectoris.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.89-99
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• 2006

The PCRW (Precast Concrete Retaining Wall) has many advantages compared with cast in place concrete retaining wall : shorter construction period, excellency of quality and minimum interference with the adjacent structure and traffics. However, shallow foundation type of PCRW, which has comparatively better ground condition, has some disadvantages such as difficulty in transportation and higher cost due to the size of PCRW being expanded by resisting only with self-weight if there is no other supplementary reinforcement. The presented study, in order to complement such disadvantages of PCRW, have applied the micropile method. The micropile method has advantages like low-cost and high-efficiency and does not require huge space, because it can be executed with small size equipment. However, the mechanical behavior characteristics of the PCRW reinforced by micropile, which is installed to improve the reinforcement effect, is not yet clearly identified and there is no suggested standard as to the length, diameter, install angle and install position of micropiles. Hence, this method is yet being designed depend on engineer's experience. In this study, various laboratory model tests as to sliding and overturning were performed in order to identify and present the optimum type of reinforcement and reinforcement effect of the PCRW reinforced by micropiles. In addition, it also executed numerical analysis for the purpose of verifying the optimum type of reinforcement for micropiles based on the results of laboratory model tests. The optimum reinforcement type of micropiles was estimated by model test and numerical analysis. The length of micropiles is 0.4 times wall height and the diameter is 0.04 times wall length.