• Korean Circulation Journal
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• 제48권12호
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• pp.1081-1096
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• 2018

We reviewed the anatomical characteristics of the conduction system in the ventricles of human and ungulate hearts and then raised some questions to be answered by clinical and anatomical studies in the future. The ventricular conduction system is a 3-dimensional structure as compared to the 2-dimensional character of the atrial conduction system. The proximal part consisting of the atrioventricular node, the bundle of His and fascicles are groups of conducting cells surrounded by fibrous connective tissue so as to insulate from the underlying myocardium. Their location and morphological characters are well established. The bundle of His is a cord like structure but the left and right fascicles are broad at the proximal and branching at the distal part. The more distal part of fascicles and Purkinje system are linear networks of conducting cells at the immediate subendocardium but the intra-mural network is detected at the inner half of the ventricular wall. The papillary muscle also harbors Purkinje system not in the deeper part. It is hard to recognize histologically in human hearts but conducting cells as well as Purkinje cells are easily recognized in ungulate hearts. Further observation on human and ungulate hearts with myocardial infarct, we could find preserved Purkinje system at the subendocardium in contrast to the damaged system at the deeper myocardium. Further studies are necessary on the anatomical characteristics of this peripheral conduction system so as to correlate the clinical data on hearts with ventricular arrhythmias.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제5권6호
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• pp.479-485
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• 2001

The existence of opioid receptors in mammalian cerebellum except human, has not been clearly understood. In the present study, we found that NPY was inducible by morphine in the mouse cerebellar granular and Purkinje cell layers. We performed in situ RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry to characterize the NPY expression. The increase of NPY gene expression by morphine (30 mg/kg, i.p.) was inhibited by pretreatment with not only naloxone (100 mg/kg, i.p.) but also a noncompetitive NMDA antagonist, MK-801 (0.3 mg/kg, i.p.). The competitive NMDA antagonist, AP-5 (0.9 mg/kg, i.p.) slightly attenuated the increased NPY expression by morphine. Also, the finding similar to morphine was shown by NMDA (70 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment. Our results indicate that NPY was inducible by morphine and this might reflect activation of NMDA receptors in granule cells that relay mossy fiber inputs to Purkinje cells via parallel fibers.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 2003년도 Annual Meeting of KSAP : International Symposium on Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences on Obesity
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• pp.112-112
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• 2003

Voltage-gated $K^{+}$ (Kv) channels represent a structurally and functionally diverse group of membrane proteins. These channels play an important role in determining the length of the cardiac action potential and are the targets for antiarrhythmic drugs. Many $K^{+}$ channel genes have been cloned from human myocardium and functionally contribute to its electrical activity. One of these channels, Kv1.5, is one of the more cardiovascular-specific $K^{+}$ channel isoforms identified to date and forms the molecular basis for an ultra-rapid delayed rectifier $K^{＋}$ current found in human atrium. Thus, the blocker of hKv1.5 is expected to be an ideal antiarrhythmic drug for atrial fibrillation. Chelidonine was isolated from Chelidonium majus L. We examined the effect of chelidonine on the hKv1.5 current expressed in Ltk-cells using whole cell mode of patch clamp techniques. Chelidonine selectively inhibited the hKv1.5 current expressed in Ltk-cells in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas did not affect the HERG current expressed in HEK-293 cells. Additionally, chelidonine reduced the tail current amplitude recorded at -50 mV after 250 ms depolarizing pulses to +60 mV, and slowed the deactivation time course resulting in a 'crossover' phenomenon when the tail currents recorded under control conditions and in the presence of chelidonine were superimposed. We found that chelidonine also inhibited the $K^{+}$ current in isolated human atrial myocytes where hKv1.5 channels were predominantly expressed. Furthermore, we examined the effects of chelidonine on the action potentials in rabbit hearts using conventional microelectrode technique. Chelidonine prolonged the action potential durations (APD) of atrial, ventricular myocytes and Purkinje fibers in a dose-dependent manner. However, the effect of chelidonine on atrial APD was frequency-dependent whereas the effect of chelidonine on the APDs of ventricular myocytes and Purkinje fibers was not frequency- dependent. Also, the selective action of chelidonine on heart was more potent than dofetilide, $K^{+}$ channel blocker.

• Journal of Multimedia Information System
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.121-130
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• 2018

We developed multimedia esophageal catheters for use with birds to measure and record ECG and angular velocity while anesthesized, at rest, and in flight. These catheters enable estimates of blood pressure based on readings given by an angular velocity sensor and by RR intervals of ECG affected by EMG. In our experiments, the catheters had the following characteristics: 1. Esophageal catheters offer a topological advantage with 8-dB SNR improvement due to elimination of electromyography (EMG). 2. We observed a very strong correlation between blood pressure and the angular velocity of esophageal catheter axial rotation. 3. The impulse conduction pathway (Purkinje fibers) of the cardiac ventricle has a direction opposite to that of the mammalian pathway. 4. Sympathetic nerves predominate in flight, and RR interval variations are strongly suppressed. The electrophysiological data obtained by this study provided especially the state of the avian autonomic nervous system activity, so we can suspect individual's health condition. If the change of the RR interval was small, we can perform an isolation or screening from the group that prevent the pandemics of avian influenza. This catheter shall be useful to analysis an avian autonomic system, to perform a screening, and to make a positive policy against the massive infected avian influenza.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.119-127
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• 2016

Dihydropyridine (DHP) calcium channel blockers (CCBs) have been widely used to treat of several cardiovascular diseases. An excessive shortening of action potential duration (APD) due to the reduction of $Ca^{2+}$ channel current ($I_{Ca}$) might increase the risk of arrhythmia. In this study we investigated the electrophysiological effects of nicardipine (NIC), isradipine (ISR), and amlodipine (AML) on the cardiac APD in rabbit Purkinje fibers, voltage-gated $K^+$ channel currents ($I_{Kr}$, $I_{Ks}$) and voltage-gated $Na^+$ channel current ($I_{Na}$). The concentration-dependent inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ channel currents ($I_{Ca}$) was examined in rat cardiomyocytes; these CCBs have similar potency on $I_{Ca}$ channel blocking with $IC_{50}$ (the half-maximum inhibiting concentration) values of 0.142, 0.229, and 0.227 nM on NIC, ISR, and AML, respectively. However, ISR shortened both $APD_{50}$ and $APD_{90}$ already at $1{\mu}M$ whereas NIC and AML shortened $APD_{50}$ but not $APD_{90}$ up to $30{\mu}M$. According to ion channel studies, NIC and AML concentration-dependently inhibited $I_{Kr}$ and $I_{Ks}$ while ISR had only partial inhibitory effects (<50% at $30{\mu}M$). Inhibition of $I_{Na}$ was similarly observed in the three CCBs. Since the $I_{Kr}$ and $I_{Ks}$ mainly contribute to cardiac repolarization, their inhibition by NIC and AML could compensate for the AP shortening effects due to the block of $I_{Ca}$.

• 대한기계학회논문집B
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• 제35권11호
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• pp.1205-1211
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• 2011

본 논문은 말기 심질환 환자의 생존율과 치료효과를 증대시키기 위한 심실보조장치용 심박조율기의 개발에 대한 내용이다. 심실보조장치만을 이식 받은 환자는 부정맥이 발생할 가능성을 항상 갖고 있으며 심박조율기를 동시에 적용함으로써 혈류의 체순환량을 유지하고 부정맥으로 인한 장기의 손상을 예방한다. 심박조율기의 전극과 도선은 심실보조장치의 도관을 이용하여 제작되었으며, 전극은 심실보조장치의 도관이 삽관되는 좌심실의 심첨부에 도관과 함께 이식된다. 심박조율기는 0 bpm에서부터 191.4 bpm까지 자극 빈도를 조절할 수 있으며, 60 bpm의 빈도로 자극이 가하여 질 때 0.25 J 의 에너지가 심장으로 인가된다. 심실보조장치용 심박조율기의 성능과 안정성을 검증하기 위하여 돼지를 이용한 동물실험을 수행하였다. 실험동물의 심장에 86.4 bpm, 100.2 bpm, 126.6 bpm의 자극을 순차적으로 가하였고 ECG 및 대동맥혈압의 변화 대동맥 혈류를 관찰하였다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.386-389
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• 2015

Sibutramine is an anorectic that has been banned since 2010 due to cardiovascular safety issues. However, counterfeit drugs or slimming products that include sibutramine are still available in the market. It has been reported that illegal sibutramine-contained pharmaceutical products induce cardiovascular crisis. However, the mechanism underlying sibutramine-induced cardiovascular adverse effect has not been fully evaluated yet. In this study, we performed cardiovascular safety pharmacology studies of sibutramine systemically using by hERG channel inhibition, action potential duration, and telemetry assays. Sibutramine inhibited hERG channel current of HEK293 cells with an $IC_{50}$ of $3.92{\mu}M$ in patch clamp assay and increased the heart rate and blood pressure ($76{\Delta}bpm$ in heart rate and $51{\Delta}mmHg$ in blood pressure) in beagle dogs at a dose of 30 mg/kg (per oral), while it shortened action potential duration (at $10{\mu}M$ and $30{\mu}M$, resulted in 15% and 29% decreases in $APD_{50}$, and 9% and 17% decreases in $APD_{90}$, respectively) in the Purkinje fibers of rabbits and had no effects on the QTc interval in beagle dogs. These results suggest that sibutramine has a considerable adverse effect on the cardiovascular system and may contribute to accurate drug safety regulation.