• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.1 s.21
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• pp.7-12
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• 1977

Recently several reports have claimed that the bath temperature changes, such as lower bath temperature, produce supersensitivity on the positive chronotropic effect of catecholamine in cat, mouse and guinea pig atria. However, others showed controversial results against temperature-dependent supersensitivity. Similarly, the inotropic effect of ouabain is diminished in febrile state, however some investigators indicated that cardiac glycoside showed less toxicities and less effects in hypothermic condition. In this study, the effects of norepinephrine and epinephrine on inotropy and chronotropy in isolated rat atria was investigated by changing the temperature of bath ($30^{\circ}C$, $^35{\circ}C$ and $38^{\circ}C$). In addition, the effects of ouabain on atria in hypothermic bath was also studied. The followings are the results. 1. At the lower bath temperature isolated rat atrial rate was decreased and contractility was increased. 2. The chronotropic responses to norepinephrine and epinephrine in $38^{\circ}C$ were decreased when the bath temperature lowered to $35^{\circ}C$ or $30^{\circ}C$, while the inotropic responses were not affected. 3. Hypothermic supersensitivity to norepinephrine or epinephrine was not observed in rat atrium. 4. The inotropic response to ouabain was potentiated but chronotropic response was diminished by a lowering in the bath temperature. In conclusion, the chronotropic response of rat atrium to catecholamine was decreased, however, hypothermic supersensitivity was no longer present in rat atrium and the inotropic response of ouabain was increased at lower bath temperature.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.181-190
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• 1994

In rat atrium the characteristics of purinergic receptors were investigated by observing the effects of some purinergic receptor agonists and antagonists on action potential and contractile force. The statistically significant effects of $ATP(10^{-6}{\sim}10^{-3}M)$ and adenosine $(10^{-6}{\sim}10^{-3}M)$ on normal action potential characteristics were a dose-dependent shortening of action potential duration $(APD_{90})$ by both agents and hyperpolarization by $ATP(10^{-4},10^{-3}M)$. $CAP(10^{-8}{\sim}10^{-4}M)$, an $A_1$ adenosine receptor agonist, shortened $(APD_{90})$ markedly in a dose-dependent manner and these effects were almost abolished by $DPCPX\;(10^{-6}\;M), an $A_1$, adenosine receptor antagonist, but not affected by $DMPX(2{\times}10^{-6}\;M)$, an $A_2$ adenosine receptor agonist. On the other hand, CGS $21680(10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-4}M)$, an $A_2$ adenosine receptor agonist, elicited a slight shortening of $(APD_{90})$ and these effects were inhibited by DPCPX but persisted in the presence of DPMX. Adenosine $(10^{-6}{\sim}10{\-4}\;M)$ decreased the basal contraction of atrial muscle in a dose-dependent manner and these effects were not inhibited by DMPX but by DPCPX. These results suggests that purinergic receptor agonists depress the cardiac activity by a short ening of action potential duration and this effect is mostly mediated by $A_1$ adenosine receptors in rat atrium.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.261-268
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• 1990

It has long been suggested that the cardiac atrium is a low pressure volume receptor controlling body fluid volume and blood pressure. Recently, the cardiac atrium has been found to contain a family of powerful peptides. To clarify the relationship between high blood pressure and the biologically active atrial peptides, experiments were done to define the characteristics of atrial natriuretic peptide secretion in the isolated perfused atria of renal hypertensive rats. Higher concentrations of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide and renin activity were observed in the two-kidney, one clip hypertensive rat compared to the normotensive rat. Atrial volume changes in response to pressure elevations were attenuated in hypertensive rats compared to normotensive rats. Incremental response to atrial volume changes in ANP secretion was accentuated in hypertensive rats. These date suggest that the accentuated atrial natriuretic peptide response to volume changes of hypertensive rats may be a physiological or pathphysiological adaptation to the high blood pressure and may be, at least in part, responsible for the elevated levels of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide observed in hypertensive rats.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.329-337
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• 1989

Cardiac muscles show stimulation frequency-dependent tension changes i.e. Bowditch phenomenon and Woodworth phenomenon, the former is an increase of tension with the increase of stimulation frequency, whereas the latter is an increase of tension with a decrease of stimulation frequency. Bowditch phenomenon is seen in the range of frequency 1.0 cps and above, and Woodworth phenomenon below the frequency 1.0 cps in the most of mammalian cardiac atrium. To throw some light on the possible mechanism of both phenomena in rat atrium, influences of drugs affecting $Ca^{2+}$ influx through the plasma membrane $(verapamil,\;La^{3+},\;norepinephrine)$ and $Ca^{2+}$ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) on frequency-tension curve were studied. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1) At low temperature $(27.5^{\circ}C)$, both Bowditch and Woodworth phenomenon were demonstrated. But Bowditch phenomenon disappeared at the temperature above $(32.5^{\circ}C)$. 2) At $(27.5^{\circ}C)$, in the presence of verapamil, a $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, a time course of change in the frequency-tension was studied. It was found that Bowditch phenomenon was affected before the Woodworth phenomenon, then the former was completely disappeared. At $(32.5^{\circ}C)$, where no Bow-ditch is seen in normal atrial muscle, Bowditch phenomenon was reappeared by an administration of norepinephrine suggesting again that slow inward current of such as $Ca^{2+}$ channel is closely related to Bowditch phenomenon. 3) At $27.5^{\circ}C$, in the presence of $La^{3+}$, although tensions were decreased at all stimulation frequencies, Bowditch and Woodworth phenomenon were still demonstrated. However in the presence of both $La^{3+}$ and verapamil, Bowditch phenomena was disappeared suggesting that $La^{3+}$ is less effective in blocking $Ca^{2+}$ channel than verapamil. 4) At $27.5^{\circ}C$, in the presence of ryanodine, an inhibitor of calcium release from SR, Woodworth phenomenon was disappeared, which was consistent with previous reports of others, suggesting that $Ca^{2+}$ release from SR is closely related to Woodworth phenomenon. From the above findings, it may be concluded that Bowditch phenomenon is dependent on the magnitude of $Ca^{2+}$ influx through slow channel and Woodworth phenomenon is dependent on the amount of $Ca^{2+}$ stored in SR.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.293-300
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• 2017

Prostaglandin $D_2$ ($PGD_2$) may act against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and play an anti-inflammatory role in the heart. Although the effect of $PGD_2$ in regulation of ANP secretion of the atrium was reported, the mechanisms involved are not clearly identified. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether $PGD_2$ can regulate ANP secretion in the isolated perfused beating rat atrium, and its underlying mechanisms. $PGD_2$ (0.1 to $10{\mu}M$) significantly increased atrial ANP secretion concomitantly with positive inotropy in a dose-dependent manner. Effects of $PGD_2$ on atrial ANP secretion and mechanical dynamics were abolished by AH-6809 ($1.0{\mu}M$) and AL-8810 ($1.0{\mu}M$), $PGD_2$ and prostaglandin $F2{\alpha}$ ($PGF2{\alpha}$) receptor antagonists, respectively. Moreover, $PGD_2$ clearly upregulated atrial peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) and the $PGD_2$ metabolite 15-deoxy-${\Delta}12$, 14-$PGJ_2$ (15d-$PGJ_2$, $0.1{\mu}M$) dramatically increased atrial ANP secretion. Increased ANP secretions induced by $PGD_2$ and 15d-$PGJ_2$ were completely blocked by the $PPAR{\gamma}$ antagonist GW9662 ($0.1{\mu}M$). PD98059 ($10.0{\mu}M$) and LY294002 ($1.0{\mu}M$), antagonists of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling, respectively, significantly attenuated the increase of atrial ANP secretion by $PGD_2$. These results indicated that $PGD_2$ stimulated atrial ANP secretion and promoted positive inotropy by activating $PPAR{\gamma}$ in beating rat atria. MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways were each partially involved in regulating $PGD_2$-induced atrial ANP secretion.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.497-503
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• 2001

Evidence from the last 10 years have been suggested that melatonin mainly produce a depressant effect on the cardiac system, but we found an activating effect of melatonin on heart rate in this research. To determine the hypothesis that melatonin has dual effects on physiological behaviour of cardiac system, we investigated the effects of melatonin on heart rate in isolated rat atria and anesthetized rats. Regardless of concentration, melatonin produced bradycardia in the 84 cases of 148 experiments (57 %) and tachycardia in the 64 cases of 148 experiments (43 %). And in atrium, melatonin produced a decrease automaticity in 52 cases of 86 experiments (60 %) and increase automaticity in 40 % (34/86 cases). Also, these effects are not significnat relationship with concetration of melatonin. The melatonin-induced bradycardia in vivo was inhibited by pretreatment of atropine or bilateral cervical vagotomy. Also, in isolated atrium the melatonin-induced decrease in automaticity was inhibited by pretreatment of atropine. These melatonin-induced responses were potenitated by pretreatment of propranolol. The melatonin-induced tachycardia in vivo was inhibited by pretreatment of propranolol, nifedipine or bilateral cervical vagotomy, but not by pretreatment of atropine. The melatonin-induced incease in automaticity in isolated atrium was converted to decrease in automaticity by pretreatment of propranolol. In addition, the change in heart rate caused by adrenoceptor agonists was inhibited by pretreatment of melatonin. These results indicate that melatonin-induced bradycardia may be related to a muscarinic receptor activation and melatonin-induced tachycardia may be related to a $\beta$-adrenoceptor stimulation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.217-220
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• 2018

A female Russian rat snake, Elaphe schrenckii, was presented for loss of movement. Physical examination showed the swelling in the area of heart. Radiographic examination revealed cardiomegaly, pericardial effusion, and a soft opacity in the area of swelling. Although pericardiocentesis to remove fluid out from the heart as well as vigorous treatments were given to the Russian rat snake, it died during treatments. Postmortem examination confirmed pericardial effusion of pale yellow, translucent fluid with mild dilation of the right atrium and ventricle. Formalin -fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections were stained with routine H&E and the classical von Kossa's method for histopathological demonstration. Histopathological examination revealed multifocal calcification in myocardium and consists of the displacement of muscular fiber by limy deposits. Congestive heart failure was suspicious for the snake when it was alive. In wild reptiles, muscle degeneration has been reported with nutrition disorders but the present case is the first report of myocardial degeneration in a Russian rat snake and contributes to the rare reports of cardiac disease in snakes.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.381-385
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• 1996

Rat ventricles respond with a biphasic positive inotropic effect to ouabain, low-dose and high-dose effects but rat atria with only a monophasic high dose effect. In an effect to understand the difference in response to ouabain of two tissues between rat atria and ventricles the levels of the $a_{2}$ -isoform of the $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$-ATPase which has higher affinity for ouabain than the $a_{1}$-iso-form were determined by a $[^{3}H]$ouabain binding assay. The yield of protein per gram wet weight was about 47 mg for atria and 100 mg for ventricles. The $K_{d}$ values of ouabain for the high-affinity ouabain binding site $(a_{2} -isoform)$ were nearly the same (230 nM) in the atria and ventricles. However, the numbers of the $a_{2}$-isoform $(B_{max})$ per mg protein were approximately half in the atria. When the binding data were expressed in unit per gram tissue wet weight, the numbers of $a_{2}$ -isoform in the atria was about 25% of that in the ventricles. THese results demonstrate that the $a_{2}$ -isoform of the $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$-ATPase in the rat atria could be detected by $[^{3}H]$ouabain binding assay and the levels of this isoform are too low to show the low-dose effect of ouabain.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.529-543
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• 2020

In contrast to ventricular myocytes, the structural and functional importance of atrial transverse tubules (T-tubules) is not fully understood. Therefore, we investigated the ultrastructure of T-tubules of living rat atrial myocytes in comparison with ventricular myocytes. Nanoscale cell surface imaging by scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) was accompanied by confocal imaging of intracellular T-tubule network, and the effect of removal of T-tubules on atrial excitation-contraction coupling (EC-coupling) was observed. By SICM imaging, we classified atrial cell surface into 4 subtypes. About 38% of atrial myocytes had smooth cell surface with no clear T-tubule openings and intracellular T-tubules (smooth-type). In 33% of cells, we found a novel membrane nanostructure running in the direction of cell length and named it 'longitudinal fissures' (LFs-type). Interestingly, T-tubule openings were often found inside the LFs. About 17% of atrial cells resembled ventricular myocytes, but they had smaller T-tubule openings and a lower Z-groove ratio than the ventricle (ventricular-type). The remaining 12% of cells showed a mixed structure of each subtype (mixed-type). The LFs-, ventricular-, and mixed-type had an appreciable amount of reticular form of intracellular T-tubules. Formamide-induced detubulation effectively removed atrial T-tubules, which was confirmed by both confocal images and decreased cell capacitance. However, the LFs remained intact after detubulation. Detubulation reduced action potential duration and L-type Ca²⁺ channel (LTCC) density, and prolonged relaxation time of the myocytes. Taken together, we observed heterogeneity of rat atrial T-tubules and membranous ultrastructure, and the alteration of atrial EC-coupling by disruption of T-tubules.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.347-360
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• 1994

The general and some pharmacological actions of DWP 301 were investigated in animals and the following results were obtained. In central nervous system, DWP 301 had no effects on the pentobarbital induced anaesthesia, rotarod test, traction test, analgesic action, anticonvulsant action in mice and body temperature in rat. But DWP 301 showed a little decrease of locomotor activity at a dose of 3,000 mg/kg. From these results, DWP 301 was considered to have little pharmacological effect on the central nervous system. Furthermore, DWP 301 had no influences on the normal blood pressure and heart rate. DWP 301 showed no effect on the isolated guinea pig ileum, trachea, right atrium, and nonpregnant rat uterus. But, in the isolated guinea pig vas deference, DWP 301 had showed inhibitory effect on the contractions produced by norepinephrine. DWP 301 showed rise of gastric juice pH and decrease of urine volume. Also, DWP 301 had no effect on the gastrointestinal motility and blood aggregation. From these results, it is concluded that the general pharmacological effect of DWP 301 are similar to or weaker than M and AGA.