• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.455-461
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• 2000

Zinc contained in the neurons of central nervous system is activity-dependently released and then attenuates NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate)-induced neurotoxicity while augmenting non-NMDA-induced neurodegeneration. Zinc also has been reported to produce antinociceptive action on the inflammation- and nerve injury-induced hyperalgesia in the behavioral test. In this study, we investigated the effects of zinc on the responses of dorsal horn cells to NMDA, kainate and graded electrical stimulation of C-fibers. In the majority of WDR cells (70.6%), zinc current-dependently inhibited WDR cell responses to NMDA and in the remaining cells, produced biphasic responses; excitation followed by inhibition. Zinc augmented the responses of WDR cells to iontophoretical application of kainate. The dominant effect of $Zn^{2+}$ on the responses of WDR cells to C-fiber stimulation was excitatory, but inhibition, excitation-inhibition and no change of the responses to C-fiber stimulation were induced. $Ca^{2+}-EDTA$ antagonized the excitatory or inhibitory effects of $Zn^{2+}$ on the WDR cell responses. These experimental findings suggest that $Zn^{2+}$ modulates the transmission of sensory information in the rat spinal cord.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1995.04a
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• pp.72-72
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• 1995

Monoclonal antibodies against bovine brain succinic semialdehyde reductase were produced and characterized. A total of nine monoclonal antibodies recognizing different epitopes of the enzyme were obtained, of which two inhibited the enzyme activity and three stained cytosol of rat spinal cord neurons as observed by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. When unfractionated total proteins of bovine brain homogenate were seperated by gel electrophoresis and immunoblotted, the antibodies specifically recognized a single protein band of 34 kDa, which comigrates with purified bovine succinic semialdehyde reducatase Using the antisuccinic semialdehyde reductase antibodies as probes, we investigated the cross-reactivites of brain succinic semialdehyde reductases from some mammalian and an avian species. The immunoreactive bands on Western blots appeared to be the same in molecular mass-34 kDa-in all animal species tested, including humans. The result indicated that brain succinic semialdehyde reductase is distinct from other aldehyde reductases and that mammalian brains contain only one succinic semialdehyde reductase. Moreover, the enzymes among the species are imunologically very similar, although some properties of the enzymes reported previously were different from one another.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to determine whether neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES), applied over the antagonist or the agonist, would alter the H reflex. Attention was focused on the roles of stimulus location. We used normal eight subjects without neuromuscular disease which were divided into 3 groups; the subjects were diveded into group of antagonist, agonist, antagonist-agonist. All groups were meted of eight subjects. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation was administered for 15 minutes. All subjects were subjected to three tests, including a pre-test, post-test and post-20 minute test. The data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-test. The results were as follows; 1. H latencies were significantly increased in agonist and antagonist-agonist group (p<.01). 2. H/M intervals were significantly increased in agonist and antagonist-agonist group (p<.01). 3. H amplitudes were significantly increased in agonist (p<.001) and antagonist-agonist group (p<.01). 4. H/M ratios were significantly decreased in agonist and antagonist-agonist group (p<.01). In agonist group. H-reflex amplitudes and H/M ratios were more significantly decreased than antagonist group. Future studies will need to determine what influence NMES may have on the excitability of spinal motor neurons in people having UMN syndrome.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.304-310
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• 1994

Using in situ hybridization, we have mapped the anatomical localization of perikarya containing myNA that codes for sonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in the brains of female frogs, R. dybowskii. DNA olisomers, with sequences complementary to the GnRH portion of pro-GnRH myNA sequence, were synthesized and hybridized to paraformaldehvde-fixed, sagittal sections of the whole brain stem. The distribution of the GnRH mRNA containing cell bodies was similar to that described for GnRH peptide by immunohistochemistrv. That is, cells containing GnRH mRNA were observed in the medial septal area, anterior preoptic area, ventromedial hvpothalamus and infundibular regions. However, another cell groups which contains GnRH mRNAs were also detected by in situ hybridization in the bed nucleus of hippocampal commissure, preoptic area, nucleus infundibularis dorsalis, mesencephalic nuclei and intermediolateral cell column of spinal cord areas. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using in situ hybridization as a strategy to study the distribution of GnRH neurons and the detection of GnRH gene expression in the vertebrates.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.297-302
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• 2006

Melittin, a major component of bee venom, produces a sustained decrease in mechanical threshold, and an increase in spontaneous flinchings and paw thickness, which are characteristics similar to those induced by whole bee venom. Melittin-induced nociception has been known to be modulated by the changes in the activity of excitatory amino acid receptors, voltage-dependent calcium channels, cyclooxygenase and serotonin receptors. The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of calcium chelators (TMB-8 & Quin 2) in melittin-induced nociceptive responses. Changes of mechanical threshold and spontaneous flinching behaviors were measured at a given time point following intraplantar injection of melittin ($30{\mu}g/paw$). Intrathecal or intraplantar pre-administration and intrathecal posttreatment of TMB-8 and Quin 2 significantly prevented the melittin-induced reduction of mechanical threshold, and intraplantar or intrathecal pre-treatment of TMB-8 and Quin 2 suppressed melittininduced flinching behaviors. These results indicate that calcium ion in the spinal dorsal horn neurons and peripheral nerves plays an important role in the production and maintenance of mechanical allodynia and spontaneous pain by melittin.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2010

Objectives : We investigated the role of intracellular calcium chelator, bis-(2-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid(BAPTA), on the modulation of phosphorylation of the spinal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor(NMDAR) NR1 and NR2B subunits following electroacupuncture(EA). Methods : Bilateral 2 Hz EA stimulation with 1.0 mA was delivered at those acupoints corresponding to Zusanli(ST36) and Sanyinjiao(SP6) in man via needles for 30min. Results : EA analgesia was reduced by intra-peritoneal injection at a higher dose of BAPTA from termination of EA stimulation. At 60 min after EA treatment, the total number of c-fos-immunostained neurons in each regions of the dorsal horn in the $L_{4-5}$ segments was decreased by BAPTA injection, especially in nucleus proprius. The mean integrated optical density (IOD) of NR1 and NR2B subunits were increased only in superficial laminae of EA-treated rats when compared with normal rats. However, the mean IOD of pNR1 was significantly decreased by BAPTA injection in both the superficial laminae and neck region and pNR2B in the superficial laminae. Western blot analyses confirmed the decreased expression of pNR1 and pNR2B. Conclusions : We concluded that intracellular calcium may well play an important role in EA analgesia by modulating the phosphorylation state of spinal NMDAR subunits.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.695-701
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• 2003

Purpose : It had been suggested that pain arising from deep somatic body regions influences neural activity within periaqueductal gray(PAG) of midbrain via distinct spinal pathways. Aspirin is one of the popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used in the management of pain. Fos expression was used as a marker for neuronal activity throughout central neurons following painful peripheral stimulation. This study was prepared to investigate changes of c-Fos immunoreactivity in midbrain by deep pain and effects of aspirin. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with 0.1 mL of 5% formalin in the plantar muscle of the right hindpaw. For experimental group II, aspirin was injected intravenously before injection of formalin. An aspirin-untreated group was utilized as group I. Rats were sacrificed at 0.5, 1, 2, 6 and 24 hours after formalin injection. Rat's brains were removed and sliced in rat brain matrix. Brain slices were coronally sectioned at interaural 1.00-1.36 mm. Serial sections were immunohistochemically reacted with polyclonal c-Fos antibody. The numbers of c-Fos protein immunoreactive neurons in ventrolateral periaqueductal gray(VLPAG) and dorsomedial periaqueductal gray(DMPAG) were counted and analyzed statistically with Mann-Whitney U tests. Results : Higher numbers of c-Fos protein immunoreactive neurons were found in VLPAG. In both VLPAG and DMPAG of formalin-treated group, the numbers of c-Fos protein immunoreactive neurons were significantly higher at all time points than the formalin-untreated group, which peaked at two hours. The numbers of c-Fos immunoreactive neuron of the aspirin-treated group were less compared to the aspirin-untreated group at each time point. Conclusion : These results provide some basic knowledge in understanding the mechanism of formalin-induced deep somatic pain and the effects of aspirin.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2005

Purpose: The anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) has a neuromuscular control function as evidenced by the presence within it of mechanoreceptor. Although these mechanoreceptors have been identified, the afferent somatosensory pathways from ACL to the cerebrum have yet to be demonstrated in their entirety. In order to trace these afferent pathway, we conducted a viral trans-synaptic tracing experiment using the neurotropic pseudorabies virus(PRV). Material and Methods: The PRV was injected into the ACL of rats and allowed to replicate and spread trans-synaptically for 6 to 7 days. The brain and spinal cord of each sacrificed rat was then removed and processed immunohistochemically to detect the presence of PRV. Results: PRV-immunoreactive neurons were found to be localized in several different regions from the spinal cord to the cerebrum. Four nuclei in the reticular formation of the brain stem demonstrated strong positive labeling: the mesencephalic reticular nucleus, magnocelluar reticular nucleus, paragigantocellular reticular nucleus, and gigantocellular reticular nucleus. Conclusions: This findings suggests that the nerve endings of the rat ACL project into the cerebrum and that the reticular formation may play an important role in the afferent pathway of those nerve endings.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 2006

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a disease model of multiple sclerosis (MS) that is characterized by remittance and relapse of the disease and autoimmune and demyelinating lesions in the central nervous system (CNS). Autoimmune inflammation is maintained by secretion of a large number of protein. Previous studies have suggested that transcripts encoding osteopontin (OPN) are frequently detected in the mRNA population of MS plaques. To elucidate the functional role of OPN in initiation and development of EAE, we examined the expression and localization of OPN in the spinal cord during acute EAE. We demonstrated that OPN significantly increased at the early stage of EAE and slightly declined thereafter by western blot analysis. An immunohistochemical study revealed that OPN was constitutively expressed in some glial cells (microglia, astrocytes) of white matter and neurons in the CNS of control rats. OPN expression was shown to be increased in the same cells at the early and peak stage of EAE. To identity cells expressing OPN by double-immunofluorescence labeling, we labeled rat spinal cord sections for OPN with a monoclonal OPN antibody and with mAbs for astrocyte (GFAP), microglia/macrophage (OX42)-specific markers. The major cell types of OPN-expressing cells were activated astrocytes and microglia in the adjacent inflammatory lesions. Interestingly, OPN was mainly expressed in the end feet of astrocytes around vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expressing endothelial cells of CNS blood vessel. These findings suggest that increased levels of OPN in activated glial cell may play an important role in the recruitment of inflammatory cells into the CNS parenchyma during EAE.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.173-185
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• 2009

Objectives : Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS) is a progressive disease that causes degeneration of the motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord. The purpose of this case study is to improvement of oriental mediacl treatment on ALS. Methods : The patients were treated by acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping therapy, herbal medication, physical treatment. To determine the effects of Oriental medical treatment, we evaluated weekly used by Korean version of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised(K-ALSFRS-R), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Severity Scale(ALSSS). Results : Symptoms such as cervical and shoulder pain, knee pain, cold sweating, insomnia etc were improved after above treatment. But K-ALSFRS-R and ALSSS were no improvement after above treatment. Conclusions : The Oriental medical treatment is effective on local symptoms of ALS, but there were no functional improvement of ALS in this case study. It is necessary to have more examination about ALS.