• 한국약용작물학회지
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.444-450
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• 2007

Dried leaves from Cedrela sinensis A. Juss. (CS), have been observed to possess various pharmacological activity and contain various antioxidant constituents. The protective effect of ethanol extract of CS on hydrogen peroxide $(H_2O_2)-induced$ neurotoxicity was examined using primary cultured rat cortical neurons in the present study. Exposure of cultured neurons to 100 ${\mu}M\;H_2O_2$ caused a significant neuronal death as assessed by a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and Hoechst 33342 staining. The addition of CS, over a concentration range of 10 to $50{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, concentration-dependently prevented the $H_2O_2-induced$ neuronal apoptotic death. CS $(50{\mu}g/m{\ell})$ significantly inhibited $H_2O_2-induced$ elevation of the cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_c)$, which was measured by a fluorescent dye, Fluo-4 AM. CS (30 and $50{\mu}g/m{\ell})$ inhibited glutamate release and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by $100{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$. These results suggest that CS may mitigate the $H_2O_2-induced$ neurotoxiciy by interfering with the increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_c$, and then inhibiting glutamate release and generation of ROS in cultured neurons.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제28권8호
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• pp.737-748
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• 1995

Osteoblast(OBL) cells were isolated from ICR Swiss neonatal mouse calvarial tissues and cultured in a CO2 incubator with minimum essential medium (MEM) containing 0.25g BSA. The cells were cultured for 7 days and were treated with bovine parathyroid hormone (bPTH, 1-34) and calcitonin(CT). Enzyme activities related to mineral metabolism and other biochemical actions within the bone cells including protein phosphorylation were investigated. In other experiments using cultured calvarial bone tissues, hormones were treated for 24, 48, 72 or 96 hours. The activities of $\beta$-glucuronidase enzymes involved in bone collagen synthesis and mineral deposits were increased by 8% with bPTH and were inhibited with CT treatment, while those were 67% increase treated with bPTH and CT together. On the other hand, alkaline phophatase(AP) activities were inhibited by PTH hormone at all the time courses observed. Protein phosphorylation reaction in OBL was mediated by bPTH, cAMP and ionized Ca. Phosphorylation was observed in different cell fractions including homogenate, membrane and cytosol. The number of proteins phosphorylated by PTH, cAMP, and Ca were 10, 5, and 9, respectively. Most of the protein kinases(PKs) were existed in cytosolic compartment. In membrane fractions, two bPTH-dependent-PKs (70K, 50K Da) were observed of which 70K Da protein was also Ca-dependent. Most of the cAMP-dependent PKs were regulated via bPTH. 70K, 50K, 5K, 19K, 16K, 10.5K phosphoproteins regulated by Ca share the same pathways as those by bPTH-dependent proteins. Ca seems to regulate PK activities differently from cAMP.

• 한국양식학회지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.279-282
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• 1998

Effects of high concentration of intracellular calcium on estradiol-induced vitellogenin(VTG) induction were examined using ouabain in Primary hepatocyte culture in the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Ouabain increases cytosolic free calcium as a result of inhibition of $Na^+ - Ca^{2+}$ exchanger. Ouabain markedly reduced VTG production to the control level, despite of calcium concentrations in the incubatin medium. Therefore, ouabain would reduce VTG production not by increasing intracellular calcium bt directly by inhibiting $Na^+ - K^+$ ATPase.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.73-77
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• 2007

N,N-Dimethyl-D-ribo-phytosphingosine (DMPH) is an N-methyl derivative of sphingosine. In the present paper, we studied effects of DMPH on intracellular Ca$^{2+}$ concentration, pH, glutamate uptake, and cell viability in human 1321N1 astrocytes. DMPH increased intracellular Ca$^{2+}$ concentration and cytosolic pH significantly in a dose-dependent manner. DMPH also inhibited glutamate uptake by 1321N1 astrocytes. Finally, treatment of cells with DMPH for 24 h reduced viability of cells largely and concentration-dependently. In summary, DMPH increased intracellular Ca$^{2+}$ concentration and pH, inhibited glutamate uptake and evoked cytotoxicity in 1321N1 astrocytes. Our observations with DMPH in the 1321N1 astrocytes would enhance understanding of DMPH actions in the brain.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.233-241
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• 1995

The nonapeptide bradykinin has been shown to exhibit an array of biological activities including relaxation/contraction of various smooth muscles. In order to investigate the effects of bradykinin on the contractility and the electrical activity of antral circular muscle of guinea-pig stomach, the isometric contraction and membrane potential were recorded. Also, using standard patch clamp technique, the $Ca^{2+}-activated$ K currents were recorded to observe the change in cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. $0.4 {\mu}M$ bradykinin induced a triphasic contractile response (transient contraction-transient relaxation-sustained contraction) and this response was unaffected by pretreatment with neural blockers (tetrodotoxin, atropine and guanethidine) or with apamin. Bradykinin induced hyperpolarization of resting membrane potential and enhanced the amplitude of slow waves and spike potentials. The enhancement of spike potentials was blocked by neural blockers. Both the bradykinin-induced contractions and changes in membrane potential were reversed by the selective $B_2$-receptor antagonist $(N{\alpha}-adamantaneacetyl-_{D}-Arg-[Hyp, Thy,_{D}-Phe]-bradykinin)$. In whole-cell patch clamp experiment, we held the membrane potential at -20 mV and spontaneous and transient changes of Ca-activated K currents were recorded. Bradykinin induced a large transient outward current, consistent with a calcium-releasing action of bradykinin front the intracellular calcium pool, because such change was blocked by pretreatment with caffeine. Bradykinin-induced contraction was also blocked by pretreatment with caffeine. From these results, it is suggested that bradykinin induces a calciumrelease and contraction through the $B_{2}$ receptor of guinea-pig gastric smooth muscle. Enhancement of slow wave activity is an indirect action of bradykinin through enteric nerve cells embedded in muscle strip.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.115-125
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• 2005

Objectives : Polygalae Radix (PR) from Polygalae tenuifolia (Polygalaceae) has been clinically used as a sedative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial agent. To extend pharmacological effects of PR in the central nervous system (CNS) on the basis of its CNS protective effect, the present study was conducted to identify the effect of PR, whether it shows the neuroprotective action against excitatory neurotoxicity. Methods : To identify the protective effect of PR to excitatory neuro-toxic agent, the present study was focused on the PR effect on cell death, that was caused by applying NMDA to nerve cell, elevation of $(Ca^{2+})_i$, releasement of glutamate, and ROS generation. Result : 1. PR methanol extract, at the concentration range of 0.05 to 5 g/ml, significantly inhibited NMDA (1 mM)-induced neuronal cell death as well as MK-801 (non competitive NMDA antagonist). 2. PR methanol extract $(0.5\;{\mu}g/ml)$ inhibited NMDA (1 mM)-induced elevation of cytosolic calcium concentration $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. NMDA application in the presence of MK-801 $(10\;{\mu}M)$ failed to produce the increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ through all the measurement time. 3. PR methanol extract $(0.5\;{\mu}g/ml)$ inhibited the NMDA-induced elevation of glutamate release. Also, MK-801 showed similar protective effects. 4. PR methanol extract $(0.5\;{\mu}g/ml)$ inhibited the NMDA-induced elevation of ROS generation. Also, MK-801 showed similar protective effects. Conclusion : The present study provides the availability of PR to exert its protective effect on the neuronal cell death in various neurodegenerative pathophysiological conditions.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.355-363
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• 1995

Calcium수송에 대한 기전을 추구하기위하여, carbachol을 사용하여 ml muscarinic receptor-transfected RBL-2H3 cell-line에서 다음과 같은 실험결과를 얻었기에 이에 보고한다. 1) Carbachol의 투여로 이들 cell-line에서 $Ca^{2+}$ influx가 농도에 따라 증가하였고, hexosaminidase 분비양도 의의있게 증가하였다. 2) Atropine 투여로 Carbachol의 상승작용이 의의있게 억제되었다. 3) 수종의 금속양이온을 투여하여 carbachol의 $Ca^{2+}$수송에 대한 영향을 관찰한 바, 이들 금속이온들은 $Ca^{2+}$의 influx를 의의있게 억제하였다. 4) PMA(20 nM) 투여로 carbachol의 hexosaminidase의 분비는 억제되지 못했지만 $Ca^{2+}$ influx는 억제되었다. 5) PTx $(0.2\;{\mu}g/ml)$ 투여로 carbachol의 hexosaminidase 분비가 의의있게 억제되었다. 위의 결과로 미루어 보아, 이 세포의 muscarinic receptor가 calcium channel을 통한 calcium수송에 매우 중요한 영향을 나타내는데, 이들 calcium ion channel은 적어도 두 종류가 존재하며, 하나는G-protein-dependent calcium channel에 의하며, 다른 하나는 G-protein-independent calcium channel에 대한 작용에 의한 것으로 생각된다. 또한 이 calcium channel들은 2가 또는 3가의 다른 금속 ion들에 의하여 calcium수송이 억제된다.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.115-126
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• 1995

The effects of energy-yielding substrates on coronary circulation, myocardial oxygen metabolism, and intramyocytic adenylates of perfused Wistar control rat(WC) and spontaneously hypertensive rat(SHR) hearts were examined under basal and $\beta$-adrenergic stimulation conditions. The perfusion medium (1.0mM Ca2+) contained 5mM glucose (+5U/l insulin) in combination with 5mM pyruvate, 5mM lacate, 5mM acetate, or 5mM octanoate as energy substrates. Hearts were perfused with each substrate buffer for 20min under basal conditions. Coronary functinal hyperemia was induced by infusing for 20min isoproterenol (ISO, 1uM), a $\beta$-receptor agonist. Cardiac adenylates, glycolytic intermediates, and coronary venous lactate were measured by using an enzymatic analysis technique. Under basal conditions, acetate and octanoate significantly increased coronary flow(CF) of WC in parallel with myocardial oxygen consumption. However, CF of SHR was partly attenuated by coronary vasoconstriction despite metabolic acidosis. In addition, pyruvate and lactate depressd ISO-induced coronary functional hyperemia in SHR. It should be noted that octanoate exhibited coronary dysfunction under ISO conditions. On the other hand, fat substrates depleted myocardial high energy phosphate pool and accumulated breakdown intermediates. In SHR with coronary vasoconstriction under basal conditions, and with depressed coronary functional hyperemia, high energy phosphates were greatly depleted. These results suggest that energy substrates in the myocardium and coronary smooth muscle alter remarkably coronary circulation, and that coronary circulatory function is associated with a reserve of high energy phosphates and a balance between breakdown and nono synthesis of energy phosphates. These findings could be explained by alterations in the cytosolic redox state manipulated by LDH and hence in the cytosolic phosphorylation potential, which might be involved in hypertension of SHR.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제2권6호
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• pp.695-703
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• 1998

$[K^+]_o$ can be increased under a variety of conditions including subarachnoid hemorrhage. The increase of $[K^+]_o$ in the range of $5{\sim}15$ mM may affect tensions of blood vessels and can change their sensitivity to various vasoactive substances. Therefore, it was examined in the present study whether the sensitivity of cerebral arteries to vasoactive substances can be changed with the moderate increase of $[K^+]_o$, using Mulvany-type myograph and $[Ca^{2+}]_c$ measurement. The contractions of basilar artery and branch of middle cerebral artery induced by histamine were not increased with the elevation of $[K^+]_o$ from 6 mM to 9 mM or 12 mM. On the contrary, the contractions induced by serotonin were significantly increased with the elevation of $[K^+]_o$. The contractions were also significantly increased by the treatment with nitro-L-arginine $(10^{-4}$ M for 20 minutes). In the nitro-L-arginine treated arteries, the contractions induced by serotonin were significantly increased with the elevation of $[K^+]_o$ from 6 mM to 12 mM. $K^+-induced$ relaxation was evoked with the stepwise increment of extracellular $K^+$ from 0 or 2 mM to 12 mM by 2 mM in basilar arterial rings, which were contracted by histamine. But $[K^+]_o$ elevation from 4 or 6 mM to 12 mM by the stepwise increment evoked no significant relaxation. Basal tension of basilar artery was increased with $[K^+]_o$ elevation from 6 mM to 12 mM by 2 mM steps or by the treatment with ouabain and the increase of basal tension was blocked by verapamil. The cytosolic free $Ca^{2+}$ level was not increased by the single treatment with serotonin or with the elevation of $[K^+]_o$ from 4 mM to 8 or 12 mM. In contrast to the single treatment, the $Ca^{2+}$ level was increased by the combined treatment with serotonin and the elevation of $[K^+]_o$. The increase of free $Ca^{2+}$ concentration was blocked by the treatment with verapamil. These data suggest that the sensitivity of cerebral artery to serotonin is increased with the moderate increase of $[K^+]_o$ and the increased sensitivity to serotonin is due to the increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ induced by extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ influx.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.267-274
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• 2001

Calpains are a family of cysteine proteases existing primarily in two forms designated by the $Ca^{2+}$ concentration needed for activation in vitro, $\mu$-calpain (calpain-I) and m-calpain (calpain-II). The physiologica1 roles of calpains remain unclear. Many groups have proposed a role for calpains In apoptosis, but their patterns of activation are not well characterized. Calpains have been implicated in neutrophil apoptosis, glucocorticoid-induced thymocyte apoptosis, as well as many other apoptotic pathways. Calpain activation in apoptosis is usually linked upstream or downstream to caspase activation, or in a parallel pathway alongside caspase activation. Calpains have been suggested to be involved in DNA fragmentation (via endonuclease activation), but also as effector proteases that cleave cellular proteins involved in DNA repair, membrane associated proteins and other homeostatic regulatory proteins. Recently, our laboratory demonstrated $\mu$-calpain activation in NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreducatse 1 (NQO1)-expressing cells after exposure to $\beta$-lapachone, a novel quinone and potential chemo- and radio-therapeutic agent. Increased cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ in NQO1-expressing cells after $\beta$-lapachone exposures were shown to lead to $\mu$-calpain activation. In turn, $\mu$-calpain activation was important for substrate proteolysis and DNA fragmentation associated with apoptosis. Upon activation, $\mu$-calpain translocated to the nucleus where it could proteolytically cleave PARP and p53. We provided evidence that $\beta$-lapachone-induced, $\mu$-calpain stimulated, apoptosis did not involve any of the known caspases; known apoptotic caspases were not activated after $\beta$-lapachone treatment of NQO1-expressing cells, nor did caspase inhibitors have any effect on $\beta$-1apachone-induced cell death. Elucidation of processes by which $\beta$-1apachone-stimulated $\mu$-calpain activation and calpains ability to activate endonucleases and induce apoptosis independent of caspase activity will be needed to further develop/modulate $\beta$-lapachone for treatment of human cancers that over-express NQO1.