• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.8
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• pp.734-740
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• 2015

Recent studies report that a history of antidepressant use is strongly correlated with the occurrence of Parkinson' disease (PD). However, it remains unclear whether antidepressant use can be a causative factor for PD. In the present study, we examined whether tricyclic antidepressants amitriptyline and desipramine can induce dopaminergic cell damage, both in vitro and in vivo. We found that amitriptyline and desipramine induced mitochondria-mediated neurotoxicity and oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells. When injected into mice on a subchronic schedule, amitriptyline induced movement deficits in the pole test, which is known to detect nigrostriatal dysfunction. In addition, the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta was reduced in amitriptyline-injected mice. Our results suggest that amitriptyline and desipramine may induce PD-associated neurotoxicity.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.111-120
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• 1986

The influence of debrisoquine on pressor actions of norepinephrine (NE) and tyramine (TR) was investigated in rabbits. Debrisquine(D), in the doses of 1.0, 3.0 and 6.0.mu.g/kg, i.v. potentiated significantly the pressor actions of NE and TR, except the action of TR in the dose of 1.0mg/kg of debrisoquine. NE response potentiated by debrisoquine was not affected by tranylcypromine, a MAO inhabiter, or desipramine, a NE uptake blocking agent, but augmented by reserpine, a NE depleting agent, or bethanidine, a sympathetic neuronal blocking agent. NE response potentiated by tranylcypromine or desipramine was augmented by debrisoquine, while NE response potentiated by reserine or bethanidine was not affected by debrisoquine. TR response potentiated by debrisoquine was weakened by tranylcypromine, desipramine or reserpine, and not affected by bethanidine. TR response in rabbit pretreated with tranylcypromine, desipramine or reserpine was augmented by debrisoquine, but in rabbit pretreated with bethanidine was not affected by debrisoquine.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.148-156
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• 1978

An influence of bethanidine (B) onpressor effects of norepinephrine (NE) and tyramine (TR) was investigated in the whole rabbits. B, in a dose 1.0, 3.0 and 5.0 mg/kg, i.v., potentiated significantly the pressor effects of NE and TR. Reserpine and desipramine did not increase the NE effect that had been potentiated by B.B also made little modification of NE effect that had been potentiated by reserpine and desipramine. B increased the NE effect that had been potentiated by tranycypromine and guanethidine. The NE pressor effect potentiated by B was decreased by tranylcypromine, but not influenced by guanethidine. The TR pressor effect potentiated by B was not altered by reserpine and guanethidine, but decreased by desipramine and tranylcypromine. B increased the TR pressor effect that had been potentiated by guanethidine. B, when given after administration of reserpine, tranylcypromine or desipramine, exerted little influence on the TR effect. The mechanism of potentiation of NE and TR pressor effects by B seems to be similar to guanethidine, and the potency of B on the influence of NE and TR effects seems to be greater than guanethidine.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.100-105
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• 2008

The sphingolipid metabolites act as lipid mediator for cell proliferation and apoptosis in mammalian cells. In bacteria, sphingolipid metabolism remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether sphingolipid metabolism is potential target for fumonisin $B_1$($FB_1$) and desipramine in Sphingomonas chungbukensis, Gram-negative bacteria, by comparing the intracellular contents of bacterial sphingolipids with ones of HIT-T15 ${\beta}$-cells, hamster pancreatic cells. The concentrations of ceramide and dihydroceramide were 18.0 ${\pm}$ 12.0 and 0.025 ${\pm}$ 0.018 nmol/mg protein, respectively, in HIT-T15 cells. However, the concentrations of ceramide and dihydroceramide in the bacterial culture were 2.0 ${\pm}$ 1.2 and 10.6 ${\pm}$ 5.5 nmol/mg protein, respectively. $FB_1$ decreased the level of ceramide from 18.0 to 3.8 nmol/mg protein in HIT-T15 ${\beta}$-cells. However, dihydroceramide content in $FB_1$-treated HIT-T15 cells was slightly decreased compared with the control culture. When S. chungbukensis was treated with either $FB_1$ or desipramine, dihydroceramide level was increased by 5- and 4-fold, respectively, compared with the control bacteria. These results indicate that $FB_1$ and desipramine may act as an activator in bacterial sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway, and bacterial sphingolipid metabolism pathway appears to be different from the pathway of mammalian cells.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.82-91
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• 1987

The effect of neurotoxic compound 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) on the change in blood pressure and contractile response of Vas deference by centrally acting agents has been studied in normal and DOCA-salt induced hypertensive rats. The treatment of neonatal rats with 6-OHDA (2$\times$100mg, 250mg Kg$^{-1}$s.c) significantly inhibited the antihypertensive and relaxant effects of Vas deference of clonidine(100$\mu\textrm{g}$ Kg$^{-1}$iv.). The simultaneous administration of desipramine with clonidine into neonatal rats decreased the antihypertensive response of clonidine although treated did not affect the relaxative response of Vas deference. Furthermore, the antihypertensive and relaxant responses of clonidine were reduced by the neonatal rats with 6-OHDA regardless of the administration of desipramine. When neonatal rats were administered with 6-OHDA, the development of DOCA-salt hypertension was prevented. These results suggest that 6-OHDA, clonidine and desipramine hada significant effect on the development and the inhibition of central hypertension mediating the central adrenergic neuron due to their affinity to the central nervous system.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.321-329
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• 2013

Rodents exposed to a 15-min pretest swim in the forced swimming test (FST) exhibit prolonged immobility in a subsequent 5-min test swim, and antidepressant treatment before the test swim reduces immobility. At present, neuronal circuits recruited by antidepressant before the test swim remain unclear, and also less is known about whether antidepressants with different mechanisms of action could influence neural circuits differentially. To reveal the neural circuits associated with antidepressant effect in the FST, we injected desipramine or citalopram 0.5 h, 19 h, and 23 h after the pretest swim and observed changes in c-Fos expression in rats before the test swim, namely 24 h after the pretest swim. Desipramine treatment alone in the absence of pretest swim was without effect, whereas citalopram treatment alone significantly increased the number of c-Fos-like immunoreactive cells in the central nucleus of the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, where this pattern of increase appears to be maintained after the pretest swim. Both desipramine and citalopram treatment after the pretest swim significantly increased the number of c-Fos-like immunoreactive cells in the ventral lateral septum and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray before the test swim. These results suggest that citalopram may affect c-Fos expression in the central nucleus of the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis distinctively and raise the possibility that upregulation of c-Fos in the ventral lateral septum and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray before the test swim may be one of the probable common mechanisms underlying antidepressant effect in the FST.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.183-188
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• 1993

Effects of glucose on the catecholamine release from the hypothalamic fragments in vitro were studied. Basal release of catecholamines was inversely related to the concentrations $(5{\sim}30\;mM)$ of glucose in the incubation medium. Glucose did not affect the 30 mM $K{^+}-stimulated$ release of catecholamine. In the presence of tetrodotoxin $(10\;{\mu}M)$, the inhibitory effect of glucose on the basal release of catecholamines was largely persisted, but the inhibitory effect of 30 mM glucose on dopamine release was largerly blocked. In the presence of both tetrodotoxin $(10\;{\mu}M)$ and desipramine $(3\;{\mu}M)$, glucose failed to affect the basal catecholamine release. The results suggest that glucose modulates the catecholamine release through a direct action on the catecholaminergic nerve terminals, as well as through a trans-synaptical action. The glucose-modulation of the catecholamine release may explain, at least in part, the diabetes-induced changes in the hypothalamic catecholamine metabolism.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.311-318
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• 2005

Oxidative stress has been reported to elevate ceramide level during cell death. The purpose of the present study was to modulate cell death in relation to cellular glutathione (GSH) level and GST (glutathione S-transferase) expression by regulating the sphingolipid metabolism. LLC­PK1 cells were treated with H$_2$O$_2$ in the absence of serum to induce cell death. Subsequent to exposure to H$_2$O$_2$, LLC-PK1 cells were treated with desipramine, sphingomyelinase inhibitor, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), GSH substrate. Based on comparative visual observation with H202-treated control cells, it was observed that 0.5 $\mu$M of desipramine and 25 $\mu$M of NAC exhibited about 90 and $95\%$ of cytoprotection, respectively, against H$_2$O$_2$-induced cell death. Desipramine and NAC lowered the release of LDH activity by 36 and $3\%$ respectively, when compared to $71\%$ in H$_2$O$_2$-exposed cells. Cellular glutathione level in 500 $\mu$M H202-treated cells was reduced to 890 pmol as compared to control level of 1198 pmol per mg protein. GST P1-1 expression was decreased in H$_2$O$_2$-treated cells compared to healthy normal cells. In conclusion, it has been inferred that H$_2$O$_2$-induced cell death is closely related to cellular GSH level and GST P1-1 expression in LLC-PK1 cells and occurs via ceramide elevation by sphingomyelinase activation.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.53-67
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• 1991

The characteristics and differences between DMPP and McN-A-343 on the secretory effect of catecholamines(CA) were studied in the isolated perfused rat adrenal glands. DMPP(100 uM) and McN-A-343(100 uM) perfused into an adrenal vein of the gland casued significant increases in CA secretion. On molar basis the secretory effect of McN-A-343 was about one fifth as potent as that of DMPP. Tachyphylaxis to releasing effects of CA evoked by DMPP and McN-A-343 was not observed by repeated perfusion of these agents. The DMPP-evoked CA secretion was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with chlorisondamine, desipramine and profusion of $Ca^{2+}-free$ Krebs solution containing EGTA, while it was not affected by pirenzepine, ouabain and physostigmine. However, pretreatment with atropine rather enhanced CA release by DMPP. The releasing effect of CA induced by McN-A-343 was markedly depressed by pretreatment with atropine, pirenzepine, chlorisondamine, physostigmine, and perfusion of $Ca^{2+}-free$ medium plus EGTA but was not influenced by desipramine, except for the case of ouabain which clearly potentiated CA release by McN-A-343. These experimental results suggest that both DMPP and McN-A-343 cause greatly secretion of CA from the isolated perfused rat adrenal glands by a calcium-dependent exocytotic mechanism. The secretory effect of DMPP is due to the stimulation of cholinergic nicotinic receptors and the secretion by McN-A-343 via activation of selecive $M_{1}-muscarinic$ receptors in the adrenal gland. It is also thought that the DMPP-evoked secretory effect is much greater than McN-A-343-induced effect.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 1969

After administration of tetrabenazine (TBZ) 40 mg/kg), the pressor and cardioaccelerator responses of rabbits (whole anesthetized and spinal) to norepinephrine and tyramine were studied. The maxmal potentiation of the pressor activity of norepinephrine developed about 10 hours after TBZ administration. At this time the preesor response to tyramine was not decreased. The cardioaccelerator responses to both amines were not significantly altered. The TBZ-induced supersensitivity to norepinephrine was not increased by additional intravenous reserpine, but it was further increased by giving desipramine. Carbachol, given 2 and 6 hours after TBZ administration, inhibited the development of supersensitivity to norepinephrine by TBZ. The TBZ-induced supersensitivity was discussed in relation to reserpine-induced supersensitivity.