• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• 제35권6호
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• pp.29-34
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• 2020

Objectives : Gyejigamchoyonggolmoryeo-tang (GT, Guizhigancaolonggumulitang in Chinese) is a herbal medicine to be prescribed for insomnia caused by anxiety induced by Heart-Heat and elevated Liver-Yang. In the present study, the onset time (sleep latency) and the duration time of sleep were measured to find out the sleep inducing effects of GT. The expression of c-fos immunohistochemistry was also measured at the ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO) and tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN) site in brain. Methods : The onset time (sleep latency) and the duration time of sleep were measured 30 minutes after thiopental sodium injection. Thereafter, brain tissue was obtained and c-fos immunohistochemistry was performed on the VLPO and TMN sites. Results : GT statistically significantly reduced the sleep latency required to enter sleep, and significantly increased sleep duration time. GT significantly increased the number of c-fos immunohistochemical staining-positive cells in the sleep-inducing center (VLPO), whereas GT significantly decreased the number of c-fos immunohistochemical staining-positive cells in the arousal center (TMN). Conclusions : It could be concluded that the GT shortened the sleep latency and increased the duration time for sleep induced by thiopental sodium. And it was confirmed that the mechanism was to stimulate the sleep-inducing center (VLPO) and suppress the arousal center (TMN) in the brain. The results of this study are considered to be useful as scientific evidence that can be used clinically for the treatment of insomnia caused by anxiety.

• BMB Reports
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.148-153
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• 2009

Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) is a stable anti-oxidant or pro-oxidant, depending on the situation, and it is widely used to inhibit the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$. We recently reported that PDTC activates the MIP-2 gene in a NF-${\kappa}B$-independent and c-Jun-dependent manner in macrophage cells. In this work, we found that PDTC activates signal transduction pathways in mouse ES cells. Among the three different mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, including the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 MAP kinase, and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways, only the ERK pathway was significantly activated in mouse ES cells after stimulation with PDTC. Additionally, we observed a synergistic activation of ERK and induction of c-Fos after stimulation with PDTC in the presence of mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) conditioned medium. In contrast, another NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitor, BMS-345541, did not activate the MAP kinase pathways or induce expression of c-Fos. These results suggest that changes in the presence of the NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitor PDTC should be carefully considered when it used with mouse ES cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.97-107
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• 2002

Objective : Acupuncture is a method used to treat many kinds of pain in oriental cultural medicine. Especially when hetero-segmental area acu-points are stimulated, the therapeutic effects of pain control have more critical properties than other methods of acupuncture. However, the mechanism of pain control by acupuncture is contradictory so far. The present study examined the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) applied to the acu-point of the hetero-segmental area on modulation of formalin-induced pain in Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : In order to apply EA to acu-points in the plantar area of right forepaws, a pair of Teflon-coated stainless steel wires were implanted in HT 7 (Shin-Moon) and PC 7 (Dae-Reung) 7 days before the behavioral test. A behavioral test was performed by means of video camera after injection of 5% formalin ($50{\;}\mu\textrm{l}$) into the lateral plantar region of the left hind paw. EA was delivered by a constant DC current stimulator at 4~5 mA, 2 ms, and 10 Hz for 30 min. c-Fos protein expression was measured in the lumbar spinal cord at 2 hr and 4 hr after formalin injection. Results : Behavioral responses including favoring, flinching and biting occurred in the biphasic pattern, such as the 1st phase (0~5 min) and the 2nd phase (20~45 min) after formalin injection. However, EA (4~5 mA, 2 ms, 10 Hz) significantly inhibited the behavioral responses. Injection of formalin expressed c-Fos protein on the ipsilateral dorsal horn neurons in L3 - L5 and the expression was sustained more than 4 hrs after formalin injection. However, EA decreased c-Fos protein expression at dorsal horn neurons in the lumbar spinal cord till 4hrs after formalin injection. Conclusions : These results suggest that EA modulates formalin-induced pain and this inhibitory action may be elicited by the descending inhibitory system.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.9-21
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• 2004

The purpose of study is that we will observe the change of c-fos with the immunohistochemistry method and then we will study the effect of micro current stimulation following the frequency after inducing pain to rats with capsaicin. Rat were classified to SD and they have growed for 8 weeks. We classify to four groups, ordinal group is used in experiment I, the group which we induce pain is used in experiment II, the application group which we induce pain and then the high frequency micro current stimulation is used in experiment III, the application group which we induce pain and then the low frequency micro current stimulation is used in experiment IV, we get the following result. Compare with experiment II, experiment III, and experiment IV from acute pain modal in the immunohistochemistry experiment which has c-fos protein as an antigen, c-fos immunoreactive positive neurons significantly after induced pain for two hours(p<0.001). According to these results, from rats induced pain, micro current stimulation effect to reducing pain, but following frequency micro current stimulation theraphy isn't different from immunoreactive c-fos

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.180-189
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• 2003

The experiments were designated to evaluate the anti-nociceptive effect of low power laser stimulation on acupoint or non-acupoint using arthrogenic solution induced poly arthritis animal model. Evaluation of potential antinociceptive effect of low power laser on arthritis has employed measurements of the foot bending test, the development of either thermal or mechanical hyperalgesia following the arthritis induction. The analysis of thermal hyperalgesia includes Hargreaves's method. Randall-Sellitto test was utilized for evaluating mechanical hyperalgesia. In addition, the antinociceptive effect of low power laser stimulation on arthritis induced spinal Fos expression was analyzed using a computerized image analysis system. The results were summerized as follows: 1. In laser stimulation on acupoint treated animal, laser stimulation dramatically inhibited the development of pain in foot bending test as compared to those of non acupoint treated animal group and non treated animal group. 2. The threshold of thermal stimulation was significantly increased by low power laser stimulation on acupoint as compared to that of non treated control group. 3. Laser stimulation on acupoint dramatically attenuated the development of mechanical hyperalgesia as compared to that of non treated group. 4. Low power laser stimulation on acupoint significantly suppressed arthritis induced Fos expression in the lumbar spinal cord at 3 week post arthritis induction. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated that low power laser stimulation on acupoint has potent anti-nociceptive effect on arthritis. Additional supporting data for an antinociceptive effect of laser stimulation was obtained using Fos immunohistochemical analysis on spinal cord section. Those data indicated that laser stimulation induced antinociception was mediated by suppression of spinal neuron activity in pain sensation.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.161-174
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• 2011

Objectives : The effects of Extraction after Mixture of Bupleuri Radix and Lycii Radicis Cortex on the change of the HPA-Axis system and the Catecholamic system was investigated. Methods : After performing the Forced Swimming Test(FST), the expressions of corticotropin releasing factor(CRF), c-Fos in the paraventricular nucleus(PVN), and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) in the ventral tegmental area(VTA) and locus coeruleus(LC) were measured by immunohistochemical method. Results : The duration of immobility in FST was significantly decreased in A 100(Extraction after Mixture of Bupleuri Radix and Lycii Radicis Cortex, 100mg/kg) and A 400(Extraction after Mixture of Bupleuri Radix and Lycii Radicis Cortex, 400mg/kg)(p<0.001). The expression of CRF in the PVN was shown the tendency to reduce in A100 and A400. The expression of c-Fos in the PVN was shown the tendency to reduce in A100 and A400. The expression of TH in the VTA was shown the tendency to reduce mildly in A100 and A400. The expression of TH in the LC was significantly reduced in A400(p<0.001). And the dose dependent reduction tendency was shown, respectively. Conclusions : According to the results above mentioned, the immobility, c-Fos and CRF expression was reduced at lower dose and was increased at higher dose. Therefore there is contradictory effects on the HPA Axis system in accordance with the dose. But in the effects on the catecholaminergic system, it significantly reduced the expression of TH in the LC. It was validated that the effect on the catecholaminergic system was ruled by Bupleuri Radix rather than Lycii Radicis Cortex via mainly the noradernergic system.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.143-158
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• 2011

Objectives : Peripheral nerve injuries are commonly encountered clinical problem and often result in severe functional deficits. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of aqueous extract of Achyranthes japonica(AJ) on functional recovery in sciatic nerve after crushed sciatic nerve injury. Methods : In the present study, the animals in the AJ-treated groups received the aqueous extract of AJ at the respective doses orally for 13 consecutive days. In order to assess the effects of the aqueous extract of AJ on function recovery in crushed sciatic nerve injury, sciatic functional index(SFI) was performed. c-Fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus(PVN) and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray(vIPAG), and neurofilament, and the expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF), nerve growth factor(NGF) following crushed sciatic nerve injury in rats were investigated. For this, immunohistochemistry and western blot were performed. Results : In the present study, crushed sciatic nerve injury showed characteristic gait changes showing decrease of SFI value and treatment with the aqueous extract of AJ significantly enhanced the SFI value. Neurofilament expression in the sciatic nerve was decreased by crushed sciatic nerve injury and treatment with the AJ increased neurofilament expression. The expressions of BDNF and NGF in the sciatic nerve were increased following crushed sciatic nerve injury and treatment with the AJ significantly controlled the sciatic nerve injury-induced increment of BDNF and NGF expressions. c-Fos expressions in the PVN and vIPAG were increased following crushed sciatic nerve injury and treatment with the AJ significantly suppressed the sciatic nerve injury-induced increment of c-Fos expressions. Conclusions : These results suggest that AJ treatment after crushed sciatic nerve injury is effective in the functional recovery by enhancing axonal regeneration and suppressing of pain.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.51-56
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• 2006

We investigated the effects of fructooligosaccharides and chicory inulin on the profiles of cecal and fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and fecal bile acids in rats. Thirty-six Sprague Dawley male rats weighing about 190 g were randomly divided among four treatments; control diet, control diet +6%(w/w) fructooligosaccharide (POS), control diet +6% chicory inulin oligosaccharide(CIOS), and control diet +6% chicory inulin(CI). The rats were pair-fed and experimental diets were maintained for 5 weeks. Cecal and fecal pH was significantly decreased in rats that were fed fructooligosaccharides and chicory inulin. Cecal propionate was significantly elevated in rats fed CIOS diets, and butyrate was lower in rats fed FOS and CI than control values. Cecal lactate was significantly higher in the FOS group than in the control group. The fecal excretions of acetate and total SCFA were 200-300% higher in rats that were fed fructooligosaccharides and chicory inulin than in the control group. Lactate excretion was highest in rats that were fed FOS, followed by those fed CIOS and CI. The cholic acid and total bile acid concentrations in feces were significantly lower in the rats that were fed fructooligosaccharides and chicory inulin. The deoxycholic acid concentrations in wet feces were significantly lower in the groups of rats that ate CIOS (0.186 mM), FOS (0.274 mM), and CI (0.362 mM) than in the control group (0.595 mM). Among the fructans, short-chain fructooligosaccharide was more effective at decreasing colonic pH and lactate production, but medium-chain chicory inulin oligosaccharide was more effective at increasing fecal butyrate and lowering the fecal secondary bile acid concentration.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.275-281
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• 2015

Orthostatic hypotension is most common in elderly people, and its prevalence increases with age. Attenuation of the vestibulo-sympathetic reflex (VSR) is commonly associated with orthostatic hypotension. In this study, we investigated the role of glutamate on the vestibulo-solitary projection of the VSR pathway to clarify the pathophysiology of orthostatic hypotension. Blood pressure and expression of both pERK and c-Fos protein were evaluated in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) after microinjection of glutamate into the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) in conscious rats with sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced hypotension that received baroreceptor unloading via sinoaortic denervation (SAD). SNP-induced hypotension increased the expression of both pERK and c-Fos protein in the NTS, which was abolished by pretreatment with glutamate receptor antagonists (MK801 or CNQX) in the MVN. Microinjection of glutamate receptor agonists (NMDA or AMPA) into the MVN increased the expression of both pERK and c-Fos protein in the NTS without causing changes in blood pressure. These results indicate that both NMDA and AMPA receptors play a significant role in the vestibulo-solitary projection of the VSR pathway for maintaining blood pressure, and that glutamatergic transmission in this projection might play a key role in the pathophysiology of orthostatic hypotension.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.189-202
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• 2002

Objective : This study is designed to investigate the effects of bee venom and melittin on cell death in neuroblastoma cell line after pretreatment with NG(nerve growth inhibitory substance) Methods : It was evaluated by using MTT assay, morphological method, DNA fragmenation, flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry analysis, RT-PCR and Western blot. Results : The MTT assay demonstrated that neuroblastoma cell viability was significantly inhibited dose-dependently by treatment with bee venom and melittin after pretreatment with NG in comparison awith control. The morphological study and fow cytometry demonstrated that neuroblastoma cell showed apoptosis. DNA fragmenation showed DNA ladder below 1 Kbp. Immunocytochemistry assay demonstrated that Fos and MAPK were down-regulated. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that Fos and MAPK was down-regulated. Western blot demonstrated that Fos and MAPK were down-regulated from $1{\mu}g/ml$ bee venom in neuroblastoma cell pretreated with NG. Conclusion : These result suggests that bee venom and melittin after NG treatment have significant anti-cancer effect and further study is needed in vivo.