• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.243-254
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• 1994

Inflammatory diseases, allergic and asthmatic disorders are caused by the mediator release from the activation of the phospholipase C (PLC), phospholipase D (PLD), methyltransferase or adenylate cyclase etc. during IgG or IgE cross-linking of high affinity receptors on mast cells or basophil surface. One important enzyme activated after IgG or IgE receptor cross-linking is PLD, the enzyme which converts phosphatidylcholine (PC) to phosphatidic acid (PA). Under the hypothesis that these may be some differences in mediator release according to the difference in PLD activity, we attempted to confirm the ginseng saponin effects on the PLD activity. We examined the PLD activity during the passively sensitized mast cell activation in the presence of single component of ginsenosides $(Rc,\;Rg_1,\;Rg_2,\;Rg_3)$. We also measured the amount of mediators (histamine and leukotrienes) released by stimulating with ovalbumin (OA) or calcium ionophore (CaI), Guinea Pig lung mast cells were purified using enzyme digestion, count current elutriation, and discontinuous Percoll density gradient. In purified mast cells prelabeled with $[^3H]$ arachidonic acid or $[^3H]$ palmitic acid, PLD activity was assessed more directly by the production of labeled PEt by PLD-mediated transphosphatidylation in the presence of ethanol. Histanine release was determined by Spectrophotofluorometry, and leukotrienes by radioimmunoassay. The PLD activity during the passively sensitized mast cell activation is increased up to $3{\sim}5times$. The PLD activity during the passively sensitized mast cell activation in the presence of all ginsenosides is decreased up to $4{\sim}11$ times. $Rg_l\;and\;Rg_2$ ginsenoside pretreatment decreased histamine and leukotrienes by 50% in the OA-induced or by 40% in the Cal-induced mast cell after passively sensitization. Rc pretreatment poorly decreased histamine but leukotrienes decreased by 70% in the OA-induced or by 35% in the Cal-induced mast cell. $Rg_3$ ginsenoside pretreatment increased histamine release without challenging OA or Cal but leukotrienes decreased. These observations indicate that single unit of ginsenosldes may be an important contributor to inhibit the release of histamine and leukotrienes in the guinea pig lung mast cells, that inhibits the PLD-mediated formation of DAG evoked by mast cell activation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2003

The effects of anti-allergic drugs on intestinal mastocytosis and the expulsion of Neodiplostomum seoulense were observed in Sprague-Dawley rats, after oral infection with 500 metacercariae. The drugs used were hydroxyzine (a histamine receptor H$_1$ blocker), cimetidine (a H$_2$ blocker), cyclosporin-A (a helper T-cell suppressant), and prednisolone (a T- and B-cell suppressant). Infected, but untreated controls, and uninfected controls, were prepared. Worm recovery rate and intestinal mastocytosis were measured on weeks 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 post-infection. Compared with the infected controls, worm expulsion was significantly (P < 0.05) delayed in hydroxyzine- and cimetidine-treated rats, despite mastocytosis being equally marked in the duodenum of all three groups. In the cyclosporin-A- and prednisolone-treated groups, mastocytosis was suppressed, but worm expulsion was only slightly delayed, without statistical significance. Our results suggest that binding of histamine to its receptors on intestinal smooth muscles is more important in terms of the expulsion of N. seoulense from rats than the levels of histamine alone, or mastocytosis.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 1990

5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was reported to elicit natriuresis and diuresis when given intracerebroventricularly (icv) and these effects were shown to be abolished by icv methysergide, $5-HT{_1}$ antagonist, thus suggesting that central tryptaminergic system may also participate in the regulation of renal function. We tried in this study to elucidate the role of $5-HT_2$ receptors in the central tryptaminergic regulation of renal function, observing the effects of icv ketanserin, a specific $5-HT_2$ antagonist. Ketanserin (KET) icv in doses of $120{\mu}g$ $(=0.3\;{\mu}moles)/kg$ produced significant natriuresis without affecting renal hemodynamics, indicating that it resulted from decreased tubular Na reabsorption. Systemic blood pressure decreased slightly but significantly. When given iv, no significant effect was observed. 5-HT, $200{\mu}g/kg$ icv, produced mild but significant natriuresis and diuresis. However, after KET, $40{\mu}\;g/kg$ icv, a dose which minimally affects renal function, the natriuresis and diuresis by 5-HT was greatly augmented, with the fractional excretion of filtered sodium reaching 9.3%. The renal effects of other biogenic amines administered icv, such as norepinephrine, dopamine and histamine, were not significantly affected by the KET pretreatment. These observations suggest that central tryptaminergic system influences renal function in dual ways, i.e., natriuretic and diuretic influence via $5-HT_1$ receptors, whereas $5-HT_2$ subtypes mediate the antinatriuretic and antidiuretic effects, and that the central tryptaminergic system plays a role in the regulation of rabbit renal function.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.161-170
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• 1990

The effects of $H^{+}$ on the arterial contraction and their mechanisms were investigated in the renal artery of a rabbit. The helical strips of isolated renal artery were immersed in the HEPES-buffered or $CO_{2}/HCO_{3}^{-}$-buffered Tyrode's solution. The contractions induced by agonists (norepinephrine, histamine, serotonin and angiotensin II) or high $K^{+}$ were observed with change of extracellular or intracellular $H^{+}$ concentration. The contractions induced by norepinephrine, histamine, serotonin, angiotensin II or high $K^{+}$ in HEPES-buffered Tyrode's solution were inhibited by increase in extracellular $H^{+}$ concentration and potentiated by decrease in extracellular $H^{+}$ concentration. The degrees of these effects were most evident in the contraction induced by serotonin and angiotensin II, moderate in those by histamine and high $K^{+}$, and least in those by norepinephrine. Maximal contraction by norepinephrine, histamine and high $K^{+}$ were not influenced by change in extracellular $H^{+}$ concentration, but influenced in those contration by serotonin and angiotensin II. The attenuated contractions by an acidic pH were not returned to the level of contraction at normal pH (7.4) by elevation of extracellular $Ca{2+}$ concentration. The agonists (norepinephrine, histamine and serotonin)-induced contractions in $Ca{2+}$-free Tyrode's solution were also attenuated by increase in extracellular $H^{+}$ concentration and potentiated by decrease in extracellular $H^{+}$ concentration. Elevation of $Pco_{2}$ in the $CO_{2}/HCO_{3}^{-}$-buffered Tyrode's solution, which increase the intracellular $H^{+}$ concentration, at constant extracellular pH (7.4), increased the contraction by 30 mM $K^{+}$. From the above results, it is suggested that the decrease in contractions by increase in extracellular $H^{+}$ concentration may be resulted from that $H^{+}$ make the receptors less sensitive to agonists and cell membrane hyperpolarize and then inhibit the $Ca{2+}$ influx as well as $Ca{2+}$ release from intracellular $Ca{2+}$ storage site.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.642-651
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• 1999

Nonsedating antihistamines do net cause sedation in therapeutic doses because these drugs hardly cross the blood-brain barrier. Since most of the peripheral side dffects of conventional antihistamines are related to their muscarinic receptor blocking action, the present study was performed to investigate whether nonsedating antihistamines interact with the muscarinic receptors and discriminate the muscarinic receptor subtypes in the rat cerebral microsomal fraction which containes both $M_1,{\;}M_2,{\;}M_3{\;}and{\;}M_4$ receptors. Five nonsedating antihistamines at high concentrations inhibited [$^3H$]QNB binding to the muscarinic receptor in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition curves of these drugs except loratadine which showed positive cooperativity (nH=1.55) were steep (nH=1), indicating interaction with a single homogenous population of the binding sites. Astemizole, clemizole and mequitazine increased the $K_D$ value for [$^3H$]QNB without affecting the binding site concentrations, and this increase in the $K_D$ value resulted from the ability of these drugs to slow [$^3H$]QNB-receptor association. The Ki values of astemizole, clemizole and mequitazine for the inhibition for the inhibition of [$^3H$]QNB binding to muscarinic receptor were 0.58, 5.99 and $0.007{\;}{\mu}M$, respectively. However, loratadine and terfenadine inhibited noncompetitively [$^3H$]QNB binding with the normalized $IC_50$ value of about $2{\;}{\mu}M$. These results demonstrate that; 1) astemizole, clemizole and mequitazine interact directly with the muscarinic receptor at high concentrations; 2) muscarinic receptor blocking potency of these drugs varies widely among drugs; 3) these drugs do not discriminate between muscarinic receptor subtypes.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.9
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• pp.474-487
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• 2016

Itch is one of the most distressing sensations that substantially impair quality of life. It is a cardinal symptom of many skin diseases and is also caused by a variety of systemic disorders. Unfortunately, currently available itch medications are ineffective in many chronic itch conditions, and they often cause undesirable side effects. To develop novel therapeutic strategies, it is essential to identify primary afferent neurons that selectively respond to itch mediators as well as the central nervous system components that process the sensation of itch and initiate behavioral responses. This review summarizes recent progress in the study of itch, focusing on itch-selective receptors, signaling molecules, neuronal pathways from the primary sensory neurons to the brain, and potential decoding mechanisms based on which itch is distinguished from pain.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 1994

Berberine $(10^{-7}-10^5M)$ increased the contractility dose-dependently in isolated rabbit ileal and jejunal segments. Atropine and hemicholinium abolished this response but not mecamylamine. Berberine$(10^{-8}-10^5M)$ enhanced the transmurally-stimulated(80 V, 0.5 ms, 0.05 Hz) twitch response in the isolated guinea-pig ileal segments. Atropine and hemicholinium also abolished this response but not mecamylamine. Effect of KCI, carbachol and histamine were not affected by pretreatment with berberine$(10^{-5}M)$. The results of our study suggest that berberine increases the intestinal contractility by increasing a small amount of acetylcholine release from the postganglionic parasympathetic nerve terminal but not by a direct activation of muscarinic receptors.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.145-151
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• 2002

Medical concept of the skin disease is a symptom like itchs. It outbreakes by immunologic and nonimmunologic mechanisms. The most common case is hypersensitive reaction intermediated by IgE. Other case of immunologic mechanism includes activation of the complement system. Autoimmune antibodies for histamine-secreting mast cell IgE receptors are found in some patients suffer from chronic skin paroxysm. Most common causes of acute skin paroxysm are foods, viruses, parasite infections and drugs. Causes of chronic skin paroxysm are undiscovered. Air pollution, simplification of eating habits, habitual eating of convenience food; drug abuse in present days made skin disease more common. Now many methods of acupunctural treatments are being used clinically. So this report presents some views about acupunctural treatments for the Skin disease.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 1999

The pharmacological actions of ambrein were investigated alone or in combination as a pretreatment with agonists (adrenaline, noradrenaline, acetylcholine, histamine, nicotine), antagonists (atropine, atenolol) and calcium channel blocker (verapamil) in vivo in anaesthetized SWR rats using blood pressure, heart rate and myocardial contractility as parameters. Ambrein in the dose range of 50-200 mg/kg to the normotensive anaesthetized rats demonstrated negative chronotropic effect and increased the myocardial contractility significantly. At the mid dose (100 mg/kg) this increase in contractile force was 36% and 44% above the normal at 30 min and 60 min intervals post-treatment, respectively. Both of the lower and high doses (50 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) had similar effects. Furthermore, this contractile response was dose related. Also, this compound produced a considerable increase in myocardial contractility when used as a pretreatment with some agonists and antagonists. The results on blood pressure did not show a considerable change when ambrein was used alone. However, ambrein pretreatment at the dose of 100 mg/kg did not block the effects of adrenaline, noradrenaline, isoprenaline and acetylcholine on heart rate and blood pressure. On the other hand, this pretreatment attenuated the sympathoadrenal effects of nicotine significantly. Chronotropic and blood pressure changes produced by histamine were also inhibited by ambrein pretreatment. This pretreatment significantly reversed the effects of atenolol but failed to demonstrate any change in the negative chronotropic, inotropic and hypotensive responses induced by verapamil. It is concluded that ambrein induced nonselective dose dependent antagonism of the effects of some agonists and antagonists require contribution of some neuromediators. However, the positive isotropic effects of ambrein possibly involve the enhancement of slow Ca channels and/or activation of ${\beta}-adrenergic$ receptors in the heart. At this moment it is difficult to explain the exact mode of action of ambrein and the studies dealing with Ca channel blocker and adrenergic blocker followed by ambrein may help to define the factors which contribute to its positive inotropic effects.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.291-299
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• 2000

Magnesium ($Mg^{2+}$) transport across the plasma membrane of cardiac myocytes appears to be under hormonal control. Repeated stimulations with adrenergic or histaminergic agonist produced a progressive decrease in $Mg^{2+}$ efflux from hearts. Thus we hypothesized that the $Mg^{2+}$ efflux may be resulted from a down-regulation of receptors or from a depletion of $Mg^{2+}$ from intracellular pool(s) in the hearts. In the present study, the regulation of $Mg^{2+}$ homeostasis by receptor stimulation was studied in perfused rat and guinea pig hearts. The successive short addition of norepinephrine (NE) to rat and guinea pig, and of histamine (HT) to perfused guinea pig hearts induced a progressive decrease in $Mg^{2+}$ efflux. These $Mg^{2+}$ effluxes were blocked by propranolol or ranitidine, respectively. These decrease in $Mg^{2+}$ efflux were inhibited by sodium cyanide (NaCN), which increases intracellular $Mg^{2+}$ ($[Mg^{2+}]_i$) levels. When NE (or HT) was added after HT (or NE), this efflux was also decreased in the guinea pig hearts. In the rat hearts and myocytes, HT did not stimulate $Mg^{2+}$ efflux. But NE produced a large $Mg^{2+}$ efflux after stimulation with HT. 8-(4-Chlorophenylthio)-adenosine cAMP (cAMP), like NE and HT, also induced a progressive decrease in $Mg^{2+}$ efflux in guinea pig hearts. This effect was inhibited by NaCN. These data provide evidence that the progressive decrease in receptor-stimulated $Mg^{2+}$ efflux is considered to be due to a decrease in $[Mg^{2+}]_i$ levels rather than receptor down-regulation.