• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.158-165
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• 2007

Technological advances in molecular imaging made it possible to image synaptic neurotransmitter concentration in living human brain. The dopaminergic system has been most intensively studied because of its importance in neurological as well as psychiatric disorders. This paper provides a brief overview of recent progress in imaging studies of dopamine release induced by pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic stimulations.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.1
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• pp.72-74
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• 2003

Excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptor, particularly NMDA receptor, are now known to be one of major transmitter receptors involved in synaptic excitation. Excessive release of EAA neurotransmitter, glutamate, is an important causative factor in the neurodegenerative processes and can cause neuronal damage and cell death. This excitotoxicity has been shown to be $Ca^{++}$ dependent. (omitted)

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 1996년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.179-179
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• 1996

The involvement of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) effector system in the release of endogenous dopamine and acetylcholine from the rat neostriatum was assessed. Forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, was used to enhance CAMP production, and the consequence of this enhancement on the spontaneous and potassium stimulated release of dopamine and acetylcholine was evaluated. Neostriatal slices were prepared from Fischer 344 rats and after a preincubation period the release of each endogenous neurotransmitter was measured from the same slice preparation. To measure acetylcholine release the slice acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was inhibited with physostigmine, but the release from slices with intact AChE activity was also determined (choline, instead of acetylcholine was detected in the medium). Under both conditions forskolin induced a significant dose-dependent increase in the potassium-evoked release of dopamine. In the same tissue preparations the release of neither acetylcholine (AChE inhibited) nor choline (AChE intact) was affected by forskolin. The results indicate that the cAMP second messenger system is involved ill neuronal mechanisms that enhance neuronal dopamine release, but stimulation of this second messenger by forskolin does not further enhance neostriatal acetylcholine release.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제7권6호
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• pp.295-301
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• 2003

Striatum plays a crucial role in the movement control and habitual learning. It receives an information from wide area of cerebral cortex as well as an extensive serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) input from raphe nuclei. In the present study, the effects of 5-HT to modulate synaptic transmission were studied in the rat corticostriatal brain slice using in vitro extracellular recording technique. Synaptic responses were evoked by stimulation of cortical glutamatergic inputs on the corpus callosum and recorded in the dorsal striatum. 5-HT reversibly inhibited coticostriatal glutamatergic synaptic transmission in a dose-dependent fashion (5, 10, 50, and $10{\mu}M$), maximally reducing in the corticostriatal population spike (PS) amplitude to $40.1{\pm}5.0$% at a concentration of $50{\mu}M$ 5-HT. PSs mediated by non-NMDA glutamate receptors, which were isolated by bath application of the NMDA receptor antagonist, d,l-2-amino-5-phospohonovaleric acid (AP-V), were decreased by application of $50{\mu}M$ 5-HT. However, PSs mediated by NMDA receptors, that were activated by application of zero $Mg^{2+}$ aCSF, were not significantly affected by $50{\mu}M$ 5-HT. To test whether the corticostriatal synaptic inhibitions by 5-HT might involve a change in the probability of neurotransmitter release from presynaptic nerve terminals, we measured the paired-pulse ratio (PPR) evoked by 2 identical pulses (50 ms interpulse interval), and found that PPR was increased ($33.4{\pm}5.2$%) by 5-HT, reflecting decreased neurotransmitter releasing probability. These results suggest that 5-HT may decrease neurotransmitter release probability of glutamatergic corticostriatal synapse and may be able to selectively decrease non-NMDA glutamate receptor-mediated synaptic transmission.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.7-19
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• 2008

Complexins play a critical role in the control of fast synchronous neurotransmitter release. They operate by binding to trimeric SNARE complexes consisting of the vesicle protein Synaptobrevin and the plasma membrane proteins Syntaxin and SNAP-25, which are key executors of membrane fusion reactions. SNARE complex binding by Complexins is thought to stabilize and clamp the SNARE complex in a highly fusogenic state, thereby providing a pool of readily releasable synaptic vesicles that can be released quickly and synchronously in response to an action potential and the concomitant increase in intra-synaptic $Ca^{2+}$ levels. Genetic elimination of Complexins from mammalian neurons causes a strong reduction in evoked neurotransmitter release, and altered Complexin expression levels with consequent deficits in synaptic transmission were suggested to contribute to the etiology or pathogenesis of schizophrenia, Huntington's disease, depression, bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injury, Wernicke's encephalopathy, and fetal alcohol syndrome. In the present review I provide a summary of available data on the role of altered Complexin expression in brain diseases. On aggregate, the available information indicates that altered Complexin expression levels are unlikely to have a causal role in the etiology of the disorders that they have been implicated in, but that they may contribute to the corresponding symptoms.

• 한국동물학회:뉴스레터
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.12-20
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• 2001

2000년도 노벨 의학상은 스웨덴의 아비스 칼슨 박사 등 3명 이 수상했다. 그들은 신경전달 물질(neurotransmitter) 중 도파민 (dopamine)과 시냅스(synapse)에 관한 연구로 항 우울제 치료제인 프로작 (prozac)을 개발하여 신경, 정신질환 치료제 개발에 기여한 공로였다. 도파민과 GABA는 신경전달 물질 중의 하나로 도파민은 운동, 정서, 행동, 희노애락 등을 조절하는 것으로 이상 분비될 때 파킨스씨병, 정신분열증, 우울증 등을 유발시킨다. GABA는 억제성 신경전달물질로 이상 분비시 간질 등을 유발시킨다. 도파민과 GABA의 분비는 시냅스 후(postsynapse) 수용체에서 그 기능이 조절된다. 그러나 마약성인 코카인, 헤로인, 몰핀, 암페타민 등 중 독성약물뿐만 아니라 일상 생활에서 흔히 접할 수 있는 흡연, 술 등에 의해서도 그 분비 이상을 초래한다. 따라서 본 논단에서는 최근 뇌신경생물 실험실에서 진행되고 있는 신경전달 물질 중에 도파민 및 GABA 분비에 대 한 연구결과를 바탕으로 소개 하고자 한다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제26권5호
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• pp.307-312
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• 2022

It is well known that dopamine transmission from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) modulates motivated behavior and reinforcement learning. Although dopaminergic neurons are the major type of VTA neurons, recent studies show that a significant proportion of the VTA contains GABAergic and type 2 vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT2)-positive neurons. The non-dopaminergic neurons are also critically involved in regulating motivated behaviors. Some VTA neurons appear to co-release two different types of neurotransmitters. They are VGLUT2-DA neurons, VGLUT2-GABA neurons and GABA-DA neurons. These co-releasing neurons show distinct features compared to the neurons that release a single neurotransmitter. Here, we review how VTA cell populations wire to the other brain regions and how these projections differentially contribute to motivated behavior through the distinct molecular mechanism. We summarize the activities, projections and functions of VTA neurons concerning motivated behavior. This review article discriminates VTA cell populations related to the motivated behavior based on the neurotransmitters they release and extends the classical view of the dopamine-mediated reward system.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.30-35
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• 2006

Munc18, a mammalian homolog of C. elegans Unc, is essential for neurotransmitter release. The aim of this study was to identify estrogen-dependent expression of Munc18-1 and its role in the regulation of glutamate release for puberty onset. Hypothalamic munc18-1 mRNA levels were significantly increased by estrogen treatment in ovariectomized, immature female rats. During pubertal development, the munc18-1 mRNA levels dramatically increased between the juvenile period and the anestrous phase of puberty. Intracerebroventricular administration of an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide against munc18-1 mRNA significantly decreased glutamate release and delayed the day of puberty onset. These results suggest that Munc18-1, expressed in an estrogen-dependent manner, plays an important role in the onset of female puberty via the regulation of glutamate release.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.315-322
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• 2006

신경세포 간 정보교환이 이루어지고 있는 신경전달물질의 방출과정은 극히 복잡하여, 이 방면의 독창적인 연구를 수행하기 위해서는 신규작용을 갖는 특이적인 저분자 probe의 탐색은 필수적이다. PC12세포에 tritium-label된 norepinephrine ($[^3H]-NE$)을 incorporation시킨 후에 60 mM의 고농도의 $K^+$의 자극에 의해서 탈분극 후에 방출되는 $[^3H]-NE$의 양을 scintillation countering하여 생리 활성 물질을 탐색하기 위한 in vitro의 실험계를 세웠다. 이 탐색계를 이용하여 곰팡이, 방선균와 박테리아의 대사산물 1만 1000여 샘플을 탐색한 결과, PC12세포에서 고농도의 $K^+$의 자극에 의해서 탈분극 후에 유도되는 $[^3H]-NE$의 방출을 효과적으로 저해하는 FS11052를 방선균 유래의 대사산물로부터 얻었다. FS11052는 또한 PC12세포와 rat cortical neurons에서 동일한 고농도의 $K^+$의 자극에 의한 탈분극 후에 유도되는 신경전달 물질로서 ATP의 방출에도 유의한 저해효과를 나타냈으며, 이 저해 효과는 ionopore로 알려진 ionomycin ($1{\mu}M$)을 포함하는 저농도의 $K^+$의 버퍼를 처리하였을 때에도 보여졌다. 이틀 결과로부터 FS11052의 신경전달 물질의 방출에 대한 저해작용은 세포내 $Ca^{2+}$ 유입 이 후의 반응으로 추정하며 이 작용기구에 대한 해석을 하기위하여, 신경세포의 돌기신장 형태에 대한 영향을 관찰한 결과, 분화를 유도하는 적정 농도인 $5{\mu}g/ml$의 NGF 존재 하에서의 PC12 세포의 돌기 신장에 대하여서는 억제작용을 나타냈다. 또 rat의 대뇌 해마 세포에 대하여 특정적인 형태의 돌기를 내고 있어, FS11052 물질의 첨가에 의해 통상의 긴 축색돌기는 억제되고 얇은 침상의 돌기가 세포체로부터 돌출되어 있었으며, growth cone 를 갖고 있지 않은 뉴우런이 많이 관찰되었다. FS11052 물질의 작용에 관해서는, 탈분극된 synaptic membrane이 $Ca^{2+}$ 이온을 유입 후 활성화되어 신경전달물질을 방출에 중요한 역할을 하고 있는 synaptotagmin, syntaxin, synapsin, SNAP25 등의 synaptosome을 구성하는 단백질에 직접 혹은 이와 밀접한 관련을 갖고 있는 인자와 간접적으로 작용하며, 신경전달물질의 방출을 억제하여 growth cone의 전향과 신경세포의 가소성을 조절하는 물질로 사료되어, 이 물질이 $Ca^{2+}$ 이온을 유입 후 일어나는 exocytosis와 신경계의 기능연구를 위해 사용되어질 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권11호
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• pp.936-940
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• 2015

Synapsins were the first presynaptic proteins identified and have served as the flagship of the presynaptic protein field. Here we review recent studies demonstrating that different members of the synapsin family play different roles at presynaptic terminals employing different types of synaptic vesicles. The structural underpinnings for these functions are just beginning to be understood and should provide a focus for future efforts.