• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.59-65
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• 2022

Phosphorylation levels of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) negatively correlated with psychomotor stimulant-induced locomotor activity. Locomotor sensitization induced by psychomotor stimulants was previously shown to selectively accompany the decrease of GSK3β phosphorylation in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) core, suggesting that intact GSK3β activity in this region is necessary for psychomotor stimulants to produce locomotor sensitization. Similarly, GSK3β in the NAcc was also implicated in mediating the conditioned effects formed by the associations of psychomotor stimulants. However, it remains undetermined whether GSK3β plays a differential role in the two sub-regions (core and shell) of the NAcc in the expression of drug-conditioned behaviors. In the present study, we found that GSK3β phosphorylation was significantly lower in the NAcc shell obtained from rats expressing amphetamine (AMPH)-induced conditioned locomotor activity. Further, we demonstrated that these effects were normalized by treatment with lithium chloride, a GSK3β inhibitor. These results suggest that the behavior produced by AMPH itself and a conditioned behavior formed by associations with AMPH are differentially mediated by the two sub-regions of the NAcc.

• 고려인삼학회:학술대회논문집
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• 고려인삼학회 1980년도 학술대회지
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• pp.229-236
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• 1980

Tow groups of subjects were studied before, during, and after long-term use of commercial Panax ginseng preparations. Group A (n = 10) consisted of users who also used other psychomotor stimulants including caffeine, while subjects in Group B (n = 8) used no drugs other than ginseng. During 12 weeks of regular ginseng use, users in Group A showed signs of central nervous system stimulation and reported feelings of well-being. Two subjects manifested possible allergic reactions while one developed a ginseng abuse syndrome marked by hypertension, nervousness, sleeplessness, skin eruptions, edema, and morning diarrhea. This syndrome was associated with excessive dosages, concomitant intake of caffeine, and possible allergic reactions. Subjects in Group B reported stimulation and feelings of well-being while showing some signs of nervousness. One subject developed a possible contact urticarial reaction to a ginseng cosmetic. All adverse reaction were transient and disappeared when ginseng use was discontinued. It is suggested that adverse reactions can be prevented by moderate use of standardized ginseng preparations while restricting use of other psychomotor stimulants.

• 고려인삼학회:학술대회논문집
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• 고려인삼학회 1980년도 학술대회지
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• pp.223-228
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• 1980

Four monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were allowed to press a lever in their cages in order to earn access to one gram pieces of Panax ginseng root. Self-administration performance on an operant schedule (mult FR20 F11) was characterized by frequent pauses and increased intertrial interval responding. When given 23 hour unlimited access to ginseng root, as well as to food and water, all animals titrated their daily intake to approximately 1.5 g/kg. Gross behavioral changes included increases in vocalization, activity, stereotyped movements, and weight loss. These patterns of behavior are typical of those seen when monkeys self-administer psychomotor stimulants. Further studies on ginseng's reward value can be conducted using this animal model.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 2004년도 Annual Meeting of the Korean Society ofApplied Pharmacology
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• pp.18-34
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• 2004

This paper will review data obtained primarily from our preclinical investigations that show that exposure to stress has a significant impact on drug taking. Stress increases reward associated with psychomotor stimulants, possibly through a process similar to sensitization, and a growing clinical literature indicates that there is also a link between substance abuse and stress in human addicts. One explanation for the high concordance between stress-related disorders and drug addiction is the self-medication hypothesis, which suggests that a dually-diagnosed person often uses the abused substance to cope with tension associated with life stressors or to relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression resulting from a traumatic event. However, another characteristic of drug self-administration is that drug delivery and its subsequent effects on the HPA axis are under the direct control of the individual. This controlled activation of the HPA axis may result in the production of an internal state of arousal or stimulation that is actually sought by the individual (i.e., the sensation-seeking hypothesis). During abstinence, however, exposure to stressors or drug-associated cues can stimulate the HP A axis to remind the individual about the effects of the abused substance, thus producing craving and promoting relapse. Stress reduction, either alone or in combination with pharmacotherapies targeting the HPA axis may prove beneficial in reducing cravings and promoting abstinence in individuals seeking treatment for addiction. Of primary importance is to reduce the impact of cocaine-associated environmental stimuli on the HPA axis so that they no longer function as triggers for relapse.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.367-372
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• 2014

Caffeine is widely consumed and well known for stimulating the central nervous system. When developing new foods and beverages that contain caffeine, it is important to explore the potential synergistic effects of consuming amino acids and other food ingredients with caffeine on humans. Given the physiological pathways affected by the amino acid ornithine, consumption of ornithine with caffeine may have synergistic effects. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of consuming caffeine with ornithine in humans. The study used a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded crossover design. The subjects were all healthy office workers who ingested the placebo, 100 mg caffeine, or 100 mg caffeine plus 200 mg ornithine in the morning and completed questionnaires about their mood. Office workers who consumed the combination of caffeine and ornithine had higher mood ratings 8 h after consumption than office workers who consumed caffeine alone. The results of the present study suggest that there is a unique synergistic effect between caffeine and ornithine on the mood of healthy office workers and that ornithine may potentiate the effects of caffeine.