• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.151-155
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• 2009

The role of $Cl^-$ channels in regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in human salivary gland acinar cells was examined using a whole-cell patch clamp technique. Human tissues were obtained from healthy volunteers or from patients with oromaxillofacial tumors. During the measurements, $K^+$-free solutions were employed to eliminate contamination of whole-cell conductance by $K^+$ currents. When the cells were exposed to a 70% hypotonic solution, outward-rectifying currents, which were not observed in the resting state, were found to have significantly increased both in human labial and parotid gland acinar cells. The amplitudes of the currents were reduced in a low $Cl^-$ bath solution. Furthermore, the addition of $100{\mu}M$ 5-Nitro-2- (3-phenyl propylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB) or $100{\mu}M$ 4,4'-diisothio cyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS), known to partially block $Cl^-$ channels, significantly inhibited these currents. Its outward-rectifying current profile, shift in reversal potential in a low $Cl^-$ bath solution and pharmacological properties suggest that this is a $Ca^{2+}$-independent, volume activated $Cl^-$ current. We conclude therefore that volume activated $Cl^-$ channels play a putative role in RVD in human salivary gland acinar cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.337-342
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• 2006

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells that activate the periodic spontaneous depolarization (pacemaker potentials) responsible for the production of slow waves in gastrointestinal smooth muscle. The effects of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on the pacemaker potentials in cultured ICCs from murine small intestine were investigated by whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. Addition of VIP (50 nM-$1{\mu}M$) decreased the amplitude of pacemaker potentials and depolarized resting membrane potentials. To examine the type of receptors involved in ICC, we examined the effects of the $VIP_1$ agonist and found that it had no effect on pacemaker potentials. Pretreatment with $VIP_1$ antagonist ($1{\mu}M$) for 10 min also did not block the VIP (50 nM)-induced effects. On the other hand exposure to 1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo(4,3-A)quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, $100{\mu}M$), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, prevented VIP inhibition of pacemaker potentials. Similarly KT-5823 ($1{\mu}M$) or RP-8-CPT-cGMPS ($10{\mu}M$), inhibitors of protein kinase G (PKG) blocked the effect of VIP (50 nM) on pacemaker potentials as did N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA, $100{\mu}M$), a non-selective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor. These results imply that the inhibition of pacemaker activity by VIP depends on the NO-cGMP-PKG pathway.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.242-245
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• 2005

The most common feature of neurodegenerative disease (i.e. Alzheimer's disease, AD) is the increased number of activated microglial cells nearby the pathogenic area of the brain, such as amyloid plaque in AD. An abnormality of protein regulation and an imbalance of clearance against ${\beta}-amyloid\;(A{\beta})$ produced amyloid precursor protein (APP) can turn microglia into the activated feature out of the ramified resting phase. We examined the possibility that ginsenoside Rb1 could attenuate the microglial activation induced by massive $A{\beta}$ that has known to induce a chronic inflammation, which is a major cause of AD by damaging neuronal cells (i.e. apoptosis or necrosis). Aggregated $A{\beta}42\;(5\;{\mu}M)$ peptide was used with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) ($10\;{\mu}g$) for a comparative control up to 48hours. We found that Rb1 reduced the production of nitric oxide as well as proinflammatory cytokines, such as $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.51-58
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• 2003

The gonadal development and the gametogenic cycle and the fine structure of ripe germ cells of the cultured Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas were investigated using oysters monthly collected from the southern coast of Korea from October 2000 to September 2001. Monthly changes in the condition index were similar to that of meat weight rate and the highest value was observed in between April and May, and the lowest value in August. The external colors of the testis and the ovary were milky white and yellowish, respectively. The spawning period of the Pacific oyster was continued from May to September, with a peak in July. The gametogenic cycle could be classified into five successive stages: multiplicative stage (December to March), growing stage (March and April), mature stage (April to June), spawning stage (June to August) and resting stage (August to January). Variety of egg yolk granules, lipid granules, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticula were observed in cytoplasm of ripe oocyte. The spermatozoon consisted of the head, middle piece and tail; including cap-shaped acrosome with domed structure, elliptical shaped nucleus, four mitochondria, two centrioles and flagellum.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.30-41
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• 1988

The gonadal development, the annual reproductive cycle and the first sexual maturity of surf clam, Mactra veneriformis Reeve were studied histologically. Speciemens were monthly collected at the intertidal zone of Naechodo, Chollabuk-do, Korea, for one year from March 1986 to February 1987. Sexuality of the clam is dioecious. The gonads were located between the subregion of mid-intestinal gland in the visceral cavity and the reticular connetive tissues of the foot, The ovary is composed of a number of ovarian sacs, and the testis comprise several testiculat lobules. The undifferentiated mesenchymal tissues and eosinophilic granular cells function as nutritive cells in the early stage. The ripe eggs were about 50-60${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in diameter, and they were wurroundedby the gelatinous membranes. The spawing period was from early June to September the main spawning occurred beetween July and August when the water temperature reached above 24$^{\circ}C$. The annual reproductive cycle of this species could be classified into five successive stages: multiplicative(January to March), growing(March to May), mature(April to August), spent(June to September), degenerative and resting(September to February). The monthly changes of fatness coefficient closely correlated with the annual reproductive cycle. Percentages of the first sexual maturity of female and male clams were over 50% among those individals ranging from 2.1 To 2.5cm, and 100% in those over 2.6cm in shell length.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.351-357
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• 1994

The levels of maternal immunity enhancing factor(MIEF), which is an immunomodulatory protein identified from bovine colostrum, were determined by indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) for the colostrum and normal milk collected during the first two weeks of lactation. The mean concentration of MIEF in the colostrum of the first day of lactation was $109\;{\mu}g/ml$, and fell from the third day of lactation to $3{\sim}4\;{\mu}g/ml$. The molecular weight of the purified MIEF determined by reducing SDS-PAGE and TSK G2000SW column chromatography was 22,000 and 24,000 daltons, respectively, showing that MIEF is a monomeric peptide in its native form. To examine the capacity of MIEF to induce differentiation of B Lymphocytes, human tonsillar Iymphocytes were cultured in the presence of different concentrations of MIEF, and then antibody secreting cells were enumerated by enzyme-linked immunospot(ELISPOT) assay. When added to cultures of human tonsillar Lymphocytes, MIEF induced differentiation of resting B Iymphocyte to antibody secreting plasma cells as efficiently as LPS.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.109-114
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• 1983

Physiological conditions for hydrogen evolution by Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides K-7 are examined. Larger amount of molecular hydrogen was evolved at $30^{\circ}C$, pH6.8-7.0 under anaerobically illuminated condition of about 12, 000 lux by the organism. The heighest rates of hydrogen evolution were observed in the culture with the organic acids such as acetate, DL-lactate or DL-malate in media containing L-glutamate as a nitrogen source. Hydrogen was also evolved from glucose with the rate of $178.9\;{\mu}l/hr/mg$ cells (dry weight). When glucose was adopted a a sole carbon source, however, conside erable time lag of about 20hours was required for hydrogen evolution. The resting cells stored at $30^{\circ}C$ under argon maintained the rate of hydrogen evolution in nearly about 90% of initial one even 40 days of storation.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.327-339
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• 1991

The present paper is a histological study of neurosecretory cells in the brain and the thoracic ganglion with the gonadal development in Palaemon serrifer. The reproductive cycle includes the successive stages of the growing period (February-March), the mature period(April-May), the ripe and spent periods(June-August) and the degenerative and resting periods(September-January). The neurosecretory cells are grouped into four types based on Matsumoto(1958) : A-,A'-, B- and E-cells. A- and A'-cells are $80-90{\mu}m,\;B-cell\;is\;30-40{\mu}m$ and E-cell is $10-15{\mu}m$. A- and B-cells are the positive to CHP and AF, while B-cell is the positive only to AF. The secretory grannules of a A-cell are transported to the axon, and at the same time they are discharged through the peripheral membrane. Of the four neurosecretory cells, A- and I-cells show the difference of secretory activity according to the gonad developmental process. In the female, A-cells show secretory activity for the ripe and spent periods, while I-cells show for the mature, ripe and spent periods. In the male, A-cells show secretory activity for the mature, ripe and spent periods, while I-cells show for the growing, mature, ripe and spent periods.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2015

Germ cell development and cyclic changes in the epithelial cells of the seminal vesicle of the male rapa whelk, Rapana venosa, were investigated by cytological and histological observations. The process of germ cell development can be classified into five stages: (1) spermatogonial, (2) primary spermatocyte, (3) secodary spermatocyte, (4) spermatid, and (5) spermatozoon. In particular, four atypical cells (Type IA, IB, IIA and IIB cells) occur among normal germ cells in the acini during spermatogenesis. Presumably, the atypical cells, which have lysosome-like vacuoles or lysosome-like bodies in the cells, are involved in breakdown and absorption themselves in the acini. However, atypical cells were not found in the epithelial cells of the inner layer of the seminal vesicle. A considerable amount of spermatozoa are transported from the testis towards the the seminal vesicles until late July. The main coupulation period is between June and July. The process of the cyclical changes of the seminal vesicles can be classified into three phases: (1) resting, (2) accumulating, and (3) spent. Yellow granular bodies are involved in resorption or digestion of residual spermatozoa.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.181-185
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• 2008

The effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on pacemaker currents in cultured interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) from the mouse small intestine were investigated using the whole-cell patch clamp technique at $30^{\circ}C$. Under voltage clamping at a holding potential of -70 mV, CGRP decreased the amplitude and frequency of pacemaker currents and activated outward resting currents. These effects were blocked by intracellular $GDP{\beta}S$, a G-protein inhibitor and glibenclamide, a specific ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels blocker. During current clamping, CGRP hyperpolarized the membrane and this effect was antagonized by glibenclamide. Pretreatment with SQ-22536 (an adenylate cyclase inhibitor) or naproxen (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor) did not block the CGRP-induced effects, whereas pretreatment with ODQ (a guanylate cyclase inhibitor) or L-NAME (an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase) did. In conclusion, CGRP inhibits pacemaker currents in ICC by generating nitric oxide via G-protein activation and so activating ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels. Nitric oxide- and guanylate cyclase-dependent pathways are involved in these effects.