• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2013

We investigated the effects of Ponciri Fructus (PF) and Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (AI) on the cicular and longitudinal smooth muscle of rat gastric fundus. Methanol extracts of PF (PFM) and AI (AIM), water-fractions (PFW, AIW) and chloroform-fractions (PFC, AIC) of the extracts induced relaxation in the rat fundic circular muscle pre-contracted by U46619. All extracts showed relaxation without significant differences among the extracts. In the longitudinal smooth muscle, PFM and its water fraction, PFW, showed multiphasic effects, fast relaxation and rebound contraction followed by lasting relaxation. AIM and AIW showed diphasic effects, transient contraction followed by lasting relaxation. However, PFC and AIC induced only relaxation in the rat fundic longitudinal muscle contracted by U46619. PFM showed significantly more effective relaxation compared with PFW, AIM and AIW. Hesperidin, flavonoids known as common constituent of PF and AI and it's an aglycon, hesperetin, induced relaxation in both fundic circular and longitudinal smooth muscle pre-contracted by U46619. Poncirin, known as flavonoid content of PF showed also induced relaxation in the both circular and longitudinal smooth muscle pre-contracted by U46619. These results suggest that both PF and AI has relaxing effects on the gastric fundus smooth muscle and its effects might be caused by their flavonoids constituents.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.74-83
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• 2006

Ssanghwatang (SHT) has been known to prove effective in the treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), and its modified formula is widely used in clinical practice. However, its fundamental mechanism of action is not clearly known. It is well known that endothelial cells can achieve the relaxation of vascular smooth muscles by the release of nitric oxide (NO). NO is synthesized by the enzyme NO synthase (NOS) from L-arginine and oxygen. It is widely accepted that NO plays an important role in the relaxation of corpus cavernous smooth muscle and vasculature. In addition, in terms of the penile erection, the NO/cGMP pathway is more potent than the PCE1/cAMP pathway. The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of the erectile effects of SHT by focusing on its direct effects on corpus cavernous smooth muscle cells. We investigated the NOS activity, nitrite concentration and cGMP levels in rat corpus cavernous smooth muscle cell lines activated by SHT extracts. Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of SHT extracts on penile smooth muscle relaxation following oral administration of SHT extract powder to rats by the dosage of 1 g/kg over fifteen days. As a result, we found that SHT stimulated NO release. NOS activity and cGMP levels were increased by SHT respectively. Furthermore, SHT relaxed the corpus cavernous smooth muscle. These results are consistent with the concept that penile erection by SHT is carried out through the NO/cGMP pathway. In conclusion, the present study shows that SHT increases the NOS activity, synthesizes NO and augments the cGMP, which mediates penile erection. Further determination of the SHT mechanism related with the NO/cGMP pathway strongly indicates that SHT can be used as a remedy for erectile impotence.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.471-478
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• 1994

Effects of histamine on the ruminal smooth muscle motility of cattle were investigated in the longitudinal and circular smooth muscle strips. In order to these experiments, specimens were obtained from 35 korean native cattles, 3-4 years old, in Kwang-ju area slaughterhouse. Smooth muscle strips of rumen were made from sample, and then measured the isometric contraction with physiograph in $37{^{\circ}C}$ organ bath. The results were as follows : 1. Histamine caused two different types of response(a contraction or a relaxation) on the smooth muscle of cattle rumen. These responses increased in dose dependant manner. 2. Pyrilamine($H_1$-receptor antagonist) completely blocked contraction in all the preparation and converted the response into relaxation. 3. Cimetidine($H_2$-receptor antagonist) completely blocked relaxation in all the preparation and converted the response into contraction. 4. The contraction induced by histamine($10^{-3}M$) was not Mocked by cholinergic, adrenergic blocker or hexamethonium. 5. The contraction induced by histamine($10^{-3}M$) was markedly inhibited in the $Ca^{2+}$ free(or EDTA 2Na) Kreb's solution and by verapamil.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.339-343
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• 1996

The effect of ginseng on the reactivity of penile corpus cavernosal smooth muscle strips of rabbits was investigated to support the clinical application of ginseng for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups, normal diet group (n=9) and ginseng saponin diet group (n=5). Then, each group was fed normal diet and Korean red ginseng saponin diet (50 mg/kg/day) for 10 weeks. We measured concentration dependent relaxation of corporal smooth muscle to acetylcholine (10-8 M to 10-4M) in organ chamber. The degree of relaxation was expressed as percentage of maximal relaxation obtained by papaverine (10-4M). Dose dependent relaxation of corpus cavernosal smooth muscle to acetylcholine, at the concentration of 10-8 M to 10-4M by half log increment, was 4.06$\pm$0.00, 4.30$\pm$1.30, 5.32$\pm$0.68, 11.64$\pm$1.74, 16.24$\pm$1.61, 23.33$\pm$ 2.29, 26.45$\pm$2.25, 30.43$\pm$2.40 and 33.41 $\pm$2.48 (%), respectively in normal diet group and 9. 83$\pm$4.15, 20.60$\pm$4.62, 24.1815.12, 35.75$\pm$5.71, 43.35$\pm$6.11, 51.30$\pm$6.22, 56.33$\pm$6.22, 54.30$\pm$4.17 and 51.98$\pm$3.92 (Vc), respectively in ginseng group. These data suggest that ginseng enhances ondothelium-dependent acetylcholine-induced relaxation of penile corpus cal.ernosal smooth muscle in rabbits.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.421-426
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• 2006

The effects of transmural nerve stimulation induced releasing neurotransmitters on the changes of swine uterine smooth muscle motility were examined by polygraph through isometric force transducer. The frequency dependent relaxation and rebound contraction were revealed on precontraction with histamine by transmural nerve stimulation. The rebound contraction by transmural nerve stimulation was inhibited by nonselective ${\alpha}$-adrenergic receptor antagonist, phentolamine, and the relaxation by transmural nerve stimulation was blocked by nonselective ${\beta}$-adrenergic receptor antagonist, propranolol. The relaxation induced by nonselective ${\beta}$-adrenergic receptor agonist, isoproterenol on precontraction with histamine were the dose dependent manner and this relaxation was blocked by nonselective ${\beta}$-adrenergic receptor antagonist, propranolol in isolated uterine smooth muscle of pig. These results suggest that endogenous neurotransmitters on smooth muscle relaxation was influenced by ${\beta}$-adrenergic receptor in swine.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.405-413
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• 2011

This study was designed to elucidate high-$K^+$ induced response of circular and longitudinal smooth muscle from human gastric corpus using isometric contraction. Contraction from circular and longitudinal muscle stripes of gastric corpus greater curvature and lesser curvature were compared. Circular smooth muscle from corpus greater curvature showed high $K^+$ (50 mM)-induced tonic contraction. On the contrary, however, longitudinal smooth muscle strips showed high $K^+$ (50 mM)-induced sustained relaxation. To find out the reason for the discrepancy we tested several relaxation mechanisms. Protein kinase blockers like KT5720, PKA inhibitor, and KT5823, PKG inhibitor, did not affect high $K^+$-induced relaxation. $K^+$ channel blockers like tetraethylammonium (TEA), apamin (APA), glibenclamide (Glib) and barium ($Ba^{2+}$) also had no effect. However, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) and 1H-(1,2,4) oxadiazolo (4,3-A) quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and 4-AP (4-aminopyridine), voltage-dependent $K^+$ channel (KV) blocker, inhibited high $K^+$ -induced relaxation, hence reversing to tonic contraction. High $K^+$-induced relaxation was observed in gastric corpus of human stomach, but only in the longitudinal muscles from greater curvature not lesser curvature. L-NNA, ODQ and KV channel blocker sensitive high $K^+$-induced relaxation in longitudinal muscle of higher portion of corpus was also observed. These results suggest that longitudinal smooth muscle from greater curvature of gastric corpus produced high $K^+$-induced relaxation which was activated by NO/sGC pathway and by $K_V$ channel dependent mechanism.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 1998

Nitric oxide (NO)-mediated relaxation in vascular smooth muscle involves not only activation of guanylate cyclase but also hyperpolarization of the membrane. It has been shown that depolarization decreases the [$Ca^{2+}$] sensitivity of myosin light chain kinase in arterial smooth muscle, and nitric oxide (NO)-mediated relaxation was attenuated in this situation. However, why potassium inhibits or attenuates the action of EDRF/NO is not clear. Therefore, we investigated the magnitude of relaxation and cGMP contents using measures known to release NO, such as photorelaxation, photo activated NO-mediated relaxation, and NO-donor (SNP)-mediated relaxation in porcine coronary arterial rings in which contractile conditions were made by different degree of depolarization, i.e., contraction in response to U46619 or U46619 plus KCl. In all cases, the magnitude of relaxation was significantly greater (P＜0.05) in U46619-contracted rings than in U46619+KCl-contracted ones. Although accumulation of cGMP was evident with three measures employed in the present study, no difference was found in cGMP contents between U46619 and U46619+KCl conditions, indicating that the diminished relaxation in KCl containing solution is cGMP-independent mechanism(s). To understand this further, cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ changes due to NO were compared in rat thoracic aorta by exploiting photoactivated NO using streptozotocin (STZ) that was contracted with either NE or KCl. Fura-3 $[Ca]_{cyt}$ signal caused by NO was small and transient in high $K^+$-, but large and sustained in NE-contracted aorta. The inhibitory potency of STZ expressed in terms of $IC_{50}$ was 5.14 and 3.88 ${\mu}M$ in NE and in high $K^+$, respectively. These results suggest that modification of the cellular mobilization of $Ca^{2+}$ rather than cGMP levels may be an important mechanism for the NO-mediated relaxation when vascular membrane is depolarized, such as atherosclerosis and hypertension.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.334-343
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• 2016

Background: Progressed tissue culture techniques have allowed us to easily obtain mass products of tissue-cultured mountain ginseng over 100 yr old (TCMG-100). We investigated the effects of TCMG-100 extract on erectile function using in vitro and in vivo studies. Methods: To examine the relaxation effects and mechanisms of action of TCMG-100 on rabbit cavernosal strips evaluated in an organ bath. To investigate the long-term treatment effect of TCMG-100, 8-wk administration was performed. After administration of TCMG-100, intracavernosal pressure, cyclic guanosine monophosphate and nitric oxide (NO) levels of cavernosal tissue, serum testosterone level, histological observation of collagen fiber, endothelium, smooth muscle cell, and transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ were investigated. Results: TCMG-100 extract displayed dose-dependent relaxation effects on precontracted rabbit corporal smooth muscle. The TCMG-100-induced relaxation was significantly reduced by removing the endothelium, and treatment with an NO synthase inhibitor or NO scavenger. Eight weeks of TCMG-100 administration increased intracavernosal pressure in a rat model. The levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate and NO in the corpus callosum and serum testosterone level were also increased by TCMG-100 treatment. Furthermore, histological evaluation of collagen, smooth muscle, and endothelium showed increases in endothelium and smooth muscle, and a decrease in transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ expression. Conclusion: These relaxation effects on corporal smooth muscle and increased erectile function suggest that TCMG-100 might be used as an alternative herbal medicine to improve erectile function.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.375-379
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• 2005

Objective : Papaverine has been used in treating vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage[SAH]. However, its action mechanism for cerebral vascular relaxation is not clear. Potassium channels are closely related to the contraction and relaxation of cerebral smooth muscle. Therefore, to identify the role of potassium and calcium channels in papaverine-induced vascular relaxation, we examine the effect of papaverine on potassium channels in freshly isolated smooth muscle cells from rat basilar artery. Methods : The isolation of rat basilar smooth muscle cells was performed by special techniques. The whole cell currents were recorded by whole cell patch clamp technique in freshly isolated smooth muscle cells from rat basilar artery. Papaverine was added to the bath solution. Results : Papaverine of $100{\mu}M$ into bath solution increased the amplitude of the outward $K^+$ current which was completely blocked by BKCa[large conductance calcium dependent potassium channels]blocker, IBX[iberiotoxin], and calcium chealator, BAPTA[l,2-bis[o-aminophenoxy]ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid], in whole cell mode. Conclusion : These results strongly suggest that potassium channels may play roles in papaverine-induced vascular relaxation in rat basilar artery.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.485-491
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• 2015

This study was aimed to investigate the relaxation effects of Eucomiae Cortex (EC) extract in isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle and its mechanism. To evaluate the relaxation of EC extract in rabbit corpus cavernosum, EC extract was treated in corporal strips which were precontracted with phenylephrine(PE). To study its mechanism, Nω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) was pretreated after infuse of EC extract and compared with non-treated. In calcium chloride (Ca²⁺) -free krebs solution, EC extract and Ca²⁺ 1 mM were infused by turns after Ca²⁺ 1 mM was treated into corporal strips contracted by PE. Cell ability, nitric oxide (NO) and epithelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) were measured by MTT assay, Griess reagent system and histochemical, immunohistochemical methods. EC extract showed a significant relaxation effects on the corporal strips, this effects were inhibited by pretreatment of L-NNA. EC extract inhibited the increase of contraction by Ca²⁺ influx in Ca²⁺-free krebs solution, and eNOS positive reaction in corpus cavernosum, NO production in HUVEC increased by treatment of EC extract. These result suggest that the relaxation effects of EC extract in isolated corpus cavernosum smooth muscle are involved in increase of eNOS and NO production, blocking of extracellular Ca²⁺ influx.