• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.277-287
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• 2002

Purpose and Methods: We investigated the effect of ginseng total saponin (GTS) on nicotine-induced dopamine (DA) release in the striatum and nucleus accumbens of freely moving rats using in vivo microdialysis technique. Results: Systemic pretreatment with GTS decreased striatal DA release induced by local infusion of nicotine into the striatum. However, GTS had no effect on the resting levels of extracellular DA in the striatum. GTS also blocked nicotine-induced DA release in the nucleus accumbens. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that GTS acts on the DA terminals to prevent DA release induced by nicotine. This may reflect the blocking effect of GTS on behavioral hyperactivity induced by psychostimulants.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 1994

Using 2 to 4 day-old postnatal rats, primary brain cell cultures were made from various brain regions (substantia nigra, hippocampus, striatum, and nucleus accumbens). Whole-cell patch clamp technique was used for electrophysiological studies. Neurons cultured from substantia nigra were characterized more in detail to test whether these cultured neurons were appropriate for physiological studies. Immunocytochemical and electrophysiological properties of these cultured neurons agreed with those from other in vivo or in vitro studies suggesting that cultured neurons maintained normal cytological and physiological conditions. Modulation of ionic channels through dopamine receptors were studied from brain areas where dopamine plays important roles on brain functions. When neurons were clamped near resting membrane potential (-74mV), R(+), R(+)-SKF 38393, a specific D$_1$receptor agonist, activated cultured striatal neurons, and dopamine itself produced biphasic responses. Responses of cultured hippocampal neurons to dopamine agonists were kinds of mirror images to those from striatal neurons; D$_1$receptor agonists inhibited hippocampal neurons but quinpirole, a D$_2$receptor agonist, activated them. Neurons cultured from nucleus accumbens were inhibited by dopamine.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.137-149
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• 2006

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Radix Scutellariae on repeated nicotine-induced locomotor activity and c-Fos expression utilizing Fos-like immuno-histochemistry method in the nucleus accumbens, and the striatum, one of the major projection areas of the control DA system. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into untreated(normal), nicotine-treated (control), Radix Scutellariae-treated(sample) groups, RS group received Radix Scutellariae(100mg/kg, i.p.) 30minutes before injection of nicotine(0.4mg/kg, s.c.) for 7days. Rat were followed withdrawal for 3 days and one challenge for 1day. Results : Systemic challenge with nicotine produced a much larger locomotor activity and expression of c-Fos in the nucleus accumbens and the striatum. Pretreatment with Radix Scutellariae decreased in nicotine-induced locomotor activity and c-Fos expression in the core, shell, straitum area. Conclusion : These results demonstrated that reduction in locomotor activity by Radix Scutellariae may be mediated by reduction of dopamine release and of postsynaptic neuronal activity in striatum, the nucleus accumbens. Out results show neurochemical evidence for the biological effects of Radix Scutellariae that ultimately may help us to understand how Radix Scutellariae can be used to treat nicotine addiction.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.319-328
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• 2004

Extrinsic connections between the cortex of the superior temporal sulcus (STS) and the ventral striatum in pigtail macaque monkeys (Macacca nemestrina) were studied by injection of retrograde tracers into the ventromedial caudate nucleus, the ventral and central shells of the nucleus accumbens (NA), the dorsal core of the NA, and the ventrolateral putamen. In the present study, we demonstrate that the projections from the unimodal (area TAa, IPa, TEa, and TEm) and the multimodal (area TPO and PGa) sensory association areas in the STS mainly terminate in the ventromedial caudate nucleus as well as in the ventral and central shells of the NA. However, there are only few projections to the dorsal core of the NA and the ventrolateral putamen from the sensory association cortex in the STS. Based on these differential neural connections between the subterritories of the ventral striatum and the sensory association areas, the ventromedial caudate nucleus and the shells of NA appear to be major integration sites for sensory input from the STS and functionally different from the dorsal core of NA and the ventrolateral putamen.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.317-325
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• 2003

Corticostriatal connections of auditory areas within the rostral and caudal portions of the superior temporal gyrus (STG) and in the supratemporal plane(STP) of pigtail macaque (Macacca nemestrina) were studied with particular emphasis on specific projections to the ventral striatum. Retrograde tracers were Injected into five different regions of the ventral striatum such as the ventromedial caudate nucleus, ventral shell, central shell, dorsal core of the nucleus accumbens (NA), and ventrolateral putamen to Identify the cells of origin. There were only few projections from the auditory areas in the STP to the ventral striatum. However, the association (or belt) areas of the STG collectively had widespread corticostriatal projections characterized by differential topographic distributions. The rostral parts of the STG strongly projected to the ventromedial caudate nucleus. The midportion of the STG also projected to the same ventral striatal regions, but the connections were relatively less extensive. Interestingly, the caudal portion of the STG had no connection to all subregions of the ventral striatum. These differential patterns of corticostriatal connectivity suggest that the ventromedial caudate nucleus would be a major auditory convergence area and mainly involved in sound recognition rather than spatial localization of sound sources.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2002

Substantial evidence suggests that behavioral and reinforcing effects of cocaine can be mediated by the mesolimbic dopaminergic system. Injections of cocaine can produce one of the immediate-early gene, c-fos expression in the brain and behavioral activation. Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely used for the treatment of many mental disorders such as drugs of abuse. In order to investigate whether acupuncture has an influence on cocaine-induced reinforcing and behavioral effects, we examined the effect of acupuncture on cocaine-induced locomotor activity and c-Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens and the striatum using Fos-like-immunoreactivity(FLI). Male SD rats received acupuncture for 1 min after injection of cocaine hydrochloride(1 mg/kg, i.v.). The employed acupuncture point, Shenmen$(HT_7)$, has been clinically used to treat mental and psychosomatic disorders. Injections of cocaine produced a marked increase in locomotor activity and FLI in the nucleus accumbens and the striatum. Acupuncture at $HT_7$, but not at control points($PC_6,\;TE_4$ or tail), significantly attenuated cocaine-induced increase in locomotor activity and Fos-like immunoreactivity. These results demonstrated that reduction in locomotor activity by acupuncture may be reflected by reduction of postsynaptic neuronal activity in the nucleus accumbens and the striatum. Our results suggest that acupuncture may have a therapeutic effect on cocaine addiction.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.767-773
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• 2004

Substantial evidence suggests that repeated injections of nicotine produce increase in locomotor activity and expression of the immediate-early gene, c-fos in the dopaminergic target areas. Herbal medicine as a therapeutic intervention has been widely used for the treatment of mental dysfunction. Many studies have shown that Cortex Phellodendris (CP) can affect the biochemical balance in the central nervous system. In order to investigate whether CP have an influence on their nicotine-induced behavioral sensitization, we examined the effect of CP on nicotine-induced locomotor activity and c-Fos expression in the striatum and nucleus accumbens utilizing the Fos-like immunohistochemistry (FLI). Male SD rats received CP (200㎎/㎏, i.p.) 30 min before repeated daily injections of nicotine (0.4㎎/㎏, s.c.) for 7 days. Rats were followed withdrawal for 3 days and one challenge for 1 day. System challenge with nicotine produced a much larger increase in locomotor activity and accumbal FLI. Pretreatment with CP significanly inhibited nicotine-induced locomotor activity and FLI in the striuatum and nucleus accumbens. These results demonstrated that reduction in locomotor activity by CP may be reflected by reduction of dopamine release and postsynaptic neuronal activity in the striatum and nucleus accumbens. Our results suggest that CP may have therapeutic effect on nicotine addiction. Supported by a fund (99-PJ9-PG1-002-0004).

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3 s.63
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• pp.1-12
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• 2005

Objectives : Substantial evidence suggests that reinforcing effects of nicotine can be mediated by the mesolimbic dopaminergic system. It has been shown that repeated injections of nicotine produce an increase in locomotor activity and expression of the immediate-early gene, c-fos, in the dopaminergic target areas. Herbal medicine as a therapeutic intervention has been widely used for the treatment of mental dysfunction. Many studies have shown that Radix Scutellariae (RS) can affect the biochemical balance in the central nervous system. Tn order to investigate whether RS has an influence on nicotine-induced behavioral sensitization, we examined the effect of RS on nicotine-induced locomotor activity and c-fos expression in the striatum and nucleus accumbens utilizing the fos-tike immunohistochemistry (FLI). Methods : Male SD rats received RS (200mg/kg, i.p.) 30min before repeated daily injections of nicotine (0.4mg/kg, s.c.) for 7 days. This was followed by withdrawal for 3 days and one challenge for 1 day. Results : System challenge with nicotine produced a much larger increase in locomotor activity and accumbal FLI. Pretreatment with RS significantly inhibited nicotine-induced locomotor activity and FLI in the striatum and nucleus accumbens. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that reduction in locomotor activity by RS may be reflected by reduction of dopamine release and postsynaptic neuronal activity in the striatum and nucleus accumbens. Our results suggest that RS may have therapeutic effect on nicotine addiction.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.1 s.34
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• pp.33-39
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• 1984

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the chracteristics in behavioral changes of chronic doses of methamphetamine on open-field activity in rats. On the other hand, the nucleus accumbens septi(NAB), one of the major areas containing mesolimbic dopaminergic terminals, has been considered to be an important site of action for dopaminergic agonists. Therefore, it also designed to investigated influence of NAB lesions. on behavioral effects of chronic-methamphetamine. Caudal and rostral areas of NAB(cr-NAB) were lesioned by applying DC of 3.0 mA for 15 sec., simultaneously. The results were as follows: 1) The rats exhibited hyperactivity after chronic administration of methamphetamine 2) The cr-NAB-lesioned rats showed a significant increase in locomotor activity only at 2 days after NAB lesions 3) Methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity was significantly decreased in the NAB-lesioned rats, and stereotyped behavior was induced instead by the drug. 4) Dopamine content of striatum was significantly decreased and serotonin content of olfactory bulb was significantly increased in NAB-lesioned rats. These results suggest that NAB plays an important role in locomotor activity and methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.540-544
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• 2003

Morphine, an analgesic with significant abuse potential, is considered addictive because of drug craving and psychological dependence. It is reported that repeated treatment of morphine can produce conditioned place preference (CPP) showing a reinforcing effect in mice. CPP is a useful method for the screening of morphine-induced psychological dependence. In the present study, we investigated the effect of the methanolic extract of Coptis japonica (MCJ) on morphine-induced CPP in mice. Furthermore, we examined c-fos expression in the parietal cortex, piriform cortex, striatum, nucleus accumbens, and hippocampus of the morphine-induced CPP mouse brain. Treatment of MCJ 100 mg/kg inhibited morphine-induced CPP. Expression of c-fos was increased in the cortex, striatum, nucleus accumbens, and hippocampus of the morphine-induced CPP mouse brain. These increases of expression were inhibited by treatment with MCJ 100 mg/kg, compared to the morphine control group. Taken together, these results suggest that MCJ inhibits morphine-induced CPP through the regulation of c-fos expression in the mouse brain.