• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.15-25
• /
• 1992

In order to elucidate the properties of the background current whole cell patch clamp studies were performed in rabbit ventricular cells. Ramp pulses of ${\pm}80\;mV$ from holding potential of 40 mV(or 20 mV) at the speed of 0.8 V/sec were given every 30 sec(or 10 sec) and current-voltage diagrams(I-V curve) were obtained. For the activation of the background current isoprenaline, adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate(dBcAMP), guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate(cGMP), and $N^6$-2'-o-dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate(dBcAMP) were applied after all known current systems were blocked with 2mM Ba, 1 mM Cd ,5 mM Ni, 10 ${\mu}M$ diltiazem, 10 ${\mu}m$ ouabain, and 20 mM tetraethylammonium(TEA). The conductance of background current in control was $0.65{\pm}0.69$ nS at 0 mV, its I-V curves was almost linear and reversed near 50 mV. When there was no taurine in pipette solution, isoprenaline hardly activated the background current but when taurine existed in pipette solution, isoprenaline activated the larger background current. Cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP alone had little effect on the activation of the background current, while cGMP potentiated cGMP effect. When the background current was activated with cGMP and cAMP, isoprenaline could not further increased the background current. The background current activated by isoprenaline depended on extracellular $Cl^-$ concentration and its reversal potential was shifted according to chloride equilibrium potential. The change of extracellular $Na+$ concentration had little effect on reversal potential of the background current activated by isoprenaline.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.81-90
• /
• 2000

The types of $K^+$ channel which determine the pattern of spontaneous action potential (SAP) were investigated using whole-cell variation of patch clamp techniques under current- and voltage-clamp recording conditions in rat clonal pituitary $GH_3$ cells. Heterogeneous pattern of SAP activities was changed into more regular mode with elongation of activity duration and afterhyperpolarization by treatment of TEA (10 mM). Under this condition, exposure of the class III antiarrhythmic agent E-4031 $(5\;{\mu}M)$ to $GH_3$ cells hardly affected SAP activities. On the other hand, the main $GH_3$ stimulator thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) still produced its dual effects (transient hyperpolarization and later increase in SAP frequency) in the presence of TEA. However, addition of $BaCl_2$ (2 mM) in the presence of TEA completely blocked SAP repolarization process and produced membrane depolarization in all tested cells. This effect was observed even in TEA-untreated cells and was not mimicked by higher concentration of TEA (30 mM). Also this barium-induced membrane depolarization effect was still observed after L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel was blocked by nicardipine $(10\;{\mu}M).$ These results suggest that barium-sensitive current is important in SAP repolarization process and barium itself may have some depolarizing effect in $GH_3$ cells.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.307-312
• /
• 2009

The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are pacemaking cells required for gastrointestinal motility. The possibility of whether DA-9701, a novel prokinetic agent formulated with Pharbitis Semen and Corydalis Tuber, modulates pacemaker activities in the ICC was tested using the whole cell patch clamp technique. DA-9701 produced membrane depolarization and increased tonic inward pacemaker currents in the voltage-clamp mode. The application of flufenamic acid, a non-selective cation channel blocker, but not niflumic acid, abolished the generation of pacemaker currents induced by DA-9701. Pretreatment with a $Ca^{2+}$-free solution and thapsigargin, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor in the endoplasmic reticulum, abolished the generation of pacemaker currents. In addition, the tonic inward currents were inhibited by U-73122, an active phospholipase C inhibitor, but not by $GDP-{\beta}-S$, which permanently binds G-binding proteins. Furthermore, the protein kinase C inhibitors, chelerythrine and calphostin C, did not block the DA-9701-induced pacemaker currents. These results suggest that DA-9701 might affect gastrointestinal motility by the modulation of pacemaker activity in the ICC, and the activation is associated with the non-selective cationic channels via external $Ca^{2+}$ influx, phospholipase C activation, and $Ca^{2+}$ release from internal storage in a G protein-independent and protein kinase C-independent manner.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.275-282
• /
• 2000

Substantia nigra is known to highly express glibenclamide binding site, a protein associated to ATP-sensitive $K^{+}$ ($K_{ATP}$) channel in the brain. However, the functional expression of $K_{ATP}$ channels in the area is not yet known. In this work, we attempted to estimate the functional expression of $K_{ATP}$ channels in neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC) in young rats using slice patch clamp technique. Membrane properties and whole cell currents attributable to $K_{ATP}$ channel were examined by the current and voltage clamp method, respectively. In SNC, two sub-populations of neurons were identified. Type I (rhythmic) neurons had low frequency rebound action potentials ($4.5{\pm}0.25Hz$, n=75) with rhythmic pattern. Type II (phasic) neurons were characterized by faster firing ($22.7{\pm}3.16Hz$, n=12). Both time constants and membrane capacitance in rhythmic neurons ($34.0{\pm}1.27$ ms, $270.0{\pm}11.83$ pF) and phasic neurons ($23.7{\pm}4.16$ ms, $184{\pm}35.2$ pF) were also significantly different. The current density of $K_{ATP}$ channels was $6.1{\pm}1.47$ pA/pF (2.44~15.43 pA/pF, n=8) at rhythmic neurons of young rats. Our data show that in SNC there are two types of neurons with different electrical properties and the density of $K_{ATP}$, channel of rhythmic neuron is about 600 channels per neuron.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.25-28
• /
• 2003

Ion channel inhibitors are widely used for pharmacological discrimination between the different channel types as well as for determination of their functional role. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) could affect the large conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channel ($BK_{Ca}$) currents using perforated-patch or cell-attached configuration of patch-clamp technique in the rabbit pulmonary arterial smooth muscle. Application of 4-AP reversibly inhibited the spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs). The reversal potential and the sensitivity to charybdotoxin indicated that the STOCs were due to the activation of $BK_{Ca}$. The $BK_{Ca}$ currents were recorded in single channel resolution under the cell-attached mode of patch-clamp technique for minimal perturbation of intracellular environment. Application of 4-AP also inhibited the single $BK_{Ca}$ currents reversibly and dose-dependently. The membrane potential of rabbit pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells showed spontaneous transient hyperpolarizations (STHPs), presumably due to the STOC activities, which was also inhibited by 4-AP. These results suggest that 4-AP can inhibit $BK_{Ca}$ currentsin the intact rabbit vascular smooth muscle. The use of 4-AP as a selective voltage-dependent $K^+$ (KV) channel blocker in vascular smooth muscle, therefore, must be reevaluated.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.47-54
• /
• 2012

Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been used worldwide as a traditional medicine for the treatment of various reproductive diseases. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons are the fundamental regulators of pulsatile release of gonadotropin required for fertility. In this study, an extract of KRG (KRGE) was applied to GnRH neurons to identify the receptors activated by KRGE. The brain slice patch clamp technique in whole cell and perforated patch was used to clarify the effect of KRGE on the membrane currents and membrane potentials of GnRH neurons. Application of KRGE (3 ${\mu}g$/${\mu}L$) under whole cell patch induced remarkable inward currents (56.17${\pm}$7.45 pA, n=25) and depolarization (12.91${\pm}$3.80 mV, n=4) in GnRH neurons under high $Cl^-$ pipette solution condition. These inward currents were not only reproducible, but also concentration dependent. In addition, inward currents and depolarization induced by KRGE persisted in the presence of the voltage gated $Na^+$ channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX), suggesting that the responses by KRGE were postsynaptic events. Application of KRGE under the gramicidin perforated patch induced depolarization in the presence of TTX suggesting its physiological significance on GnRH response. Further, the KRGE-induced inward currents were partially blocked by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX; non-NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist, 10 ${\mu}M$) or picrotoxin (PIC; $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist, 50 ${\mu}M$), and almost blocked by PIC and CNQX mixture. Taken together, these results suggest that KRGE contains ingredients with possible GABA and non-NMDA glutamate receptor mimetic activity, and may play an important role in the endocrine function of reproductive physiology, via activation of $GABA_A$ and non-NMDA glutamate receptors in GnRH neurons.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.219-225
• /
• 2011

Korean red ginseng (KRG) is a valuable and important traditional medicine in East Asian countries and is currently used extensively for botanical products in the world. KRG has both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on the central nervous system (CNS) suggesting its complicated action mechanisms. The substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons of the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) are involved in orofacial nociceptive processing. Some studies reported that KRG has antinociceptive effects, but there are few reports of the functional studies of KRG on the SG neurons of the Vc. In this study, a whole cell patch clamp study was performed to examine the action mechanism of a KRG extract on the SG neurons of the Vc from juvenile mice. KRG induced short-lived and repeatable inward currents on all the SG neurons tested in the high chloride pipette solution. The KRG-induced inward currents were concentration dependent and were maintained in the presence of tetrodotoxin, a voltage gated $Na^+$ channel blocker. The KRG-induced inward currents were suppressed by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione, a non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor antagonist and/or picrotoxin, a gamma-aminobutyric acid $(GABA)_A$ receptor antagonist. However, the inward currents were not suppressed by d,l-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid, an NMDA receptor antagonist. These results show that KRG has excitatory effects on the SG neurons of the Vc via the activation of non-NMDA glutamate receptor as well as an inhibitory effect by activation of the $GABA_A$ receptor, indicating the KRG has both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on the CNS. In addition, KRG may be a potential target for modulating orofacial pain processing.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
• /
• v.4 no.6
• /
• pp.539-546
• /
• 1999

A new integrated single-stage zero current switched(ZCS) quasi resonant convertedQRC) for the IX)wer f factor correction(PFCl converter is introduced in this paper. The power factor correction can be achieved by t the discontinuous conduction mod$\varepsilon$(DCM) operation of an input current. The proposed converter has the c characteristics of the good IX)wer factor, 10씨 line current harmonics, and tight output regulation. Furthern10re, t the ringing effect due to the output capacitance of the main switch can be eliminated by use of‘ active clamp c circuit. Therefore, the proIX)sed converter is expecttc'(] to be suitable for a compact power converter with a t tightly regulated output voltage requiring a switching frequency of more than several hundrtc'(]s kHz.

• Journal of Oriental Physiology
• /
• v.14 no.2 s.20
• /
• pp.55-66
• /
• 1999

The effects of Bogi, Boyang and Onri herbs on glutamate receptor using nystatin perforated patch clamp under voltage clamp were investigated and the following results was obtained. Ginseng radix and Astragali radix were chosen as Bogi herbs. Cervi cornu and Boshniakiae herba were used as Boyang herbs. Aconiti tuber and Zingiberis rhizoma were selected as Onri herbs. 1. $10^{-6}M$ of glycine brought about the increase of the ion currents by Astragali radix. Cervi cornu. Boshniakiae herba and Aconiti tuber to a minute extent that has no experimental meaning. 2. It was assumed that Bogi herb had no effect on glutamate receptor since the ion currents of Ginseng radix and Astragali radix that are Bogi herbs had not been inhibited to a great extent by D-AP5 and CNQX. 3. Boyang herbs were seem to have meaningful relationship with non-NMDA receptor since the ion currents by Cervi cornu and Boshniakiae that are Boyang herbs were inhibited by CNQX but not inhibited to a meaningful extent by D-AP5. 4. D-AP5 had not a significant effect on the ion currents activated by Onri herbs such as Aconiti tuber and Zingiberis rhizoma. CNQX had a significant effect on the ion currents of Aconiti tuber but no effect on the ion currents of Zingiberis rhizoma. Therefore, it seemed that Aconiti tuber had a relationship with non-NMDA receptor while Zingiberis rhizoma had no relationship with glutamate receptor. In summary, Bogi, Boyang and Onri herbs had different effects through different mechanisms on glutamate receptor. Hence it was believed that. through experiments on acetylcholine receptor new classification could be made.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.108-114
• /
• 2024

Due to the continuously increasing global demand for electricity, the demand for high-voltage submarine cables is also increasing. One of the issues that need to be addressed for submarine cables is the high production cost and expensive laying costs. Submarine cables exposed to the marine environment encounter external forces such as wave and current, leading to issues such as cable damage due to external factors or high maintenance costs in the event of an accident. Therefore, we are preparing for the uncertainty of the submarine environment through many protective materials and protective equipment. In this study, we examined the bending performance of piggyback clamps (PBC) and strap, which are representative protective equipment, in response to the submarine environment through analytical methods. To examine the structural performance of PBC, the bending performance were assessed under the maximum bending moment criterion of 15 kN·m for the flexible protection tube. As a result, it was confirmed that the structural performance regarding the bending moment of both PBC and straps was ensured.