• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2016

Sleep, which is an essential part of human life, is modulated by neurotransmitter systems, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopamine signaling. However, the mechanisms that initiate and maintain sleep remain obscure. In this study, we investigated the relationship between melatonin (MT) and dopamine D2-like receptor signaling in pentobarbital-induced sleep and the intracellular mechanisms of sleep maintenance in the cerebral cortex. In mice, pentobarbital-induced sleep was augmented by intraperitoneal administration of 30 mg/kg MT. To investigate the relationship between MT and D2-like receptors, we administered quinpirole, a D2-like receptor agonist, to MT- and pentobarbital-treated mice. Quinpirole (1 mg/kg, i.p.) increased the duration of MT-augmented sleep in mice. In addition, locomotor activity analysis showed that neither MT nor quinpirole produced sedative effects when administered alone. In order to understand the mechanisms underlying quinpirole-augmented sleep, we measured protein levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and cortical protein kinases related to MT signaling. Treatment with quinpirole or MT activated extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), p38 MAPK, and protein kinase C (PKC) in the cerebral cortex, while protein kinase A (PKA) activation was not altered significantly. Taken together, our results show that quinpirole increases the duration of MT-augmented sleep through ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and PKC signaling. These findings suggest that modulation of D2-like receptors might enhance the effect of MT on sleep.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.455-461
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• 2007

Objective : It was hypothesized that dopamine agonist administration and subthalamic nucleus (STN) lesion in the rat might have a synergistic effect on the neuronal activities of substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNpr) as observed in patients with Parkinson's disease. The effects of SKF38393 (a $D_1$ receptor agonist) and Quinpirole (a $D_2$ receptor agonist) were compared in parkinsonian rat models with 6- hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) after STN lesion. Methods : SKF38393 and Quinpirole were consecutively injected intrastriatally. SNpr was microrecorded to ascertain the activity of the basal ganglia output structure. The effect of SKF38393 or Quinpirole injection on the firing rate and firing patterns of SNpr was investigated in medial forebrain bundle (MFB) lesioned rats and in MFB+STN lesioned rats. Results : The administration of SKF38393 decreased SNpr neuronal firing rates and the percentage of burst neurons in the MFB lesioned rats, but did not alter them in MFB+STN lesioned rats. The administration of Quinpirole significantly decreased the spontaneous firing rate in the MFB lesioned rats. However, after an additional STN lesion, it increased the percentage of burst neurons. Conclusion : This study demonstrated that dopamine agonists and STN lesion decreased the hyperactive firing rate and the percentage of burst neurons of SNpr neurons in 6-OHDA lesioned rats, respectively. Quinpirole with STN lesion increased a percentage of burst neurons. To clear the exact interactive mechanism of $D_1$ and $D_2$ agonist and the corresponding location, it should be followed a study using a nonselective dopamine agonist and $D_1$, $D_2$ selective antagonist.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.242-249
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• 2007

Backgrounds & Objectives : Yukgunjatanggranule (YGJT) ha been used for the treatment of functional dyspepsia, regarded as one of the gastric dysmotility diseases, but its mechanisms of cation are not yet well known, We investigated the effects of YGJT on gastric emptying and its mechanisms of action in rats. Methods : Gastric emptying was measured by glass beads (1mm in diameter) expelled from the stomach for 1 hour and 2 hours after administration ofnormal saline (NS) or YGJT 41.6mg/kg or 124.8mg/kg in rats. By the same method, gastric emptying was measured only for 2 hours after administration of NS of YGJT 124.8mg/kg in rats treated with atropine sulfate (1mg/kg, s.c), quinpirole HCl(0.3mg/kg, i.p.), NAME (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, 75mg/kg, s.c.) or cisplatin (10mg/kg, i.p.) to delay gastric emptying. Results : YGJT 124.8mg/kg improved gastric emptying more than NS or YGJT 41.6mg/kg (p=0.046). Under delayed gastric emptying, YGJT 124.8mg/kg improved gastric emptying in the group treated with cisplatin ($3.1{\pm}1.3$ vs. $6.6{\pm}3.1$, p=0.015), quinpirole HCl ($4.7{\pm}2.8$ vs. $5.5{\pm}5.6$, p=0.874) and NAME ($2.2{\pm}1.4$ vs. $4.7{\pm}6.0$, p=0.414), but aggravated it with atropine sulfate ($1.8{\pm}0.9$vs. $1.7{\pm}1.0$, p=0.957). Conclusions : YGJT improves gastric emptying through the cholinergic pathwas, and shows some effect against the toxicity of cisplatin. Therefore, we expect that it would be effective in relieving gastrointestinal symptoms in functional dyspepsia patients and cisplatin-treated patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.189-199
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• 2008

Background & Objective : Jichul-hwan(JCH) has been used for the treatment of functional dyspepsia, regarded as a gastric dysmotility disease. We investigated the effects of JCH on gastric motility and its mechanisms of action in rats. Methods : The gastric wall was injured by tracting a part of stomach body in rats. Gastric emptying was measured after administration of normal saline(NS) or JCH in normal rats and gastric wall injured rats. To evaluate the mechanism of JCH under delayed gastric emptying conditions, normal rats were treated with atropine sulfate(1mg/kg, s.c.), quinpirole HCl(0.3mg/kgg, i.p.), $NAME(N^{G}-nitro-L-arginine$ methyl ester, 75mg/kg s.c.) and cisplatin(10mg/kg, i.p.). The gastric slow waves were measured for 30 minutes before and after administration of each solution(NS, JCH). Results : JCH 110.1mg/kg improved gastric emptying for 2 hrs(p=0.014). JCH 110.1mg/kg improved gastric emptying in the gastric wall injured rats(p=0.001). Under the delayed gastric emptying, JCH 110.1mg/kg improved gastric emptying in the group treated with atropine $sulfate(1.83{\pm}0.96$ vs $8.43{\pm}8.46$, p=0.003), but aggravated it with quinpirole $HCl(4.7{\pm}2.9$ vs $1.61{\pm}2.09$, p=0.021). Administration JCH 110.1mg/kg increased EGG power in rats. Conclusions : JCH stimulates gastric motility through the cholinergic pathway, so we expect that it would be effective in the treatment of dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia with low activity of vagus nerve.

• 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 Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.107-118
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was aimed to investigated the effect of Yijin-tang on gastric motility and its mechanism of action in normal intact and partial pyloric obstructed rats. Methods : Gastric emptying was measured by the number of glass beads expelled from the stomach (containing one hundred of glass beads. ${\phi}1mm$) in 1 hour or 2 hours after glass beads and test drugs (normal saline. Yijin-tang 90mg/kg. Yijin-tang 270mg/kg) administration in normal intact and partial pyloric obstructed rats. In another series of experiments to evaluate the mechanism of Yijin-tang 270mg/kg under delayed conditions, normal intact rats were treated with atropine sulfate (1mg/kg,s.c.), cisplatin (10mg/kg,i.p.), quinpirole HCI (0.3mg/kg,i.p.) and NAME (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. 75mg/ kg,s.c.), respectively. Partial pyloric obstructed rats were modified by wrapping the nonabsorbable rubber ring (D :6mm, W:4mm, T: 1mm) around the 1st portion of the duodenum for 8 weeks. The myoelectrical activity of the gastric smooth muscle was recorded by a bipolar electrode placed at the abdominal surface in normal intact and partial pyloric obstructed rats. The gastric myoelectrical activity was measured for 30 minutes before and after orogastric administration of each solution (normal saline, Yijin-tang 270mg/kg) and expressed as dominant frequency, percent of normogastria and power ratio. Results : Yijin-tang improved gastric emptying more than normal saline in normal intact(p<0.001) and partial pyloric obstructed rats(p=0.002). Under the delayed gastric emptying induced by atropine sulfate, cisplatin, quinpirole HCI and NAME. Yijin-tang enhanced gastric emptying significantly in the cisplatin treated group(p<0.001). but didn't in other treated groups. Administration of Yijin-tang 270mg/kg has no significant effect on the myoelectrical activity of the gastric smooth muscle in both normal intact rats and partial pyloric obstructed rats. Conclusions : Yijin-tang seems to stimulate the gastric motility through suppressing the 5HT3 receptor and promoting the antroduodenal flow. We expect that Yijin-tang would be effective especially in dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia with partial pyloric obstruction or the side effects of cisplatin such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, and delay of gastric emptying.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.219-224
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• 2012

Understanding how the b-wave of the electroretinogram (ERG) is generated by full-field light stimulation is still a challenge in visual neuroscience. To understand more about the origin of the b-wave, we studied the contributions of gap junctions to the ERG b-wave. Many types of retinal neurons are connected to similar and different neighboring neurons through gap junctions. The photopic (cone-dominated) ERG, stimulated by a small light beam, was recorded from goldfish (Carassius auratus) using a corneal electrode. Data were obtained before and after intravitreal injection of agents into the eye under a photopic illumination level. Several agents were used to affect gap junctions, such as dopamine D1 and D2 receptor agonists and antagonists, a nitric oxide (NO) donor, a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, the gap junction blocker meclofenamic acid (MFA), and mixtures of these agents. The ERG b-waves, which were enhanced by MFA, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), SKF 38393, and sulpiride, remained following application of a further injection of a mixture with MFA. The ERG b-waves decreased following $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), SCH 23390, and quinpirole administration but were enhanced by further injection of a mixture with MFA. These results indicate that gap junction activity influences b-waves of the ERG related to NO and dopamine actions.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.263-268
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• 2005

Striatum has important roles in motor control, habitual learning and memory. It receives glutamatergic inputs from neocortex and thalamus, and dopaminergic inputs from substantia nigra. We examined effects of dopamine (DA) on the corticostriatal synaptic transmission using in vitro extracellular recording technique in rat brain corticostriatal slices. Synaptic responses were elicited by stimulation of cortical glutamatergic inputs on the corpus callosum and recorded in the dorsal striatum. Corticostriatal population spike (PS) amplitudes were decreased ($39.4{\pm}7.9$%) by the application of $100{\mu}M$ DA. We applied receptor subtype specific agonists and antagonists and characterized the modulation of corticostriatal synaptic transmission by different DA receptor subtypes. $D_2$ receptor agonist (quinpirole), antagonist (sulpiride), and $D_1$ receptor antagonist (SKF 83566), but not $D_1$ receptor agonist (SKF 38393), induced significantly the reduction of striatal PS. Pretreatment neither with SKF 83566 nor sulpiride significantly affected corticostriatal synaptic inhibition by DA. However, the inhibition of DA was completely blocked by pretreatment with mixed solution of both SKF 83566 and sulpiride. These results suggest that DA inhibits corticostriatal synaptic transmission through both $D_1$ and $D_2$ receptors in concert with each other.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.117-129
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• 2008

Background & Objective : Naeso-san(NSS) has been used for the treatment of functional dyspepsia, regarded as a gastric dysmotility disease. A main cause of gastric dysmotility is antral dilatation or antroduodenal uncoordination. Therefore, we investigated the effect of NSS on gastric motility and its mechanism of action, as well as the morphologic changes in antral dilatated rats. Methods : Antral dilatated rats were induced by wrapping a nonabsorbable rubber ring(D:6mm, W:4mm, T:1mm) around the 1st portion of the duodenum for 8 weeks. Then morphologic changes were investigated and compared with normal intact rats before and after 8 weeks. Gastric emptying was measured by administration of normal saline(NS) or NSS in normal intact and antral dilatated rats. In another series of experiments to evaluate the mechanism of NSS under delayed conditions, normal intact rats were treated with atropine sulfate(1mg/kg, s.c.), quinpirole HCl(0.3mg/kg, i.p.), $NAME(N^{G}-nitro-L-arginine$ methyl ester, 75mg/kg, s.c.) and cisplatin(10mg/kg, i.p.), respectively. The myoelectrical activity of the gastric smooth muscle was recorded in normal intact and antral dilatated rats. The contractile waves were measured for 30 minutes before and after administration of each solution(NS, NSS). Results : Body weight gain of antral dilatated rats was significantly lower than that of the controls. Futhermore, we found the thickness of the mucosal and muscular layers and surface area of the stomach increased significantly compared with controls. NSS 278㎎/㎏ improved gastric emptying more than normal saline or NSS 93mg/kg in normal intact(p=0.026) and antral dilatated rats(p=0.03). NSS enhanced gastric emptying significantly in the NAME treated group(p=0.002). NSS 278mg/kg increased the significant postprandial dominant power than that of NS in normal intact rats, whereas there was no statistical significance in antral dilatated rats. Conclusions : NSS stimulates gastric motility through the cholinergic pathway. We expect that pathologic model with antral dilatation can be used as an exprimental tool which is similar to dyspepsia and NSS would be effective especially in dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia with antral dilatation or impaired reservoir functions such as gastric adaptive relaxation.