• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2006

Purpose: Although hypothermia has been used in many clinical situations, such as post cardiopulmonary resuscitation, stroke, traumatic brain injury, septic shock, and hemorrhagic shock, the mechanism by which it works has not been clearly elucidated. We aimed to evaluate the effect of hypothermia on the plasma nitric oxide (NO) concentration, lung iNOS expression, and histologic changes in intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR). Method: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the hypothermia group (HT, n=8, $27{\sim}30^{\circ}C$) and the normothermia group (NT, n=8, $36{\sim}37^{\circ}C$). They underwent 30 min of intestinal ischemia by clamping the superior mesenteric artery, which was followed by 1.5 h of reperfusion. They were then sacrificed. The acute lung injury (ALI) score, the plasma NO concentration, and lung iNOS gene expression were measured. Results: Compared with the HT group, the NT group showed severe infiltrations of inflammatrory cells, alveolar hemorrhages, and interstitial hypertrophies in lung tissues. There were significant differences in the ALI scores between the NT and the HT groups ($8.7{\pm}1.5/HPF$ in NT vs $5.8{\pm}1.2/HPF$ in HT, p=0.008). Although the plasma NO concentration was slightly lower in the HT group, there was no significant difference between the two groups ($0.80{\pm}0.24{\mu}mol/L$ in NT vs $0.75{\pm}0.30{\mu}mol/L$ in HT, p=0.917). Lung iNOS gene expression was stronger in the NT group than in the HT group. The band density of the expression of iNOS in lung tissues was significantly increased in the NT group compared to the HT group ($5.54{\pm}2.75$ in NT vs$0.08{\pm}0.52$ in HT, p=0.002). Conclusions: This study showed that hypothermia in intestinal IR reduces inflammatory responses, ALI scores, and iNOS gene expression in lung tissues. There was no significant effect of hypothermia on the plasma NO concentration.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.483-490
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 50% ethanol extracts of ripe black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis, RBR) on hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The final systolic blood pressure of the group treated with RBR for 12 weeks was significantly lower than that of the SHR group. The mRNA expression level of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was significantly decreased in SHR. However, treatment with RBR and captopril increased the level of eNOS mRNA in SHR. Moreover, plasma levels of homocysteine and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 were significantly reduced by RBR. Plasma total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were lower in SHR than Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). However, there was no significant difference in plasma triglyceride level between WKY and SHR. The number of eosinophilic cardiac muscle cells was reduced in heart muscles after treatment with captopril and RBR. Therefore, this study suggests that RBR extracts may be useful for improvement of hypertension.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.277-289
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• 2003

This study proposes a mathematical model to characterize the removal of nitrogen oxides in a dielectric barrier discharge plasma process. As well as the reactions between nitrogen oxides, water vapor, oxygen and nitrogen, the model takes into account the effect of ethylene often used as a chemical additive to reduce the power consumption of the process on the removal of nitrogen oxides. Since the concentrations of the radicals concerned in the main reactions including O, OH, H and N should be calculated to predict the removal efficiency of nitrogen oxides, they were theoretically derived. The parameters affecting the removal of nitrogen oxides, such as initial concentration, discharge power, humidity, and ethylene concentration were experimentally evaluated, which were compared with the calculated results to verify the validity of the model proposed. The predicted concentrations of several byproducts formed in this process were also presented and discussed. The effects of several parameters mentioned above on the removal of nitrogen oxides were reasonable described by the proposed model.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.1003-1008
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• 1997

The (La, Sr)MnO3 powder used as air-electrode material of Solid Oxide Cell (SOFC) was synthesized by Modified-GNP(Modified-Glycine Nitrate Process). The powders were prepared using oxide and carbonate stable in atmosphere and nitric acid was used as a solvent of starting material as well as an oxidant for combustion. The (La, Sr)MnO3 powders were synthesized with 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 of glycine/cation molar ratio. The ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer) result represented compositional equality between synthesized and desired powders. In case of 2 molar ratio, the as-synthesized powder showed perovskite phase and specific surface area were 19 $m^2$/g. After calcination of 85$0^{\circ}C$, the calcined powder except 0.5, 1 molar ratio of glycine to cation showed perovskite phase.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.197-202
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• 1994

The present study was aimed to determine if endogenous L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) pathway has central, rather than peripheral, mechanisms in blood pressure regulation. Arterial blood pressure and heart rate responses to acute inhibition of the t-arginine-NO pathway were examined in rats anesthetized with thiopental (50 mg/kg, IP). An intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannula was placed in the left lateral ventricle. The right femoral artery was cannulated to measure arterial blood pressure and the vein to serve as an infusion route. $N^G-nitro-L-arginine$ methyl ester (L-NAME) was infused either intracerebroventricularly or intravenously. ICV infusion $(1.25\;{\mu}L/min)$ of L-NAME $(20\;or\;100\;{\mu}g/kg)$ per minute for 60 min) increased the mean arterial pressure and heart rate. Plasma renin concentrations(PRC) were significantly lower in L-NAME-infused group than in the control. L-Arginine $(60\;{\mu}g/min,\;ICV)$ prevented the pressor response to ICV L-NAME. The pressor response was not affected by simultaneous intravenous infusion of saralasin, but was abolished by hexamethonium treatment. Intravenous infusion $(40\;{\mu}L/min,\;10{\sim}100\;{\mu}g/kg\;per\;minute\;for\;60\;min)$ also increased blood pressure, while it decreased heart rate. These results indicate that endogenous L-arginine-NO pathway has separate central and peripheral mechanisms in regulating the cardiovascular function. The central effect may not be mediated via activation of renin-angiotensin system, but via, at least in part, activation of the sympathetic outflow.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.363-369
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• 2011

The present study elucidated the effect of the selective inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor $N^6$-(1-iminoethyl)-L-lysine (L-NIL) on monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced inflammation and edema in mice feet. L-NIL (5 or 10 mg/kg/day) was administered intraperitoneally 4 h before injection of MSU (4 mg) into the soles of mice hindlimb feet. Twenty-four hours after MSU injection, foot thickness was increased by 160% and L-NIL pretreatment reduced food pad swelling in a dose dependent manner. Pretreatment of 10 mg/kg/day L-NIL significantly suppressed the foot pad swelling by MSU. Plasma level of nitric oxide (NO) metabolites and gene expression and protein level of iNOS in feet were increased by MSU, which was suppressed by L-NIL pretreatment. Similar pattern of change was observed in nitrotyrosine level. MSU increased the gene expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and L-NIL pretreatment suppressed MSU-induced cytokines expression. The mRNA levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase1 were increased by MSU and L-NIL pretreatment normalized the gene expression. Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and p38 was increased by MSU, which was suppressed by L-NIL pretreatment. The mRNA levels of iNOS, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$ were increased by MSU in human dermal fibroblasts, C2C12 myoblasts, and human fetal osteoblasts in vitro, which was attenuated by L-NIL in a dose dependent manner. This study shows that L-NIL inhibits MSU-induced inflammation and edema in mice feet suggesting that iNOS might be involved in MSU-induced inflammation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.273-277
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• 2011

Nitric oxide (NO) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) may induce vascular relaxation by increasing the production of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), an important mediator of vascular tone during sepsis. This study aimed to determine whether regulation of NO and the ANP system is altered in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced kidney injury. LPS (10 $mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$) was injected in the tail veins of male Sprague-Dawley rats; 12 hours later, the kidneys were removed. Protein expression of NO synthase (NOS) and neutral endopeptidase (NEP) was determined by semiquantitative immuno-blotting. As an index of synthesis of NO, its stable metabolites (nitrite/nitrate, NOx) were measured using colorimetric assays. mRNA expression of the ANP system was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. To determine the activity of guanylyl cyclase (GC), the amount of cGMP generated in response to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and ANP was calculated. Creatinine clearance decreased and fractional excretion of sodium increased in LPS-treated rats compared with the controls. Inducible NOS protein expression increased in LPS-treated rats, while that of endothelial NOS, neuronal NOS, and NEP remained unchanged. Additionally, urinary and plasma NOx levels increased in LPS-treated rats. SNP-stimulated GC activity remained unchanged in the glomerulus and papilla in the LPS-treated rats. mRNA expression of natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR)-C decreased in LPS-treated rats, while that of ANP and NPR-A did not change. ANP-stimulated GC activity reduced in the glomerulus and papilla. In conclusion, enhancement of the NO/cGMP pathway and decrease in ANP clearance were found play a role in the pathogenesis of LPS-induced kidney injury.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.576-587
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• 2009

Background: The up-regulation of the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathway might be involved in the change of vascular reactivity in rats 3 days after they suffer acute myocardial infarction. However, the underlying mechanism for this has not been clarified. Material and Method: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was induced by occluding the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) for 30 min (Group AMI), whereas the sham-operated control rats were treated similarly without LAD occlusion (Group SHAM), The concentration-response relationships for phenylephrine (PE), KCl, acetylcholine (Ach) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were determined in the endothelium intact E(+) and endothelium denuded E(-) thoracic aortic rings from the rats 3 days after AMI or a SHAM operation. The concentration-response relationships of PE in the E(+) rings from the AMI rats were compared with those relationships in the rings pretreated with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. The plasma nitrite/nitrate concentrations were checked via a Griess reaction. The cyclic GMP content in the thoracic aortic rings was measured by radioimmunoassay and the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression was assessed by real time PCR. Result: The mean infarct size (%) in the rats with AMI was $21.3{\pm}0.62%$. The heart rate and the systolic and diastolic blood pressure were not significantly changed in the AMI rats. The sensitivity of the contractile response to PE and KCl was significantly decreased in both the E(+) and E(-) aortic rings of the AMI group (p<0.05). L-NAME completely reversed these contractile responses whereas indomethacin did not (p<0.05). Moreover, the sensitivity of the relaxation response to Ach was also significantly decreased in the AMI group (p<0.05). The plasma nitrite and nitrate content (p<0.05), the basal cGMP content (p<0.05) and the eNOS mRNA expression (p=0.056) in the AMI rats were increased as compared with the SHAM group. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the increased eNOS activity and the up-regulation of the NO-cGMP pathway can be attributed to the decreased contractile or relaxation response in the rat thoracic aorta 3 days after AMI.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.90-90
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• 1997

Natural products, which have been used for the treatment of hypertension, diuresis and nephritis in traditional oriental medicine, were selected for the screening of nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelial cells and kidney tissues in vitro as well as in vivo by measuring the conversion of [$\^$14/C]-L-arginine to [$\^$14/C]-L-citrulline, a coproduct of the enzyme reaction with NO. Confluent monolayer of endothelial cells were used for the screening of 16 natural products. Among the natural products, Zizyphus jujuba and Codonopsis pilosula stimulated endothelial NO synthase activity. Thus, both confluent monolayer of endothelial cells and kidney homogenates (glomeruli, cortical tubules, meudllae) were treated with Zizyphus jujuba and Codonopsis pilosula (final concentration 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) and NO releases were compared with those by receptor - dependent agonists, bradykinin and ADP and receptor - independent calcium ionophore A23187 in vitro. In rat experiment, NO releases in glomeruli, cortical tubules and medullae and plasma renin activity were assessed after intraperitoneal injection of Zizyphus jujuba and Codonopsis pilosula (10 mg/kg/day for 4 days). As a result, both Zizyphus jujuba and Codonopsis pilosula significantly increased NO releases in cultured endothelial cells, kidney tissues in vitro as well as in vivo. Stimulation of NO releases by Zizyphus jujuba and Codonopsis pilosula was similar to those by receptor - dependent agonists, bradykinin and ADP and receptor - independent calcium ionophore A23187 in cultured endothelial cells. However, plasma renin activity was not influenced by these two natural products. In conclusion, stimulatory effects of Zizyphus jujuba and Codonopsis pilosula on NO release in kidney may contribute their hypotensive effects and antinephritic action possibly by increasing renal blood flow.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2007

Chronic treatment with olanzapine (OLZ), an atypical antipsychotic drug, is associated with the adverse effects of weight gain, hyperglycemia and/or hypertriglyceridemia. Green tea or epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), one of the most abundant green tea polyphenols, significantly reduces or prevents an increase in glucose levels, lipid markers and/or body weight. We hypothesized that combined treatment with OLZ and green tea extract (GTE) or EGCG may prevent body weight gain and increase of the lipid markers. ICR male mice weighing an average of 30.51 g (n=32) at the beginning of the experiment were used. OLZ, OLZ+GTE and OLZ+EGCG were administered for 27 d in the drinking water, and then the levels of fasting glucose, nitric oxide (NO), and a typical lipid marker triglyceride (TG) were determined in plasma. The body weight and food intake were also compared. The chronic treatment of OLZ increased the average body weight compared with that of controls. In the presence of GTE or EGCG, the OLZ-induced increase in body weight was significantly prevented. Furthermore, in the OLZ group, the plasma levels of glucose, NO and TG were significantly increased, whereas GTE or EGCG prevented these increases. These results implicate that OLZ may induce systematic inflammatory reaction, and suggest that GTE or EGCG can protect against OLZinduced weight gain, hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia.