• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2012

Glutamate excitotoxicity is emerging as a contributor to degeneration of spinal cord motoneurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Recently, we have reported that ghrelin protects motoneurons against chronic glutamate excitotoxicity through the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt/glycogen synthase kinase-$3{\beta}$ pathways. Previous studies suggest that activated microglia actively participate in the pathogenesis of ALS motoneuron degeneration. However, it is still unknown whether ghrelin exerts its protective effect on motoneurons via inhibition of microglial activation. In this study, we investigate organotypic spinal cord cultures (OSCCs) exposed to threohydroxyaspartate (THA), as a model of excitotoxic motoneuron degeneration, to determine if ghrelin prevents microglial activation. Exposure of OSCCs to THA for 3 weeks produced typical motoneuron death, and treatment of ghrelin significantly attenuated THA-induced motoneuron loss, as previously reported. Ghrelin prevented THA-induced microglial activation in the spinal cord and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-$1{\beta}$. Our data indicate that ghrelin may act as a survival factor for motoneurons by functioning as a microglia-deactivating factor and suggest that ghrelin may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of ALS and other neurodegenerative disorders where inflammatory responses play a critical role.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.117-124
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• 1996

This study evaluated the hypothesis that motoneuron collaterals modulate the excitability of ventral spinocerebellar tract neurons. In acute cats, 128 ventral cerebellar tract cells were studied extracellularly to determine the effects of ventral root stimuli. The majority of the cells responded to ventral root stimulation with either short or long latency increases in spike discharge. In many cells with sufficient spontaneous activity ventral root stimulation also evoked a long lasting reduction in activity. In preparations with the dorsal root ganglion removed VSCT neurons had similar response properties. In some cells contralateral ventral root stimulation also evoked excitatory responses. These findings indicate the VSCT can provide the cerebellum with information regarding activity in the final output neurons of the motor system, the alpha motoneurons.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1998.04a
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• pp.54.2-54
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• 1998

No Abstract, See Full Text

• 대한약리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.122.1-122.1
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• 2006

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.211.2-212
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• 2000

No Abstract, See Full Text

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.115.1-115.1
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• 2007

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.105-109
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• 2009

The laryngeal peripheral nerve system is presented on the basis of our results in the animal. This present paper forcused on the localization of each laryngeal motoneuron, the myotopical arrangements of motoneurons innervating the pharyngeal and esophageal striated muscles whitin the nucleus ambiguous in the motor nerve supply, and the pathway to the larynx in the sensory and symphathetic nerve supplies. Regarding the parasympathetic nerve supply, the neural ganglia and the ganglionic cells in and around the laryngeal nerves and in the laryngeal framework are demonstrated. Most of this innervations, however, is still unclear. In addition, we presented about external branch of superior laryngeal nerve and inferior laryngeal nerve. Discuss from the literature are also reported.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.113-118
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• 2006

In the primary sensory neuron of the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (MTN), the peripheral axon supplies a large number of annulospiral endings surrounding intrafusal fibers encapsulated in single muscle spindles while the central axon sends only a few number of synapses onto single ${\alpha}-motoneurons({\alpha}-MNs)$. Therefore, the ${\alpha}-{\gamma}$ linkage is thought to be very crucial in the jaw-closing movement. Spike activity in a ${\gamma}-motoneuron\;({\gamma}-MN)$ would induce a large number of impulses in single peripheral axons by activating many intrafusal fibers simultaneously, subsequently causing an activation of ${\alpha}-MNs$ in spite of the small number of synapses. Thus, the activity of ${\gamma}-MNs$ may be vital for modulation of jaw-closing movements. Independently of such a spindle activity modulated by ${\gamma}-MNs$, somatic depolarization in MTN neurons is known to trigger the oscillatory spike activity. Nevertheless, the trafficking of these spikes arising from the two distinct sources of MTN neurons is not well understood. In this short review, switching among multiple functional modes of MTN neurons is discussed. Subsequently, it will be discussed which mode can support the ${\alpha}-{\gamma}$ linkage. In our most recent study, simultaneous patch-clamp recordings from the soma and axon hillock revealed a spike-back-propagation from the spike-initiation site in the stem axon to the soma in response to a somatic current pulse. The persistent $Na^+$ current was found to be responsible for the spike-initiation in the stem axon, the activation threshold of which was lower than those of soma spikes. Somatic inputs or impulses arising from the sensory ending, whichever trigger spikes in the stem axon first, would be forwarded through the central axon to the target synapse. We also demonstrated that at hyperpolarized membrane potentials, 4-AP-sensitive $K^+$ current ($IK_{4-AP}$) exerts two opposing effects on spikes depending on their origins; the suppression of spike initiation by increasing the apparent electrotonic distance between the soma and the spike-initiation site, and the facilitation of axonal spike invasion at higher frequencies by decreasing the spike duration and the refractory period. Through this mechanism, the spindle activity caused by ${\gamma}-MNs$ would be safely forwarded to ${\alpha}-MNs$. Thus, soma spikes shaped differentially by this $IK_{4-AP}$ depending on their origins would reflect which one of the two inputs was forwarded to the target synapses.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.172-177
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• 2000

Background and Objectives : Until now, various attempts have been made fir reinnervating paralyzed vocal cord. Nevertheless, the most cases did not produce satisfactory outcome due to occurrence of synkinesis of larynx secondary to misdirected axonal regeneration. Accordingly, the purpose of this investigation is to learn the effect of chronic electrical stimulation on regeneration of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Material and Methods : Using 20 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats(250-300g) with normal vocal functions, transections were made on their left recurrent laryngeal nerves and then primary anastomosis were performed under the operating microscope and they were divided into an experimental group and a control group each having 10 rats. After the procedure, for the experimental group, chronic electrical stimulation was carried out until vocal cord movement was functionally recovered. for the control group, only chronic electrical stimulation was not given. Result : In experimental group, the number of functionally recovered rats was two and in control group, that of functionally recovered rate was same. The reorganization of posterior cricoarytenoid muscle motoneuron in nucleus ambiguus appeared in the case of directed reinnervation of recurrent laryngeal nerve. Conclusion : The chronic electrical stimulation does not a direct beneficial effect on the early functional recovery in rats with injured recurrent laryngeal nerve.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.187-199
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• 1999

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) is used for muscle reeducation, reduction of spasticity, delay of atrophy, and muscle strengthening. FES stronger stimulation than other forms of electrical stimulation. The efficacy of FES in improving function has been substantiated in the literature. Treatment programs employing FES - activation of muscular tissue through the intact peripheral nervous system - can be broken into five major categories, according to the goal of treatment. These broad areas would include the use of FES to: (1) a direct excitation onto the alpha motoneuron, through peripheral stimulation of the Ia myotatic sensory system and ascending afferent information, which will be integrated at conscious and subconscious level of the CNS. (2) The quality of a stimulated muscle contraction is determined by combination of many parameters, including stimulus amplitude, pulse duration, stimulus frequency, and duty cycle. (3) A unit that has a pulse duration between 200 and $400{\mu}sec$ will be more than adequate for FES applications. (4) The neuromuscular plasticity is critically important to return of function using muscle re-education and facilitation applications. (5) Prior to using FES as an electrical orthosis, the patient should build up endurance in the muscles to be stimu1ated during the gait cycle.