• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제1권4호
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• pp.355-366
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• 1997

Although cerebellar Purkinje cells display spontaneous electrical activity in vivo and in slice experiments, the mechanism of the spontaneous activity generation has not been clearly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether cerebellar Purkinje cells of postnatal rats generate spontaneous electrical activity without synaptic inputs. Dissociated cerebellar Purkinje cells were used for reducing synaptic inputs in the present study. Cerebellar Purkinje cells with dendrites were dissociated from postnatal rats using enzymatic treatment followed by mechanical trituration. Spontaneous electrical activities were recorded from dissociated cells without any stimulus using whole-cell patch clamp configuration. Two types, spontaneously firing or quiescent, of dissociated Purkinje cells were observed in postnatal rats. Both types of cells were identified as Purkinje cells using immunocytochemical staining technique with anti-calbindin after recording. Spontaneously active cells displayed two patterns of firing, repetitive and burst firings. Two thirds of dissociated Purkinje cells displayed repetitive firing and the rest of them did burst firing under same recording condition. Repetitive firing activities were maintained even after further isolation using either physical or pharmacological techniques. Neither high magnessium solution nor excitatory synaptic blockers, AP-5 and DNQX, block the spontaneous activity. These results demonstrate that spontaneous electrical activity of isolated cerebellar Purkinje cells in postnatal rats is generated by intrinsic membrane properties rather than synaptic inputs.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제1권3호
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• pp.263-273
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of electrical stimulation on vestibular compensation following ULX in rats. Electrical stimulation (ES) with square pulse ($100{\sim}300uA$, 1.0 ms, 100 Hz) was applied to ampullary portion bilaterally for 6 and 24 hours in rats receiving ULX. After ES, animals that showed the recovery of vestibular symptoms by counting and comparing the number of spontaneous nystagmus were selected for recording resting activity of type I, II neurons in the medial vestibular nuclei (MVN) of the lesioned side. And then the dynamic neuronal activities were recorded during sinusoidal rotation at a frequency of 0.1 Hz and 0.2 Hz. The number of spontaneous nystagmus was significantly different 24 hours (p<0.01, n=10), but not 6 hours after ULX+ES. As reported by others, the great reduction of resting activity only in the type I neurons ipsilateral to lesioned side was observed 6, 24 hours after ULX compared to that of intact labyrinthine animal. However, the significant elevation (p<0.01) of type I and reduction (p<0.01) of type II neuronal activity were seen 24 hours after ULX+ES. Interestingly, gain, expressed as maximum neuronal activity(spikes/sec)/maximum rotational velocity(deg/sec), was increased in type I cells and decreased in type II cells 24 hours after ULX+ES in response to sinusoidal rotation at frequencies of both 0.1 Hz and 0.2 Hz. This result suggests that accompanying the behavioral recovery, the electrical stimulation after ULX has beneficial effects on vestibular compensation, especially static symptoms (spontaneous nystagmus), by enhancing resting activity of type I neurons and reducing that of type II neurons.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.1-13
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• 1985

The influences of $Ca^{2+}-antagonists$, verapamil and $Mn^{2+}$, upon the spontaneous electrical activity and contractions were studied in guinea-pig taenia coli. Spontaneous contractions were recorded with force transducer, and spike action potentials were measured extracellularly by use of suction electrode. All experiments were performed in tris-buffered Tyrode solution Which was aerated With 100% $O_2$ and kept at $35^{\circ}C$. The results obtained were as follows : 1) Verapamil suppressed the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous contractions dose dependently, and blocked completely mechanical responses at the concentration of 1 mg/1. 2) The frequency of bursts of spike discharge(bursts frequency) and the number of spikes in a burst(spikes frequency) were reduced in a dose·dependent manner within the concentration range of $10^{-5}$ to $10^{-3}g/l$, and bursts frequency was affected more readily at a low concentration of $10^{-5}g/l$ verapamil. 3) The verapamil_induced suppression of spontaneous contractions in the Tyrode solution containing 1 mM $Ca^{2+}$ was completely antagonized by the addition of extra $Ca^{2+}$ to the Tyrode solution $(2\;m\;MCa^{2+})$. 4) $Mn^{2+}$ suppressed the amplitude of spontaneous contractions, whereas $Mn^{2+}$ accelerated the frequency dose-dependently within the range of low concentrations$(10^{-7}\;to\;10^{-4}\;M\;Mn^{2+})$. 5) The bursts frequency determining frequency of spontaneous contractions was increased in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the spikes frequency known to determine the contractions amplitude was reduced within the range of low concentrations. At a high concentration of 1 mM $Mn^{2+}$, however, all spontaneous contractile responses were blocked simultaneously with the disapperance of electrical activity. 6) The frequency and amplitude of spontaneous contractions altered by $Mn^{2+}$ in 1mM $Ca^{2+}$ Tyrode were increased by extra $Ca^{2+}(2mM)$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제1권5호
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• pp.467-475
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• 1997

Although one of the major physiological functions of taurine(2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is the inhibitory action on the central nervous system(CNS), the mechanism of taurine in controlling the neuronal excitation in the CNS has been in controversy. Electrically evoked pEPSP and spontaneous activity induced by the perfusion of low $Mg^{++}-ACSF$ were recorded in the CA1 pyramidal cell layer of the hippocampal slice. To test the inhibitory effect of taurine on spontaneous responses, taurine was treated for 2 min at various concentrations(1 mM-10 mM). Taurine reduced the spontaneous activity by 22.2% at 1 mM, and 100% at 2 mM in low $Mg^{++}-ACSF$. Evoked response was induced by electrical stimulation of Schaffer collateral-commissural fibers. Taurine reduced the evoked response by 11.68% at 3 mM, and 24.25% at 5 mM. Even 20 mM of taurine reduced the evoked response only by 24 % after 5 min treatment. That is, the inhibitory efficacy was much higher in spontaneous activity than in evoked response. The $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist, 100 uM bicuculline, blocked the inhibitory action of taurine, while $GABA_B$ receptor antagonist, 700 uM phaclofen, did not. Taurine blocked the spontaneous activity in the presence of CNQX, and did not block the electrically evoked responce in the presence of APV. The results suggest that taurine causes hyperpolarization in the cell by binding to $GABA_A$ receptor and preferentially attenuates NMDA receptor-mediated hyperexcitation, leaving synaptic transmission unmodified.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.17-21
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate possibilities for quantitative analysis using the electromyography and sonography. For better understanding, we evaluated the correlation between the pressure pain threshold and sonography, spontaneous electrical activity in trigger points located in the upper trapezius muscle. Methods: Thirty three active subjects volunteered to participate in this study (n=33). They had a palpable taut band, exquisite spot tenderness of a nodule in a taut band, spontaneous pain, referred pain, jump sign, local twitch response, and a painful limit to full stretch range of motion. We measured Pressure pain threshold, density, white area index, root mean square, and reaction. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated to estimate the relationship between the pressure pain threshold and other variables including density, white area index, root mean square, and reaction time. Results: There were significant correlations between pressure pain threshold and density (r=-0.75, p<0.01), and between pressure pain threshold and white area index (r=-0.74, p<0.01). A significant correlations between pressure pain threshold and root mean square (r=-0.59, p<0.01). The significant correlation was found between pressure pain threshold and reaction time (r=-0.64, p<0.01). Conclusion: These should indicate whether quantitative analysis can be done using the characteristics of electromyography and sonography.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제1권5호
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• pp.505-513
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• 1997

To search the correlations between electrical activity and c-Fos expression in the process of vestibular compensation, we examined the changes of those two parameters in the medial vestibular nuclei (MVN) of unilaterally labyrinthectomized (ULX) rats. Spontaneous nystagmus with fast component toward the intact side disappeared gradually within 48 hours. Fourty eight hours after ULX, directional preponderance of the eye movement induced by sinusoidal rotation of the whole body which represents the symmetry of bilateral vestibular functions showed less than 20% by rotation of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5 Hz, indicating the recovery of symmetry in bilateral vestibular functions. Six hours after ULX, spontaneous electrical activity of type I neurons resulted in asymmetry between bilateral MVN, however, the asymmetry of the electrical activity was decreased 48 hours after ULX. Immunocytochemical staining revealed that ULX produced dramatic induction of c-Fos positive cells in the MVN bilaterally. The number of c-Fos immunoreactive cells in the contralateral MVN was significantly higher than those in the ipsilateral MVN (p＜0.0001) 2 hours after ULX. Thereafter, the number of c-Fos positive cells decreased bilaterally and was slightly, but not significantly higher in the ipsilateral MVN at 48 hours after ULX. The present results suggest that both electrical activity of type I neurons and c-Fos expression in MVN following ULX will reflect underlying mechanisms of recovery process of vestibular compensation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.119-125
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• 1999

Mammalian gastric smooth muscles generate spontaneous rhythmic contractions which are associated with slow oscillatory potentials (slow waves) and spike potentials. Spike potentials are blocked by organic $Ca^{2+}-antagonists,$ indicating that these result from the activation of L-type $Ca^{2+}-channel.$ However, the cellular mechanisms underlying the generation of slow wave remain unclear. Slow waves are insensitive to $Ca^{2+}-antagonists$ but are blocked by metabolic inhibitors or low temperature. Recently it has been suggested that Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC) serve as pacemaker cells and a slow wave reflects the coordinated behavior of both ICC and smooth muscle cells. Small segments of circular smooth muscle isolated from antrum of the guinea-pig stomach generated two types of electrical events; irregular small amplitude (1 to 7 mV) of transient depolarization and larger amplitude (20 to 30 mV) of slow depolarization (regenerative potential). Transient depolarization occurred irregularly and membrane depolarization increased their frequency. Regenerative potentials were generated rhythmically and appeared to result from summed transient depolarizations. Spike potentials, sensitive to nifedipine, were generated on the peaks of regenerative potentials. Depolarization of the membrane evoked regenerative potentials with long latencies (1 to 2 s). These potentials had long partial refractory periods (15 to 20 s). They were inhibited by low concentrations of caffeine, perhaps reflecting either depletion of $Ca^{2+}$ from SR or inhibition of InsP3 receptors, by buffering $Ca^{2+}$ to low levels with BAPTA or by depleting $Ca^{2+}$ from SR with CPA. They persisted in the presence of $Ca^{2+}-sensitive$ $Cl^--channel$ blockers, niflumic acid and DIDS or $Co^{2+},$ a non selective $Ca^{2+}-channel$ blocker. These results suggest that spontaneous activity of gastric smooth muscle results from $Ca^{2+}$ release from SR, followed by activation of $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ ion channels other than $Cl^-$ channels, with the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from SR being triggered by membrane depolarization.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.531-536
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• 2013

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) from the urinary bladder regulate detrusor smooth muscle activities. We cultured ICCs from the urinary bladder of mice and performed patch clamp and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) imaging to investigate whether cultured ICCs can be a valuable tool for cellular functional studies. The cultured ICCs displayed two types of spontaneous electrical activities which are similar to those recorded in intact bladder tissues. Spontaneous electrical activities of cultured ICCs were nifedipine-sensitive. Carbachol and ATP, both excitatory neurotransmitters in the urinary bladder, depolarized the membrane and increased the frequency of spike potentials. Carbachol increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ oscillations and basal $Ca^{2+}$ levels, which were blocked by atropine. These results suggest that cultured ICCs from the urinary bladder retain rhythmic phenotypes similar to the spontaneous electrical activities recorded from the intact urinary bladder. Therefore, we suggest that cultured ICCs from the urinary bladder may be useful for cellular and molecular studies of ICCs.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.37-43
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• 1993

Electrical or chemical stimulation of many areas in the brainstem modulates activity of dorsal horn neurons (DHN). This is known to be mediated by a population of bulbospinal neurons. Yet, little is known about responses of DHNs to stimulation of the caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM). Thus, the purpose of the present study is to see if there is any change in activity of DHNs when CVLM is stimulated electrically. Thirty-one DHNs were recorded from dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Fourteen DHNs (45%) were classified as wide dynamic range neurons and 9 (19%) were high threshold cells, and 4 (13%) and 4 (13%) were deep and low threshold neurons, respectively. Among 31 neurons tested for responses to stimulation of CVLM, 21 DHNs (68%) were inhibited by the electrical stimulation of CVLM ($200{\mu}A,\;100{\mu}s$ duration, 100 Hz), and 9 cells (39%) did not show any change in neuronal activity. One neuron was excited by the stimulation. The electrical stimulation of CVLM not only inhibited spontaneous activity of DHNs but also inhibited evoked responses of DHNs to somatic stimulation in the receptive field. These data suggest that CVLM is one of the pain-modulatory areas that control transmission of ascending information of noxious input to the brain from the spinal cord.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.603-607
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Carthami Flos on interstitial cells of Cajal in the gastrointestinal tract. Many regions of the tunica muscularis of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract display spontaneous contraction. These spontaneous contractions are mediated by periodic generation of electrical slow waves. Recent studies have shown that the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) act as pacemakers and conductors of electrical slow waves in gastrointestinal smooth muscles. We investigated the cytotoxicity activity, antioxidant activity, and pacemaking activity. The cytotoxicity activity was measured by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Antioxidant activities were determined by DPPH (1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging capacity assay and DCFH-DA (2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate) method. The effects of Carthami Flos on the pacemaker potentials in cultured ICCs from murine small intestine were investigated by using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques at $30^{\circ}C$. The addition of Carthami Flos (5, 10, $30{\mu}g$/ml) depolarized the resting membrane potentials in a concentration dependent manner. These results suggest that the GI tract can be targets for Carthami Flos, and their interaction can affect intestinal motility.