Biomedical subjects

Ee-Hwa Kim

Publications and source records attributed to Ee-Hwa Kim.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

Effect of ginseng radix on c-Fos expression in the hippocampus of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Aqueous extracts of Ginseng radix have traditionally been used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In the present study, the effect of Ginseng radix on c-Fos expression in the hippocampus of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats was investigated via immunohistochemistry. Decreased c-Fos expression in the CA regions of the hippocampus was observed in STZ-induced diabetes, and administration of Ginseng radix enhanced the STZ-induced inhibition of c-Fos expression both dose- and duration-dependently. These results suggest that hyperglycemia-induced suppression of Fos expression may trigger the diabetes-induced disruption of hippocampal information processing and that Ginseng radix may alleviate this diabetes-induced disturbance in hippocampal functions.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Bee venom induces apoptosis and inhibits expression of cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA in human lung cancer cell line NCI-H1299.

To investigate whether bee venom (BV) induces apoptosis, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase- mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining, flow cytometric analysis, and DNA fragmentation assay were performed on NCI-H1299 lung cancer cells treated with BV. Through morphological and biochemical analyses, it was demonstrated that NCI-H1299 cells treated with BV exhibit several features of apoptosis. In addition, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) immunoassay were performed to verify whether BV possesses an inhibitory effect on the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX) and PGE(2 )synthesis. Expression of COX-2 mRNA and synthesis of PGE(2) were inhibited by BV. These results suggest the possibility that BV may exert an anti-tumor effect on human lung cancer.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2003

Red ginseng inhibits exercise-induced increase in 5-hydroxytryptamine synthesis and tryptophan hydroxylase expression in dorsal raphe of rats.

Red ginseng has been used as an ergogenic aid for endurance exercise. In this study, the effect of aqueous extract of Red ginseng on the endurance in treadmill exercise and 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) synthesis and tryptophan hydroxylase expression in the dorsal raphe of rats were studied. Rats receiving Red ginseng showed increased time to exhaustion for treadmill running, and Red ginseng treatment inhibited exercise-induced increases in 5-hydroxytryptamine synthesis and tryptophan hydroxylase expression in the dorsal raphe. These results suggest that the suppressive effect of Red ginseng on serotonin level during exercise is a possible ergogenic mechanism of Red ginseng.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Effect of acupuncture on nitric oxide synthase expression in cerebral cortex of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Effect of acupuncture on the expressions of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) in the cerebral cortex of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats was investigated. Animals were divided into four groups; the control group, the nondiabetic and acupunctured group, the STZ-induced-diabetes group, and the STZ-induced diabetic and acupunctured group. To produce the diabetic animal model, a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (50 mg/kg) was given to each animal; animals of the nondiabetic groups received equivalent amounts of normal saline, also via intraperitoneal injection. From the results, acupuncture was shown to increase the numbers of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase-positive and nNOS-positive neurons in STZ-induced diabetic rats. From the present study, it may be suggested that acupuncture modulates NOS and nNOS expressions in the cerebral cortex under diabetic conditions.

Acupuncture Therapy↗

PubMed2002

Effects of acupuncture on the 5-hydroxytryptamine synthesis and tryptophan hydroxylase expression in the dorsal raphe of exercised rats.

In the present study, the effects of acupuncture on the endurance treadmill exercise, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) synthesis, and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) expression in the dorsal raphe nuclei were investigated. Acupunctural stimulation were bilaterally inserted into the locus of Zusanli in each hind leg for 20 min. Onset of exhaustion time on the treadmill running was increased significantly by acupunctural stimulation and exercise-induced increments of the 5-HT synthesis and TPH expression in the dorsal raphe were suppressed by acupunctural stimulation. Based on the results, it can be suggested that the suppressive effects of acupunctural stimulation on the 5-HT synthesis and TPH expression in the dorsal raphe during exercise is one of ergogenic mechanisms of acupuncture.

Acupuncture Therapy↗

PubMed2002

Evaluation of a Apo-1/Fas promoter polymorphism in Korean stroke patients.

Apoptosis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as stroke and Alzheimer's disease. Apo-1/Fas gene is one of the mediators of apoptosis in stroke. Mval polymorphism is the first polymorphic marker identified in the Apo-1/Fas gene promoter, which was typed by PCR and followed by Mval digestion and gel electrophoresis. DNA isolated from peripheral blood collected from 91 stroke patients and 103 healthy blood donors was used for genotypes of GG, GA and AA by sequence specific primer PCR. Mval polymorphism was examined based on Fas gene promotor region by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The Fas-GG genotype was the least frequent in patients with stroke and healthy controls (P = 0.57). In normal Korean controls the Mval polymorphism GA, AA and GG were 48.6%, 34.9% and 16.5%. In stroke patients were 56.2%, 29.6% and 14.2% respectively. And the allelic frequencies of Mval*2 (G) allele were less frequent than Mval*1 (A) allele in patients with stroke and healthy controls (P = 0.76). In normal Korean controls Mval*1 (A) and Mval*2 (G) alleles were 59.2% and 40.8%. In stroke patients were 57.6% and 42.4%, respectively. Our results, pending confirmation in a larger study, indicate that the Fas genotype may not appear to be a risk factor for stroke in Korean stroke patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Alcohol and nicotine administration inhibits serotonin synthesis and tryptophan hydroxylase expression in dorsal and median raphe of young rats.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of various neuropsychiatric disorders. In the present study, the effects of alcohol and nicotine on the synthesis of 5-HT and the expression of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), the rate-limiting enzyme of 5-HT synthesis, in the dorsal and median raphe of young rats were investigated via immunohistochemistry. The numbers of the 5-HT-positive and TPH-positive cells were reduced by alcohol and nicotine treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Based on the results, it can be suggested that the pathogenesis of alcohol- and nicotine-induced neuropsychological disorders involves alcohol- and nicotine-induced suppression of 5-HT synthesis and TPH expression in raphe, and that this may be of particular relevance in the consumption of alcohol and nicotine during adolescence.

Aging↗

PubMed2002

Protective effect of Hypericum perforatum Linn (St. John's wort) against hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis on human neuroblastoma cells.

The medicinal plant Hypericum perforatum Linn, commonly known as St. John's wort, has been used as an antidepressant. To investigate whether St. John's wort possesses a protective effect against hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced cytotoxicity in neuronal cells, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay, flow cytometry analysis, DNA fragmentation assay, and caspase-3 enzyme assay were performed on SK-N-MC human neuroblastoma cells. Cells treated with H(2)O(2) exhibited several apoptotic features, while those pre-treated with St. John's wort prior to H(2)O(2) exposure showed a decreased occurrence of apoptotic features. In addition, pre-treatment with St. John's wort inhibited H(2)O(2)-induced increase in caspase-3 enzyme activity. These results suggest that St. John's wort may exert a protective effect against H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2002

Alcohol and nicotine reduce cell proliferation and enhance apoptosis in dentate gyrus.

It is generally accepted that alcohol and nicotine affect learning ability and memory functions, especially in adolescents. In the present study, the effects of alcohol and nicotine on cell proliferation and apoptosis in the dentate gyrus of young rats were investigated. The results show that cell proliferation is suppressed by alcohol and nicotine. Furthermore, alcohol and nicotine increase the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells. Based on the results presented in this study, it can be suggested that alcohol- and nicotine-related impairment in learning and memory functions may be due to alcohol- and nicotine-induced suppression of new cell formation and acceleration of apoptosis, especially during adolescence.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Hypothermia inhibits cell proliferation and nitric oxide synthase expression in rats.

In the present study, the effects of cold-water immersion on cell proliferation and nitric oxide synthase expression in the dentate gyrus of rats were investigated. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: the control-rest group; the control-heat group; the cold-rest group; and the cold-heat group. Cold-water immersion for 5 min at 4 degrees C suppressed the numbers of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-positive and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase-positive cells in the dentate gyrus, and these numbers were increased by warming for 30 min at 30 degrees C. In the present study, it was demonstrated that warming protects against cold stress-induced suppression of new cell formation, and results suggest that nitric oxide, the synthesis of which is affected adversely by cold-water immersion, may play an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Alcohol induces apoptosis in TM3 mouse Leydig cells via bax-dependent caspase-3 activation.

To investigate whether ethanol induces apoptosis in Leydig cells, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, terminal deoxynuclotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, DNA fragmentation assay, caspase-3 enzyme assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis were performed on TM3 mouse Leydig cells. Through morphological and biochemical analyses, it was demonstrated that TM3 cells treated with ethanol at concentrations of 50 and 100 mM exhibit classical apoptotic features. In addition, it was shown that ethanol induces increases in levels of bax and caspase-3 and a decrease in bcl-2 expression. Based on the results, alcohol appears to activate specific intracellular death-related pathways leading to bax-dependant caspase-3 activation and the induction of apoptosis in Leydig cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Treadmill exercise increases cell proliferation without altering of apoptosis in dentate gyrus of Sprague-Dawley rats.

The effects of forced treadmill exercise on cell proliferation and apoptosis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated. The animals were classified into three groups: the control group, the easy exercise group, and the moderate exercise group. In the control group, rats were left on the treadmill without running for 30 min per day, while rats in the exercise groups were made to run on the treadmill for the same duration. All rats were injected intraperitoneally with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) one-hour prior to exercise once a day for 7 consecutive days beginning at the start of the exercise regimens. Each of the rats was sacrificed 2 h after the last exercise. Both the easy and moderate exercise groups revealed increased number of BrdU-positive cells in the dentate gyrus compared to the control group. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay revealed very few apoptotic cells, with no statistically significant differences among the groups. These results showed that treadmill exercise increases cell proliferation without altering of apoptosis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Acute alcohol intoxication decreases cell proliferation and nitric oxide synthase expression in dentate gyrus of rats.

To study the dose-dependence of the effect of alcohol on cell proliferation and nitric oxide synthase expression, rats were first divided into the control group, the 0.5 g/kg alcohol-treated group, the 1 g/kg alcohol-treated group, the 2 g/kg alcohol-treated group, and the 4 g/kg alcohol-treated group. To study the duration-dependence of this effect, animals were divided into the control, the 1-day-alcohol-treated group, the 3-days-alcohol-treated group, and the 6-days alcohol-treated group; 2 g/kg of alcohol was applied to rats over the respective number of days. Alcohol injection reduced the number of both 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-positive and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase-positive cells in the dentate gyrus of rats in a dose- and duration-dependent manner. These results suggest that alcohol-induced impairment in memory is due to the inhibition of new cell formation, and it is possible that nitric oxide, its synthesis is affected adversely by alcohol, plays an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation.

Alcoholic Intoxication↗

PubMed2002

Acupuncture increases cell proliferation and neuropeptide Y expression in dentate gyrus of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

In this study, effects of acupuncture at Zusanli acupoint on cell proliferation and expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the dentate gyrus (DG) of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups: the control group, the non-diabetic and Zusanli-acupunctured group, the non-diabetic and non-acupoint-acupunctured group, the streptozotocin-induced-diabetes group, the streptozotocin-induced-diabetes and Zusanli-acupunctured group, and the streptozotocin-induced-diabetes and non-acupoint-acupunctured group. In the streptozotocin-induced diabetes group, the mean 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-positive and NPY-positive cell counts in the DG were significantly decreased compared to the control group. Stimulation of the Zusanli resulted in increased cell proliferation and neuropeptide Y levels in the diabetic group. In the present results, it can be suggested that acupuncture may affect cell proliferation in the DG of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by regulating neuropeptide Y expression.

Acupuncture↗

PubMed2002

Nicotine administration decreases nitric oxide synthase expression in the hypothalamus of food-deprived rats.

Effect of nicotine on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression in various hypothalamic regions was investigated in rats via nicotineamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemistry. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the fed group, the fed and nicotine-treated group, the food-deprived group, and the food-deprived and nicotine-treated group. The fed groups received abundant food and water, while food was withheld from the food-deprived groups for 48 h. The nicotine-treated groups were injected with nicotine. Following food deprivation, enhanced NAPDH-d expression was detected in the paraventricular nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, and lateral hypothalamic area of the hypothalamus. Nicotine administration to the food-deprived rats resulted in decreased NADPH-d positivity. The present results indicate that nicotine administration is effective in limiting the enhancement in NOS expression following food restriction.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Decrease of the electroacupuncture-induced analgesic effects in nuclear factor-kappa B1 knockout mice.

To investigate the involvement of nuclear factor kappa B1 (NF-kappaB1; p50/p105) in electroacupuncture (EA)-induced analgesia, 2 and 100 Hz EA stimulations were applied at acupoint ST36 (Zusanli) in NF-kappaB1 knockout mice. EA was performed for 30 min and tail-flick latencies (TFLs) were evaluated every 15 min for 1 h. Wild-type mice displayed a 63.3% increase in TFLs compared to baseline after 2 Hz EA, whereas NF-kappaB1+/- mice exhibited a 41.8% increase and NF-kappaB1-/- mice showed only a 3.9% increase of TFLs. The TFLs of 100 Hz EA showed similar trends: a 72.6% increase of TFLs in wild-type, a 38.6% increase in NF-kappaB1+/- and a 9.3% increase in NF-kappaB1-/- mice. The present findings suggest that NF-kappaB1 may play a crucial role in both low and high frequency EA-induced analgesic effects.

Analgesia↗

PubMed2002

Modulation of tianeptine on ion currents induced by inhibitory neurotransmitters in acutely dissociated dorsal raphe neurons of Sprague-Dawley rats.

Classical antidepressant therapy has mainly used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), but tianeptine appears to possess effects on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) levels in the synaptic cleft contradictory to those of SSRIs. The mechanism behind its antidepressant effects is still unclear. The effect of tianeptine on the electrophysiological characteristics of neurons in the dorsal raphe, where serotonergic neurons mainly originate from, were investigated by the patch-clamp method in the present study. Tianeptine was shown to inhibit the ion currents induced by the inhibitory neurotransmitters GABA and glycine as well as the inwardly rectifying K(+) current induced by 5-HT and 8-hydroxy-2 (di-n-propylamino) tetraline hydrobromide (8-OH-DPAT), a 5-HT(1A) agonist. Tianeptine, however, exerted no effect on the ion current induced by the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. These results indicate that tianeptine has an inhibitory effect on ion currents evoked by GABA, glycine, and inwardly rectifying K(+) current induced by 5-HT in the dorsal raphe. This action may increase the excitability of serotonergic neurons of the dorsal raphe.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗

PubMed2002

Protective effects of Wuyaoshunqisan against H2O2-induced apoptosis on hippocampal cell line HiB5.

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of different neurodegenerative disorders. To investigate the protective effects of Wuyaoshunqisan against H2O2-induced apoptosis in the central nervous system, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method, flow cytometric analysis, and the DNA fragmentation assay were performed on cells of the hippocampal cell line HiB5. Through the morphological and biochemical analyses, it was shown that HiB5 cells treated with H2O2 exhibit classical apoptotic features, while the occurrence of such changes is reduced in cells pre-treated with Wuyaoshunqisan prior to H2O2 exposure.

Animals↗