Prefrontal-limbic change in dopamine turnover by acupuncture in maternally separated rat pups.

Kwon, Sunoh,Kim, Dongsoo,Park, Hyemee,Yoo, Doyoung,Park, Hi-Joon,Hahm, Dae-Hyun,Lee, Hyejung,Kim, Seung-Tae Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers 2012 Neurochem Res Vol.37 No.10

<P>The present study investigated the possible role of acupuncture in alleviating depression-like behavioral changes and examined changes in the levels of serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and their metabolites in the hippocampus (HP) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) of maternally separated rat pups. On postnatal day 15, rat pups were maternally separated and received acupuncture stimulation at acupoint HT7 or ST36 once a day for 7 days. Then, on postnatal day 21, a tail suspension test was performed, and the HP and PFC were harvested. Levels of 5-HT, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), DA, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the tissue and corticosterone (CORT) in plasma were then measured. The total duration of immobility in maternally separated rat pups increased after maternal separation, and this increase was alleviated by acupuncture stimulation at HT7. The 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio and the levels of 5-HT and 5-HIAA were not significantly changed, but those of the DA and the DOPAC/DA ratio were significantly lower and that of CORT was significantly higher after maternal separation. The maternal separation-induced changes of the DOPAC/DA ratio and the CORT level significantly alleviated after acupuncture stimulation at HT7. These results suppose that the functional recovery of prefrontal-limbic system by acupuncture stimulation plays an important role in acupuncture-induced benefits in this animal model of depression.</P>

육총혈에 배속되는 경혈에 관한 연구

권선오 ( Sunoh Kwon ),서병관 ( Byung Kwan Seo ),김승태 ( Seungtae Kim ) 대한경락경혈학회 2016 Korean Journal of Acupuncture Vol.33 No.2

Objectives : Six command points are individual points that have strong and broad effects on their related part of the body, but there is a controversy about which acupoints are should be included in the six command points. This research was reviewed which acupoints are suitable for the construction of the six command points. Methods : We searched acupoints mentioned six command points in literatures, then investigated the effects of the acupoints to identify that they can be included in the six command points. And we deliberated which acupoints are suitable for the six command points. Results : Acupoints mentioned the six command points are LU7, LI4, ST36, BL40, PC6, TE6, GV26, ouch point, GB34 and SP6. Among the acupoints, LU7, LI4, ST36, BL40 and PC6 was included in the six command points in all of searched literatures. And GV26, ouch point, GB34 and SP6 were excluded because GV26 and ouch point were not fit the definition of the six command points, ST36 can be an alternative to SP6 based on their effects, and GB34 has a similar but little effect compared to TE6. Conclusions : Based on the definition of six command points and the effect of the acupoints, we suggest that the six command points should be composed of LU7, LI4, ST36, BL40, PC6 and TE6.

한국의 전침연구 동향 분석

권선오 ( Sunoh Kwon ),이정원 ( Jeong Won Lee ),김승태 ( Seungtae Kim ) 경락경혈학회 2018 Korean Journal of Acupuncture Vol.35 No.3

Objectives : Electroacupuncture is a procedure in which pulses of weak electrical current are sent through acupuncture needles into acupuncture points in the skin. Since the 1970s, electroacupuncture has been widely used for treating various diseases including pain, inflammatory diseases and neurodegenerative diseases and electroacupuncture research has also been actively conducted in Korea. This study was designed to assess the tendencies and research performances in Korea. Methods : Articles referring to electroacupuncture in Korea were searched in Korean Studies Information Service System, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, DBpia, Pubmed and Scopus, and assessed by distribution of document types, published articles, source institutes, journals, and subject categories. Results : Total 677 articles were included in this study. Among them, basic researches were 395, clinical researches were 210, reviews were 68 and others were 4. Kyung Hee university published the most articles, followed by Wonkwang univresity, Daejeon university and Pusan national university in Korean institutes. Journal of Acupuncture Research published the most articles, followed by Korean Journal of Acupuncture, Journal of Korean medicine rehabilitation and Journal of physiology & pathology in Korean medicine among journals. Animals were used in the most articles, followed by human, literatures and protocol in subject categories. The number of articles per year was related to the increase of research fund and the number per institution was related to the number of professors and researchers. Conclusions : In order to carry out better electroacupuncture researches, it is necessary to cultivate electroacupuncture researchers and increase in research funds.

The Anxiolytic-Like Effects of Protocatechuic Acid in an Animal Model of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

서봉준,Sunoh Kwon,DAE HYUN HAHM,Bombi Lee 한국식품영양과학회 2022 Journal of medicinal food Vol.25 No.5

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious psychiatric disorder characterized by impaired fear extinction, depression, and anxiety caused by dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and an imbalance of monoamines. Protocatechuic acid (PCA; 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid), a major polyphenol metabolite, has various pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and neuroprotective activities. In this study, the efficacy of PCA for fear extinction, antidepressant, and anxiolytic effects in PTSD-mediated psychiatric disorders, were evaluated by exposing rats to single prolonged stress (SPS). Male rats were administered PCA (100 or 200 mg/kg) once daily for 14 days after exposure to SPS. PCA significantly decreased situational fear, depressive and anxiety-like behaviors, and corticosterone levels. In addition, PCA regulated the imbalance of serotonin and norepinephrine in the fear circuit region (i.e., the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus [Hipp]), and suppressed the decrease in brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA expression in the Hipp. The results showed that PCA administration improves freezing behavior and has antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects through modulation of the serotonergic nervous system and monoamines in rats. These results indicated that PCA may be useful as a food ingredient to prevent PTSD.

Assessing cardiac irisin activities and their associations on coronary and endothelial activities to compare their recoveries from oxidative stress‑induced cardiac cell injury by Chunglijagam‑tang, a Korean herbal medicine for “Heart Governs Vessels”

이호성,이승훈,Sunoh Kwon,Chae Rim Lee,오달석 경희대학교 융합한의과학연구소 2019 Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine Vol.19 No.4

Involuntary cardiac pumping supplies oxygen and nutrients into coronary and peripheral arteries, which has been recognized as main dynamics of body. Among the molecules regarding cardiac dynamics, we aimed to investigate whether oxidative stress would induce the production of the exercise hormone and its levels could be regulated by herbal medicine, which represents “Heart Governs Vessels.” We searched MEDLINE for exercise hormone and screened titles and abstracts. The primary human myocardial, coronary arterial and peripheral cell lines were treated with hydrogen peroxide to mimic oxidative stress condition. Activity of irisin, an exercise hormone, was measured by ELISA assay. Expression of NADPH oxidase 2, an irisin’s putative target, was determined by immunoblot assay. Among the cardiovascular effects, we found that left ventricular systolic functions could be affected by several molecules, including irisin. In primary myocardial, coronary arterial and peripheral cell lines, irisin secretion and NADPH oxidase 2 expression was increased by 75 µM hydrogen peroxide. Interestingly, ChungliJagam-tang inhibited NOX2 activities by 31.45%, 42.62%, and 47.22% in an oxidative stress-induced primary myocardial, coronary arterial and peripheral cell lines, respectively. In conclusion, the changes in NOX2 level under an oxidative stress condition which mimicked left ventricular functions are associated with cardiac irisin activities and they were controlled by the herbal prescription on “Heart Governs Vessels”.

Proteomic change by Korean Red Ginseng in the substantia nigra of a Parkinson's disease mouse model

Kim, Dongsoo,Kwon, Sunoh,Jeon, Hyongjun,Ryu, Sun,Ha, Ki-Tae,Kim, Seungtae The Korean Society of Ginseng 2018 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.42 No.4

Background: Recent studies have shown that Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) successfully protects against dopaminergic neuronal death in the nigrostriatal pathway of a Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse model induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) administration; however, the mechanism has yet to be identified. Therefore, in this study we used two-dimensional electrophoresis to investigate the effects of KRG on the changes in protein expression in the substantia nigra (SN) of MPTP-treated mice. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice (9 wk old) were intraperitoneally administered MPTP (20 mg/kg) four times at 2-h intervals, after which KRG (100 mg/kg) was orally administered once a day for 5 d. Two hours after the fifth KRG administration, a pole test was conducted to evaluate motor function, after which the brains were immediately collected. Survival of dopaminergic neurons was measured by immunohistochemistry, and protein expression was measured by two-dimensional electrophoresis and Western blotting. Results: KRG alleviated MPTP-induced behavioral dysfunction and neuronal toxicity in the SN. Additionally, the expression of eight proteins related to neuronal formation and energy metabolism for survival were shown to have changed significantly in response to MPTP treatment or KRG administration. KRG alleviated the downregulated protein expression following MPTP administration, indicating that it may enhance neuronal development and survival in the SN of MPTP-treated mice. Conclusion: These findings indicate that KRG may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of patients with PD.

Proteomic change by Korean Red Ginseng in the substantia nigra of a Parkinson’s disease mouse model

Dong-SooKim,Sunoh Kwon,전형준,Sun Ryu,하기태,Seungtae Kim 고려인삼학회 2018 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.42 No.4

Background: Recent studies have shown that Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) successfully protects against dopaminergic neuronal death in the nigrostriatal pathway of a Parkinson’s disease (PD) mouse model induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) administration; however, the mechanism has yet to be identified. Therefore, in this study we used two-dimensional electrophoresis to investigate the effects of KRG on the changes in protein expression in the substantia nigra (SN) of MPTPtreated mice. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice (9 wk old) were intraperitoneally administered MPTP (20 mg/kg) four times at 2-h intervals, after which KRG (100 mg/kg) was orally administered once a day for 5 d. Two hours after the fifth KRG administration, a pole test was conducted to evaluate motor function, after which the brains were immediately collected. Survival of dopaminergic neurons was measured by immunohistochemistry, and protein expression was measured by two-dimensional electrophoresis and Western blotting. Results: KRG alleviated MPTP-induced behavioral dysfunction and neuronal toxicity in the SN. Additionally, the expression of eight proteins related to neuronal formation and energy metabolism for survival were shown to have changed significantly in response to MPTP treatment or KRG administration. KRG alleviated the downregulated protein expression following MPTP administration, indicating that it may enhance neuronal development and survival in the SN of MPTP-treated mice. Conclusion: These findings indicate that KRG may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of patients with PD.

Effect of wild ginseng on scopolamine-induced acetylcholine depletion in the rat hippocampus.

Lee, Bombi,Park, Jongbong,Kwon, Sunoh,Park, Moo-Won,Oh, Sang-Muk,Yeom, Mi-Jung,Shim, Insop,Lee, Hye-Jung,Hahm, Dae-Hyun Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain 2010 Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology Vol.62 No.2

<P>Objectives The ameliorating effects of wild ginseng on learning and memory deficits were investigated in rats. Methods Rats were treated daily with wild ginseng or cultivated ginseng for 7 days at 30 min before scopolamine injection (2 mg/kg, i.p.). After inducing cognitive impairment by the administration of scopolamine, behavioural assessment using the Morris water maze was performed. Changes in cholinergic system reactivity were also examined by measuring the immunoreactive neurons of choline acetyltransferase and the reactivity of acetylcholinesterase in the hippocampus. Key findings Scopolamine injection induced impaired performance in the water maze test and severe cell losses in hippocampal cholinergic neurons, as indicated by decreased choline acetyltransferase immunoreactivity and increased acetylcholinesterase reactivity. Daily administration of wild ginseng produced a significant improvement in the escape latency for finding the platform in the Morris water maze and reduced the loss of cholinergic immunoreactivity in the hippocampus. The reduced expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA due to the scopolamine injection was recovered to normal levels by the administration of wild ginseng. Conclusions Wild ginseng demonstrates a significant neuroprotective effect against scopolamine-induced neuronal and cognitive impairment.</P>

Inhibitory effects of Angelica gigas extract on memory deficits induced by chronic stress in the rat

Lee, Bombi,Sur, Bongjun,Kwon, Sunoh,Shim, Insop,Lee, Hyejung,Hahm, Dae-Hyun 한국통합생물학회 2014 Animal cells and systems Vol.18 No.1

We examined whether a crude methanol extract of Angelica gigas (AgMx) improved the spatial cognitive impairment induced by repeated immobilization (IMO) stress in rats. The effects of AgMx on hippocampal expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) were also investigated. For 21 days, male rats received daily doses of AgMx (20, 50, or 100 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min prior to daily exposure to IMO stress (6 h/day). The daily administration of AgMx improved memory impairment, as measured by the passive avoidance test, and reduced the escape latency for finding the platform in the Morris water maze test. Additionally, as assessed by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, the administration of AgMx significantly alleviated memory-associated decreases in the expression levels of BDNF and CREB proteins and mRNAs in the hippocampus. Thus, these findings suggest that AgMx may be useful as a therapeutic agent in various neurodegenerative diseases for improving cognitive function. It effects likely involve the regulation of BDNF and CREB expressions.

Acupuncture stimulation at HT7 alleviates depression-induced behavioral changes via regulation of the serotonin system in the prefrontal cortex of maternally-separated rat pups

Park, Hyemee,Yoo, Doyoung,Kwon, Sunoh,Yoo, Tae-Won,Park, Hi-Joon,Hahm, Dae-Hyun,Lee, Hyejung,Kim, Seung-Tae Springer-Verlag 2012 JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Vol.62 No.4

<P>A possible application of acupuncture in alleviating depression-like behavioral changes and regulating serotonin signaling in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of maternally-separated rat pups was investigated in this study. On postnatal day 15, rat pups were maternally-separated and received acupuncture stimulation at acupoint HT7 or ST36 once a day for 7 days. On postnatal day 21, the tail suspension test was performed and the PFC was harvested. Tissue levels of serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) were then measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and expression of serotonin transporter (5-HTT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were assessed by western blotting. Levels of 5-HT and 5-HIAA were not significantly changed, but the 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio was significantly increased by maternal separation. The immobility time of maternally-separated rat pups was increased, and increased 5-HTT expression and reduced BDNF level were observed in the PFC. But acupuncture stimulation at HT7 alleviated the behavioral change and regulated the changes of 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio, 5-HTT, and BDNF. In conclusion, acupuncture stimulation at HT7 can relieve maternal separation-induced changes, and we propose that regulation of the 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio and of 5-HTT expression by acupuncture stimulation are important acupuncture-induced benefits in this animal model of depression.</P>