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ABSTRACT Modulation of voltage-activated Ca 2ϩ channels by adenosine was investigated in male rat major pelvic ganglion (MPG) neurons by using the whole-cell variant of the patch-clamp technique. Adenosine inhibited high voltage-activated (HVA) Ca 2ϩ currents in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC 50 of 313 nM and a maximal inhibition of 36%, respectively. Inhibition of HVA Ca 2ϩ currents in adrenergic and cholinergic MPG neurons was similar. Adenosine did not modulate T-type Ca 2ϩ channels present in adrenergic MPG neurons. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that MPG neurons express mRNAs encoding A 1 and A 2a receptors. Ca 2ϩ current inhibition by adenosine was mimicked by N 6 -cyclopentyladenosine, an A 1 -selective agonist (EC 50 ϭ 63 nM) and prevented by 100 nM 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, an A 1 -selective antagonist. Conversely, CGS 21680, an A 2a -selective agonist, displayed a relatively low potency (EC 50 ϭ 2200 nM) for inhibiting Ca 2ϩ currents. The action of adenosine was significantly attenuated by 2 mM guanosine-5Ј-thiodiphosphate or 500 ng/ml pertussis toxin. The voltage dependence of adenosine-induced current inhibition was evident by 1) a bellshaped profile between the current inhibition and test potentials, 2) kinetic slowing in the presence of agonist, and 3) relief of the current inhibition by a conditioning prepulse to ϩ80 mV. Finally, 1 M -conotoxin GVIA occluded adenosine-induced current inhibition. Taken together, we concluded that adenosine inhibits N-type Ca 2ϩ currents by activation of A 1 receptors via a voltage-dependent and PTX-sensitive pathway in rat MPG neurons. Our data may explain how adenosine acts as an inhibitory modulator of ganglionic and neuromuscular transmission in the pelvic plexus.

of bone formation and membrane degradation in guided bone regeneration using a 4-hexylresorcinol-incorporated silk fabric membrane Sang-Woon Lee1*, In Chul Um2, Seong-Gon Kim3 and Min-Sang Cha1 Background: The aims of present study were (1) to evaluate new bone formation among the 4-hexylresorcinol

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like to give particular thanks to my committee Professors, Sung-Bong Yang, In-Kwon Lee, Vason P. Srini (ICU, Dataflux Systems), and Woo-Chan Park (Sejong University) for their invaluable coments and suggestion. I wish to thank other Professors in Yonsei University, Shin-Dug Kim, HoJung Cha, Yong

Genetic control of mammalian T-cell proliferation with a synthetic RNA regulatory system- illusion or reality? Sang Kil Lee 1,2 and George A Calin 1 * Synthetic RNA-based regulatory systems are used to program higher-level biological functions that could be exploited, among many applications

y R Re ev vi ie ew w Volume IV, Issue 1 -April 2008 Sang-hui Nam German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Germany The Construction of Self-Identity in the Chronically Mentally Ill: A Focus on Autobiographic Narratives of Mentally Ill Patients in South Korea Abstract . A systematic policy

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