• Development and Reproduction
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2004

This study was carried out to examine the expression of the circadian clock genes in the mouse ovary and testis at different developmental stages. Expression of Period1(Per 1), Period2(Per2), Period3(Per3), Cryptochrome1(Cry1), Cyptochrome2(Cry2), Clock Small and Prokineticin1 and Prokineticin2 receptor(Prok1r, Prok2r) genes in mouse ovary was explored by semiquantitative reverse transcription Polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) according to the developmental stage(post partum day; ppd 1, 7, 10, 21 and 35). Immunohistochemistry using PER1 antibody was also analyzed. The differential expression pattern of clock genes was presented according to stages of the mouse ovarian development (ppd 1, 7, 10, 21 and 35). In the cases of ovaries, at the starting point of follicle growth at ppd 7 and 10, the clock gene expression patterns were changed vastly. According to the developmental stages, the clock genes were highly expressed at ppd 7 and 10 in mouse testis also. Receptors for Prok2, the circadian output molecule of SCN, were also expressed in ovary at ppd 7 and in testis at ppd 1 and 7, respectively. Immnunohistochemical analysis of PER1 showed positive signals in the cytoplasm of oocytes and granulosa cells. The level or PER1 expression was increased in cells at the spermatogonia and the condensing spermatids. The expression pattern of Perl and localization of PER1 were showed similar patterns according to the developmental stages in ovary and testis. Taken together, it could be observed that the expression of clock genes was highly correlated with gonadal development and germ cell differentiation in mice. Therefore, in this study, circadian programming of the genes in the ovary and testis is strongly imposed across a wide range of core reproductive cycles and normal development of gametes. Although the existence of circadian genes is clearly investigated, further studies on the direct evidence is required for the understanding of the relationship between circadian genes and regulation of gonadal differentiation and germ cell development.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.415-422
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• 2010

Red ginseng(RG, steamed and dried root of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, family Araliaceae) and fermented red ginseng(FRG, fermented red ginseng by yeast and lactic acid bacteria) are known to show different pharmacological effects by changed composition of saponins through fermentation. We examined the effects of RG and FRG on $\beta$-hexosaminidase secretion, ICAM-1 expression, the mitogen-induced proliferation of lymphocyte from mice in ex vivo systems and HaCaT cell(keratinocyte) proliferation to compare the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects between both groups. RG groups showed inhibition of $\beta$-hexosaminidase secretion and ICAM-1 expression at $1{\mu}g/ml$, $10{\mu}g/ml$ and the same effects were observed at all concentrations in FRG groups. In our study, RG increased LPS-induced B cell proliferation at $1{\mu}g/ml$ and ConA-induced B cell proliferation at $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ but FRG decreased LPS- and ConA-induced lymphocytes at $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. We showed that FRG increased the proliferation of HaCaT at 1, $10{\mu}g/ml$ but not by RG. These findings suggest that RG and FRG might have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects, which can be needed to proper clinical concentration to applied to various allergic diseases and inflammation.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.165-176
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• 2005

Studies on molecular plasticity of Bermann glia (BG) after harmaline-induced Purkinje cell (PC) degeneration in the rat cerebellum. The intimate structural relationship between BG and PC, evidenced by the sheathing of the PC dendrites by veil-like process from the BG has been suggestive of the close functional relationship between these two cell types. However, little is known about metabolic couplings between these cells. This study designed to investigate molecular plasticity of BG in the rat cerebellum in which PCs were chemically ablated by harmaline treatment. Immunohistochemical examination reveals that harmaline induced PC degeneration causes a marked glial reaction in the cerebellum with activated BG and microglia aligned in parasagittal stripes within the vermis. In these strips, activated BG were associated with upregulaion of metallotheionein, while GLAST and was down regulated, as compared with nearby intact area where both BG are in contact with PCs. The data from this study demonstrate that BG can change their phenotypic expression when BG loose their contact with PCs. It is conceivable that activated BG may upregulate structural proteins, metallothionein expression to use for their proliferation and hypertrophy; metallothionein expression to cope with oxidative stress induced by PC degeneration and microglial activation. On the contrary, BG may down regulated expression of GLAST because sustained loss of contact with PCs would eliminate the necessity for the cellular machinery involved glutamate metabolism. In conclusion, BG might respond man to death of PCs by undergoing a change in metabolic state. It seems possible that signaling molecules released from PCs regulates the phenotype expression of BG. Also ultrastructures in the organelles of normal PC and BG are distinguished by mitochondrial appearance, and distributed vesicles at the synaptic area in the cytoplasm.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.67-80
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of deer antler extract on the regeneration of peripheral nerves. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing about 300 gm were fed deer antler extract for 1, 2, and 3 weeks per oral (1.5 ml/100 gm B.W.), respectively, once a day and transected both sides of sciatic nerve of each leg. After keeping for 6 hours, sciatic nerves taken from proximal part of transected region were treated with conventional transmission electron microscopical method and then observed with electron microscope. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. Sciatic nerves of normal control group were not showing any sprouts and electron dense axolemmal projections were frequently observed. 2. Sciatic nerves of saline treated groups were showing axonal sprouts at the nodes of Ranvier. The length of them was usually short, and numerous vesicles, vacuoles and organelles including neurofilament were contained. The number of nodes of Ranvier containing sprouts from 100 longitudinal sectioned nerve fibers was 29 (29%) in 1 week treated group, 32 (32%) in 2 weeks treated group, and 30 (30%) in 3 weeks treated group, respectively. 3. Sciatic nerves of deer antler treated groups were showing axonal sprouts at the node of Ranvier as well. Although most of the sprouts were short, some sprouts of 2 weeks and 3 weeks treated groups were quite long. Sprouts usually contained numerous vesicles, vacuoles and cell organelles such as neurofilaments and mitochondria. The number of nodes of Ranvier containing sprouts from 100 longitudinal sectioned nerve fibers was 38 (38%) in 1 week treated group, 46 (46%) in 2 weeks treated group, and 48 (48%) in 3 weeks treated group respectively. The results described above explain pretreatment of deer antler extract improves the sprout formation of transected sciatic nerves, and then it suggests deer antler may be effective for the regeneration of peripheral nerves.

• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.107-120
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• 1999

Synovial joint of BALB/C mice were injeced with Lipopolysaccharide(LPS) were observed to investigate the morphological changes of synovial capsule caused by rheumatoid arthritis(RA). The RA on female Balb/c mice were induced by LPS injection, as dose of $300{\mu}{\ell}/kg$, into synovial cavity of knee joint. And then these specimen were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and were decalcificated in EDTA solution for 4 weeks. The hyperplasia of synovium were appeared in synovial membrane. The filopodia of phagocytic like synoviocyte(type I synoviocyte) projected into synovial cavity and the number of fibroblast like synoviocyte(type II synoviocyte) with well-developed endoplasmic reticulum were increased in synovium. In fibrous membrane, the fibrosis induced by synthesis of collagen fiber were enlarged to all fibrous membrane, and the number of fibroblast were increased. A great number of inflammation component cell as lymphocyte and neutrophil leukocyte were infiltrated around capillary and the degranulate typed mast cell were increased. As results indicated that the hyperplasia of synovium induced by LPS, subsequently to cause the fibrosis, infiltration of imflammation component cell, and increase of degranulated type mast cell as same as symptoms of RA.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.89-108
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• 1980

Comparative studies on the parafollicular cells of the some mammalian species from five different orders were carried out; i.e., man from Primates, cattle, pig, and black goat from Artiodactyla, dog from Carnivora, rabbit from Lagomorpha, rat, mouse, and squirrel from Rodentia. For this study, various special techniques for the parafollicular cells, including Grimelius' silver impregnation method (Sawicki and Bajko, 1974), Singh's argentaffin method (Singh, 1964), HCl-toluidine blue stain (Sawicki, 1971), and HCl-lead hematoxylin stain (Solcia et al., 1969), were applied. Authors obtained the following results: 1. Number of parafollicular cells in the same area of thyroid tissues are significantly different from species to species. Number of cells were largest in dog and less cells were found in the following orders; rat, squirrel, mouse, rabbit, cattle, pig, black goat and finally the smallest number in man. 2. Distribution of parafollicular cells within thyroid gland are significantly different from portion to portion in case of cattle, rabbit, squirrel and mouse, but it is not significant in dog, man, pig, black goat and rat (see Table 1-1 and 1-2). 3. In dog, clustered parafollicular cells are located usually in the interfollicular space, and groups of parafollicular cells are located in the para-and/or inter-follicular positions in rabbit. But in the other animals parafollicular cells are found solitarily in the intra-and/or para-follicular positions. 4. The shape of parafollicular cells shows oval to round contour in dog, but it is polymorphic, for example, spindle, conical, oval, round or elongated with cytoplasmic processes, in the other animals. 5. Size of parafollicular cells is larger in cattle, dog and pig, smaller in rat, mouse and squirrel, and medium-size in rabbit, man and black goat. 6. Parafollicular cells of pig, cattle, dog and squirrel are observed to contain densely packed granules, whereas those of mouse, rat and man contain relatively scanty granules. 7. Parafollicular cells of all the mammals show more or less positive reaction to Grimelius' argyrophile silver impregnation method, HCl-toluidine blue stain and HCl-lead hematoxylin stain, whereas they show negative reaction to argentaffin method (see Table 2). 8. Considering the above finding, it is concluded that there are species differences in the distribution, location and shape of parafollicular cells, and infer that preferable staining method should be selected for reliable detection of parafollicular cells, beacuse staining methods applied on the cells in this study show variable reactions according to species.

• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.117-128
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• 1997

Abdominal skin tissues of ICR mouse painted with Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) were observed to investigate the delayed type hypersensitivity of skin by chemical allergen as hapten. The abdominal skin tissues were obtained at hour 48 after secondary DNCB sensitization that were stained by Luna's method for mast cell, and immunohistochemical stain method for IL-2 receptor. The superficial perivascular lymphocytic aggregation were shown in basement membrane after DNCB secondary painting and the large size capillaries in dermis were appeared. The infiltration of lymphocyte to epithelium, the vacuolation of epithelial cell and intercellular space were increased. The number of mast cell in dermis was increased and these shape is degranulation type. The number of IL-2 receptor positive cell was increased in dermis. As results indicated that the hypersensitivy of immune system were induced by DNCB, subsequently to damage evoke inflammation in skin.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.173-178
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• 1998

Leptin, the product of the obese gene, is produced by adipose tissue and is known to be a hormone concerned with regulation of appetite and metabolism. Recent reports have shown that leptin is associated not only with obesity but also with female reproduction, but it has not yet been ascertained whether leptin acts directly on the ovaries or indirectly via the hypothalamus or pituitary pathway. The object of this study is to determine the expression of leptin and its receptor in the ovaries of 3 and 8 weeks old rats by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. In the ovaries of 3 and 8 weeks old rats, leptin was stained in the theca cells and portions of granulosa cells of atretic follicles, whereas leptin receptors was stained in interstitial cells and ova of preantral follicles. The RT-PCR results showed that leptin receptor mRNA was expressed in the ovaries of both immature and adult rats, while leptin mRNA was not. In conclusion, leptin mRNA was not expressed in the ovaries, however, leptin was detected by immunohistochemistry. Compared to leptin itself, leptin receptors in the ovaries were ascertained by both RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. These results suggest that leptin is related to the regulation of the physiological functions of the ovaries.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.233-241
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• 2003

Patterns of tannin accumulation in leaves of C-4 Euphorbia maculata have been examined using electron microscopy. Tannins, which are secondary metabolite phenolic compounds, were found to be deposited conspicuously in vacuoles of certain tissues regardless of their stage in development. However, patterns of deposit accumulation were distinguishable by their cell type during leaf differentiation. The deposits appeared most concentrated in the concentric bundle sheath cells enclosing veins, while little or no density was detected mostly in the mesophyll cells close to the epidermis. An ultrastructural study revealed that the deposits were restricted to the vacuoles at an early stage of leaf development; during which the vacuoles were almost completely filled with the tanniferous substances. The deposits themselves took different forms ranging from granules to huge globules while expanding leaf blade. As the leaf matured, the deposits accumulated either centripetally adjacent to the inner tangential tonoplast or by penetration into the cytoplasm amongst various cellular organelles, resulting in an extremely dense cytoplasm. Electron micrographs frequently showed the delineation of each organelle by the presence of dense deposits within the cytoplasm. Some large depository vacuoles filled with tannins had a corrugated appearance on the sectioned surface. The pattern and potential role of the deposits have been discussed.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.267-274
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• 2001

The pineal gland of the bird occupies a key position in the phylogenetic evolution of this organ. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the developmental changes of the pineal gland during post-hatching period in Korean pheasant. The pheasants were sacrificed at 1-day-, 1-month-, 2-month-, and 6-month-old after hatching. The morphological characteristics of a pineal glands were determined in all pheasants using light microscope, and transmission electron microscope. Connective tissue originated from the capsule divided the pineal parenchyma into incomplete lobules. The parenchyma was consisted of pinealocytes and supportive cells. These parenchymal cells were arranged in the forms of solid lobules as well as incomplete follicles. At the follicular lumen, membraneous lamellar complexes and blob -like structures were present. Pinealocyte, a predominent cell type, had euchromatic nucleus, and showed the segmental organization. The bulbous apical portion had scanty free ribosomes and occasional cilia associated with basal bodies. The constricted neck, transitional portion from apical to pericarya had junctional complexes with adjacent supportive cells, and had microtubules. Cell body contained abundant mitochondria, well-developed Golgi complex, rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and free ribosomes. Basal processes extended from the base of the cell soma toward the basal lamina and contained 60∼90 nm dense cored vesicles. Supportive cells, another major type of the parenchyma, were characterized by the dense and elongated nucleus, and contained moderate number of mitochondria, RER, developed Golgi complex, free ribosomes and a few dense bodies in the perinuclear cytoplasm. Slender processes of supportive cells interposed between the pinealocytes and often bordered the basal region of the parenchyma. These results indicate that the pinealocytes of the pheasant are not rudimentary photoreceptor cells, and appear to have secretory function. Further studies will be required to confirm the morphological characteristics of pineal gland in adult pheasant during breeding and nonbreeding season.