• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.159-168
• /
• 2006

Rodents and many other mammals have two chemosensory systems that mediate responses to pheromones, the main and accessory olfactory system, MOS and AOS, respectively. The chemosensory neurons associated with the MOS are located in the main olfactory epithelium, while those associated with the AOS are located in the vomeronasal organ(VNO). Pheromonal odorants access the lumen of the VNO via canals in the roof of the mouth, and are largely thought to be nonvolatile. The main pheromone receptor proteins consist of two superfamilies, V1Rs and V2Rs, that are structurally distinct and unrelated to the olfactory receptors expressed in the main olfactory epithelium. These two type of receptors are seven transmembrane domain G-protein coupled proteins(V1R with $G_{{\alpha}i2}$, V2R with $G_{0\;{\alpha}}$). V2Rs are co-expressed with nonclassical MHC Ib genes(M10 and other 8 M1 family proteins). Other important molecular component of VNO neuron is a TrpC2, a cation channel protein of transient receptor potential(TRP) family and thought to have a crucial role in signal transduction. There are four types of pheromones in mammalian chemical communication - primers, signalers, modulators and releasers. Responses to these chemosignals can vary substantially within and between individuals. This variability can stem from the modulating effects of steroid hormones and/or non-steroid factors such as neurotransmitters on olfactory processing. Such modulation frequently augments or facilitates the effects that prevailing social and environmental conditions have on the reproductive axis. The best example is the pregnancy block effect(Bruce effect), caused by testosterone-dependent major urinary proteins(MUPs) in male mouse urine. Intriguingly, mouse GnRH neurons receive pheromone signals from both odor and pheromone relays in the brain and may also receive common odor signals. Though it is quite controversial, recent studies reveal a complex interplay between reproduction and other functions in which GnRH neurons appear to integrate information from multiple sources and modulate a variety of brain functions.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.329-336
• /
• 2016

Cutaneous microvasculature plays a critical role in age-associated skin changes. A considerable reduction of number and size of vessels has been observed in the upper dermis of elderly skin. Forsythiae fructus (FF), the dried fruit of plant Forsythia suspensa (F. suspensa), has been traditionally used as an herbal medicine to treat inflammatory diseases and bacterial diseases. However, its regulatory effect on angiogenic responses has not been elucidated in skin. Therefore, we analyzed secretory profiles upon treatment of FF extract using array designed to detect angiogenesis-associated mediators in human keratinocytes. Because keratinocyte-derived VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) has been regarded as a potent factor for new microvasculature under the epidermis, we further investigated the effect of FF extract on VEGF production. We observed that the VEGF expression of mRNA and protein level was increased by about 2 folds in a dose-dependent manner after FF extract treatment. In signaling experiments, FF extract induced rapid p38 MAPK activation within 5 min, and the activation was totally abrogated by pretreatment with a p38 MAPK specific inhibitor. The FF-induced VEGF upregulation was also significantly attenuated by a p38 MAPK inhibition. Taken together, FF extract induces VEGF production via p38 MAPK activation in human epidermal keratinocytes. These novel findings suggest that FF is useful as a potential agent with pro-angiogenic activity and may help to improve age-dependent reduction of the microvasculature in aged skin or to heal skin wound.

• Archives of design research
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.335-350
• /
• 2004

Design takes concrete form from the things which are not yet exist to the molded reality. Creation of value which is accompanied by the rational value could be possible only through the searching examination of the basic concept. All designs are under circumstances because the results and the character of the problems are different under the given conditions and circumstances which are the characteristic of the design. The aim of this study is searching for the differential design conce- pt which is the most appropriate and reasonable in the basic design process in which the phase of the analysis, synthesis and evaluation of the problem. First of all the pursuit value of the times and the change of the view point of value of the product design. How the pursuit value of times were searched and analyzed. Analyze the successful product design realization of the typical trend of the modern design which are 3-2. function-focused design, 3-3. emotion-centered design, 3-4. image communicative design through the metaphor, 3-5. environmental affinity design. On the base of the case analysis how to apply the differential design concept which is coming as a trend in the future society which are sustainable developing society was examined closely. The outcome through the analysis of the success cases are as follows, \circled1 the value of the spirit of the times should be emphasized as the design image, \circled2 environmental appropriateness should be taken into consideration as the first primary factor, \circled3 the realization of value of the fulfillment of differential consumer's needs, \circled4 lead to prolong the life cycle of the product, \circled5 promote the sustaining growth of enterprise, \circled6 user-centered product value should be the first consideration. \circled7 It is necessary to overcome the cultural andinguistic barriers and to reflect the metaphor which people remember well. \circled8 The application of human's true character should be decided beforehand. It is the commonness of values of times and customs. \circled9 The differentiated design concept which meets our mental satisfaction, not material one, will be required. In addition to this the creative and differentiated design concepts which are accompanied by the good design factor under the base of product could achieve the emotional consensus from the consumers. That is, the value of all designs should be estimated by the base of the humanism ' The human beings are the barometer of all things".ngs".uot;.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.87-92
• /
• 2009

Purpose : Many gene polymorphisms are associated with coronary artery abnormalities in Kawasaki disease. Catechol-O- methyltransferase (COMT) plays an important role in the metabolism of catecholamines, catechol estrogen, and catechol drugs. Polymorphisms of the COMT gene are reported to be associated with myocardial infarction and coronary artery abnormalities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between COMT gene polymorphisms and coronary artery abnormalities in Kawasaki disease patients. Methods : One hundred and one Korean children with Kawasaki disease and 306 healthy Korean control subjects were enrolled in this study. The polymorphisms of the COMT gene were analyzed by direct sequencing. Results : There were no differences in the genotype and allelic frequency of the rs4680 and rs769224 polymorphic sites between Kawasaki disease and control subjects. Further, no significant difference was found in the rs4680 polymorphism between patients with coronary artery abnormalities and patients without coronary artery abnormalities (codominant P=0.32, dominant P=0.74, recessive P=0.13). However, the distribution of the rs769224 polymorphism was significantly different between patients with coronary artery abnormalities and patients without coronary artery abnormalities (codominant P= 0.0077, dominant P=0.0021, recessive P=0.16). Conclusion : Our results indicate that the polymorphisms of the rs769224 gene might be related to the development of coronary artery abnormalities in Kawasaki disease.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.26-31
• /
• 2012

For the purpose of production of GABA-rich tomato paste, this study was carried out to investigate GABA producing lactic acid bacteria from Korean traditional fermented food, Kimchi and optimize the culture conditions. As a result of fermentation, Lactobacillus brevis B3-20 among lactic acid bacteria isolated at the pre-experiments was the best producer of GABA at the tomato paste medium with 50%(wet-base) levels of dionized water. At the result of fermentation on the tomato paste medium with 0.5%(w/w) yeast extract, as a source of nitrogen, 3%(w/w) MSG(monosodium glutamate) and dionized water(the ratio of tomato paste and water was 2:8), Lb. brevis B3-20 produced the maximum GABA concentration, 143.38 mM. GABA-rich tomato paste showed the activity of free radical scavenging. Because GABA-rich tomato paste have functional ingredients such as ascorbic acid, lycopene, carotenoid, as well as GABA by lactic acid bacteria fermentation, GABA-rich tomato paste can be considered high functional materials.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.13-20
• /
• 1991

There are some rather conflicting reports correlating ECS-induced changes of brain acetylcholine, and recently, Zawia and Bondy(1990) proposed the biological role of polyamine system in the long-term adaptive responses of brain to electrical stimulation. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of a single or repeated ECS(10mA, 100cps, 1sec; 5 ECS spread out over 9 days) on the brain acetylcholine(ACh) and polyamine contents of male mice. The ACh contents of temporal cortex(TCx) and decorticated cerebrum(dc-CB) were markedly increased by 79.9% and 49.4%, respectively, 10 and 30 min after ECS, and the increases were significantly attenuated with repeated 5 ECS, particularly in dc-CB. The putrescine concentrations of both TCx and dc-CB were little different and not affected by 1 ECS or 5 ECS. But the spermidine(Sd) concentration was higher in dc-CB and spermine(Sm) higher in TCx. While they were moderately decreased after 1 ECS, and their decreases were accentuated after 5 ECS, particularly in dc-CB.Sm(30mg/kg, i.p. inject. 30min before ECS) did not affect the ECS-induced increase of ACh content. Thease results suggest that both of brain ACh and polyamine may be implicated with the long-term adaptive responses to electrical stimulation

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.237-250
• /
• 2021

Teachers play a key role in designing a students' learning experience. Teachers are asked to interpret the context in which they are located and to adjust their practice to fit circumstantial needs based on their teacher agency. In this study, we explore the emergence of teacher agency in distance learning caused by COVID-19 and we analyze factors shaping the teacher agency. For this purpose, we interviewed six secondary science teachers who practiced distance learning in 2020. Semi-constructed interviews and their artifacts were collected and analyzed. This study shows that teacher agency is captured when they respond to circumstantial change and modify their practice to achieve their professional purpose or adjust their practice in space for maneuvering or keep their practice consistent. This study also analyzes the factors that affect the emergence of teacher agency in two dimensions. One is individual and the other is contextual. In the individual dimension, educational values shaped by his/her experiences and short/long-term goals for the future support the emergence of teacher agency. In the contextual dimension, there are collaborative and flexible culture shared by the community, co-operation within the teacher community, and material support. On the other hand, in the individual dimension, the teachers' sense of their role, and no reflection for own practice constrain the emergence of teacher agency, and in the contextual dimension, performativity discourse and strong requirement without guidance constrain the emergence of teacher agency. We suggest an effective lens for establishing a strategy that support teachers' professional practice and the emergence of teacher agency.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.11-22
• /
• 2022

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors have received considerable attention regarding their involvement in glutamate-induced neuronal excitotoxicity. Resveratrol has been shown to exhibit neuroprotective effects against this kind of overactivation, but the underlying cellular mechanisms are not yet clearly understood. In this study, HT-22 neuronal cells were treated with NMDA in Mg²⁺-free buffer and subsequently used as an experimental model of glutamate excitotoxicity to elucidate the mechanisms of resveratrol-induced neuroprotection. We found that NMDA treatment causes a drop in MTT reduction ability, disrupts inside-negative transmembrane potential of mitochondria, depletes cellular ATP levels, and stimulates intracellular ROS production. Double fluorescence imaging studies demonstrated an increased formation of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pores accompanied by apoptotic cell death, while cobalt protoporphyrin and bilirubin showed protective effects against NMDA-induced mitochondrial injury. On the other hand, zinc protoporphyrin IX significantly attenuated the protective effects of resveratrol which was itself shown to enhance heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA and protein expression levels. In cells transfected with HO-1 small interfering RNA, resveratrol failed to suppress the NMDA-induced effects on MTT reduction ability and MPT pore formation. The present study suggests that resveratrol may prevent mitochondrial injury in NMDA- treated HT-22 cells and that enhanced expression of HO-1 is involved in the underlying cellular mechanism.