• 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.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2008

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important regulator of renal blood flow, glomerular hemodynamics, and tubule transport processes in the kidney. There is also evidence that NO is involved in cell cycle regulation and mitotic division. During development the nNOS expression pattern differs from that observed in adult animals. However, little is known about temporal and spatial patterns of nNOS expression in the developing kidney. The purpose of this study was to establish the time of expression and the distribution of nNOS in the developing rat kidney. Kidneys from 14-, 16-, 17-, 18-, and 20-day-old fetuses, 1-, 4-, 7-, 14-, and 21-day-old pups, and adult animals were preserved and processed for immunohistochemistry. In the adult kidney, nNOS was detected in the parietal epithelium of Bowman s capsule, macula densa, descending thin limb and inner medullary collecting duct. nNOS immunoreactivity appeared first in the distal tubule anlage at 15 days of gestation, and in all epithelial cells of developing thick ascending limbs (TAL) as well as macula densa of 17- and 18-day-old fetuses. From 20 days of gestation to 14 days after birth, nNOS was expressed in the newly formed cortical TAL, which are located in the medullary ray, whereas in mature TAL of juxtamedullary nephrons, nNOS immunolabeling gradually decreased in intensity and became restricted to the macula densa. In inner medullary collecting ducts, nNOS immunoreactivity appeared first at 7 days after birth in the papillary tip and gradually ascended to the border between outer and inner medulla. In the descending thin limb and parietal epithelium of Bowman's capsule, weak nNOS immunoreactivity was observed at 14 days after birth and labeling gradually increased to adult levels at 21 days after birth. These results suggest that differential expression of nNOS in the developing kidney is an important physiological regulator of renal function during kidney maturation.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2003

Purpose : Anorexia-cachexia syndrome is one of the most common symptoms and main cause of death in terminal cancer patients. This symptom is due to the enlarged cancer mass as well as tumor released cytokines. Some doctors have suggested that vitamin C was preferentially toxic to tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, and improved clinical symptoms in terminal cancer patients. Therefore, we measured cytokines in serum of terminal cancer patients to determine whether vitamin C treatment improved the anorexia-cachexia syndrome. Methods : We investigated that 49 terminal cancer patients admitted to the department of family medicine, National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan hospital from March 1, 2002 to August 31, 2002. The study was done on 22 patients who were given 10 g/day of vitamin C infusions during 1 week and 27 patients who were not infused. We measured the cytokines levels ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$) before and after 1 week between terminal cancer patients treated vitamin C and without vitamin C. Results : Out of 49 patients, patents treated with vitamin C infusions were 22 (12 male, 10 female), and these without vitamin C were 27 (18 male, 9 female). In patients treated with vitamin C, $IL-1{\beta}\;were\;6.19{\pm}5.17$ before day and $8.76{\pm}5.72$ after 1 week, IL-6 were $3.07{\pm}8.09$ before day and $1.31{\pm}2.36$ after 1 week, and $TNF-{\alpha}\;were\;2.74{\pm}14.24$ before day and $0.50{\pm}2.00$ after 1 week. In patients treated without vitamin C, $IL-1{\beta}\;were\;2.50{\pm}3.58$ before day and $6.49{\pm}12.01$ after 1 week, IL-6 were $1.00{\pm}2.19$ before day and $17.16{\pm}81.55$ after 1 week, and $TNF-{\alpha}\;were\;1.19{\pm}2.98$ before day and $1.27{\pm}1.52$ after 1 week. The level of cytokines in patients treated with vitamin C decreased more than those without vitamin C. However, this represented no statistical value (P=0.0598 in $IL-1{\beta}$, P=0.1664 in IL-6, and P=0.5395 in $TNF-{\alpha}$). Conclusion : In terminal cancer, even if there was no statistical difference in the cytokines levels between patients treated with vitamin C and those not treated, those who were treated had a decrease all cytokines levels. Vitamin C is very safe with almost no side effects. Therefore, vitamin C treatment in terminal cancer patients can be seen as beneficial and helpful for clinical symptoms.