• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.270-287
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• 2015

Objectives To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of modified Yuldahanso-tang (MYH) in a Parkinson's disease mouse model. Methods 1) Four groups (each of 8 rats per group) were used in this study. 2) The neuroprotective effect of MYH was examined in a Parkinson's disease mouse model. C57BL/6 mice treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP, 30 mg/kg/day), intraperitoneal (i.p.) for 5 days. 3) The brains of 2 mice per group were removed and frozen at $-20^{\circ}C$, and the striatum-substantia nigra part was seperated. The protein volume was measured by Bradford method following Bio-Rad protein analyzing kit. Using mouse/Rat Dopamine ELISA Assay Kit. 4) The brains of 2 mice per group were separated and removed. TH-immunohistochemical was examined in the MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease mice to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of MYH on ST and SNpc. 5) Two mice out of each group were anesthetized and skulls were opened from occipital to frontal direction to take out the brains. The brains added TTC solution for 20 minutes for staining. 6) The water tank used for morris water maze test was filled with $28^{\circ}C$ water, and a round platform of 10cm in diameter was installed for mice to step on. The study was carried out once a day within 30 seconds, keep exercising to step on the platform in the pool. 7) The brains of two mice out of each group were fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution and paraphillin substance was infiltrated. They were fragmented by microtome, and observed under an optical microscope after Hematoxylin & Eosin staining. 8) A round acrylic cylinder with its upper side open was filled with clean water and depressive mouse models were forced to swim for 15 minutes. After 24 hours the animals were put in the same equipment for 5 minutes and were forced to swim. 9) The convenient, simple, and accurate high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was established for simultaneous determination of Neurotransmitters in MPTP-MYH group. Results 1) MYH possess Dopamine cell protective effect on MPTP-induced injury in striatum and substantia nigra pars compacta. 2) MYH inhibits the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreacitive (TH-IR) cells in the striatum and substantia nigra pars compacta on MPTP-induced injury in C57BL/6 mice. 3) MYH possesses improvement effect on MPTP-induced memory deterioration in C57BL/6 mice through the reduction of prolongated Sort of lost time by MPTP injection using the Morris water maze test. 4) MYH possesses hippocampal neuron protective effect on MPTP-induced injury in C57BL/6 mice. 5) MYH possesses improvement effect on MPTP-induced motor behaviour deficits and depression in C57BL/6 mice through the reduction of prolongated losing motion by MPTP injection using the Forced swimming test. 6) MYH increases serotonin product amount on MPTP-induced injury in C57BL/6 mice. Conclusions This experiment suggests that the neuroprotective effect of MYH is mediated by the increase in Dopamin, TH-ir cell, Hippocampus and Serotonin. Furthermore, MYH essential oil may serve as a potential preventive or therapeutic agent regarding Parkinson's disease.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.159-168
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• 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 Veterinary Clinics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.111-130
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• 1993

Lead toxicity was evaluated in forty-five cats on a balanced diet, Treated with 0(control), 10, 100(low), 1, 000, 2, 000, and 4, 000(high) ppm of lead acetate orally on a body weight basis. The objectives were to establish toxic dosage level of leaf in cats, to characterize changes in behavior and clinical pathology, and to demonstrate what blood lead concentrations correlate with the known dosages of lead. Some high dose cats showed projectile vomiting, hyperactivity, and seizures. The growth rates did not appear to be altered in any of the dosed groups. Normal blood lead concentration in cats were lower than that of humans, dogs, and cattle. Blood lead concentrations of 3 to 20$\mu\textrm{g}$/100$m\ell$ could be termed a 'subclinical' range in the cat. Clinical lead toxicity in cats may have blood lead concentrations ranging 20 to 120$\mu\textrm{g}$/100$m\ell$. Zinc protoporphyrin concentrations were proportional to lead dosages and a significant ZPP elevation, greater than 50$\mu\textrm{g}$/100$m\ell$, may be indicative of clinical lead toxicity. The enzyme aminolevulinic acid dehydratase showed an inverss dose response relationship for all lead dosages and a significant ZPP elevation, greater than 50$\mu\textrm{g}$/100$m\ell$, may be indicative of clinical lead toxicity. The enzyme aminolevulinic acid dehydratase showed an inverse dose response relationship for all lead dosages and appears to be a good indicator of lead exposure in cats. Urinary aminolevuliruc acid concentrations generally increased with lead dosage, but individual values varied. Hair lead concentrations rose proportionately to lead dosages. Lead at least in high doses appears to inhibit chemotactic activity of polymorphonuclear cells and monocytes. No consistent dose response relationships were observed in hemoglobin, RBC, WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and eosinophil counts. There were no consistent dose related changes in total protein, plasma protein, BUN, and ALT values. Reticulocyte counts did not increase significantly in most lead dosage levels, and are probably of little value in diagnosing lead toxicity in cats. The fact that no significant changes were found in nerve conduction velocities may support that there was no segmental demyelination resulting from lead ingestion. The lethal dose in cats appear to range from 60 to 150mg/kg body weight. A reliable diagnosis of lead poisoning can be made utilizing blood lead, ZPP, and ALAD, and hair lead.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.62-67
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• 2018

Hunter syndrome, also known as mucopolysaccharidosis Type II (MPS II), is one of the lysosomal storage diseases caused by a lack of the enzyme iduronate 2-sulfatase (I2S). Lack of the I2S enzyme activity leads to accumulation of the glycosaminoglycans (GAG), causing dysfunction of multiple organs and systems. MPS II is an X-linked recessive disease due to mutation of IDS gene located on long arm of the X chromosome (Xq28). To date, more than 350 mutations of IDS gene have been identified in Hunter syndrome. Phenotypes of MPS II are classified as either severe or attenuated depending on the degree of cognitive impairment. Because the phenotype of MPS II is related to the type of mutation, identifying mutations is useful in predicting prognosis. We recently had a case of MPS II diagnosed by exome sequencing in a 7 month old boy with infantile spasm uncontrolled by AED. He was diagnosed with hearing loss at 2 months of age, and he took vigabatrin and prednisolone to control infantile spasms diagnosed at 3 months of age. At 6 months of age, whole exome sequencing was performed to evaluate the infantile spasm and hearing loss in this patient, and the mutation c.851C>T (p.Pro284Leu) inherited from hemizygous mother was revealed. The results of urine Cetylpyridinium Chloride (CPC) precipitation test, which were negative until 8 months of age, were positive from 9 months of age. We report a case of MPS II diagnosed by exome sequencing and treated through enzyme replacement therapy from 9 months after birth.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.18-28
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• 2019

Recent studies reported that obesity upregulated the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and regulated particular behavior patterns in animal models. They also reported that ameliorated the increase in nNOS expression and decreased depression and anxiolytic effects. Thus, exercise seems to be an effective strategy for improving brain function by downregulating nNOS. However, the immune response differs greatly, depending on the exercise intensity. The aim of the present study was to investigate differences in brain nNOS expression in obese C57BL/6 mice that performed exercise of different intensities. Obesity was induced in 6-wks-old mice (n=35) by feeding a 60%-fat diet for 6-wks. A control (CON) group (n=14) was fed a normal diet. At the end of the induction 6-wks period of obesity, seven animals in the CON group and obesity-induced group were sacrificed to confirm obesity induction (preliminary experiments and confirmation of visceral fat accumulation). The remaining animals were then used in an 8-wks exercise intervention. Other than the CON (n=7), the obesity-induced animals were divided into the following groups: high-fat diet (HFD, n=7), HFD-low intensity (HFD-LI, n=7, 12 m/min for 75 min), HFD-moderate intensity (HFD-MI, n=7, 15 m/min for 60 min), and HFD-high intensity (HFD-HI, n=7, 18 m/min for 50 min). The exercise was performed on an animal treadmill. The expression of the nNOS protein in the hippocampus was significantly higher in the HFD group as compared with that in the CON group (p<0.01). However, there was no difference in the hippocampal expression of the nNOS protein in the other exercise groups as compared with that in the CON group. In contrast, nNOS expression in the HFD-HI group was significantly lower than that in the HFD-LI group (p<0.05). The expression of phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) was significantly higher in all the exercise groups as compared with that in the CON and HFD groups. There was no difference in the expression of pAkt in the cerebral cortex among groups, and the expression of pAkt in the cerebellum was significantly higher in the HFD-HI group as compared with that in the CON group (p<0.05). There were also no between-group differences in pAkt expression in the cerebellum among the various exercise groups. In conclusion, nNOS seems to be overexpressed in response to obesity, and it appears to be downregulated by exercise. Relatively high-intensity exercise may be effective in improving brain function by downregulating nNOS.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.58-77
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• 1998

Four species(25%) of Viperidae(Agkistrodon brevicaudus, Agkistrodon ussuriensis, Agkistrodon saxatilis) and Cloubridae(Rhabdophis tigrenus tigrenus) were Korean poisonous snake. Copulation season of these species was from July to August. Reproduction mode of genus Agkistrodon species was ovoviviparous but Rhabdophis tigrinus tigrinus was the other pattern of oviparous. Optimal movement temperature range was from 20$\circ $C to 29$\circ $C(March~September). Wjen atmosphere temperature was below 10$\circ $C, at that time they hibernate at the ground, rock bottom, stone wall and embankment around the end of a field. The venom of these snakes consist mainly Hematoxin, Cytolysin, Neurotoxin and Cardiotoxin of poisonous liquids. These material injection to animal cause systemic syndrome such as Dizziness(25.7%), Vomitting(23.1%), Fever(22%), Visual trouble(18%), Headace(17.7%), Dyspnoea(17.6%) and bring about other local syndrome such as Discoloration(54.2%), Bleeding(20.2%), Bullae(10.7%) and Skin ulcer(!0.8%). The annual distribution was appeared to decrease 1972 after 1992 and average snakebiting patients was 25.6 per year, but practically total estimated snakebiting was 2,700 per year. The seasonal distribution was most frequent in August(25%), and mortality was 1.8%(26 per 1,430). The sex ratio was 2:1 and according to age distribution, it was most prevalent at one's fifties(19%). The most frequent place where the accident happened was the field(48.2%) and most predilection site of the body for victim were hand(47.8%) and foot(39.5%), Commonly bite snake were Agkistrodon ussuriensis(27.1%), Agkistrodon brevicaudus(22.6%) and Agkistrodon saxatilis(9.6%) but 40.7% of species could not be identified. Treatment of antivenin patient was 75.9% (1,068/1,407).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.483-489
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• 2016

The type approval test for USCG Phase II must be satisfied such that living natural biota occupy more than 75 % of whole biota in a test tank. Thus, we harvested a community of natural organisms using a net at Masan Bay (eutrophic) and Jangmok Bay (mesotrophic) during winter season to meet this guideline. Furthermore, cell viability was measured to determine the mortality rate. Based on the organism concentration volume (1 ton) at Masan and Jangmok Bay, abundance of ${\geq}10$ and $<50{\mu}m$ sized organisms was observed to be $4.7{\times}10^4cells\;mL^{-1}$and $0.8{\times}10^4cells\;mL^{-1}$, and their survival rates were 90.4 % and 88.0 %, respectively. In particular, chain-forming small diatoms such as Skeletonema costatum-like species were abundant at Jangmok Bay, while small flagellate ($<10{\mu}m$) and non chain-forming large dinoflagellates, such as Akashiwo sanguinea and Heterocapsa triquetra, were abundant at Masan Bay. Due to the size-difference of the dominant species, concentration efficiency was higher at Jangmok Bay than at Masan Bay. The mortality rate in samples treated by Ballast Water Treatment System (BWMS) (Day 0) was a little lower for samples from Jangmok Bay than from Masan Bay, with values of 90.4% and 93%, respectively. After 5 days, the mortality rates in control and treatment group were found to be 6.7% and >99%, respectively. Consequently, the phytoplankton concentration method alone did not easily satisfy the type approval standards of USCG Phase II ($>1.0{\times}10^3cells\;mL^{-1}$ in 500-ton tank) during winter season, and alternative options such as mass culture and/or harvesting system using natural phytoplankton communities may be helpful in meeting USCG Phase II biological criteria.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the toxicity of food Red No.2 in the Sprague-Dawley (SD) female rat for 4 weeks. SD rats were orally administered for 28 days, with dosage of 500, 1,000, 2,000 mg/kg/day. Animals treated with food Red No.2 did not cause any death and show any clinical signs. They did not show any significant changes of body weight, feed uptake and water consumption. There were not significantly different from the control group in urinalysis, hematological, serum biochemical value and histopathological examination. In conclusion, 4 weeks of the repetitive oral medication of food Red No.2 has resulted no alteration of toxicity according to the test materials in the group of female rats with injection of 2,000 mg/kg. Therefore, food Red No.2 was not indicated to have any toxic effect in the SD rats, when it was orally administered below the dosage 2,000 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.18-44
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• 2017

Purpose: The object of this study was to observe the anti-climacterium activity of Gagamguibiondam-tang (GGOT) on ovariectomized (OVX) rats, a well-documented rodent models resembles with women postmenopausal climacterium symptoms, as including cardiovascular diseases, obesity, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, organ steatosis and mental disorders. Methods: In this study, anti-climacteric effects were evaluated separated into three categories; 1) anti-obese, 2) anti-uterine atrophy and 3) anti-osteoporotic effects. Five groups were used (8 rats in each group); sham control, OVX control, GGOT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg administered groups. Twenty-eight days after bilateral OVX surgery, GGOT were orally administered, once a day for 84 days, and then the changes on the body weight and gain during experimental periods, serum estradiol levels, abdominal fat pad and uterus weights with histopathology of abdominal fat pads (total thickness and mean adipocyte diameters) and uterus (total, epithelial and mucosal thickness, percentages of uterine gland regions) for anti-obese and estrogenic effects. In addition, femur, tibia and fourth or fifth lumbar vertebrae (L4 or L5) wet, dry and ash weights, mineral density (BMD), bone strength (failure load), serum osteocalcin and bone specific alkaline phosphatase (bALP) contents, histological and histomorphometrical analyses - bone mass and structure with bone resorption, were monitored for anti-osteoporosis activity. Results: As a result of OVX, noticeable increases of body weight and gains, food and water consumption, weights of abdominal fat pad deposited in dorsal abdominal cavity, serum osteocalcin levels were demonstrated in this experiment with decrease of uterus, femur, tibia and L5 weights, serum bALP and estradiol levels. In addition, marked hypertrophic changes of adipocytes located in deposited abdominal fat pads, uterine disused atrophic changes, decreases of bone mass and structures of femur, tibia and L4 were also observed in OVX control rats with dramatic increases of bone resorption markers, the Ocn and OS/BS at histopathological and histomorphometrical analysis in this study as compared with sham-operated control rats, suggesting the estrogen-deficient climacterium symptoms - obese and osteoporosis were induced by OVX, respectively. However, these estrogen-deficient climacterium symptoms induced by bilateral OVX in rats were significantly inhibited by 84 days of continuous oral treatment of GGOT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg, respectively. Especially, GGOT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg showed clear dose-dependent inhibitory activities on the OVX-induced climacterium signs. Conclusion: The results suggest that oral administration of GGOT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg has clear dose-dependent favorable anti-climacterium effects - estrogenic, anti-obese and anti-osteoporotic activities in OVX rats in this experiment.