• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.1 s.81
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• pp.12-17
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• 2007

Curcumin is a natural phenolic yellow curry spice, derived from the tumeric, which has been used for the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Curcumin is known to have both anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties can be beneficial to protect the brain from the neurodegenerative diseases. We now report the neuroprotective effects of curcumin pretreatment in primary hippocampal neurons to glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. Pretreatment of embryonic mouse hippocampal cell cultures with low does of curcumin protected neurons against glutamate-induced death, however, this neuroprotection was not correlated with the modulation of oxidative stress. Interestingly, high dose of curcumin showed the cytotoxicity in primary cultured hippocampal neurons. Immunoblot analyses showed that levels of stress response. protein HSP70 were significantly elevated in neurons exposed to low dose of curcumin, whereas levels of cleaved PARP were increased in neurons exposed to high dose of curcumin. These findings show that curcumin can modulate neuronal responses to glutamate, and suggest possible use of curcumin and related compounds in the prevention and/or treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.255-264
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• 2000

The topographic correlation between the processes of photoreceptor cells and nerve cells in the pineal organ of catfish, Parasiluns asotus, was studied using 3D electron microscopy. Upon examination, one neuronal cell process was found to pass through the intertwined processes of the photoreceptor cells. Interestingly , we observed two photoreceptor processes interlock, after which two buds from one process penetrated the other. Synaptic ribbons were observed in the cytoplasm of the photoreceptor cella, especially near the neuronal process. Macrophages were occasionally found to be contact with the outer segments of the photoreceptor cells in the pineal lumen.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.133-139
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• 2007

Although the physiological roles of calretinin have not been established, it may simply work as a calcium buffer or may actively work in calcium-mediated signal transduction. Calretinin plays a little role in the transport and physiological buffering of calcium in the adult photoreceptor cells, bipolar cells and horizontal cells of the human retina. We identified the calretinin-immunoreactive neurons in the inner nuclear cell layer and ganglion cell layer and the distribution pattern of the labeled neurons in the retina of a bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, in this study. We observed the existence of calretinin-immunoreactive AII amacrine cell in the inner nuclear layer and ganglion cells in the ganglion cell layer of bat retina through this study. This observation must be significant along with our previous studies as we need to study for more understanding about the unsolved issue of a bat vision and the unique behavioral aspects of bat flight maneuverability.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.253-259
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• 2010

The neuroprotective effects of extracts from various parts of peanut sprouts on glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in N18-RE-105 cells were investigated. This study was performed to evaluate the neuroprotective activity of methanolic extracts from the whole (WME), heads (HME), and stems (SME) of peanut sprouts. The neuroprotective effects of these extracts were measured by MTT reduction assay, LDH release assay, phase-contrast microscopy, and flow cytometric analysis on the N18-RE-105 cells. Among these extracts, the HME showed the greatest neuroprotective effects, and was further fractionated with hexane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, and water, according to degree of polarity. Out of the fractionated extracts, the diethyl ether layer showed the highest activity on glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in N18-RE-105 cells. The sub-G1 DNA contents of the glutamate-induced severely apoptotic N18-RE-105s were measured by flow cytometric analysis to confirm the HME's anti-apoptotic activity. Interestingly, after incubation with 100 mg/ml of the HME, the proportion of sub-G1 cells of the glutamate-stressed N18-RE-105s had been greatly reduced, from 58.5% to 9.1%. These results imply that HME may have strong potential as a chemotherapeutic agent against neuronal diseases.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.213-219
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• 2008

The plasticity of nervous system is generated not only due to changes in neurons but also due to changes in neuroglial cells. Astrocyte is important for maintaining the normal brain function and controlling the neuronal functions. The amygdala receives an array of important sensory information of danger signals. This information is further transduced and integrated to produce the highly adaptive emotion, fear. In this study, morphometric changes in the cell bodies of astrocytes in the amygdala, induced by prenatal stress and restraint stress were examined. For this purpose. rats were classified into 4 groups; control group (CON), only restraint-stressed (starting on P90 for 3 days) group (CONR), prenatally-stressed group (PNS), and prenatally and restraint (on P90 for 3 days) stressed group (PNSR). Astrocytes were verified with anti-GFAP immunohistochemistry, counter stained with methylene blue/azure II and were examined using the Neurolucida. Results showed that astrocytes in the amygdala of PNS rats had significantly larger cell bodies than did CON rats and this was enhanced further by restraint stress. Thus this data showed that hypertrophy of the astrocytic cell bodies of amygdala complex is induced by prenatal and restraint stress.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 1997

A regulation of differentiation in human neuroblastoma cells remains poorly understood, although it is of great importance in the clinical therapy of neuroblastoma. This study was aimed to elucidate effects of DNA synthesis inhibitors on the differentiation of neuroblastoma cells on the basis of morphological, biochemical and molecular respects. Three DNA synthesis inhibitors, sodium butyrate, hydroxyurea, cytosine arabinoside were used to explore their effects on the cellular morphology, the expression of c-myc and the elevation of choline acetyltransferase activity. They led to the extension or neurite-like processes reflecting differentiation or IMR-32 cells. In addition, the treatment of three DNA synthesis inhibitors resulted in the remarkable increases in the expression of c-myc as well as the stimulation of choline acetyltransferase activity which is involved in the synthesis of acetylcholine in the differentiated cholinergic neurons. Taken together, these results indicate that DNA synthesis inhibitors play an important role in the induction of cellular differentiation in IMR-32 cells. Furthermore these DNA synthesis inhibitors seem to be future useful to give an important clue (for the treatment of neuroblastoma).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.306-316
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• 2002

The ultrastructural change of sciatic nerve and immunohistochemical changes of NGF, PCNA were studied at the transplanted segment of intravascular cultured neural stem cell in the rat sciatic nerve by 5 months after the sciatic nerve transection. The transplanted intravascular neural stem cells were differentiated into Schwann reals at the 20th day and these cells began to regenerate by the proliferation and hypertrophy. There were many remyelinating Schwann cells in the transplanted nerve in term of stimulation. According to NGF finding, we suggest preexisting Schwann cells may induce the differentiation of neural stem cells into regenerating Schwann cells. Electron microscopic changes were the remyelinating appearance, the increase of intraaxonal microtubules and enlarged mitochondria and contacting tell processes each other.

• 대한세포병리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1993.06a
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• pp.36-36
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• 1993

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.74-84
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• 2002

목적 : 본 실험에서는 gerbil을 이용한 전뇌허혈 동물모델에서 뇌허혈손상 직후 지연성 뇌손상에 대한 대황의 방어효과와 Apoptosis 과정중의 Bax와 Bcl-2 단백질에 대한 조절작용을 관찰하고, TUNEL 염색법을 통하여 대황이 gerbil hippocampus CAl영역의 pyramidal neuron의 세포사에 미치는 영향과 PCl2세포를 이용한 세포배양 모델에서의 대황의 신경방어 효과를 관찰하였다. 방법 : Mongolian gerbil의 총경동맥을 5분간 폐색하여 가역성 전뇌허혈을 유발시킨 후 대황의 전탕액을 하루에 한번 경구 투여하였다. 대황의 신경 보호 효과는 수술 7일 후에 cresyl violet으로 염색하여, 살아있는 신경 세포의 수를 세어 측정하였다. 또, 수술 3일 후에는 면역조직화학적 방범을 통하여 Bax. Bcl-2단백질의 발현과 대황의 신경보호 효과와의 관련성을 알아보았다. 결과： 가역적 전뇌허혈이 일어난 동물군의 경우 hippocampus의 CAl 영역에서 살아있는 신경세포의 수는 $51.0{\pm}2.5개{\;}/mm$에 불과하였으나, 그에 비해 수술 후 7일간 대황을 투여한 동물군은 $106.2{\pm}2.5개{\;}/mm$로 살아 있는 신경세포수가 크게 증가하였다. Apoptosis를 촉진하는 단백질인 Bax의 발현은 3일간 대황을 투여한 동물군의 경우 hippocampus의 CAl 영역에서 현저하게 저해되었고, Apoptosis를 억제하는 Bcl-2 단백질의 발현은 변화가 없었다. TUNEL assay를 통하여 살펴본 결과 대황 투여군의 apoptotic 신경세포사가 감소하였으며 이는 Bax protein의 발현과 유사한 양상을 나타내었다. 결론：대황이 Bax 단백질의 발현을 억제하여 상대적으로 Bax/Bcl-2 자연적 세포사를 억제하여 Mogolian gerbil의 가역성 전뇌허혈 모델에서 신경보호효과를 나타내는 것으로 사료된다.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.26-32
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• 2002

목적 : 본 연구에서는 알코올 독성에 대하여 흰쥐의 치상회에서 새로운 신경세포의 생성 및 nitric oxide synthase (NOS) 발현에 인삼이 미치는 영향을 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) 면역 조직 화학법 및 nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) 조직화학법을 통해서 관찰하고자 한다. 방법 : 실험동물을 정상군, 인삼처치군, 알코올처치군 및 알코올-인삼 처치군으로 분류하여 각각의 실험군에 3일간 BrdU (50mg/kg)를 복강주사하였다. 인삼처치군은 30mg/kg 용량의 인삼 전탕액을 중완혈에 약침주사하였고, 알코올 처치군은 2 g/kg 용량의 알코올을 투여하였으며. 알코올-인삼 처치군은 2 g/kg 용량의 알코올 및 30mg/kg 용량의 인삼 전탕액을 투여한 후 각각의 BrdU 양성 세포수와 NADPH-d 양성세포수를 관찰하였다. 결과 : 알코올 투여군은 BrdU 양성세포 및 NADPH-d 양성세포 발현이 감소하였으나, 인삼 및 알코올 인삼처치군에서는 알코올 투여군에 비해서 모두 증가하였다. 결론 : 인삼은 알코올에 의해서 유발된 새로운 신경세포 생성의 감소에 대하여 보호효과가 있으며, 알코올에 의해서 부가적으로 영향 받는 산화질소는 세포생성 조절에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 사려된다.