• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.253-266
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• 2006

Bone is a dynamic tissue that is constantly being remodelled. Resolution of bone and formation of new bone are closely linked, so that bone mass remains constant. With age, this process becomes unlinked with an imbalance in bore resorption and formation that results in a net loss of bone. Especially, osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass with age. One form of aging-related primary osteoporosis is postulated with the reduction of circulating estrogen, rapid bone loss occurs as a result of enhanced bore remodelling with an excess of resorption over bore formation. The oxidative stress is also involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Oxidative stress by cytokines, such as IL-a and TNF-${\alpha}$, inhibits osteoblast function in vitro and stimulates osteoblast apoptosis resulting in an imbalance in bore remodelling. The present article reviews the current perspectives on the interaction between bone remodelling and factors such as estrogen and oxidative stress, providing an interpretation of bone diseases in a view of molecular mechanisms.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.25-28
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• 1997

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (rhFSH) on the estrogen synthesis by human fetal ovarian tissues. Fetal ovaries were 18-19 weeks old (18 wks:n=1, 19 wks:n=2). One case of 19-week-old fetal ovaries were obtained from anencephalic fetus. Obtained ovarieswere cleaned and diced around $600\mu\textrm{m}$ pieces, and cultured in the sandwich agar bed system for 21-23 days. Estrone ($E_{1}$) and estradiol-17 $\beta$($E_{2}$) in the medium was measured by radioimmunoassay. Amount of $E_{2}$ synthesis was greater than $E_{1}$ in both normal cases. In contrast, fetal ovaries from anencephalic fetus did not produce neither $E_{1}$ nor $E_{2}$ in the presence or absence of rhFSH. Results suggest that the fetal ovaries have a capacity of estrogen production at 18-19 weeks of gestation Existence of FSH receptor is also supposed. Different results by anecephalic fetal ovaries suggest the difference in the development between normal and anencephalic fetal ovaries.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.315-322
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• 2005

In this study we report on the estrogen activity of silkworm pupa and herb extracts in vitro. The estrogenic activity of these resources was investigated by competition binding assays with estrogen receptor $\alpha(ER{\alpha})\;or\;ER{\beta}$, and viability of MCF-7 cells, a human breast cancer cell line. Saturation ligand-binding analysis of $ER{\alpha}\;and\;ER{\beta}$ revealed that all plant extracts competed with estrogen ligand for binding to both ER subtypes with a similar preference and degree and competed stronger with ligand for binding to $ER{\beta}\;than\;to\;ER{\alpha}$. The highest $ER{\alpha}-binding$ sample was silkworm pupa aqueous extract The highest $ER{\beta}-binding$ sample was silkworm pupa oil. These samples were further tested for bioactivity based on their ability to regulate cell growth rate in ER(+) breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 cells. Our studies showed that silkworm pupa, soritae, sesame, yam, pueraria, malt, ginseng, Polygonum multiflorum, and Curcuma longa significantly stimulated the growth of MCF-7 cells (P<0.05). In summary, these results suggested that silkworm pupa and herbs might be useful as potential phytoestrogens.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.667-672
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• 2015

Cynanchum wilfordii and Phlomis umbrosa Turcz. are known to contain isoflavone, a representative phytoestrogen. This study was performed to determine whether the extract mixture of C. wilfordii and P. umbrosa Turcz. would induce an estrogenic effect in ovariectomized rats. The extracts were administered to the ovariectomized rats at 30, 60, 120 mg/kg per day for 4 weeks, respectively. They showed no estrogenic effect, which was indicated by the decrease in uterus wall thickness as well as the increase in body weight and the level of cholesterol and triglyceride. The extracts also had no effect on the concentrations of estrogen and growth hormone in the serum. However, the increase in alkaline phosphatase activity, which leads to protection against the bone loss caused by ovariectomy, was noted on administration of the extract. Therefore, it seemed that the extracts of C. wilfordii and P. umbrosa Turcz. had no estrogenic effect in rats.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.93-97
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• 2003

Alternative or complementary medicine plays an important role in health care system. Ginseng, being one of the most popular oriental herbs, is believed to contain various steroid hormone activity. Ginseng has been demonstrated pharmacological effect in the cardiovascular, endocrine, central nervous, and immune system. Our objective was to study that total saponin might mediate some of their actions by binding to the steroid hormone receptor, as they share many of the actions of steroid hormone in various physiological system. Using total saponin from Panax Ginseng, we have studied the possibility of total saponin being a potential estrogen receptor, androgen receptor, and retinoic acid receptor ligand. Total saponin activated the transcription of both the estrogen and androgen responsive luciferase reporter plasmids at a concentration of 100$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml in COS cells transiently transfected with the corresponding receptor and hormone responsive receptor plasmids. And total saponin caused a concentration-dependent stimulation of estrogen receptor. Total saponin increased the expression of estrogen responsive c-fos proto-oncogene at the protein level in MCF7 cells at 24 h treatment as examined by Western analysis. The c-fos induction was used as a specific marker of estrogen responsiveness. This activation was inhibited by the specific estrogen receptor antagonist, ICI 182,780. However, total saponin failed to activate the retinoic acid receptor in COS cells transiently transfected with the corresponding receptor and retinoic acid responsive reporter plasmids. These results show that total saponin is capable of activating estrogen and androgen receptors.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.1 s.106
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• pp.122-129
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• 2004

In an effort to develop the biomarker for monitoring the contamination of xenoestrogen in the freshwater environment of Korea, reverse transcription-polymerasechain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of vitellogenin (VTG) gene expression was optimized in Hearisarsus Iaseo, Based on the homology of the VTG cDNA sequences between the common carp and zebra fish, a set of PCR primers for VTG mRNA amplification for H; labo was designed. VTG mRNA level in livers from female and male fishes was analyzed by RT-PCR following single injection of 17 beta estradiol($E_2$ 10 mg $kg^{-1}$ B.W.). As an internal control, beta actin mRNA was amplified. One us of total liver RNA was subjected to RT-PCR. In female the amount of PCR productof VfC gradually increased in the range from 16 to 34 cycles of amplification. On the contrary, in control male, PCR product first detected at 32 cycles of amplification and linearly increased up to 40 cycles of amplification. In $E_2$ injected male liver, the VTC mRNA level was similar to that in the female. Taken together, this result suggests that liver of male H. labo expresses minute amount of VTG mRNA which are2-l6 equivalent of female and that induction of VTG mRNA occurs in male liver after estrogen treatment. In conclusion, the optimized protocol for RT-PCR analysis of VTG mRNA expression in liver of male H. labo will provide the environmental monitoring method for the xenoestrogen contamination in the rivers in Korea.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.179-186
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• 1990

This study was performed for assessing carcinogenicity of several synthetic hormones; Diethylstilbesterol (DES), 17-ethinylestradiol ($EE_2$) and Bovine somatotrophin (BST). Six weeks old F344 rats were divided into five groups and given an intraperitoneally injection of 200 mg of diethylnitrosamine (DENA). At two week after beginnig of experiment, DES, $EE_2$, BST. Phenobarbital were administered to group 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively, group 4 is positive control and group 5 is negative control. At the same time, all groups received a single i.p. injection of D-galactosamine at a dose of 300 mg/kg and underwent 2/3 partial hepatectomy at week 5. All rats were sacrificed at the end of week 8 for assessment of liver lesion development. The liver was processed for immunohistochmical staining for GST-P and quantitatively analyzed by image analyzer. It was concluded that two synthetic estrogen hormones (DES, $EE_2$) was different significantly (p < 0.01) but BST was not different as compared with control group. Therefore, we thought that DES, $EE_2$ was promoting effects and BST was not in rat hepatocarcinogenesis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.61-61
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• 2003

Aquaporins (AQPs)는 다양한 상피세포와 내피세포에 존재하며 다량의 물 수송을 촉진하는 막성단백질로 현재 11개의 AQP가 (AQP0-10) 발견되었으나, 아직 생리적, 기능적 분석은 불충분한 상태이다. 생쥐의 자궁내막은 발정주기 동안 호르몬의 자극에 따라 부풀어오르거나 수축하는 변화를 보이며 에스트로젠과 몇몇 혈관에 작용하는 매개체에 의해 자궁 혈관의 투수성이 증가한다는 보고는 있으나, 자궁액의 수송 메커니즘에 대해서는 뚜렷하게 밝혀진 바가 없다. 발정기의 생쥐 자궁은 자궁내막세포의 증식과 함께 수화되는 특징을 보이며 자궁내강으로 물이 수송되어 luminal fluid의 점성이 낮아지는 현상이 나타나는데, 이 때 AQP가 water channel로서 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 보고 본 실험에서는 면역조직화학법(immunohistochemistry)과 역전사중합효소연쇄반응(Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction)을 통해 발정기 자궁의 수화와 AQP 발현의 상관성에 대해 알아보고자 하였다. 면역조직화학법의 결과 발정주기의 다른 시기에 비해 발정기(estrus phase)에 자궁상피세포에 AQP4, 5, 8 protein이 다량 존재하는 것으로 밝혀졌고, 근육층(myometrium)에서의 발현은 발정주기 동안 차이가 없었다. Whole uterus로 RT-PCR을 수행한 결과 AQP4, 5, 8 mRNA는 luteal phase에 비해 follicular phase에 더 많이 발현하는 것으로 확인되었다. 또한 LCM(Laser Capture Microdissection) system을 이용하여 luminal epithelium과 stromal cell을 분리하여 RT-PCR을 수행한 결과 AQP4, 5, 8 mRNA는 stromal cell 보다는 luminal epithelium에 더 많이 발현하며, 이 역시 follicular phase에 발현량이 증가함을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과로 미루어 생쥐 자궁에서 AQP4, 5, 8은 발정주기 내막에 발현이 증가하며 이는 자궁내강 안으로 수분을 수송하는데 주요한 기작으로 사료되며 estrogen에 의한 조절 가능성을 암시한다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 1998

본 연구는 체외수정 프로그램에 참여하는 환자에 있어서 난자회수 이틀째의 자궁내막의 발달상태를 알아보기 위하여 pinopode의 발달상태, 에스트로젠 및 프로제스테론 수용체의 발현을 관찰하였다. 생검한 자궁내 막 조직 을 양분하여, 절반은 전사전자 현미경 (scanning electron microscope)으로 pinopode를 관찰하기 위하여 2.5% glutaraldehyde와 2% paraformaldehyde로 고정하였고, 나머지 절반은 dating 및 스테로이드 수용체의 면역조직화학적 측정 (immunocytochemistry)을 위하여 10% formalin으로 고정하였다. 모두 12명의 환자중 8명에서 pinopode가 관찰되었으며, pinopode 발달이 관찰되지 않은 환자들은 hCG 주사를 맞는 날의 estradiol (E2)의 혈중농도가 600 pg/mL이하로 낮았다. 본 연구의 결과로부터 자궁내막의 발달상태를 알아보기 위해서는 지금까지 일반적으로 사용되어 오던 dating이나 스테로이드 수용체의 면역조직화학적 측정법 이외에도 pinopode를 관찰함으로써 조금 더 정확한 진단을 할 수 있으리라고 사료되며, pinopode의 발달은 E2의 혈중농도와 관계가 있을 것으로 추정된다.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.581-594
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• 2017

Bisphenol A(BPA), known as a typical endocrine disruptor, has been used commercially and widely for plastics and epoxy resins. BPA-based plastic is used extensively for the production of water bottles, food containers, CDs, DVDs, and panels that can be applied in construction. Epoxy resins containing BPA are used for coatings on the insides of water pipes, food cans, and thermal papers that are used in sales receipts. As its estrogenic effects and other adverse health effects have published, BPA has been regulated in many countries, and there have been efforts made to replace BPA. Other bisphenols substitutes such as bisphenol S(BPS) and bisphenol F(BPF) have been used. Currently, BPS- and BPF-based products labeled BPA-free products have been widely consumed. Because of structural similarities with BPA, however, these alternatives also show endocrine disruption effects like BPA, and many studies on adverse health effects of these alternatives are being reported. In this review, we describe the adverse health effects of bisphenols and the current status of regulation.