• Applied Microscopy
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.70-88
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• 1989

The storage sac of U. unicinctus can be divided into two parts morphologically as well as functionally ; one is proximal and the other distal storage sac. It is because of the seasonal morphological change of the storage sac caused by sperm accumulation in the storage sac. The proximal storage sac contains the mature sperm with the dumbbell-shaped acrosome and well developed one or two mitochondria in the middle piece, whilst the sperm of hemispherical acrosome associate closely with an accessory cell in the distal storage sac. This means that the sperm do not perform the synchronous development in a storage sac, which is not the case of sperm development in the coelomic cytophorus. In addition, the basal membrane of the distal storage sac is different from that of the proximal storage sac in term of tissue formation. Connective tissues, acces-sory cells and small lumen develop on the basal membrane of the distal sto-rage sac, which is well contrasted with the thin basal membrane of the proximal storage sac. The function of the storage sac is discussed in rela-tion of the sperm development and the seasonal change.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.258-264
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• 2008

A rice diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) gene, OsBIDK1, which encodes a 499-amino acid protein, was cloned and characterized. OsBIDK1 contains a conserved DGK domain, consisting of a diacylglycerol kinase catalytic subdomain and a diacylglycerol kinase accessory subdomain. Expression of OsBIDK1 in rice seedlings was induced by treatment with benzothiadiazole (BTH), a chemical activator of the plant defense response, and by infection with Magnaporthe grisea, causal agent of blast disease. In BTH-treated rice seedlings, expression of OsBIDK1 was induced earlier and at a higher level than in water-treated control seedlings after inoculation with M. grisea. Transgenic tobacco plants that constitutively express the OsBIDK1 gene were generated and disease resistance assays showed that overexpression of OsBIDK1 in transgenic tobacco plants resulted in enhanced resistance against infection by tobacco mosaic virus and Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae. These results suggest that OsBIDK1 may play a role in disease resistance responses.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 2006

The entire gene cluster involved in the biosynthesis of angucyclines Sch 47554 and Sch 47555 was cloned, sequenced, and characterized. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of genomic DNA spanning 77.5-kb revealed a total of 55 open reading frames, and the deduced products exhibited strong sequence similarities to type II polyketide synthases, deoxysugar biosynthetic enzymes, and a variety of accessory enzymes. The involvement of this gene cluster in the pathway of Sch 47554 and Sch 47555 was confirmed by genetic inactivation of the aromatase, including a portion of the ketoreductase, which was disrupted by inserting the thiostrepton gene.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.158-163
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• 2005

This paper deals with the histology of the barbels of striped sea catfish, Plotosus lineatus (Thunberg). This fish have eight noticeable barbels of two pairs on their maxillary and mandibular. Each barbel is composed of an epidermis, dermis and a central rod of cartilage. The epidermis in the middle part of the maxillary barbel is thicker than those on other parts, and formed of stratified epithelium which contains many cutaneous taste buds and a few small club cells. Number of taste buds increase on the middle and posterior part of each barbel. The dermis consists of loose connective tissue fibers which encloses blood vessels and bundles of nerve fibers. The barbels of this fish can be categorized into stiff and flexible types and are accessory, feeding and sensory structures. Thus we substantiate that they are gustatory receptor organs for this fish.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.86-95
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• 2006

The ethanol extract of the Crotalaria juncea seeds, which showed promising antispermatogenic and antiandrogenic activities in albino mice, was taken up further for the isolation of the active fractions present in it. Two fractions that were obtained from thin layer chromatography were subjected for testing to know their antispermatogenic and antiandrogenic activities. After preliminary trials the fraction I showed maximum antifertility activity at the dose level of 200 mg/kg body weight when administered orally to the rats for 50 days. The fraction I was found to affect spermatogenesis as well as the endocrine functions of the testis as indicated by gravimetric, histopathological and biochemical changes. Further this fraction has caused degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells of the testis. The accessory reproductive organs like epididymis, seminal vesicles, vas deferens, prostrate, Cowper's gland and Levator Ani muscle showed significant malfunction. Cauda epididymal sperm count and sperm motility were reduced significantly. The treatment has also resulted in increase in the cholesterol level and alkaline phosphatase activity, and decrease in protein, glycogen, sialic acid contents and acid phosphatase activity in testis. It is noteworthy that RIA studies have shown significant reduction in serum FSH, LH and testosterone. Scanning electron microscopic observations revealed abnormalities in sperm structure.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.50
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• pp.18.1-18.7
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• 2020

The olfactory anatomy and histology of Lethenteron reissneri were researched using a stereo microscope, a light microscope, and a scanning electron microscope. As in other lampreys, it shows same characters as follows: i) a single olfactory organ, ii) a single tubular nostril, iii) a single olfactory chamber with gourd-like form, iv) a nasal valve, v) a nasopharyngeal pouch, vi) a sensory epithelium (SE) of continuous distribution, vii) a supporting cells with numerous long cilia, viii) an accessory olfactory organ. However, the description of a pseudostratified columnar layer in the SE and Non SE is a first record, not reported in sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus. In particular, both 19 to 20 lamellae in number and olfactory receptor neuron's quarter ciliary length of the knob diameter differ from those of P. marinus. From these results, it might be considered that the olfactory organ of L. reissneri shows well adaptive structure of a primitive fish to slow flowing water with gravel, pebbles, and sand and a hiding habit into sand bottom at daytime. The lamellar number and neuron's ciliary length may be a meaningful taxonomic character for the class Petromyzonida.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1989

A scanning electron microscopic study on the glochidium and glchidial encystment of Anodonta grandis on the guppy was conducted. The shape of the glochidium is apparently triangular and its averge size is 0.45mm X0.4mm when closed, The two glochidial shell valves are of the same size, kept together by a ligament of 120${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in length and 7 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in width. Each of the glochidial shell valves has a 16 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ long hook sitdded with many spines on the superior face. A large area to the apex of the valve surrounding the base of the hook is provided with numerous small spines which become progressively smaller towards the periphery of the area, The external surface of the glochidial shell valve is covered with numerous small processes showing successive change in the shape and the pattern of destribution by part. Besides the processes, there are a number of niches scattered all over the exterior surface. The glochidial shell valve has two layers. One is the outer thin membrane bearing the processes and the niches and the others is the inner layer bearing numerous holes which any accessory structure and 2.65 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in diameter, emerges from a canal located at center of ventral plate of the mamtle, A total of three types of the hair cells are observed. In present artificial infection of the glochidium to the guppy, it took about three to four hours to complete an early cysts, During the period of encystment, The epithelial cells of the host fish actively migrated toward the attached glochidium and covered it.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1070-1077
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• 2014

In this study, the estrogen receptor agonist propyl pyrazole triol (PPT), which has high-affinity with the estrogen receptor alpha, was subcutaneously injected into adult male mice every 2 days for 8, 16 and 24 days, after which histological changes in accessory genital glands, including the prostate and seminal vesicle, and the liver were observed. The body and genital gland weights decreased in the PPT group relative to those of the control group. However, the liver weight was two times greater in the PPT group. The luminal area of the prostate and seminal vesicle organs was lower in the PPT group, and the epithelial cell height of the prostate was increased relative to that of the control. There were many secretory vacuoles in the supranuclear cytoplasm of epithelial cells in the seminal vesicles of the control group, but these were not observed in the PPT group. The short sinusoidal diameter of the liver was 147.0%, 198.7%, and 223.3% greater in the PPT group than in the control group after 8, 16, and 24 days of treatment, respectively. These results suggest that PPT administration affected the reproductive organs and the liver and that the histological changes increased in accordance with a rise in the concentration of PPT. Overall, the PPT treatment caused changes in the epithelial cell height and resulted in atrophy of the luminal area of the prostate, leading to altered fertility. The sinusoidal diameter of the liver dramatically increased in response to the administration of PPT, increasing the liver weight.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.336-343
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• 2008

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) inhibitors have emerged as the accessory therapeutic agents for various human cancers, since they can block the activity of specific HDACs, restore the expression of some tumor suppressor genes and induce cell differentiation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we investigated that the effect of trichostatin A (TSA), an HDAC inhibitor, on the cell growth and apoptosis, and its effect on the nuclear factor-kappaB $(NF-{\kappa}B)$ activity in 267B1 human prostate epithelial cells. Exposure of 267B1 cells to TSA resulted in growth inhibition and apoptosis induction in and dose-dependent manners as measured by fluorescence microscopy, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry analysis. TSA treatment inhibited the levels of IAP family members such as c-IAP-1 and c-IAP-2 and induced the proteolytic activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9, which were associated with concomitant degradation of poly (ADP-ribose)-polymerase, ${\beta}-catenin$ and laminin B proteins. The increase in apoptosis by TSA was connected with the translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ from cytosol to nucleus, increase of the DNA binding as well as promoter activity of $NF-{\kappa}B$, and degradation of cytosolic inhibitor of KappaB $(I{\kappa}B)-{\alpha}$ protein. We therefore concluded that TSA demonstrated anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects on 267B1 cells in vitro, and that the activation of caspases and $NF-{\kappa}B$ may play important roles in its mechanism of action. Although further studies are needed, these findings provided important insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of TSA.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1170-1176
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• 2012

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of ${\alpha}$-cyperone on S. aureus. We used a hemolysin test to examine the hemolytic activity in supernatants of S. aureus cultured with increasing concentrations of ${\alpha}$-cyperone. In addition, we evaluated the production of ${\alpha}$-hemolysin (Hla) by Western blotting. Real-time RT-PCR was performed to test the expression of hla (the gene encoding Hla) and agr (accessory gene regulator). Furthermore, we investigated the protective effect of ${\alpha}$-cyperone on Hla-induced injury of A549 lung cells by live/dead and cytotoxicity assays. We showed that in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of ${\alpha}$-cyperone, Hla production was markedly inhibited. Moreover, ${\alpha}$-cyperone protected lung cells from Hla-induced injury. These findings indicate that ${\alpha}$-cyperone is a promising inhibitor of Hla production by S. aureus and protects lung cells from this bacterium. Thus, ${\alpha}$-cyperone may provide the basis for a new strategy to combat S. aureus pneumonia.