• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.74-80
• /
• 2005

Stress is known to inhibit granule cell proliferation in the hippocampus. However, recent studies suggest that the commonly used dose of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) is insufficient to label all fractions of granule cells. Furthermore, stress-induced changes in BrdU availability may influence the labeling of newly born cells. To investigate whether changes in BrdU availability affect measurements of stress-induced granule cell proliferation, granule cell proliferation was assessed using injection of high doses of BrdU before and after restraint stress lasting 1 h. In addition, to determine whether stress-induced changes in plasma corticosterone levels were influenced by the BrdU, time-dependent changes in plasma corticosterone levels over 2 h after BrdU injection were compared with total accumulated plasma corticosterone levels [as determined by areas under the curve (AUC)]. Restraint stress significantly reduced the numbers of BrdU-labeled cells and clusters in the granule cell layer (GCL) of rats that received BrdU after stress, and decreases of similar magnitude were observed when the rats were given BrdU before stress. BrdU injection enhanced the stress-induced plasma corticosterone response, but there was no difference between the mean AUCs of plasma corticosterone levels of animals injected with BrdU before or after stress. These observations suggest that restraint stress decreases granule cell proliferation, and that this may be influenced by the extent and duration of plasma corticosterone increases rather than by changes in the availability of BrdU.

• 고려인삼학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 고려인삼학회 2002년도 학술대회지
• /
• pp.522-530
• /
• 2002

We have already known, neural progenitor cells exist not only in the developing brain, but in certain spots in adult CNS in mammals, so it will be of great value to find out some compounds which can interfere these cells proliferation ability. In this research, we observed that ginsenoside $Rg_1$ can not only enhance neural progenitors' proliferation ability in vitro, but increase neurogenesis in adult mouse dentate gyrus in vivo. Firstly, we set up neural progenitor cells' culture system from embryonic rats' hippocampus and prove their feature through immunocytochemistry. Then by using MTT assay, we found that when growing with ginsenoside $Rg_1(0.5\~2.5{\mu}mol/l)$, the progenitor cells' survival rate nearly doubled, furthermore, we proved that this increase was due to the increment of cell proliferation through $^3H-thimidine$ incorporation assay, hence, we drew the first conclusion: ginsenoside Rg1 has the ability to stimulate neural progenitor cells' proliferation in vitro; in order to observe this compound's effect in vivo, we devised the following experiment: after administering ginsenoside Rg1 (5, 10 mg/kg, once a day) intraperitoneally for two weeks, we examine the number of BrdU positive cells in the dentate gyrus of mice, and found that Rg1 could increase the number of proliferation cells significantly in vivo. From these studies, we are quite sure about Rg1's effects on the proliferation ability of neural progenitor cells both in vitro and in vivo, certain targets of the compound and its underlying mechanisms are in progress.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제26권1호
• /
• pp.8-16
• /
• 2016

적절한 농도의 활성산소종(ROS)은 병원체에 대한 세포의 방어, 신호 전달, 세포 성장 및 유전자 발현을 포함한 다양한 정상 세포 기능을 매개한다. 최근의 연구는 ROS와 ROS를 생성하는 NADPH 산화 효소(Nox)가 성인 쥐 뇌의 뇌실 하 영역(SVZ)에 있는 신경 줄기세포의 자가 복제와 신경 세포 분화에 중요하다는 것을 보여 주었다. 본 연구에서 세포 내 ROS가 갓 태어난 쥐의 뇌에서 적출되어 배양된 SVZ 신경 줄기세포에서 검출된 것으로 나타났다. Nox 유사 유전자들 중 Nox4가 배양된 세포에서 주로 발현되었고, Nox1과 Nox2는 거의 발현되지 않았다. 또한, Nox4 유전자는 신경 세포 분화 동안 최대 10배까지 발현이 크게 증가하였다. Immunocytochemistry결과 Nox4 단백질은 신경 세포 특이적인 tubulin인 Tuj1-양성 신경 세포에서 주로 발견되었다. 이와 맥을 같이 하여, 내인성 ROS는 분화 후 축삭돌기를 가지고 있으며 신경 세포로 보이는 세포에서만 검출되었다. 또한, ROS를 제거하는N-acetyl cysteine에 의해 세포 산화 환원 상태가 교란되었을 때, 신경 세포로의 분화가 크게 감소하였다. 마지막으로, shRNA를 이용하 여 Nox4를 knockdown한 세포에서 신경 세포로의 분화가 감소하였다. 이러한 연구 결과는 Nox4가 갓 태어난 쥐의 SVZ 신경 줄기 세포의 주요한 ROS 생성 효소이고, Nox4에 의한 ROS생성이 신경 세포 분화에 중요하다는 것을 암시한다.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제44권12호
• /
• pp.793-798
• /
• 2011

Recently, pluripotency induction or cellular reprogramming by introducing critical transcription factors has been extensively studied, but has been demonstrated only in vitro. Based on reports that Oct4 is critically involved in transforming neural stem cells into pluripotent cells, we used the lentiviral vector to introduce the Oct4 gene into the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) of adult mice. We examined whether this manipulation led to cellular or behavioral changes, possibly through processes involving the transformation of NS cells into pluripotent cells. The Oct4 lentivirus-infused group and the green fluorescent protein lentivirus-infused group showed a similar thickness of the DG and a comparable level of synaptophysin expression in the DG. Furthermore, our behavioral analyses did not show any differences between the groups concerning exploratory activity, anxiety, or memory abilities. This first trial for pluripotency induction in vivo, despite negative results, provides implications and information for future studies on in vivo cellular reprogramming.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제46권3호
• /
• pp.408-417
• /
• 2022

Background: Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRGE) has been used as a health supplement and herbal medicine. Astrocytes are one of the key cells in the central nervous system (CNS) and have bioenergetic potential as they stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis. They play a critical role in connecting the brain vasculature and nerves in the CNS. Methods: Brain samples from KRGE-administered mice were tested using immunohistochemistry. Treatment of human brain astrocytes with KRGE was subjected to assays such as proliferation, cytotoxicity, Mitotracker, ATP production, and O₂ consumption rate as well as western blotting to demonstrate the expression of proteins related to mitochondria functions. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) was diminished utilizing siRNA transfection. Results: Brain samples from KRGE-administered mice harbored an increased number of GFAP-expressing astrocytes. KRGE triggered the proliferation of astrocytes in vitro. Enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis induced by KRGE was detected using Mitotracker staining, ATP production, and O₂ consumption rate assays. The expression of proteins related to mitochondrial electron transport was increased in KRGE-treated astrocytes. These effects were blocked by HIF-1α knockdown. The factors secreted from KRGE-treated astrocytes were determined, revealing the expression of various cytokines and growth factors, especially those related to angiogenesis and neurogenesis. KRGE-treated astrocyte conditioned media enhanced the differentiation of adult neural stem cells into mature neurons, increasing the migration of endothelial cells, and these effects were reduced in the background of HIF-1α knockdown. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that KRGE exhibits prophylactic potential by stimulating astrocyte mitochondrial biogenesis through HIF-1α, resulting in improved neurovascular function.