• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.362-367
• /
• 2021

Ginger roots are widely used as spices in various foods and herbal medicine due to its characteristic flavor and biological activity. In this study, the protective effect of aged ginger extracts against oxidative stress were investigated using L6 muscle cells. As the results, aged ginger extracts significantly inhibited oxidative stress induced muscle cell damage. The protective effect of aged ginger extracts was higher than non-aged ginger extract. Aged ginger extracts also inhibited the increase in LDH, lactate and GOT in the mouse blood induced by excessive running exercise. Therefore, aged ginger is considered to be effective for protecting excessive exercise stress.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.231-237
• /
• 2011

The objective of this study was to elucidate the dynamics of microtubules in post-ovulatory aging in vivo and in vitro of mouse oocytes. The fresh ovulated oocytes were obtained from oviducts of superovulated female ICR mice at 16 hours after hCG injection. The post-ovulatory aged oocytes were collected at 24 and 48 hours after hCG injection from in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Immunocytochemistry was performed on ${\beta}$-tubulin and acetylated ${\alpha}$-tubulin. The microtubules were localized in the spindle assembly, which was barrel-shaped or slightly pointed at its poles and located peripherally in the fresh ovulated oocytes. The frequency of misaligned metaphase chromosomes were significantly increased in post-ovulatory aged oocytes after 48 hours of hCG injection. The spindle length and width of post-ovulatory aged oocytes were significantly different from those of fresh ovulated oocytes, respectively. The staining intensity of acetylated ${\alpha}$-tubulin showed stronger in post-ovulatory aged oocytes than that in the fresh ovulated oocytes. In the aged oocytes, the spindles had moved towards the center of the oocytes from their original peripheral position and elongated, compared with the fresh ovulated oocytes. Microtubule organizing centers were formed and observed in the cytoplasm of the aged oocytes. On the contrary, it was not observed in the fresh ovulated oocytes. The alteration of spindle formation and chromosomes alignment substantiates the poor development and the increase of disorders from the post-ovulatory aged oocytes. It might be important to fertilize on time in ovulated oocytes for the developmental competence of embryos with normal karyotypes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.12
• /
• pp.2094-2103
• /
• 2017

Aging is associated with distinct changes in immune cells and a decline in immune function, leading to increased susceptibility to infection and reduced responses to vaccination. Certain strains of lactic acid bacteria exert beneficial effects on the immune system. Previously, we reported that Weissella cibaria JW15 isolated from kimchi possesses immune stimulatory activity in vitro. In the present study, we further investigated whether oral administration of JW15 improves immune function in aged mice. Eighteen-month-old female mice were administered JW15 daily at low (JW15-L; $1{\times}10^8CFU/mouse$) or high dosage (JW15-H; $1{\times}10^9CFU/mouse$), or with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) using oral gavage. Two-month-old female mice were included as healthy young mice. After 4 weeks, the mice were euthanized and immune profiles were analyzed using whole blood and spleen. In complete blood count analysis, the numbers of white and red blood cells were significantly increased in the JW15-L group compared with those in the old mouse (OM) control group. In addition, administration of either JW15 of LGG resulted in higher numbers of splenocytes in comparison with the OM group. Furthermore, proliferative potentials were higher in all probiotic groups than OM. Cytokines such as IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-6 were secreted at higher levels in splenocytes isolated from JW15-fed mice than in OM control mice. Similarly, mRNA expression of various cytokines was altered in the JW15 groups. Collectively, these results suggest that JW15 supplementation induces immunomodulatory effects in aged mice and indicate JW15 as a potential probiotic strain to improve immune function in aged animals.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.82 no.1
• /
• pp.71-80
• /
• 2019

Background: Efficacy and safety of tiotropium bromide, a muscarinic receptor antagonist, in treatment of asthma have been reported. However, its effect on airway remodeling in chronic asthma of the elderly has not been clearly verified. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of tiotropium and expression of muscarinic receptors as its related mechanism in an aged mouse model of chronic asthma with airway remodeling. Methods: BALB/c female mice age 6 weeks, 9 and 15 months were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) for three months. Tiotropium bromide was administered during the challenge period. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and pulmonary inflammation were measured. Parameters of airway remodeling, and expression levels of $M_2$ and $M_3$ receptors were examined. Results: Total cell with eosinophils, increased in the OVA groups by age, was decreased significantly after treatment with tiotropium bromide, particularly in the age group of 15 months. AHR and levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 were decreased, after tiotropium administration. In old aged group of 9- and 15-months-treated groups, hydroxyproline contents and levels of ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin were attenuated. Tiotropium enhanced the expression of $M_2$ but decreased expression of $M_3$ in all aged groups of OVA. Conclusion: Tiotropium bromide had anti-inflammatory and anti-remodeling effects in an aged mouse model of chronic asthma. Its effects seemed to be partly mediated by modulating expression $M_3$ and $M_2$ muscarinic receptors. Tiotropium may be a beneficial treatment option for the elderly with airway remodeling of chronic asthma.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.69-73
• /
• 2018

This study was conducted to examine the influences of two human chorion gonadotrophins (hCGs) being injected into young or aged (45- to 65-week old) outbred (ICR) mice on developmental capacity of oocytes retrieved. In vitro-culture and parthenogenetic activation of oocytes retrieved were employed for the assessment. Superovulation was determined as being induced when more than 25 oocytes were retrieved. No aged mice were superovulated, while in contrast, 67-100% were superovulated in the 6- to 8-week-old (young) mice. In the aged, hCG injection yielded better retrieval (5 vs. 13 to 14.8 oocytes/mouse). Overall, no significant difference between two hCGs was detected but between the young and aged, significant differences in maturational arrest (0% vs. 39% MI arrest and 46% vs. 15% degeneration) and developmental capacity (24% vs. 46% 8-cell embryo development) were detected. In conclusion, hCG injection contributes to increasing oocyte retrieval from aged outbred mice, but the kinds of gonadotrophin influenced the efficiency of hyperstimulation induction in specific ages.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.10-16
• /
• 2019

In order to investigate the effects of Eucomiae Cortex extracts on the depression caused by aging, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry were performed on the hippocampus of aged rats and the following results were obtained. Experimental animals were divided into three groups as follows: 8 week old ICR male mice, Aging-elicited group (AE group) and Eucomiae Cortex treatment group (EC group) 50 week old male ICR mice were used. The control group and AE group did not take any treatment and did not restrict diets and negatives. In the EC group, 0.51g/kg of Eucomiae Cortex extract was dissolved in distilled water once a day for 6 months. The Eucomiae Cortex extract reduced pyramidal neuronal damage in C3 hippocampus and dentate gyrus, increased DJ-1, SHH positive responses in aged mouse hippocampus, and 8-OHdG positivity was reduced, ${\beta}$-endorphin positivity was reduced in aged mouse substantia nigra. Therefore, based on the above results, Eucomiae Cortex extract reduces damage of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus caused by aging, inhibits neuronal cell death, induces proliferation and differentiation of stem cells in the hippocampus, reduces DNA damage-induced oxidative stress, so improves the reduction of hippocampus volume. It is also thought to improves depression due to aging through ${\beta}$-endorphin which enhances mood through the inhibition of pain.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.269-274
• /
• 2015

Chronic inflammation has been proposed as one of the main molecular mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases. Although evidence in humans is limited, short-term calorie restriction (CR) has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in aged experimental animals. We reported on the long-term treatment of daumone, a synthetic pheromone secreted by Caenorhabditis elegans in an energy deficient environment, extends the life-span and attenuates liver injury in aged mice. The present study examined whether late onset short-term treatment of daumone exerts anti-inflammatory effects in the livers of aged mice. Daumone was administered orally at doses of 2 or 20 mg/kg/day for 5 weeks to 24-month-old male C57BL/6J mice. Increased liver macrophage infiltration and gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines in aged mice were significantly attenuated by daumone treatment, suggesting that short-term oral administration of daumone may have hepatoprotective effects. Daumone also dose-dependently suppressed tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$ )-induced nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) phosphorylation in HepG2 cells. The present data demonstrated that short-term treatment of daumone has anti-inflammatory effects in aged mouse livers possibly through suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling and suggest that daumone may become a lead compound targeting aging and age-associated diseases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.36.1-36.16
• /
• 2023

Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play a critical role in thymic development and thymopoiesis. As individuals age, TECs undergo various changes that impact their functions, leading to a reduction in cell numbers and impaired thymic selection. These age-related alterations have been observed in both mice and humans. However, the precise mechanisms underlying age-related TEC dysfunction remain unclear. Furthermore, there is a lack of a comprehensive study that connects mouse and human biological processes in this area. To address this gap, we conducted an extensive transcriptome analysis of young and old TECs in mice, complemented by further analysis of publicly available human TEC single-cell RNA sequencing data. Our analysis revealed alterations in both known and unknown pathways that potentially contribute to age-related TEC dysfunction. Specifically, we observed downregulation of pathways related to cell proliferation, T cell development, metabolism, and cytokine signaling in old age TECs. Conversely, TGF-β, BMP, and Wnt signaling pathways were upregulated, which have been known to be associated with age-related TEC dysfunctions or newly discovered in this study. Importantly, we found that these age-related changes in mouse TECs were consistently present in human TECs as well. This cross-species validation further strengthens the significance of our findings. In conclusion, our comprehensive analysis provides valuable insight into the biological and immunological characteristics of aged TECs in both mice and humans. These findings contribute to a better understanding of thymic involution and age-induced immune dysfunction.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.57 no.1
• /
• pp.61-63
• /
• 2014

Aged black garlic (ABG) was extracted with 20% ethanol and water (crude extracts) and fractionated into three categories (>10, 3-10, and <3 kDa). The effect of crude extract supplements on anti-My-10 hybridoma cell growth and IgG1 antibody production was investigated in suspension culture with a chemically defined protein-free medium. We observed that supplementation of ABG to the cell culture medium stimulated anti-My-10 hybridoma cell growth and production of IgG1 antibody, particularly with fractionated ABG of low molecular weight. The stimulation depended upon the concentration and the size of the fractionated ABG. We also found that the growth-promoting activity was not correlated with high antibody production. These results suggest that fractionated ABG is a novel and promising alternative as an animal cell culture supplement.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.63-69
• /
• 1998

To establish in vivo antiviral evaluation system by using murine herpesvirus intracerebral infection model, 5-6 female BALB/c mice per group aged 5 weeks were inoculated i.c. into cerebrum with different inocular HSV-1 F. Signs of clinical disease noted everyday for one month. Observed were body weight decrease, neurological signs and death caused by encephalitis. Mice discontinued body weight decrease were recovered from the disease, and keratitis was often observed during recovery. The groups inoculated with higher than 1,000 PFU showed 100% mortaltiy and $LD_{50}$ was <100 PFU/mouse. To study the effect of virus inoculum sizes on antiviral effect of acyclovir (ACV), mice inoculated with different inocula were administered i.p. with different doses of ACV immediately after infection, and twice a day for 5 days. The higher inculum size, the less protective. $ED_{50}$ of ACV was >25, >25, 18.4 and 8.0 mg/kg b.i.d. in the group infected with 1,000,000, 100,000, 10,000 and 1,000 PFU/mouse, respectively. $LD_{50}$ of ACV was 62.5 mg/kg b.i.d. Therapeutic index of ACV was <2.5, <2.5, 3.0 and 7.0 in the groups with inocula 1,000,000, 100,000, 10,000 and 1,000 PFU/mouse, respectively. Inoculum size 1,000 PFU/mouse showing 100% mortaltiy and 5-6 days mean time to death, 5 days drug administration and 14 days observation will be future experimental conditions.