• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.383-389
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• 2014

Objective : Neural tissue transplantation has been a promising strategy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, transplantation has the disadvantages of low-cell survival and/or development of dyskinesia. Transplantation of cell aggregates has the potential to overcome these problems, because the cells can extend their axons into the host brain and establish synaptic connections with host neurons. In this present study, aggregates of human brain-derived neural stem cells (HB-NSC) were transplanted into a PD animal model and compared to previous report on transplantation of single-cell suspensions. Methods : Rats received an injection of 6-OHDA into the right medial forebrain bundle to generate the PD model and followed by injections of PBS only, or HB-NSC aggregates in PBS into the ipsilateral striatum. Behavioral tests, multitracer (2-deoxy-2-[$^{18}F$]-fluoro-D-glucose ([$^{18}F$]-FDG) and [$^{18}F$]-N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2-carbomethoxy-3-(4-iodophenyl)nortropane ([$^{18}F$]-FP-CIT) microPET scans, as well as immunohistochemical (IHC) and immunofluorescent (IF) staining were conducted to evaluate the results. Results : The stepping test showed significant improvement of contralateral forelimb control in the HB-NSC group from 6-10 weeks compared to the control group (p<0.05). [$^{18}F$]-FP-CIT microPET at 10 weeks posttransplantation demonstrated a significant increase in uptake in the HB-NSC group compared to pretransplantation (p<0.05). In IHC and IF staining, tyrosine hydroxylase and human ${\beta}2$ microglobulin (a human cell marker) positive cells were visualized at the transplant site. Conclusion : These results suggest that the HB-NSC aggregates can survive in the striatum and exert therapeutic effects in a PD model by secreting dopamine.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2006

The primary objective of this study is to determine whether a diet supplemented with brown rice koji (BRK) results in a reduced stress response in rats and mice. BRK, which has been suggested as a candidate for use as a stress- and fatigue-fighting supplement, was compared with red ginseng extract (RG) for its stress-reducing potential. The animals in this study were divided into no-stress, stress, RG, and BRK groups of 8 to 10 animals each. Stress was induced by means of immobilization (being restrained in plastic tubes for 30 min and electroshock (0.5 mA in mice or 2 mA in rats for 5 min). The no-stress group was not exposed to stress. Rats in the RG group received oral doses of 200 mg RG extract/kg body weight daily. The BRK group was fed a 30% BRK diet and exposed to stress. Animals were given supplements for 7 days before being exposed to stress, and then were given supplements for 5 days with exposure to stress. When the stress exposure ended, the animals were observed for stress-related changes in behavior and their plasma corticosterone levels were measured. BRK supplementation was associated with a partial blockade of the effects of stress on locomotion and elevated plus-maze test results in rats and mice. It was also associated with a partial reduction in stress-induced behaviors such as freezing, burrowing, smelling, face-washing, and rearing. BRK supplementation did not have a significant effect on plasma corticosterone levels, which were increased in the animals exposed to stress (p<0.01). The mice in the RG group received RG in water (2 mg RG/ mL $H_2O$), and the BRK group received a 30% BRK diet (weight) for 7 days. Both groups were evaluated for signs of fatigue. BRK supplementation increased endurance, as indicated by time on the rota-rod, in cold water, and on the horizontal wire. These results suggest that BRK supplementation partially protects the animal from the effects of stress and may also contribute to resistance to fatigue on physical exertion.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.234-240
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• 2016

The Y-maze is widely used to test working memory in behavioral science. For this purpose, spontaneous alternation behavior is monitored, and an increased percentage of spontaneous alternation is regarded as enhanced working memory. However, in some cases, the percentage of spontaneous alternation does not accurately reflect the extent of working memory in rodents. To complement the short-comings of this measure, we developed a new method to evaluate working memory on the Y-maze. This is done by defining all spontaneous alternation cases and P_i, the probability that the rodent achieved spontaneous alternation from each alternation case. After all P_i-values acquired in each animal are summarized, the result is considered as entropy. To validate the new analytical method, mice were raised under either control or an enriched environmental condition for 10 weeks, and working memory behavior on the Y-maze was monitored. The results showed that the new analytical method successfully reproduced significance. In addition, the new method turned out to be more accurate than measurement of the percentage of spontaneous alternation, meaning that, to get higher entropy, alternation should be recorded in all arms and directions. Together, these data indicate that the new analytical method is a useful supplement to the method that compares the percentage of spontaneous alternation, and thus is a good tool with which to evaluate working memory in rodents.