• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.30-47
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of the present study is to investigate anti-depressive effects of Samul-tanggahyangbuja (SGH) on ovariectomized and chronic mild stress (CMS) induced rats. Methods: Ovariectomized rats were exposed to CMS for 4 weeks. Changes of depression behavior were tested by using sucrose intake test (SIT), elevated plus maze (EPM), forced swimming test (FST) and Morris water maze test (MWMT) in rats until being orally medicated with SGH (100 or 400 mg/kg/day). In addition, the serum levels of corticosterone (CORT), IL-4, IL-$1{\beta}$ and changes of 5-HT in the brain were measured. Results: 1. SGH 400 mg/kg treated group (SGH 400) significantly increased amount of sucrose intake compared with the control group (p<0.05). 2. SGH 100 mg/kg treated group (SGH 100) and SGH 400 significantly increased the time spent in the open arms of the EPM compared with the control group (p<0.01). SGH 400 also significantly increased the number of crossing of the open and closed arms compared with the control group (p<0.05). 3. SGH significantly shortened the immobility time in FST compared with the control group (SGH 100 p<0.05, SGH 400 p<0.01). 4. SGH significantly increased performance of acquisition trials compared with the control group (p<0.05, on day 4, 5 of SGH 100 and 400). SGH 400 also significantly increased performance of retention trials compared with the control group (p<0.05). 5. The serum levels of corticosterone and IL-4 were not significantly different among the groups. There were no changes on the serum levels of corticosterone, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-4 after administration with SGH. 6. SGH 400 significantly increased the level of 5-HT in the hippocampus compared with the control group (p<0.05). SGH significantly increased the levels of 5-HT in the hypothalamus compared with the control group (SGH 100 p<0.05, SGH 400 p<0.01). Conclusions: These results suggest that SGH has the anti-depressive effect on ovariectomized rat and affect 5-HT system rather than hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and immune system.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.812-824
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• 2013

Reserpine, an anti-hypertensive drug, is able to positively modulate several phenotypes associated with $A{\beta}$ toxicity in a Caenorhabditis elegans model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated into the therapeutic effects of reserpine on mammalian neurodegenerative disorders, and found that significant alteration of the key factors influencing AD was detected in Tg2576 mice after reserpine treatment for 30 days. The aggressive behavior of Tg2576 mice was significantly improved upon reserpine treatment, whereas their social contact was consistently maintained. Furthermore, the levels of $A{\beta}$-42 peptide in the hippocampus of the brain and blood serum were lower in the reserpine-treated group than in the vehicle-treated group. Among g-secretase components, the expression levels of PS-2, Pen-2, and APH-1 were slightly lower in reserpine-treated Tg2576 mice, although a significant change in nicastrin (NCT) expression was not detected. Furthermore, the serum level of nerve growth factor (NGF) increased in reserpine-treated Tg2576 mice compared with vehicle-treated mice. Among down-stream effectors of the NGF receptor TrkA signaling pathway, reserpine treatment induced elevation of TrkA phosphorylation and reduction of ERK phosphorylation. In addition, in the NGF receptor $p75^{NTR}$ signaling pathway, the expression levels of $p75^{NTR}$ and Bcl-2 were enhanced in reserpine-treated Tg2576 mice compared with vehicle-treated mice, whereas the expression level of RhoA declined. Overall, these results suggest that reserpine can help relieve AD pathogenesis in Tg2576 mice through downregulation of $A{\beta}$-42 deposition, alteration of ${\gamma}$-secretase components, and regulation of NGF metabolism.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2011

Purpose : To compare T2 relaxation times (T2) in the cingulate cortex, amygdaloid body, hippocampal body, and insular cortex between 1.5T and 3.0T MR imagers. Materials and Methods : Twelve healthy volunteers underwent FLAIR and CPMG imaging perpendicular to the hippocampal body at both 3.0T and 1.5T. T2 was measured in the cingulate cortex, amygdaloid body, hippocampal body, and insular cortex. The T2 relaxation time ratios of the cingulate cortex, insular cortex, and amygdaloid body to the hippocampal body were compared between 1.5T and 3.0T. Results : The mean T2 of the cingulate cortex, amygdaloid body, hippocampal body, and insular cortex at 1.5T were $109.5{\pm}3.1$, $117.0{\pm}7.1$, $114.7{\pm}2.4$, and $111.3{\pm}2.4$, respectively; $99.7{\pm}3.8$, $100.7{\pm}4.3$, $97.9{\pm}3.4$, and $96.2{\pm}2.0$, respectively, at 3.0T. Percentage changes of T2 in the cingulate cortex, insular cortex, amygdaloid body, and hippocampal body at 3.0T with respect to those at 1.5T were -8.9%, -13.5%, -14.6%, and -13.5%, respectively. The mean T2 ratios of the cingulate gyrus, insular cortex, and amygdaloid body to the hippocampal body at 1.5T and 3.0T were 0.96 and 1.02 (p = 0.003); 1.02 and 1.03 (p>0.05); 0.97 and 0.98 (p>0.05), respectively. Conclusion : T2 decrease in the cingulate cortex was less than the amygdaloid body, insular cortex, and hippocampal body at 3.0T. The mean T2 ratio of the cingulate gyrus to the hippocampal body was significantly different between 1.5T and 3.0T.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.280-290
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• 2007

Purpose: Gender differences in personality are considered to have biological bases. In an attempt to understand the gender differences of personality on neurobiological bases, we conducted correlation analyses between regional brain glucose metabolism and temperament factors of personality in males and females. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six healthy right-handed volunteers (18 males, 33.8$\pm$17.6 y; 18 females, 36.2$\pm$20.4 y) underwent FDG PET at resting state. Three temperament factors of personality (novelty seeking (NS), harm avoidance (HA), reward dependence (RD)) were assessed using Cloninger's 240-item Temperament and Character Inventory (TCD within 10 days of FOG PET scan. Correlation between regional glucose metabolism and each temperament factor was tested using SPM2. Results: In males, a significant negative correlation between NS score and glucose metabolism was observed in the bilateral superior temporal gyri, the hippocampus and the insula, while it was found in the bilateral middle frontal gyri, the right superior temporal gyrus and the left cingulate cortex and the putamen in females. A positive HA correlation was found in the right midbrain and the left cingulate gyrus in males, but in the bilateral basal ganglia in females. A negative RD correlation was observed in the right middle frontal and the left middle temporal gyri in males, while the correlation was found in the bilateral middle frontal gyri and the right basal ganglia and the superior temporal gyrus in females. Conclusion: These data demonstrate different cortical and subcortical metabolic correlates of temperament factors of personality between males and females. These results may help understand biological substrate of gender differences in personality and susceptibility to neuropsychiatric illnesses.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.117-130
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• 2005

Objective : Generation after generation, by Oriental medicine literatures, Soyo-san has been used as a clinical prescription that is important to climacteric syndrome, and also has been used extensively to psyco-neurotic problems, melancholia and stress symptoms. The experimental study of Soyo-san's effect has been reported, but the effect of herbal acupuncture solution by Soyo-san is not reported yet. Thus the purpose of this experiment is to test whether Herbal acupuncture of Soyo-san have anti-stress or antidepressant effects in the menopause or not. Methods : Female Sprague-Dawley(240-260g) rats were used. Temperature controlled within $20-25^{\circ}C$. Water and food not limited, and Manipulated the day and night 12 hours each. In the experiment, enforced Morris water maze after immobilization stress for 5 minutes, and operating Herbal acupuncture of Soyo-san 30 minutes before stress every day during 7 days. Flowed through by 4% paraformaldehyde and fixed brain tissue after test of 7 days. Results : 1) As a result of the acquisition test, Soyo-san group was recognized by significant difference compared to Ovx group and the retention test Soyo-san group increased significantly compared to Sham and Ovx group. 2) Soyo-san group showed that the degree of revealation of Tyrosine hydroxylase decreased comparing to Ovx group in ventral tegmental area and that of Choline acetyltransferase increased comparing to Ovx group in CAI region of Hippocampus. Conclusion : As a result of this experiment to grasp those effects on postmenopausal depression or learing disability and memory disorder, the possibility of Herbal acupunture by Soyo-san is warranted as a suitable treatment to relieve women's monopausal depression and those of stress reaction, improving tearing disability and memory disorder.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.160-168
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• 2019

This study aimed to determine whether double-processed ginseng berry extract (PGBC) could improve learning and memory in an $A\hat{a}42$-induced Alzheimer's mouse model. Passive avoidance test (PAT) and Morris water-maze test (MWMT) were performed after mice were treated with PGBC, followed by acetylcholine (ACh) measurement and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) detection for brain damage. Furthermore, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) expression were analyzed using Ellman's and qPCR assays, respectively. Results demonstrated that PGBC contained a high amount of ginsenosides (Re, Rd, and Rg3), which are responsible for the clearance of $A{\hat{a}} 42$. They also helped to significantly improve PAT and MWMT performance in the $A{\hat{a}} 42-induced$ Alzheimer's mouse model when compared to the normal group. Interestingly, ACh and ChAT were remarkably upregulated and AChE activities were significantly inhibited, suggesting PGBC to be a palliative adjuvant for treating Alzheimer's disease. Altogether, PGBC was found to play a positive role in improving cognitive abilities. Thus, it could be a new alternative solution for alleviating Alzheimer's disease symptoms.