• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.80-80
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• 2003

The use of skin whitening agents have been recently increased in various kinds of cosmetic products, although there were reports that whitening agents might cause allergic contact dermatitis. A murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) has been developed as an alternative to guinea pigs for contact sensitization potential. This study was carried out to investigate the skin sensitization potential of three whitening agents, kojic acid, arbutin, azelaic acid, by LLNA using a non-radioistopic endpoint.(omitted)

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.187-198
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• 2006

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of Daekumeumja herb-acupuncture on neural cell proliferation and nitric oxide synthase(NOS) expression in hippocampus of ethanol-intoxicated Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats. Methods : SD rats were randomly assigned into 5 groups ; the normal group, the alcohol-treated(control) group, the alcohol- and 1 mg/kg Daekumeumja- treated(sample A) group, the alcohol- and 5mg/kg Daekumeumja-treated (sample B) group, the alcohol- and 10 mg/kg Daekumeumja-treated (sample C) group(n = 6 in each group). Normal group were received with Saline, while control group were injected intraperitoneally with alcohol(2 g/kg) once per day for 5 days. Sample groups were treated Daekumeumja herb-acupuncture on Chungwan(CV12) for 5 consecutive days. Bromo-deoxyuridine(BrdU) was injected into all animals once per day for 5 days. For the detection of BrdU-positive cells and NADPH-d- positive cells in hippocampus, immunohistochemistry was performed. Results : 1. In the dentate gyrus area, the number of BrdU-positive cells in the sample $B(278.08{\pm}6.46)$, $C(331.33{\pm}16.68)$ groups was significantly(p<0.05) increased compared with the control group. 2. In the dentate gyrus area, the number of NADPH-d-positive cells in the sample $C(86.50{\pm}10.02)$ groups was significantly(p<0.05) increased compared with the control group. 3. In the CAI area, the number of NADPH-d-positive cells in the sample $A(63.90{\pm}2.69)$, $B(75.70{\pm}3.01)$, $C(97.70{\pm}4.06)$ groups was significantly(p<0.05) increased compared with the control group. 4. In the CA 2-3 area, the number of NADPH-d-positive cells in the sample $B(30.20{\pm}1.89)$, $C(62.70{\pm}2.08)$ groups was significantly(p<0.05) increased compared with the control group. Conclusion : These results indicate that, neural cell proliferation and NOS expression in hippocampus was reduced in ethanol-intoxicated group. Treatment of Daekumeumja herb-acupuncture increased this diminution. Daekumeumja could be able to effect on the prevention of the amnesia and learning disability in alcoholism.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.31-40
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• 2017

Objectives: We investigated the effect of acupuncture on memory function in relation with neurogenesis in old rats. Methods: In this study, a step-down avoidance task for short-term memory and Y-maze task for spatial memory capability were conducted. Western blot analysis for brain-derived neurotorphic factor (BDNF) and tyrosine kinase B (TrkB), and immunohistochemistry for 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) were performed. Results: Short-term memory and spatial memories were decreased in the old-aged rats. Expressions of BDNF and TrkB in the hippocampus were significantly decreased in the old-aged rats. Neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was also decreased in the old-aged rats. However, acupuncture treatment alleviated impairment of short-term and spatial memories induced by ageing. Acupuncture also increased the expressions of BDNF and TrkB and enhanced neurogenesis in the hippocampus. The present study showed that acupuncture alleviated ageing-induced short-term and spatial memory loss by increasing of BDNF and neurogenesis. Acupuncture at ST41-acupoint showed most potent effect than at ST36-acupoint or non-acupoint. Conclusions: Acupuncture might be used as the effective therapeutic modality to ameliorate the age-related decrease of brain functions.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.140-156
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• 2007

This research was performed to investigate the morphological changes of folliculus ovary according to the radiation dose. The whole body radiation of 200 cGy, 400 cGy, and 600 cGy was given to the each groups of 5 months-aged female mouse. Various staining methods used in this research are: Hematosylin-Eosin method, and immunohistochemistrical methods using BrdU, TUNEL, p53, p21, PCNA and inhibin. The minute structural changes of folliculus ovary were observed through an electron microscope with high magnification. The morphological changes of growing folliculus ovary became distinct as the dose of X-rays increased. Especially, the nuclei of granular cells showed manifest condensation and the changes of the transparent zone were distinct. As a result of histochemical reaction according to Masson's trichrome method and reticular fiber method, the changed granular cells, the deformed basilar membrane of folliculus ovary and the abnormal arrangement of the reticular fiber were observed. In the reaction of BrdU, the granular cells of normal folliculus ovary with positive reaction rapidly decreased according to the increase of the dose of X-rays. In TUNEL study, granular cells showing positive reaction in retarded folliculus ovary were expanded to growing folliculus ovary and primordial folliculus ovary according to the increase of the dose of X-rays. In case of 600 cGy of X-rays, oocyte underwent apoptosis. In p53 immunohistochemistry, p53 manifested to be stronger as the dose of X-rays increased. p53 reactivity was manifested distinctively in all cells comprising folliculus ovary following irradiation of 600 cGy. p21 was manifested in granular cells of folliculus ovary and showed very positive reaction around follicular antrum according to the increase of the dose of X-rays. In PCNA, positive reaction was manifested in growing folliculus ovary, mature folliculus ovary and primordial folliculus ovary, but the extent of the reaction decreased as the dose of the X-rays decreased. The finding that the reaction of granular cells around folliculus ovary was stronger than that near follicular membrane indicates that what was damaged first by X-ray was the cells near folliculus ovary and follicular antrum. The reactivity of $inhibin-{\alpha}$ showed difference according to the growing stage of folliculus ovary: $inhibin-{\alpha}$ showed the most strong reaction in mature folliculus ovary with follicular antrum. There was strong reaction in granular cells around follicular membrane but $inhibin-{\alpha}$ did not occur at all in theca cells comprising follicular membrane. $Inhibin-{\alpha}$ in ovary tissue exposed to 400 cGy of X-rays was manifested more strongly than in ovary tissue exposed to 600 cGy of X-rays, which was related to the phenomenon that granular cells of mature folliculus ovary underwent necrosis or apoptosis increasingly due to X-rays. In an electron microscope with high magnification, nuclei and protoplasm of granular cells in growing folliculus ovary abruptly underwent minute structural changes according to the increase of dose of X-rays. Cell residue, by-product of cell decease, neutrophil and macrophage around follicular antrum were observed. The minute structural changes in granular cells showed typical characteristics of apoptosis: the increase of electronic density due to nuclear condensation, fragmentation of nuclei and atrophy of protoplasm. Necrosis of cells was identified but it was not so remarkable. Macrophage with apoptotic bodies was scattered. Proportional to the radiation dose, we found that the generation of heterogeneous substance of normal ovary texture's follicular fluid, the emergence of dyeing characteristic in the basilar membrane of folicle, the generation of apoptosis, and the transformation of macrophages, etc. From this results, we can infer the possible radiation hazard on the ovary of cervix cancer patient with radiation therapy.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.279-286
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• 2011

Hypoxic ischemia injury is a common cause of functional brain damage, resulting from a decrease in cerebral blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain. The main problems associated with hypoxic ischemia to the brain are memory impairment and dopamine dysfunction. Hypothermia has been suggested to ameliorate the neurological impairment induced by various brain insults. In this study, we investigated the effects of hypothermia on memory function and dopamine synthesis following hypoxic ischemia to the brain in rats. For this purpose, a step-down avoidance task, a radial eight-arm maze task, and immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) were performed. The present results indicated that the hypoxic ischemia-induced disturbance of the animal's performances and spatial working memory was associated with a decrement in TH expression in the substantia nigra and striatum, and an increase in cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Hypothermia treatment improved the animals' performance and spatial working memory by suppressing the decrement in TH expression in the substantia nigra and striatum and the increase in cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus. We suggest that hypothermia can be an efficient therapeutic modality to facilitate recovery following hypoxic ischemia injury to the brain, presumably by modulating the dopaminergic cell loss.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.236-242
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• 2004

Cerebral ischemia resulting from transient or permanent occlusion of cerebral arteries leads to neuronal cell death and eventually causes neurological impairments. Bee venom has been used for the treatment inflammatory disease. In the present study, the effects of bee venom on apoptosis and cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus following transient global ischemia in gerbils were investigated using immunohistochemistry for cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), caspase-3, and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU). It was shown that apoptotic cell death and cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus were significantly increased following transient global ischemia in gerbils and that treatment of bee venom suppressed the ischemia-induced increase in apoptosis and cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus. The present results also showed that 1 mg/kg bee-venom treatment suppressed the ischemia-induced increasing apoptosis, cell proliferation, and COX-2 expression in the dentate gyrus. It is possible that the suppression of cell proliferation is due to the reduction of apoptotic cell death by treatment of bee venom. In the present study, bee venom was shown to prosses anti-apoptotic effect in ischemic brain disease, and this protective effect of bee venom against ischemia-induced neuronal cell death is closely associated with suppression on caspase-3 expression.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.15-30
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• 2011

Objectives : The present study investigated the effects of Achyranthis Radix on short-term memory, apoptotic neuronal cell death in the hippocampus following transient global ischemia in gerbils. Methods : The gerbils were divided into 5 groups(n=10); Sham operation group, ischemia-induced group, ischemia-induced and 50 mg/kg Achyranthis Radix-treated group, ischemia-induced and 100 mg/kg Achyranthis Radix-treated group, ischemia-induced and 200 mg/kg Achyranthis Radix-treated group. For this study, a step-down avoidance task, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) assay, immunohistochemistry for caspase-3 and BrdU(5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine), and western blotting for bax, bcl-2 were performed. Results : The results revealed that ischemic injury impaired short-term memory and increased apoototic neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA1(cornu ammonis area 1) region. Ischemic injury enhanced cell proliferation in the hippocampal CA1 region, the compensatory and adaptive process for excessive apoptosis. Achyranthis Radix treatment improved short-term memory by suppressing ischemia-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA1 region. Also, Achyranthis Radix suppressed the ischemia-induced increase in cell proliferation in the hippocampal CA1 region. Conclusions : We showed that Achyranthis Radix alleviates ischemia-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death, thus facilitates the recovery of short-term memory impairment induced by ischemic cerebral injury.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2019

Objectives The loss of maternal care during early postnatal period may increase development of mood-related disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and personality disorders. In this study, the effect of acupuncture on depression in relation with cell proliferation in the hippocampal gyrus dentatus was investigated using maternal-separated rat pups. Methods On the postnatal 14th day, rat pups from six dams were grouped into following groups: maternal care group, maternal separation group, maternal separation and non-acupoint-acupunctured group, maternal separation and Zusanli-acupunctured group, and maternal separation and fluoxetine-treated group. Acupuncture was performed from postnatal 28th day to postnatal 37th day. The rat pups that belong in the maternal separation and fluoxetine-treated group were injected subcutaneously with 5 mg/kg fluoxetine hydrochloride once a day for the same period of time. To evaluate activity of the rat pups, open field test was performed. Immunohistochemistry for serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) in the dorsal raphe and for 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) in the hippocampal gyrus dentatus was conducted. Results The present results reveal that the activity was decreased by maternal separation. In contrast, acupuncture at Zusanli overcame maternal separation-induced hypoactivity. Maternal separation suppressed TPH expression and 5-HT synthesis in the dorsal raphe and decreased cell proliferation in the hippocampal gyrus dentatus of rat pups. In contrast, acupuncture at Zusanli alleviated maternal separation-induced decrease of 5-HT synthesisand TPH expression. Conclusions The present results demonstrate that acupuncture at Zusanli ameliorated depressive state through increasing cell proliferation and enhancing 5-HT synthesis.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effect of Bombycis corpus on reproductive dysfunction caused by aging. Methods: The experimental group was divided into three groups: a control group consisting of 8-week-old male ICR mice without any treatment, An aging-elicited group (AE group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice without any treatment, and a Bombycis corpus treatment group (BC group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice with treatment Bombycis corpus extract (0.78 g/kg/day) for 6 months. After 6 months, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry of the testis were performed to investigate the effects of Bombycis corpus on the reproductive dysfunction caused by aging. Results: In the first step, Bombycis corpus increased spermatogenesis and distribution of sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubule, increased BrdU positive reaction in the spermatogonium at the basal part of the seminiferous tubule, and decreased the apoptosis of Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubule. In addition, Bombycis corpus increased AR positive in Sertoli cells and $17{\beta}-HSD$ positive in leydig cells. Finally, Bombycis corpus decreased 8-OHdG positivite reaction in the spermatids of the seminiferous lumen, caspase-3 positivity in leydig cells, and HDAC1 positivite reaction in sertoli cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that Bombycis corpus increases spermatogenesis, decreases apoptosis of leydig cells and Sertoli cells, increases the production and action of testosterone in the testis, and inhibits DNA damages and DNA transcripts decrease in the testis, Thereby improving reproductive dysfunction caused by aging.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 2023

Background and aim: Panax ginseng, a key herbal medicine of replenishing Qi and tonifying Spleen, is widely used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases in East Asia. In this study, we aim to investigate the potential effects and mechanisms of polysaccharides from P. ginseng (PGP) on intestinal mucosal restitution which is one of the crucial repair modalities during the recovery of mucosal injury controlled by the Ca²⁺ signaling. Methods: Rat model of intestinal mucosal injury was induced by indomethacin. The fractional cell migration was carried out by immunohistochemistry staining with BrdU. The morphological observations on intestinal mucosal injury were also performed. Intestinal epithelial cell (IEC-6) migration in vitro was conducted by scratch method. Western-blot was adopted to determine the expressions of PLC-𝛾1, Rac1, TRPC1, RhoA and Cav-1. Immunoprecipitation was used to evaluate the levels of Rac1/PLC-𝛾1, RhoA/TRPC1 and Cav-1/TRPC1. Results: The results showed that PGP effectively reduced the assessment of intestinal mucosal injury, reversed the inhibition of epithelial cell migration induced by Indomethacin, and increased the level of Ca²⁺ in intestinal mucosa in vivo. Moreover, PGP dramatically promoted IEC-6 cell migration, the expression of Ca²⁺ regulators (PLC-𝛾1, Rac1, TRPC1, Cav-1 and RhoA) as well as protein complexes (Rac1/PLC-𝛾1, Cav-1/TRPC1 and RhoA/TRPC1) in vitro. Conclusion: PGP increases the Ca²⁺ content in intestinal mucosa partly through controlling the regulators of Ca²⁺ mobilization, subsequently promotes intestinal epithelial cell migration, and then prevents intestinal mucosal injury induced by indomethacin.