• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2000

At fertilization, sperm penetrates into oocyte, male and female pronuclei are fused together, and mitotic division follows. However, little information is available on the interactive roles and dynamic processes between cytoplasmic and nuclear components during the pronuclear formation, migration and cell division. The assisted reproductive technologies such as, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and round spermatid injection(ROSI) could provides new treatments for the male infertility as well as tools for the study of basic mechanism during fertilization. Nuclear transfer can also provide a mechanism on the interactive roles between nucleus and cytoplasm since the process includes nuclear reprogrammming of differentiated cells in the enucleated oocytes. Recently, I have investigated developmental processes in porcine oocytes following fertilization parthenogenesis, ICSI, ROSI and nuclear transfer using indirect immunocytochemical and electron microscopic studies. The results could provide an insight into biological questions related with epigenesis as well as strategies for the enhancement of embryology in general such as ICSI and nuclear transfer.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2007

The freezing susceptibilities of two larval stages (D-shaped and umbo) of the pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata martensii) were evaluated by the electron microscopy (light, transmission electron and scanning electron). The morphological shapes were examined from each pre-frozen or frozen-thawed stage of the cryopreserved larvae in liquid nitrogen by using the cryoprotectant, dimethyl sulfoxide ($Me_2SO$) mixed with sucrose. Although a portion of the shell was damaged, the hinge and prodissoconch were intact and clearly visible after preservation in liquid nitrogen. In addition, the cytoplasm of the frozen-thawed larvae maintained the normal organelle integrities, e.g., endoplasmic reticula, lipid droplets, mitochondria, nucleus and microvilli. However, some of the frozen-thawed larvae showed irregularly arranged cilia, rough shell surfaces and round-lumped cilium heads. These results indicate that P. fucata martensii larvae are susceptible to freezing, at least at those two critical developmental stages (D-shaped and umbo), and suggest a new industrial investigation including reduction method of cell injury for preserving microbial starter cultures need to be developed.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.205-212
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• 2001

One of the important characteristics of biological systems os their ability to change im-portant properties in response to small environmental signals. The molecular mechanisms that biological molecules utilize to sense and respond provide interesting models for the development of "smart" polymeric biomaterials with biomimetic properties. An important example of this is the protein coat of viruses, which contains peptide units that facilitate the trafficking of the virus into the cell via endocytosis, then out of the endosome into the cytoplasm, and from there into the nucleus, We have designed a family of synthetic polymers whose compositions have been de-signed to mimic specific peptides on viral coats that facilitate endosomal escape. Our biomimetic polymers are responsive to the lowered pH whinin endosomes, leading to distruption of the en-dosomal membrane and release of important biomolecular druges such as DNA, RNA, peptides and proteins to the cytoplasm before they are trafficked to lysosomes and degraded by lysosomal en-zymes. In this article, we review our work on the design, synthesis and action of such smart, pH-sensitive polymers.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.277-289
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• 1982

Because of a high degree of unsaturation of perilla seed oil vitamin E deficiency can be produced in chicks by using this particular oil diet. It is therefore convenient to use this oil for elucidating more detailed function (s) of vitamin E. The present study was undertaken to investigate the nutritional and pathological aspects both of high PUFA and of low vitamin E in the diet eventually to elucidate the function(s) of vitamin E. The present study examines the relationships between PUFA, vitamin E and Se in the experimental diets by measuring vitamin E levels both in serum and in liver and activities of SGPT and SGOT and by examining electron micrographs of the chick hepatocytes. Vitamin E concentrations in serum and liver responded to dietary treatments. Serum levels of vitamin E were more affected than those in liver, the values of groups IV(15% fat,- Vit.E) and V(15% fat,-Vit E,-Se) were significantly lower than those of groups I (5% fat) and 111 (15% fat) with P/S ratio of 1. The activities of SGOT and SGPT were found not to be different significantly among different diet groups. Electron microscopic observations of the chick hepatocyte revealed degeneration of mitochondria and appearance of vesicles in the cytoplasm of groups fed diets high in PUFA and deficient in vitamin E alone or deficient in both vitamin E and Se. In the same group pyknotic nuclei and deterioration of the sinusoidal border, showing diminution in microvilli were also observed. More detailed studies concerning biochemical aspects should be carried out by using radioisotopes both in the in vitro and in vivo systems and morphological study should have a focus on the changes in nucleus which seems already suggestive in the present observation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.557-563
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• 2015

Skin aging is the most readily observable process involved in human aging. Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation causes photo-oxidation via generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby damaging the nucleus and cytoplasm of skin cells and ultimately leading to cell death. Recent studies have shown that high levels of solar UVB irradiation induce the synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in skin fibroblasts, causing photo-aging and tumor progression. The MMP family is involved in the breakdown of extracellular matrix in normal physiological processes such as embryonic development, reproduction, and tissue remodeling, as well as in disease processes such as arthritis and metastasis. We investigated the effect of diphlorethohydroxycarmalol (DPHC) against damage induced by UVB radiation in human skin keratinocytes. In UVB-irradiated cells, DPHC significantly reduced expression of MMP mRNA and protein, as well as activation of MMPs. Furthermore, DPHC reduced phosphorylation of ERK and JNK, which act upstream of c-Fos and c-Jun, respectively; consequently, DPHC inhibited the expression of c-Fos and c-Jun, which are key components of activator protein-1 (AP-1, up-regulator of MMPs). Additionally, DPHC abolished the DNA-binding activity of AP-1, and thereby prevented AP-1-mediated transcriptional activation. These data demonstrate that by inactivating ERK and JNK, DPHC inhibits induction of MMPs triggered by UVB radiation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.734-744
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of Kamicheonggan-tang(KCGT) on pre-hepatocarcinogenesis induced by N-nitrosomorpholine. The studied using blood chemistry, lipidperoxidation, antioxidant, immunohistochemistry and morphological change. The results were obtained as follows. In the pre-hepatocarcinogenesis induced by NMP, serum AST, ALT, ALP and total bilirubin were not changed in NMP and NK treated group after 1 st week, but desreased in NK treated group after 4th week as compared with NMP treated 4th week group. The content of GSH was similary to in NK treated groups as compares with data of normal group. The content of MDA was increased in NK treated group after 1st and 4th week, and more increased in the NMP treated group than those of their NK treated group. The immunohistochemically, stain of GST-p, positive lesions of KCGT were significantly decreased than those of NMP treated group. The histopathologically, fat changes, nucleotic changes, oval cell and inflammatory cells in periportal were observed in NMP treated fater 4th week, but those were significantly decreased from 4th week in the NK treated group. And the enlarged nucleus was not changed in KCGT treated group, but increased in NMP treated group after 1st and 4th week. The ultrastructurally, nucleotic changes, glycogen degeneration, lipid droplet and rER fragmentation were observed in NMP treated group after 4th week, but those changes were significantly decreased from 4th week in the NK treated group. These results suggested that KCGT extracts has protective effect on prehepatocarcinogenesis by NMP, might be usefully applied for clinical treatment of hapatic disease and also it was necessary to do more studies about its mechanisms.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 1981

Testis of Pieris rapae L. was observed by using light microscope and electron microscope. The results were as follows 1. Pieris rapae L. possesses a ovoid single testis colored red. 2. Peritoneal sheath consists of three layers; outer cuticular layer, middle filamentous layer, inner layer with no filaments. 3. Follicles enclosed by peritoneal sheath are compacted by the folds of the. epithelium of follicle. They are opened together toward the duct of vas deferens. 4. Epithelium of follicle have high electron density and contain needle shaped structures and glycogen. Tracheoles are extended into the epithelium of follicle. 5. Cyst cells have a irregular shaped nucleus and cell organelles are abundant in cytoplasm. 6. Typical acrosomes were not observed, but the other structure smillar to the acrosome of the other insect or vetebrate were observed. 7. After releasing the sperm bundle, cyst cells seem to be autolyzed.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.161-168
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• 2009

In the peripheral nerves, injury-induced cytokines and growth factors perform critical functions in the activation of both the MEK/ERK and JAK/STAT3 pathways. In this study, we determined that nerve injury-induced ERK activation was temporally correlated with STAT3 phosphorylation at the serine 727 residue. In cultured Schwann cells, we noted that ERK activation is required for the serine phosphorylation of STAT3 by neuropoietic cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). Serine phosphorylated STAT3 by IL-6 was transported into Schwann cell nuclei, thereby indicating that ERK may regulate the transcriptional activity of STAT3 via the induction of serine phosphorylation of STAT3. Neuregulin-1 (NRG) also induced the serine phosphorylation of STAT3 in an ERK-dependent fashion. In contrast with the IL-6 response, serine phosphorylated STAT3 induced by NRG was not detected in the nucleus, thus indicating the non-nuclear function of serine phosphorylated STAT3 in response to NRG. Finally, we determined that the inhibition of ERK prevented injury-induced serine phosphorylation of STAT3 in an ex-vivo explants culture of the sciatic nerves. Collectively, the results of this study show that ERK may be an upstream kinase for the serine phosphorylation of STAT3 induced by multiple stimuli in Schwann cells after peripheral nerve injury.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.131-135
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• 2006

Coeruleo-vestibular pathway which connects locus coeruleus and vestibular nuclei is noradrenergic. This study was designed to elucidate the effects of phenylephrine on the spontaneous activity of acutely isolated medial vestibular nuclear neurons of rat by whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 14 to 16 days, were used. After enzymatic digestion, dissociated medial vestibular neurons were transferred to a recording chamber mounted on an inverted microscope, and spontaneous action potentials were recorded by standard patch-clamp techniques. In current-clamp mode, the frequency of spontaneous action potential of medial vestibular nuclear neurons was decreased by phenylephrine (n=15). Phenylephrine increased the amplitude of afterhyperpolarization without changes in the resting membrane potential and spike width. In voltage-clamp mode, the whole potassium currents of the medial vestibular nuclear neurons were increased by phenylephrine (n=12). These experimental results suggest that ${\alpha}-receptor$ mediates the inhibitory effects on the neuronal activity of the medial vestibular nuclear neuron.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.195-200
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• 2004

Ghrelin is a newly discovered peptide, which is released from the stomach and neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), and potently stimulates growth hormone release and food intake. In the present study, we investigated the effect of ghrelin on $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in thyroid FRTL-5 cells. Ghrelin (5 nM) increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and TSH (1 unit/l) had an additive effect on $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ when extracellular normal solution was 1.1mM $Ca^{2+}$ containing Coon's modified Ham's F12 medium. When $Ca^{2+}-free$ medium containing 2 mM EGTA replaced the above normal solution, ghrelin also induced a similar rise in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. In the middle of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increment by ghrelin, nifedipine $(1\;{\mu}M)$, nickel $(100\;{\mu}M)$ and $La^{3+}\;(100\;{\mu}M)$ had no effect on $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. After endoplasmic reticulum was depleted by cyclopiazonic acid $(CPA;10\;{\mu}M)$, ghrelin caused no visible change on $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in $Ca^{2+}-free$/2 mM EGTA solution. These results suggest that ghrelin can increase $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ through endoplasmic reticulum in thyroid FRTL-5 cells.