• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.49-57
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• 2015

In order to achieve successful in vitro production of embryo, it is necessary to establish intrauterine environment during in vitro culture. Thus, this study was investigated to establish embryo culture system using co-incubated collagen matrix gel (CM) with endometrial epithelial cells (EC). Endometrial epithelial cells were isolated from porcine endometrium at follicular phase, the cells seeded in insert dish for co-incubation with CM-coated culture dish. Then, culture media treated with/without 2.0 IU/ml hCG or 10 ng/ml $IL-1{\beta}$. After incubation for 24 h, the co-incubated insert dishes were removed from CM-coated culture dish before embryo culture. Embryos at 48 h after in vitro fertilization (IVF) were cultured on the dish for 120 h with porcine zygote medium. We determined PTGS-2 expression in the ECs, VEGF protein in co-incubated CM with EC and observed cleavage rate and blastocyst development of embryos at 168 h after IVF. In result, expression of PTGS-2 was higher at co-incubated EC with hCG and $IL-1{\beta}$ groups than EC without hCG and $IL-1{\beta}$. The VEGF protein was detected at co-incubated CM with EC, EC treated with hCG and $IL-1{\beta}$ groups higher than CM group. Also, cleavage rate was no significantly difference among all group, however, blastocyst development was significantly higher in co-incubated CM with EC treated with hCG group than un-treated groups (p<0.05). Therefore, we suggest that novel embryo culture system using co-incubated collagen matrix gel with endometrial epithelial cells treated with $IL-1{\beta}$ is beneficial and useful for enhancing the production of porcine blastocysts in vitro.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.236-245
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• 2018

Ingredients of soy and fermented soy products have been widely utilized as food supplements for health-enhancing properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of fermented soymilk (FSM) and soymilk (SM) on free fatty acid-induced lipogenesis in the hepatocellular steatosis model. HepG2 cells were incubated with palmitic acid (PA) for 24 h to induce lipogenesis and accumulation of intracellular lipid contents. The PA-treated cells were co-incubated with FSM, SM, genistein, and estrogen, respectively. Lipid accumulation in the PA-treated HpG2 cells was significantly decreased by co-incubation with FSM. Treatment of HepG2 cells with PA combined with genistein or estrogen significantly increased the expression of SREBP-1. However, FSM co-incubation significantly attenuated SREBP-1 expression in the PA-treated HepG2 cells; in addition, expression of NRF-2 and phosphorylation of ERK were significantly increased in the PA and FSM co-incubated cells. PA-induced ROS production was significantly reduced by FSM and SM. Our results suggested that the bioactive components of FSM could protect hepatocytes against the lipid accumulation and ROS production induced by free fatty acids. These effects may be mediated by the inhibition of SREBP-1 and the activation of NRF-2 via the ERK pathway in HepG2 cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.12
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• pp.1779-1784
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• 2015

This study was performed to investigate the effects of various garlic extracts on cholesterol synthesis in HepG2 cells. Raw garlic, grilled garlic, and freeze dried garlic were subjected to cold water extraction, and extracts were incubated at room temperature for 1 min or 60 min. The extracts were treated to HepG2 cells for 4 h, and cholesterol synthesis and mRNA expression level of HMG-CoA reductase were investigated. The alliin contents were reduced when garlic was incubated at room temperature for 60 min. Raw garlic extracts showed lower intracellular cholesterol contents compared to that of the control group. However, raw garlic extracts incubated for 60 min showed no differences compared to the control group. Freeze-dried garlic extract showed minimum intracellular triglyceride and cholesterol contents. Relative mRNA expression level of HMG-CoA reductase, a rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol synthesis, decreased in the garlic extracts. Compared with 60 min, garlic extracts incubated for 1 min showed a reduced level of HMG-CoA reductase mRNA expression. The freeze-dried garlic extract reduced mRNA expression level of HMG-CoA reductase in a dose-dependent manner in cells treated with 5% of 0.2, 0.5, 0.8, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/mL in medium, and the effect was maxed out at dose of 5% garlic extract at 1.0 mg/mL in medium.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.515-522
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• 1995

The effects of the thyroid hormone ($T_3$) on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity were evaluated in a baby hamster kidney cell line, C100. The cells cultured in MEM were supplemented with 10% thyroid hormone-depleted fetal bovine serum (THDS-MEM) and had a 82.5% lower level of HMG-CoA reductase activity than the cells grown in a medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS-MEM). When $T_3$ was supplemented to THDS-MEM, the reduction of the reductase activity was blocked in a dose-dependent manner. In the cells grown in THDS-MEM containing $T_3$ at a concentration of $10^{-6}$ M, the level of HMG-CoA reductase activity was 91.8% relative to the cells grown in FBS-MEM. These changes in HMG-CoA reductase activity seemed to be at least partly due to the changes of HMG-CoA reductase mRNA levels. The level of HMG-CoA reductase mRNA in cells incubated in THDS-MEM decreased to 76.2% relative to the cells grown in FBS-MEM, while the level of reductase mRNA in cells incubated in THDS-MEM containing $T_3$ at a concentration of $10^{-6}$ M increased to 243.4% relative to the cells grown in FBS-MEM. The increase of HMG-CoA reductase mRNA level after $T_3$ treatment may have been due to the increased stability of reductase mRNA, because the transcriptional rate of the reductase gene did not change significantly in the presence or absence of $T_3$. These results indicate that $T_3$ stabilizes HMG-CoA reductase mRNA at the posttranscriptional level and regulates HMG-CoA reductase activity in a dose-dependent manner.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.205-213
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• 2011

The Folin-Ciocalteu (F-C) reagent has been extensively used for quantifying total phenolic contents in many different types of food materials. Since several different procedures of the assay methods using the F-C reagent have been applied, we investigated changes in reactivity of various phenolic compounds with the F-C reagent under three different assay conditions and factors affecting reactivity. Among 10 standard compounds tested, compounds with high hydroxyl density (number of -OH/molecular weight) showed a largely different response according to addition sequence of the F-C reagent or $Na_2CO_3$. Preincubation in $Na_2CO_3$ significantly reduced the reactivity of the phenolic compounds bearing galloyl moiety (e.g. gallic acid, tannic acid, and epigallocatechin-3-gallate) with the F-C reagent, while monophenol compounds including ferulic acid and sinapinic acid were more stable as compared to diphenols. There was little change in response to the F-C reagent of all phenolic compounds incubated in acidic pH; their reactivity except ferulic acid was reduced significantly when incubated in neutral or alkaline pH. Changes in reactivity of gallic acid incubated in $Na_2CO_3$ or neutral/alkaline pH conditions were the most prominent. $H_2O_2$ generated from phenolic compounds did not affect the reaction with the F-C reagents. The present results suggest that reactivity of different phenolic compounds with F-C reagent was affected considerably by different procedures of the assay, and the total phenolic contents could be fluctuated according to standard compounds and assay scheme.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2016

This study was carried out to determine the optimal water temperature for the embryonic development and laboratory culture of larvae of an intertidal mud snail, Nassarius festivus. The embryos and hatched veliger larvae of N. festivus were incubated at six different temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and $30^{\circ}C$). Developmental time for each stage decreased as water temperature increased. The elapsed time to develop to the veliger larva at 15, 20, 25 and $30^{\circ}C$ was 559, 155, 131 and 103 hrs, respectively. At 5 and $10^{\circ}C$, embryo developed to veliger larvae but failed to hatch out of the egg capsule. In contrast, all embryos successfully hatched in the temperature range from 15 to $30^{\circ}C$. The biological minimum temperature during the embryonic development of N. festivus was estimated to be $9.5{\pm}0.4^{\circ}C$. The cumulative water temperatures for blastula, gastrula and veliger stages were calculated as $111{\pm}84$, $486{\pm}185$, $1,164{\pm}72^{\circ}C$, respectively. Temperature also affected the larval survival. Five days after hatching, more than 84% of larvae survived at all experimental temperatures. However, survival began to decrease after 6 days. It was 0% at $30^{\circ}C$. Survival of larvae incubated for 8 days was higher at 15 and $20^{\circ}C$ than other experimental temperatures. We therefore suggest that the optimal range of temperature for embryonic development and larval survival of N. festivus is $15-20^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.23 no.3 s.59
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• pp.221-227
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• 2005

The effects of light and $CO_2$ on the electrophysiological characteristics of guard cells in the intact leaf and isolated epidermis have been investigated. Fast hyperpolarization of guard cell apoplastic PD in the intact leaf was recorded reaching up to around 7 mV and 20 mV in response to light and $CO_2$. Whenever the experiments were attempted with isolated epidermis, there was no response to light and $CO_2$. In order to determine the influence of the mesophyll cells, the apoplastic PD of guard cells in isolated epidermis was measured in the presence of the mesophyll supernatant or the control medium. The apoplastic PD in isolated epidermis was hyperpolarized to -7mV, changing from -22mV to -29mV at 40 min. But, when isolated epidermis was incubated with the supernatant from mesophyll cells incubated in the light, the apoplastic PD in isolated epidermis was hyperpolarized to -19 mV, changing from -22 mV to -40.5 mV. $CO_2$ also caused a change of 0.1 to 0.3 pH unit in the intact leaf. However, this change was absent in isolated epidermis. A vibrating probe was used to detect the change in electrical currents at the surface of excised intact leaves and isolated epidermis. The reading of excised intact leaves in the dark was $0.5\muA\;cm^{-2},$ remaining steady until illuminated. Light increased the current on the surface of excised leaves to about $0.8\muA\;cm^{-2},$. However, light had no effect in the current on the surface of isolated epidermis. Apoplastic pH changes across the stomatal complex in response to light and dark were measured both in the intact leaves and isolated epidermis over the same time period using pH micro-electrodes. The guard cell wall of intact leaf was acidified to 2.5 pH unit, falling from pH 7.5 to pH 5.0 in the first 10 min. in the light. At the same time the guard cell wall pH of isolated epidermis fell from pH 7.5 to pH 7.0 at 10 min. The guard cell wall pH of isolated epidermis incubated in the mesophyll supernatant fell from pH 7.6 to pH 6.7 at 10 min. Likewise, It could be imagined that an electrical signal, chemicals and hormones propagated from the mesophyll in response to light and $CO_2$ could control a fast stomatal response.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.70-76
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• 2023

Background: Despite considerable technological advancements, polyspermy remains a significant challenge in in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures in pigs, disrupting normal embryonic development. Here, we aimed to determine whether optimal fertilization conditions reduce the polyspermy incidence in pigs. Methods: In vitro-matured oocytes were co-incubated with sperm according to a modified two-step culture system. Results: In the first experiment, oocytes were briefly co-incubated with sperm, washed in IVF medium, and then moved to fresh IVF medium for 5 or 6 h. Although the 6 h sperm-free cultured group had a higher penetration rate than the 5 h cultured group, the polyspermy rate significantly increased in the 6 h sperm-free cultured group. The gamete co-incubation period was either 20 or 40 min. The 40 min cultured group had a higher rate of blastocyst formation and number of total cells in blastocysts than the 20 min cultured group. In experiment 2, oocytes were inseminated with sperm separated by Pecroll treatment. Percoll treatment increased the rate of oocyte penetration and blastocyst formation compared to the control. In experiment 3, fertilized oocytes were cultured in 25 µL microdroplets (10 gametes/drop) or 500 µL (100 gametes/well) of culture medium in 4-well plates. The large volume of medium significantly reduced the number of dead oocytes and increased the rate of blastocyst formation compared to the small volume. Conclusions: Collectively, these results demonstrate that various fertilization conditions, including modified co-culture period, active sperm separation, and culture medium volume, enhance fertilization efficiency and subsequent embryonic development by decreasing polyspermy occurrence.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 1967

The metabolic patterns of C-1 and C-6-carbon atoms of glucose were observed in the tissue homogenates of the Ehrlich ascites tumor tissue which was incubated for 3 hours in the Dubnuff metabolic shaking incubator. $C^{14}-1-and\;C^{14}-6-glucose$ were used as tracers. The glucose media in which tissue homogenate was incubated was kept at a concentration of 200mg% glucose of carrier and appropriate amount of $C^{14}-1-or\;C^{14}-6-tracer$. At the end of 3 hour incubation, respiratory $CO_2$ samples trapped by alkaline which is placed in the tenter well of incubation flask were analyzed for the total $CO_2$ production rates and their radioactivities. The tissue homogenate samples after incubation were analyzed for their concentrations of glucose, lactate, pyruvate and glycogen and calculations were made on the glucose consumption rate, pyruvate and lactate accumulation rates. The following results were obtained. Data obtained in each group are as follows: 1. In the tissue homogenate, which was incubated with $C^{14}-1-glucose as a substrate, total $CO_2$ production rate averaged $19.0{\pm}5.0{\mu}M/hr/gm$ and the mean specific activity of respiratory $CO_2$ was $840{\pm}296\;cpm/mgC.$ Relative specific activity (RSA) which means the fraction of $CO_2$ derived from medium $C^{14}-1-glucose$ to total $CO_2$ production rate was calculated by ratio of SA of respiratory $CO_2$ and medium $C^{14}-1-glucose.$ RSA was $14.3{\pm}5.0%,$ Accordingly actual $CO_2$ production rate from medium $C^{14}-1-glucose$ showed a mean value of $2.79{\pm}1.35\;{\mu}m$ of which amount was equivalent to the mean value of total glucose consumption rate $(RGDco_2)$, namely, $5.1{\pm}1.3%.$ Lactate and pyruvate appearance rates averaged $7.13{\pm}1.26\;and\;0.21{\pm}0.02{\mu}M/hr/gm,$ respectively. Assuming that these 3 carbon compounds appeared in the medium were derived from glucose, calculations were made that relative glucose disappearance rate into lactate $(RGD_L)$ was $38.0{\pm}5.4%\;and\;RGD_P$ was $1.23{\pm}0.03%.$ Therefore, about 43.3% of the total glucose consumed were accounted for by conversion into the respiratory $CO_2$, lactate and pyruvate. 2. In the second group, which was incubated with $C^{14}-1-glucose$ as a substrate, glucose consumption rate, lactate and pyruvate appearance rates showed almost the same order as the values of the $C^{14}-1-glucose$ substrate group. However, RSA was remarkably decreased showing a mean value of $1.02{\pm}0.13%.$ This fact means that the C-6 carbon of glucose take the minor part in the oxidative metabolism of glucose. The glycogen level in both substrate tissue homogenate showed less than 0.3% of tissue weight. These low value suggested that there was an inhibition of carbohydrate synthesis in the Ehrlich ascites tumor tissue. 3. The catabolic pathway of glucose in the tumor tissue were analyzed on the basis of Bloom's principle from the values of RSA. It was found that in the tumor tissue more than 90% of $CO_2$ derived from glucose were oxidized via the alternate pathway other than principal EMP-TCA cycle such as hexose monophosphate pathway (HMP). From the data described above, it was assumed that in the Ehrlich tumor tissue anaerobic glycolysis proceeds normally although, the oxidation of products of anaerobic glycolysis via the TCA cycle is inhibited resulting in the accumulation of lactate and almost all of oxidative energy from glucose is released by oxidative pathway such as HMP.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.484-491
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• 2019

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive common brain tumor in adults. Curcumin, from Curcuma longa, is an effective antitumor agent. Although the same proteins control both autophagy and cell death, the molecular connections between them are complicated and autophagy may promote or inhibit cell death. We investigated whether curcumin affects autophagy, which regulates curcumin-mediated tumor cell death in A172 human glioblastoma cells. When A172 cells were incubated with $10{\mu}M$ curcumin, autophagy increased in a time-dependent manner. Curcumin-induced cell death was reduced by co-incubation with the autophagy inhibitors 3-methyladenine (3-MA), hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), and LY294002. Curcumin-induced cell death was also inhibited by co-incubation with rapamycin, an autophagy inducer. When cells were incubated under serum-deprived medium, LC3-II amount was increased but the basal level of cell viability was reduced, leading to the inhibition of curcumin-induced cell death. Cell death was decreased by inhibiting curcumin-induced autophagy using small interference RNA (siRNA) of Atg5 or Beclin1. Therefore, curcumin-mediated tumor cell death is promoted by curcumin-induced autophagy, but not by an increase in the basal level of autophagy in rapamycin-treated or serum-deprived conditions. This suggests that the antitumor effects of curcumin are influenced differently by curcumin-induced autophagy and the prerequisite basal level of autophagy in cancer cells.