• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제55권6호
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• pp.521-530
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• 2013

Direct cell-cell communication via the transfer of small molecules between neighboring cells in tissue is accomplished by gap junctions composed of various connexins (Cxs). Proper postnatal development of the epididymis is important for acquisition of male reproduction. The epididymal epithelium is composed of several cell types, and some of these cells are connected by gap junctions. The present study was conducted to determine the presence of Cx transcripts in the corpus and cauda epididymis. In addition, transcriptional changes of Cxs expressed during different postnatal stages were examined by real-time PCR analysis. In both epididymal regions, the same nine Cx transcripts of thirteen Cxs tested were detected. In the corpus epididymis, the highest levels of Cxs31.1 and 37 transcripts were observed at 45 days of age, and amounts of Cxs26, 30.3, and 32 transcripts increased with age and subsequently decreased in the elderly. Expression of Cx31 was greatly increased in the adult and elder stages, while Cxs40, 43, and 45 were abundant in the early postnatal stages. In the cauda epididymis, expression of Cxs26, 30.3, 31.1, 37, and 40 reached the highest levels at 5 months of age. The levels of Cxs31 and 32 mRNAs fluctuated throughout the postnatal period. The amounts of Cxs43 and 45 transcripts were more abundant during the late neonatal and prepubertal ages than later ages. These findings suggest that regional specification of the epididymis is partly regulated by differential expression of Cx genes during the postnatal developmental period.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제55권4호
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• pp.249-255
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• 2013

Intercellular interactions are important for the proper development and regulation of tissue function. This is especially necessary in the epididymis, a part of male reproductive tract where sperm become mature and acquire their fertilizing capacity. The caput region of the epididymis consists of several types of cells, including principal, basal, and apical cells. Direct intercellular communication is thus required to precisely regulate the functions of the caput epididymis. In this regard, connexin (Cx) is a molecule that forms channels, which allow the direct exchange of small molecules between cells, enabling intercellular communication. In this study, the expression of Cx isoforms in the caput epididymis at different postnatal ages was determined by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Nine of 13 Cx isoforms were detected. The transcript levels of Cx30.3, 31, 31.1, 32, and 40 were highest at 45 days of age, while the expression of Cx43 and 45 gradually decreased with age. A substantial fluctuation of Cx26 expression was detected, with significant decreases before and during puberty, followed by a transient increase at adult-hood and rapid decreases at an old age. A significant increase in Cx37 transcript was observed at 25 days of age, followed by gradual decreases at adult and old ages. These results indicate the significant differential expression of various Cx isoforms in the caput epididymis during postnatal development. It further suggests that the functional regulation and developmental maturation of the caput epididymis are highly related to the postnatal age-related differential expression of Cx isoforms.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제39권5호
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• pp.558-563
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• 2007

본 연구에서는 정상 세포인 간상피세포를 이용하여 BHT와 PG가 GJIC에 미치는 효과 및 그 작용 기전을 살펴보았다. BHT와 PG를 WB-F344세포에 각각 1.0mM, 0.75mM 이상 처리한 결과, 세포 생육이 80%이하로 저하되어 세포 독성을 보였고, BHT와 PG의 GJIC에 대한 억제효과는 이보다 낮은 농도인 0.6mM, 0.1mM에서 나타났으며 처리에 따른 Cx43 단백질의 발현 및 인산화를 측정한 결과, BHT와 PG 모두 농도의존적으로 Cx43의 인산화가 증가하였고, Cx43의 구조적 변화와 관련된 MAP kinase는 주요 biomarker인 ERK, p38, JNK의 발현 및 인산화를 측정한 결과, 농도의존적으로 ERK와 p38의 인산화가 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 이는 WB-F344세포에 BHT와 PG의 처리가 세포독성을 나타내기 전 농도에서 GJIC의 억제하였음을 의미하며 이는 식품첨가물의 안전성 평가에도 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제17권5호
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• pp.405-409
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• 2013

We studied the sex different nicotine effect on evoked population spike amplitudes (ePSA) and connexin (Cx) expression in the hippocampus CA1 area of gerbils. Acute doses of nicotine bitartrate (0.5 mg/kg: NT-0.5) slightly reduced ePSA in males but markedly augmented that in females. Acute NT (5.0 mg/kg) markedly increased the ePSA in all gerbils. Unlike acute NT-0.5, repeated NT-0.5 injection (twice a day for 7 days) significantly increased the ePSA in males and slightly affected the NT-0.5 effect in females. The Cx36 and Cx43 expression levels as well as Cx expressing neuronal populations were significantly increased by repeated NT-0.5 in in both male and female gerbils, and particularly, Cx43 expression was somewhat prominent in females. These results demonstrated a sex difference with respect to the nicotine effect on hippocampal bisynaptic excitability, irrelevant to connexin expression.

• 한국응용곤충학회지
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.125-132
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• 2003

울산시 울주군 청량면 인근 해안가 주변의 저습지를 보유한 용암리에 서식하는 모기의 계절적 발생소장을 조사하였다. 성충 채집은 Nozawa 유문등을 이용하여 3년(1999-2001) 동안 3월부터 9월까지 두 곳의 우사에서 격주에 한번씩 암컷을 대상으로 실시하였다. 채집된 암컷 성충은 1999년에 트랩당 평균 4,416.1마리, 2000년에 5,505.9마리, 그리고 2001년에 6,863.8마리였다. 채집된 모기의 종류는 5속 10종이었으며, 가장 높은 채집수를 보인 종은 중국얼룩날개모기로 종비는 53.4%였으며 다음으로 작은빨간집모기(43.0%), 이나도미집모기(1.6%), 등줄숲모기(1.3%), 빨간집모기(0.5%) 순이었다. 말라리아 매개모기인 중국얼룩날개모기와 일본뇌염 매개모기인 작은빨간집모기의 주요발생 시기인 6월부터 9월까지의 트랩당 평균 채집수는 각각 3,663.3마리와 3,142.5마리였다. 1997년 조사에서 우점종으로 나타난 이나도미집모기의 채집수는 연중 7월 초순에 가장 높게 나타났다.

• 한국동물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국동물학회 1997년도 공동 춘계학술대회
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• pp.73.2-73
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• 1997

No Abstract, See Full Text

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.317-325
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• 2017

Direct communication between neighboring cells through connexin (Cx)-based gap junction is a crucial biological manner to regulate functions of a tissue consisting of multi-cell types. The present research evaluated expressional changes of Cx isoforms in the caput epididymis of adult rat exposed to estradiol benzoate (EB) or flutamide (Flu) at the early postnatal age. A single subcutaneous administration of EB at a low-dose [$0.015{\mu}g/kg$ body weight (BW)] or a high-dose ($1.5{\mu}g/kg\;BW$) or Flu at a low-dose ($500{\mu}g/kg\;BW$) or a high-dose (5 mg/kg BW) was performed to an animal at 1 week of age. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was employed to determine expressional changes of Cx isoforms. The transcript levels of Cxs30.3 and 37 were decreased by a low-dose EB treatment, while decreases of Cxs31, 31.1, 32, 40, and 45 transcript levels were observed with a low-dose EB treatment. The treatment of a high-dose EB resulted in expressional reduction of Cxs30.3, 31, 31.1, 37, 40, 43, and 45. The Flu treatment at a low dose caused increases of Cxs26, 37, and 40 transcript levels but decreases of Cxs31.1, 43, and 45 transcript levels. Increases of Cxs30.3, 31, 37, and 40 mRNA amounts were induced by a high-dose Flu treatment. However, exposure to a high-dose Flu produced expressional decreases of Cxs31.1, 32, and 43 in the adult caput epididymis. These observations suggest that exposure to EB or Flu at the neonatal period could lead to aberrant expression of Cx isoforms in the adult caput epididymis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.541-547
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• 2003

목 적 : HSVtk 유전자를 암세포에 도입하여 GCV에 대해 선택적으로 감수성을 증가시키는 HSVtk/GCV 유전자 치료에서 방관자 효과는 모든 암세포에 유전자를 도입하지 않고도 치료효과를 얻을 수 있으므로 방관자 효과를 증강시킬 수만 있다면 HSVtk/GCV 유전자 치료의 효과를 극대화시킬 수 있다. HSVtk의 방관자 효과에 관한 기전으로는 간격결합분자들이 주요 역할을 하리라고 알려져 있다. 간격결합분자들은 세포간의 통신을 담당하는 connexin family이며, 주로 Cx43에 관해서는 많이 알려져 왔다. Cx37을 암의 유전자 치료에 이용 가능한 유전자로서의 가능성을 타진하기 위하여 HSVtk/GCV 유전자 치료에 Cx37 유전자를 직접 세포에 발현을 시켜 방관자 효과를 증가시킬 수 있는 새로운 방법의 가능성을 검토하였다. 방 법 : 효과의 검증을 위한 세포주로는 NIH3T3를 사용하였다. HSVtk가 형질도입된 NIH3T3 세포에 GCV의 농도별로 세포사를 관찰하였다. 또한 Cx37의 발현 여부에 따른 세포사멸의 효과를 검토하기 위하여 Cx37 발현 세포주와 비발현 세포주를 서로 다른 비율로 혼합 배양후 나타나는 세포사를 관찰하였다. 최종적으로 Cx37이 세포사멸을 직접적으로 매개하고 있음을 규명하기 위하여 Cx37 발현 표적세포를 크로미움으로 표지화한 후 Cx37 발현 세포주와 비발현 작동세포와 혼합 배양 시 사멸되는 세포로부터 유리되는 크로미움의 양을 측정하였다. 결 과: HSVtk 발현 세포는 GCV 농도에 비례하여 세포가 사멸되었으며 HSVtk/Cx37 동시 발현 세포는 HSVtk만 발현된 세포에 비해 2배 이상의 사멸 효과가 나타났다. 아울러 Cx37에 의해 유도되는 방관자 효과는 표적세포와 작동세포 모두에 Cx37이 발현되는 경우는 세포의 혼합배양 비율에 상관없이 80%에 이르는 세포가 사멸되었다. 특히 작동세포에 Cx37이 없더라도 표적세포에 Cx37이 발현하면 세포사멸은 Cx37이 매개되지 않는 경우에 비교하여 2배 이상의 증가를 보였다. 이러한 결과는 크로미움 유리 실험에서도 동일한 결과가 유도되어 Cx37은 세포사멸을 직접적으로 매개하고 있음이 나타났다. 결 론 : 이상의 결과로부터 HSVtk/GCV 유전자 치료에서 방관자효과를 나타내는 분자의 하나로 Cx37의 기능을 확인하였으며, Cx37은 방관자 효과를 증가시켜 유전자치료의 낮은 유전자 전이율을 극복하고 암의 자살 유전자 치료의 효과를 극대화할 수 있는 분자로 예측된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권18호
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• pp.8271-8279
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• 2016

Background: Hepato-carcinogenesis is multifaceted in its molecular aspects. Among the interplaying agents are altered gap junctions, the proteasome/autophagy system, and mitochondria. The present experimental study was designed to outline the roles of these players and to investigate the tumor suppressive effects of curcumin with or without mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: Adult female albino rats were divided into normal controls and animals with HCC induced by diethyl-nitrosamine (DENA) and $CCl_4$. Additional groups treated after HCC induction were: Cur/HCC which received curcumin; MSCs/HCC which received MSCs; and Cur+MSCs/HCC which received both curcumin and MSCs. For all groups there were histopathological examination and assessment of gene expression of connexin43 (Cx43), ubiquitin ligase-E3 (UCP-3), the autophagy marker LC3 and coenzyme-Q10 (Mito.Q10) mRNA by real time, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, along with measurement of LC3II/LC3I ratio for estimation of autophagosome formation in the rat liver tissue. In addition, the serum levels of ALT, AST and alpha fetoprotein (AFP), together with the proinflammatory cytokines $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-6, were determined in all groups. Results: Histopathological examination of liver tissue from animals which received DENA-$CCl_4$ only revealed the presence of anaplastic carcinoma cells and macro-regenerative nodules. Administration of curcumin, MSCs; each alone or combined into rats after induction of HCC improved the histopathological picture. This was accompanied by significant reduction in ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein together with proinflammatory cytokines and significant decrease of various liver enzymes, in addition to upregulation of Cx43, UCP-3, LC3 and Mito.Q10 mRNA. Conclusions: Improvement of Cx43 expression, nonapoptotic cell death and mitochondrial function can repress tumor growth in HCC. Administration of curcumin and/or MSCs have tumor suppressive effects as they can target these mechanisms. However, further research is still needed to verify their effectiveness.

• 한국동물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국동물학회 1996년도 한국생물과학협회 국제학술대회
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• pp.154.1-154
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• 1996

No Abstract, See Full Text