• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.429-438
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• 2018

Objective: Although the efficacy of Rubus coreanus (RC) byproducts as a feed additive has been recognized, its effects on intestinal microorganisms and the immune system are still unknown. Methods: Six-week-old male rats were treated with 0.5% RC (T1), 1.0% RC (T2), and 1.5% RC (T3) for 4 weeks. Results: We found that treatment with RC byproducts significantly increased the daily gain of body weight and feed intake. Treg-cell differentiation was enhanced in the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen from the rats fed with RC byproducts. Illumina sequencing showed that bacteria in the phylum Firmicutes decreased and while those in the phylum Bacteroidetes increased in RC-treated groups. Particularly, the pathogenic microorganisms in the family Peptococcaceae decreased, and the non-pathogenic families Lachnospiraceae and S24-7 increased. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the RC byproducts increased the lactic acid bacteria Bifidobacterium spp., Oscillospira spp., Leuconostoc citreum, and Weissella cibaria in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion: RC byproducts may be effective in immunomodulation by affecting intestinal microorganisms.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.421-426
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• 2013

Several studies have shown the mechanisms and importance of immune responses against Toxoplasma gondii infection and the notable role of cholinesterases in inflammatory reactions. However, the association between those factors has not yet been investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in blood and lymphocytes and the activity of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in serum of rats experimentally infected with T. gondii during the acute phase of infection. For that, an in vivo study was performed with evaluations of AChE and BChE activities on days 5 and 10 post-infection (PI). The activity of AChE in blood was increased on day 5 PI, while in lymphocytes its activity was enhanced on days 5 and 10 PI (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed between groups regarding to the activity of BChE in serum. A positive (P<0.01) correlation was observed between AChE activity and number of lymphocytes. The role of AChE as an inflammatory marker is well known in different pathologies; thus, our results lead to the hypothesis that AChE has an important role in modulation of early immune responses against T. gondii infection.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2014

In this study, we propose that diprophylline exerts bidirectional modulation (BM) on the isolated rat jejunal segment depending on its contractile state. The results supported the hypothesis. Diprophylline ($20{\mu}M$) exerted stimulatory effects on the contractility of jejunal segment in six low contractile states while inhibitory effects in six high contractile states, showing the characteristics of BM. Diprophylline-induced stimulatory effect was significantly blocked by atropine, indicating the correlation with cholinergic activation. Diprophylline-induced inhibitory effect was partially blocked by phentolamine, propranolol, and L-N-Nitro-Arginine respectively, indicating their correlation with sympathetic activation and nitric oxide-mediated relaxing mechanisms. Diprophylline-induced BM was abolished by tetrodotoxin or in a $Ca^{2+}$ free condition or pretreated with tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib, suggesting that diprophylline-induced BM is $Ca^{2+}$ dependent, and that it requires the presence of enteric nervous system as well as pacemaker activity of interstitial cells of Cajal. Diprophylline significantly increased the reduced MLCK expression and myosin extent in constipation-prominent rats and significantly decreased the increased MLCK expression and myosin extent in diarrhea-prominent rats, suggesting that the change of MLCK expression may also be involved in diprophylline-induced BM on rat jejunal contractility. In summary, diprophylline-exerted BM depends on the contractile states of the jejunal segments, requires the presence of $Ca^{2+}$, enteric nervous system, pacemaker activity of interstitial cells of Cajal, and MLCK-correlated myosin phosphorylation. The results suggest the potential implication of diprophylline in relieving alternative hypo/hyper intestinal motility.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2017

Increased alcohol consumption is a burden on the world because it is associated with various health problems. However, the effects of silkworms on alcohol metabolism have not been studied yet. The hard-to-eat mature silkworms have become easier to ingest recently due to the development of technology, steam-lyophilising mature silkworm larvae. In this study, we investigated and compared the effects of SMSPs from three silkworm varieties, Baekokjam, Golden-silk and Yeonnokjam weaving white, golden, and light green cocoons on alcohol metabolism in vivo. Sprague-Dawley rats pretreated with three SMSPs (0.1 g/kg or 1 g/kg body weight) or normal diet (AIN-76A) for 2 weeks were subjected to intragastric administration of absolute ethanol (3 g/kg body weight, 3 h). Three SMSPs did not affect the final body weight and liver weight. All 3 SMSPs were effective to reduce the enzymes in alcohol metabolism, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and liver damage and enzymes involved in liver damage, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Among SMSP from 3 varieties of silkworm, preadministration of 1 g/kg Baekokjam SMSP showed the most effective suppressive effect on the activities of ADH, ALDH, AST and ALT. The Baekokjam SMSP contained higher amounts of beneficial amino acids than Golden-silk or Yeonnokjam SMSP. These results suggest that Baekokjam SMSP might be used as a new and promising candidate for improving alcohol metabolism and liver injury through promoting rapid alcohol metabolism.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.711-716
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• 2019

Red Chinese cabbage is rich in anthocyanins, with beneficial effects on anti-obesity and lipid profiles. The purpose of this study was to examine the anti-obesity effects of red Chinese cabbage. Four-weeks old Spague-Dawley male rats were divided into four groups for six weeks as follow: Normal Diet (ND), High Fat Diet (HFD), HFD + Red Chinese Cabbage Diet (RCD), HFD + Red Chinese Cabbage Juice (RCJD). After six weeks, the liver weight was significantly higher in the HFD group than in the other groups, and the RCD and RCJD groups showed similar values to the ND group. The epididymal fats were significantly higher in all high fat diets (HFD, RCD, RCJD) than in the ND group and there was statistical significance in the post-tests when comparing the RCD and RCJD groups with the HFD group. Triglycerides significantly decreased in the RCD group. In conclusion, red Chinese cabbage is rich in anthocyanins, with beneficial effects on organ weight and lipid profiles.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.409-417
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• 2007

We investigated the effect of Arogh, a polyherbal formulation (PHF) on animal models of anxiety based on exploratory behavior. The anxiolytic activity of polyherbal formulation (30, 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg) was studied using various behavioural paradigms such as elevated plus maze (EPM), light/dark apparatus (LDA), open field apparatus (OFA), hole board apparatus (HBA). Diazepam (1 mg/kg) was used as a standard anxiolytic drug. The effect of PHF (100 and 300 mg/kg) on serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline mediated behaviour was studied by lithium induced head twitches in rats, haloperidol induced catalepsy in mice and clonidine induced hypothermia in rats respectively. In EPM, PHF (100, 300 and 500 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the time spent in open arms and the number of entries in open arms. In LDA, PHF (100, 300 and 500 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the time spent in lit zone. In OFA, PHF (100, 300 and 500 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the number of assisted rearing and the number of squares traversed. In HBA, PHF (100, 300 and 500 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the number of head poking. In lithium induced head twitches, PHF (100 and 300 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the number of head twitches. In haloperidol induced catalepsy, PHF (300 mg/kg) decreased the duration of catalepsy significantly (P < 0.05) at 60 min. In clonidine-induced hypothermia, PHF (300 mg/kg) did not modify the effect. Drugs must be carefully assessed on EPM test and therefore in the present study EPM is supported by other tests. Present study indicates that Arogh, a polyherbal formulation possess anxiolytic activity. It diminished serotonergic transmission and decreased the duration of catalepsy indicating potentiation of dopaminergic transmission. Thus, Arogh a polyherbal formulation contains bioactive principles which possess anxiolytic activity and modified 5-HT and DA mediated behaviour.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2016

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin, elicits strong immune responses in mammals. Several lines of evidence demonstrate that LPS challenge profoundly affects female reproductive function. For example, LPS exposure affects steroidogenesis and folliculogenesis, resulting in delayed puberty onset. The present study was conducted to clarify the mechanism underlying the adverse effect of LPS on the delayed puberty in female rats. LPS was daily injected for 5 days ($50{\mu}g/kg$, PND 25-29) to treated animals and the date at VO was evaluated through daily visual examination. At PND 39, animals were sacrificed, and the tissues were immediately removed and weighed. Among the reproductive organs, the weights of the ovaries and oviduct from LPS-treated animals were significantly lower than those of control animals. There were no changes in the weights of uterus and vagina between the LPS-treated and their control animals. immunological challenge by LPS delayed VO. Multiple corpora lutea were found in the control ovaries, indicating ovulations were occurred. However, none of corpus luteum was present in the LPS-treated ovary. The transcription level of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), CYP11A1, CYP17A1 and CYP19 were significantly increased by LPS treatment. On the other hand, the levels of $3{\beta}$-HSD, $17{\beta}$-HSD and LH receptor were not changed by LPS challenge. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the repeated LPS exposure during the prepubertal period could induce multiple alterations in the steroidogenic machinery in ovary, and in turn, delayed puberty onset. The prepubertal LPS challenge model used in our study is useful to understand the reciprocal regulation of immune (stress) - reproductive function in early life.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.68-79
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of Chungganhaeju-tang (Qingganjiejiu-tang) on alcoholic liver damage by applying proteomics. Materials and Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this experiment; the rats were divided into a control group, alcohol group and Chungganhaeju-tang + alcohol group. Ethanol was orally administered twice a day for 4 weeks to the alcohol group. Water without ethanol was administered twice a day for 4 weeks to the control group. Ethanol + Chungganhaeju-tang extract was orally administered twice a day for 4 weeks to the Chungganhaeju-tang + alcohol group. The livers of each group were processed and we investigated histology, OxyBlot, 2-dimensional electrophoresis, and western blot of liver of each group. Results : In the histological findings of the liver, the alcohol group showed portal fibrosis with a few septa or without septa. The Chungganhaeju-tang + alcohol group showed no fibrosis or portalfibrosis without septa. In the OxyBlot finding, Chungganhaeju-tangprevented liver damage by oxidation. In the 2-dimensional electrophoresis finding, formiminotransferase cyclodeaminase (FTCD), glucose regulated protein, 58 kDa (GRP58K), aryl sulfotransferase, sulfotransferase family 1A, member 2, similar to acyl-coenzyme A oxidase-like, and catalase were changed. Conclusion : Chungganhaeju-tangexerts an inhibitory effect against the fibrosis and oxidation induced by alcohol in rat liver cell, and some proteins induced by alcohol were changed by Chungganhaeju-tang.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.242-251
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• 2018

This study was investigating the anti-obesity effects of diets with a mixture of cheese, red ginseng and fermented mature fruit of Rubus coreanus Miquel. We fed the experimental diets (SC5, SC10) supplemented with 5% or 10% cheese containing of fermented mixture, then orally administered the extract of fermented mixture (RB100, RB300) at a concentration of 100 or 300 mg/kg body weight to SD rats with high fat diet (HFD). The results were as follows: Sample cheese groups decreased visceral fat mass and adipocyte size of stomach compared to that of HFD group. Additionally, lipid droplets of liver in sample cheese groups were smaller than that in HFD group. The serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (tChol), glucose, leptin, and insulin levels in sample cheese group were lower than that in HFD group. But, the serum adiponectin and HDL-cholesterol (cHDL) levels were higher than that in HFD group. These results suggest that fermentation of red ginseng and Rubus coreanus mixed with cheese might be helpful in preventing obesity in high fat diet-fed rats.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.167-179
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• 2016

The detailed study of acute and sub-acute toxicity of the complex polyvinylpyrrolidon (PVP 20 kDa)-wrapped fullerene $C_{60}$ after intraperitoneal (ip) administration was carried out on adult male Wistar rats. The $LD_{50}$ value of $C_{60}/PVP$ complex was found to be 7, 8 g/kg. In sub-acute study which lasted for 30 days the rats were exposed to daily administration of the complex in the doses of 350 or 700 mg/kg. All animals survived during the study and had no significant changes in clinical signs, organ weight, hematological and biochemical parameters of blood. The electrophysiological properties of myocardium and the excretory function of kidneys remained normal. Histological analysis of liver, kidney and spleen at the end of the study also did not demonstrate toxic alterations. It was thus established that intraperitoneal administration of complex $C_{60}/PVP$ has no toxic effect. These results suggest that $C_{60}/PVP$ has no acute and sub-acute toxicity and is a perspective substance for potential application in biology and medicine.