• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.1007-1012
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• 2015

EphA7 is a key molecule in regulating the development of the dien- and mesencephalon. To get insight into the mechanism of how EphA7 gene expression is regulated during the dorsal specification of the dien- and mesencephalon, we investigated the cis-acting regulatory sequence driving EphA7 to the dorsal midline of the dien- and mesencephalon. Transgenic LacZ reporter analysis, using overlapping EphA7 BACs, was used to narrow down the dorsal midline-specific enhancer, revealing the 25.3 kb genomic region as the enhancer candidate. Strikingly, this genomic DNA was located far downstream of the EphA7 transcription start site, +302.6 kb to +327.9 kb. Further enhancer mapping, using comparative genomic analysis and transgenic methods, showed that the 187 bp genomic DNA alone, approximately 305 kb downstream of the EphA7 transcription start site, was sufficient to act as the dorsal midline-specific enhancer of EphA7. Importantly, our results indicate that the 187 bp dorsal midline-specific enhancer is critically regulated by homeobox transcription factors during the development of the dien- and mesencephalon.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1999

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was originally isolated as a hypothalamic peptide that regulates reproduction by stimulating the release of gonadotropins. Using comparative animal models has led to the discovery that GnRH has a more ancient evolutionary origin. Durinq evolution GnRH peptide underwent gene duplication and structural changes to give rise to multiple molecular forms of GnRHs. Mammalian GnRH initially considered to be the sole molecular form, is now grouped as a family of peptides along with GnRH variants determined from representatives in all classes of vertebrates. Vertebrate species including primates and humanshave more than one GnRH variant in individual brains; a unique GnRH form in the forebrain and chicken IIGnRH in the midbrain. Furthermore, several species of bony fish have three molecular variants of GnRH: salmon GnRH sea-bream GnRH and chicken II GnRH. Also, it has been shown that in addition to the olfactory placodes and the midbrain, there is a third embryonic source of GnRH neurons from the basal diencephalon in birds and fish, which might be true for other vertebrates. Therefore, comparative animal models like fish with discrete sites of expression of three molecular variants of GnRH in individual brains, could provide insight into novel functions of GnRH variants, conservation of gene regulation, and mechanisms governing reproduction in vertebrates.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.807-823
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• 2024

Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is a category of immune-mediated disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) affecting children and adults. It is characterized by the subacute onset of altered mentation, neurocognitive issues, refractory seizures/drug-resistant epilepsy, movement disorders, and/or autonomic dysfunction. AE is mediated by autoantibodies targeting specific surface components or intracytoplasmic antigens in the CNS, leading to functional or structural alterations. Multiple triggers that induce autoimmunity have been described, which are mainly parainfectious and paraneoplastic. The imaging features of AE often overlap with each other and with other common causes of encephalitis/encephalopathy (infections and toxic-metabolic etiologies). Limbic encephalitis is the most common imaging finding shared by most of these entities. Cortical, basal ganglia, diencephalon, and brainstem involvement may also be present. Cerebellar involvement is rare and is often a part of paraneoplastic degeneration. Owing to an improved understanding of AE, their incidence and detection have increased. Hence, in an appropriate setting, a high degree of suspicion is crucial when reporting clinical MRIs to ensure prompt treatment and better patient outcomes. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiology of AE and common etiologies encountered in clinical practice.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.166-174
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• 2012

To determine the effects of Mahaengeuigam-tang(MHEGT) on obesity, the obesity-related factors (gastrin, CGRP, ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide-1, insulin, orexin, leptin, serotonin, NPY) were investigated in the stomach, pancreas, brain of mice by immunohistochemical methods for 4 weeks after Mahaengeuigam-tang(MHEGT) administration. The change of boy weight decreased in MHEGT administered group than that of control group. The immunohistochemical density of the gastrin and CGRP positive cells on pylorus of stomach increased in MHEGT administered group than that of control group. The number of ghrelin immunoreactive cells on stomach decreased in MHEGT administered groups than that of control group. The immunohistochemical density of GLP-1 in the pancreas decreased in MHEGT administered group than that of control group. The immunohistochemical density of insulin positive cells in the pancreas decreased in MHEGT administered group than that of control group. The immunohistochemical density of orexin and NPY positive neurons in the diencephalon was slightly stronger in MHEGT administered group than that of control group. The immunohistochemical density of serotonin and leptin positive neurons was stronger in MHEGT administered group than that of control group. These results demonstrate that Mahaengeuigam-tang(MHEGT) increased the immunohistochemical density of factors related to appetite inhibitors, and decreased the immunohistochemical density of factors related to stimulator of food intake in stomach, pancreas and brain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.168-181
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• 2003

Objective: The neuroanatomical studies on the acupoints(Waiguan(SJ5), Neiguan(Pe6), Sanyinjiao(SP6) and Xuanzhong(GB39)) projecting to the brain area related to dimentia using the pseudorabies virus (PRV-Ba strain) in the mouse was described. Methods: The common locations of the brain projecting to the Waiguan, Neiguan, Sanyinjiao and Xuanzhong following injection of PRV-Ba were histochemically observed. The results were as follows Results : 1. PRV-Ba labeled areas in medulla oblongata, pons and midbrain were similar to 4 acupoints, theses areas were related to autonomic center. 2. PRV-Ba labeled areas in diencephalon and cebrebrum were differently labeled according to the acupoints. 3. CNS labeled areas in Waiguan were dense labeled in CA1-3 area of hippocampus, amygdaloid nucleus, insular cortex, parietal cortex, entorhinal cortex, perirhinal cortex, dorsal endopiriform cortex, piriform cortex, amygdalopiriform transition and bed n. of stria terminalis. 4. CNS labeled areas in Neiguan were dense labeled in insular cortex, amygdaloid nucleus, parietal cortex, entorhinal cortex, perirhinal cortex, dorsal endopiriform cortex, piriform cortex, amygdalopiriform transition and bed n. of stria terminalis. 5. CNS labeled areas in Sanyinjiao were dense labeled in CA1-3 of hippocampus, suprachiasmatic n., dorsal endopiriform cortex, piriform cortex and bed n. of stria terminalis. 6. CNS labeled areas in Xuanzhong were dense labeled in suprachiasmatic n., dorsal endopiriform cortex and piriform cortex. Conclusions : Following these results, labeled acupoints in brain areas related to dimentia are Waiguan and Neiguan. Common labeled areas are amygdaloid n., entorhinal cortex, amygdaopiriform transition, bed n. stria terminalis and perirhinal cortex.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.755-759
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• 2010

A 6-year-old, intact female Dachshund was presented with generalized seizure for 2 days. Based on the neurologic and physical examinations, intracranial diseases were suspected. 1.5T and 7.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain were taken. The MRI results revealed diffuse hyperintense lesions in the area of the diencephalon to the medulla oblongata in the T2-weighted images. Canine distemper virus-induced meningoencephalitis was confirmed by the result of RT-PCR of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The dog was euthanized 7 days after diagnosis due to poor prognosis and clinical deterioration. Postmortem histopathologic examination was consistent with the MRI findings. This is the first case report using 1.5T and 7.0T MRI to compare the virus-induced intracranial lesions in meningoencephalitis.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.7 no.1_2
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• pp.53-57
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• 1992

Amount of lead burden in a tissue reflects poisoning of lead in that tissue, so is the removal of lead directly connected to curement of lead poisoning. The purpose of present study was to investigate the relative effects of penicillamine and thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTFD) or thiamine propyl disulfide (TPD) in the removal of lead from rat brain tissue treated with excessive lead. Wistar rat pups of both sexes were used in this experiment. Within 1 day of parturition, experimental mothers nursing their pups as well as rat pups were given drinking water containing 0.2% lead acetate, TTFD 20mg/1.2 L (2 mg/kg/day), TPD 20 mg/1.2 L (2mg/kg/day), penicillamine 40 mg/1.2 L (40 mg/kg/day), 0.2% lead acetate+TTFD 20mg/1.2 L (2 mg/kg/day), 0.2% lead acetate+ TPD 20 mg/1.2 L (2 mg/kg/day) or 0.2% lead acetate+ penicillamine 40 mg/1.2 L (40 mg/kg/day) ad libitum, throughout the entire period of experiment. Rat pups in the control group received normal tap water. The animals were sacrificed by decapitation on the day when they become 2 or 8 weeks of age. Brains were dissected into five regions: telencephalon, diencephalon, midbrain, pons/medulla and cerebellum. The dissected brain tissues were lyophillized and then solubilized by acid mixture (nitric acid + sulfuric acid). Lead levels in the solubilized brain tissues were measured by the inductively coupled plasma. In lead-exposed rats, lead levels were significantly higher than those of control group in all brain legions, lead levels in brain regions of TTFD or TPD group were generally lower than those of control group. The simultaneous administration of lead with TTFD or TPD to animals caused significant decrement of lead from all brain regions. In the elimination of lead from brain regions, effectiveness of TTFD or TPD was equivalant to penicillamine.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.497-505
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• 2012

To determine the effects of Banggihwanggi-tang(BGHGT) on obesity, the obesity-related factors[gastrin, calcitonin gene related peptide(CGRP), serotonin, ghrelin, obestatin, glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1), insulin, orexin, leptin] were investigated in the stomach, pancreas, brain of mice by immunohistochemical(IHC) methods for 4 weeks. The change of body weight was more reduced in BGHGT administered group than that of control group. The IHC density of the gastrin and CGRP positive cells on pylorus was higher in BGHGT administered group than that of control group. The number of ghrelin immunoreactive cells on stomach was lower in BGHGT administered group than that of control group. The IHC of GLP-1 positive cells did not observe in the stomach of BGHGT administered groups. The IHC density of GLP-1 in the pancreas was lower in BGHGT administered group than that of control group. The IHC density of insulin positive cells in the pancreas was lower in BGHGT administered group than that of control group. The IHC density of orexin positive neurons in the diencephalon was slightly higher in BGHGT administered group than that of control group. The IHC density of NPY and leptin positive neurons was slightly higher in BGHGT administered group than that of control group. The IHC density of serotonin positive neurons was higher in BGHGT administered group than that of control group. Therefore, we conclude that BGHGT activates appetite inhibitor through appetite related enteroendocrine cells and neuropeptides in stomach, pancreas and brain, and this activation may also be responsible for the inhibition of feeding behavior.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.217-226
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• 2011

The aim of this study is to identify central neural pathway of neurons following the projection to the large intestine and Hapgok(LI4) which is Won acupoint of the large intestine meridian of hand-yangmyeong. In this experiment, Bartha's strain of pseudorabies virus was used to trace central localization of neurons related with large intestine and acupoint(LI4) which has been known to be able to regulate intestinal function. The animals were divided into 3 groups: group 1, injected into the large intestine; group 2, injected into the acupoint(LI4); group 3, injected into the acupoint(LI4) after severing the radial, ulnar, median nerve. After four days survival of rats, PRV labeled neurons were identified in the spinal cord and brain by immunohistochemical method. First-order PRV labeled neurons following the projection to large intestine, acupoint(LI4) and acupoint(LI4) after cutting nerve were found in the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal cord. Commonly labeled neurons were labeled in the lumbosacral spinal cord and thoracic spinal cord. They were found in lamina V- X, intermediomedial nucleus and dorsal column area. The area of sensory neurons projecting was L5-S2 spinal ganglia and T12-L1 spinal ganglia, respectively. In the brainstem, the neurons were labeled most evidently and consistently in the nucleus tractus solitarius, area postrema, dorsal motor nucleus of vagus nerve, reticular nucleus, raphe nuclei(obscurus, magnus and pallidus), C3 adrenalin cells, parapyramidal area(lateral paragigantocellular nucleus), locus coeruleus, subcoeruleus nucleus, A5 cell group, periaqueductal gray matter. In the diencephalon, PRV labeled neurons were marked mostly in the arcuate nucleus and median eminence. These results suggest that overlapped CNS locations are related with autonomic nuclei which regulate the functions of large intestine-related organs and it was revealed by tracing PRV labeled neurons projecting large intestine and related acupoint(LI4).

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2000

Nowadays, mongolian gerbil is notably utilized for the research of brain and water deprivation because of a congenital incomplete willis circle structure in the brain, audiogenic seizure in low noise, and special cholesterol metabolism without water absorption for a long time. In this study, we are intend to identify the morphological changes of the catecholaminergic neuron of brain according to the time lapse in the condition of long term water deprivation. 55 mongolian gerbil were divided 10 groups(control, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 42th day water deprivation group), of which each group include 5 mongolian gerbils and 5 normal mongolian gerbils in control group were also used for brain atlas as a control. The brains were observed by the immunohistochemical stain using the TH, DBH and PMNT antibody. The results were as followings; 1. The nerve fibers of the TH-immunoreactive neuron were observed only in the and corpus striatum of the telencephalon. 2. Intensity of the immunostain of the nerve fiber in the cerebral cortex and corpus striatum was decreased gradually day by day after water deprivation. 3. The TH-immunoreactive nerve cells were observed in the paraventricular and periventricular nucleus of the 3rd ventricular in the hypothalamus of mongolian gerbil but the number of nerve cells were decreased from the first day of the water deprivation to the 10th day and increased until the 20th day, after than redecreased from the 20th day by the continuous water deprivation. The number of nerve fibers in this area were increased in the first day, but decreased from the 2nd day of water deprivation. The shape and density of the dopamine secreting cells in the brain of mongolian gerbil by the immunoreactive stain were changed in the continuous water deprivation. In this results, we can conclude that dopamine concerned in the water metabolism of mongolian gerbil, and mongolian gerbil could be used as an animal model for the research of water deprivation.