• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.642-648
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• 2008

The aim of this study is to investigate Chegameuiin-tang water extracts (CETE) have potent anti-obesity activities in a high fat diet-induced obesity mouse model. In this study, we designed three group (normal diet group, high fat diet group, high fat diet plus CETE group for 13-week oral administration). Increases in body weight and fat storage were inhibited by 13-week oral administration of CETE at a 500 mg/kg concentration in this animal model, while the amount of food intake was not affected. Results from blood lipid analysis showed that the levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were significantly lowered by CETE administration, also HDL-cholesterol was increased more than high fat diet-induced obese mouse. To understand the underlying mechanism at the molecular level, the effects of CETE were examined on the expression of the genes involved in lipogenesis and lipolysis by real-time PCR. In epididymal fat of CETE-treated mice, the mRNA level of lipogenic genes such as sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 and fatty acid synthase were decreased, which was well correlated with the reduction of the epididymal fat weight. Also, CETE administration inhibited decreases of the hormone-sensitve lipase and lipoprotein lipase mRNA expressions, which are genes related with lipolysis. These results suggest that Chegameuiin-tang may have great potential as a novel anti-obesity agent.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.372-379
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• 2017

This study was investigated to test whether paternal DNA that was destined for degradation was properly licensed by testing for the presence of mini-chromosome maintenance protein (MCM) 7 and origin recognition complex (ORC) 2 in the paternal pronuclei. ORC2 is one of the first licensing protein to come on and MCM7 is one of the last licensing protein to come on. Zygotes were prepared by injection of control and treated sperm injection (ICSI). To control for DNA breakage, epididymal spermatozoa were treated with DNase I to fragment the DNA, then injected into oocytes. The presence of MCM7 and ORC2 in the pronuclei of mouse zygotes was tested by immunohistochemistry, just before the onset of DNA synthesis, at 5 h after fertilization, and after DNA synthesis began, at 9 h post fertilization. We found that in all cases, both MCM7 and ORC2 were present in both pronuclei at 5 h after sperm injection, just before DNA synthesis began. This indicates that no matter how extensive the DNA damage, recruitment of licensing proteins to the origins of replication was not inhibited. Sperm DNA fragmentation does not prevent licensing of DNA replication origins. Furthermore, the embryo recognizes DNA that is damaged by nucleases. Our data indicate that the one-cell embryo does harbor a mechanism to prevent the replication of severely damaged DNA from spermatozoa, even though the embryos do not undergo classical apoptosis.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.271-277
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• 2000

This study was conducted to establish the optimal culture conditions for in vitro production of bovine embryos derived from slaughter house ovaries. Cumulus-oocyte- complexes (COCs) collected by aspiration from follicles of 2~7 mm in diameter were matured in Ham's F-10 medium supplemented with 0.01 $\mu\textrm{g}$/m1 epidermal growth factor (EGF) at 39$^{\circ}C$ in a humidified atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$in air. After 24 hrs of culture, the oocytes were co-cultured with epididymal sperm selected off by Percoll-density gradient in TALP medium for 24 hrs. The presumptive zygotes were cultured in HECM-6 medium for 3 d post-insemination, and followed by cultured in TCM199 medium until 7 to 10d post-insemination. The cultures were compared of their cleavage and development into later stage in culture medium by additions of different protein sources (PVA, BSA and BCS) and by different embryo density. The rates of cleavage and development rates into blastocyst were not significantly (P<0.05) different among the culture media containing with BSA (75.0% and 40.5%), BCS (76.7% and 38.0%) and PVA (72.5% and 42.2%), respectively. Significantly (P<0.05) higher blastocysts rates were obtained in culturing of 30 and 40 embryos in each 50$\mu$l droplets of culture medium than in 5, 10 and 20 embryos. These results indicate that the optimal density of embryos is 30~40 embryos in a 50$\mu$l droplet of culture medium. Furthermore there is no effect of different protein sources on early embryonic development.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.485-496
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• 1989

This study was performed to investigate nutritional effect of various dietary fibers on lead absorption and metabolism of protein and lipid in growing rats. Forty eight male rats of Sprague-Dawley strain weighing 75.7$\pm$0.7g were blocked into six groups according to body weight and fed six kinds of diet different with fiber source(non-fiber, cellulose, pectin) and lead level(0%, 1% ) for 4 weeks. Results are summerized as follows: 1) Food intake, weight gain, FER and PER were remarkably decreased in lead(Pb) added groups, and FER and PER in Pb-added pectin group were significantly lower than those in Pb-added non-fiber group. 2) Weight of liver, kidney and epididymal fat pad, bone weight and length, hematocrit, and hemoglobin content were decreased in Pb-added groups. 3) Total protein content in serum was tended to be decreased in Pb-added groups, but total lipid and cholesterol contents in serum were not different with dietary Pb level and fiber source. 4) Nitrogen, lipid and cholesterol content in liver were tended to be deceased in Pb-added groups, and especially those of the Pb-added pectin group were the lowest among groups. 5) Daily urinary and fecal excretions of nitrogen, lipid and cholesterol were decreased in Pb-added groups. Especially fecal excretions of nitrogen, lipid and cholesterol in Pb-free groups were significantly increased by dietary cellulose and pectin. 6) Pb content in blood was significantly increased in Pb-added pectin group. There was no significant decrease in Pb contents of liver, kidney and tibia, and increase in excretion of Pb by feeding dietary fibers. In conculsion, dietary fibers had no effect on the absorption of Pb, and dietary pectin seemed to increase Pb poisoning by decreasing bioavailibility of protein, lipid and other nutrients in the diet.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.136-136
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• 1998

L-asparaginyl and L- aspartyl residues in proteins are subject to spontaneous degradation reactions generating isomerized and racemized aspartyl derivatives. Proteins containing L-isoaspartyl and D-aspartyl residues usually have altered structures and diminished biological activities. These residues can be recognized and be repaired to normal L-aspartyl residues by protein L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase(PIMT), which is present at high levels in testis. Although testicular PIMT have been shown to be involved in either sperm motility or sperm maturation, it may play an important role in the repair of damaged sperm proteins during the prolonged period of epididymal transport and storage. In the present study, as a initial step toward elucidating the function of protein carboxylmethylation in testis, we purified PIMT from porcine testicular cytosol as a momeric 27,000 Da species by ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-sephacel chromatography, SAH-liganded affinity chromatography, and gel filtration chromatography. The optimum pH for the reaction was 6.0. $K_{m}$ values of the enzyme for the S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), synthetic oligopeptide(VYP-L-isoD-HA) and histone type II-As were 1.0 ${\mu}$M, 33.2 ${\mu}$M and 276 ${\mu}$M respectively. Consequently, properties of the porcine testicular PIMT is similar to that of other mammalian PIMTs.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated whether Gelidium amansii extract (GAE) ameliorates obesity in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: The mice were maintained on a high-fat diet (HD) for 5 weeks to generate the DIO mouse model. And then mice fed HD plus 0.5% (GAE1), 1% (GAE2) or 2% (GAE3) for 8 weeks. RESULTS: After the experimental period, GAE-supplemented groups were significantly lower than the HD group in body weight gain and liver weight. GAE supplemented groups were significantly lower than the HD group in both epididymal and mesenteric adipose tissue mass. The plasma leptin level was significantly higher in the HD group than in GAE-supplemented groups. The leptin level of HD+GAE3 group was significantly lower than that of the HD+conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) group. In contrast, plasma adiponectin level of the HD group was significantly lower than those of HD+GAE2 and HD+GAE3 groups. The expression levels of adipogenic proteins such as fatty acid synthase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$, and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ in the GAE supplemented groups were significantly decreased than those in HD group, respectively. In addition, the expression levels of HD+GAE2 and HD+GAE3 groups are significantly decreased compared to those of HD+CLA group. On the contrary, the expression levels of hormone-sensitive lipase and phospho-AMP-activated protein kinase, proteins associated with lipolysis, were significantly increased in the GAE supplemented groups compared to those in the HD group. HD+GAE3 group showed the highest level among the GAE supplemented groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that GAE supplementation stimulated the expressions of lipid metabolic factors and reduced weight gain in HD-fed C57BL/6J obese mice.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 2014

BACKGROUD/OBEJECTIVES: This study aims to find out the effects of peanut sprout extracts on weight controls and protein expressions of transcription factors related to adipocyte differentiation and adipocytokine in rats under high-fat diets. MATERIALS/METHODS: Four week-old Sparague-Dawley (SD) were assigned to 4 groups; normal-fat (NF) diets (7% fat diet), high-fat (HF) diets (20% fat diet), high fat diets with low peanut sprout extract (HF + PSEL) diet (20% fat and 0.025% peanut sprout extract), and high fat diets with high peanut sprout extract (HF + PSEH) diet (20% fat and 0.05% peanut sprout extract). Body weight changes, lipid profiles in adipose tissue, and the mRNA protein expressions, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$), CCAAT element binding protein ${\alpha}$ (C/EBP ${\alpha}$), leptin, and adiponectin, were determined. RESULTS: After 9 weeks of feeding, the HF + PSEH group had significantly less weight gains than the HF group (P < 0.05). However, the total dietary intakes or food efficiency ratios among groups were not significantly different. The weight of epididymal fat in HF + PSEH group, $3.61{\pm}0.5g$, or HF + PSEL group, $3.80{\pm}0.7g$, was significantly lower than the HF group, $4.39{\pm}0.4g$, (P < 0.05). Total lipids and total cholesterol in adipose tissue were significantly decreased in HF + PSEH group compared to those in the HF group, respectively (P < 0.05). PSEH supplementation caused AST and ALT levels to decrease when it compared to HF group, but it was not statistically significant. The protein expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$ in HF + PSEH group was significantly lower than the HF group (P < 0.05). Comparing with the HF group, the protein expression of adiponectin in HF + PSEH group was significantly increased (P < 0.05). The protein expressions of C/EBP ${\alpha}$ and leptin in HF + PSEH group were lower than the HF group, but it was not statistical significant. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, peanut sprout extract has anti-obesity effect by lowering the expressions of $PPAR{\gamma}$ which regulates the expression of adiponectin.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.447-456
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• 1989

This study was performed to investigate nutritional effect and the utilization possibility of rapeseed oil which could replace the imported edible oils and oil crops. The proximate compositions of a recommendable cultivar(Mokpo Dangyo 19) and a native kind(Asahi) and the characteristics of these rapeseed oils were analyzed. The animal experiment of these rapeseed oils was carried out during 8 weeks of growing periods after weanling. Forty male weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 3 diet groups of Dangyo 19 oil, Asahi oil and commercial Soybean oil. Mokpo Dangyo 19 variety contained more lipids than Asahi variety by 8% and there was no difference in physiochemical characteristics between Dangyo 19 oil and Asahi oil except that erucic acid was contained little in Dangyo 19 oil but 50% in Asahi oil. Body weight gain, FER(Feed efficiency ratio) and PER(Protein efficiency ratio) of rats fed Dangyo 19 oil were higher than those of rats fed Asahi oil and organ weights such as liver, kidney and epididymal fat pads weights of rats fed Dangyo 19 oil were significantly higher(P<0.05) thanthose of rats fed Asahi oil. the apparent digistibility of total diet and total lipid were higher in rats fed the diets containing Dangyo 19 oil than Asahi oil. The content of total lipid in heart in heart were not significantly different with dietary oil kinds. The content of total lipid in liver increased with age in all rapeseed oil groups.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2008

Adult male albino rats were treated with 0.5 mg and 0.75 mg morphine/100 g body weight intraperitoneally for 30 days. All the animals were autopsied on $31^{st}$ day. Epididymis and vas deferens were dissected out, weighed and processed for histological and biochemical studies. Morphine has caused a reduction in the weight of epididymis and vas deferens in both the doses of drug treated groups. The total cholesterol content is increased while protein, DNA and RNA contents and epididymal sperm counts are decreased. The acid phosphatase content is decreased 10.12 $\pm$ 0.11 in caput, 9.26 $\pm$ 0.30 in cauda of epididymis and in vas deferens 8.14 $\pm$ 0.15 in 0.5 mg treated groups and in 0.75 mg treated rats shows 9.52 $\pm$ 0.27 in caput, 9.14 $\pm$ 0.18 in cauda of epididymis and in vas deferens 7.84 $\pm$ 0.11is decreased, whereas alkaline phosphatase is increased. The surface epithelial cell height of these ducts is reduced and secretory activity is inhibited with the disruption of epithelial cell projections. The gravimetric and histometric changes of epididymis and vas deferens may be due to non-availability of androgens in morphine treated rats.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.86-95
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• 2006

The ethanol extract of the Crotalaria juncea seeds, which showed promising antispermatogenic and antiandrogenic activities in albino mice, was taken up further for the isolation of the active fractions present in it. Two fractions that were obtained from thin layer chromatography were subjected for testing to know their antispermatogenic and antiandrogenic activities. After preliminary trials the fraction I showed maximum antifertility activity at the dose level of 200 mg/kg body weight when administered orally to the rats for 50 days. The fraction I was found to affect spermatogenesis as well as the endocrine functions of the testis as indicated by gravimetric, histopathological and biochemical changes. Further this fraction has caused degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells of the testis. The accessory reproductive organs like epididymis, seminal vesicles, vas deferens, prostrate, Cowper's gland and Levator Ani muscle showed significant malfunction. Cauda epididymal sperm count and sperm motility were reduced significantly. The treatment has also resulted in increase in the cholesterol level and alkaline phosphatase activity, and decrease in protein, glycogen, sialic acid contents and acid phosphatase activity in testis. It is noteworthy that RIA studies have shown significant reduction in serum FSH, LH and testosterone. Scanning electron microscopic observations revealed abnormalities in sperm structure.