• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.301-308
• /
• 2010

Objectives: In most DEHP exposure assessment studies, single spot urine sample was used. It could not compare the exposure level among studies. Therefore, we are going to represent the necessity of selection of proper sampling time of spot urine for assessing the environmental DEHP exposure, and the association urinary DEHP metabolites with steroid hormones. Methods: We collected urine and plasma from 25 men. The urine sampling times were at the end of the shift (post-shift) and the next morning before the beginning of the shift (pre-shift). Three metabolites of DEHP {mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate [MEHP], mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl)phthalate [MEHHP], and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl)phthalate [MEOHP]} in urine were analyzed by HPLC/MS/MS. Plasma luteinzing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, testosterone, and $17{\beta}$- estradiol were measured at pre-shift using a ELISA kit. A log-transformed creatinine-adjusted urinary MEHP, MEHHP, and MEOHP concentration were compared between the post- and pre-shift. The Pearson’s correlation was calculated to assess the relationships between log-transformed urinary MEHP concentrations in pre-shift urine and hormone levels. Results: The three urinary metabolite concentrations at post-shift were significantly higher than the concentrations in the pre-shift (p<0.0001). The plasma hormones were not significantly correlated with log-transformed creatinine - adjusted DEHP metabolites. Conclusions: To assess the environmental DEHP exposure, it is necessary to select the urine sampling time according to the study object. There were no correlation between the concentration of urinary DEHP metabolites and serum hormone levels.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.62-68
• /
• 2007

Concerns about endocrine disrupting chemicals emitted from humans and animals have been increased because these compounds are detected at very low levels in environment and adversely affect on indigenous fauna. To date, there is little information regarding the concentration of these compounds in animal wastes. In this study, the female hormones, $17\beta-estradiol$ (E2), estrone (E1) and estriol, were measured to provide baseline data in animal wastes. Samples were collected from animal waste storage, methane digester and sludge separated wastewater and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. To measure the mass ratios of estrogen to macronutrients, nitrogen and phosphorous were also determined. Sample collected from animal waste storage had the highest estrogen concentration (98.7 ${\mu}g/L$), while sludge separated wastewater had the lowest concentration (3.4 ${\mu}g/L$). The mean concentrations of E2 and E1 in waste storage sample were (6.8 ${\mu}g/L$) and (68.7 ${\mu}g/L$), respectively. In sludge separated wastewater, the mean concentration of both E2 and E1 were reduced to (2.6 ${\mu}g/L$) and (1.9 ${\mu}g/L$), respectively. However, estriol was not detected in any of the samples collected. Mean ratios of E2 and E1 to macronutrients were significantly different between the methane wastewater and sludge separated wastewater owing to elimination of solid particles.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.93-99
• /
• 1989

In our previous studies, it was found that activities of maternal peripheral lymphocytes and thymocytes were depressed during the implantation period in rats and rabbits. This study was therefore attempted to clarify further this immunosuppression locally by determining lymphocyte response in lymph nodes draining the uterus (DLN) and to elucidate the mechanism by which prostaglandin E (PGE) modulates immune response during the implantation process in rats. As compared with non-pregnant rats, the response of DLN lymphocytes to concanavalin A (Con A) was depressed during the implantation period in 100% of rats studied. The activity of DLN lymphocytes depressed on day 8 of pregnancy was, however, restored partially by the treatment of indomethacin (ID), indicating that prostaglandin (PG) might be one of factors responsible for immunomodulation during the process of implantation. DLN lymphocyte activity in non-pregnant rats was suppressed if PGE was pre-treated prior to Con A and this suppression was partially restored by the treatment of ID. Furthermore, DLN lymphocytes pre-treated with PGE produced PGE in vitro and this PGE production was blocked by the treatment of ID, suggesting that PGE induced PGE-producing cells. However, the pretreatment of estradiol, progesterone, and hCG at doses enough to suppress lymphocyte activity was ineffective in inducing PGE-producing cells. From these results, it is suggested that PGE induces PGE-producing suppressor cells, thereby increasing PGE concentration and PGE in turn depresses maternal local immune response as well as systemic immune response during the implantation period in rats.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.121-127
• /
• 2004

Cytochrome P4501B1(CYP1B1) is known to be inducible by xenobiotic compounds such as policyclic aromatic hydrocarbon(PAH) and dioxins such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD). And these induction of CYP1B1 is also regulated by many categories of chemicals. In order to investigate the effects of several chemicals on CYP1B1 gene expression in Hepa-I and MCF-7 cells, 5' flanking DNA of human CYP1B1 was cloned into pGL3 basic vector containing luciferase gene, and then transfected into these cells. After treatment of chemicals, the luciferase activity was measured. CYP1B1 enzyme metabolize PAHs and estradiol. CYP1B1 metabolize estradiol to 4-hydrozyestradiol that is considered as carcinogenic metabolite. Luciferase activity was induced about 20 folds over that control by 1 nM TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachloto-p-dioxin). Recent industrialized society, human has been widely been exposed to widespread environmental contaminants such as PAHs(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) that are originated from the imcomplete combustion of hydrocarbons. PAHs are known to be ligands of the AhR(aryl hydrocarbon receptor). Induction of cytochrome P4501B1(CYP1B1) in cell culture is widely used as a biomarker for PAHs. Therefore we have studied the effect of PAHs in the human breast cancer cells MCF-7 to evaluate bioactivity of PAHs. We have used the United State of America EPA selected 13 different PAHs, PAHs mixtures and extracts from environmental samples to evaluate the bioassay system. We examined effects of PAHs on the CYP1B1-luciferase reporter gene and CYP1B1 mRNA level. Benzo(k)fluoranthene and dibenzo(a, h)anthracene showed strong response to CYP1B1 promoter activity stimulation, and also CYP1B1 mRNAs increase in MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Acenaphthene, anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, fluorene, fluoranthene, anphthanlene, pyrene, phenanthrene and carbazole were weak responders in MCF-7 cells. RT-PCR analysis indicated that PAHs significantly up-regulate the level of CYP1B1 mRNA.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.133-145
• /
• 2014

Objective : In this study, the addition of dried pomegranate concentrate powder (PCP) was affected the anti-climacterium activity of red clover dry extracts (RC) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Materials and methods : After bilateral OVX surgery, RC 40 mg/kg, PCP 20 mg/kg and RC:PCP 2:1 mixture (g/g) 120, 60 and 30 mg/kg (of body weight) were orally administered, once a day for 84 days, and then the changes on the serum estradiol levels, abdominal fat pad and uterus weights were observed for estrogenic effects. In addition, liver weights, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were also evaluated for hepatoprotective effects, and serum total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride (TG) levels were monitored for hypolipidemic effects. Results : As a result of OVX, the estrogen-deficient climacterium symptoms, increments of abdominal fat pad weights, serum AST, ALT, TC, LDL and TG levels with decrease of uterus and liver weights, serum estradiol levels, were demonstrated. However, these estrogen-deficient climacterium symptoms induced by bilateral OVX in rats were significantly inhibited by continuous oral treatment of RC 40 mg/kg, PCP 20 mg/kg and RC:PCP 2:1 mixture (g/g) 120, 60 and 30 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusion : The results suggested that RC:PCP 2:1 mixtures synergistically increased the anti-climacterium effects of RC in OVX rats. It, therefore, is expected that RC:PCP 2:1 mixture will be promising as a new potent protective agents for relieving the climacterium symptoms.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.137-148
• /
• 2011

In this study, a series of experiments was conducted on the relative degradation of commonly known endocrine-disrupting compounds such as bisphenol A (BPA) and $17{\alpha}$-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) in a single-component aqueous solution using 28 and 580 kHz ultrasonic reactors. The experiments were conducted with three different types of model water: deionized water (DI), synthetic brackish water (SBW), and synthetic seawater (SSW) at pH 4, 7.5, and 11 in the presence of inert glass beads and humic acids. Significantly higher sonochemical degradation (93-97% for BPA) occurred at 580 kHz than at 28 kHz (43-61% for BPA), regardless of water type. A slightly higher degradation was observed for EE2 compared to that of BPA. The degradation rate of BPA and EE2 in DI water, SBW, and SSW after 30 min of ultrasound irradiation at 580 kHz increased slightly with the increase in pH from 4 (0.073-0.091 $min^{-1}$ for BPA and 0.081-0.094 $min^{-1}$ for EE2) to 7.5 (0.087-0.114 $min^{-1}$ for BPA and 0.092-0.124 $min^{-1}$ for EE2). In contrast, significant degradation was observed at pH 11 (0.149-0.221 $min^{-1}$ for BPA and 0.147-0.228 $min^{-1}$ for EE2). For the given frequencies of 28 and 580 kHz, the degradation rate increased in the presence of glass beads (0.1 mm and 25 g) for both BPA and EE2: 0.018-0.107 $min^{-1}$ without beads and 0.052-0.142 $min^{-1}$ with beads for BPA; 0.021-0.111 $min^{-1}$ without beads and 0.054-0.136 $min^{-1}$ with beads for EE2. A slight increase in degradation of both BPA and EE2 was found as the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC, humic acids) increased in both SBW and SSW: 0.107-0.115 $min^{-1}$ in SBW and 0.087-0.101 $min^{-1}$ in SSW for BPA; 0.111-0.111 $min^{-1}$ in SWB and 0.092-0.105 $min^{-1}$ in SSW for EE2. After 30 min of sonicating the humic acid solution, DOC removal varied depending on the water type: 27% (3 mg $L^{-1}$) and 7% (10 mg $L^{-1}$) in SBW and 7% (3 mg $L^{-1}$) and 4% (10 mg $L^{-1}$) in SSW.

• Journal of Aquaculture
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.83-92
• /
• 1996

This study was conducted to compare the immunochemical properties of female-specific serum proteins (vitellogenin, VTG) and egg yolk proteins in female fusilier, Caesio diagramma. VTG of fusilier was identified and characterized by using immunochemical analysis. Two types of VTG (VTG1 and VTG2) reacted clearly with antiserum against egg proteins, were confirmed in the serum of mature female. The results of sephacryl S-300 showed that the molecular weights of VTG1 and VTG2 were 560,000 and 410,000, respectively. Yolk proteins, E2 and E3, were isolated from egg extracts, and molecular weights of them were estimated 410,000 and 170,000, respectively. The treatment of $17\beta$-estradiol ($E_2$) to males has induced the synthesis of VTG of which immunological characteristics seems to be similar to the yolk proteins. The results suggest that VTG can be synthesized in the liver by the action of $E_2$ stimulation, and incorporated into the oocytes through the blood circulation. The level of serum $E_2$ was moderately high throughout the spawning period of June. The level of serum VTG was also sustained at high in May and June. The concentration changes of serum $E_2$ and VTG were corelated to the ovarian development in female fusilier. The results indicated that $E_2$ may have some important roles for the vitellogenesis in female fusilier. Also) the VTG can be a precursor protein of yolk not only because it could be synthesized in the liver then incorporated into the oocytes but also because an egg yolk protein had the similiar molecular weights and antigenecity with VTG.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.187-193
• /
• 2012

Acute toxicity, water resolvability and short term reproduction test on Japanese medaka (Oriyzias latipes) for evaluating alachlor susceptibility to endocrine system were studied. Alachlor is known for suspected endocrine distruptors. As the results of tests, $LC_{50}$ (Median lethal concentration) was determined as 2.36 (1.994~2.805) mg/L, and test water replaced at 7 day intervals as its water resolvability was less than 20% in 7 days. The short term reproduction tests on Japanese medaka (Oriyzias latipes) were performed with a solvent control group, a treated group (alachlor concentrations of 0.02, 0.04, 0.11, 0.27, 0.68 ppm) and a positive control group (17 ${\beta}$ estradiol, 0.01, 0.1, 0.5 ppb). The number of spawning and embryo rates were declined in a alachlor-dose dependent manner, and the number of unfertilized eggs rates were in contrast increased depending on the concentrations. Further study should be needed to confirm whether the adverse effects may be effected by the concentrations. Additionally, alachlor was evaluated as a non-vitellogenin by the result of a test of significance of the vitellogenin content test for determination of the effect of estrogen among the endocrine disruptors.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.63-69
• /
• 1990

To study the follicular atretic mechanism in mammalian ovary, the medium-sized (3.0-6.0mm) follicles of porcine ovary were morphologically classified as nonnal and atretic. Steroid concentrations in the follicular fluid were analyzed by radioimmunoassay, and the proteins in that fluid were electrophoretically separated. Concentrations of progesterone in the atretic follicular fluid of follicular phases were higher than those of normal ones (p < 0.05). Concentrations of testosterone were high in normal luteal and atretic follicular-phases follicles. The concentrations of estradiol remained significanily lower in atretic follicular-phases follicles than normal. After sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of follicular fluid proteins, four kinds of proteins (20K, 32K, 33K, 38K) were detected, and those proteins were not present in sera. According to the ovarian cycle, proteins of MW of 112K and 141K were identified. In atretic follicular fludies, MW of 23K and 24K were specifically detected. From the above results, we can conclude that, as ovarian cycle changes, steroid contents and protein composition in atretic follicular fluid are different from the normal developing follicular fluid. To further understand the physiologic roles of the proteins present in the atretic follicular fluids, these proteins need to be characterized and identified.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.104-113
• /
• 1988

Effect of the purified ginsenoside $-Rb_1$ and $-Rb_2$ on LDL receptor biosynthesis of CHO cell cultured in a high cholesterol medium was investigated . Cholesterol uptake by CHO cell cultured in a medium containing various amounts of cholesterol was traced and found that the cholesterol uptake was proportional to the concentration of cholesterol in the medium, and the population of LDL receptors were proportionally decreased as the increasing cholesterol level in the cell. However, when the CHO cells were cultured in the medium containing ginsenosides, no significant decrease of LDL receptor population occured. The biosynthesis of protein and RNA of the above cells was higher than that of CHO cells cultured in the absence of the ginsenosides, suggesting that the ginsenosides might stimulate LDL receptor bio-synthesis. It was also observed that the ginsenosides stimulated the biosynthesis of estradiol and progesterone from cholesterol in the CHO cell. From the above results, it seemed that the ginsenosides lowers the cholesterol level by stimulating the cholesterol metablism including steroid hormone biosynthesis, resulting in the lowering of inhibitory action of cholesterol on LDL receptor biosynthesis.