• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2002

Dopamine(DA), norepinephrine(NE), and epinephrine(E) belong to a class of neurotransmitters known as catecholamine (CA) which are synthesized and secreted by mammalian brain and adrenal medulla. CA regulate several behavior patterns connected with breeding, and regulate GnRH-gonadotropin hormone axis' vitality between hypothalamus-pituitary gland linking with reproduction freeze. The present study examined effects of sex steroid hormone on the transcriptional activities of CA biosynthesis enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase(TH), dopamine $\beta$ -hydroxylase(DBH), and phenylethaolamine-N-methyl transferase(PNMT). Mature female rats were ovariectomized(OVX) and implanted with 17 $\beta$-estradiol(E$_2$: 500 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) or sesame oil. Forty-eight hours after implantation all the animals were sacrificed. Total RNAs were extracted immediately and were applied to semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The expression level of TH was appeared by hypothalamus > SNc> adrenal medulla orders in OVX＋Oil group, and by SNc > hypothalamus) adrenal medulla orders in OVX+E$_2$ group. Treatment with E$_2$ significantly increased TH expression in SNc and adrenal medulla but in hypothalamus, the reduced TH expression was observed. The expression level of DBH was appeared by adrenal medulla > SNc > hypothalamus orders in OVX＋Oil group and in OVX＋E$_2$ group. Administration of E$_2$ significantly reduced DBH expression in SNc, and increased in adrenal medulla. Two cDNA products, large(PNMT1) and small(PMNTs) species of 110bp difference, were amplified in SNc and hypothalamus, but only PNMTs was observed in adenal medulla. The PNMTs expression level was in the order of adrenal medulla > hypothalamus > SNc in both OVX＋Oil and OVX＋E$_2$ group. The PNMTs expression in SNc and adrenal medulla was significantly increased byE$_2$. The present report demonstrated that estrogen effects on transcriptional activities for CA biosynthethic enzymes were tissue specific in adrenal medulla as well as different region of brain. These results suggest that it might be crucial relationship between the type of estrogen receptor and CA enzyme gene expression.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.228-236
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• 1999

Background: Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis is an uncommon illness characterized by intermittent flaccid paralysis of skeletal muscle, usually accompanied by hypokalemia, in patient with hyperthyroidism. However, the pathophysiology of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis remains largely unexplained and controversial. This report describes the clinical and biochemical findings in 19 patients with thyrotoxic periodic paralysis who were examined at the Yeungnam University Medical Center(YUMC) during the past decade. Methods: The medical records of 997 YUMC patients, seen between 1986 and 1996, with diagnosis of hyperthyroidism were reviewed. Nineteen patients out of 997 hyperthyroidism patients were diagnosed, and examined by history, physical examination, serum electrolyte value, and thyroid function test during paralysis. On the basis of these results, comparisons were made on age, sex, precipitating factors, timing, affected limbs, prognosis, serum potassium and serum phosphate and thyroid hormone levels. Results: The prevalence of periodic paralysis in hyperthyroidism was 1.9 percent and the male to female prevalence ratio was 30:1 and in all patients, the development of perodic paralysis was correlated with hyperfunctional state of the thyroid gland. Eleven cases of periodic paralysis were associated with hypokalemia and their thyroid hormone levels were significantly more increased than those of the patients without hypokalemia. Interestingly, our study shows the recurrence of paralysis after treatment. Conclusion: Although the precise pathophysiology of the disease is as yet undefined and controversial, it occurs primarily in Asians with an overwhelming male preponderance and prevalence of 2 percent in hyperthyroidism. The interactive roles of thyroid hormone, Na-K pump, and genetically inherited defect in the cellular membrane potential of the skeletal muscle can be speculated. Further investigation will be needed to firmly establish the mechanism of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.231-238
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• 2005

Neuronal apoptotic events, which result in cell death, are occurred in hypoxic/ischemic conditions. Estradiol is a female sex hormone with steroid structure known to provide neuroprotection through multiple mechanisms in the central nervous system. This study was aimed to investigate the signal transduction pathway of $CoCl_2$-induced neuronal cell death and the inhibitory effects of estradiol. Administration of $CoCl_2$ decreased cell viability in both a dose- and time-dependent manner in PC12 cells. $CoCl_2$-induced cell death produced genomic DNA fragmentation and morphologic changes such as cell shrinkage and condensed nuclei. It was found that $CoCl_2$-treated cells increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as caspase-8, -9 and -3 activities. However, pretreatment with estradiol before exposure to $CoCl_2$ prevented the reduction in cell viability reduction and attenuated DNA fragmentation and morphologic changes caused by $CoCl_2$. Furthermore, the $CoCl_2$-induced increases of ROS levels and caspases activities were attenuated by estradiol. Gene expression analysis revealed that estradiol blocked the underexpression of the Bcl-2 and ameliorated the increase in the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into cytoplasm and Fas-ligand (Fas-L) upregulated by $CoCl_2$. These results suggest that $CoCl_2$ induce apoptosis in PC12 cells through both mitochondria- and death receptor-mediated cell death pathway. Estradiol was found to have a neuroprotective effect against $CoCl_2$-induced apoptosis through the inhibition of ROS production and by modulating apoptotic effectors associated with the mitochondria- and death-dependent pathway in PC12 cells.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.219-227
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• 2006

Purpose : We aim to identify the clinical and demographic characteristics in children who underwent renal transplantation(RTx) and to evaluate the influence on growth of RTx in children. Methods : We reviewed 17 medical records of chronic renal failure patients who underwent RTx from April 1992 and June 2004 at Busan Paik Hospital. Age and sex distribution, cause of disease, donor analysis, patient and graft survival rate, and the status of growth after RTx were analysed by retrospective study. Results : Eighteen RTx were performed in 17 patients(8 boys, 9 girls). The mean age at the time of RTx was $15.8{\pm}3.5$ years and the mean duration of dialysis therapy before RTx was $22.4{\pm}18.0$ months. The 1 year and 5 year patient survival rate were each 100%, and the 1 year and 5 year graft survival rate were 88%, 36% respectively. The most common cause of graft failure was chronic rejection. The mean final height of male patients was $162.8{\pm}10.0$ cm(143.0-172.5 cm) and of female patients was $154.5{\pm}12.1$ cm(135.8-160.0 cm). The mean height standard deviation score(Ht SDS) increased after RTx from -1.95 to -1.53 but the increment rate was not statistically significant. Similar changes were noted in individual patient analysis. Also there was no significant difference between the living-related donors and cadaveric donors. Conclusion : Our data shows that even successful RTx rarely results in full growth rehabilitation. To overcome retarded growth in children with chronic renal failure, appropriate combined management of metabolic and nutritional problems, correction of anemia, proper use of recombinant growth hormone therapy, early renal transplantation and shortening of the duration of dialysis would be necessary.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.46-61
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• 1998

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of vitamin D nutritional status on bone mineral density of adults (21-49 years). To attain the aim, we measured bone mineral density (BMD) of the subjects at distal radius by single-photon absorptiometry (SPA). Serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D(25-(OH)D) , known to be the best indicator of indicator of vitamin D status in humans was analyzed . The factors affecting this vitamin D level were also investigated in autumn in 122 young adults. Serum level of 25-(OH)D was measured by high pressure liquid chromatography(HPLC) and biochemical variables, general health status, time spent outdoors, and dietary intakes of the subjects. BMD of the male subjects was significantly greater than that of female subjects. Weight, activity and total energy expediture (TEE) showed a positive correlation with distal BMD. The mean level of serum 25-(OH)D was 24.4$\pm$11.0 ng./ml and by sex, 26.0$\pm$6.8ng/ml for males and 23.3$\pm$12.3ng/ml for females , the level was significantly higher in male (p<0.01). there was significant correlation between BMD at distal-radius and s-25(OH)D levels (p<0.001). The serum level fo parathyroid hormone (PTH) showed a negative correlation with BMD(p<0.05), with the more obvious correlation in females. Vitamin D intake was estimated to be 3.75$\pm$2.19ug/day in average. Among the nutrients studied, protein ,fat, calcium , and vitamin D intake were positively correlated with distal BMD. When food frequencies were concerned , milk and dairy products showed a significant positive correlation with the BMD level, and driedfoods, eggs , fats and oils, and cereals also showed a positive correlation. Time spent outdoors was estimated to be about 70 minutes in average and positively correlated with the distal BMD level(p<0.01). During the day, the specific time between 12 :00pm and 2:00pm showed the most significant correlation with BMD (p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis with the variables showed that distal BMD could be fit 31.9% by the time spent outdoors a day, intake of Ca and vitamin D, and TEE. The standardized estimates were 0.344 for vitamin D intake, 0.284 for Ca intake 0.179 for the time spent outdoors a day and 0.273 for TEE. For males, s-25*OH)D level, TEE and time spent outdoors during a day showed a significant correlation. For females, intake of Ca and vitamin D could fit about 27.1% of the distal BMD.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2001

Safflower has been cultivated in Korea and thought to have excellent effects on bone in oriental medicine and folk remedy and has been taken for a long time. Safflower is thought to be helpful for the development and sustenance of bones according to the result of recent assay of its components. Otherwise, any reliable experimental data have not been suggested so far. We have carried out this study to examine the prophylactic effects of safflower-seed-powder on the prevention of osteoporosis induced by the ovariectomy 12 Weeks-old Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 230 g was kept in the experimental condition and used in this study. Animals were taken 0.3 g of safflower-seed-powder once a day for 1, 3, 5, and 7 weeks after ovariectomizing both ovaries and observed the fine structure of tibia. Tissues were fixed with traditional SEM preparation methods and decalcified for 10 hours with 10% nitric acid and dehydration, drying, and gold-coating were followed by the routine procedures and observed with scanning electron microscope (Hitachi, S-450). Loss of bone was started just after ovariectomy and thickness of bone from the medullary cavity to the compact bone was reduced and the extension of medullary cavity was serious in the control group of 7 weeks. Experimental groups taken safflower-seed-powder showed similar findings from 1 week to 7 weeks. These results suggest that the safflower-seed-powder is thought to be efficient for the prevention of osteoporosis owing to the deficiency of female sex hormone.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.179-187
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• 1997

Early development growth and sexual phenomena of the hybrid between male spotted flounder (Verasper variegatus) and female olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) were investigated. The hybrid produced was newly called the "Bumnupchi" in Korean name, "Mottled flounder" in English name. Fertilization rate, hatching rate and early survival rate of the mottled flounder were 56.9~72.3%, 86.7~92.5% and 89.1~96.0%, respectively. At 50th day and 240th day after hatching, they were 2.1$\pm0.2cm\;and\;22.9\pm2.1cm\;in\;total\;length, \;0.10\pm0.002g\;and\;179.0\pm38.5g$ in body weight, respectively. Eye position of the mottled flounder was mixed with both dextral (77.7%) and sinistral type (22.3%). Gonads were differentiated into ovarian type and testis type at 80th day after hatching, and its ratio was 1:1 (P>0.05). Most Gonads seemed to be sterile without having germ cell, whereas only 3.6% of investigated indiciduals turned out to have oocytes in the gonad. When the induction of sex reversal were attempted by daily oral administration of $17\beta$-methyltestosterone (0.5mg/kg fish) andestradiol-17$17\beta$(0.5mg/kg fish)from 40th to 100th day after hatching, both testis and ovary type were induced 81.9% and 87.7% of each hormone-treated fish, respectively.fish, respectively.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.373-383
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• 2011

Tributyltin (TBT) is one of endocrine disrupters which are known as having similar function to sex steroid hormone inducing apoptosis in various tissues of rodents. Recently, it has been reported that TBT induces apoptosis in thymus causing the decreased thymic function, but little is known about the mechanism. To elucidate the mechanism, three-week-old SD female rats were orally administrated with TBT 1, 10, and 25 mg per body weight (kg) and sesame oil as a control for 7 days. On day 8, the thymi were obtained and weighed, and then the number of thymocytes was counted. We also performed H&E staining, TUNEL assay, and Annexin V flow cytometric analysis to examine the apoptosis rates and the structure in the thymus. Next, we investigated the adipogenesis and apoptosis-related mRNA expression levels in the thymi by real-time PCR. The thymic weight and the number of thymocytes were decreased by TBT in a dose-dependent manner. As a result of the H&E staining, the boundary between cortical and medullary area was blurred in the thymi of TBT treated rats compared to those of controls. In the results of TUNEL assay and Annexin V flow cytometric analysis, apoptosis rates in the thymus were increased after TBT treatment. The expression levels of thymic epithelial cell marker genes such as EVA, KGF, AIRE, and IL-7 were significantly decreased in the thymi of TBT treated rats, but $PPAR{\gamma}$, aP2, PEPCK, and CD36 were significantly increased. The expression of $TNF{\alpha}$ and TNFR1 as apoptosis-related genes also was significantly increased after TBT treatment. The present study demonstrates that TBT can increase the expression of adipogenesis and apoptosis-related genes leading to apoptosis in the thymus. These results suggest that the increased adipogenesis of thymus by TBT exposure might induce apoptosis in the thymus resulting in a loss in thymic immune function.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 1994

Seventy-five patients with tumors of the head and neck treated with either radiation therapy alone or combined with surgery or chemotherapy were studied prospectively to evaluate the effects of radiation therapy to the neck on thyroid gland between September 1986 and October 1992. All patients were serially monitored for thyroid function tests before and after radiation therapy. Radiation dose to the thyroid gland ranged from 35 to 60 Gy with a median dose of 50 Gy. Median follow-up time was 30 months with a range of 11 to 85 months. The incidence of thyroid dysfunction was 40$ \% $: forty-five patients(60$ \% $) euthyroid, 2 patients(3$ \% $) clinical hypothyroidism, 27 patients(36$ \% $) subclinical hypothyroidism and 1 patient(1$ \% $) hyperthyroidism. No thyroid nodules or thyroid cancer were detected in any patients. Thyroid dysfunction appeared earlier in patients who underwent surgery than in those patients treated with radiation therapy alone or combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy(P=0.0013). By multivariate analysis, risk factors that significantly influenced a higher incidence of thyroid dysfunction were female sex(p=0.0293) and combination of total laryngectomy and radiation therapy(p : 0.0045). In conclusion, evaluation of thyroid function before and after radiation therapy with periodic thyroid function tests are recommended to detect thyroid dysfunction in time and thyroid hormone replacement therapy is recommended whenever thyroid dysfunction develops.