• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.6 s.73
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• pp.1028-1033
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• 2005

Estrogen deficiency in peri-and postmenopausal women results in variety of neurovegetative, psychic and somatic symptoms, and may contribute to severe diseases within the aged female population. Capsosiphon fulvecense (CF), green algae, loaded with large amount of proteins, calcium and ion. This seaweed is distributed in the Southern coast in Korea and widely throughout the world. Our objective was to investigate the effects of Capsosiphon fulvecense (CF) extract on serum lipid concentration and platelet aggregation in ovariectomized rats. Three groups were surgically ovariectomized (OVX). The fourth group was sham operated. Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly assigned to the following groups : sham-operated rats (Sham), ovariectomized control rats (OVX-Control), ovariectomized rats supplemented with CF at 50mg/kg bw/d (OVX-CF5O) and ovariectomized rats supplemented with CF at 200mg/kg bw/d (OVX-CF200). The serum triglyceride level was significantly decreased after supplemented with the CF extracts. The serum HDL-cholesterol level in the OVX-CF group was significantly higher than the level in the OVX-control group. The ability of platelet aggregation treated with CF extract (CF group) was $7\%$ less than OVX-control group. Taken these together, CF extract may be used to improve the quality of life in menopausal women.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.63-68
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• 1987

The effects of various levels of copper(Cu) intake on the concentrations of copper, iron (Fe) and 3inc(Zn) in rat tissues were studied in growing rats. For different groups the drinking water was supplemented with 0(control), 25, 50, 100 and 200ppm Cu(as copper sulphate) for 1 day respectively. All animal groups were fed with the control diet (Cu contents, 12.8%mg/kg diet) during the experiment. At the end of the 4 week experiment, body weight gain was slightly lower in the Cu supply groups than in control group. Liver and serum Cu were significantly higher in 50, 100 and 200ppm Cu of male and in 200ppm Cu of female than in control groups. Spleen Cu was significantly increased by the supplementation of Cu. Liver and heart Fe of male and heart Fe of female were increased by incresing supplementary Cu levels. In 50ppm Cu group, liver, spleen and kidney Fe of female increased but the others did not. Fe of tissues was different in male and female rats according to Cu levels supplied. Serum Zn of male and female was significantly lower in 50, 100 and 200ppm Cu groups than in control and 25ppm Cu groups. When supplemented with Cu levels there were no significant differences among groups for liver, kidney, spleen and heart Zn as well as heart and kidney Cu.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.179-187
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• 1991

This experiment was carried out to develop a new technique of identifying XX of XY-bearing bisected embryos prior to implantation by immunological method. H-Y antiserum prepared in inbred Wastar female rats by repeated immunization with spleen cells from males of the same strain. The reactivity of H-Y antibody was confirmed by culturing mouse embryos in the medium containing H-Y antiserum and complement obtained from the guinea pig. The optimal condition for the activity of H-Y antibody was also investigated by culturing embryos under the concentraton or affected H-Y antibody was also investigated by culturing embryos under the concentration or affected H-Y antibody and culture rate. However, production of live young or sex rates of male and female from embryos transferred with psudopregnant. The biological test with the morula stage embryos showed that H-Y antibody was formed in all female rats immunized with spleen cell, but it was formed only in 80% female rats immunized with the antigen. When the bisected mouse embryos were cultured in vitro for 5~6 hours in morula stage, of 457 bisected embryos 81.4% of then were developed to the blastocyst stage. When the concentration rate of complement to H-Y antiserum varied from 1.0~5.0${mu}ell$, the lysis-rate of embryo was 19.5 to 67.3%. The concentration rate of complement did not influence the lysis-rate of embryos(P<0.05). The morphology embryos of bisected, zona-free and intact embryos showed the embryos lysis rate of 58.6, 42.7 and 48.5% respectively(P<0.05). Pregnancy rate were 50.0, 45.5 and 57.1% in psudopregnant recipient transferred with bisected, zona-free and intact blastocyst embryos. However, production of live youngs, sexual rate of male or female was 24(50.0:50.0), 22(45.5:55.5) and 36(58.3:41.7)mice, but affected and non affected half embryos with H-Y antiserum treatment was 23.1 and 26.7%. Also production of live youngs and sexual rate was 14(92.9:7.1) and 17(17.6:82.4)mice in affected and non affected half embryos in H-Y antiserum treatment(P<0.05).

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.867-873
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• 1996

This study was undertaken to determine whether the anabolic steroid nandrolone phenylpropionate(NPP) can inhibit the muscle atrophy and reduction in muscle protein synthesis caused by glucocorticoids in female rates. Daily injections of 50mg/kg of corticosterone for eight days induced significant reductions in body weight gain and protein without affecting food intake. The mass, protein and RNA content, ratio of RNA to protein, and fractional rate of protein synthesis, measured in vivo, of gastrocnemius muscle were all significantly reduced by corticosterone treatement. Simultaneous administration of NPP at a dose of 10mg/kg with corticosteorne (50mg/kg) fully inhibited the reductions in the mass, protein and RNA content of gastrocnemius muscle, and body weight gain and protein with no alteration in food intake but the reduction in fractional rate of muscle protein syntheis was only partially prevented. The results indicate that the anabolic steroid nandrolone phenylpropionate is capable of preventing muscle atrophy in female rats treated with excess corticosterion.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to assess both the approximate lethal dose and the single dose intramuscular injection toxicity of Danggui (Angelica gigantis radix) pharmacopuncture (DGP) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Methods: The experiments were conducted at the good laboratory practice (GLP) laboratory, Biotoxtech Co., which is a laboratory approved by the ministry of food and drug safety (MFDS). The study was performed according to the GLP regulation and the toxicity test guidelines of the MFDS (2009) after approval of the institutional animal care and use committee of Biotoxtech. Single doses of DGP were injected intramuscularly into the rats in three test groups of 6 week old SD rats (5 male and 5 female rats per groups) in the amounts of 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mL/animal for groups 2, 3, and 4, respectively, and normal saline solution in the amount of 1.0 mL/animal was injected intramuscularly into the rats (5 male and 5 female rats) in the control group. Observations of the general symptoms and weight measurements were performed during the 14 day observation period after the injection. Hematologic and serum biochemical examination, necropsy, and a local tolerance test at the injection site were done after the observation period. Results: No death was observed in three test groups (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mL/animal group). In addition, the injection of DGP had no effect on general symptoms, weights, hematologic and serum biochemical examination, and necropsy. The results from the local tolerance tests at injection site showed no treatment related effects in the SD rats. Conclusion: The results of single dose intramuscular injection of DGP suggest that the approximate lethal dose is above 1.0 mL/animal for both male and female SD rats and that intramuscular injection of DGP may be safe.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.177.2-177.2
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• 2001

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.716-728
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• 1998

To investigate the effect of dietary Ca levels on metabolic changes of Ca and skeleton in postmenopausal women, 10-month-old ovariectomized female rats were compared with 2 month old rats. The rats were fed either 0.2% or 1.2% Ca diets for 16 weeks. Food intake and weight gain as higher in rats fed high Ca diets and in ovariectomized rats. Apparent Ca absorption as higher, and Ca balance was lower in the low Ca groups. Vertebrae density was higher in old rats or those fed a high Ca diets. The old rats and ovariectomized rats showed decreased bone formation, increased bone resorption and kidney function deterioration resulting in increased urinary Ca excretion. Contradictory to the above observation, old rats and ovariectomized rats still showed higher bone mass and bone ash content. Therefore aging was not fully onging in 10-month-old rats. Bone weights, mineral contents, and mineral/wt ratio were lower in ovariectomized rats. Dietary Ca level did not affect urinary Ca excretion, urinary protein excretion, GFR, serum alkaline phosphatase, or urinary hydroxyporline excretion. This means that dietary Ca level did not influence kidney function or bone turnover. However Ca content and the ash content of femur, 4th vertebra, and scapula were increased in high Ca groups. Therefore, it is considered that decreased bone formation and accelerated bone resorption may account for the increased osteoporotic risk in women in menopause after middle age. However, Ca metabolism can be improved and bone components can be maintained if Ca is supplemented.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.295-300
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• 2012

Manganese ($Mn^{2+}$) is a trace element that is essential for normal physiology, and is predominantly obtained from food. Several lines of evidence, however, demonstrated that overexposure to $MnCl_2$ exerts serious neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity and developmental toxicity, particularly in male. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of 0, 1.0, 3.3, and 10 mg/kg/day doses of $MnCl_2$ on the reproductive organs in the immature female rats. Rats (PND 22; S.D. strain) were exposed to $MnCl_2$ ($MnCl_2{\cdot}4H_2O$) dissolved in drinking water for 2 weeks. The animals were sacrificed on PND 35, then the tissues were immediately removed and weighed. Histological studies were performed using the uteri tissue samples. Serum LH and FSH levels were measured with the specific ELISA kits. Body weights of the experimental group animals were not significantly different from those of control group animals. However, ovarian tissue weights in 1 mg and 3.3 mg $MnCl_2$ dose groups were significantly lower than those of control animals (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Uterine tissue weights of 3.3 mg dose $MnCl_2$ groups were significantly lower than those of control animals (p<0.01), while the 1 mg $MnCl_2$ dose and 10 mg $MnCl_2$ dose failed to induce any change in uterine weight. Similarly, only 3.3 mg $MnCl_2$ dose could induce the significant decrease in the oviduct weight compared to the control group (p<0.05). Non-reproductive tissues such as adrenal and kidney failed to respond to all doses of $MnCl_2$ exposure. The uterine histology revealed that the $MnCl_2$ exposure could affect the myometrial cell proliferation particularly in 3.3 mg dose and 10mg dose group. Serum FSH levels were significantly decreased in 1mg $MnCl_2$ dose and 10 $MnCl_2$ mg groups (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). In contrast, treatment with 1 mg $MnCl_2$ dose induced a significant increment of serum LH level (p<0.05). The present study demonstrated that $MnCl_2$ exposure is capable of inducing abnormal development of reproductive tissues, at least to some extent, and altered gonadotropin secretions in immature female rats. Combined with the well-defined actions of this metal on GnRH and prolactin secretion, one can suggest the $Mn^{2+}$ might be a potential environmental mediator which is involved in the female pubertal process.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.87-96
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• 2007

Single and repeated-dose toxicity of anti-diabetic herb extract microcapsule (ADHEM) were evaluated according to Toxicity Test Guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration using Sprague-Dawley rats. For single-dose toxicity test, kneading ADHEM with sterilized water were administered orally once at dose levels of 0 and 2,000 mg/kg and examined for 14 days. No dead animals, clinical signs and abnormal necropsy findings were observed and also no significant difference in body weights was found. Therefore, the $LD_{50}$ of ADHEM was considered to be higher than 2,000 mg/kg in both male and female rats. For repeated-dose toxicity test, ADHEM were mixed with powder fodder and administerd orally for 28 days at dose levels of 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg/day. No dead animals, clinical signs and significant difference in body weights were found. In hematology and serum biochemistry, all values were included within the normal ranges. In relative organ weights, kidney or liver were significantly increased in the 500, 1000 or 2000 mg/kg/day male groups, uterus was significantly increased in the 500 mg/kg/day female group and left adrenal glands were significantly decreased in the 2000 mg/kg/day female group. In histopathological examinations, vacuolation and microgranuloma in the liver, chronic progressive nephropathy and inflammation in the kidney were observed in the 500, 1000 or 2000 mg/kg/day both male and female groups. Therefore, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of ADHEM was considered to be lower than 500 mg/kg/day in both male and female rats.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.77-89
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• 2015

Objectives : To evaluate the safety of multiple-dose intramuscular Shinbaro Pharmacopuncture in male and female Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats over a period of 4 weeks(12 sessions). Methods : In order to test the safety of multiple-dose intramuscular Shinbaro Pharmacopuncture we used 40 healthy male and female 6-week old SD rats(male weight 171.79~196.37 g, female weight 127.93~146.43 g). Shinbaro Pharmacopuncture was administered intramuscularly to male and female SD rats at doses of 4.6 (low dose group, n=10), 9.2 (moderate dose group, n=10), and 18.5 mg/kg(high dose group, n=10), respectively. General symptoms, body weight changes, blood tests, biochemical testing, necropsy, organ weight and histopathogical findings were examined over a 4-week period. Results : 1. No mortalities or adverse effects were caused by the investigational substance were observed during the study period. 2. There was no significant difference in body weight caused by the the investigational substance across all groups. 3. No significant between-group difference was found to be caused by the investigational substance in blood tests and biochemical testing. 4. No abnormalities were detected by a necropsy examination with the unaided eye at the macro level after treatment with the investigational substance. 5. Difference in organ weight between groups caused by the investigational substance was not found. 6. All groups did not exhibit pathological findings caused by the investigational substance in histopathogical examination. Conclusions : According to these results, Shinbaro Pharmacopuncture has no systemic or organ toxicity with multiple-dose intramuscular administrations in male and female SD rats over a 4-week period (12 sessions). These results imply that no adverse effects are observed at a level (NOAEL) of Shinbaro Pharmacopuncture of 18.5 mg/kg.