• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.549-558
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to determine which differences in the source of protein (soy vs casein) and isoflavones in soy protein are responsible for the differential effects of bone marks and hormones in growing female rats. Forty-two 21-day-old Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups, consuming casein (control group), soy protein isolate (57 mg isoflavones/100 g diet), or soy protein concentrate (about 1.2 mg isoflavones/100 g diet). All rats were fed on experimental diet and deionized water ad libitum for 9 weeks. Bone formation was measured by serum osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations. And bone resorption rate was measured by deoxypyridinoline (DPD) crosslinks immunoassay and corrected for creatinine. Serum osteocalcin, growth hormone, estrogen and calcitonin were analyzed using radioimmunoassay kits. Diet did not affect weight gain and mean food intake. Food efficiency ratio was lower in the soy protein groups. The soy isolate group had a higher ALP and osteocalcin concentration and lower crosslinks value than the casein group. Therefore, the soy isolate groups had a higher bone formation/resorption ratio than the casein group. And, the soy group had significantly higher growth hormone than the casein group. The findings of this study suggest that soy protein and isoflavones are beneficial for bone formation in growing female rats. Therefore, exposure to these soy protein and isoflavones early in life may have benefits for osteoporosis prevention.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2001

In order to determine the role of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), the important sex-steroid hormone precursor, in vascular reactivity in rats, animals were treated for two weeks with DHEA or sex hormones, and the vascorelaxant and contractile responses of isolated aorta were examined. DHEA diminished the acetylcholine (ACh)-induced relaxation in female rats, while the drug was without effect in males. Testoterone lowered the vasorelaxant activity to ACh in either sex. 17$\beta$-Estradiol enhanced ACh-induced vasorelaxation in male rats, but this female sex hormone did not influence in females. In male rats, the androgen receptor antagonist flutamide also enhanced vasorelaxant action of ACh. When the male rat aorta was incubated in vitro with a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor L-NAME, phenylephrine-induced contraction was greatly potentiated in DHEA-pretreated rats compared to control ones. The present results suggest that DHEA stimulates mainly androgen in female, but both androgen and estrogen in male rats. The participation of NO In the modulation of vascular reactivity with pretreated DHEA was also considered.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 2012

Epimedii Herba is a traditional medicinal herb used in Korea and China and exerts estrogenic activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of peripubertal administration of Epimedii Herba on pubertal development in female rats using a modified protocol of the rodent 20-day pubertal female assay. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (21 days old after weaning, 10 rats per group) were divided into five groups: saline (Con), ethinyl estradiol (E2), Epimedii Herba ext (Ext), icariin (ICI), and icaritin (ICT), which were administered by oral gavage (E2 by subcutaneous injection) from postnatal day (PND) 21 through PND40. The time to vaginal opening (VO) was shorter for the Epimedii groups, particularly for the ICT group (p<0.05). Treatment with ICI and ICT significantly increased the duration of the estrus cycle (ICI, 2.78 days; ICT, 4.0 days; control, 1.78 days). Ovary weight was reduced by E2 treatment and increased by the Ext, ICI, and ICT treatments while the weight of the uterus and pituitary glands increased significantly only in the E2 and ICT groups. Although Epimedii Herba displayed relatively weak estrogenic activity, its repeated administration could affect pubertal development in female rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.344-351
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of isoflavones on lipid concentrations and hepatic LDL receptor mRNA level in growing female rats. Twenty four rats (body weight $75\pm5g$) were randomly assigned to one of two groups, consuming control diet or isoflavones supplemented diet (57mg isoflavones/100g diet). All rats has been fed on experimental diet and deionized water ad libitum for 9 weeks. The concentration of triglyceride and total cholesterol were measured in serum and liver. Serum HDL cholesterol was measured. Hepatic LDL receptor mRNA level was tested by RT-PCR. Supplementation of isoflavones did not affect weight gain, mean food intake and food efficiency ratio. Serum total cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol of isoflavones supplemented rats were significantly lower than those of control rats (p<0.05). But hepatic cholseterol was not influenced by supplementation of isoflavones. Hepatic LDL receptor mRNA level not significantly different between control group and isoflavones supplemented group. Therefore, isoflavones may be beneficial on serum cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol lowering in growing female rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.235-241
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to define an arginine effect when added to a diet. The influence of arginine supplements on bone mineral density and content were studied in young female Sprague-Dawley rats fed either an arginine supplemented diet or control diet. Twenty four rats (body weight $83{\pm}5g$) were randomly assigned to one of two groups, consuming casein or casein with supplemented arginine diet. All rats were fed on experimental diet and deionized water ad libitum for 9 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured using PIXImus (GE Lunar Co, Wisconsin, USA) in spine and femur 3, 6, and 9 weeks after feeding. The serum and urine concentrations of Ca and P were determined. Diet did not affect weight gain and mean food intake. The serum concentration of Ca and P were not changed by arginine supplementation. Urinary Ca excretion was significantly decreased by arginine supplementation. Spine BMD was significantly increased by arginine supplementation on 3 and 6 weeks after feeding. Femur BMD was significantly increased in the group of arginine supplementation on 3, 6, and 9 weeks. Rats fed the arginine-supplemented diet had better bone mineral content than did control diet rats in the experimental period. Therefore, arginine supplementation may be beneficial on spine and femur BMD increment in growing female rats. These are thought to be associated with an arginine-induced growth hormone release. The exact mechanism of this effect remains to be elucidated.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2008

The kidney toxicities of BDR-29 used for improvement of the vascular diseases, was examined using male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. The male and female rats were divided into 4 groups for intragastrical treatment with doses of 0, 5, 50, and 500 mg/kg/day for 13 weeks, respectively. In all male and female rats treated with BDR-29, no mortality and gross pathological findings were shown for 13 weeks. There substantially was no change in body weight in all rats with treatment of BDR-29. The renal functional parameters including urinary volume, urine osmolality, electrolytes excretory rate, creatinine clearance, and solute-free water reabsorption were not exchanged in all rats treated with BDR-29. Taken together, these results suggest that BDR-29 has no toxicity on kidney in all male and female rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.30-39
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• 2005

The effects of different concentrations of estrogen supplementation to mature female rats or estrogen supplementation to ovariectomized rats on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, PGE$_2$ production and mapkinases expression were investigated in experimentally induced atherogenic rats with feeding a high fat. high cholesterol diet. In the first experiment using 48-week old mature rats, the supplementation of three different levels of estrogen was compared to the basal diet. The high concentration of estrogen supplementation induced the marked up-regulation of COX-2 protein and the increase in plasma PGE$_2$ production and this seems to be followed by the up-regulation of p38 among mapkinases. The regulation of bax showed in a reverse trend of COX-2 in heart tissues of mature female rats. In the second ex-perimental system, female Sprague-Dawley rats were bilaterally ovariectomized; sham-operated animals were used as controls. Three weeks later, the animals were supplied with basal diet to sham-operated control group and ovariectomized control group, and estrogen supplemented diet to ovariectomized group for an eight-week experimental period. In a group supplemented with a medium dose of estrogen, COX-2 expression was up-regulated. This up-regulation was accompanied by the elevated expression of pERK1/2. Bax was increased in estrogen-fed animals indicating bax might be involved in estrogen feeding state in ovariectomized rats. Further investigations on the relationship between COX-2 and biological activities such as vasodilation by estrogen are required in in vivo system of female rats at the various physiological states.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.333-342
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• 2017

Ethyl formate, a volatile solvent, has insecticidal and fungicidal properties and is suggested as a potential fumigant for stored crop and fruit. Its primary contact route is through the respiratory tract; however, reliable repeated toxicological studies focusing on the inhalation route have not been published to date. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the safety of a 90-day repeated inhalation exposure in rats. Forty male and 40 female rats were exposed to ethyl formate vapor via inhalation at concentrations of 0, 66, 330, and 1,320 ppm for 6 hr/day, 5 days a week for 13 weeks. Clinical signs, body weights, food consumption, urinalysis, hematologic parameters, serum chemistry measurements, organ weights, necropsy, and histopathological findings were compared between the control and ethyl formate-exposed groups. Locomotor activity decreased during exposure and recovered afterward in male and female rats exposed to 1,320 ppm ethyl formate. Body weight and food consumption continuously decreased in both sexes exposed to 1,320 ppm ethyl formate from week 1 or 3 compared with the control values. The increases in adrenal weight and decreases in thymus weight were noted in both sexes exposed to ethyl formate at 1,320 ppm. Degeneration, squamous metaplasia of olfactory epithelium in the nasopharyngeal tissue, or both were noted in the male and female rats at 1,320 ppm and female rats at 330 ppm ethyl formate. Taken together, our results indicate that ethyl formate-induced changes were not observed in male and female rats at 330 and 66 ppm, respectively. This indicates that exposure to ethyl formate at concentrations below 66 ppm for 90 days is relatively safe in rats. This is the first report of a full-scale repeated inhalation toxicity assessment in rats and could contribute to controlling occupational environmental hazards related to ethyl formate.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2002

Gender differences in the effects of gonadectomy and high cholesterol diet on body weight and body cholesterol were investigated by using Sprague Dawley rats. Body weight, plasma and liver levels of cholesterol and triglyceride and platelet aggregation were examined in ovariectomized(OVX) or orchidectomized(ODX) rats with their intacts after feeding diet with or without 0.5% cholesterol. Body weight was significantly increased(p < 0.01) in OVX rats and significantly decreased(p < 0.01) in ODX rats compared to their respective intact rats, and cholesterol diet significantly(p < 0.05) decreased body weight in gonadectomized rats. Liver lobes from rats fed cholesterol diet were opaque and larger than those from rats find control dict, resulting in a significant increase(p < 0.01) in LW/BW ratio. Plasma and liver levels of total cholesterol were significantly increased (p < 0.01) in female rats regardless ovariectomy when find 0.5% cholesterol diet, but those levels in male rats were increased only when they were orchidectomized(p < 0.0l). Plasma HDL-cholesterol was significantly decreased(p < 0.05) in both sexes when find cholesterol diet. HDL-cholesterol were higher in female than male rats regardless treatments(p < 0.05). Liver triglyceride was significantly increased(p < 0.05) in both sexes when find cholesterol dict. Plasma level of triglyceride was not different among groups except significant decrease(p < 0.05) in cholesterol find ODX rats. Maximum platelet aggregation in female rats was significantly lower(p < 0.05) than male, but ovariectomy and cholesterol diet caused an increase te the level of male rats. Microscopic examination showed cholesterol diet caused a lipid accumulation in liver. Results indicate that intact female rats have higher response to hypercholestcrolemic diet than intact male rats and orchidectomy causes male rats more responsive to hypercholesterolemic diet. However, ovariectomy causes an increase female food efficiency ratio to the level of male rats, significantly increasing body weight.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.227-235
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• 1998

KH-502 (Flupyrazofos), a new organophosphorus insecticide synthesized by Korea Re-search Institute of Chemical Technology, was found to be effective against diamond-back moth(Plutella xylostella). This study was carried out to determine the acute toxicity of KH-502 in Sprague-Dawley rats and ICR mice. The test article was orally or dermally administered to the animals. Death, tremors, salivation, lacrimation, abnormal gait and corneal opacity were observed. Decrease in body weight gain was observed in all treatment groups. At necropsy, dark red coloration of lung, enlargement of adrenal glands and atrophy of spleen were observed. The oral $LD_{50}$ value was 372 mg/kg in male rats, 605 mg/kg in female rats, 186 mg/kg in male mice, and 115 mg/kg in female mice. And the dermal $LD_{50}$ was 4086 mg/kg in male and 3881 mg/kg in female rats.