• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.427-432
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• 1995

Ganglioside GM3 and sialidase activities in human fetal liver have been investigated. Gangliosides were extracted from fetal livers by the Folch-Suzuki method and analyzed by high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). GM3 increased, but lactosylceramide (LacCer) decreased predominantly over the developmental stages. Sialidase in human fetal liver was mainly localized in the lysosomal fraction and its activity was high in the earlier stages of development. The optimum pH for this enzyme was 4.3~4.4. Sialidase was more active with the ganglioside mixture than with GM3, sialyllactose or fetuin. Fetal liver sialidase was still active (20% activity) in the presence of 25% methanol. These results suggested that the changes of the ganglioside GM3 and sialidase activity may be involved in the regulation of cell growth in human fetal liver during development.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.283-297
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• 1998

Hemopoiesis and morphogenesis of the human fetal liver through from 10 to 32 weeks of gestation were investigated by light and electron microscopy. The results obtained were as follows. Hemopoiesis of fetal liver tissue was found from 10 to 32 weeks of gestation, but the hemopoiesis was decreased at 32 weeks of gestation. At the 32 weeks of gestation, matured erythrocytes were observed in the sinusoid, and formation of liver cell cord and portal triad were established. Differentiation of hepatic cell was characterized by the increase of amount of cell organelles within cytoplasm, decrease of hemopoietic cell, morphological change of nuclear envelope from folding form to round form during the developmental period. These results suggest that human fetal liver plays a hematopoietic function until bone marrow and spleen play their function, but morphology of liver at 32 weeks of gestation was differed with structure observed in liver of adult.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.210-214
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• 2004

Whole liver transplantation, the currently available treatment of end-stage liver disease, has limitations including serious donor shortage, fatal surgical complications, risk of allograft rejection, and the requirement of life-long immunosuppression. In this study, we investigated the possibility of reconstructing liver tissues in vivo by implanting fetal hepatocytes on polymer scaffolds as a potential method to replace the current treatments. Fetal hepatocytes were freshly isolated from mice and seeded onto porous mesh scaffolds fabricated from polyglycolic acid, a biodegradable synthetic polymer. The seeded scaffolds were implanted into peritoneal cavity of athymic mice for one week. As a control, fetal hepatocytes were implanted without scaffold. One week after transplantation, liver-like tissues formed. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses indicated that the hepatocyles and liver tissue structures (bile ducts) were present in the newly formed tissues. In the control group, no transplanted hepatocytes were observed. Theses preliminary results suggest that liver tissues may be regeneration by transplanting fetal hepatocytes on polymer scaffolds.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.39-48
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• 1994

The purpose of this study was to determine the mercury accumulated at maternal and fetal organs, and compare its levels between maternal and fetal organs on day 20 of gestation, in pregnant Fisher-344 rats which given orally methylmercuric chloride on day 7 of gestation. Pregnant rats were divided four groups by dose: control group, and methylmercuric chloride treatment groups of 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg, respectively. The results obtained are as follows: I The mercury concentrations in maternal organs were the highest in kidney, and followed by blood, spleen, liver and brain. 2. The slopes of regression equation among mercury dose levels in maternal organs were as follows: Kidney 3.62 (r$^2$=0.943), Blood 2.75 (r$^2$=0.941), Spleen 2.49 (r$^2$=0.990), Liver 1.13 (r$^2$= 0.949), Brain 0.33 (r$^2$=0.984). 3. The mercury concentrations in fetal organs and placenta were the highest in liver, and followed by kidney, placenta and brain. 4. The slopes of regression equation among mercury dose levels in fetal organs and placenta were as follows: Liver 1.79 (r$^2$= 0.968), Kidney 0.79 (r$^2$= 0.976), Placenta 0.68 (r$^2$= 0.920), Brain 0.52 (r$^2$= 0.978), All Body 0.58 (r$^2$= 0.941). 5. As to the mercury levels in kidney, dams were 4.8~14.9 times higher than fetus. But as to the mercury levels in liver and brain, fetus were 1.6~2.5 and 1.5~1.9 times higher than dams. In conclusion, the mercury which exposured to pregnant rats can easily pass through the placenta and accumulated in fetus, especially higher in fetal liver and brain.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.247-255
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• 2002

Purpose : This study was undertaken to obtain basic data about the megakaryocyte colony formation of fetal liver cells by using immunocytochemical staining and ex vivo culture with growth factors. Methods : The mononuclear cells were isolated from fetal liver and bone marrow with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP) and pancytopenia. These mononuclear cells were cultured in $MegaCult^{TM}-C$(Stem Cell Tech, Canada) media in the presence of growth factors and CFU-Megakaryocyte( CFU-Mk) colonies were counted on day 12. The expansion of CD34+ and CD41+ cell was analyzed by flow cytometry after 5 days incubation using flask culture. Results : The numbers of CFU-Mk colonies of mononuclear cells obtained from fetal liver in the 11th week gestational age were more than those in the 19th week specimens; growth factors could not enhance the colony expansion in all cases. Total numbers of CFU-Mk colony of fetal liver cells were higher than bone marrow from ITP or pancytopenia groups. The numbers of pure or large CFU-Mk colonies of fetal liver cells were also higher than bone marrow specimens. The rate of CD34+ cell expression of fetal liver was increased after flask culture and the enhancement effect of epression was seen only in cases which added thrombopoietin. The rate of CD41+ cell expression of fetal liver was increased after incubation, but the enhancement effect of growth factors was unclear. Conclusion : This study revealed good results about the megakaryocyte colony assay of fetal liver mononuclear cells using $MegaCult^{TM}-C$ media. This study suggests that the fetal liver could be a good source of megakaryocytic progenitor cells for clinical application in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.299-301
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• 1997

The asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) was the first described mammalian lectin that mediates the specific binding and internalization of galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine-terminating glycoproteins by hepatic parenchymal cells. H1 and H2 are known as essential subunits of the functional ASGPR. There were close similarities in ASGPR H2 subunits between cultured cell line HepG2 and normal human liver cells including identical sequences at both termini. It was therefore expected that there may be some similarities between the subunits from normal liver cells and fetal liver cells. The two subunits of human fetal liver ASGPR. designated FL-H1 and FL-H2. were cloned from cDNA library by peR and the sequences were compared with the known HI and H2 sequences of HepG2, and the H1 sequence of nornal human liver cells. The results showed that FL-H1 was identical to H1 of HepG2. Whereas FL-H2 contains a 15-bp miniexon, but missing 57-bp at the near upstream from the membrane-spanning domain compared to H2 of HepG2 and normal human liver cells indicating that FL-H2 resulted from a differential splicing compared to HepG2 and normal liver cells.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.114-122
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• 1995

Defining the mechanisms of B cell diversification which establish the immune repertoire is fundamental to understand how the immune response is regulated. In this report, B cell differentiation and diversification focused on the regulation of immunoglobulin $V_H$ gene expression during ontogeny were analyzed by in situ hybridization technique. Fetal liver B cells in .different gestational days from 16d to 20d showed the predominant expression of $V_H7183$ and $V_HQ52$ without transition of repertoire during the observed gestation days. The two subsets of fetal liver B cells separated according to different differentiation stages based on the presence of tell surface immunoglobulin also did not indicate apparent difference in expressed $V_H$ gene family profiles. B cells in fetal spleen as an another hematopoietic lymphoid tissue in fetus also expressed similar $V_H$ gene repertoire to that in fetal liver B cells. This distinct pattern of $V_H$ gene expression in fetal B cells from that of adult B cells were not changed even after four weeks contact with adult bone marrow microenvironment supplied by the established adult bone marrow stromal cell layers. Thus, the restricted $V_H$ gene repertoire of B cells in fetus which is distinct from that in adult appears to be associated more with the genetic potential of fetal B cell progenitors and less with environmental influences or differentiation stages or compartmentalization.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.312-319
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• 2021

Objective: Stress-induced cytotoxicity caused by xenobiotics and endogenous metabolites induces the production of reactive oxygen species and often results in damage to cellular components such as DNA, proteins, and lipids. The cytochrome P450 (CYP) family of enzymes are most abundant in hepatocytes, where they play key roles in regulating cellular stress responses. We aimed to determine the effects of the antioxidant compound, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), on oxidative stress response, and study the cytochrome P450 family 3 subfamily A (CYP3A) gene expression in fetal horse hepatocytes. Methods: The expression of hepatocyte markers and CYP3A family genes (CYP3A89, CYP3A93, CYP3A94, CYP3A95, CYP3A96, and CYP3A97) were assessed in different organ tissues of the horse and fetal horse liver-derived cells (FHLCs) using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. To elucidate the antioxidant effects of MSM on FHLCs, cell viability, levels of oxidative markers, and gene expression of CYP3A were investigated in H2O2-induced oxidative stress in the presence and absence of MSM. Results: FHLCs exhibited features of liver cells and simultaneously maintained the typical genetic characteristics of normal liver tissue; however, the expression profiles of some liver markers and CYP3A genes, except that of CYP3A93, were different. The expression of CYP3A93 specifically increased after the addition of H2O2 to the culture medium. MSM treatment reduced oxidative stress as well as the expression of CYP3A93 and heme oxygenase 1, an oxidative marker in FHLCs. Conclusion: MSM could reduce oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in FHLCs by altering CYP3A93 expression and related signaling pathways.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.235-245
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• 1996

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were performed on 9 pregnant Korea Jin-do bitches that were the Korean native breed, from days 15 to 60 pregnancy to determine the time of first detection and ultrasonographic appearance of the fetal and extra-fetal structures of pregnancy. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (Day 0), which was estimated to occur when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml. Gestational ages at earliest detection of the following fetal and extra-fetal structures were; gestational sac at days 17 to 22; placental layers in the uterine wall at days 20 to 24; zonary placenta at days 25 to 28; yolk sac membrane at days 22 to 24; amnionic membrane at days 27 to 29; embryo initial detection at days 21 to 23; fetal heartbeat at days 21 m 25; bipolar shape embryo at days 25 to 26; fetal movement at days 28 to 31; limb buds at days 31 to 35; anechoic area in head at days 31 to 36; stomach at days 34 to 37; urinary bladder at days 34 to 37; skeleton at days 36 to 38; dorsal sagittal tubular structure in vertebrae at days 36 to 38; lung hyperechoic vs liver at days 37 to 39; liver hypoechoic vs abdomen at days 37 to 40 and kidney at days 43 to 48, respectively.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.402-407
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• 1995

Single-run Partial cDNA sequencing was conducted on 1,592 randomly selected human fetal liver cDNA clones of Korean origin to isolate novel genes related to liver functions. Each partial cDNA sequence determined was analyzed by comparing it with the databases. GenBank, Protein Information Resource (PIR) and SWISS-PROT Protein Sequence Data Bank. From a set of 1.592 cDNA clones reported here, 1,433 (90.0% of the total) were informative cDNA sequences. The other 159 clones were identified as DNA sequences which had originated from the cloning vector. Among 1,433 informative partial cDNA sequences, 851 (59.3%) clones were revealed to be identical to known human genes. These known genes have been classified into 225 different kinds of genes. In addition, 340 clones (23.7%) showed various degrees of homology to previously known human genes. Ninety four (6.6%) clones contained various repeated sequences. Twenty four (1.7%) partial cDNA sequences were found to have considerable homology to known genes from evolutionarily distant organism such as yeast, rice, Arabidopsis, mouse and rat, based on database matches, whereas 124 (8.7%) had no Significant matches. Human homologues to functionally characterized genes from different organisms could be classified as candidates for novel human genes of similar functions. Information from the partial cDNA sequences in this study may facilitate the analysis of genes expressed in human fetal liver.