• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.17-27
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the decreasing effects of Korean garlic against the accumulation of mercury levels in maternal and fetal organs in pregnant Fischer 344 rats, based on the theory and information that neutral amino acids have protective effects against mercury poisoning and garlic contains a large of neutral amino acids. The results obtained are as follows: 1. On the 20th day of gestation, the maternal body weight in 20 mg/wt$\cdot$kg methyl mercuric chloride groups was 76.1% of those in control group, but those recovered to be 81.2% and 93.6% by treating with garlic (0.5 g/wt$\cdot$kg and 1.0 g/wt$\cdot$kg). 2. The mercury levels in maternal organs were reduced 6.2% and 47.2% (p<0.05) in kidney, 8.2% and 42.1% (p<0.05) in spleen, 9.7% and 40.9% (p<0.05) in blood, 35.6% (p<0.05) and 67.2% (p<0.05) in liver, 38.0% (p<0.05) and 57.6% (p<0.05) in brain, by treating with garlic (0.5 g/wt$\cdot$kg and 1.0 g/wt$\cdot$kg). 3. The mercury levels were reduced 22.4% and 44.3% (p<0.05) in placenta, and 34.7% (p<0.05) and 54.9% (p<0.05) in fetal body, by treating with garlic (0.5 g/wt$\cdot$kg and 1.0 g/wt$\cdot$kg). 4. The mercury levels in fetal organs were reduced 17.5% and 46.7% (p<0.05) in kidney, 15.1% and 37.0% (p<0.05) in brain, 30.2% (p<0.05) and 46.7% (p<0.05) in liver, by treating with garlic (0.5 g/wt$\cdot$kg and 1.0 g/wt$\cdot$kg). 5. Mercury levels in maternal kidney were 6.73~7.71 times higher than those in fetal kidney, but those in fetal liver and brain were 1.67~2.25 times and 1.98~2.93 times higher than those in maternal liver and brain, respectively. In conclusion, Korean garlic decrease the accumulation of mercury levels in maternal and fetal organs in pregnant Fischer 344 rats as increasing the dose.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 1982

A number of recent ultrastructural studies have shown marked differences between the two lining cell types in adult liver sinusoids, endothelial cells and Kupffer cells. In the present study, the ultrastructural features and electron microscopic cytochemistry of sinusoidal lining cells in the fetal liver were studied through fetal period to neonate in the rat. At fetal period, the sinusoid, which contains various blood component, in lined by the endothelial cells, the Kupffer cells and the fat storing cells that located in the space of Disse. As gestation proceeded, these eel's are arranged as adult liver sinusoids. The sinusoidal wall appears to be discontinuous with open fenestration between endothelial cells, but no basal lamina can observed. It seems to be morphologically and functionally distinct at the early gestation between the endothelial cells and the Kupffer cells, the latter showing marked phagocytized activity. The fat storing cells, which contain several fat droplets, are located in the space of Disse. Ultrastructural localization of the acid and alkaline phosphatase activity were noted on the sinusoidal lining cells.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.111-117
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• 1990

To investigate the transplacental cytogenic effect of air pollutants the authors collected samples from Shinchon, Guro, Banpo and Jungnung-dongs in winter season. The air filters were extracted by mixture of benzene and ethanol, then a certain amount of extracted sustance was injected to pregnant mice at 16th day of gestation. From the fetal liver emulsion polychromatic erythrocytes were collected and stained with Giemsa solution. The cytogenic effect was evaluated by micronucleus test by which numbers of polychromatic erythrocytes containing microunclei (MNPCE) per 1, 000 polychromatic erythrocytes could be counted.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.71-84
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• 1983

This study was made to investigate the ultrastructural changes of the hepatocyte of the maternal liver, and fetal liver by Actinomycin D in Wistar rats at the stage of pregnancy. Peritoneal injection of Actinomycin D to rats carried out gestation day 7 to 9 at the level of $15{\mu}g(11.5{\mu}g/100g$ body wt.), $20{\mu}g(15.8{\mu}g/100g$ body wt.) on each day. Treated animals with saline only were used for controls. Animals were sacrificed on day 15 of gestation. On electron microscopic examination, the hepatocytes of maternal liver given Actinomycin D $15{\mu}g$/ml had evidence of serious cellular damage, for example, hypertrophy of rough endoplasmic reticulum, loss in nucleolar osmiophilia, swelling of Golgi apparatus and change of mitochondrial structure. Maternal liver given Actinomycin D $20{\mu}g/ml$ shown similar changes to that of the $15{\mu}g/ml$ treated animals. But mitochondria of this group were not changed than that of $15{\mu}g/ml$ treated group. In the hepatocytes of fetal liver, changes were more pronounced. The drug produced alteration in nuclei and cytoplasm. The rough endoplasmic reticulum was swollen and there were ribosomes detachement. In addition, damages of mitochondria, Golgi apparatus were detected.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.443-448
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• 1996

The effects of Taheebo on the diabetic-piegnant rats and their fetus was investigated. It has been reported that diabetic condition of the pregnant rats can affect the process of liver formation and damage the respiratory function in the fetus. Therefore we investigated the effects of Taheebo on the prevention of liver damage and respiratory failure in the fetus and those results were compared with that of dexamethasone (DXM). In pregnant rats, streptozotocin(STZ, 45 mg/kg, 0.01 M citrate buffer) was injected into the pregnant rats on the third day of pregnancy. Methanol extracts of Taheebo(500 mg/kg p.o.) was administered once daily during pregnancy. DXM (10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g i.p.) was injected into the pregnant rats in 16th and 18th days of pregnancy. Body weights were measured and fetal number and abortion rate in pregnancy rats were determined. Lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio in amniotic fluid and malondialdehyde, glycogen, triglyceride, protein and cholesterol levels in the liver homogenate were determined. Also blood glucose level was analyzed. Body weights of maternal rats were increased in the all groups except the DXM group. Fetal number of the Taheebo treated group was similar to the control group, and a significant increase in the body weights of fetus was observed in the STZ treated group and the Taheebo treated group compared with the control group. Blood glucose of fetus produced hypoglycemia in the control group and hyperglycemia in the diabetic-pregnant rats. The protein and cholesterol levels in fetus liver were significantly increased in the DXM treated group compared with the control group. Triglyceride content was significantly increased in all groups compared with the control group. Liver malondialdehyde level of fetus in the STZ treated group was similar to the control group. Glycogen level was significantly increased in the all groups compared with the control group. Methanol extract of Taheebo showed hypoglycemic effect on the pregnant rats. However, we could not observe any hypoglycemic effect on the fetus. There's no difference between the control and Taheebo treated group in terms of the levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, protein and glycogen in the fetus liver. Further study to identify the effect of Taheebo on the fetus is under investigation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1633-1639
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• 2009

This study investigated the effect of maternal undernutrition during late pregnancy on the growth and development of ovine fetal visceral organs. One hundred Mongolian ewes were mated at a synchronized oestrus and divided into three groups and offered 0.175 MJ ME $kgw^{-0.75}\;d^{-1}$ (Restricted Group1; RG1), 0.33 MJ ME $kgw^{-0.75}\;d^{-1}$ (Restricted Group2; RG2) and ad libitum access to feed (Control Group; CG) during late pregnancy (90 days). Selected animals in each group were slaughtered immediately at d 90 of pregnancy and after parturition (neonatal lambs), and major visceral organs were removed and weighed separately. The results indicated that the weights of lung (p<0.01), spleen (p<0.01), heart (p<0.05), liver (p<0.05) and abomasum (p<0.01) in RG1 were significantly lighter than those of CG. For RG2, only the weights of the lung (p<0.05) and spleen (p<0.01) were significantly lighter than those of CG; when expressed as a percentage of body weight, significance was retained in the spleen (p<0.01) for both restricted groups, but the percentage of brain in RG1 was significantly higher than that in CG (p<0.01). For lung and spleen, the amount of DNA was significantly lower (p<0.01) in both groups of restricted neonatal lambs compared to CG; however, there was a significant difference only between RG1 and CG for protein: DNA ratio (p<0.01). The DNA content of kidney, abomasum and jejunum were decreased (p<0.05) in RG1 neonatal lambs, but protein: DNA ratio in the liver was decreased compared with that of CG (p<0.05). The plane of maternal undernutrition during late pregnancy had a significant effect on the growth and development of fetal visceral organs, which altered ontogeny of fetal organ growth and development. These perturbations in fetal visceral development may have significant implications on postnatal growth and adult health.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2003

The hemopoiesis in human fetal spleen was studied with transmission electron microscope. There were undifferentiated proerythroblast, basophilic erythroblast, polychromatophilic erythroblast, and acidophilic erythroblast. Besides, enucleated nuclei and mitoses were present. Groups of erythroblastic cells were surrounded by certain cell. The structure was identical to erythropoietic island found in fetal liver. So, erythropoisis in spleen was developing in a pattern similar to fetal liver. Megakaryobalst were found in spleen, but there was no mature cells, cells in mitosis nor platelet formation. It was not clear whether megakaryoblast in circulation was trapped in spleen or participated in megakaryopoiesis. In summary, erythropoiesis took place in fetal spleen in a pattern similar to fetal liver and bone marrow. But it was not certain whether megakaryopoiesis took place in fetal spleen.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.405-408
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• 2000

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.331-339
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• 2018

NUCB2/nesfatin-1 is first known to be expressed in the hypothalamus while controlling appetite and energy metabolism. However, recent studies have shown that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 was expressed in the various organs as well as the hypothalamus. Our previous reports also demonstrated that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 was expressed in the ovary, testis, pituitary gland, lung, kidney, and stomach of fetal and adult mice. However, the role of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in mouse fetus remains unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether NUCB2/nestatin-1 is expressed in mouse fetus at the developmental stage in which organogenesis begins. To do this, we performed in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining to examine the distribution of NUCB2 mRNA and nesfatin-1 protein in the mouse fetal organs during early developmental stages, especially at embryonic day (E) 10.5. As a result of ISH, NUCB2 mRNA positive signals were more frequent in the liver, but there were relatively few positive signals in heart. On the other hand, no positive signals were detected in other organs. These ISH results were validated by IHC staining and qRT-PCR analysis. Expression of nesfatin-1 protein detected by IHC staining was similar to that of NUCB2 mRNA detected by ISH in the liver and heart. In addition, the levels of NUCB2 mRNA expression analyzed by qRT-PCR were significantly increased in the liver and heart compared to other organs of the mouse fetus at E13.5, whereas its level was extensively decreased in the liver, but increased in the lung, stomach, and kidney of the mouse fetus at E17.5. These results suggest that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 may play an important role in liver and heart development and physiological functions in the developmental process of mouse fetus. Further studies are needed on the function of NUCB2/nesfatin-1, which is highly expressed in the various organs, including liver and heart during mouse development.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.181-187
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• 2003

Effects of repeated treatment with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) on the induction of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and teratogenicity of cyclophosphamide were investigated in rats. Pregnant rats were orally treated with BHA (50 mg/kg) for 7 days, from days 6 to 12 of gestation, and intraperitoneally challenged with cyclophosphamide (15 mg/kg) 2 hr after the final treatment. On day 20 of gestation, the maternal and fetal abnormalities were examined. Separately, a part of rats was sacrificed for the assay of hepatic and placental GSTs activities on day 12 of gestation following 7-day treatment with BHA. Cyclophosphamide, administered on day 12 of gestation, induced 43.2% of fetal death and resorption, and 100% of malformations in live fetuses, in contrast to low fetal resorption (8.7%) and malformations (8%) in control group. The malformations include cranial defect and exencephaly (100%), micrognathia and tongue extrusion (100%), limb defects (40%), renal pelvic dilatation (39%), and cleft palate (15%). Interestingly, BHA induced GSTs activities by 62% and 46% over the control in liver and placenta, respectively, and remarkably reduced the fetal resorption (13.9%) and malformations, resulting in 62% of cranial defect and exencephaly, 68% of micrognathia and tongue extrusion, 29% of limb defects, and 14% of renal pelvic dilatation. Taken together, it is suggested that a long-term pretreatment with BHA could substantially prevent fetuses from abortion and malformations following intrauterine exposure to teratogens including cyclophosphamide by inducing phase II antioxidant enzymes such as GSTs.