• Applied Microscopy
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2008

The fine structural modification of the granulocytes between the molt and intermolt period were investigated by the transmission electron microscopy. The granular hemocytes of the spider Araneus ventricosus were composed of three subtypes: eosinophilic granulocytes (EGs), basophilic granulocytes (BGs) and cyanocytes. Both of the EGs and BGs have electron dense granules within their cytoplasms, however the granules of BGs are larger than those of EGs. During the molt period, some of the EGs have fine structural modification in their cell organelles including formation of phagosomes as a result of active phagocytosis. However, the BGs have no phagosomes, but electron densities of the granules are changed to lower states than the intermolt period. The cyanocyte is the biggest hemocyte among the granulocytes. They contain numerous hemocyanin crystals in the cytoplasm with some electron-lucent vacuoles. During the molt period, some of the cyanocytes are changed to irregular shapes. High magnification electron micrographs reveal that the lattice sub-structure of the hemocyanin crystals are very similar to those of microtubules, and each tubule is composed of approximately 20 filaments with fine fibrillar structure.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.330-342
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• 2008

A comprehensive quality survey for PCDDs/PCDFs and coplanar PCBs as well as heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in sediments has been investigated in August 2006, Korea. Monitoring was undertaken at five streams representing different surrounding environments throughout Juwang and Gapyeong streams (reference sites), Jungrang stream (dense population site), Ansan stream (mixed small population and industrial site), and Siheung stream (heavy industrial site). The levels of heavy metal in samples were found to be significantly higher in sediment from Siheung stream compared to those of other stream sites. The heavy metal concentrations (dry weight basis) in sediment from Siheung stream were as follows; Cd (3.7 ${\mu}g$/g), Pb (1,295 ${\mu}g$/g), Cu (713.4 ${\mu}g$/g) and Zn (358.1 ${\mu}g$/g). Among 12 coplanar PCBs and 17 PCDDs/PCDFs selected as target compounds in this study, PCB (IUPAC no. 118) and OCDD were the most abundant congeners found in all sediment samples, followed by 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD, OCDF and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8HpCDF as well as PCB (IUPAC no. 105). These results were shown to be in the same trend as the sediment samples of other countries. The levels of PCDDs/PCDFs/coplanar PCBs in sediment samples were expressed as concentrations and WHO- TEQ values. The PCDDs/PCDFs/coplanar PCBs concentrations and their WHO-TEQ values in sediment from Siheung stream were remarkably high. The levels detected were 788.16 pg/g and 36.080 pg WHO-TEQ/g dry weight for PCDDs/ PCDFs and 314 pg/g and 0.4189 pg WHO-TEQ/g dry weight for coplanar PCBs, respectively, beyond the safety level of sediment value 20 pg WHO-TEQ/g. Sediment samples of the five streams were also monitored by sensitive biomarkers using insect immune responses: hemocyte-spreading behavior and immune-associated enzyme activities of phospholipase A$_2$ (PLA$_2$) and phenoloxidase. Organic extracts of Siheung and Jungrang sediments significantly interfered with the hemocytespreading behavior, whereas those of Ansan, Gapyeong, and Juwang did not. These organic extracts did not inhibit the PLA$_2$ and phenoloxidase activities. However, phenoloxidase was highly susceptible to exposure to aqueous extracts in all site sediments. In comparison, PLA$_2$ activities of the hemocytes were significantly inhibited only by aqueous extracts of Siheung, Jungrang, and Gapyeong sediments, but not by those of Ansan and Juwang. Despite some disparity between bioand chemical monitoring results, the biomarkers can be recommended as a device warning the contamination of biohazard environmental chemicals because of a fast and inexpensive detection method.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.63-78
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of tributyltin (TBT) on histopathological and ultrastructural changes in the digestive gland structure of the equilateral venus, Gomphina veneriformis. Experimental period was 36 weeks. Experimental groups consist of control condition and 3 TBTCl exposure conditions (0.4, 0.6, $0.8\;TBTC\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$). Outer envelop of the visceral mass of G. veneriformis exposed to TBTCl was observed disappearance of microvilli and cilia, decrease of mucous cell and partially destruction of epithelium. In the digestive gland showed an increase of number of hemocyte and mucopolysaccaride near the digestive tubule at early time of the exposure. Especially, in $0.8\;TBTC\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ group, collapse of digestive tubule with modification of epithelium was observed. TEM observation revealed the numerous glycogen granules in epithelium of the outer envelop and connective tissue. In the ciliated cell of the primary duct formed the cilia in cytoplasm. Basophilic cell was observed destruction of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. Also, nucleus in the epithelium of the digestive tubule was disappeared heterochromatin and nucleolus, and condense. As the concentration of TBTCl increased, the accumulation of lipofucin increased in the digestive gland, but the collapse of digestive tubule induced a decrease of accumulation of lipofuscin.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.267-275
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• 2016

Chlorine dioxide has an insecticidal activity via its production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Its cytotoxic activity has been regarded as a main cause of the insecticidal activity. This study tested a hypothesis that cytotoxicity of chlorine dioxide is resulted from its induction of apoptosis against target cells using ROS. Injection of chlorine dioxide significantly reduced total hemocyte counts of Plodia interpunctella larvae and subsequently killed the larvae. To analyze the cytotoxicity with respect to apoptosis, terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase nick end translation (TUNEL) assay was performed. An insect cell line (Sf9) cells were exposed to different concentrations of chlorine dioxide. TUNEL assay showed that chlorine dioxide induced significant apoptosis of Sf9 cells in a dose-dependent manner. When different concentrations of chlorine dioxide were injected to larvae of P. interpunctella, it showed a dose-dependent induction of apoptosis against hemocytes. However, addition of vitamin E significantly suppressed the apoptosis induction and insecticidal activity of chlorine dioxide in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that cytotoxicity of chlorine dioxide is resulted from its induction of apoptosis against insect cells using ROS.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.41-54
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• 2020

Two mosquito species were collected in still-water near farming area in Andong, Korea. Based on morphological characters, these two mosquitoes were identified as Aedes koreicus and Culex vagans, respectively. DNA barcode analyses supported the identification. An entomopathogenic bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (BtI), exhibited insecticidal activities against the two mosquito species and its virulence was more potent than that of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki. It has been known that the bacterial metabolites of Xenorhabdus spp. suppress insect immunity and enhance pathogenicity of B. thuringiensis. This study tested the effect of the bacterial culture broth of Xenorhabdus spp. on enhancing BtI pathogenicity. Among three Xenorhabdus spp., culture broth of X. ehlersii (Xe) was relatively effective to enhance BtI pathogenicity against both mosquito species. Indeed, organic extracts of Xe culture broth suppressed the hemocyte-spreading behavior, suggesting the presence of immunosuppressant in the culture broth. These results suggest a formulation of BtPlus by mixing BtI spore and Xe culture broth to be applied to control the two mosquito species.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.321-328
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• 2012

Light and transmission electron microscopy of Batillus cornutus hemocytes revealed differences that the morphological distinctions between blast-like cell, granulocytes and hyalinocytes. Base on the morphological characteristics of the cells, we identified the eight types of hemocytes and present a categorization of the hyalinocytes into six sub-categories. The hemocytes of B. cornutus were observed basophilic cell under the light microscopy. Blast-like cells had a spherical profile with a central nucleus filling almost the whole cell. Granulocytes were characterized by presenting variable numbers of granules. This cell had spherical shape with diameter 7 ${\mu}m$ and smooth endoplasmic reticula, granules, mitochondria, glycogen granules in the cytoplasm. Hyalinocytes were the most abundant cell type. Especially, hyalinocyte VI had iirregular an amoebal shape and observed autophagosome and heterophagosome in the cytoplasm. From these results, it is concluded that there are eight types of cells in the hemolymph of B. cornutus. Further studies are now needed to identify the role of these hemocytes in the enzymological and immunological response.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.135-143
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• 2009

The Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, has been considered as a sentinel species due to dominant distribution along the coast of Korea and well developed regulatory system. In order to develop and understand immune responses of the Manila clams, clams were exposed to $50\;{\mu}g/L$ of cadmium chloride (Cd) for 8 days and monitored the cellular immune parameters of the hemocytes including blast cell composition, DNA damage, necrosis, apoptosis and hemocyte mortality using a flow cytometer. The results showed that all immune parameters analyzed in the present study increased remarkably compared to the controls and the increases were statistically significant. Apoptosis rate was higher than necrosis rate in the clams exposed to Cd suggesting that apoptosis was preferably induced by the concentration of Cd used in the present study. Our study indicates that the measurement of cellular immune responses of the Manila clam using flow cytometer will be a useful technique for assessment of heavy metal contamination in marine environment.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.331-338
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• 2014

Cystatins (CSTs) are reversible and competitive inhibitors of C1A cysteine proteases, corresponding to papain-like cathepsins in plants and animals. A viral CST (CpBV-CST1) was identified from a polydnavirus, Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV). Our previous study indicated that a transient expression of CpBV-CST1 interfered with immune response and development of Plutella xylostella larvae. To directly demonstrate the protein function, this study produced a recombinant CpBV-CST1 protein (rCpBV-CST1) using bacterial expression system to determine its inhibitory activity against cysteine protease and to assess its physiological alteration in insect immune and development. The open reading frame of CpBV-CST1 encodes a polypeptide of 138 amino acids (${\approx}15kDa$). rCpBV-cystatin protein in BL21 STAR (DE3) competent cells containing a recombinant pGEX4T-3:CpBV-CST1 was over-expressed by 0.5 mM IPTG for 4 h. In biological activity assay, the purified rCpBV-CST1 showed a significant inhibition against papain activity. It inhibited a cellular immune response of hemocyte nodule formation in the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua. Moreover, its oral administration retarded larval development of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that CpBV-CST1 may be applied to control insect pest populations.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.121-134
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• 2014

Sessile marine bivalves including mussels, oysters and clams are often used as a sentinel species in coastal environmental monitoring since changes in the environmental quality are often well preserved in their tissues and shells. In this study, we investigated overall health condition of the Mediterranean Mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis on the south coast using histology. Reproductive condition as gonad index (GI), condition index (CI) as a ratio of the tissue weight to the shell weight, digestive gland atrophy (DGA), types of parasites, and pathologic conditions including erosion, necrosis, hemocyte infiltration, and neoplasia were examined from each histological preparation. GI decreased from March to July then increased from July to September and spawning mussel could be observed as early as in April and the activity continued until September. CI also followed the monthly changes in GI, indicating that decrease in CI was associated with the weight loss due to spawning. DGA increased from March to June, decreased in July and increased from July to September. High DGA values observed in June and September were coincided with spawning and high water temperature. Histology also showed high prevalence of erosion in the digestive gland in June (36.0%) and September (56.4%), suggesting that high water temperature and spawning acted as environmental stressors. No parasitic organism was identified during the survey, although some symbiotic copepods were observed. Histology was found to be useful and affordable technique in monitoring the overall health of mussel, providing useful pathologic information of the cells and tissues.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.12-20
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• 2006

Some natural products are able to inhibit radiation effects and exert an antitumor effect with fewer adverse reactions; however, their antitumor effects are less than those of widely-used synthetic drugs. Propolis is a natural material that has been attracting attention, and we extracted this material with water and investigated the effect of continuous propolis administration on radioactivity-induced reduction of hemocytes, in addition to the antioxidant and antitumor effects of propolis. Following a 1-week adjustment period, water-soluble propolis was administered intraperitoneally to male ICR mice at a dose of 100 mg/kg every other day for 2 weeks. Following administration, 2 Gy whole-body irradiation was performed and the counts of leukocytes, lymphocytes, and granulocytes and monocytes in the peripheral blood were determined 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days after irradiation. These cells were considered since they are closely associated with immunity to radioactivity. In a second experiment, water-soluble propolis was similarly administered to the mice for 2 weeks after a 1-week adjustment period, and 2 Gy whole-body irradiation was performed. The antioxidant effects in hemocytes were then investigated using 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH), a radical generator. In a third experiment, $1\;{\times}\;10^6$ Sarcoma-180 cells were inoculated into the right thigh of mice, which were divided into four groups: control, water-soluble propolis-treated, 6 Gy irradiated and water-soluble propolis-treated + 6 Gy irradiated groups, and changes in tumor size were measured for 20 days. Statistical analysis was conducted using ANOVA for multiple groups. In the three experiments, administration of water-soluble propolis inhibited the reduction of hemocytes caused by whole-body irradiation, showed antioxidant effects against radioactivity, and inhibited tumor growth, respectively. In conclusion, our data suggest that the antioxidant effect of watersoluble propolis inhibits hemocyte reduction caused by whole-body irradiation and enhances immunological inhibition of tumor growth.