• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.182-193
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• 1998

Background: Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), identified as a survival factor for developing peripheral neurons is upregulated by reactive astrocytes in the traumatized tissue and in areas of terminal degeneration after a brain lesion. But in the spinal cord, CNTF is expressed in the non-astrocytic phenotypic, maybe oligodendrocytes. The present study was undertaken to determine the upregulation of CNTF expression in reactive astrocytes following spinal cord lesion in the rat. Methods: Unilateral incision of the dorsal funiculus at the thoracic level was performed and rats were sacrificed on days 3, 7, 14 and 28 postlesion. Western blot analysis, immunocytochemical analysis and double immunofluorescence for CNTF and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were performed after spinal cord lesion. Results: A major band with 24 kDa and additional band of higher molecular weight form were detectable, and the intensity of the 24 kDa immunoreactive band increased up to 14 days postlesion and decreased toward laminectomized control values. CNTF immunoreactivity was markedly upregulated in the injured dorsal funiculus and adjacent gray matter. The time course of CNTF expression is coincident with the appearance of reactive astrocytes in the injured spinal cord. Moreover, double immunofluorescence for CNTF and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) revealed that CNTF immunoreactivity was in GFAP immunoreactive astrocytes. Conclusions: These results show that CNTF upregulation occurred in reactive astrocytes following spinal cord lesion, and suggest a role for CNTF in the regulation of astrocytic responses after spinal cord injury.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.204-210
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• 2006

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) in articular chondrocytes regulates dedifferentiation and inflammatory responses by modulating MAP kinases. In this study, we investigated whether the Src kinase in chondrocytes regulates NO-induced dedifferentiation and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. Methods: Primary chondrocytes were treated with various concentrations of SNP for 24 h. The COX-2 and type II collagen expression levels were determined by immunoblot analysis, and prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$ was determined by using a $PGE_2$ assay kit. Expression and distribution of p-Caveolin and COX-2 in rabbit articular chondrocytes and cartilage explants were determined by immunohistochemical staining and immunocytochemical staining, respectively. Results: SNP treatment stimulated Src kinase activation in a dose-dependent manner in articular chondrocytes. The Src kinase inhibitors PP2 [4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo(3,4-d)pyrimidine], a significantly blocked SNP-induced p38 kinase and caveolin-1 activation in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, to determine whether Src kinase activation is associated with dedifferentiation and/or COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production. As expected, PP2 potentiated SNP-stimulated dedifferentiation, but completely blocked both COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production. And also, levels of p-Caveolin and COX-2 protein expression were increased in SNP-treated primary chondrocytes and osteoarthritic and rheumatoid arthritic cartilage, suggesting that p-Caveolin may playa role in the inflammatory responses of arthritic cartilage. Conclusion: Our previously studies indicated that NO caused dedifferentiation and COX-2 expression is regulated by p38 kinase through caveolin-1 (1). Therefore, our results collectively suggest that Src kinase regulates NO-induced dedifferentiation and COX-2 expression in chondrocytes via p38 kinase in association with caveolin-1.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9335-9339
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• 2014

Background: To determine the frequency of primary circulating prostate cells (CPC) detection according to age and serum PSA levels in a cohort of men undergoing screening for prostate cancer and to determine the diagnostic yield in those men complying with the criteria for prostate biopsy. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was carried out to analyze all men evaluated in a hospital prostate cancer screening program. Primary CPCs were obtained by differential gel centrifugation and detected using standard immunocytochemistry using anti-PSA, positive samples undergoing a second process with anti-P504S. A malignant primary CPC was defined as PSA+ P504S+, and a test positive if 1 cell/4ml was detected. The frequency of primary CPC detection was compared with age and serum PSA levels. Men with a PSA >4.0ng/ml and/or abnormal rectal examination underwent 12 core prostate biopsy, and the results were registered as cancer/no-cancer and compared with the presence/absence of primary CPCs to calculate the diagnostic yield. Results: A total of 1,117 men participated; there was an association of primary CPC detection with increasing age and increasing serum PSA. Some 559 men underwent initial prostate biopsy of whom 207/559 (37.0%) were positive for primary CPCs and 183/559 (32.0%) had prostate cancer detected. The diagnostic yield of primary CPCs had a sensitivity of 88.5%, a specificity of 88.0%, and positive and negative predictive values of 78.3% and 94.9%, respectively. Conclusions: The use of primary CPCs for testing is recommended, since its high negative predictive value could be used to avoid prostate biopsy in men with an elevated PSA and/or abnormal DRE. Men positive for primary CPCs should undergo prostate biopsy. It is a test that could be implemented in the routine immunocytochemical laboratory.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.438-457
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• 1995

The origin of fibroblasts, their proliferative activity and roles in the early stages of periodontal regeneration were investigated in order to better understand the periodontal healing process in furcation defects of the beagle dog after guided tissue regeneration. Newly divided cells were identified and quantitated by immunolocalization of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) injected 1 hour prior to sacrificing the animals. The results were as follows :1. During periodontal healing in horizontal furcation defect, three different stages, namely the granulation tissue, connective tissue, and bone formation stages, were identified on the basis of major types of cells and tissue. 2. In the early stages of periodontal regeneration, both the remaining periodontal ligament and alveolar bone compartment were the major sources. 3. The majority of BrdU-labeled fibroblasts were located at the following areas ; 1) the coronal zone of the defect in case of the connective tissue fanned on the root surface. 2) the area within an 400 ${\mu}m$ distance from the remaining bone level in case of the periodontal ligament. 3) the area within an 100 ${\mu}m$ distance from the bone surface in case of areas of active bone formation.4. The highly proliferative fibroblasts adjacent to bone surface played a major role in the formation of osteoblast precursor cells, whereas both paravascular and endosteal cells played a minor role in new bone formation, In conclusion, it was suggested that the fibroblasts in the remaining periodontal ligament and bone will play a major role in periodontal regeneration, whereas both paravascular and endosteal cells will play a minor role in new bone formation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.549-558
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• 1989

This experiment was carried out to investigate the influence of Aloe vera in the pancreatic islets of streptozotocin diabetic mice. Experimental diabetes was induced in ICR mice with a single injection of SZ(140mg/kg body weight, ip). The mice demonstrating hyperglycemia 48 hours after SZ injection were treated for 16 days with Aloe vera(300, 800mg/kg). Plasma glucose was measured, and for morphological studies of the islets specimens were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and by immunocytochemical methods. Then we observed the morphological changes of islets. Polymorphonuclear cells were infiltrated at the periphery of the islets 48 hours after SZ injection in SZ-treated ICR mice, but no prominent WBC infiltration was observed throughout the experiment. Blood glucose in mice treated with Aloe vera after SZ injection was higher than that of SZ injected mice, and mononuclear cells were heavily infiltrated at the islets 16 days after Aloe vera treatment(300mg/kg), and significant islets infiltration of mononuclear cells was observed 30 days after Aloe vera treatment(800mg/kg). Islets of ICR mice treated with Aloe vera after SZ injection showed severer insulitis, degranulation and necrosis of B cells than those of SZ injected mice. These studies indicate that Aloe vera in SZ injected mice increases vascular permeability and number of WBC in pancreatic islets, and potentiates destruction of B cells by cell-mediated immune system.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.213-224
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• 2014

Previously we have shown that human abdominal adipose derived-stem cells (ADSCs) could aggregate during the high-density culture in the presence of human serum (HS). In the present study, we observed that human cord blood serum (CBS) and follicular fluid (HFF) also induced aggregation. Similarly, porcine serum could induce aggregation whereas bovine and sheep sera induced little aggregation. qRT-PCR analyses demonstrated that, compared to FBS-cultured ADSCs, HS-cultured cells exhibited higher level of mRNA expression of CLDN3, -6, -7, -15, and -16 genes among the tight junction proteins. ADSCs examined at the time of aggregation by culture with HS, BSA, HFF, CBS, or porcine serum showed significantly higher level of mRNA expression of JAM2 among JAM family members. In contrast, cells cultured in FBS, bovine serum or sheep serum, showed lower level of JAM2 expression. Immunocytochemical analyses demonstrated that the aggregates of HS-cultured cells (HS-Agg) showed intense staining against the anti-JAM2 antibody whereas neither non-aggregated cells (HS-Ex) nor FBS-cultured cells exhibited weak staining. Western blot results showed that HS-Agg expressed JAM2 protein more prominently than HS-Ex and FBS-cultured cells, both of latter reveled weaker intensity. These results suggest that the aggregation property of ADSCs during high-density culture would be dependent on the specific components of serum, and that JAM2 molecule could play a role in the animal sera-induced aggregation in vitro.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.524-528
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• 2017

Ricinus communis, belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae, has been known as medicinal plants for treatment of inflammation, tumors, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective and laxative. Compared to many pharmacological studies, the effect of R. communis extract on regulating adipogenesis as therapeutic drug for treating obesity has not been reported. R. communis extract (RCE) was investigated to determine its effects on the adipogenesis by monitoring the status of $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling and factors involving the differentiation of adipocytes. The differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells monitored by Oil Red O staining was inhibited in concentration dependent manner by RCE. The luciferase activity of HEK 293-TOP cells containing pTOPFlash with Tcf4 response element-luciferase gene was increased approximately 2-folds by the treatment of RCE at concentrations of $100{\mu}g/mL$ compared to the control. Activation of the $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ pathway by RCE was further confirmed by immunocytochemical analysis which shows an increment of nuclear localization of ${\beta}-catenin$. In addition, safety of RCE was verified through performing neural stem cell morphology assay. Among the identified flavonoids in RCE, isoquercitrin was the most abundant. Therefore, these results indicate that the adipocyte differentiation was significantly reduced by isoquercitrin in R. communis. In this study, RCE suppresses the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells via the activation of $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.147-155
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• 2001

The immunocytochemical localization of tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) is examined in the developmental forebrain of mongolian gerbil in order to determine changes in the distribution and cytology of neurons. At each of the different developmental stage, including prenatal(E)14, E16, E18, E20, postnatal(P)0, P2, P4 days, mongolian gerbils were sacrificed. In E14, TH-IR cells were predominantly round or oval in shape and their processes were very short. In olfactory blub, TH-IR cells were begun to appear from E20. In the striatum, we observed only fibers of TH-IR at all ages. From E16, TH-IR perikarya and fiber were present in periventricular nucleus and paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus. The changes from the early to the late prenatal stages of development appear to be the result of an increase in number of TH-IR perikarya and processes. These results were shown slight differences to other rodents.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.133-144
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• 2000

Objective: Several water channels (aquaporins; AQP) that belong to the MIP (major intrinsic protein) family have identified. In the selected tissues including red blood cells or renal tubules, water movements are abundant and/or physiologically important. Unexpectedly, a high water permeability of human and ram sperm has been reported. Recent studies showed that AQP7 and AQP8 are present in testes, so that the high water permeability of human sperm suggested to be mediated by AQPs. Method: To identify the identity of aquaporins expressed in testes, RT-PCR was performed using degenerative primers, which were designed to correspond to highly conserved sequences surrounding the Asn-Pro-Ala (NPA) motifs in the aquaporins. New expressed AQP series were reconfirmed by immunohistochemical study using rabbit polyclonal antibodies. Results: DNA sequencing of PCR products revealed that AQP2 and AQP3 mRNA as well as AQP7 and AQP8 are expressed in human and rat testes. In human and rat testes, AQP2 are expressed in spermatozoa, interstitial cells and myofibroblasts and AQP3 are expressed in myofibroblasts of semineferous tubules on immunocytochemical stain. Conclusion: These results indicate that multiple aquaporins are expressed in testes, and that they may have important roles in the spermatogenesis and the germ cell function of testis.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.562-579
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• 1993

출생후 발생에 따른 흰쥐 전뇌 기저부의 Mevnert 기저핵(nucleus basalis of Mevnert)에서 신경성장인자 수용체(nerve growth factor receptor, NGFr)를 함유하는 신경세포의 면역반응성 및 분포, 세포형의 분류, 각 형별 출현율 및 세포 크기 그리고 세포소기관과 NGFr 면역반응과의 관계를 조사하였다. NGFr 면역반응 신경세포들은 출생후 초기 발생에서 세포질 뿐만 아니라 원형질 막에서도 면역반응을 보였으나, 성체에서는 세포질에서만이 면역반응을 보였다. NGFr 면역반응 신경세포는 형태학적 특징인 세포체의 모양과 장·단축의 비를 기준으로 5가지 형, 즉 1) 원형, 2) 난형, 3) 세장형. 4) 방추형, 5) 삼각형(또는 다각형)세포로 구분되었다 원형과 난형 세포는 출생후 0일에서 각각 15.4%. 50.7%의 높은 출현율을 보였으나, 발생이 진행되면서 점차 감소하여 성체에서 각각 7.8%, 28.6%의 출현율을 보였다 반면, 세장형, 방추형 및 삼각형세포는 출생후 0일에서 각각 22%, 2.6% 9.2%의 낮은 출현율을 보였으나, 발생이 진행되면서 지속적으로 증가하여 성체에서는 각각 29 9%, 5.2%, 28.5%의 높은 출현율을 보였다. 출생후 0일에서 신경세포체의 부피는 매우 작았으나(1,642mm3), 발생에 따라 점차 증가하여 14일, 21일에서는 성체에서보다 매우 컸다(각각 6.745, 6,755mm3) 원형 및 난형세포체의 부피는 21일에서(각각 7 955. 7.020mm3), 세장형 방추형 그리고 삼각형세포체의 부피는 14일에서 제일 컸다(각각 7,067, 6,237, 7,748 mm3) 대체적으로 삼각형세포체의 부피가 제일 컸으며, 방추형세포체의 부피가 제일 작았다. 출생후 순일에서의 전자현미경적 관찰에서 세포소기관중 조면소포체, Golgi체, multivesicular body 그리고 세포표면 원형질막이 강한 NGFr 면역반응을 보였다. 위의 결과들로 미루어 MGFr은 출생후 흰쥐 전뇌 기저부 Meynert 기저핵 신경세포의 분화 및 분포와 밀접한 관계를 갖는 것으로 생각된다.