• 한국해양바이오학회지
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.86-93
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• 2021

A high salt diet contributes to kidney damage by causing hypoxia and oxidative stress. Recently, an increase in dietary salt has been reported to induce an inflammatory phenotype in immune cells, further contributing to kidney damage. However, studies on the exact mechanism and role of a high salt diet on the inflammatory response in the kidneys are still insufficient. In this study, a cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury model using C57BL/6 mice was used to analyze the effect of salt intake on kidney injury. Results showed that high salt administration aggravated kidney edema in mice induced by treatment with cisplatin. Moreover, the indicators of kidney and liver function impairment were significantly increased in the group cotreated with high salt compared with that treated with cisplatin alone. Furthermore, the exacerbation of kidney damage by high salt administration was also associated with a decrease in the number of cells in the immune regulatory system. Additionally, high salt administration further decreased renal perfusion functions along with increased cisplatin-induced damage to proximal tubules. This was accompanied by increased expression of T cell immunoglobulin, mucin domain 1 (a biomarker of kidney injury), and Bax (a pro-apoptotic factor). Moreover, cisplatin-induced expression of proinflammatory mediators and cytokines, including cyclooxygenase-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α in kidney tissue, was further increased by high salt intake. Therefore, these results indicate that the kidney's inflammatory response by high salt treatment can further promote kidney damage caused by various pathological factors.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.97-107
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• 2023

Aristolochic acid (AA), extracted from Aristolochiaceae plants, plays an essential role in traditional herbal medicines and is used for different diseases. However, AA has been found to be nephrotoxic and is known to cause aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN). AA-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is a syndrome in AAN with a high morbidity that manifests mitochondrial damage as a key part of its pathological progression. Melatonin primarily serves as a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant. However, its mitochondrial protective role in AA-induced AKI is barely reported. In this study, mice were administrated 2.5 mg/kg AA to induce AKI. Melatonin reduced the increase in Upro and Scr and attenuated the necrosis and atrophy of renal proximal tubules in mice exposed to AA. Melatonin suppressed ROS generation, MDA levels and iNOS expression and increased SOD activities in vivo and in vitro. Intriguingly, the in vivo study revealed that melatonin decreased mitochondrial fragmentation in renal proximal tubular cells and increased ATP levels in kidney tissues in response to AA. In vitro, melatonin restored the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in NRK-52E and HK-2 cells and led to an elevation in ATP levels. Confocal immunofluorescence data showed that puncta containing Mito-tracker and GFP-LC3A/B were reduced, thereby impeding the mitophagy of tubular epithelial cells. Furthermore, melatonin decreased LC3A/B-II expression and increased p62 expression. The apoptosis of tubular epithelial cells induced by AA was decreased. Therefore, our findings revealed that melatonin could prevent AA-induced AKI by attenuating mitochondrial damage, which may provide a potential therapeutic method for renal AA toxicity.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.99-107
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• 2014

Melamine-induced nephrotoxicity is closely associated with crystal formation in the kidney caused by combined exposure to melamine (Mel) and cyanuric acid (CA). However, there are few dosage-finding studies for toxicological evaluation of chronic co-exposure to Mel and CA. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible mechanism by which a Mel and CA mixture lead to renal toxicity in rats. Mel and CA were co-administered to rats via oral gavage for 50 days. Nephrotoxicity was determined by measuring blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (sCr) levels. Relative kidney weights were significantly increased in rats after co-exposure to Mel+CA (63/6.3 or 630/6.3 mg/kg) mixtures. BUN and sCr levels were significantly increased after Mel and CA co-exposure. Taken together, significant increase in KIM-1, NGAL, and calbindin levels were observed in the urine of rats exposed to Mel+CA (63/6.3 or 630/6.3 mg/kg) compared with the corresponding control group. Histological analysis revealed epithelial degeneration and necrotic cell death in the proximal tubules of the kidney after co-exposure to Mel+CA (63/6.3 or 630/6.3 mg/kg). Our data suggest that Mel-mediated renal toxicity may be influenced by CA concentrations in Mel-contaminated milk or foods.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.493-505
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• 1993

Present experiments were undertaken in order to clarify the clinico-pathological characteristics of lead poisoning in goats. Twenty goats were divided into three experimental groups(A, B and C) and a control(D). The three experimental groups received diets contaminated artificially with 10(A group), 200(B group) and $1,000(C group){\mu}g/g$ of lead for 70 days, respectively. The control group received normal diets. Hair samples collected one or two weeks interval were examed for the lead content. On day 70. all the animals were necropsied and various organs were examined pathoanatomically. In addition, various organs were analyzed for lead, zine, copper, iron and calcium content by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. From these experiments following results were obtained ; The lead content of hair was significantly increased from the $42^{nd}$, $21^{st}$ or $14^{th}$ day in all the three groups, which showed significant correlation with lead content of liver and spleen. The lead content of various organs including kidney, liver, spleen, ileum, bone and abomasum were significantly increased in accordance with the lead contamination. The increase was most prominent in abomasal wall. The zinc and copper content of liver, brain, ileum, skin, kidney, lung or muscle were increased in B and C groups whereas the iron and calcium content showed no significant change. Pathoanatomically, degeneration or necrosis of proximal convoluted tubules of kidney, peripheral necrosis of liver, fundic gland necrosis of abomasum and cerebral edema were observed in B and C groups.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.81.1-81.10
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• 2020

Background: Although previous in vivo studies explored urinary microRNA (miRNA), there is no agreement on nephrotoxicity-specific miRNA biomarkers. Objectives: In this study, we assessed whether urinary miRNAs could be employed as biomarkers for nephrotoxicity. Methods: For this, literature-based candidate miRNAs were identified by reviewing the previous studies. Female Sprague-Dawley rats received subcutaneous injections of a single dose or repeated doses (3 consecutive days) of gentamicin (GEN; 137 or 412 mg/kg). The expression of miRNAs was analyzed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 16 h pooled urine from GEN-treated rats. Results: GEN-induced acute kidney injury was confirmed by the presence of tubular necrosis. We identified let-7g-5p, miR-21-3p, 26b-3p, 192-5p, and 378a-3p significantly upregulated in the urine of GEN-treated rats with the appearance of the necrosis in proximal tubules. Specifically, miR-26-3p, 192-5p, and 378a-3p with highly expressed levels in urine of rats with GEN-induced acute tubular injury were considered to have sensitivities comparable to clinical biomarkers, such as blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and urinary kidney injury molecule protein. Conclusions: These results indicated the potential involvement of urinary miRNAs in chemical-induced nephrotoxicity, suggesting that certain miRNAs could serve as biomarkers for acute nephrotoxicity.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.551-563
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• 1996

This study investigated the properties of primary cultured proximal tubule cells in hormonally defined(insulin, transferrin, and hydrocortisone), serum-free medium or 10% serum-supplemented medium. The growth rate of the primary cultured proximal tubule cells was lower in the hormonally defined, serum-free medium than in the 10% serum- supplemented medium(p < 0.05), while the activities of brush border marker enzymes, alkaline phosphatase(AP), leucine aminopeptidase(LAP), and y-glutamyl transpeptidase(${\gamma}$-GTP) were increased(p < 0.05). The activities of these enzymes, however, decreased with the lapse of incubation time to 50-70% after 6 days culture compared to those of the freshly-prepared proximal tubules. The enzymatic activities of the primary cultured proximal tubul cells on 6, 9, 12, and 15 days of culture were significantly increased in the hormonally defined, serum-free medium compared to the 10% serum-supplemented medium(p < 0.05). The functional differentiation of the primary culture was examined by observing multicellular domes of the confluent monolayer, which is indicative of transepithelial solute transport. The dome formation by the proximal tubule cultures occurred at a higher frequency in the hormonally defined, serum-free medium than in the 10% serum-supplemented medium(p < 0.05). Upon electron microscopic examination, an increased density of the brush border was observed in the hormonally defined, serum-free medium compared to the cells grown in 10% serum-supplemented medium. The activities of $Na^+$glucose cotransporter($^{14}C$-a-MG uptake), $Na^+$phosphate cotransportere($^{32}P$ uptake) and $Na^+$ transporter($^{22}Na^+$ uptake) in the brush border membrane, and of $Na^+/K^+$-ATPase($^{86}Rb$ uptake) in the basolateral membrane were significantly stimulated in the hormonally defined, serum-free medium than in 10% serum-supplemented medium(p < 0.05). In conclusion, the primary cultured proximal tubule cells grown in the hormonally defined, serum-free medium demonstrated a slower growth rate, but the functions of cell were enhanced.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제18권6호
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• pp.1784-1794
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• 2004

To study the effects between Cd inhalation toxicity and methanol extract of Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae, 4 rat groups were exposed to Cd aerosol by whole-body inhalation exposure for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week, and 4 weeks. Cd concentration in air was 0.98㎎/㎥ and mass median diameter(MMD) was 1.78㎛. 3 different dose intraperitoneal injections of methanol extract of Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae to 3 inhalation exposure groups applied for 4 weeks and the results were as follows: The highest body weight gain for 4 weeks and food intake per day were from inhalation exposure group Ⅲ(p<0.05). The highest lung weight was from inhalation exposure group Ⅲ and the highest liver and kidney weight were from inhalation exposure group Ⅱ(p<0.05). The lowest Cd content in lung was 22.77㎍/g from inhalation exposure group Ⅲ(p<0.05). The highest Cd concentration in blood was 11.71㎍/㎗ from inhalation exposure group Ⅰ(p<0.05). Cd concentrations of 14.87㎍/g in liver and 17.91㎍/g in kidney were the highest from inhalation exposure group Ⅰ(p<0.05). The lowest Cd concentration in liver and kidney were 5.71㎍/g and 3.17㎍/g from the control(p<0.05). For weekly Cd concentration in urine, the highest value was 0.48㎍/㎖ from inhalation exposure group Ⅲ of the 3rd week and inhalation exposure group Ⅰ, Ⅱ of the 4th week. For weekly Cd concentration in feces, the highest value was 0.32㎍/g from inhalation exposure group Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ. The highest metallothionein concentration in lung was 89.02㎍/g from inhalation exposure group Ⅲ(p<0.05). The highest metallothionein concentrations in liver and kidney were 265.47㎍/g and 214.21㎍/g from inhalation exposure group Ⅲ, respectively(p<0.05). The highest Hct, Hb, and WBC values were from inhalation exposure group Ⅱ and the highest RBC value was from inhalation exposure group Ⅲ(p<0.05). Mostly damaged part in liver tissue was hepatic lobule and the degrees of damage were lessened by the intraperitoneal injection of methanol extract of Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae. Proximal, distal convoluted tubules and glomerulus in kidney tissue were mostly damaged part. Degeneration and swelling were partially observed but the degrees of kidney tissue damage were lessened more or less by the intraperitoneal injection of methanol extract of Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.363-370
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• 2007

Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) has been as an model animal for studing the neurological disease such as stroke and epilepsy because of the congenital incompleteries in Willis circle, as well as the investigation of water metabolism because of the long time-survival in the condition of water-deprived desert condition, compared with other species animal. Aquaporin 2 (AQP2) expressed at the surface of principal cells in collecting duct results from an equilibrium between the AQP2 in intracellular vesicles and the AQP2 on the plasma membrane. Aquaporin 4 (AQP4), which is expressed in cell in a wide range of organ, is also present in the collecting duct principal cells where this is abundant in the basolateral plasma membranes and represent potential exit pathways from the cell for water entering via AQP2. In this research, we divide 3 groups of which each group include the 5 animals. In the study of 7 or 14 days water restricted condition, we investigated the AQP2 and AQP4 by using a quantitative immunohistochemistry in the kidney. The results obtained in this study were summarized as followings. AQP2 is abundant in the apical plasma membrane and apical vesicles in the collecting duct principal cell and at rare abundance in connecting tubules. In the water-deprived Mongolian gerbil kidney, expression of AQP2 was continuosly increased in the cortical collecting duct and inner medullary collecting duct. This increase was both the apical region and cytoplasm. AQP4 is mainly expressed in the inner medulla, although some expression is also noted in the more proximal segment. In the water-deprived Mongolian gerbil kidney, AQP4 was also increased in the inner medullary collecting duct. Immunoactivity was increased in entire inner medullary collecting duct and newly detected in cytoplasm of principal cell. These findings suggest that increased levels of AQP2 and AQP4 in the cortical and inner medulalry collecting duct may play a important role for maintain fluid balance in the water-deprived kidney.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제13권1_2호
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• pp.87-94
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• 1997

This study was carried out to investigate toxicity of insecticide carbofuran and compensatory effects of phenobarbital sodium (PB) in vivo and in vitro. Sprague Dawley male rats were used as experimental animals and divided into carbofuran only administered group and simultaneous application group of carbofuran and PB. At 30 rain and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 96 hrs after each treatment, the animals were sacrificed by decapitation. Kidney were immediately removed, immersed in fixatives, and processed with routine method for light microscopic study. Paraffin sections were stained with H-E, PAM and PAS. $5.0\times 10^4$ cell/ml of NIH 3T3 fibroblast in each well of 24 multidish were cultured: After 24 hours, the cells were treated with solution of six groups; control group cultured in media only, carbofuran $MTT_50$ or $NR_50$ group cultured in the media containing carbofuran $MTT_50$ or $NR_50$ and four experimental groups cultured in the media containing carbofuran $NR_50$ plus various concentratins of PB. After the NIH 3T3 fibroblast of all groups were cultured in same condition for 48 hours, Tetrazolium MTT (MTT) and NR (neutral red) assay were performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of cell organelles. Under the light microscope, atrophic change of renal corpuscles were frequently observed in 1 and 2 days after carbofuran treatment. The increase of the mesangium was apparent in 1 and 2 days after carbofuran treatment. Necrotic changes of the epithelium and loss of brush border of proximal tubules were most severe at 2 and 3 days after carbofuran treatment, respectively. In contrast, there were no evidences of the toxic effects on renal tissues at 48hrs in carbofuran-PB treated groups. Carbofuran $MTT_50$ and $NR_50$ were 78$\mu M$, 82.5$\mu M$ respectively. MTT and NR quantities were significantly increased in carbofuran-PB 100$\mu M$ treatment group and carbofuran-PB 100$\mu M$ treatment group. On the basis of these results, it is obvious that PB has compensatory effects against carbofuran toxicity.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제9권1_2호
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• pp.25-35
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• 1994

Many nephrotoxic agents exert their effect primarily on the cells of the proximal tubules. We used the LLC-$PK_1$, kidney epithelial cell line as a model system for studies on nephrotoxicity and investigated whether the uptake of $\alpha$-methylglucose($\alpha$-MG) could serve as a parameter to assess effects of nephrotoxicants on the functional integrity of the cells at an early time of toxicity. The enzyme leakage test which has been used to be as a conventional cytotoxic parameter in vitro, was conducted to compare with $\alpha$-MG uptake. Treatment with cisplatin for 24 and 48 hours significantly increased activities of lactate dehydrogenase and $\gamma$-glutamyltransferase in culture medium at a concentration of 50$\mu$M. However, above 100$\mu$M of concentration, activities of these enzymes in media were dramatically decreased by cisplatin. These observations indicate that cisplatin has direct inhibitory effect on the activities of these enzymes and make it doutful to use enzyme leakage test to demonstrate damage of kidney cells by chemicals such as cisplatin over the appropriate range of concentration. Cisplatin inhibited $\alpha$-MG uptake at a low concentration which enzymes were not leaked. Also cadmium chloride and mercuric chloride which are acutely nephrotoxic in vivo, significantly inhibited $\alpha$-MG uptake at a low concentration. These results indicate that the uptake of $\alpha$-methylglucose in LLC-$PK_1$cell line is a useful biomarker for the study of nephrotoxicity.