• Animal cells and systems
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.27-33
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• 2012

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the teleost hypothalamus contains a central circadian pacemaker, which adjusts circadian rhythms within the body to environmental light-dark cycles. It has been shown that exposure to darkness during the day causes phase shifts in circadian rhythms. In this study, we examined the effect of exposure to darkness on the mRNA expression levels of two circadian clock genes, namely, $Period2$ ($Per2$) and $Cryptochrome1$ ($Cry1$), and the rate-limiting enzyme in melatonin synthesis, arylalkylamine $N$-acetyltransferase-2 (Aanat2), in the pineal gland of olive flounder, $Paralichthys$ $olivaceus$. The expression of these genes showed circadian variations and was significantly higher during the dark phase. These changes may be involved in the mechanism of dark-induced phase shifts. Furthermore, this study suggests that olive flounder may be a teleost model to investigate the localization and function of circadian oscillators.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.143-150
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• 1999

melatonin (MLT), N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, is mainly secreted by the pineal gland. The ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR) and 1H-NMR spectra of irradiated and non-irradiated MLT were measured, and phototoxicity tests of MLT, anthracence (positive control) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS, negative control) were performed. The methods employed include both in vitro test such as MTS assay using the human fibroblast cell and yeast growth inhibition assay using Candida albicans and in vivo method using the skin of guinea pig. UV absorption spectra and 1H-NMR spectra of MLT were changed by UVA (365 nm, 15 J/$\textrm{cm}^2$), but IR spectra of MLT were not changed. The fifty percent inhibitory concentration (IC50) ratio (UV-/UV+) of MLT was 10. The inhibition zone of irradiated-paper disks treated with MLT was not observed. According to the results of histophathological examination, no pathologic lesion was observed in the non-irradiated group, but slight degeneration of keratinocytes in the epidermis, homorrhage and vasodilation in dermis were observed in the irradiated group. These results indicated that the molecular structure of MLT is altered by UVA to unidentified photoproducts and a moderate phototoxicity of MLT is predicted.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제32권8호
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• pp.601-610
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• 2022

동애등에는 파리목(Diptera) 동애등에과(Stratiomyidae)에 속한다. 최근에 곤충 산업은 식품, 동물사료 및 환경개선 이점으로 주목받고 있다. 가바 및 멜라토닌은 수면 및 우울증 조절에 관여하며, 가바는 억제성 신경전달물질이며, 유산균에 의해 MSG가 가바로 생체전환되어 합성된다. 본 연구에서는 MSG를 동애등에에 급여하여 가바 생성이 증가된 동애등에 추출물을 사용하였다. 스트레스 및 불면증에 대한 작용은 코르티코스테론에 의해 유도된 ER 스트레스 및 만성 구속 스트레스(CRS)에 노출된 마우스 모델과 마우스에 펜토바르비탈(45 mg/kg)-유도 수면개선에 미치는 메커니즘에 대해 조사하여 확인하였다. 본 연구에서 MSG를 급여하지 않은 동애등에 추출물과 MSG를 급여한 동애등에 추출물을 HPLC-ELSD기기분석을 통해 GABA 피크를 확인한 결과, MSG를 급여한 동애등에 추출물에서만 GABA 피크가 나타남을 확인하였다. 또한, MSG를 급여한 동애등에 물 추출물 및 동애등에 70% 에탄올 추출물이 CORT에 의해 유도된 인산화된 ERK1/2 및 CREB의 하향 조절에 대해 보호함으로써 신경세포 보호 효과가 있을 확인하였다. 동애등에 물 추출물(300 mg/kg)은 CRS-노출된 마우스에서 혈청 코르티코스테론 수치를 유의적으로 감소시켰다. 더 나아가, 동애등에 물 추출물(100 및 300 mg/kg)는 혈청 멜라토닌 증가에 관여하여 펜토바르비탈(45 mg/kg)로 유도된 수면 행동에서 입면시간 감소 및 총 수면 시간을 증가시켰다. 결론적으로, 동애등에 물 추출물은 혈청 코르티코스테론 및 멜라토닌 수치를 조절함으로써 항스트레스 및 수면 향상 효과가 있는 것으로 사료된다.

• 동의신경정신과학회지
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.25-38
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• 2017

Objectives: The study aims were to evaluate the Anti-stress and Sleep-inductive effects of Yunjogyosim-tang (YJGS) in rats induced by Chronic Mild Stress (CMS). Methods: 25 healthy Rats were randomly divided into 5 groups; Normal, CMS (Control), YJGS 50, YJGS 100, and YJGS 200. All rats except the normal group were exposed to random stress conditions like water deprivation, empty bottles, forced runs on the treadmill, etc. according to the timetable of CSM for 3 weeks. After a week starting the experiment, Rats in YJGS 50, YJGS 100, and YJGS 200 groups were fed orally once a day for 2 weeks. Blood samples were taken afterward from each rat for analysis of Complete blood count, AST, ALT, and glucose levels. Corticosterone, serotonin, and melatonin were measured by ELISA kit. BDNF and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were measured by RT-PCT. Results: 1. Corticosterone levels were lower in YJGS 50, and YJGS 200 groups compared to the control group. 2. Serotonin levels were lower in the YJGS 100 and YJGS 200 groups compared to the control group. 3. Melatonin levels were higher in the YJGS 50 group compared to the control group. 4. Activity levels were higher in the BDNF, and YJGS 50 groups compared to the control group. 5. In the Activity of $TNF-{\alpha}$, YJGS 50 group showed a significant decrease compared to the control group. 6. In the Glucose content, YJGS 50, YJGS 100, and YJGS 200 groups showed a significant decrease compared to the control group. 7. When analyzing leukocytes, monocytes were found to be increased in YJGS 100 and YJGS 200 groups compared to the control group. 8. When analyzing red blood cells, more changes occurred to erythrocytes and thrombocytes in the YJGS 50 and YJGS 200 groups than in the control group. Hemoglobin was significantly increased in the YJGS 100 group and platelet levels were significantly increased in all experimental groups compared with the control group. Conclusions: These results suggest that Yunjogyosim-tang has anti-stress and sleep-inductive effects on rats induced by CMS.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제21권7호
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• pp.988-994
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• 2008

The purpose of the investigation was to establish how the pineal-adrenal axis plays an important role in thermoregulation in female goats under short-term heat stress. The study was conducted to observe the influence of glucocorticoids on pineal function in goats and its influence on stress alleviation capability. Melatonin and glucocorticoid secretions and several other endocrine and biochemical blood parameters reflecting the animals well being were determined over a one week period after goats had been exposed to $40^{\circ}C$ and 60% relative humidity for 10 days. Six female goats were used in the study. These animals served as self controls prior to the start of the experiment. The study was conducted for a period of seventeen days in a psychrometric chamber at $40^{\circ}C$ and 60% relative humidity. Chemical pinealectomy was achieved using propranolol followed by exogenous hydrocortisone treatment. Blood samples were drawn twice daily after each treatment to find the effect of hydrocortisone on plasma glucose, total protein, total cholesterol, cortisol, insulin, aldosterone, melatonin and corticosterone. Chemical pinealectomy significantly ($p{\leq}0.05$) affected plasma levels of the parameters studied and these could be significantly ($p{\leq}0.05$) counteracted by administration of hydrocortisone. Chemical pinealectomy aggravated thermal stress, although administration of hydrocortisone could ameliorate the condition. This indicated a role of the pineal in support of thermoregulation. The study establishes the modulating effect of glucocorticoids on pineal activity to relieve thermal stress in goats.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.49-53
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• 2007

Astaxanthin is a kind of carotenoid compounds, having a antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The antioxidative mechanism by which carotenoid scavenge free radicals has been clearly elucidated, but has not tried for the development of mammalian preimplantation embryo. This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidative effect of astaxanthin on in vitro development of porcine in vitro fertilized embryos. Porcine embryos derrived from in vitro fertilization (IVF) were cultured in 5% $CO_{2} in air at $38.5^{\circ}C$ in PZM-3 medium supplemented with different dosages of astaxanthin ($0,\;1,\;5\;and\;10{\mu}M$) and taurine (0, 1, 2.5 and 5 mM) as a positive control, and execute to compare the effects of various antioxidants such as taurine, melatonin and asculatin on in vitro development. The proportions of embryos developed to the blastocyst stage were increased when $1\;and\;5\;{\mu}M$ of astaxanthin (26.6 and 23.4%, respectively) and 1 and 2.5 mM taurine (25.8 and 26.4%, Respectively) were supplemented, compared to controls (p<0.05). Also, various antioxidant-treated groups were significantly higher rates of blastocysts (astaxanthin, 27.4%; taurine, 29.1%; melatonin, 26.8%; aesculetin, 27.9%, respectively) than control (18.8%). There was no difference in mean cell number of blastocysts between antioxidants and control. This result indicates that astaxanthin has an antioxidant feature when porcine IVF embryos were cultured in vitro.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.123-132
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• 2016

The impact of mobile phone (MP) radiation on the brain is of specific interest to the scientific community and warrants investigations, as MP is held close to the head. Studies on humans and rodents revealed hazards MP radiation associated such as brain tumors, impairment in cognition, hearing etc. Melatonin (MT) is an important modulator of CNS functioning and is a neural antioxidant hormone. Zebrafish has emerged as a popular model organism for CNS studies. Herein, we evaluated the impact of GSM900MP (GSM900MP) radiation exposure daily for 1 hr for 14 days with the SAR of 1.34W/Kg on neurobehavioral and oxidative stress parameters in zebrafish. Our study revealed that, GSM900MP radiation exposure, significantly decreased time spent near social stimulus zone and increased total distance travelled, in social interaction test. In the novel tank dive test, the GSM900MP radiation exposure elicited anxiety as revealed by significantly increased time spent in bottom half; freezing bouts and duration and decreased distance travelled, average velocity, and number of entries to upper half of the tank. Exposed zebrafish spent less time in the novel arm of the Y-Maze, corroborating significant impairment in learning as compared to the control group. Exposure decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities whereas, increased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) was encountered showing compromised antioxidant defense. Treatment with MT significantly reversed the above neurobehavioral and oxidative derangements induced by GSM900MP radiation exposure. This study traced GSM900MP radiation exposure induced neurobehavioral aberrations and alterations in brain oxidative status. Furthermore, MT proved to be a promising therapeutic candidate in ameliorating such outcomes in zebrafish.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제23권3호spc1호
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• pp.9-18
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• 1993

Sugar spheres loaded with melatonin (MT) were coated with $Aquacoat^{\circledR}$ to control the release rate of MT over 8 hours. A zero-order release pattern over 8 hours was obtained with 20% coating on 8-10 mesh beads in USP basket dissolution studies. MT in 20% coated beads was quite stable at room temperature with less than 5% MT degraded during 6 months' storage. Dissolution profiles were also unchanged after 6 months. An oral preparation containing MT-loaded uncoated beads for immediate release and 20% coated beads with $Aquacoat^{\circledR}$ for controlled release over 8 hours was evaluated in six human subjects. When total 0.5 mg MT as low dose (immediate release portion of MT, 0.1 mg) was administered to four subjects, average peak plasma MT concentration was reached at about 600 pg/ml and maintained at about 10 pg/ml over 8 hours. Plasma MT concentration-time profiles were similar in shape to computer-simulated profiles. However, maximal plasma MT concentrations were three times greater compared to computer simulated curve. These results suggest that MT dose, ratio of immediate and controlled release MT, and pharmacokinetic parameters selected are adjusted to mimic endogenous MT concentration-time curve. In another study, 0.2 mg MT having 10% of immediate release portion and 80% controlled release portion produced plasma MT concentration-time curve which is more similar to endogenous profiles. A low bioavailability (<20%) may result from extensive first pass metabolism and remaining amounts of MT from controlled beads. A good correlation between plasma MT concentration and urinary excretion rate of 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (6-STMT), a major metabolite of MT was observed. As plasma MT concentration increased, urinary excretion rate of 6-STMT increased concomitantly. The linear relation between plasma MT and urinary excretion rate of 6-STMT was statistically significant. This result suggests that urinary 6-STMT may be used as an index of circadian rhythms of MT in humans.

• 분석과학
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.60-67
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• 2010

본 연구는 생물발광단백질인 aequorin을 표지물질로 사용해 신경전달물질인 serotonin에 대한 생물 발광면역분석법을 처음으로 개발하였다: serotonin-avidin 접합체는 Mannich 법으로 합성하였으며, 최적화된 avidin: formaldehyde: serotonin의 초기 몰 비는 1:12,000:25 이었다. 개발된 serotonin에 대한 생물발광면 역분석법은 좋은 감도(LOD of 0.68 ng/mL)와 넓은 검출 범위($5.0{\times}10^{-10}\;M\sim5.0{\times}10^{-7}\;M$)를 나타내었다(참고, 혈청 내 serotonin의 양은 $151{\pm}45\;ng$/mL 이다.). 교차반응성에 대한 연구 결과, 5-methoxytryptamine은 28.0% 의 교차반응성을 보인 반면, 3-methylindole, melatonin 그리고 5-hydroxylindole-3-acetic acid 은 교차반응성을 보이지 않았다. 또한, 혈청에서의 회수율은 만족할만한 값이 얻어졌다. 그러므로, 본 연구에서 제안된 생물발광면역분석법은 혈청 내의 serotonin 을 모니터링 하는데 좋은 분석법으로 사용될 수 있다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.503-507
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• 1998

Percutaneous absorption and model membrane variations of melationin (MT) in aqueous-based propylene glycol and $2-hydroxypropyl-{\beta}-cyclodextrin $vehicles were investigatted. the excised hairless mouse skin (HMS) and two synthetic ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and microporous polyethylene (MPE) were selected as a model membrane. the solubility of MT was determined by phase equilibrium study. the vertical $Franz{\circledR}$ type cell was used for diffusion study. The concentration of MT was determined using reverse phse HPLC system. The MT solubility was the highest in a mixture of PG and $2-HP{\beta}CD$. The percutaneous absorption of MT through excised HMS increased as the solubility increased. However, the permeability coefficient decreased and then slightly increased in mixture of PG and $2-HP{\beta}CD$. On the other hand, both flux and permeability coefficient through EVA membrane decreased as the solubility increased. No MT was detected over 12 h after starting diffusion through MPE membrane. The flux of MT was dependent on the type of membrane selected. Flux of MT was greatest in excised HMS followed by EBA and MPE membrane. Flux of MT through EVA membrane was 5-20 times lower when compared to excised HMS. Interestingly, volumes of donor phase when MPE membrane was used, significantly increased during the study period. the HMS might be applicable to expect plasma concentration of MT in human subjects based on flux and pharmacokinetic parameters as studied previously. the current studies may be applied to deliver MT transdermally using aqueous-based vehicles and to fabricate MT dosage forms.