• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.325-334
• /
• 2005

Changes in the rabbit Leydig cell from birth to adulthood were studied in New Zealand white rabbits of 1, 7, 21, 35, 49, 70, 105, 147, 196, and 252 days (n = 8 rabbits per group) of age. The objectives of this study were to understand the fate of the fetal Leydig cells, to determine the changes in serum testosterone levels, and leutenizing hormone-stimulated testosterone production per testis in vitro, and to quantify adult Leydig cells by number and average volume with age. Testes of rabbits were fixed by whole body perfusion using a fixative containing 2.5% glutaraldehyde in cacodylate buffer, processed and embedded in Epon-araldite. Using $1{\mu}m$ sections stained with methylene blue-azure II, qualitative and quantitative (stereological) morphological studies were performed. Testosterone levels in the incubation medium of luteinizing hormone-stimulated (100 ng/ml) testosterone secretion per testis in vitro, and in serum were determined by radioimmunoassay. The average volume of a testis of 1-day-old rabbits was determined as $0.0073cm^3$ and the parameter increased linearly from birth to 252 days ($3.93cm^3$). The volume density of the seminiferous tubules increased with age from 33.76% at day 1 to 88.2% at day 252. The volume density of the interstitium represents 66.24% of the testicular parenchyma at day 1. This proportion progressively diminished during development to reach a value of 11.8% at day 252. The volume density of Leydig cells increased almost linearly from birth (0.001%) to 252 days (2.62%). Leydig cell mass per testis increases from 0.0012 mg to 0.25 mg between days 1 and 35, from 2.66 mg to 44.3 mg between days 49 and 105 and from 65.42 mg and 102.9 mg between days 147 and 252. The absolute numbers of adult Leydig cells per testis increased linearly from birth to 252 days. The average volume of adult Leydig cell on days 1, 7, 21 and 35 was not significantly different; a gradual and continued increase was observed thereafter, reaching a 3-fold increase at 196 and 252 days. Serum testosterone concentrations were not significantly different at day 1 compared days 7, 21, 35. Significant increases were observed at days 49 and 70. Values at days 70 and 105 and days 147, 196, and 252 were not significantly different. LH-stimulated testosterone production per testis in vitro was significantly different at day 1 compared days 7, 21, 35. Significant increases were observed at days 49 and 70. Hormonal values at days 105, 147, 196, and 252 were not significantly different. These data suggested Leydig cell developmental phase can be classified: a neonatal phase (1-7 days), a prepubertal phase (14-49 days) and an adult phase (70-252 days). Immature and mature adult Leydig cells, initially detected at days 7 and 49, respectively, and mature adult Leydig cells were abundant Leydig cell type according to the number and absolute volume per testis form day 49 onwards.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.22 no.10
• /
• pp.1407-1414
• /
• 2012

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an effective regimen that has been found to prevent these diseases in postmenopausal women. However, HRT is accompanied by an increased risk of unfavorable outcomes. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Eisenia Bicyclis extract on lipids in ovariectomized rats. Fifty 7-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: sham-operated rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX-CON), and ovariectomized rats that were treated with Eisenia bicyclis extracts. The extract-treated diets were fed to the rats for 6 weeks after operation. Antioxidant effects were measured by DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract increased in a dose-dependent manner and was about 55.9% in a concentration of 100 ${\mu}g/ml$. We measured the total cholesterol content, triglyceride content, HDL-cholesterol content, LDL-cholesterol content, atherosclerotic index, cardiac risk factor in serum, and anti-platelet aggregation and blood rheology. The total cholesterol and triglyceride concentration in serum increased for the OVX-control group, but supplementation with the E. bicyclis extract caused these factors to decrease. Notably, the serum LDL-cholesterol concentration in the OVX-EB200 group was significantly lower than the OVX-CON group. In addition, the blood passage times in rats that received the E. bicyclis extract were more rapid than the times in the untreated group (OVX-CON). Microscopic evaluation revealed that whole blood passed more smoothly through the microchannels in rats in the E. bicyclis extract supplement groups. Our results clarified the effects of E. bicyclis extract on serum lipid content in ovariectomized rats, and consequently we expect positive effects from providing E. bicyclis extract to postmenopausal women with cardiovascular disease.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.319-329
• /
• 1990

Effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on blood pressure, plasma lenin activity, aldosterone and renal excretion were compared in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar rats fed low, medium or high sodium diet (2, 10, 25 mmol NaCl/100g diet) for 6 weeks. ANP infusion (380 ng/kg/min for 20 min) produced reductions in blood pressure, plasma renin activity, and aldosterone level, but marked increases in hematocrit, urine flow, and excretions of sodium and potassium. The low sodium group showed a significantly enhanced aldosterone lowering effect of ANP than the high sodium group. However, three salt groups showed no difference in effects of ANP on blood pressure, plasma renin activity, hematocrit and diuresis. Natriuretic response to ANP was significantly greater in the high salt-than in the low sait-SHR, but was not different between the Wistar salt groups. There were strain differences in effects of ANP: SHR showed greater responses of blood pressure and natriuresis than Wistar rats. Above results indicate that aldosterone-lowering and natriuretic effects of ANP were modifed by different dietary sodium intakes. However, blood pressure- and renin-lowering, or diuretic effects of ANP were not affected by dietary sodium intakes. The mechanisms whereby dietary sodium intakes alter the effects of ANP in the pathogenesis of hypertension are not clear.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.21-31
• /
• 1968

The appearance rates of antipyrine and urea into cerebrospinal fluid from blood were studied in the rabbits which were in the state of hypotension and of high permeability in the capillary beds following injection of histamine. The alteration in the distribution of electrolytes among various compartments of the brain and the permeability characteristics in the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier were also observed. Adult male rabbits, weighing around 2 kg, were used. Twenty four rabbits were divided into 3 groups. Besides the control group, histamine treated rabbits were categorized into 2 groups. $H_1$ consisted of the rabbits showing moderate responses to histamine and ranging from 62 to 80 mmHg in their mean anterial blood pressure. The animals which belong to $H_2-group$ showed severe responses to histamine and the mean anterial blood pressures dropped to 30-50 mmHg. Animals were anesthetized with nembutal, 30mg/kg i.v. The mean arterial blood pressure was read by means of the mercury manometer connected to the femoral artery. The animals, treated with histamine, were kept in hypotensive state at least for 40 minutes before the administration of the test-substances. The test-substances, 300 mg of urea and 200 mg of antipyrine, were dissolved in 3 ml of distilled water and were injected into the ear vein of the rabbit. After 10 minutes elapsed arterial blood sample was taken from the femoral artery and cerebrospinal fluid from the cisterna magna. Brain tissues were also analysed with respect to electrolytes in order to observe the disturbances in the electrolytes balance as well as in the function of the central nervous system. The results obtained were as follow: 1. The ratio of antipyrine concentration in cerebrospinal fluid to that of arterial blood plasma, that was the distribution ratio, was close to unity, revealing a well established equilibrium between the compartments of blood and cerebrospinal fluid in 10 minutes. In other words, there was no diffusion barrier with regard to antipyrine. The ratios over unity which were frequently seen in the histamine treated animals were attributable to the early penetration of the substance into the cerebrospinal fluid. 2. The appearance rates of urea into the cerebrospinal fluid in the histamine treated rabbits were higher in comparison with those of in the control animals. The increasing tendency in the rates was particularly remarkable in the $H_2-group$, showing the enhanced penetration of urea across the boondary. 3. In the htisamine treated $H_2-group$ the concentration of potassium in the blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid well exceeded the control values and showed 8.5 and 9.0 mEq/l in average, respectively. Simultaneous drops in the brain tissue water were noticed, suggesting the leakage of intracellular potassium. 4. There was a coincidence in the rising pattern of potassium in the blood plasma and in the cerebrospinal fluid of $H_2-group$ and at least partial removal of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier with respect to potassium was suggested in these animals. 5. The concentration of sodium in the blood plasma or in the cerebrospinal fluid showed no significant changes following histamine injection. However, sodium in the brain tissue revealed slight elevation in the histamine treated groups. 6. The ratios of the concentrations of potassium to those of sodium, [K]/[Na] in the brain tissues, were 1.92 in the control 1.82 in the $H_1$ and 1.52 in the $H_2-group$, respectively. The marked drop in the $H_2-group$ might represent neural dysfunction in the extremely hypotensive rabbits.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.33-43
• /
• 1968

Histamine, 0.5 mg as histamine base in 4 ml of normal saline solution, was injected into rabbits anesthetized with nembutal and the mean blood pressure was kept in the range of $52{\sim}80\;mmHg$ for over one hour by supplemental additions. Following the injection of the test substances, 300 mg of urea and 200 mg of antipyrine intravenously, serial blood samples were obtained from the femoral artery and the internal jugular vein at $0.5{\sim}3$ minutes interval. The decreasing patterns in the concentrations of arterial and venous blood plasma samples were compared with each other. The ratio of the concentration of brain tissue to that of the final arterial plasma was also studied. By these measures the degrees of penetration of the test substances in the brain in the control and in the histamine treated rabbits were observed. The concentrations of antipyrine and urea in the arterial blood plasma were decreasing exponentially with respect to the time elapsed. The venous concentrations were anticipated to increase initially and to cross the arterial concentration curve in the point of equlibrium between the plasma and the tissue. On the contrary to the expectation venous concentration also revealed the decreasing tendency similar to that of arterial plasma. The similarity between these two curves, arterial and venous, would be atributable to the fact that the cerebral blood flow rate was large enough and the rising phase in the venous concentration curve was instantly over before serial blood samples were taken. Inspite of some similarity in the decreasing tedency in both concentration curves there were appreciable discrepancies between the arterial and venous plasma which would reflect the situation far from the equlibria among several compartments in the brain. Changes in plasma potassium levels caused by the injection of histamine or bleeding were observed, too. Using 8 rabbits as the control and 12 rabbits for the histamine treated group following results were obtained: 1. Both of the concentration curves, arterial and venous, declined rapidly at_first and slowly later on and approached same equilibrium concentration with the passage of time after a single injection. The time at which attained the same concentration was $2.0{\pm}0.54\;min.$ in the control and $4.3{\pm}1.92\;min.$ in the histamine treated group with respect to antipyrine. On the other hand in the case of urea they were $2.4{\pm}0.59\;min.$ in the control and $4.4{\pm}1.31\;min.$ in the histamine group, respectively. In the histamine treated group enlarged spaces for distribution of test substances were postulated. 2. The concentration of antipyrine in the brain tissue water revealed no significant differences between the control and experimental groups, showing $212{\pm}40.2\;mg/l$ in the control and $206{\pm}64.1\;mg/l$ in the histamine treated group. On the other hand urea revealed higher value in the histamine treated group than in the control, showing an enhanced penetration of urea into the tissue after injection of histamine. Urea concentration in the brain water was $32.3{\pm}3.36\;mg%$ in the control and $39.2{\pm}4.25\;mg%$ in the histamine treated group. 3. The distribution ratio of antipyrine in the brain tissue was very close to unity in the histamine treated animals as well as in the control. 4. The average of the distribution ratio of urea in the control animals was 0.77 and it showed the presence of blood-brain barrier with regard to urea. However in the histamine treated animals the distribution ratios climbed up to 0.86 and they were closer to unity than in the control animals. Out of 12 cases 5 were greater than 0.9 and 8 exceeded 0.85. It appeared that histamine enhanced the penetration of urea through the barrier. 5. Histamine injection and or hemorrhage caused an elevation of the concentration of potassium in plasma. In the event that histamine and hemorrhage were applied together the elevation of potassium exceed the elevation seen at the histamine alone. There was no evidence that the leakage of potassium from the brain tissue was dominant in comparison with the general leakage from the whole body.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.36 no.2 s.103
• /
• pp.181-190
• /
• 2003

An investigation was conducted on the aquatic environment of the Okchon Stream watershed six times from May to September 2002. The results of investigation revealed that variation of environmental factors were quite significant for each stream and reach, showing a significant difference between running water and stagnant water. Aquatic nutrients were relatively low in the upstream, gradually increasing as the influx of treated wastewater into the stream increased. This suggests that the point source definitely affected the nutrient content of the stream. In particular, the variations of SRP and $NH_4$ were very distinct in the watershed compared to other nutrients. Thus, it can be considered as a major factor in evaluating the effect of treated wastewater. Immediately after the influx of treated waste-water, the average content of SRP rose to 919.3 ${\mu}g$ P/l. This was a very effective level in the watershed, suggesting that the percentage of the nutrients in the water was controlled by the content of P. The constant supply of treated wastewater was found to be a critical factor in triggering the increase in chl-a in the embayment of the stream. With the proliferation of the blue-green algae, the content of chl- a ranged 234.5${\sim}$1,692.2 ${\mu}g/l$. The maximum standing crops exceeded $1.0{\times}10^6$ cells/ml in August, which was more than 200 times the level for red tide in the freshwater. This result was well reflected in other environmental factors, with 100% of AFDM/TSS reflecting the severity of water pollution by algae. Therefore, the reduction of P and N con-tents in the treated wastewater is critical in improving the aquatic environment of the stream as well as water quality management for the reservoir.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.12-18
• /
• 2004

Ofloxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and enrofloxacin in chicken muscle were seperated by liquid extraction and determined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detector. Analysis was carried out using following conditions; Cl8 column (250${\times}$4.6 mm i.d. 5 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ particle size), mobile phase composed of D.W. (containing 0.4% triethylamine and phospholic acid): methanol : acetonitrile (800:100:100, v/v/v), isocratic pump at a flow rate of 1.0 $m\ell$/min and 50 ${mu}ell$ of injection volume, fluorescence detector with EX278 nm/EM.456 nm. The calibration curves of four fluoroquinolones showed linearity (${\gamma}$$^2$$\geq$0.999) at concenration range of 0.025-0.6 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml. The recoveries in fortified chicken muscle represented more than 80% with low coefficient of variation (〈10%) for concentration range of four fluoroquinolones. The detection limits for ofloxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and enrofloxacin were 23.5, 3.4, 3.0 and 2.5 ng/g in chicken muscle, respectively. We also monitored fluoroquinolones residue in muscle of chickens (broiler 1:227, Korean native chicken 219, laying chicken 77) using EEC-4-plate screening and HPLC conformation methods. Ten(broiler 5, Korean native chicken 5) out of the fifteen samples which were positively detected by EEC-plate screening method from 1,523 chicken meat were confirmed with ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin by HPLC. The ranges of residual concentration were 0-0.12 ppm for ciprofloxacin and 0.01-6.79 ppm for enrofloxacin. In conclusion, our method could be applied effectively to determine four fluoroquinolones residues in chicken meat, and further survey for fluoroquinolones residue in chicken meat are needed for more effective control of fluoroquinolones used in livestock.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.90-99
• /
• 2021

In this study, to reduce the production cost of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHA), optimal cell growth and PHA biosynthesis conditions of the isolated strain Pseudomonas sp. EML8 were established using waste frying oil (WFO) as the cheap carbon source. Gas chromatography (GC) and GC mass spectrometry analysis of the medium-chain-length PHA (mcl-PHAWFO) obtained by Pseudomonas sp. EML8 of WFO indicated that it was composed of 7.28 mol% 3-hydrxoyhexanoate, 39.04 mol% 3-hydroxyoctanoate, 37.11 mol% 3-hydroxydecanoate, and 16.58 mol% 3-hydroxvdodecanoate monomers. When Pseudomonas sp. EML8 were culture in flask, the maximum dry cell weight (DCW) and the mcl-PHAWFO yield (g/l) were showed under WFO (20 g/l), (NH4)2SO4 (0.5 g/l), pH 7, and 25℃ culture conditions. Based on this, the highest DCW, mcl-PHAWFO content, and mcl-PHAWFO yield from 3-l-jar fermentation was obtained after 48 hr. Similar results were obtained using 20 g/l of fresh frying oil (FFO) as a control carbon source. In this case, the DCW, the mcl-PHAFFO content, and the mcl-PHAFFO yields were 2.7 g/l, 62 wt%, and 1.6 g/l, respectively. Gel permeation chromatography analysis confirmed the average molecular weight of the mcl-PHAWFO and mcl-PHAFFO to be between 165-175 kDa. Thermogravimetric analysis showed decomposition temperature values of 260℃ and 274.7℃ for mcl-PHAWFO and mcl-PHAFFO, respectively. In conclusion, Pseudomonas sp. EML8 and WFO could be suggested as a new candidate and substrate for the industrial production of PHA.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.195-207
• /
• 2000

Organic and inorganic characteristics including bacterial cell number, enzyme activity, nutrients, and heavy metals have been monitored in twelve acrylic experimental tanks for two weeks to estimate and compare self-purification capacities in two Korean wet-land environments, tidal flat and rice field, which are possibly different with the environments in other countries because of their own climatic conditions. FW tanks, filled with rice field soils and fresh water, consist of FW1&2 (with paddy), FW3&4 (without paddy), and FW5&6 (newly reclaimed, without paddy). SW tanks, filled with tidal flat sediments and salt water, are SW1&2 (with anoxic silty mud), SW3&4 (anoxic mud), and SW5&6 (suboxic mud). Contaminated solution, which is formulated with the salts of Cu, Cd, As, Cr, Pb, Hg, and glucose+glutamic acid, was spiked into the supernatent waters in the tanks. Nitrate concentrations in supernatent waters as well as bacterial cell numbers and enzyme activities of soils in the FW tanks (except FW5&6) are clearly higher than those in the SW tanks. Phosphate concentrations in the SW1 tank increase highly with time compared to those in the other SW tanks. Removal rates of Cu, Cd, and As in supematent waters of the FW5&6 tanks are most slow in the FW tanks, while the rates in SW1&2 are most fast in the SW tanks. The rate for Pb in the SW1&2 tanks is most fast in the SW tanks, and the rate for Hg in the FW5&6 tanks is most slow in the FW tanks. Cr concentrations decrease generally with time in the FW tanks. In the SW tanks, however, the Cr concentrations decrease rapidly at first, then increase, and then remain nearly constant. These results imply that labile organic materials are depleted in the FW5&6 tanks compared to the FW1&2 and FW3&4 tanks. Removal of Cu, Cd, As from the supernatent waters as well as slow removal rates of the elements (including Hg) are likely due to the combining of the elements with organic ligands on the suspended particles and subsequent removal to the bottom sediments. Fast removal rates of the metal ions (Cu, Cd, As) and rapid increase of phosphate concentrations in the SW1&2 tanks are possibly due to the relatively porous anoxic sediments in the SW1&2 tanks compared to those in the SW3&4 tanks, efficient supply of phosphate and hydrogen sulfide ions in pore wates to the upper water body, complexing of the metal ions with the sulfide ions, and subsequent removal to the bottom sediments. Organic materials on the particles and sulfide ions from the pore waters are the major factors constraining the behaviors of organic/inorganic elements in the supernatent waters of the experimental tanks. This study needs more consideration on more diverse organic and inorganic elements and experimental conditions such as tidal action, temperature variation, activities of benthic animals, etc.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.1012-1021
• /
• 1998

Background : It is known that airway inflammation is present in most patients with asthma, but the relationship between symptoms and the severity and nature of airway inflammation has not been established. Cough variant asthma is defined as an asthma in which the dominant symptom is cough, and the condition can be successfully treated with inhaled steroids. This study was performed to evaluate the time course of bronchial responsiveness according to an inhaled anti-inflammatory therapy and the factors which affect the resolution of bronchial responsiveness, and an efficacy of nedocromil to cough asthma. Method: A prospective study for the investigation of bronchial responsiveness according to an inhaled anti-inflammatory treatment in sixty-one cough asthmatics was performed. Twenty-three entered budesonide ($400{\mu}g{\times}2/day$), twenty-two entered nedocromil ($4mg{\times}2/day$) and sixteen patients entered combined group. The bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) was estimated by methacholine challenge test using counted breath method. The symptom was estimated by 'symptom score'. Reevaluation of BHR and symptom was performed at 2 month after treatment, and if BHR was not resoluted at this time, regarded as a non-responder, and then follow-up of BHR and symptom was performed at 4- and/or 6 month after treatment. Results: The improvement of BHR and symptom was significant in 2 month (p<0.05), but there was no change of them during follow-up period of 4- and/or 6 month in non-responders. In comparison of allergic markers such as serum total IgE, peripheral eosinophil count and skin test reactivity between responders and non-responders, there was no difference in each other. However, in comparison of other factors such as cumulative pack-years, symptom duration, age, gender, and the initial degree of PC20, there was a significant difference in each other(p<0.05). The percent of patients with the resolution of BHR in 2 month was not different in each group(p=0.95). There was no significant difference in the degree of improvement of BHR and symptom in each group. Conclusion: Bronchial responsiveness and symptom was not significantly improved in non-responders during follow-up period of 4- and/or 6 month. The effect of inhaled nedocromil was equivalent to that of inhaled steroid in cough asthmatics, and the response to combined treatment is not superior to that achieved by either of these agents used alone.