• KSBB Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2011

Anti-diabetic effect of the exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced from submerged mycelial culture of Cordyceps sinensis (Cs) was studiedin a type II diabetic animal model (C57BL/6J ob/ob). This study was designed to determine whether Cs-EPS improves clinical symptoms of type II diabetes in ob/ob mice. After Cs-EPS treatment at doses of 200 mg/kg body weight, the fasting blood glucose levels decreased by 47% after 7 weeks compared with those of the control mice. According to the oral glucose tolerance test, the glucose levels recovered its baseline after 120 min in Cs-EPS-treated mice, although the blood glucose levels increased significantly after 30 min. On the other hand, the control group (not-treated) did not recovered its initial level of glucose after 120 min. Furthermore, food intake, body weight, total plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in ob/ob mice treated with Cs-EPS were significantly decreased, compared with those in control ob/ob mice. Cs-EPS treatment increased significantly the plasma insulin level and the expression of leptin mRNA in adipose tissue of Cs-EPS-treated ob/ob mice. From these results, it is demonstrated that Cs-EPS could be effective for regulating normal blood glucose levels by increasing the amounts of plasma insulin and leptin expression in ob/ob mice, indicating that this compound could be a candidate material as a dietary supplement to control hyperglycemia in patients suffering from type II diabetes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.375-380
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• 2000

The preliminary screening of several cyanobacteria, using mice bioassay, reveale the production of a hepatotoxin by the cyanobacterium Scytonema sp. strain BT 23 isolated from soil. An intraperitoneal injection of the crude toxin (LD50 56 mg/kg body wt) from this strain caused the death of the mice within 40 min, and the anmals showed slinical signs of mice within 40 min, and the animals showed clinical signs of hepatotoxicity. The toxin was purified and partially characterized. The active fraction appears to be nonpolar in nature and shows absorption peaks at 240 and 285 nm. The purified toxin had an LD50 of TEX>$100<\mu\textrm{g}/kg$ body wt and the test mice died within 40 min of toxin administration. The toxin-treated mice showed a 1.65-fold increase in liver weight at 40 min and the liver color chnged to dark red due to intrahepatic hemorrhage and pooling of blood. Furthermore, the administration of the toxin to test mice induced a 2.58, 2.63, and 2.30-fold increse in the activity of the serum enzymes alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase, respectively. Further experiments with the 14C-labeled toxin revealed a maximum accumulation of the toxin in the liver. The clinical symptoms in the mice were similar to those produced by microcystin-L.R. These results suggest that hepatotoxins may also be produced in non bloom-forming planktonic cyanobacteria.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5587-5592
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• 2014

Aloe-emodin (AE), a natural anthraquinone compound, has been reported to exhibit anticancer activity in various cancer cell lines and anti-inflammatory effects in murine macrophages. In the present study, we investigated the cancer chemopreventive effects of AE in an Apc-deficient Min mouse model. In the first experiment, male Min mice were fed a basal diet or diets containing 5 ppm AE and 10 ppm AE for 12 weeks. The dietary administration of 5 ppm AE significantly reduced the number of colorectal tumors. In a second experiment, we investigated the effects of AE on colitis-related colon carcinogenesis in Min mouse treated with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Female Min mice were administered 1% DSS in their drinking water for 7 days. AE was given to mice in their diet at a dose of 5 or 50 ppm for 5 weeks. Feeding with AE significantly reduced the number of colorectal tumors. When proliferation of cells in normal-appearing colonic mucosa was assessed by monoclonal anti-rat Ki-67 antibody (MIB-5) immunohistochemistry in experiments 1 and 2, the AE treatment significantly decreased the mean MIB-5-labeling index. These results suggest that the dietary administration of low-dose AE may have chemopreventive effects against development of colorectal tumors in Min mice, possibly in part by reducing cell proliferation in colorectal mucosa.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.16-25
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• 2000

Objective : Acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli have long been used to cure human diseases. However, the exact physiological and biochemical mechanisms involved remain undiscovered. Thus, many attempts have been made to show the scientific mechanisms involved. The effects of acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture, which was known to date, as follow; effective circulation of body blood system and proliferation of leucocytes. Methods : In this study, we have applied acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli to mouse on Sinsuhyul, a stimulative point of oriental medicine, to see effects on the expression of cytokine $IL-1{\beta}$. Mice were treated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) for inflammation induction and then reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using each primer set were performed to trace the amounts of mRNA. Results : 1. $IL-1{\beta}$ was not expressed in LPS-nontreated mice at 15 to 60 min after acupuncture-stimuli. However, expression occurred after 3hrs. 2. $IL-1{\beta}$ was specifically expressed in LPS-treated mice at 30 min after acupuncture-stimuli. 3. $IL-1{\beta}$ was expressed in LPS-nontreated mice at 30 min after Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli, however, not expressed at 60, 180 min. 4. $IL-1{\beta}$ was gradually expressed in LPS-treated mice at 15 to 180 min after Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli. Conclusions : $IL-1{\beta}$ in LPS-treated mice was more effective than that of LPS-nontreated mice. We are now in the process of elucidating the immunological action mechanism of acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli. And cytokine $IL-1{\beta}$ can be used not only as a basis of the effects of acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture but also as a diagnosis guide through the immunological actions of those.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.402-407
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• 1997

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of effects of enprostil, a prostaglandin $E_2$, analogue, on liver triacylglycerol content and factors that regulate liver lipid metabolism in mice. Mice received vehicle or $10{\mu}g$ enprostil/kg body weight intraperitoneally every 6 h, and were killed at 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h after the first injection. Enprostil significantly lowered liver triacylglycerol content after 12 h of the first injection. However, the peroxisomal ${\beta}$-oxidation activity was inconsistent with the result of liver triacylglycerol content, because its activity was lovered by enprosil. In another experiment, the effect of enprostil on lipid metabolism in mice was investigated in a short period. Mice received $10{\mu}g$ enprostil/kg body weight intraperitoneally, and were killed after 0, 5, 10, 30 and 60 min. After 30 min, malic enzyme activity was significantly increased by the administration of enprostil compared with the activity at 5 min after. No significant changes in liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase and peroxisomal ${\beta}$-oxidation activities were observed. Plasma free fatty acid concentrations were markedly reduced from 5 through 60 min after the administration of enprostil. Consequently, enprostil suppressive effect on liver triacylglycerol concentration might result from the decreased entry of free fatty acid into liver.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.231-242
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• 1995

Electroconvulsive shock (ECS) increases the activity of acetylchohnesterase and decreases in brain acetylcholine levels. A large amount of free fatty acids accumulated in the brain tissue affects cerebral blood flow, brain edema and inflammation and results in brain injury. The present study examined the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and D,L-pyroglutamic acid (D,L-PCA) on the learning and memory deficit using the passive avoidance failure technique and on the change of acetylcholine and choline level in the cerebral cortex of ECS-induced mice. The application of ECS (25mA, 0.5sec) induced a significant decrease in memory function for 30 min. ECS-induced a significant decrease in cortical acetylcholine and choline levels 1 min following the ECS application, which were almost recovered to ECS control level after 30 min. DHA (20 mg/kg, i.p.). administered 24 hr before shock. prevented the ECS-induced passive avoidance failure and the decrease of acetylcholine level 1 min following the ECS application. DHA failed to elicit a change in cortical choline level. DHA did not affect memory function and the cortical Ach and choline level of normal mice. The administration of D,L-PCA (500 mg/kg, i.p.) increased the effect of DHA on memory function and the change of cortical acetylcholine level of ECS induced mice. These results suggest that DHA treatment may be contributed to the prevention against memory deficit, and to the activation of cholinergic system in the ECS induced mice.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 1964

120 mice of both sexes weighing from 18 to 22 g. were used. These mice were divided nito 12 groups : control (non-restraint and restraint) , acclinmation (non-restraint and restraint , acclimation for 5 and 10 days) , adrenalectomized (non-restraint and restraint0 and acclimation-adrenalectomized (non-restraint and restraint, acclimation for 5 and 10 days) groups. The rectal temperature of each group were measured at 10, 30 and 50 min under environment of $0^{\circ}C$.Measurements were done with a microphrometer of B.T.-32 thermocorpules. The results obtained may be summarized as follows : 1) The rectal temperature in normal mice without restraint was higher than that of normal mice with restraint under environment of $0^{\circ}C$. 2) The rectal temperature in normal mice was higher than that of adrenalectomized mice at 20$^{\circ}$ C. But the rectal temperature in adrenalectomized mice without restraint was higher than that of adrenalectomized mice with restraint under cold-stress. This difference was in the order of 1.65$^{\circ}$ under environment of 20$^{\circ}$ and 10 $^{\circ}$ at 50 min under environment of 0$^{\circ}$. 3) The rectal temperature of normal mice with restraint was less than that of adrenalectomized mice (non-restraint) under cold-stress. 4) The rectal temperature of normal and adrenalectomized mice that acclimated under cold stress ($0^{\circ}C$) for 5 and 10 days was usually higher than that of normal and adrenalectomized mice of non-acclimation under environment of $0^{\circ}C$. 5) The tolerance in mice under cold-stress was increased on the acclimtion of cold.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.123-128
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• 2002

Physical activity is a primary cancer control strategy that has received little attention to date. However, an Increasing number of epidemiological studies have proposed that physical exercise may be beneficial by enhancing anticancer immune system responses. We investigated the effects of acute exercise on changes in nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. The amounts of NO generated by abdominal macrophages in mice were measured after exercise. Thirty-two mice, which were challenged with thioglycollate broth to activate peritoneal macrophages, were randomly assigned to control, exercise and recovery groups. The mice exercised on a motor-driven treadmill for 3 consecutive days, either moderately (18m/min, 30 min/day, 5％ grade) or severely (18-35m/min, 60 min/day, 5％ grade). The mice were killed immediately after exercise or after 6 hrs of recovery. Nitric oxide was quantified by the Griess assay. The exercised mice showed higher levels of NO generation than those of the control mice, but the intensity of exercise had no significant effect on NO generation. Mice allowed six hours of recovery after exercise showed higher levels of NO generation than that of animals sacrificed immediately after exercise, but there were no significant differences in NO generation with variations in the intensity of exercise. Increased levels of iNOS were found in the exercised groups, and this was greatest in the groups allowed six hours of recovery compared to those groups sacrificed immediately after exercise. The results of this study suggest that acute exercise may enhance an immune response by inducing macrophage-derived NO generation; these results support the epidemiological findings which support the benefits of exercise in the prevention and control of cancer. Further study is needed to determine the physiological significance of these findings, which could be applied to the use of therapeutic exercises to assist in the prevention and control of cancer.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2000

This study compared the permeability of $[^3H]taurine,\;[^3H]phenylalanine,\;and\;[^3H]oxytocin$ through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in mice and rats with common carotid artery perfusion (CCAP) method that modified internal carotid artery perfusion (ICAP) method. External carotid artery (ECA) was cannulated with coagulating pterygopalatine artery (PPA) in ICAP method, while CCA was cannulated without coagulating PPA in CCAP method. Also, for evaluation of BBB permeability of drugs in mice and rats, we used intravenous injection technique. The results of CCAP method in mice at a perfusion flow-rate of 2 ml/min, the brian volume of distribution $(V_D)$ of $[^{14}C]sucrose,\;[^3H]taurine,\;[^3H]phenylalanine,\;and\;[^3H]oxytocin$ were similar to the result of ICAP method in rats at perfusion flow rate of 4 ml/min. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve and brain uptake of $[^3H]taurine$ by intravenous injection technique, were $65.5{\pm}9.7%ID^*min/ml\;and\;0.515{\pm}0.093%ID/g$, respectively, in mice, and the corresponding values were $8.00{\pm}0.03%ID^*min/ml\;and\;0.052{\pm}0.003%ID/g$ in rats. But the BBB permeability surface-area product of $[^3H]taurine$ was similar between mice and rats. In conclusion, the CCAP method in mice was simple, fast and comparable to ICAP method in rats for drug permeability through the BBB.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.12
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• pp.609-614
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• 2022

Mutation of the gene for adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), as seen in Apc^Min/+ mice, leads to intestinal adenomas and carcinomas via stabilization of β-catenin. Transmembrane 4 L six family member 5 (TM4SF5) is involved in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, fibrosis, and cancer. However, the functional linkage between TM4SF5 and APC or β-catenin has not been investigated for pathological outcomes. After interbreeding Apc^Min/+ with TM4SF5-overexpressing transgenic (Tg^TM4SF5) mice, we explored pathological outcomes in the intestines and livers of the offspring. The intestines of 26-week-old dual-transgenic mice (Apc^Min/+:Tg^TM4SF5) had intramucosal adenocarcinomas beyond the single-crypt adenomas in Apc^Min/+ mice. Additional TM4SF5 overexpression increased the stabilization of β-catenin via reduced glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) phosphorylation on Ser9. Additionally, the livers of the dualtransgenic mice showed distinct sinusoidal dilatation and features of hepatic portal hypertension associated with fibrosis, more than did the relatively normal livers in Apc^Min/+ mice. Interestingly, TM4SF5 overexpression in the liver was positively linked to increased GSK3β phosphorylation (opposite to that seen in the colon), β-catenin level, and extracellular matrix (ECM) protein expression, indicating fibrotic phenotypes. Consistent with these results, 78-week-old Tg^TM4SF5 mice similarly had sinusoidal dilatation, immune cell infiltration, and fibrosis. Altogether, systemic overexpression of TM4SF5 aggravates pathological abnormalities in both the colon and the liver.