• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2018

Niemann-Pick type C disease (NP-C) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by a deficiency of NPC1 gene function, which leads to severe neuroinflammation such as astrogliosis. While reports demonstrating neuroinflammation are prevalent in NP-C, information about the onset and progression of cerebellar astrogliosis in this disorder is lacking. Using gene targeting, we generated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) conditional null mutant mice. Deletion of VEGF in cerebellar Purkinje neurons (PNs) led to a significant increase of astrogliosis in the brain of NP-C mice in addition to the loss of PNs, suggesting PN-derived VEGF as an important factor in NP-C pathology. Moreover, replenishment of VEGF in neurons improved brain pathology in NP-C mice. Overall, our data provide a new pathological perspective on cerebellar astrogliosis in NP-C and suggest the importance of VEGF as a therapeutic target for this disease.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.549-553
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• 1999

The antipruritic effect of DA-5018m a capsaicin derivative, was examined in mice. Male ICR mice were topically pretreated with Zostrix-HP (0.075% capsaicin cream), 0.1%, 0.3% DA-5018 cream or cream base (control) twice daily for 4 days. One hour after the last application, itch was induced either by compound 48/80 ($50{\mu}g$, s.c.) or leukotriene B4 (0.03 nmol, i.d.) injection into the rostral back of the animals, and the number of scratches made by the animals at the injection site was counted for 60 min post-injection. DA-5018 cream (both 0.1 and 0.3%) significantly inhibited compound 48/80-induced scratching when compared with the cream base control (p<0.01), which Zostrix-HP showed minimal inhibition of the scratching behavior. In leukotriene B4-induced itch model, Zostrix-HP and 0.3% DA-5018 cram significantly inhibited the scratching during the first 10-min period (p<0.01). The results suggest that DA-5018 cream can be used as an antipruritic agent and warrant clinical evaluation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.101-105
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• 2011

We investigate the resistance of Cryptosporidium (C.) parvum oocysts to commercial bleach treatment. The viability and infectivity of C. parvum oocysts suspended in 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.3 or 3.2% aqueous commercial bleach for 10, 30, 60, 120 or 180 min at room temperature were assessed by nucleic acid Syto-9 staining, histologic examination of ileum and infectivity to immunosuppressed neonatal C57BL/6N mice. Although the viability was decreased compared with normal oocysts, all oocysts in contact with serially diluted commercial bleach for 180 min were alive by nucleic acid dye Syto-9 staining. And, microscopic examination of ileum sections revealed developmental stages of C. parvum in all mice. The oocyst shedding patterns between mice infected with oocysts contacted with commercial bleach and normal control mice were not significantly different each other. Although commercial bleach is widely used as a bacterial and viral disinfectant, the present findings indicate that it is not an effective disinfectant for C. parvum oocysts under practical conditions. Authors conclude that, therefore, it is undesirable to recommend commercial bleach as a disinfectant for C. parvum oocysts.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1995.04a
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• pp.102-102
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• 1995

The present study was undertaken to investigate the behavioral and biochemical effects of ginseng total sponin (GTS) on methamphetamine-treated mice. GTS (50 or 100 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally two times with 2 hour interval. Two hours after the second injection of GTS, methamphetamine (2 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously. The ambulatory activity of mice was measured by the ti1ting-type ambulometer every 10 min. for 1 hour. Methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity was reduced by GTS. in a dose-dependent manner. To study the neurochemical mechanism underlying the GTS effects, monoamine contents were measured from brain tissues. After 45 min. of methamphetamine injection. mice were sacrificed and monoamine contents were determined from the striatum. Biochemical analysis revealed that GTS reduced the methamphetamine- induced increase in striatal dopamine contents. These observations indicate that inhibition of methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity by GTS is mediated by the modulation of dopaminergic nervous system, and it could be helpful for the therapy of hyperactivity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 2018

The subgranular zone (SGZ) of hippocampal dentate gyrus (HDG) is a primary site of adult neurogenesis. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), are involved in neural system development of Drosophila and innate immune response of mammals. TLR2 is expressed abundantly in neurogenic niches such as adult mammalian hippocampus. It regulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis. However, the role of TLR2 in adult neurogenesis is not well studied in global or focal cerebral ischemia. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of TLR2 in adult neurogenesis after photochemically induced cerebral ischemia. At 7 days after photothrombotic ischemic injury, the number of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive cells was increased in both TLR2 knock-out (KO) mice and wild-type (WT) mice. However, the increment rate of BrdU-positive cells was lower in TLR2 KO mice compared to that in WT mice. The number of doublecortin (DCX) and neuronal nuclei (NeuN)-positive cells in HDG was decreased after photothrombotic ischemia in TLR2 KO mice compared to that in WT mice. The survival rate of cells in HDG was decreased in TLR2 KO mice compared to that in WT mice. In contrast, the number of cleaved-caspase 3 (apoptotic marker) and the number of GFAP (glia marker)/BrdU double-positive cells in TLR2 KO mice were higher than that in WT mice. These results suggest that TLR2 can promote adult neurogenesis from neural stem cell of hippocampal dentate gyrus through increasing proliferation, differentiation, and survival from neural stem cells after ischemic injury of the brain.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2021

Mitochondrial NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) produces NADPH, which is known to inhibit mitochondrial oxidative stress. Ureteral obstruction induces kidney inflammation and fibrosis via oxidative stress. Here, we investigated the role and underlying mechanism of IDH2 in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced kidney inflammation using IDH2 gene deleted mice (IDH2-/-). Eight- to 10-week-old female IDH2-/- mice and wild type (IDH2+/+) littermates were subjected to UUO and kidneys were harvested 5 days after UUO. IDH2 was not detected in the kidneys of IDH2-/- mice, while UUO decreased IDH2 in IDH2+/+ mice. UUO increased the expressions of markers of oxidative stress in both IDH2+/+ and IDH2-/- mice, and these changes were greater in IDH2-/- mice compared to IDH2+/+ mice. Bone marrow-derived macrophages of IDH2-/- mice showed a more migrating phenotype with greater ruffle formation and Rac1 distribution than that of IDH2+/+ mice. Correspondently, UUO-induced infiltration of monocytes/macrophages was greater in IDH2-/- mice compared to IDH2+/+ mice. Taken together, these data demonstrate that IDH2 plays a protective role against UUO-induced inflammation through inhibition of oxidative stress and macrophage infiltration.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.81-85
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• 1997

Berberine, a protoberberine isoquinoline alkaloid, showed inhibitory effects on dopamine content in PC12 cells $(53.8\%\;inhibition\;at\;20\;{\mu}M)$. Tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the catecholamine biosynthetic pathway, was inhibited at $20\;{\mu}M)$ of berberine by $21.8\%$ relative to control. Thus, we hypothesized that the inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase by berberine might be partially contributed to the decrease in dopamine content in PC12 cells. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of berberine on catecholamine content of serum after immobilization and cold stress in mice. Adult male mice were either subjected to 30 min of restraint or to 2 hr of cold chamber at $4-6^{\circ}C$. Serum norepinephrine, 16.8 pmol/ml, in control mice was increased to 28.8 pmol/ml by immobilization and the stress-induced rise in serum norepinephrine was partially blocked by the treatment of berberine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) once a day for 6 days. Berberine (10 mg/kg/day for 3 days, i.p.) also inhibited the increase in serum norepinephrine by cold stress in mice. These results suggest that berberine may be developed as the promising antistress agent.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.39-52
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• 2002

The present experiments were designed to study the influence of Baekgumhwan on immune function of ICR mice under stress condition. Baekgumhwan was orally administered to the mice for 15days. on the 11th day the mice subjected to electric footshock for 5days(2 session a day, 11 footshocks a 31 min-session). B/T cell populations in splenocytes were studied by FACS analysis and cytokines($IFN-{\gamma}$ rand IL-10) production of the mouse splenocytes treated with PHA were studied by sandwich ELISA assay on the 15th day. The results were as follows. 1. After electric footshock, mice became sluggish and crowded to one side of the cage. Increased B/T cell populations in splenocytes were observed. These results confirm that electric footshock caused stress inducing immunological and behavioral changes in ICR mice. 2. Baekgumhwan administration without stress increase B cell populations in splenocytes, but T cell populations and cytokines($IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-10) production of the mouse splenocytes treated with PHA maintain as similar levels as in the normal group. 3. Baekgumhwan administration with stress significantly antagonized the effect of electric footshock on behavior, increased B cell populations in splenocytes, so maintain as similar levels as in the normal group. cytokines($IFN-{\gamma}$ rand IL-10) production of the mouse splenocytes treated with PHA maintain as similar levels as in the normal group and T cell populations in splenocytes were increased as stress control.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.291-297
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• 2014

The radioprotective effects of a single administration of kojic acid (KA) against ionizing radiation were evaluated via assessment of 30-day survival and alterations of peripheral blood parameters of adult C57BL/6 male mice. The 30-day survival rate of mice pretreated with KA (75 or 300 mg/kg body weight, KA75 or KA300) subcutaneously 27 h prior to a lethal dose (8 Gy, 153.52 cGy/min) of gamma irradiation was higher than that of mice irradiated alone (40% or 60% vs 0%). It was observed that the white blood cell (WBC) count/the red blood cell (RBC) count, haemoglobin content, haematocrit and platelet count of mice with or without KA pretreatment as exposed to a sub-lethal dose (4 Gy, 148.14 cGy/min) of gamma irradiation decreased maximally at day 4/day 8 post-irradiation. Although the initial WBC values were low in KA300 or WR-2721 (amifostine) groups, they significantly recovered to normal at day 19, whereas in the control group they did not. The results from the cytotoxicity and cell viability assays demonstrated that KA could highly protect Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells against ionizing radiation with low toxicity. In summary, KA provides marked radioprotective effects both in vivo and in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.201-208
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• 2011

Obesity occur from the imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. Obesity is a complex chronic disease that is suggested to cause other metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and arteriosclerosis. In this study, our purpose is to investigate the anti-hyperglycemic and anti-obesitic effects of Maydis stigma water extract in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and db/db mice. Maydis stigma water extract at dose of 100 and 500 ${\mu}g/ml$ slowly inhibited cell viability as compared to that of control in mature adipocytes. Also, the additions of 50 and 250 ${\mu}g/ml$ of Maydis stigma water extract significantly inhibited the lipid accumulations and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein(C/EBP) ${\alpha}$ and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR) ${\gamma}$ expressions with dose-dependent manner in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Maydis stigma water extract at 250, 500, and 1000 ${\mu}g/ml$ only showed the increasing pattern on lipolysis activity. The oral treatment of Maydis stigma water extract (100 or 400 mg/kg body weight) in db/db mice only showed tendency to decrease body weight, food efficiency ratio (FER), HbA1c, blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and the adipocyte size of in db/db mice. However, Maydis stigma water extract increased the insulin level in a dose dependent manner. Thus these results indicate that Maydis stigma water extracxt inhibits adipogenesis through regulation of C/EBP${\alpha}$ and PPAR${\gamma}$ expressions in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and shows anti-hyperglycemic effect through increase of insulin secretion in db/db mice.