• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.158-166
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• 2017

The object of this study was to improve tomato seedling quality in low temperature(below 7, $10^{\circ}C$ during night time or daily mean air temperature was $18^{\circ}C$) by application of silicate fertilizer. Six different silicate fertilizer concentrations (8, 16, 32, 64, 128, and 256mM) or water as the control were applied to tomato seedlings twice a week for 20 days. Positive effects were observed in the growth parameters of the seedlings treated with 16 and 32mM silicate fertilizer; the most effective concentration of silicate at which seedlings showed the best performance was 16mM. However, a high concentration of silicate (256mM) caused negative effects on the growth. The transpiration rate decreased alongside with the increase of silicate concentration up to 32mM, possibly due to the increased stomatal diffusive resistance. Silicate stimulated the growth and development of tomato seedlings, resulting in increased growth parameters and root morphology. However, no significant differences were observed among treatment numbers of soil-drenching wuth the silicate (6, 10, or 20 times with 16mM) for 20 days, suggesting that silicate treatment with 6 times may be sufficient to induce the silicate effects. The application of 16mM of silicate fertilizer reduced relative ion leakage and chilling injury during low temperature storage. In addition, the seedlings treated with silicate fertilizer recovered faster than those without silicate treatment after low temperature storage.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1998

This study was carried out to confirm whether the developmental capacity of bovine mature oocytes frozen ultra-rapidly using electron microscopic(EM) grids and EFS30 can be obtained, and whether the cryoprotectants and the freezing method used in this study effect detrimentally to the bovine oocytes by indirect immunocytochemistry. As freezing solution, we used EFS30 which consisted of 30% ethylene glycol, 0.5 M sucrose, 18% ficoll and 10% FBS added in D-PBS. The results obtained in this experiment were summarized as follows: When the effects of cryoprotectant and freezing procedure on the microtuble, micrfilament and chromatin morphology of oocytes were evaluated using indirect immunocytochemistry, the results of freezing as well as exposure group were not different with that of the control oocytes. When the fertilization abnormality after ultrarapid freezing of bovine mature oocytes was examined by Hoechst staining, the rates of total penetration(96.7, 9.0%), normal two pronuclei formation(74.6, 68.9%) and mean number of sperm / oocyte(1.50, 1.44) were not different between control and freezing group. In addition, when the developmental capacity of frozen-thawed of oocytes(85.5%) was survived, 74.5% of them were cleaved and 31.4% of cleaved embryos were developed to blastocyst. These data were similar to those of the control(76.0%, 34.6%) and exposure(74.5%, 33.0%) except survival rates. Also, when the total cell number of blastocysts produced from the each treatment at day after IVF was examined by hoechst staining, there were not different among groups. There results demonstrate that developmental capacity of frozen-thawed bovine mature oocytes can be successfully obtained by ultra-rapid freezing method using EM grid and EFS30 solution.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2010

Liver regeneration is a result of highly coordinated proliferation of hepatocytes and nonparenchymal liver cells. Partial hepatectomy (PH) is the most often used stimulus to study liver regeneration because, compared with other methods that use hepatic toxins, it is not associated with the tissue injury and inflammation, and the initiation of the regenerative stimulus is precisely defined. Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which is a cytokine able to regulate the proliferation and differentiation of epithelial cells, was first identified as the most potent mitogen for bone marrow. Particularly, rrhGM-CSF, which is highly glycosylated and sustained longer than any other types of GM-CSF in the blood circulation, was specifically produced from rice cell culture. In this experiment, effects of rrhGM-CSF administration were evaluated in the regenerating liver after 78% PH of rats. Morphological changes induced by PH were characterized by destroyed hepatocyte plate around the central vein and enlarged nuclear cytoplasmic ratio and increased hepatocytes with two nuclei. And then, proliferation of liver cells (parenchymal and nonparenchymal) and rearrangement of plates and lobules seemed to be carried out during liver regeneration. These alterations in the experimental group preceded those of the control. Since proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is known to be a nuclear protein maximally elevated in the S phase of proliferating cells, the protein was used as a marker of liver regeneration after PH in rats. PCNA levels by western blot analysis and immunohistology were compared between the two groups. PCNA protein expression of two groups at 12 hr and 24 hr after injury showed similar pattern. The protein expression showed the peak at 3 days in both groups, however, the protein level of the experimental group was higher than that of the control. On immunohistochemical observations, the reaction product of PCNA was localized at the nuclei of proliferating cells and the positive reaction in experimental group at 3 days was clearly stronger than that in control group. The results by Western blotting and immunohistology for PCNA showed similar pattern in terms of the protein levels. In conclusion, rrhGM-CSF administration during liver regeneration after 78% PH accelerated breakdown and restoration of the hepatic plate and expression of PCNA. These results suggest that rrhGM-CSF might play an important role during liver regeneration in rats.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.228-235
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• 2004

The development and proliferation of the mandibular condyle can be altered by changes in the biomechanical environment of the temporomandibular joint. The biomechanical loads were varied by feeding diets of different consistencies. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether changes of masticatory forces by feeding a soft diet can alter the trabecular bone morphology of the growing mouse mandibular condyle, by means of micro-computed tomography. Thirty-six female, 21 days old, C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into two groups. Mice in the hard-diet control group were fed standard hard rodent pellets for 8 weeks. The soft-diet group mice were given soft ground diets for 8 weeks and their lower incisors were shortened by cutting with a wire cutter twice a week to reduce incision. After 8 weeks all animals were killed after they were weighed. Following sacrifice, the right mandibular condyle was removed. High spatial resolution tomography was done with a Skyscan Micro-CT 1072. Cross-sections were scanned and three-dimensional images were reconstructed from 2D sections. Morphometric and nonmetric parameters such as bone volume(BV), bone surface(BS), total volume(TV), bone volume fraction(BV/TV), surface to volume ratio(BS/BV), trabecular thickness(Tb. Th.), structure model index(SMI) and degree of anisotropy(DA) were directly determined by means of the software package at the micro-CT system. From directly determined indices the trabecular number(Tb. N.) and trabecular separation(Tb. Sp.) were calculated according to parallel plate model of Parfitt et al.. After micro-tomographic imaging, the samples were decalcified, dehydrated, embedded and sectioned for histological observation. The results were as follow: 1. The bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness(Tb. Th.) and trabecular number(Tb. N.) were significantly decreased in the soft-diet group compared with that of the control group (p<0.05). 2. The trabecular separation(Tb. Sp.) was significantly increased in the soft-diet group(p<0.05). 3. There was no significant differences in the surface to volume ratio(BS/BV), structure model index(SMI) and degree of anisotropy(DA) between the soft-diet group and hard-diet control group (p>0.05). 4. Histological sections showed that the thickness of the proliferative layer and total cartilage thickness were significantly reduced in the soft-diet group.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2008

We have found the clusters of tiny spiny puffball-like mushrooms growing gregariously in fairy ring (arcs) rimmed by a zone of darker green grass in the golf courses. Macroscopic as well as microscopic characters were examined for the morphology of fruiting body. Exoperidium is thin and densely spiny with minute fibrillae at early stage. The connivent spines were soft and quite persistent. In age, the fibrillae scrumble away with a powdery coating, which leaves white endoperidium becoming pale brown. It's interior was white and fleshy at first, but turns into an olive-colored dust as the gleba, the spore-producing tissue, develops to maturity and loaded with olive-brown spore mass. Then, distinct apical pore developed on the endoperidium. Rudimentary subgleba(sterile base) was narrow, chambered, delineated from the gleba by a membrane in young material. These characters suggested this fungus is a Vascellum, a member of the family Lycoperdaceae. The shapes of the spores were globose, echinulate, $3{\sim}3.5{\mu}m$ in diameter, thick-walled, and olive brown. Capillitial threads were $8-9{\mu}m$ wide, mostly colorless in KOH solution and thin-walled, which designated as "paracapillitium". This is an another character that distinguishes this mushroom from Lycoperdon spp. The spines developed on exoperidium were characteristically connivent; their apices joined together in a point, leaving a space below, which gives the appearance of vault to each group of usually 5 to 6 fibrillae. Based on the above characters, this fungus is identified as Vascellum curtisii (Berkeley). The characters distinguishable this from Lycoperdon pulcherrimum, and Vascellum pretense are discussed in detail. Control trial was also attempted. Strong vertical raking(SVR) followed by applying 500x detergent solution (Spark, Aekyung Co. Seoul) resulted in excellent control over any other treatments. In this plot, fruiting body was not developed throughout the end of mushroom growing season.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.285-291
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the surface characteristics of titanium discs coated with MS275/PLGA by electrospray and which is effective to mesenchymal stem cell proliferation. Materials and methods: We used anodized surface coated with PLGA as a control group and anodized surface coated with MS275 $0.5{\mu}M$, $1{\mu}M$, $1.5{\mu}M$ as test groups. To examine that the coating particles are nanometer sized, FE-SEM was used and AFM was utilized to determine the difference of coating surface roughness. We checked the mesenchymal stem cell proliferation by using MTT assay on $1^{st}$, $4^{th}$, $7^{th}$ days. Results: There was no significant difference between control groups and test groups in AFM results (P>.05). In MTT assay results, mesenchymal stem cell proliferation was increased with time, at $7^{th}$ day, cell viability on discs coated with $1.5{\mu}M$ MS275 was significantly higher than control group (P<.05). As SEM showed, the number of cells on all discs was increased and the morphology of cell attachment was also wider and closer with time. Conclusion: Titanium surface coated with MS275/PLGA showed significantly higher cell proliferation and the more density of MS275 was dispersed on titanium discs, the faster cells grew.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate in vitro/in vivo development of vitrified mouse oocytes. Mouse oocytes were vitrified using EFS30, 35 and 40 (30, 35 and 40% ethylene glycol, 18% ficoll and 0.5 M sucrose in M2 medium). After being exposed or vitrified-thawed, oocytes of normal morphology were inseminated in vitro by $1-2\times10^6/ml$ of epididymal sperm. The rates of fertilization, in vitro/in vivo development and cell number (inner cell mass and tropectoderm cell) of blastocysts in each treatment group were examined. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows: The cleavage rates were obtained in EFS35 containing 35% ethylene glycol higher than in EFS30 and EFS40. The development rate of vitrified-thawed oocytes to two-cell stage after in vitro fertilization (51.1%) was significantly different compared to that of exposed to vitrification solution without cooling (60.0%) and control (68.2%) (p<0.05). However, there were no differences in the blastocyst formation from the cleaved embryos among groups (75.0, 73.3 and 80.0%). Also, the mean number of cells per blastocysts of vitrified group $(92.5{\pm}2.9)$ was similar to that of the exposed $(98.5{\pm}5.3)$ and control $(100.9{\pm}4.8)$. In vivo development of the blastocysts derived from vitrified-thawed oocytes resulted in fetal development (50.7%) and implantation rates (80.0%) which are very similar to those of control (58.2, 78.2%). These results suggest that mouse oocytes could be cryopreserved using vitrification solution (EFS35) based on ethylene glycol.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.281-286
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• 2000

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD), a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, causes a variety of adverse effects on the male reproductive system in rats. The effect of green tea extract (GTE) was investigated on the testicular function in Spragure-Dawley rats after a single exposure of 10$\mu\textrm{g}$ TCDD/kg body weight. The exposure of rat to TCDD significantly increased the weights of the epididymis and ventral prostate, yet significantly decresed the weight of the seminal vesicle when compared to the controls (p<0.05). In a combined treatment of TCDD with GTE, the organ weight changes caused by TCDD treatment disappeared. Significant decreases in sperm motility and sperm numbers were observed in the TCDD-treated rats, when compared to the control (p<0.05). GTE treatment reversed the decrease of sperm motility and sperm numbers caused by TCDD. There were no differences in sperm morphology, histological changes of the reproductive organs, and spermatogenesis between all the treated groups. In the ventral prostate and seminal vesicle, TCDD increased the CYP1A1 mRNA level, however, it did not affect the estrogen receptor $\beta$ (ER-$\beta$) mRNA level. GTE treatment did not influence the effect of TCDD on the levels of CYP1A1 and Er-$\beta$ mRNA. These results seem to indicate that green tea protects the testicular function against TCDD-induced reproductive toxicity, not because of a receptor-mediated mechanism but rather due to a secondary change of testes or accessory sex organs.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2008

Osmotic pellet, which consisted of water-swellable seed layer, drug layer, and porous membrane layer, has been widely utilized in oral drug delivery system. In this work, we describe the preparation of osmotic pellet with nifedipine as model drug and a mixture of cellulose acetate (CA) and Eudragit RS as membrane layer, and then examined the drug release behavior on the variation of the thickness change of membrane layer (CA and Eudragit RS) and release media. Furthermore, we examined the nifedipine release behavior using sodium alginate as a potential membrane candidate. Osmotic pellet was obtained in the quantitative yield by fluidized bed coater. Osmotic pellet exhibited the round morphology and the size ranging $1500{\sim}1700{\mu}m$ in SEM. The nifedipine release decreased as the thickness of membrane layer (CA and Eudragit RS) increased. In addition, it observed that there is difference of release amount in between intestinal juice (pH 6.8) and gastric juice (pH 1.2). In the case of osmotic pellet coated with sodium alginate, nifedipine release behavior depended on the crosslinking of sodium alginate layer. In conclusion, we found that various membrane layers could control the release amount of nifedipine.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.301-309
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• 2009

Estrogens induce pronounced structural and functional changes in male and female reproductive system, but the exact mechanisms of estrogen are not fully understood. In relation to estrogen's function, the present study was designed to identify effects of estrogen receptor agonist, 4,4',4"- (4-propyl-[1H]-pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl)tris phenol (PPT) in the reproductive organ of the female mouse. The PPT was subcutaneously given to adult female mice at a weekly dosage of 3 mg in a volume 0.06 mL of vehicle for 3, 5 or 8 weeks whereas controls received weekly injections of the castor oil vehicle. Effects of PPT on reproductive organs were analyzed using a light microscope. PPT induced decreases of body, ovary and adipose tissue weights with experimental time. Ovary diameter of PPT treatment group was reduced as compared with control group. The number of Graffian follicle and corpus luteum was reduced in PPT treatment group. The luminal diameter of uterus was increased in relation with decrease of myometrium and endometrium height by PPT administration. The number of uterine glands was decreased by PPT treatment. These data indicate that PPT treatment induced morphological change of female reproductive organs resulting in alteration of fertility.