• Development and Reproduction
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2003

The Fas antigen (Fas) as a cell-surface receptor protein which mediates apoptosis-inducing signals plays an important role in the immune system. Expression of Fas mRNA is detected not only in lymphoid organs but also in the nonlymphoid organs. In the ovary, most of the follicles is known to undergo atreisa through apoptosis. However, the exact mechanism of atresia was not elucidated yet. Therefore, the purposes of the present study were to investigate the expression of Fas and Fas ligand in mouse ovary and to clarify the relationship between expression of Fas and Fas ligand and atresia of follicle. The result of RT-PCR demonstrated that Fas and Fas ligand mRNA was expressed in ovary, especially granulosa cells and oocytes. The immunohistochemistry showed that the granulosa cells and oocytes in growing follicles were stained for Fas and Fas ligand, but primordial follicles were not. Furthermore, Fas and Fas ligand were intensively stained in the atretic follicles As results of TUNEL staining to detect apoptotic cells in the ovaries, the number of TUNEL-positive (apoptotic) granulosa cells and oocytes increased in the atretic follicles compared to the healthy normal follicles. These results demonstrate that there is the positive relationship between expression of Fas and Fas ligand in granulosa cells and oocyies and apoptosis of them leading to atresia of follicles. It suggests that expression of Fas and Fas ligand could be associated with atresia of follicles in mouse ovary.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.425-432
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• 2000

Objective : It is well known that Gagamsojeokbackchool-san show antitumor effects and its activities are result from enhancement of immune function, we investigated the antitumor effects of Sambonggangyongbaneo-tang and its mechanism. Methods : We measured change of body weight, weight of immune organs (Spleen, Thymus), Liver, Kidney, tumor weight, cytotoxicity for investigation of antitumor effects of Sambonggangyongbaneo-tang. Results : 1. The body weight of mouse has no significant difference between control and sample groups. 2. The weights of immune organs (Spleen and Thymus) decreased significantly in sample groups. The weights of Liver and Kidney have no significant difference. 3. The tumor weights in mouse decreased significantly in sample groups and showed dose-dependent effect. 4. Cell viability of Sarcoma 180 has no significant difference in sample groups. 5. HeLa cell viability has no significant difference in low concentration, but it decreased significantly in high concentration. Conclusions : According to the above results, it could be suggested that Sambonggangyongbaneo-tang has prominant antitumor effects and cytotoxicity.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2020

NUCB2/nesfatin-1 known to regulate appetite and energy homeostasis is expressed not only in the hypothalamus, but also in various organs and tissues. Our previous reports also demonstrated that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 was expressed in the reproductive organs, including the ovaries, uterus, and testes of mice. However, it is yet known whether NUCB2/nesfatin-1 is expressed in the oviduct and how its expression is regulated. Therefore, we investigated the expression of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in the oviduct and its expression is regulated by gonadotropin. Immunohistochemical staining results showed that nesfatin-1 protein was localized in epithelial cells of the oviduct. As a result of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot, NUCB2/nesfatin-1 was detected strongly in the oviducts. During the estrus cycle, NUCB2/nesfatin-1 expression in the oviducts was markedly higher in the proestrus stage than in other estrus stages. In order to elucidate whether the expression of NUCB2 mRNA is controlled by the gonadotropins, we injected PMSG and hCG and measured NUCB2 mRNA level in the oviduct after injection. Its level was increased in the oviduct after PMSG injection, but no significant change after hCG injection. In addition, NUCB2 mRNA levels were markedly reduced after ovariectomy, while recovered after 17β-estradiol (E2) injection, but not by progesterone (P4). This study demonstrated that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 is highly expressed in the oviduct of mouse and its expression is regulated by E2 secreted by the ovaries. These results suggest that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 expressed by the oviduct may affect the function of the oviduct regulated by the ovaries.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 1986

The purpose of the study is to determine the effects of sodium alginate on the suppression of organ accumulation of heavy metals were tested by mice. The seventy mice were divided into the control group and the experimental groups. The mice of cadmium group were subdivided into three groups by dose of 10 ppm cadmium group, adding 1% sodium alginate to the diets contaminated with 10 ppm cadmium group and adding 10% sodium alginate to the diets contaminated with 10 ppm cadmium group. The mice of copper group were subdivided into three groups by dose of 10 ppm copper group, adding 1% sodium alginate to the diets contaminated with 10 ppm copper group, and adding 10% sodium alginate to the diets contaminated with 10 ppm copper group. After the series of feeding of twenty-one days, the mice were killed and examined. Organs and feces were removed and analyzed for cadmium and copper amounts. The results obtained were as follows 1. As for average body weight gains, those of control group mice were the highest than heavy metal group and those of adding 10% sodium alginate to the diets contaminated with 10 ppm copper group the lowest. 2. The amount of cadmium accumulated in liver and kidney was higher than blood. The amount of cadmium in organs was higher in cadmium group than adding sodium alginate to the diets contaminated with cadmium group. 3. The amount of copper in liver was the highest, and that of copper in blood was the lowest. 4. The excretion of heavy metals was promotioned by adding 10% sodium alginate to the diets contaminated with 10 ppm heavy metal. ( P < 0.05 ).

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to evaluate the single oral dose toxicity of Bupleuri Radix (BR) aqueous extracts, it has been traditionally used as anti-inflammatory agent, in male and female mice. BR extracts (yield = 16.52%) was administered to female and male ICR mice as an oral dose of 2,000, 1,000 and 500 mg/kg (body weight) according to the recommendation of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) Guidelines. Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in body weight, clinical signs and gross observation during 14 days after dosing, upon necropsy; organ weight and histopathology of 14 principal organs were examined. As the results, no BR extracts treatment related mortalities, clinical signs, changes on the body and organ weights, gross and histopathological observations against 14 principal organs were detected up to 2,000 mg/kg in both female and male mice, except for soft feces and related body weight decrease detected in male mice treated with 2,000 mg/kg. Therefore, $LD_{50}$ (50% lethal dose) and approximate LD of BR aqueous extracts after single oral treatment in female and male mice were considered over 2000 mg/kg, respectively. Although it was also observed that the possibilities of digestive disorders, like soft feces when administered over 2,000 mg/kg of BR extracts in the present study, these possibilities of digestive disorders can be disregard in clinical use because they are transient in the highest dosages male only.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.46-58
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• 2013

Objectives : The object of this study was to obtain acute information (single oral dose toxicity) of Scutellariae Radix Aqueous Extracts (SR; yield = 27.20%) which traditionally have been used in Korean medicine for treating various diseases including inflammatory diseases. Methods : In order to observe the 50% lethal dose ($LD_{50}$), approximate lethal dosage (ALD) and target organs, SR Aqueous Extracts were once orally administered to female and male ICR mice at dose levels of 2,000, 1,000, 500 and 0 (control) mg/kg (body weight.) according to the recommendation of KFDA Guidelines. The mortality and changes on body weight, clinical signs and gross observation were monitored during 14 days after single oral treatment of SR according to KFDA Guidelines with organ weights and histopathological observations of 14 types of principle organs. Results : After single oral treatment of SR, we could not find any mortality and toxicological evidences up to 2,000 mg/kg treated group, the limited dosages in rodents, on the body and organ weights, clinical signs, gross and histopathological observations, except for some accidental findings. Conclusions : The results obtained in this study suggest that the $LD_{50}$ and ALD of SR in both female and male mice after single oral treatment be considered as over 2,000 mg/kg because no mortalities were detected up to 2,000 mg/kg that was the highest dose recommended by KFDA and OECD, and can be safely used in clinics.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.201-207
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• 2004

Objective: The Id family of helix-loop-helix proteins are thought to affect the balance between cell growth and differentiation by negatively regulating the function of basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcriptional factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of Ids (Id-1, -2, -3, and -4) in preimplantation mouse embryos at mRNA and protein levels. Methods: Oocytes and preimplantation embryos were collected from reproductive organs of female ICR mice following superovulation. RT-PCR was performed to investigate the mRNA expression patterns of Id genes and their protein were localized by immunofluorescence analysis. Results: Id-1 and Id-3 mRNAs were strongly expressed at the germinal vesicle (GV) oocyte and the blastocyst stages. Id-2 mRNA was expressed throughout preimplantation embryo development, but Id-4 was not expressed. Immunofluorescence showed that Id-1 and Id-2 were predominantly localized in cytoplasmic region, but the immunofluorescence signal of Id-3 was weak throughout preimplantation embryo development. Conclusion: These data show for the first time that Ids are expressed in preimplantation mouse embryos and suggest that Ids may play an important role in early preimplantation embryo development and uterine physiological changes.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.171-185
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• 2007

1. Objectvies This experimental study was designed to investigate the effect of cheongpesagan-tang extract on the obstruction of the lipase activity and weight, plasma, UCP1, 2 mRNA in db/db mouse. Material and Methods: The body weight loss, food intake, feeding efficiency ratio, weight of the internal organs (liver, kidney, epididymal fat, brown adipose tissue), plasma glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, white adipose tissue, adipocyte size distribution, expression of UCP1, 2 mRNA were measured in db/db mouse administered Cheongpesagan-tang extract for 6 weeks. These were then compared with those of control groups administered the diet. 2. Results 1) Inhibitory effect against lipase activity was Kilgyung(81.7%), Nabokja (73.1%), Seungma(73.0%), Daewhang (68.4%), Kalgeun (55.3%), Kobon(34.5%), Hwanggeum(4.2%). 2) In the sample group, the body weight was significantly decrease than that of control group. 3) In the sample group, the weight of epididymal fat showed significantly decrease than that of control group. 4) In the sample group, triglyceride showed significantly decrease than that of control group. 5) In the sample group, distribution of adipose tissue showed significantly larger than that of control group. 6) In the sample group, UCP1, 2 mRNA in BAT showed significantly increase than that of control group. 3. Conclusions These results show that cheongpesagan-tang has an effect on the treatment of obesity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.555-563
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• 1996

A membrane-bound phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PI 4-kinase) was separated in a sucrose gradient and solubilized with 1% Triton X-100 from mouse brain. The enzyme was purified 2,952-fold by various chromatographic techniques including DEAE-cellulose, PI-Sepharose and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration. The molecular weight of PI 4-kinase was approximately 76 kDa by gel filtration and 70.8 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme exhibited specific activity of 11.2 nmol/min/mg protein and pi value of 4.7. Kinetic analysis of the PI 4-kinase indicated apparent $K_m$, values of 190 ${\mu}M$ and 120 ${\mu}M$ for phosphatidylinositol and ATP, respectively. The maximal activity of this purified enzyme was observed at pH 7.4 at an incubation temperature of $37^{\circ}C$. The enzyme activity was significantly activated by $Mg^{2+}$, $Mn^{2+}$ and $Fe^{2+}$, and inhibited severely by $Ca^{2+}$. PI 4-kinase was proved to be pure in its immunoblot test by polyclonal antibody prepared from immunized rabbit sera. By this test, we were able to detect the existence of the same type of PI 4-kinase from other mouse organ tissues, such as liver, heart, kidney and spleen. Furthermore, similar immunoblot analysis with the same antisera recognized the different epitopes of PI 4-kinase proteins from various organs of rabbit, chinese hamster and rat.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.106-115
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• 2022

Background: Current research suggests that humans are exposed to microplastics through consumption of foods and beverages, the airway route, and a variety of other means. Objectives: We evaluated oxidative stress and inflammation from polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) in the neonatal liver through intragastric administration or intratracheal instillation in pregnant mice. Methods: PE-MPs were administered from gestational day 9 to postnatal day 7. The intragastric administration group (0.01 mg/mouse/day or 0.1 mg/mouse/day) and intratracheal instillation group (6 ㎍/mouse/day or 60 ㎍/mouse/day) of PE-MPs were administered. After sacrifice, the oxidative stress and inflammation of the neonatal livers were measured. Results: As a result of the oxidative stress caused by PE-MPs in the neonatal livers, glutathione peroxidase decreased in a concentration-dependent manner in the intragastric administration group compared to the control group and intratracheal instillation decreased in high concentration PE-MPs. The catalase level increased at high concentrations of intragastric administration and intratracheal instillation. To confirm the level of inflammation caused by PE-MPs, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and tumor necrosis factoralpha were increased compared to the control group except for intratracheal intilation-high concentration PEMPs. The C-reactive protein level was decreased by intragastric administration compared to the control group and intratracheal instillation was increased compared to the control group. Conclusions: Despite the difficulty in comparing the toxic intensity between intragastric administration and intratracheal instillation of PE-MPs, our study revealed that oxidative stress and inflammation were induced in the neonatal liver. However, it is necessary to evaluate the toxic effects of microplastics on various organs as well. Overall, the present study indicates that the evaluation of toxic effects of long-term microplastic exposure, potential of microplastic toxicity on next-generation offspring and toxicity mechanism in human should be considered for further investigations.