• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.63-67
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• 2012

Spaceflight induces a number of cardiovascular physiological alterations. To study adaptations to microgravity on Earth, the tail-suspended, hindlimb-unloaded rat model has been used to simulate the effects of microgravity. Despite the extensive use of this model to infer physiological adaptations of many organs to microgravity, little information has been obtained on the effect of tail suspension(TS) on cardiac adaptations in the rat. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of simulated microgravity on the rat myocardium using the TS model. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 3 experimental groups(1, 7 and 14 days of TS) and a control group. A microscopic examination was performed to assess histopathological changes in the myocardial morphology. The hearts from the control group, the 1 day-TS rats and the 7 day-TS rats revealed no evident abnormalities in cardiomyocyte size and morphology. At day 14 of TS, in contrast, the ventricular cardiomyocytes appeared more separated from each other and were slightly smaller in size compared with those of the control group. Also seen were scattered areas exhibiting focal disorganization of muscle fibers and some degenerating cardiomyocytes, of which the nuclei had become pyknotic or disappeared. In this study, we demonstrated that the ventricular cardiomyocytes underwent degeneration and atrophy at the microscopic level during exposure to simulated microgravity in TS rats.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.189-200
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• 1981

Drastic alterations in myogenesis could be induced by ultraviolet irradiation of the myogenic cells derived from 12 day old chick embryo skeletal muscle. The effects of irradiation on various aspects, including cell division, transformation to myotubes, and morphology of myoblasts and myotubes, were examined. Irradiated cells were smaller in size, and only few cells transformed resulting in smaller size of myotubes with a narrow width. Both the inhibiting actions to cell division and to fusion were more striking when irradiated at earlier stages after plating. As well, cell division and fusion were inhibited more effectively with increasing UV dose and excessive amount caused cell death. A lowering cell density was thought to account for the decrease in myogenesis and possible reasons for the decrease in the capacity for fusion were discussed in view of the results presented in this report and of the findings from other laboratories.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2024

Hypogonadism is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease. This study sought to describe the histomorphology of the left coronary arteries of the adult male rabbit following orchiectomy and subsequent testosterone administration. We included 20 adult male rabbits, divided into a baseline group (n=2), an interventional group subjected to castration only (n=6), an intervention group subjected to castration followed by testosterone injection (n=6), and a control group (n=6). Key variables under investigation were serum testosterone levels, the intima-media thickness of coronary arteries, smooth muscle cell density, and adventitial collagen fiber density. The mean coronary arteries' intimal medial thickness was significantly higher in the castrated group than in controls (0.488 mm and 0.388 mm, respectively), while the testosterone-injected group had a mean of 0.440 mm. Mean smooth muscle cell density was significantly lower in the castrated rabbits vs. controls (26.96% and 47.80%, respectively), this observation being reversed with testosterone injection (47.53%). Mean adventitial collagen fiber density was significantly higher in the castrated group than in controls (66.6% and 36.1%, respectively), with a marginal difference after testosterone injection (65.2%). This study demonstrates that castrationinduced hypogonadism causes morphological changes in the coronary arteries that are partly reversible using testosterone injections. These findings provide a morphological basis for understanding the role of testosterone in coronary arteries.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1055-1060
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• 2004

Apoptosis is the ability of cells to self-destruct by the activation of an intrinsic cellular suicide program when the cells are no longer needed or when they are seriously damaged. Morphologically, apoptosis is characterized by the appearance of membrane blebbing, cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, DNA cleavage, and the fragmentation of the cell membrane-bound apoptotic bodies. Siegesbeckia glabrescens Makino (Siegesbeckiae Herba, SG) has been widely used as treatments for arthritis, and fever, as well as detoxification properties. The present studies were undertaken to evaluate if SG has an anti-apoptotic property. Cell viability was measured by XTT and tryphan blue stain. Morphological characteristic of human aortic smooth muscle cells(HASMC) were visualized with a phase-contrast microscope. SG significantly reduced HASMC, but not human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC), viability in a dose-dependent manner. Confluent untreated cells at 24hrs showed normal morphology, flat with a uniform polygonal shape. SG-treated cells (0.5㎎/㎖) at 24hrs showed apoptotic morphology. Cells became irregular with elongated lamellipodia, and exhibited condensed chromatin in nuclei with occasional endoucleation. There was an increase in the number of apoptotic cells rounding-up and being detached from the substrate. TUNEL staining of SG-treated cells showed dark-brown stains in nuclei and cytosol. Caspases are central components of the machinery responsible for apoptosis and are generally divided into two categories; the initiator caspases, which include caspases-2,-8,-9, and -10, and the effector caspases, which include caspases-3,-6, and -7. SG decreased anti-caspase-3 protein expression, which means activation of caspases-3 activity. It has been reported that there is a link between NO formation and apoptosis. NO production was accelerated by SG treatment in HASMC. L-NNA, NOS inhibitor, inhibited SG-induced apoptosis. These results, therefore, indicated that both caspases-3 and NO production are involved in apoptosis in smooth muscle cells. According to these results, SG may have a potential effect in the treatment of hypertensive atherosclerosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.317-324
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• 2010

We elucidated the distribution of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in human stomach, using cryosection and $c-Kit$ immunohistochemistry to identify $c-Kit$ positive ICC. Before $c-Kit$ staining, we routinely used hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining to identify every structure of human stomach, from mucosa to longitudinal muscle. HE staining revealed that the fundus greater curvature (GC) had prominent oblique muscle layer, and $c-Kit$ immunostaining $c-Kit$ positive ICC cells were found to have typical morphology of dense fusiform cell body with multiple processes protruding from the central cell body. In particular, we could observe dense processes and ramifications of ICC in myenteric area and longitudinal muscle layer of corpus GC. Interestingly, $c-Kit$ positive ICC-like cells which had morphology very similar to ICC were found in gastric mucosa. We could not find any significant difference in the distribution of ICC between fundus and corpus, except for submucosa where the density of ICC was much higher in gastric fundus than corpus. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the density of ICC between each area of fundus and corpus, except for muscularis mucosa. Finally, we also found similar distribution of ICC in normal and cancerous tissue obtained from a patient who underwent pancreotomy and gastrectomy. In conclusion, ICC was found ubiquitously in human stomach and the density of ICC was significantly lower in the muscularis mucosa of both fundus/corpus and higher in the submucosa of gastric fundus than corpus.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.78-78
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• 2003

Adult stem cells can make identical copies of themselves for long periods of time. They also give rise to many differentiated mature cell types that have characteristic morphology and specialized function. Human adult stem cells are the attractive raw materials for the cell/tissue therapy, however, it is not easy to get from the adult tissues. In the present study, we tried to isolate a cell population derived from human umbilical cord vein which has been discarded after birth. The cells were isolated after treatment of the umbilical vein with collagenase or trypsin. After 3 days of culture, two kinds of cell populations were found consisting of adherent cells with endothelial cell-like and fibroblast-like morphology, respectively. When these cells were subcultured 12 times over a period of 3 months, almost cells appeared uniformly to exhibit fibroblastoid morphology which was different from that of mesenchymal stem cells obtained from human bone marrow The results of RT-PCR analyses showed distinct expression of BMP-4, oct-4, and SCF genes but not of GATA, PAX-6 and Brachyury genes. On immunohistochemical staining, the cells were negative for the von Willebrand factor(vWF), alpha-smooth muscle actin and placental alkaline phosphatase. From these observations, it is suggested that stem-like cells might be present in human umbilical cord vein.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.447-455
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• 2012

Akt plays an important role in a variety of cellular physiologies such as growth, proliferation, and differentiation. In skeletal muscle, Akt has been implicated in regulating regeneration, hypertrophy, and atrophy. In this study, the role of Akt has been examined during skeletal muscle differentiation. Culturing C2C12 myoblasts under low serum (1% horse serum) and high density converted cell morphology from a round shape to an elongated and multi-nucleated shape. Morphological changes were initiated from day 2 of differentiation. In addition, the expression of both myogenin G and myogenin D was elevated from day 2 of differentiation. Skeletal muscle differentiation was abolished by silencing Akt1 or Akt2, but was significantly enhanced by the over-expression of either Akt1 or Akt2. The activation of Akt was observed from day 2 of differentiation and disappeared after day 7. The expression of kruppel-like factor 4 was observed from day 6 of differentiation. Moreover, this expression was blocked in cells silencing either Akt1 or Akt2. In addition, the promoter activity of kruppel-like factor 4 was significantly reduced in cells silencing Akt1 or Akt2. These results suggest that Akt regulates skeletal muscle differentiation through the regulation of kruppel-like factor 4 expression.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.477-483
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• 2015

Characteristics of snake reproductive organs that are relatively less affected by external environmental conditions can be used as an important means of classification; additionally, such characteristics can provide useful information on a species' reproductive system. In this study, we compared the testis weights, hemipenis lengths and retractor muscle lengths of male Oocatochus rufodorsatus and Rhabdophis tigrinus in Colubridae and Gloydius saxatilis, G. brevicaudus and G. ussuriensis in Viperidae. The snake snout-vent lengths (SVLs) were positively related to the three reproductive organ sizes, but the body weight only exhibited a positive relationship with the testis weight. The three organs did not significantly differ on the left and right sides. The relative testis weights and retractor muscle lengths (divided by the body weight and SVL, respectively) of the Colubridae snakes were greater than for the Viperidae snakes, but the relative hemipenis lengths (divided by SVL) did not differ between the two groups. The relative testis weight of G. saxatilis and the relative retractor muscle lengths of the Viperidae snakes were smaller compared with the Colubridae snakes. The relative hemipenis length of O. rufodorsatus was greater than for R. tigrinus, G. saxatilis and G. brevicaudus. Additional comparisons were not significant. Our results may facilitate further studies on hemipenial morphology and mating competition in Korean snakes. This is the first study on Korean snake reproductive organs.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.23-45
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• 1990

It is the aim of this study to determine the effects of facial denervation on physiological properties of facial muscles and facial bones in growing rabbits. Experimental animals of fifty two Oryctolagus cuniculus rabbits were employed. Unilateral dissection of facial nerve was carried out on twelve rabbits, bilateral dissection of facial nerve was made on another twelve rabbits and the other twenty rabbits were on unilateral dissection of facial nerve for the histochemical analyses. Six rabbits on the bilateral surgical sham operations and six rabbits of non-intervention served the control groups. EMG records of the orbicularis oris, buccinator and masseter muscles as well as lateral and dorsoventral cephalometric films were taken and analyzed at 0, 1, 2, 5 and 8 weeks respectively. The orbicularis oris, buccinator and masseter muscles of both sides were removed from the animals of the histochemistry group and muscle fibers were classified on the basis of histochemical staining for $\alpha$-GPD, NADH-D and myosin ATPase. EMG activities of orbicularis oris and buccinator muscles were vanished immediately after denervation. Recovery of activities were detected one week after denervation in buccinator and five weeks in orbicularis oris muscles. Histochemical properties of masseter muscles remained as fast glycolytic through the experimental period. Orbicularis oris muscle fibers showed the gradual diminution of size and ratio of the slow oxidative fibers accompanied with atrophy, phagocytosis and vacuolation as well as the augmentation of fast oxidative glycolytic fibers. The buccinator muscle manifested the augmentation of fast oxidative glycolytic fibers at five weeks of experiment. Visual changes in morphology of craniofacial area were not evident, however it variety of subtle changes were apparent from statistical analysis of cephalometric measurements. It is concluded facial nerve regulates the physiological properties of facial muscles and interrelation between the function of the facial muscles and changes of facial bones would be in some degrees.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.389-423
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• 1998

This investigation was designed to determine the effectiveness of the posterior occlusal schemes on masticatory activity during mastication in complete denture. Twelve edentulous subjects were selected for this study. All subjects had no past history and no functional abnormality on masticatory system and TMjoint. And, they had residual ridge of favorable morphology, firm mucosa and Class I skeletal jaw relationship, Twelve experimental denture with interchangeable occlusions(0-degree teeth, 30-degree teeth, Levin teeth and S-A teeth) were constructed for this study. The masticatory performance was analyzed by means of standard sieve(10, 16, 20, 30sieve), and the electrical activity from selected muscles(Temporalis and Masseter muscle) was recorded simultaneously with electromyography (Bio-Pak system) as the subject masticated test foods (rice, peanut and gum) with four different occlusal schemes. Mandibular movement was, also, measured with Sirognathography(Bio-Pak system). These recordings were performed in immediately, after 1 week and after 2 weeks of insertion of complete denture. The results were as fellows; 1. The average masticatory performance of 0-degree artificial teeth was higher than any other artificial teeth. 2. Masticatory performance in denture wearer was affected preferentially by food and artificial occlusal schemes. 3. During chewing, there was a statistical difference of EMG activity between masseter and temporal muscle(p<0.01). Especially, EMG activity of working masticatory muscle was highly affected by food rather than by artificial occlusal schemes. 4. In denture wearer, the velocity of opening was not affected by food, whereas, the velocity of closing was faster in soft food chewing than in hard food chewing, and the amount of vertical displacement was grater in chewing of soft and large bolus than in chewing of hard and small bolus. However, the amount of lateral displacement showed conversely(p<0.05). 5. It was considered that masticatory performance in denture wearer is not affected by the condition of residual ridge. the history of denture wear, the preference, the adaptation to artificial teeth and the total mesiodistal length of artificial posterior teeth.