• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.411-418
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• 2007

Exposure to low frequency noise(LFN) can lead to vibroacoustic diseases(VADs), which include a systemic disease with lesions in a broad spectrum of organs and a psychiatric condition. It is known that VAD is an established risk factor for the development of many psychological conditions in humans and rodents, including major depression and anxiety disorder. The present study investigated the effects of LFN on neuronal stress responses in the rat brain. The neuronal expression of the proto-oncogene c-fos in the paraventricular nucleus(PVN) of the hypothalamus and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) in the LC was observed. The immunocytochemical detection of the Fos protein and TH has been used as a marker of neuronal activation in response to stress. In addition, corticosterone concentration was evaluated by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The LFN groups were exposed to 32.5Hz and 125Hz of noise(4hr/day for 2days). The numbers of c-fos and TH-immunoreactive cells in the PVN and LC were significantly increased in the LFN groups(32.5Hz and 125Hz) compared to the normal group. Corticosterone concentration in plasma was also increased in LFN groups. The present results demonstrated that exposure with LFN produced a pronounced increase in expression of c-Fos and TH in stress-relevant brain areas. These results suggest that the neural characteristics involved in LFN are similar to those activated by typical processive stressors. These results also suggest that the central and peripheral activations by LFN may be related to LFN-related negative behavioral dysfunctions such as VADs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.101-101
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• 2003

Main strategy for a treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD), due to a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, is a pharmaceutical supplement of dopamine derivatives or ceil replacement therapy. Both of these protocols have pros and cons; former exhibiting a dramatic relief but causing a severe side effects on long-term prescription and latter also having a proven effectiveness but having availability and ethical problems Embryonic stem (ES) cells have several characteristics suitable for this purpose. To investigate a possibility of using ES cells as a carrier of therapeutic gene(s), human ES (hES, MB03) cells were transfected with cDNAs coding for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in pcDNA3.1 (+) and the transfectants were selected using neomycin (250 $\mu /ml$). Expression of TH being confirmed, two of the positive clone (MBTH2 & 8) were second transfected with GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GTPCH 1) in pcDNA3.1 (+)-hyg followed by selection with hygromycin-B (150 $\mu /ml$) and RT-PCR confirmation. By immune-cytochemistry, these genetically modified but undifferentiated dual drug-resistant cells were found to express few of the neuronal markers, such as NF200, $\beta$-tubulin, and MAP2 as well as astroglial marker GFAP. This results suggest that over-production of BH4 by ectopically expressed GTPCH I may be involved in the induction of those markers. Transplantation of the cells into striatum of 6-OHDA- denervated PD animal model relieved symptomatic rotational behaviors of the animals. Immunohistochemical analyses showed the presence of human cells within the striatum of the recipients. These results suggest a possibility of using hES cells as a carrier of therapeutic gene(s).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1565-1570
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• 2016

Background: Central neurocytomas are rare neuronal neoplasms with a favorable prognosis. They are typically located in the lateral ventricles of the brain and mostly histologically correspond to WHO grade II with a Mib 1 labelling index of <2%. Similar tumors located in the cerebral hemispheres and spinal cord, for example, are called "extraventricular neurocytomas". A few tumors histologically show atypia, mitoses, vascular proliferation and/or necrosis and a Mib 1 index >2 % and are designated as "atypical neurocytomas. Aim: The aim of our study was to describe the common as well as unusual morphologic features and the role of various immunohistochemical stains in the diagnosis of these rare tumors. Materials and Methods: We retrieved and reviewed 35 cases diagnosed between 2001 and 2015. Results: Sixty percent of patients were males, and the mean age was 26 years. 31 cases (88.6%) were intraventricular and 4(11.4%) were extraventricular. Histologically, 6 cases (17.1%) were compatible with "atypical neurocytomas". All cases showed the classic morphology comprising nests and sheets of uniform, round cells with uniform round to oval nuclei with finely speckled chromatin and perinuclear cytoplasmic clearing (halos). All cases also showed delicate, fibrillary, neuropil-like matrices. Other common histologic features included capillary-sized blood vessels in a branching pattern in 57.1%, foci of calcification in 34.3% and perivascular pseudorosettes in 20%. Rare findings included Homer-Wright or true rosettes in 8.6% and ganglioid cells in 2.9%. Synaptophysin was the most consistent and valuable marker, being positive in almost all cases. GFAP positivity in tumor cells was seen in 25.7% of cases. Follow up was available in 13 patients. Of these 9 had histologically typical and 4 had atypical tumors. Only 1 (with an atypical neurocytoma) died, probably due to complications of surgery within one month, while 12 (including 3 with atypical neurocytomas) remained alive. Recurrence developed in 1 of these 12 patients (histologically consistent with typical morphology) almost 9 years after surgery. Only 4 patients, including 2 with atypical tumors, received postoperative radiotherapy, all with surgery in 2010 or later. Overall, prognosis was excellent with prolonged, recurrence free survival and most patients, even without receiving radiation therapy, were alive and well for many years, even a decade or more after surgery, without developing any recurrence, indicating the benign nature of these neoplasms.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.34-44
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• 1999

Ischemic damage in the selectively vulnerable populations of neurons is thought to be caused by an abnormal accumulation of intracellular calcium. It has been reported that the neurons, expressing specific calcium binding proteins, might effectively control intracellular calcium concentrations because of a high capacity to buffer intracellular calcium in the brain ischemic condition. It is uncertain that parvalbumin, one of the calcium binding proteins, can protect the neurons from the cerebral ischemic damage. Recently, treatment of kappa opioid agonists increased survival rate, improved neurological function, and decreased tissue damage under the cerebral ischemic condition. Many evidences indicate that these therapeutic effects might result from regulation of calcium concentration. This study was designed to analyze the changes of number in parvalbumin-positive neurons after cerebral ischemic damage according to timepoints after cerebral ischemic induction. In addition, we evaluated the effect of GR89696 (kappa opioid agonist) or naltrexone(non selective opioid antagonist) on the changes of number in parvalbumin expressing neurons under ischemic condition. Cerebral ischemia was induced by occluding the common carotid artery of experimental animals. The hippocampal areas were morphometrically analyzed at different time point after ischemic induction(1, 3, 5 days) by using immuno-histochemical technique and imaging analysis system. The number of parvalbumin-positive neurons in hippocampus was significantly reduced at 1 day after ischemia(p<0.05). Furthermore, the number of parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons was dramatically reduced at 3 and 5 days after cerebral ischemic induction(p<0.05) as compared to 1 day group after ischemia, as well as sham control group. Significant reduction of parvalbumin positive neurons in CA1 region of hippocampus was observed at 1 day after cerebral ischemic induction. However, significant loss of MAP2 immunoreactivity was observed at 3 day after cerebral ischemia. The loss of parvalbumin-positive neurons and MAP2 immunoreactivity in CA1 region was prevented by pre-administration of GR89696 compared to that of saline-treated ischemic group. Furthermore, protective effect of GR89696 partially reversed by pre-treatment of naltrexone. These data indicate that parvalbumin-positive neurons more sensitively responded to cerebral ischemic damage than MAP2 protein. Moreover, this loss of parvalbumin-positive neurons was effectively prevented by the pretreatment of kappa opioid agonist. It was also suggested that the changes of number in parvalbumin-positive neurons could be used as the specific marker to analyze the degree of ischemic neuronal damage.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.295-300
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• 1993

Central nervous system of two dogs with natural canine distemper was investigated histopathologically and immunocytochemically with antisera to MBP, MAG and GFAP. Histopathologically, there were neuronal degeneration and diffuse gliosis in the cerebrum, vacuolar degeneration, hypertrophy of astrocytes and demyelination in cerebellar white matter adjacent to the 4th ventricle and optic tracts showing non-inflammatory demyelinating encephalomyelitis (Summers and Appel, 1987). Immunohistochemically, there was a concurrent disappearance of MBP and MAG in the well developed demyelinating lesion in the cerebellar white matter. At the margin of demyelination, Loss of both MBP and MAG varied on the stage of demyelinating process. GFAP-positive astrocytes were hypertrophied and contained canine distemper virus intranuclear inclusions. GFAP-positive fibers were increased at the early stage of demyelination, and then were not immunoreaeted at the well developed demyelination. Hypertrophic astrocytes with intranuclear inclusions were commonly identified in the interfascular layer without myelin vacuolation and demyelination. This is the first study of primary demyelination and astroglial reactions in natural CDE investigated using immunocytochemistry of two myelin proteins and GFAP. Concurrent loss of MBP and MAG suggest that the myelin sheath is the target in the demyelinating process in CDE.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.247-252
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• 2004

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells are derived from the inner cell mass of the preimplantation embryo. Human ES cells have the capacity to differentiate into various types of cells in the body. Human ES cells are indefinite source of cells for cell therapy in various degenerative disorders including neuronal disorders. Directed differentiation of human ES cells is a prerequisite for their clinical application. The objective of this study is to develop the culture condition for the derivation of neural precursor cells from human ES cells. Neural precursor cells were derived from human ES cells in a stepwise culture condition. Neural precursor cells in the form of neural rosette structures developed into neurospheres when cultured in suspension. Suspension culture of neurospheres has been maintained over 4 months. Expressions of nestin, soxl, sox2, pax3 and pax6 transcripts were upregulated during differentiation into neural precursor cells by RT-PCR analysis. In contrast, expression of oct4 was dramatically downregulated in neural precursor cells. Immunocytochemical analyses of neural precursor cells demonstrated expression of nestin and SOX1. When induced to differentiate on an adhesive substrate, neuro-spheres were able to differentiate into three lineages of neural systems, including neurons, astrocytes and oligo-dendrocytes. Transcripts of sox1 and pax6 were downregulated during differentiation of neural precursor cells into neurons. In contrast, expression of map2ab was elevated in the differentiated cells, relative to those in neural precursor cells. Neurons derived from neural precursor cells expressed NCAM, Tuj1, MAP2ab, NeuN and NF200 in immunocytochemical analyses. Presence of astrocytes was confirmed by expression of GFAP immuno-cytochemically. Oligodendrocytes were also observed by positive immuno-reactivities against oligodendrocyte marker O1. Results of this study demonstrate that a stepwise culture condition is developed for the derivation of neural precursor cells from human ES cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1532-1540
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• 2013

T-box transcription factor 2 (Tbr2) is a member of the T-box family of transcription factors and it plays an important role in brain development, progenitor cell proliferation, and the modulation of differentiation and function in immune cells, such as CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells. This study aims to elucidate the involvement of Tbr2 in the pathophysiological events following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus in mice. Status epilepticus resulted in prominent neuronal cell death in discrete brain regions, such as CA3, the hilus, and the piriform cortex. Interestingly, when the immunoreactivity of Tbr2 was examined two days after status epilepticus, it was transiently increased in CA3 and in the piriform cortex. Tbr2-positive cells in CA3 and the piriform cortex were double-labeled with CD11b, a marker of microglia and a subset of white blood cells, such as monocytes, CD8+ T cells, and natural killer cells. Moreover, the double-labeled cells with Tbr2 and CD11b showed amoeboid morphology, and this data indicates that Tbr2-expressing cells may be reactive microglia or infiltrating white blood cells. Furthermore, clustered Tbr2-positive cells were observed in the platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1)-positive blood vessels near the CA3 area, which suggests that Tbr2-positive cells may be infiltrating the white blood cells. Based on this data, this study is the first to indicate the involvement of Tbr2 in neuropathophysiology in status epilepticus.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.266-271
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• 2017

Synthetic cannabinoids are one of most abused new psychoactive substances. The recreational use of abused drug has aroused serious concerns about the consequences of these drugs on infection. However, the effects of synthetic cannabinoid on resistance to tetanus toxin are not fully understood yet. In the present study, we aimed to determine if the administration of synthetic cannabinoids increase the susceptibility to tetanus toxin-induced motor behavioral deficit and functional changes in cerebellar neurons in mice. Furthermore, we measured T lymphocytes marker levels, such as CD8 and CD4 which against tetanus toxin. JWH-210 administration decreased expression levels of T cell activators including cluster of differentiation (CD) $3{\varepsilon}$, $CD3{\gamma}$, CD74p31, and CD74p41. In addition, we demonstrated that JWH-210 induced motor impairment and decrement of vesicle-associated membrane proteins 2 levels in the cerebellum of mice treated with tetanus toxin. Furthermore, cerebellar glutamatergic neuronal homeostasis was hampered by JWH-210 administration, as evidenced by increased glutamate concentration levels in the cerebellum. These results suggest that JWH-210 may increase the vulnerability to tetanus toxin via the regulation of immune function.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.461-470
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• 2000

Objective : Many investigators have demonstrated the protective effects of hypothermia following traumatic brain injury(TBI) in both animals and humans. It has long been recognized that mild to moderate hypothermia improves neurologic outcomes as well as reduces histologic and biochemical sequelae after TBI. In this study, two immunohistochemical staining using terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated biotin dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL), staining of apoptosis, and ${\beta}$-amyloid precursor protein(${\beta}$-APP), a marker of axonal injury, were done and the authors evaluated the protective effects of hypothermia on axonal and neuronal injury after TBI in rats. Material and Method : The animals were prepared for the delivery of impact-acceleration brain injury as described by Marmarou and colleagues. TBI is achieved by allowing of a weight drop of 450gm, 1 m height to fall onto a metallic disc fixed on the intact skull of the rats. Fourty Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 400 to 450g were subjected to experimental TBI induced by an impact-acceleration device. Twenty rats were subjected to hypothermia after injury, with their rectal temperatures maintained at $32^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour. After this 1-hour period of hypothermia, rewarming to normothermic levels was accomplished over 30-minute period. Following 12 hours, 24 hours, 1 week and 2 weeks later the animals were killed and semiserial sagittal sections of the brain were reacted for visualization of the apoptosis and ${\beta}$-APP. Results : The density of ${\beta}$-APP marked damaged axons within the corticospinal tract at the pontomedullary junction and apoptotic cells at the contused cerebral cortex were calculated for each animal. In comparison with the untreated controls, a significant reduction in ${\beta}$-APP marked damaged axonal density and apoptotic cells were found in all hypothermic animals(p<0.05). Conclusion : This study shows that the posttraumatic hypothermia result in substantial protection in TBI, at least in terms of the injured axons and neurons.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.327-335
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• 2019

As the elderly population is increasing, Alzheimer's disease (AD) has become a global issue and many clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate treatments for AD. As these clinical trials have been conducted and have failed, the development of new theraphies for AD with fewer adverse effects remains a challenge. In this study, we examined the effects of Theracurmin on cognitive decline using 5XFAD mice, an AD mouse model. Theracurmin is more bioavailable form of curcumin, generated with submicron colloidal dispersion. Mice were treated with Theracurmin (100, 300 and 1,000 mg/kg) for 12 weeks and were subjected to the novel object recognition test and the Barnes maze test. Theracurmin-treated mice showed significant amelioration in recognition and spatial memories compared those of the vehicle-treated controls. In addition, the antioxidant activities of Theracurmin were investigated by measuring the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels. The increased MDA level and decreased SOD and GSH levels in the vehicle-treated 5XFAD mice were significantly reversed by the administration of Theracurmin. Moreover, we observed that Theracurmin administration elevated the expression levels of synaptic components, including synaptophysin and post synaptic density protein 95, and decreased the expression levels of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), a marker of activated microglia. These results suggest that Theracurmin ameliorates cognitive function by increasing the expression of synaptic components and by preventing neuronal cell damage from oxidative stress or from the activation of microglia. Thus, Theracurmin would be useful for treating the cognitive dysfunctions observed in AD.