• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.426-431
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• 2015

Odin has been implicated in the downstream signaling pathway of receptor tyrosine kinases, such as the epidermal growth factor and Eph receptors. However, the physiologically relevant function of Odin needs to be further determined. In this study, we used Odin heterozygous mice to analyze the Odin expression pattern; the targeted allele contained a ${\beta}$-geo gene trap vector inserted into the 14t intron of the Odin gene. Interestingly, we found that Odin was exclusively expressed in ependymal cells along the brain ventricles. In particular, Odin was highly expressed in the subcommissural organ, a small ependymal glandular tissue. However, we did not observe any morphological abnormalities in the brain ventricles or ependymal cells of Odin null-mutant mice. We also generated BAC transgenic mice that expressed the PTB-deleted Odin (dPTB) after a floxed GFP-STOP cassette was excised by tissue-specific Cre expression. Strikingly, Odin-dPTB expression played a causative role in the development of the hydrocephalic phenotype, primarily in the midbrain. In addition, Odin-dPTB expression disrupted proper development of the subcommissural organ and interfered with ependymal cell maturation in the cerebral aqueduct. Taken together, our findings strongly suggest that Odin plays a role in the differentiation of ependymal cells during early postnatal brain development.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine awareness of biomedical ethics, and to identify affecting factors of the awareness of biomedical ethics in nursing students. Methods: The subjects consisted of 266 nursing students their third and fourth years of study. The data were collected from October to December, 2015 by self-report using questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using SPSS/WIN 18.0, descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, $Scheff{\acute{e}}$ test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The mean score of the awareness of biomedical ethics was $2.81{\pm}0.22$, perception of death was $3.15{\pm}0.36$, and knowledge of brain death, organ donation, and organ transplant was $12.12{\pm}3.02$. The prediction factors of awareness of biomedical ethics were gender (${\beta}=.29$, p<.001), participation in religious activity (${\beta}=.23$, p=.015), and perception of death (${\beta}=.20$, p=.016). The explanation power was 17.1%. Conclusion: These results showed that education about biomedical ethics is necessary for nursing students, and the development of biomedical ethics educational programs should reflect affecting factors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.441-452
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• 2020

In vivo animal models are limited in their ability to mimic the extremely complex systems of the human body, and there is increasing disquiet about the ethics of animal research. Many authorities in different geographical areas are considering implementing a ban on animal testing, including testing for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, there is a need for research into systems that can replicate the responses of laboratory animals and simulate environments similar to the human body in a laboratory. An in vitro two-dimensional cell culture model is widely used, because such a system is relatively inexpensive, easy to implement, and can gather considerable amounts of reference data. However, these models lack a real physiological extracellular environment. Recent advances in stem cell biology, tissue engineering, and microfabrication techniques have facilitated the development of various 3D cell culture models. These include multicellular spheroids, organoids, and organs-on-chips, each of which has its own advantages and limitations. Organoids are organ-specific cell clusters created by aggregating cells derived from pluripotent, adult, and cancer stem cells. Patient-derived organoids can be used as models of human disease in a culture dish. Biomimetic organ chips are models that replicate the physiological and mechanical functions of human organs. Many organoids and organ-on-a-chips have been developed for drug screening and testing, so competition for patents between countries is also intensifying. We analyzed the scientific and technological trends underlying these cutting-edge models, which are developed for use as non-animal models for testing safety and efficacy at the nonclinical stages of drug development.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2004

Gonadosomatic index, condition index and reproductive cycle with the gonadal development of the female Octopus ocellatus were investigated by histological observations and morphometric data, from January to December, 2000. And changes in biochemical components of the ovary and the trunk tissues including the digestive organ associated with gonadal development were studied by biochemical analysis from January to October, 2001. The specimens were collected at the coastal waters of Buan, Jeollabuk-do, Korea, from January 2000 to October 2001. O. ocellatus is a dioecious organism. The gonad of O. ocellatus locates medially in posterior region of the body. Morphology of the ovary shows round and oval in shape, the average diameter and external colour of ripe ovary was 32 mm and semitransparent light brown in colour. As the ovary was getting mature, transparent elongated eggs covered with chorion were present in the ovarian cavity. Monthly changes in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) showed a similar pattern with those of the condition index. The GSI and condition index began to increase in March and reached the maximum in April. And then, their values decreased from May and reached the minimum in September. Reproductive cycle of O. ocellatus can be categorized into five successive stages: early developing stage (September to December), late developing stage (November to March), ripe stage (March to May), partially spawned stage (April to June), and degenerative/resting stage (June to October). Follicle cells attached to an oocyte were involved in vitellogenesis in the cytoplasm of the vitellogeneic oocyte and formation of chorion (secondary egg membrane) of the ovarian eggs. Spawning occurred between April and June. The spawning period was once a year and the peak took place between May and June. This species belongs to semelparity. According to changes in biochemical contents of the ovary and the digestive organ, monthly variations of moisture, total protein, total lipid and glycogen contents (%) in the ovary showed a negative correlationship with those of the trunk tissues including the digestive organ. Accordingly, it is assumed that the ovary only may be received nutrient supply (total lipid content) for gonadal development from the trunk tissues including the digestive organ (r = -0.55, p < 0.05).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.25-25
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• 2017

Inflorescence architecture mainly contributes to final grain yield in crops. Sorghum inflorescence is basically composed of one fertile sessile spikelet (SS) and two infertile pedicellate spikelets (PS). To identify regulatory factors involved in the inflorescence architecture, we screened an EMS mutagenesis population from the pedigreed sorghum mutant library. We found inflorescent architecture mutants, named as multi-seed mutants, msd, with gained fertile ability in PS and also an increased number of floral branches. In natural sorghum populations, it is not common that are fertile. A detailed dissection of developmental stages of wild type and msd1 mutant described that the PS in wild type do not have floral organs, including ovary, stigma, filament and anther, while the msd1 mutants generate intact floral organ in the sessile spikelet. We found MSD1 encoded a TCP transcription factor using bulk segregant analysis (BSA) of F2 population, and was a strongly enriched expression during inflorescence developmental stages. We proposed that MSD1 functions to suppress floral organ maintenance at PS during inflorescence development in Sorghum. To explore the regulatory network associated with PS fertility, whole genome expression profiling was performed at 4 different developmental stages in 6 various tissue types between wild type and msd1. Taken together, we demonstrated that MSD1 was involved in the plant hormone and maybe influenced program cell death in PS via the activation of plant hormonal pathway.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.271-286
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• 2017

GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR (GRF) genes encode plant-specific transcription factors containing two conserved QLQ and WRC domains and play critical roles in regulating the growth and development of lateral organs, such as cotyledons, leaves, and flowers. To explore the agricultural potential of Brassica rapa GRF genes (BrGRFs), the researchers isolated seven BrGRFs (BrGRF3-1, 3-2, 5, 7, 8-1, 8-2, and 9) and constructed BrGRF-overexpressing Arabidopsis thaliana plants (BrGRF-OX). BrGRF-OX plants developed larger cotyledons, leaves, and flowers as well as longer roots than the wild type. The increase in size of these organs were due to increases in cell number, but not due to cell size. BrGRF-OX plants also had larger siliques and seeds. Furthermore, BrGRF-OX seeds produced more oil than the wild type. RT-PCR analysis revealed that BrGRFs regulated expression of a wide range of genes that are involved in gibberellin-, auxin-, cell division-related growth processes. Taken together, the data indicates that BrGRFs act as positive regulators of plant growth, thus raising the possibility that they may serve as a useful genetic source for crop improvement with respect to organ size and seed oil production.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.257-263
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• 2018

Vertebrate organ development is accompanied by demarcation of tissue compartments, which grow coordinately with their neighbors. Hence, perturbing the coordinative growth of neighboring tissue compartments frequently results in organ malformation. The growth of tissue compartments is regulated by multiple intercellular and intracellular signaling pathways, including the Hippo signaling pathway that limits the growth of various organs. In the optic neuroepithelial continuum, which is partitioned into the retina, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and ciliary margin (CM) during eye development, the Hippo signaling activity operates differentially, as it does in many tissues. In this review, we summarize recent studies that have explored the relationship between the Hippo signaling pathway and growth of optic neuroepithelial compartments. We will focus particularly on the roles of a tumor suppressor, neurofibromin 2 (NF2), whose expression is not only dependent on compartment-specific transcription factors, but is also subject to regulation by a Hippo-Yap feedback signaling circuit.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.127-133
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• 2005

We investigated expression of cucumber senescence-associated genes (SAGs) from developing cotyledons and flower petals. Several cucumber SAGs have been reported in earlier reports. This is an extension of the previous findings. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed that most of the cucumber SAG transcripts were consistently produced until the organ senescence. These results imply that many cucumber senescence-related genes are still active during the final development stage, playing some executive biological roles, possibly in remobilization of nutrients to the other parts of tissues or organs. These results were used to search for possible functions of senescence-related genes during organ development.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2009.02a
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• pp.47-48
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• 2009

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 1990