• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.197-205
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• 2016

Adipose tissue is one of the major endocrine gland. More recently, local production of steroids in adipocytes differentiated from mouse 3T3-L1 cell-line was reported. We hypothesized that rat adipocytes have steroidogenic machinery and the expression patterns of the components might be differentially regulated, depending on the distribution and sex. To verify this hypothesis, we collected the adipose tissues depot-and sex-specifically at postnatal day (PND) 30, and performed quantitative RT-PCRs. In overall aspects, the abundances of the transcripts were lower in the brown adipose of both sexes. $3{\beta}-HSD$ transcript levels in female abdominal and reproductive adipose, CYP17 transcript levels in female reproductive adipose, $17{\beta}-HSD$ transcript levels in female abdominal and reproductive adipose, and CYP19 transcript levels in female abdominal adipose were significantly lower than those of male counterparts. Similar to steroidogenic factors, the abundance of the $ER-{\alpha}$ transcripts were generally lower in the brown adipose of both sexes. $ER-{\beta}$ transcripts were more abundant in male white adipose depots than their female counterparts. The levels of LHR transcripts in female reproductive adipose were significantly higher than those of male counterpart. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the expressions of steroidogenesis-related genes were depot- and sex-specifically occurred in the immature male and female rat adipose tissues. Our study suggested that the adipose tissues are not only targets but de novo synthesizing sites of sex steroid(s), though the synthesizing activities could be much less than in gonads. Further researches in this field will be helpful for understanding the adipose physiology and for medical application such as sex-specific steroid supplement therapies for older populations.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.35-41
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• 2010

Mammalian reproduction is regulated by a feedback circuit of the key reproductive hormones such as GnRH, gonadotropin and sex steroids on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. In particular, the onset of female puberty is triggered by gain of a pulsatile pattern and increment of GnRH secretion from hypothalamus. Previous studies including our own clearly demonstrated that genistein (GS), a phytoestrogenic isoflavone, altered the timing of puberty onset in female rats. However, the brain-specific actions of GS in female rats has not been explored yet. The present study was performed to examine the changes in the activities of GnRH neurons and their neural circuits by GS in female rats. Concerning the drug delivery route, intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection technique was employed to eliminate the unwanted actions on the extrabrain tissues which can be occurred if the testing drug is systemically administered. Adult female rats (PND 100, 210-230 g BW) were anaesthetized, treated with single dose of GS ($3.4{\mu}g$/animal), and sacrificed at 3 hrs post-injection. To determine the transcriptional changes of reproductive hormone-related genes in hypothalamus, total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). ICV infusion of GS significantly raised the transcriptional activities of enhanced at puberty1 (EAP-1, p<0.05), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67, p<0.01) which are known to modulate GnRH secretion in the hypothalamus. However, GS infusion could not change the mRNA level of nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS-2). GS administration significantly increased the mRNA levels of KiSS-1 (p<0.001), GPR54 (p<0.001), and GnRH (p<0.01) in the hypothalami, but decreased the mRNA levels of LH-$\beta$ (p<0.01) and FSH-$\beta$ (p<0.05) in the pituitaries. Taken together, the present study indicated that the acute exposure to GS could directly activate the hypothalamic GnRH modulating system, suggesting the GS's disrupting effects such as the early onset of puberty in immature female rats might be derived from premature activation of key reproduction related genes in hypothalamus-pituitary neuroendocrine circuit.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권9호
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• pp.1120-1126
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• 2001

Objective : The development of magnetic resonance neurography(MRN) has made it possible to produce highresolution images of peripheral nerves themselves, as well as associated intraneural and extraneural lesions. We evaluated the clinical application and utility of high-resolution MRN techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of peripheral nerve disorder(PND)s. Material and Method : MRN images were obtained using T1-weighted spin echo, T2-weighted fast spin echo with fat suppression, and short tau inversion recovery(STIR) fast spin-echo pulse sequences. Fifteen patients were studied, three with brachial plexus tumors, five with chronic entrapment syndromes, and seven with traumatic peripheral lesions. Ten patients underwent surgery. Results : In MRN with STIR sequences of axial and coronal imagings, signals of the peripheral nerves with various lesions were detected as fairly bright signals and were discerned from signals of the uninvolved nerves. Increased signal with proximal swelling and distal flattening of the median nerve were seen in all patients of carpal tunnel syndrome. Among the eight patients with brachial plexus injury or tumors, T2-weighted MRN showed increased signal intensity in involved roots in five, enhanced mass lesions in three, and traumatic pseudomeningocele in three. Other associated MRI findings were adjacent bony signal change, neuroma, root adhesion and denervated muscle atophy with signal change. Conclusion : MRN with high-resolution imaging can be useful in the preoperative evaluation and surgical planning in patients with peripheral nerve lesions.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.267-275
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• 2003

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the toxicity of the thimerosal in embryos and neonates. Thimerosal (also known as mercurothiolate) is a mercury-containing compound used in trace amounts to prevent bacteria and other organisms from contaminating vaccines, especially in opened multi-dose vials. The toxicity of mercury is well known and those most at risk occurrs in unborn babies and newborn babies. Test methods included in vitro whole embryo culture (WEC) system and in vivo test of neonatal toxicity in Wistar rats. Ethylmercury and methylmercury were used as positive controls for the evaluating of toxic effects of mercury. In WEC assay, treated concentrations of thimerosal, ethylmercury and methylmercury were up to 0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2.5 and 5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$\textrm{m}{\ell}$, respectively. All compounds didn't show any morphological abnormalities, but showed retardation of growth and development in dose dependent manner (> 0.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$\textrm{m}{\ell}$). These data indicated that thimerosal showed developmental toxicity in vitro. In vivo neonatal toxicity, Wistar rats were administered subcutaneously with thimerosal, ethyl mercury, or methylmercury (5, 25, 50, 250, and 500 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg) during from postnatal day (PND) 4 to 25. Significant effects of these compounds on relative organ weights and organ morphology were not observed in this experiment. However, accumulation of mercury was detected in the kidney and testis when treated with thimerosal, ethylmercury, or methylmercury. These results suggest that thimerosal may be a harmful compound to embryo and neonate, but used concentration of thimerosal in these experiments is much higher than that of clinical application. Further investigation is needed on the safety of vaccine components, i.e. a thimerosal using in vitro and in vivo tests in the future.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.113-119
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• 2007

Developmental disability shows life-long behavioral abnormality with no significant physical malformation. This study was undertaken to develop an animal model for developmental disability by using two-factor approach. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a bacterial toxin, and NAN-190, a $5-HT_{1A}$ receptor antagonist, were administered to Sprague-Dawley rats on postnatal day (PND) 5 to induce inflammation and an altered 5-HT system, respectively. Long-term alteration of behavior occurred in the drug-treated groups. The LPS-treated group showed impaired motor coordination in the Rota-rod test. The LPS- treated or both LPS and NAN-190-treated groups showed impaired fore-paw muscle power in the wire maneuver test. These groups also showed decreased white matter volume and increased serotonergic fibers. The LPS and NAN-190-treated group also exhibited neurologic deficit in the placing reaction test and impaired equilibrium function in the tilt table test. The results showed that a variety of altered behaviors can be generated by two factor model, and suggested that combination of important etiologic factors and possible underlying defects is a promising strategy of establishing an animal model for developmental disabilities.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.270-276
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• 2016

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), particularly those of the CTX-M types, are the predominant resistance determinants of Escherichia coli that are rapidly spreading worldwide. To determine CTX-M types, E. coli isolates were collected from retail chickens (n = 390) and environmental samples from chicken farms (n = 32) and slaughterhouses (n = 67) in Korea. Fifteen strains harboring bla_CTX-M genes were isolated from 358 E. coli isolates. The most common CTX-M type was eight of CTX-M-15, followed by six of CTX-M-1 and one of CTX-M-14. The bla_CTX-M genes were identified in the isolates from retail chickens (n = 9), followed by feces, water pipes, floors, and walls. Conjugations confirmed the transferability of the plasmids carrying bla_CTX-M genes to the recipient E. coli J53 strain. Furthermore, eight addiction systems carried by the replicons in CTX-M types were confirmed. The dominant system was identified as ccdAB, vagCD, and pndAC in donor strains and transconjugants. The clonal relationship between the two strains carrying bla_CTX-M genes indicates that E. coli may transmit from the farm to retail chickens, suggesting a possible public health risk. Our findings demonstrate that the detection of CTX-M types in E. coli isolates is important for tracking ESBL production in animals, and suggest linkage of multiple addiction systems in plasmids bearing bla_CTX-M genes.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.179-185
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• 2011

콩이나 적포도주의 식물성 에스트로겐(phytoestrogen)은 건강에 부정적이기보다는 긍정적인 효과를 갖는 것으로 알려져 있는데, 특히 콩류 섭취는 유방암이나 골다공증, 그리고 심혈관계 질환 예방과 높은 상관관계가 있는 것으로 보인다. 그러나 콩류, 특히 그 주성분인 genistein(GS)이 상기한 긍정적인 효과 외에도 여성의 생식계에 잠재적으로 부정적인 영향을 미칠 가능성에 대한 의문이 계속되어왔다. 선행 연구에서 본 연구자들은 사춘기 전에 genistein(GS)을 경구 투여했을 때 암컷 흰쥐의 생식계가 활성화되어 사춘기 개시가 조기에 유도되고, 암컷 성체에 GS를 뇌실내로 미세주입했을 때 kisspeptin-GnRH 뉴런회로 활성화가 일어남을 관찰하였다. 본 연구에서는 사춘기 전 암컷 흰쥐에서의 시상하부 특이적인 GS 투여 효과와 이에 관여하는 에스트로겐 수용체 아형($ER{\alpha}$과 $ER{\beta}$)을 조사하였다. 사춘기 전암컷 흰쥐(SD strain, PND 30)를 마취시킨 후 GS(3.4 ${\mu}g$/animal)를 1회 뇌실내로 미세 주입하고, 2시간 후 희생시켰다. 시상하부내 생식조절 유전자 발현을 조사하기 위해, RNA를 추출한 후 semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerasechain reaction(RT-PCR)을 시행하였다. GS 투여는 KiSS-1 유전자 발현의 상위조절자인 mTOR(1:$0.361{\pm}0.058$ AU, p<0.001)발현을 유의하게 감소시켰고, GnRH 분비의 상위조절자인 GAD67(1:$1.285{\pm}0.099$ AU, p<0.05) 발현을 유의하게 증가시켰다. GS 투여는 KiSS-1(1:$1.458{\pm}0.078$ AU, p<0.001) mRNA 수준을 유의하게 증가시켰지만, kisspeptin 수용체인 GPR-54(1:$1.29{\pm}0.08$ AU) mRNA 수준은 변화가 없었고, GnRH(1:$0.379{\pm}0.196$ AU, p<0.05)의 경우는 유의하게 감소시켰다. GS투여군에서 $ER{\alpha}$(1:$1.180{\pm}0.390$ AU) 발현은 대조군 대비 차이가 없었지만, $ER{\beta}$(1:$4.209{\pm}0.796$ AU, p<0.01) 발현은 유의하게 증가했다. 본 연구결과는 사춘기 전 암컷 흰쥐에서 GS의 단기 노출이 시상하부의 GnRH 조절시스템을 직접 변화시킴을 보여준 것으로, 이러한 GS의 시상하부 특이적 효과에 $ER{\beta}$ 경로가 관여함을 강력히 시사한다. 이는 잘 알려진 $ER{\beta}$ 경로를 매개로 하는 GS의 유방암 억제 효과와 일치한다.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.137-146
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• 2002

중추신경계는 신경원(neuron)과 이를 지지해주는 신경아교세포(neuroglia)로 이루어져 있다. 발생과정중 신경원의 발달은 NGF(neruv growht factor)에 의해 관찰이 가능하고, 아교세포들중 별모양아교세포는 GFAP(Glial fibrillary acidic protein)항체로 밝혀낼 수 있다. CNTF(Cillary neurotrophic factor)는 이전에는 운동신경원의 발생 및 유지에 있어 중요한 역할을 하는 인자로 알려져 왔으며, 최근에는 발생과정 중 NGF와 GFAP의 역할에 도움을 주는 것으로 알려졌다. 본 연구에서는 이러한 NGF, GFAP, CNTF를 발생과정 중(임신 15,17,19,21일, 출생 1,2,3,일, 1,2,3주)의 몽골리안 저빌의 전뇌에서 시간에 따른 분포를 광학현미경, 형광염색을 통한 공초점현미경 및 전자현미경을 통해 알아보고자 하였다. 전뇌에서 NGF는 발생 19일령에서부터 대뇌피질에서 관찰되기 시작해서 후각망울, 해마체 및 diagonal band에 관찰되었고, 출생 3일령에서 가장 강한 염색성을 보였으며 그 반응은 출생 3주까지도 관찰되었다. GFAP는 출생17일령에서 뇌실로부터 아교세포가 관찰되는 형태가 보였으며, 외측뇌실과 제3뇌실에서부터 피질로 이동하는 형태로 관찰되었다. 또한 후각망울의 과립층, 대뇌피질 및 해마체에서 관찰되었으며, 출생 2일령에서 가장 강한 반응을 나타내었다. CNTF는 신경원과 신경아교세포에서 관찰되었으며, NGF와 GFAP와는 달리 출생 전에서는 관찰되지 않다가 출생 1일령부터 후각망울 및 대뇌피질에서 약하게 관찰되기 시작되었으며, 이러한 반응은 출생 2주령에서 잘 관찰되었다. 전자현미경상에서는 신경원과 신경아교세포에서 특징적인 구조는 관찰되지 않았으나, 각각의 항체에 대한 반응이 나타난 세포에서는 사립체와 형질내세망과 같은 세포소기관들이 많이 관찰되었다. 이러한 Mongolian gerbil 전뇌에서의 NGF, GFAP 및 CNTF의 분포는 비슷한 임신일령의 설치류와 거의 유사하게 관찰되었으며, 배아과정 및 출생 후 발달에 따른 전뇌에서의 신경원과 신경아교세포에서의 분포를 볼 수 있었다.

• 한국해양바이오학회지
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.102-107
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• 2007

산업의 발달과 함께 환경오염에 대한 국민적인 관심도는 날로 증가하고 있다. PCB는 우리 주변에 널리 퍼져 있고 먹이사슬을 통해 체내에도 축적되어 인체의 위해성이 우려되는 대표적인 환경오염물질이다. PCB의 노출은 성장기의 두뇌에서 가장 큰 신경독성을 나타내며 영아 및 유아는 상대적으로 높게 노출되어 위험집단으로 분류된다. 본 연구는 PCB의 신경독성에 구조-활성관계가 미치는 영향을 분석하고 PCB에 의한 독성을 최소화 할 수 있는 방안으로서 해양활성물질의 사용가능성을 이해하고자 하였다. PCB노출에 따른 신경세포의 신호전달 체계변화를 분석하기 위하여 Protein Kinase C (PKC)의 변화를 측정하였다. PKC의 전체적인 활성을 [$^3H$]PDBu로 분석한 결과 ortho-position(PCB-105, -123)을 가지고 있는 PCB가 non-ortho (pCB-77, -81) 구조보다 신경에 미치는 영향은 더 높았다. Westem blot 결과 PKC isofonn 중에는 PKC-beta II 및 epsilon의 경우 ortho-position PCB에서 더 높은 활성을 보였다. 이러한 PKC의 변화는 성장기 신경세포에서 신호전달기작의 변화에 많은 영향을 미치므로 이를 예방하거나 차단 할 수 있는 물질을 발견하고자 다양한 키토산을 처리하였다. 그 결과 1백만 달톤 이상의 고분자 키토산의 경우 PCB에 의한 신호전달 기작 변화를 억제할 수 있음을 보였다. 본 연구는 환경오염 등에 의한 독성예방에 키토산의 활용가능성을 제시하였다.

• 대한화장품학회지
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.39-48
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• 2018

본 연구에서는 커피생두의 로스팅 과정에서 쉽게 발견되는 커피 은피(coffee silver skin)의 열수와 에탄올 추출물을 사용하여 항산화, 미백, 주름개선, 세포독성실험을 진행하였다. 커피 은피의 열수와 에탄올 추출물은 농도가 증가함에 따라 농도 의존적으로 DPPH와 ABTS 라디칼 소거활성이 높아졌으며, 열수 추출물보다 에탄올 추출물이 항산화력이 높게 나타났다. 특히 에탄올 추출물의 경우 $50{\mu}g/mL$에서 92.26%의 ABTS 라디칼을 소거시켜 양성대조군과 비슷한 항산화 효과를 나타내었다. 미백효과의 정도를 조사하기 위하여 tyrosinase 저해효과와 DOPA 산화 저해효과를 조사한 결과 농도 의존적으로 저해효과를 나타내었다. 또한 주름개선효과의 정도를 조사하기 위해 elastase와 collagenase 저해 효과를 조사한 결과 elastase와 collagenase를 농도 의존적으로 저해 효과를 나타내었다. 각질형성세포(HaCaT)를 이용하여 세포독성 및 증식실험을 진행하였다. 커피 은피 추출물의 세포생존율은 무처리 대조군과 유사한 결과를 나타내었다. 그러므로 커피 은피는 주름개선, 미백, 항산화 효과를 나타내므로 화장품에 응용 가능한 기능성 소재로 평가된다.