• Animal Bioscience
• /
• 제36권3호
• /
• pp.385-403
• /
• 2023

Male fertility is affected by multiple endogenous stressors, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), which greatly deteriorate the fertility. However, physiological levels of ROS are required by sperm for the proper accomplishment of different cellular functions including proliferation, maturation, capacitation, acrosomal reaction, and fertilization. Excessive ROS production creates an imbalance between ROS production and neutralization resulting in oxidative stress (OS). OS causes male infertility by impairing sperm functions including reduced motility, deoxyribonucleic acid damage, morphological defects, and enhanced apoptosis. Several in-vivo and in-vitro studies have reported improvement in quality-related parameters of sperm following the use of different natural and synthetic antioxidants. In this review, we focus on the causes of OS, ROS production sources, mechanisms responsible for sperm damage, and the role of antioxidants in preserving sperm fertility.

• 한국축산식품학회지
• /
• 제43권6호
• /
• pp.1044-1054
• /
• 2023

Growing evidence indicates a crucial role of the gut microbiota in physiological functions. Gut-brain axis imbalance has also been associated with neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Studies have suggested that probiotics regulate the stress response and alleviate mood-related symptoms. In this study, we investigated the effects of the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus IDCC3201 (L3201) on the behavioral response and fecal metabolite content in an unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) mouse model. Our study shows that chronic stress in mice for three weeks resulted in significant changes in behavior, including lower locomotor activity, higher levels of anxiety, and depressive-like symptoms, compared to the control group. Metabolomic analysis demonstrated that disrupted fecal metabolites associated with aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis and valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis by UCMS were restored with the administration of L3201. Oral administration of the L3201 ameliorated the observed changes and improved the behavioral alterations along with fecal metabolites, suggesting that probiotics play a neuroprotective role.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• 제24권1호
• /
• pp.4.1-4.19
• /
• 2024

TNF, a pleiotropic proinflammatory cytokine, is important for protective immunity and immunopathology during Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, which causes tuberculosis (TB) in humans. TNF is produced primarily by phagocytes in the lungs during the early stages of Mtb infection and performs diverse physiological and pathological functions by binding to its receptors in a context-dependent manner. TNF is essential for granuloma formation, chronic infection prevention, and macrophage recruitment to and activation at the site of infection. In animal models, TNF, in cooperation with chemokines, contributes to the initiation, maintenance, and clearance of mycobacteria in granulomas. Although anti-TNF therapy is effective against immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, it carries the risk of reactivating TB. Furthermore, TNF-associated inflammation contributes to cachexia in patients with TB. This review focuses on the multifaceted role of TNF in the pathogenesis and prevention of TB and underscores the importance of investigating the functions of TNF and its receptors in the establishment of protective immunity against and in the pathology of TB. Such investigations will facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies that target TNF signaling, which makes beneficial and detrimental contributions to the pathogenesis of TB.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제47권5호
• /
• pp.615-621
• /
• 2023

Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) plays a key role in heme oxygenase (HO)-1 induction under physical and moderate oxidative stress conditions. The transient and mild induction of HO-1 is beneficial for cell protection, mitochondrial function, regeneration, and intercellular communication. However, chronic HO-1 overexpression is detrimental in severely injured regions. Thus, in a chronic pathological state, diminishing HO-1-mediated ferroptosis is beneficial for a therapeutic approach. The molecular mechanisms by which KRG protects various cell types in the central nervous system have not yet been established, especially in terms of HO-1-mediated mitochondrial functions. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the multiple roles of KRG in the regulation of astrocytic HO-1 under pathophysiological conditions. More specifically, we discuss the role of the KRG-mediated astrocytic HO-1 pathway in regulating mitochondrial functions in acute and chronic neurodegenerative diseases as well as physiological conditions.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
• /
• 제47권4호
• /
• pp.182-187
• /
• 2015

야생 생강 Zingiber zerumbet Smith의 정유에 포함되어 있는 주요 성분인 zerumbone은 면역세포를 포함한 여러 종류의 세포기능에 영향을 미치는 것으로 알려져 있다. 또한, 종양, 염증을 포함한 여러 생물학적 환경에서 기능을 나타냄이 보고되었다. 본 연구에서는 zerumbone이 SDF-$1{\alpha}$로 유도된 T림프구 세포주 Jurkat 세포의 이동을 감소시키는 것을 transwell system을 이용하여 확인하였다; 100 ng/mL의 SDF-$1{\alpha}$로 유발시킨 이동은 약 25%, 200 ng/mL의 SDF-$1{\alpha}$로 유발시킨 경우에는 약 17%의 감소를 나타냈다. 반면에, Jurkat 세포의 기본 증식에는 큰 변화를 유발하지 않는다는 점을 WST assay를 통해 확인하였다. 이는 zerumbone이 지닌 새로운 기능이지만, 향후 생리적 세포를 통해 다시 확인해야 하며, zerumbone에 의한 세포자멸사 유발, CXCR4 발현 감소 등 세포학적 기전 연구와 ZAP-70, Erk1/2의 인산화 변화 측정 등 생화학적 기전 연구가 필요하다.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
• /
• 제10권2호
• /
• pp.45-52
• /
• 2017

Calcium has versatile roles in diverse physiological functions. Among these functions, intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ plays a key role during the secretion of salivary glands. In this review, we introduce the diverse cellular components involved in the saliva secretion and related dynamic intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ signals. Calcium acts as a critical second messenger for channel activation, protein translocation, and volume regulation, which are essential events for achieving the salivary secretion. In the secretory process, $Ca^{2+}$ activates $K^+$ and $Cl^-$ channels to transport water and electrolyte constituting whole saliva. We also focus on the $Ca^{2+}$ signals from intracellular stores with discussion about detailed molecular mechanism underlying the generation of characteristic $Ca^{2+}$ patterns. In particular, inositol triphosphate signal is a main trigger for inducing $Ca^{2+}$ signals required for the salivary gland functions. The biphasic response of inositol triphosphate receptor and $Ca^{2+}$ pumps generate a self-limiting pattern of $Ca^{2+}$ efflux, resulting in $Ca^{2+}$ oscillations. The regenerative $Ca^{2+}$ oscillations have been detected in salivary gland cells, but the exact mechanism and function of the signals need to be elucidated. In future, we expect that further investigations will be performed toward better understanding of the spatiotemporal role of $Ca^{2+}$ signals in regulating salivary secretion.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제38권10호
• /
• pp.866-875
• /
• 2015

COPI vesicles are essential to the retrograde transport of proteins in the early secretory pathway. The COPI coatomer complex consists of seven subunits, termed ${\alpha}-$, ${\beta}-$, ${\beta}^{\prime}-$, ${\gamma}-$, ${\delta}-$, ${\varepsilon}-$, and ${\zeta}$-COP, in yeast and mammals. Plant genomes have homologs of these subunits, but the essentiality of their cellular functions has hampered the functional characterization of the subunit genes in plants. Here we have employed virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and dexamethasone (DEX)-inducible RNAi of the COPI subunit genes to study the in vivo functions of the COPI coatomer complex in plants. The ${\beta}^{\prime}-$, ${\gamma}-$, and ${\delta}$-COP subunits localized to the Golgi as GFP-fusion proteins and interacted with each other in the Golgi. Silencing of ${\beta}^{\prime}-$, ${\gamma}-$, and ${\delta}$-COP by VIGS resulted in growth arrest and acute plant death in Nicotiana benthamiana, with the affected leaf cells exhibiting morphological markers of programmed cell death. Depletion of the COPI subunits resulted in disruption of the Golgi structure and accumulation of autolysosome-like structures in earlier stages of gene silencing. In tobacco BY-2 cells, DEX-inducible RNAi of ${\beta}^{\prime}$-COP caused aberrant cell plate formation during cytokinesis. Collectively, these results suggest that COPI vesicles are essential to plant growth and survival by maintaining the Golgi apparatus and modulating cell plate formation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• 제29권1호
• /
• pp.91-102
• /
• 1995

The role of neurohumoral mechanisms in the regulation of cardiovascular functions and the effects of ethanol (EOH) on these mechanisms were examined in hemorrhaged conscious Wistar rats. The rats were bled at a constant rate (2 ml/kg/min) through the femoral artery until mean arterial pressure (MAP) was reduced by 30 mmHg. We studied the responses to hemorrhage 1) under normal conditions (Normal), and after pretreatments with 2) neural blockade (NB), pentolinium, 3) arginine vasopressin V1-receptor antagonist (AVPX) + NB, 4) angiotensin II ATI-receptor antagonist (AngIIX) + NB, 5) combined humoral blockade (HB), and 6) neurohumoral blockade. Intravenous administration of 30% EOH (6.3 ml/kg) attenuated the baroreceptor reflex sensitivity, and enhanced the depressor action of AngIIX. During hemorrhage, NB produced a faster fall ill MAP than Normal both in the saline and EOH groups. However, HB accelerated the rate of fall in MAP only in the EOH group. The recovery from hemorrhagic hypotension was not different between NB and Normal rats, but was attenuated in HB rats in the saline group. Under NB, AngIIX, but not AVPX, retarded the recovery rate compared with NB alone. EOH attenuated the recovery of MAP after hemorrhage in Normal rats, but completely abolished the recovery in HB rats. We conclude that 1) the maintenance of MAP during hemorrhage is mediated almost entirely by the autonomic functions, 2) angiotensin II plays an important role in the recovery from hemorrhagic hypotension, but AVP assumes little importance, 3) AVP release largely depends on the changes in blood volume, whereas renin release depends on the changes in blood pressure rather than blood volume, and 4) EOH increases the dependence of cardiovascular regulation on angiotensin II and impairs the recovery from hemorrhagic hypotension through the attenuation of autonomic functions.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• 제20권1호
• /
• pp.79-88
• /
• 1986

줄넘기 운동의 신체 단련 효과를 측정하기 위하여 사병 9명에게 9주 동안 규칙적으로 줄넘기 운동을 시키면서 심폐기능의 변화를 관찰하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 효과를 측정하기 위해 부하한 운동은 줄넘기, 40 cm 및 45 cm 높이의 계단운동이었다. 1) 심장박동수는 단련에 의해 안정시와 운동후 회복기 전 시간대를 통해 매우 유의하게 감소하였으며 효과는 단련 시작 1주후부터 나타났다. 2) 단편으로 수축기 동맥혈압은 안정시와 회복기 전 시간대에서 거의 유사하게 감소하였는데 이러한 효과는 단련 한달경부터 나타났다. 3) 회복기의 호흡회수는 단련에 의해 별 변화가 없었으나 단지 줄넘기 운동 회복 초기에만 유의하게 감소하였다. 4) 심폐기능 상의 단련 효과는 검사시 부하하는 운동량이 경할수록 더욱 뚜렷하였다. 이상의 결과로 보아 9주간의 줄넘기 운동으로 심폐기능 특히 심장순환계 기능에 뚜렷한 향상이 온다고 할 수 있겠다.

• 환경생물
• /
• 제32권3호
• /
• pp.225-233
• /
• 2014

수온조절 (6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, $27{\circ}^C$)에 의해 유도된 멍게의 물렁증 진행에 따른 생리학적 특성을 연구하였다. 수온조절에 의한 물렁증 유도율은 수온 $15^{\circ}C$에서 가장 높았으며, $24^{\circ}C$에서 가장 낮았다. 물렁증은 피낭 색깔 및 탄성을 기준으로 S0, S1, S2, S3의 4단계로 구분하였다. 정상개체와 물렁증을 가진 개체들 사이에서 산소소비율과 여수율은 유의한 차이를 보였다. S0에 비해 S3단계에서 혈구 구성비의 가장 뚜렷한 변화는 multi-vacuole cell은 약 1/2 감소하였으며, morula cell은 약 10배 증가하였다. 기관계 구조의 변화는 피낭, 수관, 새낭, 육질부, 소화선에서 상피세포의 변성, 미세섬유의 변성, 혈구의 증가 및 근섬유의 변형이 확인 되었다. 이러한 모든 특징들은 멍게의 정상적인 생리학적 기능에 영향을 미칠 수 있다.