• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.204-209
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the anti-diabetic activity of Kocat-D1, which is widely used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes in Shandong, China. Sprague Dawley rats (8 weeks of age) were separated into 4 groups: a normal control, streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat group (DM control), Kocat-D1-1 (diabetic rat treated with 0.25 g/kg/day hot water extract), and Kocat-D1-2 (diabetic rat treated with 1 g/kg/day hot water extract). After eight weeks of treatment, the fasting blood glucose levels of the Kocat-D1-1 ($334.3{\pm}32.9\;mg/dL$) and Kocat-D1-2 group ($259.5{\pm}35.0\;mg/dL$) were significantly lower when compared to the DM control group ($451{\pm}42.6\;mg/dL$). Furthermore, the levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), albumin and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in the serum of the Kocat-D1-2 group were significantly normalized when compared to the DM control group. However, significant differences were not observed between the Kocat-D1-1 group and the DM control group. Histochemical staining of the liver of the Kocat-D1-2 group revealed no fat accumulation. The insulin level was significantly upregulated in the Kocat-D1-2 group ($0.13{\pm}0.02\;ng/mL$) when compared to the DM control group ($0.05{\pm}0.04\;ng/mL$). The relative volume of $\beta$-cells in the pancreas of the Kocat-D1-2 group ($49.4{\pm}4.2%$) also increased significantly when compared to the DM control group ($12.9{\pm}7.9%$). These results suggest that Kocat-D1 exerts an anti-hyperglycemic effect through the enhancement of insulin secretion.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 1972

Two-Cell mouse embryos were incubated in the anterior chamber of the rat eye, which has been known as the best place among other animals' for the mouse ovum maturation, in order to observe the capability of their early development. Within 120 hours after incubation, 71.0% of two-cell embryos have developed to the blastocysts in the male rat eye, while only 38.5% in the eye of the same mouse as donated two-cell embryos. Thus, the rat eye chamber provides more favourable environment to the embryos than the mouse itself. The results are consistent with those of the previous studies comparing the maturation of the mouse follicular oocytes in the mouse and the rat eye chamber. Although the aqueous humor which is filled in the anterior chamber of the eye is characterized by its specific properties, being of higher osmolarity, higher concentrations of ascorbic acid, pyruvate and lactate, but lower of proteins and lower temperature than those in blood or lymph serum, The embryos are able to under-take their cleavage as normal as in vivo or in vitro. Concerning with a number of studies in vitro on the development of the mouse embryos which are requiring a very limited condition, the fact that they are able to manage their further development under very different enviroment from our knowledges would provide us a moment to understand their behavior during the early development. The difference of the proportion of the developed blastocysts between in the mouse eye chamber and in the rat can possibly be resulted from the species specific difference in the physicochemical properties between their eye chambers. This assumption is based upon the findings by many investigators who chmpared the nature of the eye chamber of various animals. As a consequence, the rat eye chamber might consist of better properties for the embryonal growth than the mouse eye chamber. The mouse embryos cleaved with a delayed period. In normal development they complete almost the cleavage within 94 hours after fertilization. However, in the present studies, 81.1% of two-cell embryos developed to the blastocysts and the morula in 120 hours in the eye chamber, assumed to be about 154 hours after fertilization. Such delay in development would be caused mainly by the low temperature of the eye chamber. At present we can make two assumptions to explain the capability of the emtryonal development in the eye chambers. One is that the embryos would possess an ability to adapt themselves to the environment which provides unfavourable conditions. The other is that the embryos might remain for a certain duration in the eye chamber, which is filled with a new body fluid produced immediately after the loss of the aqueous humor and the fluid of which becomes similar to blood serum in component. The first assumption is highly reliable since the embryonal cells are mostly at the undifferentiated state and so they probably engage a simple metabolism during their early period. The second assumption is induced by the fact that the rabbit eye chamber produces a plasmoid humor which has mostly similar components to blood serum after loss of aqueous humor through cornea by puncturing. However, the plasmoid humor is substituted by the initial aqueous humor in eight hours. Even though this finding, production of the new fluid, could be applied to the rat eye, it is hardly reliabel that the plasmoid humor remains for such a long period as 120 hours. Consequently, the development of the embryos is more likely due to their adaptability to the new environment during their early developmental stages.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.355-365
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• 2011

This study investigated how dietary fat affects muscle atrophy and lipid metabolism in various muscles during hindlimb immobilization in rats. Twenty-four male Sprague?Dawley rats had their left hindlimb immobilized and were divided into four groups by dietary fat content and composition. The contralateral hindlimb (control) was compared with the immobilized limb in all dietary groups. Rats (n = 6/group) were fed a 4% corn oil diet (CO), 2.6% corn oil + 1.4% fish oil diet (FO), 30% corn oil diet (HCO), or a 30% beef tallow diet (HBT)after their hind limbs were immobilized for 10 days. Data were collected for the gastrocnemius, plantaris and soleus muscles. Muscle atrophy was induced significantly after 10 days of hindlimb immobilization, resulting in significantly decreased muscle mass and total muscle protein content. The protein levels of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ${\delta}$ (PPAR${\delta}$) in the plantaris, gastrocnemius, and soleus increased following hindlimb immobilization irrespective of dietary fat intake. Interestingly, the PPAR${\delta}$ mRNA level in the plantaris decreased significantly in all groups and that in the FO group was lower than that in the other groups. The soleus PPAR${\delta}$ mRNA level decreased significantly following hindlimb immobilization in the FO group only. Muscle carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (mCPT1) mRNA level was not affected by hindlimb immobilization. However, the mCPT1 mRNA level in the FO group was significantly lower in the plantaris but higher in the soleus than that in the other groups. The pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) mRNA level in the plantaris decreased significantly, whereas that in the soleus increased significantly following hindlimb immobilization. The plantaris, but not soleus, PDK4 mRNA level was significantly higher in the FO group than that in the CO group. The increased PPAR${\delta}$ protein level following hindlimb immobilization may have suppressed triglyceride accumulation in muscles and different types of dietary fat may have differentially affected muscle atrophy according to muscle type. Our results suggest that ${\omega}$-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may suppress muscle atrophy and lipid accumulation by positively affecting the expression level and activity of PPAR${\delta}$ and PPAR${\delta}$-related enzymes, which are supposed to play an important role in muscle lipid metabolism.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.198-209
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• 1979

L-Tyrosine, 2-chloro-L-tyrosine, 2-bromo-L-tyrosine, and 2-iodo-L-tyrosine were synthesized by ${\beta}-tyrosinase$ obtained from cells of Escherichia intermedia A-21, through the reversal of the ${\alpha},{\beta}-elimination$ reaction, and their molecular structures were analyzed by element analysis, NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and IR spectroscopy. Rates of synthesis and hydrolysis of halogenated tyrosines by ${\beta}-tyrosinase$, inhibition of the enzyme activity by halogenated phenols, and effects of addition of m-bromophenol on the synthesis of 2-bromotyrosine were determined. The results obtained were as follows: 1) In the synthesis of halogenated tyrosines, the yield of 2-chlorotyrosine from m-chlorophenol were approximately 15 per cent, that of 2-bromotyrosine from m-bromophenol 13.8 per cent, and that of 2-iodotyrosine from m-iodophenol 9.8 per cent. 2) Rate of synthesis of halogenated tyrosines by ${\beta}-tyrosinase$ was slower than that of tyrosine and the rates were decreased in the order of chlorine, bromine and iodine, that is, by increasing the atomic radius. Relative rate of 2-chlorotyrosine synthesis was determined to be 28.2, that of 2-bromotyrosine to be 8.13, and that of 2-iodotyrosine to be 0.98, respectively, against 100 of tyrosine. However 3-iodotyrosine was not synthesized by the enzyme. 3) The relative rate of 2-chlorotyrosine hydrolysis by ${\beta}-tyrosinase$ was 70.7, that of 2-bromotyrosine was 39.0, and that of 2-iodotyrosine was 12.6 against 100 of tyrosine, respectively. The rate of hydrolysis appeared to be decreased in the order of chlorine, bromine and iodine, that is, by increasing the atomic radius or by decreasing the electronegativity. But 3-iodotyrosine was not hydrolyzed by the enzyme. 4) The activity of ${\beta}-tyrosinase$ was inhibited by phenol markedly. Of the halogenated phenols, o-, or m-chlorophenol and o-bromophenol gave marked inhibition on the enzyme action, however inhibition by iodophenol was not strong. Plotting by Lineweaver-Burk method, a mixed-type inhibition by m-chlorophenol was observed and its Ki value was found to be $5.46{\times}10^{-4}M$. 5) During the synthesizing reaction of 2-bromotyrosine by the enzyme, sequential addition of substrate which was m-bromophenol with time intervals and in a small amount resulted in better yield of the product. 6) The halogenated tyrosines which were produced by ${\beta}-tyrosinase$ from pyruvate, ammonia and m-halogenated phenols were analysed to determine their molecular structures by element analysis, NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and IR spectroscopy. The result indicated that they were 2-chloro-L-tyrosine, 2-bromo-L-tyrosine, and 2-iodo-L-tyrosine, respectively.