• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.113-125
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• 1969

These experiments were designed to study the influence of early protein undernutrition on growth, behaviors toward food, general attitude toward a new environment, brain size and body composition of the experimental rats. The following experimental groups were studied. Lactation period (3 weeks) (Diets of mother rats) 25% Casein diet 12% Casein diet 25% Casein diet 25% Casein diet 12% Casein diet 12% Casein diet After-weaning protein deprivation period None deprivation (25% Casein diet) None deprivation (25% Casein diet) 5% Casein diet (4 weeks) 5% Casein diet (8 weeks) 5% Casein diet (4 weeks) 5% Casein diet (8 weeks) After a long period of rehabilitation with 25% casein diet the following results were obtained. 1. Growth rate during lactation period is closely related with the protein levels of the diet for mother rats. The average body weight of offsprings of the mother rat fed 25% casein diet is 46.0 grams at 21 days old. However, that of the mother rat fed 12% casein diet is only 25.0 grams. 2. The group of protein undernutrition during lactation (S weeks) (offsprings of mother rat fed low protein diet, 12% casein diet) could never catch up with the normal group in its growth even after twenty-four (24) weeks of rehabilitation. 3. However, the groups of protein undernutrition during either four (4) or even eight (8) weeks after weaning could catch up with the normal group in their growth after long period of rehabilitation. 4. The absolute amounts of carcass protein and fat of the normal group are larger than those of the protein deficient groups. In terms of percent carcass, however, the normal group showed higher body fat and lower body protein than the early deficient groups. However, there is no difference between preweaning (3 weeks) and postweaning (8 weeks) deficient groups. It is assumed, from these differences in body composition, that there might be any differences in physiological and metabolic functions among these various groups, and also that the basic formation of various metabolic regulators (protein-nature) might be fixed mostly during lactation and postweaning period. 5. The groups of protein undernutrition during either three (3) weeks lactation or four (4) weeks after weaning are not so remarkably different from the normal group in their amounts of food intake and spillage. However, the groups of undernutrition during either eight (8) weeks postweaning or eleven (11) weeks (3 weeks lactation period plus 8 weeks postweaning period) showed higher amounts of food intake and spillage. In these respects, it seems that desire for food is closely related with the degree of early hunger in protein and also seems that the longer be deficient in early life the more food spillage is found. 6. Both preweaning and postweaning deficient groups showed generally nervous and restless. The normal group is staid and showed less mobilities. 7. The average size of the brains of the group subjected to protein deficiency during three (3) weeks lactation period is smaller than that of the group of the eight (8) weeks postweaning deficiency. This means that the development of the brain is made mostly during lactation period. The group of the eleven (11) weeks postnatal deficiency is significantly different from the normal group in its brain development. It is assumed, in connection with the results of various maze tests reported, that the brain size is closely related with the intellectual ability.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.14-22
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• 2001

In this study, we examined the effects of dietary fatty acids and vitamin E supplementation on antioxidant systems in the rat brain regions. The Sprague Dawley rats were fed the experimental diets 3-4 wks prior to the conception. Experimental diet consisted of 10% fat(wt/wt) which were safflower oil(SO, poor in $\omega$3 fatty acids), mixed oil(MO, P/M/S ratio=1.03:1.45:1,$\omega$6/$\omega$3 ratio=6.3) and mixed oil supplemented with vitamin E(ME:MO+500mg vitamin E/kg diet). At 3 and 9 weeks of age of the newborn rats, frontal cortex(FC), corpus striatum(CS), hippocampus(H) cerebellum(CB) were dissected out from the whole brain. Activities of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-P(sub)x, superoxide dismutase(SOD) concentrations of malondialdehyde(MDA) were mesaured. Dietary fatty acids were not effective in antioxidative system for rat brain. However, when vitamin E was supplemented to the diet(ME), the activities of GSH-P(suh)x tended to increase in comparison to MO group. Therefore, the activites of GSH-P(suh)x of FC and H at the age of 3 weeks showed significant differences(p<0.05). The activities of Total-SOD tended to decrease in ME group compared to MO group. There were significant differences(p<0.05) in FC and CS at the age of 3 weeks. The activities of Mn-SOD tended to increase and Cu, Zn-SOD tended to decrease when vitamin E was supplemented. The activity levels of antioxidative enzymes at the age of 3 weeks and 9 weeks were similar. This suggested that the activity level of antioxidative enzymes reached to the adult level at the age of 3 weeks which is the end point of lactation period. The concentrations of MDA were not altered by experimental diets. When the activities of antioxidant enzymes were compared, the activities of antioxidant enzymes were the lowest in H and FC. In conclusion, the antioxidative system were not altered by dietary fatty acid at the age of 3 weeks and 9 weeks, but the supplementation of vitamin E altered the antioxidative systems. Therefore, these findings should be considered comprehensively in scope of the balance of various antioxidative systems and their interactions(Korean J Nutrition 34(1):14-22, 2001)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.849-860
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• 1996

The supply of different fatty acids during the development period has significant effects. This study examined the effects of dietary $\omega$3 and $\omega$6 fatty acid compositions on phospholipids (PLs) of RBC and rat brain subcellular fractions (synaptosome, microsome, mitochondria), and on learning ability of the 2nd generation rat. Rats were fed experimental diets 3-4 wks prior to the conception. Early in the lactation period, the feeding mothers were exchanged. Diets consisted of 10% fat(by weight), which was either safflower oil('S') poor in $\omega$3 fatty acids or computer-searched mixed oil('M') with P/M/S ratio, 1/1.4/1 and $\omega$6/$\omega$3 ratio, 6.1/1. The 'S' and 'M' rats were subdivided further into SS, SM, MS & MM rats according to their lactation stauts. At 3 (weaning) & 9 wks of age, the percentage of total $\omega$3 fatty acids to their lactation status. At 3 (weaning) & 9 wks of age, the percentage of total $\omega$3 fatty acids and the ratios of $\omega$3/$\omega$6 fatty acids in PLs of RBC and brain subcellular fractions in SM and MM groups fed milk from the mixed oil-fed mothers for 2 wks tended to be higher than those in SS and MS groups respectively. In contrast, the concentrations of $\omega$6 fatty acids, especially 22:5$\omega$6 in all fractions, were significantly lower in the SM & MM groups compared to those of the SS & MS groups respectively. In contrast, the concentration of $\omega$6 fatty acids, especially 22:5$\omega$6 in all fractions, were significantly lower in the SM & MM groups compared to those of the SS & MS groups, The values for the DHA$\omega$3/22:5$\omega$6 ratios after the lactation period were markedly higher in the groups (SM & MM) which were reared by mixed oil(MO) fed mothers. In carring out Y-water maze at 9th wk of age, the SM(4.2$\pm$0.5) & MM (5.3$\pm$0.5) groups made significantly less errors compared to the SS(6.2$\pm$0.6, p<0.05 compared with SM) & MM (7.2$\pm$0.5, p<0.05 compared with MM) groups which were lactated by the safflower oilfed mothers. Therefore, by feeding a balanced fatty acid diet from the lactation period up to 9 wks of age as compared with the groups fed $\omega$3 fatty acid-deficient diet regardless of mother's diet given before parturition. The levels of DHA(synaptosome) and 22:5$\omega$3 (mitochondria) were positively correlated not only with these values in RBC but also with visual discriminating ability. The levels of DHA and 22:5$\omega$3 in RBC can, therfore, reflect visual discriminatng ability in the rat.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.9-22
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• 1993

To evaluate the protective effects of calcium antagonists, oxygen radical scavengers and excitatory amino acid (EAA) antagonist on the ischemic brain damage, we induced in vitro ischemic condition (namely, lack of oxygen and glucose) to rat hippocampal slices. And the degree of ischemic damage was determined by assaying changes in biochemical parameters such as ATP content and lactate ralease, MDA production in the presence or absence of the various drugs. During experimental ischemia for up to 60 min, ATP content was decreased and the amount of lactate release was markedly increased time-dependently. By changing the reaction medium which contained oxygen and glucose those biochemical parameters were recovered. But the recovery was not complete in this experimental condition. In the same ischemic conditions verapamil and vitamine E prevented the decrease of ATP content and the increase of lactate release from the slices. And verapamil and diltiazem decreased MDA release to the reaction medium. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and MK-801 (as EAA receptor antagonist) protected the decrease of ATP content and reduced MDA release in 20 min ischemic condition, but glutathione affected ATP content and lactate release at the same condition. When oxygen and glucose were resupplied for 20 min after ischemic condition, verapamil showed the protective effect on the changes of ATP content and lactate release, and vitamine E decreased lactate release (at 20 min ischemia) and MDA release (at 60 min ischemia). These results showed that calcium antagonist and vitamine E protect the ischemic biochemical changes from rat hippocampal slices and calcium antagonist is more potent than vitamine E to protect the ischemical brain damege.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.329-334
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• 2003

The present study was aimed at investigating the regulatory mechanism in tissue-specific expression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene. The expression of IGF-I gene was determined by a solution hybridization/RNase protection assay using total RNA prepared from rat liver or brain of various ages. The levels of IGF-I transcripts were increased in liver gradually after birth, but decreased in brain. By using an oligonucleotide (FRE) corresponding to the C/EBP binding site of the rat IGF-I exon 1, multiple forms of C/EBP${\alpha}$ and C/EBP${\beta}$ proteins, which have DNA-binding activity, were detected in the rat liver or brain. Western immunoblot and southwestern analyses show that p42$\^$C/EBP${\alpha}$/, p38$\^$C/EBP${\alpha}$/, p35$\^$C/EBP${\alpha}$/, p38$\^$C/EBP${\beta}$/, and p35$\^$C/EBP${\beta}$ form specific complexes with the IGF-I exon 1 oligonucleotide in liver nuclear extract and that p42$\^$C/EBP${\alpha}$/ and p38$\^$C/EBP${\beta}$/ form complexes in brain. These data suggest that the formation of FRE-C/EBP isoform complexes may play important roles in the tissue-specific regulation of IGF-I gene expression.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.194-198
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• 2000

Taurine, 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid is widely distributed in animal tissues and has a variety of bio-logical activities. A recent worldwide study demonstrated beneficial effects of taurine on aging and age-associated disorders. In general, taurine levels in the brain decease when an animal is subjected to pathologic conditions such as ischemia-anoxia and seizure. But the taurine levles tend to increase in the brain in hypertensive state. In the present study, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) transport of [$^3$H]taurine was compared between spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats (SD) using intravenous injection technique in vivo. We also obtained pharmacokinetic parameters of plasma volume maker, [$^{14}$ C] sucrose and [$^3$H]taurine after inject to rats simulatenously. BBB permeability surface area product (PS) value of [$^3$H]taurine in SHR (16$\pm$2.9$\times$10$^{-3}$ ml/min/g) was significantly higher than that in SD (7.4$\pm$0.8$\times$10$^{-3}$ ml/min/g). There is also significant difference for brain uptake of [$^3$H]taurine between SHR (0.195$\pm$0.031%ID/g) and SD (0.058$\pm$0.003% ID/g). This is due to difference of area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and that of total clearance (Class) between SHR and SD. No significant difference was indicated from other organ uptakes such as lung, heart, liver SHR and SD. But also kidney uptake was much higher in SHR. In conclusion, [$^3$H]taurine in plasma was slowly eliminated in SHR than in SD and uptake of [$^3$H]taurine in SHR is much higher than that of SD. This results suggest increased taurine level in the brain in hypertension state have an any effect on the brain uptake of taurine.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.195-201
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• 2011

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in tissue development and re-modeling. Dynamic morphological changes of tooth germs reflect involvement of these enzymes during odontogenesis. The present study was performed to investigate expression and localization of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which have been known to have type IV collagenase activities, in rat tooth germs at different developmental stages. MMP-2 expression was increased gradually in the tooth germs from cap to crown staged germs at both transcription and translation levels. The localization of this molecule was detected in secretory ameloblasts and preameloblasts. The strong immunoreactivities were occasionally seen along the basement membrane between ameloblasts (or preameloblasts) and odontoblasts (preodontoblasts). However, weak reactivity was detected in odontoblasts and reduced enamel epithelium. The level of MMP-9 expression in the tooth germs was higher in cap stage than in crown staged germs at both transcription and translation levels. They were strongly expressed in both ameloblasts and odontoblasts. Even though reduced enamel epithelium after enamel formation and inner enamel epithelium at the cap stage exhibited weak reactivity, strong reactivity was detected in dental follicles and perifollicular tissues surrounding cap staged germs. These results suggested that MMP-2 may involve degradation of the basement membrane during hard tissue formation, whereas MMP-9 might be involved in remodeling of follicular tissues.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.288-293
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• 1995

In the present study, we tested whether lead intoxication could change the thiamine content and the activity of transketolase, one of thiamine-dependent enzymes, in the brain of rats. It was also tested whether administration of excessive thiamine can reverse the toxic manifestation of lead in the lead intoxicated rats. Four groups of Wistar rats were prepared: 1) control group, 2) lead treated group, 3) lead plus thiamine treated group and 4) thiamine deficient group. Each group of animals was divided into three subgroups based on ages: 3, 7 and 16 weeks. Lead concentration, thiamine content and the activity of transketolase in three different brain regions, i.e.,, telencephalon, brain stem and cerebellum, were measured in each group. Lead concentrations in brain regions of the lead treated group were significantly higher than those of the control group, and those of the lead plus thiamine treated group were significantly decreased from those of the lead treated group. Thiamine contents in the brain regions of the lead treated group were significantly lower than those of the control group, and those of the lead plus thiamine treated group were recovered back to those of the control group. Activities of transketolase in the brain regions of the lead treated group and the thiamine deficient group were significantly lower than those of the control group, while those of the lead plus thiamine treated group were higher than the lead treated group. The results from the present study suggest that neurotoxicity following lead intoxication in rats may be mediated, at least in part, through the changes of thiamine status and consequently thiamine-dependent biochemical reactions such as theactivity of transketolase.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.537-549
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• 2022

Preproenkephalin (PPE) is a precursor molecule for multiple endogenous opioid peptides Leu-enkephalin (ENK) and Met-ENK, which are involved in a wide variety of modulatory functions in the nervous system. Despite the functional importance of ENK in the brain, the effect of brain-derived factor(s) on PPE expression is unknown. We report the dual effect of neural epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like-like 2 (NELL2) on PPE gene expression. In cultured NIH3T3 cells, transfection of NELL2 expression vectors induced an inhibition of PPE transcription intracellularly, in parallel with downregulation of protein kinase C signaling pathways and extracellular signal-regulated kinase. Interestingly, these phenomena were reversed when synthetic NELL2 was administered extracellularly. The in vivo disruption of NELL2 synthesis resulted in an increase in PPE mRNA level in the rat brain, suggesting that the inhibitory action of intracellular NELL2 predominates the activation effect of extracellular NELL2 on PPE gene expression in the brain. Biochemical and molecular studies with mutant NELL2 structures further demonstrated the critical role of EGF-like repeat domains in NELL2 for regulation of PPE transcription. These are the first results to reveal the spatio-specific role of NELL2 in the homeostatic regulation of PPE gene expression.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.103-103
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• 1997

일시적인 국소 뇌허혈 rat model에서 중대뇌동맥의 폐쇄시간에 따른 뇌조직의 손상정도를 비교 조사하였다. 웅성 Wistar rats를 isoflurane 홉입마취하에서 우측 내경동맥내로 17 mm의 silicone-coated 4-0 nylon monofilament를 삽입하여, 중대뇌동맥의 기저부를 30분, 60분 또는 90분동안 폐쇄한 후 이 monofilament를 다시 밖으로 뽑아내므로써 23 시간동안 recirculation 시키는 일시적 국소 뇌허혈 rat model을 사용한 결과, 수술 후 거의 모든 rats에서 left hemiparesis 또는 좌측으로의 circling과 같은 신경학적 결손이 나타나므로써 높은 성공률을 가지고서 비교적 용이하게 뇌허혈을 유발시킬 수 있었으며, 2 mm 두께의 fresh brain coronal slices에 대하여 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) 염색법을 시행하여 slice surface의 사진을 찍고 computerized 영상분석법을 이용하여 필요한 면적을 측정하므로써, coronal slice의 infarction size (%)는 총 면적에 대한 infarction 면적의 %로서, 부종율 (%)은 대조측 대뇌반구 면적의 2배에 대한 동측 대뇌반구와 대조측 대뇌반구 면적 차이의 %로서 산정되어졌다. 30분 허혈군에서는 본 염색법으로는 infarction이 거의 확인되지 않았으나 60분 허혈군 (n=13)에서는 우측 somatosensory frontoparietal cortex와 striatum 양자 모두 또는 일부 rats에서는 striatum에만 국한된 ulfarction이 확인되어졌으며 90분 허혈군 (n=12)에서는 거의 대부분의 rats에서 위 두 지역 모두에서 infarction이 확인되어졌다. Infarction size (%)는 60분과 90분 허혈군 각각에서, frontal pole로부터 5 mm되는 slice에서는 11.9$\pm$1.2 (평균치$\pm$표준오차), 13.7$\pm$1.9이었으며 7 mm되는 slice에서는 19.1$\pm$1.8, 21.9$\pm$2.1이었으며 9 mm되는 slice에서는 14.7$\pm$2.4, 19.7$\pm$2.2이었다. 또한 부종율 (%)은 60분과 90분 허혈군 각각에서, frontal pole로부터 5 mm되는 slice에서는 3.1$\pm$0.6, 3.8$\pm$0.7이었으며 7 mm되는 slice에서는 3.5$\pm$0.3, 5.7$\pm$1.0이었으며 9 $\pm$되는 slice에서는 3.4$\pm$0.5, 5.7$\pm$0.9이었다. 한편 90분 동안의 중대뇌동맥 폐쇄에 따른 뇌조직 손상을 cresyl violet 염색법, NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry, GFAP immunohistochemistry를 사용하여 일부 측정한 결과, 위의 손상지역에서는 뇌신경세포체들의 shrinkage 내지는 소실됨을 확인할 수 있었으며, NADPH-diaphorase-positive neuron들도 대부분 dendrite와 axon같은 cell process들의 fragmentation, shrinkage 내지는 소실되므로써 intensity의 감소현상이 나타났으며, reactive gliosis로 말미암아 GFAP immunoreactive intensity의 증가현상이 나타났다.