• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2015

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Cannabis Fructus on exercise capacity and cognitive function in chronic hypoperfusion induced vascular dementia rat model. Methods Vascular dementia rat models were induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion through bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (BCCAO). All rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal group; control group; CF I group (feeding Cannabis Fructus 100 mg/kg); CF II group (feeding Cannabis Fructus 300 mg/kg). In order to study the effects of oral administration of Cannabis Fructus on vascular dementia rat models, corner turn test, hole board test, radial arm maze test, passive avoidance test were taken and Acetylcholine (ACh) activity, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, serum of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein level were measured. Also histological findings of the liver, kidney, brain and the change of Tau immunoreactive neurons in hippocampus were observed. Results CF I and CF II showed significant improvement in corner turn test, hole board test, radial arm maze test, passive avoidance test, Acetylcholine (ACh) activity, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, the serum of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein level and the change of Tau immunoreactive neurons in hippocampus. CF I showed more significant effect than CF II in these tests. However in histological observations of the liver and kidney both CF I and CF II showed glomerular injury and hepatotoxicity. Conclusions These results suggest that Cannabis Fructus was helpful in improving exercise capacity and cognitive function on Chronic hypoperfusion induced Vascular Dementia rats. However Cannabis Fructus affects the liver and kidney, therefore suggest that this is an area for further study.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.26-37
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Hyperuricemic nephropathy is a common cause of acute kidney injury. Resveratrol can ameliorate kidney injury, but the explicit mechanism remains unclear. We investigated the effects of resveratrol on the inflammatory response and renal injury in hyperuricemic rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: A rat model of hyperuricemic nephropathy was established by the oral administration of a mixture of adenine and potassium oxinate. Biochemical analysis and hematoxylin and eosin staining were performed to assess the rat kidney function. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed to evaluate the immune and oxidative responses. RESULTS: The expression levels of urine albumin and β2-microglobulin were significantly decreased after resveratrol treatment. In addition, the levels of serum creatinine and uric acid were significantly decreased in the resveratrol groups, compared with the control group. The levels of proinflammatory factors, such as interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α, in kidney tissue and serum were also increased in the hyperuricemic rats, and resveratrol treatment inhibited their expression. Moreover, the total antioxidant capacity in kidney tissue as well as the superoxide dismutase and xanthine oxidase levels in serum were all decreased by resveratrol treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Resveratrol may protect against hyperuricemic nephropathy through regulating the inflammatory response.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2017

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) play important roles in various cellular functions including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. We showed that MAPKs are developmentally regulated in the rat kidney. p38 MAPK (p38) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) were strongly expressed in the fetal kidney, whereas c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was detected predominantly in the adult kidney. The inhibition of p38 or ERK in organ culture resulted in reduced nephron formation with or without reduced kidney size. On the other hand, persistent fetal expression pattern of MAPKs, i.e., upregulation of p38 and ERK and downregulation of JNK, was observed in the cyst epithelium of human renal dysplasia, ovine fetal obstructive uropathy, and pcy mice, a model of polycystic kidney disease. Furthermore, activated p38 and ERK induced by cyclic stretch mediated proliferation and $TGF-{\beta}1$ expression in ureteric bud cells, probably leading to cyst formation and dysplastic changes. Inhibition of ERK slowed the disease progression in pcy mice. Finally, ERK and p38 were inactivated in the early embryonic kidney subjected to maternal nutrient restriction, characterized by reduced ureteric branching and nephron number. Thus, MAPKs mediate the development of normal and diseased kidney. Their modulation may result in novel therapeutic strategies against developmental abnormalities of the kidney.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.181-185
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• 2003

Whether there exists a sympathetic neural regulation on the aquaporin (AQP) channels in the kidney was examined. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. They were renal nerve denervated by stripping the nervous and connective tissues passing along the renal artery and vein, and painting these vessels with 10% phenol solution through a midline abdominal incision. Three days later, the expression of AQP1-4 proteins in the denervated kidneys was determined. The content of norepinephrine was found significantly decreased following the denervation. Accordingly, the expression of AQP2 proteins was markedly decreased. The expression of AQP3 and AQP4 was also slightly but significantly decreased, while that of AQP1 was not. Neither the basal nor the AVP-stimulated accumulation of cAMP was significantly affected in the denervated kidney. It is suggested that the sympathetic nervous system has a tonic stimulatory effect on AQP channels in the kidney.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.602-607
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• 1994

Based upon the previous experiments showing that kidney and lung tissues of rat had relatively abundant bradykinin binding sites, we tried to characterize and determine the densities of the bradykinin binding sites in the rabbit kidney tissue and proximal tubular cells under different growing conditions. Among the kidney tissue renal medulla segments showed the highest bradykinin binding sites. To determine which growth factors are to add in the serum free culture medium to express selectively the bradykinin binding sites in the rabbit kidney proximal tubular cells, we tried so called hormone-deletion approach and in here insulin, hydrocortisone, transferrin, triiodothyronine and prostaglandin $E_1$ are examined. By performing receptor binding assay and determination of protein concentrations, we may conclude that the most required hormones in the expression for bradykinin binding sites are insulin and transferrin, and fetal bovine serum is shown to be less effective in this regard.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1347-1353
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• 2007

The changes of glycoconjuagates (GCs) in rat kidney due to maturation were studied from samples of fetal and postnatal kidneys by lectin histochemistry. Rat kidneys of perinatal ages and adults were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and were stained with nine kinds of biotinylated lectins. The immature forms of the renal developmental stage such as vesicles and ureteric bud were observed in the cortex as late as day 14 of postnatal life, but the histological appearance of the weaning kidney was similar to that observed in adults. As for histochemical properties of GCs in the glomeruli, Con A affinity tended to increase with aging, but both RCA-1 and LCA affinities showed a transient increase in immature glomeruli of neonatal rats. DBA affinity with SBA, PNA, BSL-1 and RCA-1, additional Con A one in proximal tubule, were increased in both proximal and distal tubules according to maturation. In contrast to this, transient intensive LCA affinity were demonstrated in immature proximal and distal tubule of neonatal rats. In the collecting tubules, DBA, SBA, PNA and sWGA affinities tended to increase according to maturation, but transient increase for BSL-1, RCA-1 and LCA affinities were detected in neonatal rats. The present results suggest that the mature glycosylation pattern of the kidney undergoes profound changes during maturation and is probably associated with functional maturation of the kidney.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.225-232
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• 1991

The hypoglycemic and metabolic effects of Commelina communis L. extract were investigated in alloxan-diabetic rats. The increased blood glucose level in the diabetic rats was significantly lowered and the loss of body weight in the diabetic rats was recovered with the treatments of the crude extract. Administration of the extract elicited the significant increase of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and liver weight which were decreased in the alloxan-treated rat serum and liver. On the other hand, the kidney weight and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity were increased in the alloxan treated rat kidney and were potentiated by the treatment of the extract. In both liver and kidney, together with serum, alkaline phosphatase and ATPase activities were increased in the alloxan diabetic rats and were not recovered, rather potentiated by the administration of the extract.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.729-735
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• 1999

Scopolia rhizome is mistaken as an atractylodes rhizome because of their similarities in shape. That is why atractylodes rhizome imported from China sometimes contain scopolia rhizome, which is very toxic. 8 persons were intoxicated atractylodes after taking imported atractylodes rhizome which is tainted. In kampo medicine prepared with such imported atractylodes rhizome, the level of tropane alkaloids ranged from 1.12∼4.34 mg/dose. In this study, we tried to investigate the tissue distribution of scopolia rhizome in rats. The extracts of scopolia was administered orally to rats (a single dose of 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg and 7 days repeated dose of 10mg/kg). Their blood was collected at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6 hrs, and liver, kidney, lung and spleen were collected after 6 hrs. The tissue homogenate was applied to solid phase extraction column for the determination of tropane alkaloids. After the oral administration of 20mg/kg scopolia extracts, l-hyoscyamine was detected in rat blood to 2 hrs after dosing. The concentration of tropane alkaloids was the highest in liver followed by lung, kidney and spleen. However, lung, kidney and spleen were similar in amount.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.832-844
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was to observe the nephroprotective effects of the traditional prescription, Taeksa-san(TSS). TSS has generally been used for treating various renal diseases, including renal failure. Methods : Three different dosages of TSS extract were orally administered once a day for 28 days, At the 23rd day after TSS extract treatment, cisplatin was also treated. Then, 5 days after cisplatin treatment, all the rats (6 groups of 8 rats each) were sacrificed. Changes in the body weight, kidney weight, serum BUN and creatinine levels were observed with changes on the kidney MDA and GSH contents. The results were compared with captopril 100mg/kg, of which the effects on cisplatin-induced acute renal failures are already confirmed. Results : Dramatic decrease of body weight, increase of kidney weight, increase of serum BUN and creatinine levels were detected in the cisplatin control as compared with the intact control. In addition, marked increase of kidney MDA contents and decrease of kidney GSH contents were also detected in the cisplatin control as compared with the intact control. This means that cisplatin-induced ARF is induced by oxidative stress and related lipid peroxidation in the present study. However, these ARFs and inhibition of antioxidant effects induced by cisplatin were dose-dependently reduced by treatment with all three different dosages of TSS extracts. Conclusion : This study suggests that TSS extracts show favorable effects on cisplatin-induced rat ARF.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.8-16
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• 1996

Effects of water extract of aloe vera on lead-induced neurotoxicity were investigated in sciatic nerve isolated from rat. The mechanism on toxicity reduction by measuring activities of axonal enzymes, metabolism of myo-inositol in nerve, lead concentration in several organs and so on were further examimed. In the lead-treated rats, the transport rate of axonal enzyme, such as acetyl cholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase, was reduced by from 50% to 30% respectively. Reduction in myo-inositol concentration and $Na^+/K^+$ ATPase activity were also observed in sciatic nerve from lead-treated rat. However, the aloe extract administration significantly eliminated the impairment and maintained myo-inositol concentration to about 85% of normal level. Also aloe extract promoted the excretion rate of lead which is accumulated in blood, sciatic nerve and kidney. These results suggest that lead-induced neurotoxicity was significantly reduced by administration of aloe extract and the mechanism might be partly increase in kidney excretion rate of lead and parity normalization of $Na^+/K^+$ ATPase activity which is critical factor in order to keep nerve maintaining normal myo-inositol level.