• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.986-992
• /
• 1996

This study was designed to observe the effects of the feeding Platycodon grandiflorum(6 or 22 years) extract on the improvement of the blood glucose, lipids in the serum and liver of alloxaninduced hyperglycemic rats(S.D. strain, ♂), alloxan monohydrate 15mg/kg B.W./day I.P. injection) for 3 weeks. Concentrations of blood glucose were significantly higher in the alloxan administration(I.P.) groups(groups 2, 3 and 4) than those in the control group(group 1, basal diet). Blood glucose concentrations were remarkably lower in the group 3(basa1+alloxan+6years Platycodon grandiflorum) and 4(basa1+alloxan+22years Platycodon grandiflorum) than those in the group 2(basal+alloxan), and particularly, lower in the group 4. Concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in serum were significantly lower in the groups 3, 4 than those in the group 2, and remarkably, lower in the group 4 than those in the group 3. Concentrations of HDL-cholesterol in serum were tile highest in the group 1. Those in the groups 3 and 4 were higher than those in the group 2. Atherosclerotic index were lower in the group 3, 4 than those in the group 2. In the alloxan-induced diabetic groups(groups 2, 3, 4), the serum free cholesterol, cholesterol ester, triglyceride and phospholipid concentrations were significantly lower in the group 3, 4 than those in the group 2. Contents of total cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid in liver were remarkably lower in the all experimental groups than those in the group 2. The activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase In serum were the highest in the group 2, but the other groups were rather lower. From the above research, the Platycodon grandiflorum(6 or 22 years) extracts were effective on the improvement of the blood glucose, lipid compositions in serum and liver. And particularly, Platycodon grandiflorum(22 years) was more effective than those in the Platycodon grandiflorum(6 years).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.25 no.1 s.37
• /
• pp.13-25
• /
• 1992

This study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of protective effect by sodium selenite in methylmercuric chloride neurotoxicity, increasing intracellular $Ca^{2+}$concentration of the neuron. Methylmercuric chloride of 3mg/kg of body weight was administered simultaneously with sodium selenite of 5mg/kg and pretreatment of sodium selenite via intraperitoneal injection to rats. Also, effect of methylmercuric chloride($25{\mu}M,\;50{\mu}M,\;100{\mu}M$) and sodium selenite($200{\mu}M$) on free intrasynaptosomal $Ca^{2+}$ concentration were studied using the fluorescent $Ca^{2+}$ indicator fura -2 in vitro. After the treatment, at 6, 24, and 48 hours later, mercury in the cerebral cortex, liver and kidney tissues, succlnic dehydrogenase activities, adenosin-5'-triphosphate concentration, acetylcholinesterase activities, and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in the cerebral cortex were determined in vivo. Cerebral synaptosomes of rats were incubated with methylmercuric chloride and sodium selenite in Hepes buffer for 10 minutes and free intrasynaptosomal $Ca^{2+}$ concentration were measured with fura-2 in vitro. The results were summarized as follows ; 1. The combined administration of $CH_3HgCl$ and $Na_2SeO_3$ and pretreatment of $Na_2SeO_3$ according to time significantly more increased in the cerebral cortex and decreased in the liver, kidney mercury concentrations compared to the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. 2. The combined administration of $CH_3HgCl$ and $Na_2SeO_3$ and pretreatment of $Na_2SeO_3$ increased more succinic dehydrogenase and acetylcholinesterase activities compared to the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. Particularly pretreatment of $Na_2SeO_3$ significantly more compared to the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. The concentration of adenosine-5'-triphosphate in $Na_2SeO_3$ treatment groups revealed a favourable effect compared to the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. 3. Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only was increased significantly more than control group in all test hours but was increased significantly more at 48 hours only after treatment in combined administration of $CH_3HgCl$ and $Na_2SeO_3$ and pretreatment of $Na_2SeO_3$ according to time interval more decreased significantly intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration compared to the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. 4. Free intrasynaptosomal $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in the combined administration of $CH_3HgCl$ and $Na_2SeO_3$ was decreased ($24%{\sim}40%$) significantly more than the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. From the above results, the specific dosage of $Na_2SeO_3$ decreased increment of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration induced by administration of $CH_3HgCl$. These findings suggest the protective mechanism of $Na_2SeO_3$ on the neurotoxicity of $CH_3HgCl$.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.369-379
• /
• 1998

Background: Platelet-activating factor(PAF) might play an important role in the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Since PAF induced lung injury is similar to changes of acute respiratory distress gyndrome, and abnormalities in surfactant function have been described in acute respiratory distress syndrome, the authors investigated the effects of PAF on the regulation of surfactant protein A, B and C mRNA accumulation Method: The effects of PAF on gene expression of surfactant protein A, B and C in 24 hours after intratracheal injection of PAF in rats. Surfactant protein A, B and C mRNAs were measured by filter hybridization. Results: The accumulation of SP-A mRNA in PAF treated group was significantly decreased by 37.1 % and 41.6%, respectively compared to the control group and the group treated with Lyso-PAF(p<0.025, p<0.01). The accumulation of SP-B mRNA in PAF treated group was decreased by 18.7% and 32.2 %, respectively compared to the control group and the group treated with Lyso-PAF but statistically not significant. The accumulation of SP-C mRNA in PAF treated group was significantly decreased by 30.7% and 38.5%, respectively compared to the control group and the group treated with Lyso-PAF(p<0.l, p<0.01). Conclusion: These findings represent a marked inhibitory effects of platelet-activating factor on surfactant proteins expression in vivo. This supports, in turn, 'platelet-activating factor might be related to pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.315-321
• /
• 2003

Purpose: This study was peformed to Investigate apoptosis by radiation In the developing fetal rat brain. Materials and Methods: Fetal blains were Irradiated In utero between the 17th and 19th days of fetal life (El7-19) by linear accelerator. A dose of Irradiation ranging from 1 Gy to 4 Gy was used to evaluate dose dependency. To test time dependency the ra)s were Irradiated with 2 Gy and then the fetal brain specimens were removed at variable 41me course; 1, 3, 5, 12 and 24 hours after the onset of irradiation. Immunohistochemlcal staining using in situ 707-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) technlfue was used for apoptotic cells. The cerebral cortex, including three zones on coriicai zone (Cf). Intermediate zone (if), and ventricular zone (VZ), was examined. Results : TUNEL positive cells revealed typical features of apoptotic cells under light microscope In the fetal rat cerebral cortex. Apoptotic cells were not found In the cerebral cortex of non-Irradiated fetal rats, but did appear In the entire cerebral cortex after 1 Gy Irradiation, and were more expensive at the ventricular and Intermediate zones than at the cortical zone. The extent of apoptosis was Increased with Increasing doses of radiation. Apoptosis reached the peak at S hours after the onset of 2 Gy Irradiation and persisted until 24 hours. Conclusion: Typical morphological features of apoplosis by irradiation were observed In the developing fetal rat cerebral cortex. It was more extensive at the ventricular and Intermediate zones than at the cortical zone, which suggested that stem cells or early differentiated cells are more radiosensitive than differentiated cells of the cortical zone.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.135-143
• /
• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate feeding effects of the high pressure boiled extract(HPBE) of the Ogol chicken on weight gain and serum lipid composition of rat. Rats(S.D,♂) were fed with normal feed(T$_1$), normal feed ＋ herb HPBE(T$_2$), normal feed ＋ Ogol chicken HPBE(T$_3$), normal feed ＋ mixture of cross­bred Ogol chicken HPBE hydrolyzed with Flavourzyme 0.1% for 35 days. During experimental period, the effects of the treatments on growth performance, plasma triglyceride(TG) and cholesterol were determined. The effects of feeding HPBE on growth performance and serum triglyceride levels in rat. After a 6 day treatment, body weights were 39.96g, 44.56g, 43.34g, and 45.99g for T$_1$, T$_2$, T$_3$ and T$_4$ groups respectively. The growth rates of T$_2$ and T$_4$ groups were significantly(P<0.05) higher than T$_1$ group, but the differences were not observed after 18 days of feeding period. Triglyceride contents were 62.89${\pm}$6.24mg/dl, 55.70${\pm}$6.76mg/dl, 43.60${\pm}$4.68mg/dl and 45.00${\pm}$3.75mg/dl for T$_1$, T$_2$, T$_3$ and T$_4$ groups respectively, where T$_1$ group was significantly (P<0.05) higher than T$_3$ and T$_4$ groups. In serum total cholesterol contents, there was no significant difference among the groups. GOT(glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase) and GPT(glutamic pyruvic transaminase) also showed similar levels among the treatments.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.522-534
• /
• 1995

Background: In the pathogenesis of acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS), oxygen radiclls are known to be involved in one part. Superoxide dismutase(SOD) protects oxygen radical-induced tissue damage by dismutating superoxide to hydrogen peroxide. In eukaryotic cells, two forms of SOD exist intracellularly as a cytosolic, dimeric copper/zinc-containing SOD(CuZnSOD) and a mitochondrial, tetrameric manganese-containing SOD(MnSOD). But there has been little information about SOD gene expression and its regulation in pulmonary alveolar macrophages(PAMs). The objective of this study is to evaluate the SOD gene expression induced by LPS and its regulation in PAMs of rat. Method: In Sprague-Dawley rats, PAMs obtained by broncholaveolar lavage were purified by adherence to plastic plate. To study the effect of LPS on the SOD gene expression of PAMs, they were stimulated with different doses of LPS($0.01{\mu}g/ml{\sim}10{\mu}g/ml$) and for different intervals(0, 2, 4, 8, 24hrs). Also for evaluating the level of SOD gene regulation actinomycin D(AD) or cycloheximide(CHX) were added respectively. To assess whether LPS altered SOD mRNA stability, the rate of mRNA decay was determined in control group and LPS-treated group. Total cellular RNA extraction by guanidinium thiocyanate/phenolfchlorofonn method and Northern blot analysis by using a $^{32}P$-labelled rat MnSOD and CuZnSOD cDNAs were performed. Results: The expression of mRNA in MnSOD increased dose-dependently, but not in CuZnSOD. MnSOD mRNA expression peaked at 8 hours after LPS treatment. Upregulation of MnSOD mRNA expression induced by LPS was suppressed by adding AD or CHX respectively. MnSOD mRNA stability was not altered by LPS. Conclusion: These findings show that PAMs of rat could be an important source of SOD in response to LPS, and suggest that their MnSOD mRNA expression may be regulated transcriptionally and require de novo protein synthesis without affecting mRNA stability.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.55-84
• /
• 1988

This study was carried out to investigate the teratological potential of azinphos-methyl in the rat fetuses and to establish the nature of the effects on organogenesis and intrauterine development. The Sprague-Dawley female rats (180-210g) without previous litter were used in this study. Azinphos-methyl dosages of 0.094mg/kg, 0.4mg/kg, 1.5mg/kg were selected based on the acute intragastric $LD_{50}$ of 15mg/kg in the rat. Azinphos-methyl in water (Treatment Group), non-treatment control (Negative Control), water control (Sham Control), were administered by oral route and aqueous solution of acetyl salicylic acid (Positive Control) was administered by gavage at rate of 10 ml/kg of body weight from day 6 through 15. The results obtained were summarized as follows. 1. Decreased body weight of dams was observed in animals treated with aspirin and azinphos-methyl 1.5 mg/kg from day 7 through 14. (P<0.01) 2. There was an apparent decrement in the absolute liver weight in the azinphos-methyl 1.5 mg/kg treated group (P<0.05). However, the absolute and relative kidney weight in aspirin group (P<0.05, P<0.01) and the absolute and relative ovary weight in aspirin, azinphos-methyl treatment groups (P<0.01, P<0.05) were increased. 3. Decreased protein contents of dam's liver was observed in the aspirin and high dose azinphos-methyl treated group of animals (P<0.01). 4. The number of male-female ratio per dam increased in azinphos-methyl 1.5 mg/kg group but there was an apparent decrement in the body weight of fetuses in aspirin and high dose azinphos-methyl group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Total immature and resorbed fetuses were increased in aspirin group and the number of dead fetuses were also increased in azinphos-methyl 1.5mg/kg treated group of animals. (P<0.01, P<0.05). 5. In soft tissue defects, diaphragmatic hernia in diaphragm, anophthalmia, enlarged olfactory bulb, hydrocephalus, absence of third and lateral ventricle in skull, hydronephrosis in kidney, atrophy of left ventricle wall, enlarged apex in heart were observed. Especially, defects of diaphragm, heart and eye ball showed peak incidences in the high dose azinphosmethyl and aspirin group. (P<0.01). 6. Variations in the ossification patterns of skull, sternebrae, tail, forelimbs and hindlimbs showed peak incidences in the aspirin and high dose azinphos-methyl group. (P<0.01). 7. In the developmental indices of offspring, the mortality of aspirin and azinphos-methyl 1.5mg/kg treated group was higher than that of negative control. And, there was an apparent decrement in the body weight of fetuses (P<0.01) and considerable differences were obtained in pivoting, development of fur, auditory function, vision, quadrupled muscle development and testes descent in aspirin and azinphos-methyl 1.5mg/kg group. (P<0.01).

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.148-152
• /
• 2001

This study investigated the role of excitatory amino acid systems in the initiation of organophosphate-induced seizures and brain damages in rats through quantitative in vivo microdialysis. Microdialysates were collected from the hippocampus of rat brain, treated with diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP; 2.67 mg/kg, s.c.) alone, and/or atropine sulfate (15 mg/kg, i.m.) and procyclidine (30 mg/kg, i.m.). The protective effects of atropine, a muscarinic blocker, and/or procyclidine, a N-methyl-D-aspartate and cholinergic antagonist, against DFP were examined. DFP treatment increased the levels of aspartate (Asp) and glutamate (Glu) significantly in the hippocampal persuate with the induction of seizures. Treatment of procyclidine could effectively block the increase of Asp and Glu levels. Atropine treatment showed no significant anticonvulsive effects against DFP-induced seizures. The increases of Asp and Glu levels by DFP were also completely blocked through the combined treatment of atropine and procyclidine. Histopathological findings on the hippocampus confirmed the above results. More effective protection was observed through the treatments of procyclidine alone or of both procyclidine and atropine than atropine alone against DFP-induced brain damage. Procyclidine was shown to be effective in DFP-induced seizures.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.121-128
• /
• 1998

Ochratoxin A (OA) is a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus ochraceus as well as other molds. It is a natural contaminant of mouldy food and feed. OA has a number of toxic effects, the most prominant being nephrotoxicity. Futhermore, OA is immunosuppressive, genotoxic, teratogenic and carcinogenic. OA inhibits protein synthesis by competition with phenylalanine in the phenylalanine-tRNA aminoacylation reaction. Recently, lipid peroxidation induced by OA has been reported, indicating that the lesion induced by this mycotoxin could be also related to oxidative pathway. Since it seems impossible to avoid contamination of foodstuffs by toxigenic fungi, detoxification and detoxication of OA are needed. In this study we investigated the protective effects of aspartame (Asp), phenylalanine (Phe), polyphenol 70S (PP) and aloe extract (AE) on the nephrotoxicity induced by subacute exposure to the OA. Asp and Phe are structural analogues of OA. PP, an ingredient of Green Tea and AE have been known as antioxidant and radical scavenger. Phe (40 mg/kg, i.p.) and Asp (25 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered to Sprague-Dawley rats simultaneously with OA (2.0 mg/kg, p.o.) for 2 weeks. PP (200 mg/kg, p.o.) and AE (50 mg/kg, i.v.) were pretreated before administration of OA, for 2 weeks and 3 days, respectively. Using enzymuria, BUN level, creatinemia and histophathologic examination as indices of renal damage, we observed that all of four compounds prevented the nephrotoxic effects induced by OA. It seems that structural analogues of OA such as Asp and Phe have better protective effect on the nephrotoxicity of OA than antioxidants. These results indicate that 1) formation of free radical and lipid peroxidation are likely to be involved in the nephrotoxicity of OA in vivo, 2) Asp, PP and AE might be used for prevention of renal lesions in cases of ochratoxicosis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.257-264
• /
• 2001

This study was performed to investigate the effects of chitosan-trimer (CT) on the prevention of postoperative adhesion formation in the rate model. All animals divided into PBS (control), 1% CT, 3% CT, and chitin treated group. The mean adhesion score in 1% CT group (1.03$\pm$0.63), 3% CT group (0.64$\pm$0.53) and chitin group (1.67$\pm$0.71) was found to be lower than that in control group (2.07$\pm$0.81). More favorable adhesion prevention was achieved in 3% CT group (0.64$\pm$0.53) in comparison with the control group, 1% CT group, and chitin group without any hemorrhagic complications. A statistically significant difference was observed in adhesion formation between control group and 3% CT group (p<0.001). In control group, 44 of 45 sites (97.7%) formed adhesions between the intestine defects. In contrast, 3% CT was effective in reducing the incidence of adhesion formation to 17 to 45 sites (62.2%) (p<0.05). The locations of adhesions were observed in serosa-serosa (60%), serosa-mesentery (13.3%), serosa-connective tissue of testis (10%), omentum-liver (10%), serosa-omentum (3.3%), serosa-cecum (3.3%), and serosa-incision (0%). On the results of histological analysis, grade of inflammation and fibrosis at the sites of postoperative peritoneal adhesion formation were not significantly different in all groups. But, 3% CT showed the lowest score of inflammation and fibrosis. In 3% CT group, the rate of increase of plasma fibrinogen was significantly lower compared with that in control group from pre-operation to 10 days later (p<0.05). There were no appreciable difference in the CBC, leukocyte differential counts and total protein concentrations among four groups. In conclusion, our data suggested that CT should be effective on reducing adhesion formation in experimental rat models. The results also showed that 3% CT does not adversely affect normal wound healing and healthy recovery after operation.