• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.1537-1543
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• 2011

We investigated the anti-diabetic effects of Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus (sea urchin, SU) shells on non-obese type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats. We measured body weight, blood glucose, and plasma insulin levels and conducted an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The SU shells (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly reduced the blood glucose of GK rats from 203.8${\pm}$29.8 mg/dL to 138.5${\pm}$21.2 mg/dL at after 4 weeks of daily oral administration. However, plasma insulin levels at the same time were not changed by treatment with SU. During the OGTT, the SU-treated GK rats maintained a lower blood glucose level than the control group for 15 to 120 min. Based on these results, SU shells are considered to be effective in improving glucose tolerance. These results suggest that SU shells have unique properties to lower blood glucose, raise insulin sensitivity, and improve insulin resistance in GK rats.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.249-256
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• 2009

The estrogen receptor-related receptors (ERRs) are a group of nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors. ERRs and estrogen receptors (ERs) have overlapping affinities for coactivators and DNA binding sites, but differ markedly in ligand binding and activation. The three mammalian ERR genes have been implicated in diverse physiological processes ranging from placental development to maintenance of bone density, whereas the molecular diversity, function, and regulation of ERRs in non-mammalian species are not well understood. In the present study, to investigate the involvement of ERR in transcription and embryogenesis in marine invertebrates, a cDNA encoding ERR (SnERR) was cloned from the gonad in Strongylocentrotus nudus, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amino acid sequence of SnERR showed high homology with that of S. purpuratus (91%). A phylogenetic tree clearly showed that SnERR is a member of the ERR family and clustered in echinodermata group as supported by a high bootstrap value. We examined gene expression of SnERR during embryonic development of S. nudus using real-time PCR. During the embryonic development, the mRNA of ERR was significantly high levels in early development stages (4~64 cell) and larval stages. The SnERR slightly activated transcription through the classical estrogen response elements (EREs) in the presence of genistein. In addition, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $\gamma$ coactivator (PGC)-$1\alpha$ knwon as a coactivator of ERR enhanced the snERR-mediated transactivation, suggesting that the PGC-$1\alpha$ is a coactivator of SnERR.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.43-50
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• 2020

The aim of this study is toxicity assessment using two types of sea urchins (H. pulcherrimus, M. nudus) that can representative primary consumers in potential coastal environments pollutants, Zinc undecylenate (ZU), which is used for various purposes, such as pharmaceutical agents and anti-bacterial and anti-fungi. The Fertilization rate and normal embryogenesis rate of H. pulcherrimus and M. nudus were concentration-dependent decreased. Besides, EC₅₀ of fertilization rate with H. pulcherrimus and M. nudus were 11.27 mgl^-1 and 1.48 mgl^-1, and EC₅₀ of normal embryogenesis were 0.94 mgl^-1 and 3.78 mgl^-1. NOEC of normal embryogenesis were 0.20 and 0.78 mgl^-1, respectively. In addition, to find the safety criteria of the ZU on the marine environment. PNEC value was 0.0094 mgl^-1, calculated using the toxicity values of two species of sea urchin derived from this study and the acute toxicity results of the coastal area through literature research. The above results will be used as basic data for establishing environmental protection strategies for marine environmental pollutants.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.341-346
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• 2002

To investigate the residue of organophosphorus pesticides such as Monocrotophos［Dimethyl-1-methyl-2-methyl carbamoylvinylphosphate］and EPN［O-ethyl-O-4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate］in the coastal environment of Cheju island, samples of sea organism, water and sediment were collected at the Sackdaldong and Daepodong near the Jungmoon golf course in July and Aug. 1997. The qualified detection limit of mono-crotophos and EPN by GC -FPD were 0.024 ng/g and 0.020 ng/g in the sea organism, respectively Neither Monocrotophos nor EPN was detected in seaweed cava (Ecklonia cava), Agar (Gelidium amansii), turban sell (Batillus cornutus) and sea urchin (Anthocidaris Crassispina). They were not detected in seawater and sediment, either. These results showed that the coastal area near the Jungmoon golf course in the Cheju island was not polluted by the organophosphorus pesticides such as Monocrotophos and EPN.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.686-693
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• 2012

The seaweed community and stomach contents of the dominant herbivorous sea urchins Anthocidaris crassispina and Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus were examined from November 2008 to October 2009, in coastal areas of Tongyeong, Korea. Thirty-five seaweeds including two green, nine brown, and 24 red algae, were found over the study period. Seventeen seaweeds (two green, two brown, and 13 red) and two invertebrates were found in the stomachs of A. crassispina. In H. pulcherrimus, stomach contents were two green, one brown, 11 red seaweeds, and two invertebrates. The shell diameter of A. crassispina and H. pulcherrimus ranged from 22.3 to 62.3 mm and 15.3 to 40.1 mm, respectively. Total body weights ranged from 48.5 to 86.7 g for A. crassispina and from 7.7 to 25.9 g for H. pulcherrimus. The total weight of stomach contents were 5.1 to 25.8 g in A. crassispina and 1.7 to 11.8 g in H. pulcherrimus. The range of gonad weight was 3.6 to 17.0 g in A. crassispina and 0.8 to 4.0 g in H. pulcherrimus. The gonad index (GI) for A. crassispina peaked in July and reached a minimum in December, whereas the GI for H. pulcherrimus was highest in February, and lowest in May.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.234-242
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• 2014

In this study, gametotoxicity and embryotoxicity experiments using Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus were carried out to investigate the ecotoxicological effects of bisphenol A (BPA). We examined the effects of BPA on fertilization and normal embryogenesis at various concentrations (0, 300, 500, 800, 1000, and 1500 ppb). The results demonstrated that the fertilization rates were not changed. The normal embryogenesis rates were gradually decreased in a dose-dependent manner, and were significantly lowered following 800 ppb BPA treatment ($EC_{50}$=1056.1 ppb, 95% Cl=981.8~1163.9 ppb). The observed effective concentration and the lowest observed effective concentration of the normal embryogenesis rate were 500 ppb and 800 ppb, respectively. The embryos showed retarded development at each tested concentration, indicating the fact the embryonic development was delayed due to the increasing concentrations of BPA. Furthermore, we examined the expression of glutathione S-transferase (GST) mRNA at various concentrations of BPA in H. pulcherrimus. Interestingly, it was found that the expression level of GST mRNA was significantly increased in the experimental group exposed to BPA. Based on these results, we suggested that BPA at greater than 800 ppb has a toxic effect during the early embryonic stages of H. pulcherrimus, and GST mRNA may be used as a biomarker for risk assessment of BPA contamination.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.170-174
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• 1998

The water quality of offshore waters around the Korean coast was evaluated by bioassay using gametes, embryoss and early development systems of a sea urchin species Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus. The results show that despite the inflows of several river systems, the west coast maintain the grade II water. This is thought to be due to the decrease in pollutant input resulting from the purification of inflow rivers (e.g., the control of waste water discharge and the construction of sewage treatment facilities), and the dilution of pollutants by a strong tidal mixing with a large difference between the ebb and flood tides. However, Asan, Hampyong and Chonsu bays, where circulations of water are relatively poor, and the Kunsan and Mokpo harbors which are influenced by pollutants from neighboring cities have shown the grade III water. The south coast has maintain the grade II or III because developments of sea urchins were moderately or strongly inhibited. Also, Kangjin, Duekryang, Kwangyang, Masan, and Jinhae bays where water circulations are relatively poor, show the grade III water, with strong inhibitions of the early development of sea urchins. The east coast has maintained the grade I and II due to monotonous coastlines and smooth circulation of sea water. However, Chongcho Lake shows the worst water quality due to the breakwater which is constructed to maintain port functions.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.169-173
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• 2007

Hyperpolarization-activated nonselective cation channels (HCNs) play a pivotal role in producing rhythmic electrical activity in the heart and the nerve cells. In our previous experiments, voltage-dependent $Cd^{2+}$ access to one of the substituted cysteines in S6, T464C, supports the existence of an intracellular voltage-dependent activation gate. Direct binding of intracellular cAMP to HCN channels also modulates gating. Here we attempted to locate the cAMP-modulated structure that can modify the gating of HCN channels. SpHCN channels, a sea urchin homologue of the HCN family, became inactivated rapidly and intracellular cAMP removed this inactivation, resulting in about eight-fold increase of steady-state current level. T464C was probed with $Cd^{2+}$ applied to the intracellular side of the channel. We found that access of $Cd^{2+}$ to T464C was strongly gated by cAMP as well as voltage. Release of bound $Cd^{2+}$ by DMPS was also gated in a cAMP-dependent manner. Our results suggest the existence of an intracellular cAMP-modulated gate in the lower S6 region of spHCN channels.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.531-534
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• 2015

In this work, we undertake a comparative study of the crystallographic microstructures and photo-catalytic properties of rutile $TiO_2$ nanorods grown on FTO facing up and down by a hydrothermal method. An analysis of the fine structures showed that $TiO_2$ nanorods grown on FTO facing up were mixed with sea urchin and microsphere. These structures induced a vertical orientation of the nanorods on FTO. The saturated photocurrent densities of the $TiO_2$ nanorods grown both up and down were $1.5mA/cm^2$ in the former case, the IPCE was increased to 10% at 300~350 nm. The onset potential (${\fallingdotseq}$ flat band potential) of the nanorods grown on FTO facing up is negatively shifted to a value of -0.31 V. This is caused by an increase in the surface state, in this case the number of oxygen vacancies, and by the formation of $Ti^{3+}$. Therefore, the FTO facing direction is considered as a critical factor during the hydrothermal reaction for $TiO_2$ growth so as to develop an efficient photo-catalytic system.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.277-285
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• 2003

연안의 방조제 건설은 하천수와 바다물의 교환을 인위적으로 차단하고, 방조제 내부에는 호수를 형성하게 된다. 이렇게 형성된 인공호수의 수질은 호수로 유입되는 하천의 수질에 크게 영향을 받을 수 있으며, 인공호수의 수질이 악화되면 인근 해양생태계에 영향을 미칠 수 있다. 본 연구는 인공호수의 물이 바다로 방류될 때 해양생태계에 어떠한 영향을 미칠 것인지를 예측하고자 수행되었다. 방조제 건설로 이미 형성되어 있는 시화호, 아산호, 부사호와, 현재 건설중인 새만금 방조제로 인하여 형성될 호수의 유입 하천인 만경강에서 표층수를 채수하여 둥근성게(Strongylocentrotus nudus)의 정자와 수정란을 이용한 생물 검정을 실시하였다. 담수호의 수질을 해양생물을 이용하여 평가할 수 있도록 하기 위하여 시료의 염분을 조절하면서 실험을 실시하였다. 정자를 이용한 수정 실험 결과, 시화호에서는 수정률에 영향을 미치지 않았고, 아산호와 부사호에서는 약간의 영향이 있었으나 그 정도는 미약하였다. 반면, 만경강의 경우 수정률의 저해가 상당히 크게 나타났다. 수정란을 이용한 발생 실험 결과, 시화호, 아산호, 부사호에서는 약간의 영향이 나타난 반면, 만경강의 경우는 매우 큰 영향이 나타났다. 이들 실험 결과를 종합하면, 시화호, 아산호, 부사호의 수질은 대체로 양호하나, 만경강의 수질은 크게 우려되는 수준이었다. 따라서, 앞으로 건설될 새만금 호수와 인근 해양생태계를 보전하기 위해서는 만경강의 수질 개선을 위한 대책이 마련되어야 할 것이다.