• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.281-286
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• 2010

Recent evidence has revealed that the intratesticular injection of hypertonic saline(20%) resulted in a chemically castrated state such as nadir testosterone levels in rats. To confirm the efficacy of this simple saline-injection method further, we investigated the changes in the gross and microscopic anatomy of testis. Our study comprised three groups; intact(control) group, orchidectomy group and saline-injection (experimental) group. Single dose of hypertonic saline (sterilized, $750{\mu}{\ell}/testis$) were directly administered into both testis of adult rats (about 300 g BW). Bilateral orchidectomy was performed at the same day of saline injection. Following 30 days post-injection, reproductive tissues were surgically removed, weighed and fixed for histological examination. The body weights were not changed in both orchidectomy group and saline-injection group when compared to those in intact group. The wet weights of testis were significantly decreased in saline-injection group when compared to those in intact group. The wet weights of epididymis and seminal vesicle and prostate were significantly decreased in orchidectomy group and saline-injection group when compared to those in intact group. Macroscopically, the testes exerted slight atrophy and the tunica albuginea seemed to be intact in saline injection group. Histologically, however, larger parts of testicular tissue underwent necrosis and were barely recognizable after hematoxylin-eosin staining. In the same section, only the opposite part of the injection site was stained showing abnormal state of cell layers mostly fibrosis and infiltrated leukocytes. Sloughing of immature germ cells from the basement membrane along with shedding cells in the intraluminal space was notable in most seminiferous tubules from the saline injected testis. The present study confirmed that the direct injection of hypertonic saline into testis can induce a castration-like, testosterone-depriving effects on accessory sex organs. Our findings suggest that the efficacy of this less expensive and minimally invasive method seems to be almost even with that of conventional orchidectomy and chemical castration, though more in-depth evaluation should be supported.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 2007

The present study was examined the expression patterns of cdx2 gone, n lineage marker, in the mouse and bovine developmental stage embryos and whether one blastomere of two- and/or four-cell bovine embryos develop to specific lineage (ICM or TE) of blastocyst by injection of Texas red conjugated dextran as a lineage tracer. It was also investigated the allocation of ICM and n cells in bovine blastocysts derived from one blastomere of two-and/or four-cell stage embryos. Firstly, it was observed that expression of cdx2 appeared symmetric and asymmetric distribution at the two-cell stage mouse embryos. from four-cell to morula stage mouse embryos, the expression of cdx2 gene was observed in almost all blastomeres. In case of bovine embryos, localization of cdx2 was similar to pattern of mouse embryos. The Dextran-labeled blastomere of two- and/or four-cell embryos contributed to both ICM and TE cells in bovine blastocysts. And also, it was confirmed that a single blastomere derived from two-cell stage bovine embryos could develop to the normal blastocyst with both ICM and TE cells. These results show that two-and/or four-cell stage is not the specific stage to determine the cell rate for ICM and TE, and which is not correlated with the expression of cdx2 gene.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.763-774
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• 2010

Objectives : In condition of brain infarction, irreversible axon damage occurs in central nerve system(CNS), because gliosis becomes physical and mechanical barrier to axonal regeneration. Reactive gliosis induced by ischemic injury such as middle cerebral artery occlusion is involved with up-regulation of GFAP and CD81. The current study is to examine the effect of the Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus on CD81 and GFAP expression in the rat brain following middle cerebral artery occlusion. Methods : In order to study ischemic injuries on brain, infarction was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) using insertion of a single nylon thread, through the internal carotid artery, into a middle cerebral artery. Cresyl violet staining, cerebral infarction size measurement, immunohistochemistry and microscopic examination were used to detect the expression of CD81 and GFAP and the effect on the infarct size and pyramidal cell death in the brain of the rat with cerebral infarction induced by MCAO. Results : The following results were obtained 1. Measuring the size of cerebral infartion induced by MCAO in the rat after injection of Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus showed the size was decreased. 2. Intravenous injection of Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus showed pyramidal cell death protection in the hippocampus in the MCAO rat. 3. Water extract injection of Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus decreased GFAP expression significantly in the MCAO rat. 4. Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus water extract decreased CD81 expression in the MCAO rat. 5. The administration of water extract of Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus induced up-regulation of c-Fos expression significantly compared with MCAO. 6. The admistration of water extract of Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus increased ERK expression significantly compared with MCAO. Conclusion : We observed that Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus could suppress the reactive gliosis, which disturbs the axonal regeneration in the brain of the rat with cerebral infaction after MCAO by controlling the expression of CD81 and GFAP. The effect may be modulated by the up-regulation of c-Fos and ERK. These results suggest that Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus can be a candidate to regenerate CNS injury.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.674-684
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• 2009

Objectives : In conditions of brain infarction, irreversible axon damage occurs in the central nerve system (CNS), because gliosis becomes a physical and a mechanical barrier to axonal regeneration. Reactive gliosis induced by ischemic injury such as middle cerebral artery occlusion is involved with up-regulation of GFAP and CD81. This study was undertaken to examine the effect of the Gongjin-dan (GJD) on CD81 and GFAP expression and its pathway in the rat brain following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Methods : In order to study ischemic injuries on the brain, infarction was induced by MCAO using insertion of a single nylon thread, through the internal carotid artery, into a middle cerebral artery. Cresyl violet staining, cerebral infarction size measurement, immunohistochemistry and microscopic examination were used to detect the expression of CD81 and GFAP and the effect on the infarct size and pyramidal cell death in the brain of the rat with cerebral infarction induced by MCAO. Also, c-Fos and ERK expression were measured to investigate the signaling pathway after GJD administration in MCAO rats. Results : Measuring the size of cerebral infarction induced by MCAO in the rat after injection of GJD showed the size had decreased. GJD administration showed pyramidal cell death protection in the hippocampus in the MCAO rat. GJD administration decreased GF AP expression in the MCAO rat. GJD administration decreased CD81 expression in the MCAO rat. GJD administration induced up-regulation of c-FOS expression compared with MCAO. GJD administration induced down-regulation of ERK expression compared with MCAO. Conclusion : We observed that GJD could suppress the reactive gliosis, which disturbs the axonal regeneration in the brain of a rat with cerebral infarction after MCAO by controlling the expression of CD81 and GFAP. The effect may be modulated by the regulation of c-Fos and ERK. These results suggest that GJD can be a candidate to regenerate CNS injury.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.179-188
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• 1999

The present was undertaken to establish a model for the control of adipocytes differentiation by using antibody from egg yolk. The emulsion of membrane protein of 3T3L-1 cell membrane protein with the complete Freund's adjuvant was firstly immunized in layer. Second and third boosting were undertaken with two weeks intervals by injection of the emulsion of the same antigen with the incomplete Freund's adjuvant. After 4 week of the first immunization, eggs were collected and antibody (IgY) was purified from egg yolk. The purity of IgY was 60-98% determined by single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) methods. Titer value of the antibody showed high reactiviy for the preadipocytes membrane protein measured by ELISA. When the IgY was added in the test media containing either 2.5% porcine serum or 10% FBS(control), the differentiation of 3T3L-1 cells and Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase(GPDH) activities was significantly decreased compared to the control cells(p〈0.05). When mice were subcutaneously injected with IgY raised against membrane protein of 3T3L-1 cells for 3 weeks, adipose tissue mass around ovary was tended to be decreased in female mice compared to those of control mice. It is suggested that a potential for manipulating of lipid accumulation through decrease in 3T3L-1 cell differentiation and fat accumulation in female mice by IgY treatment.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.248-254
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• 1986

Effects of vinblastine(VLB) and vincristine(VCR) on cell-mediated immunity(CMI) were studied with the microcytotoxicity test(MCT) after normal or pre-sensitized Balb/c mice had been treated in vivo with a combination of two different doses of VLB or VCR(single dose of 20% and 60% $LD_{50}$, i.p.) at different times (from day -6 to day +4) plus allo-transplantation antigen(allo-TA, cells from C3H mice at day 0). The results were that $LD_{50}$ of VLB for female Balb/c mouse was 7.3mg/kg body weight (i.p.) and $LD_{50}$ of VCR was 4.3mg/kg body weight and that VLB and VCR acted as immunosuppressive agents on the primary CMI when administered after allo-TA(antigen-drug-phase), but showed no effect when administered prior to allo-TA(drug-antigen-phase). Change of doses of VLB and VCR(20% $LD_{50}$, 60% $LD_{50}$) caused quantitative or qualitative variations in the immunomodulating effects of these two drugs. Neither VLB nor VCR had any immunomodulating effect on the secondary CMI. Lastly, the results support that the four parameters (type of drug, sensitization status, time of drug treatment in relation to antigen injection, and drug dosis) are significant for the effects of the VLB and VCR on the CMI, and that VLB and VCR may inhibit the proliferation of antigen-stimulated T effector lymphocytes but not memory-cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.295-302
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• 2021

Microglial priming is the process of microglial proliferation and activation in response to neurodegeneration and abnormal protein accumulation. Priming makes microglia susceptible to secondary inflammatory stimuli and causes exaggerated inflammatory responses. In the present study, we established a microglial priming model in mice by administering a single injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP, 20 mg/kg). MPTP induced microglial activation without dopaminergic degeneration; however, subsequent treatment with a sub-toxic dose of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced an amplified inflammatory response and caused nigrostriatal dopaminergic degeneration. These pathological and inflammatory changes, including microglial activation and dopaminergic cell loss in the substantia nigra (SN) area were reversed by papaverine (PAP) administration. In addition, MPTP/LPS enhanced interleukin-1β (IL-1β) expression and processing via nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation in the SN region of mice. However, PAP treatment suppressed inflammasome activation and subsequent IL-1β maturation. Moreover, PAP inhibited nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and enhanced cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) activity in the SN of MPTP/LPS mice. These results suggest that PAP inhibits the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome by modulating NF-κB and CREB signaling pathways, which results in reduced microglial activation and neuronal cell death. Thus, PAP may be a potential candidate for the treatment of Parkinsons's disease, which is aggravated by systemic inflammation.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.213-223
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• 2021

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) is routinely used in the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles to increase the number of retrieved mature oocytes. However, the relationship between repeated COH and ovarian function is still controversial. Therefore, we investigated whether repeated ovarian stimulation affects ovarian aging and function, including follicular development, autophagy, and apoptosis in follicles. Ovarian hyperstimulation in mice was induced by intraperitoneal injection with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Mice subjected to ovarian stimulation once were used as a control group and 10 times as an experimental group. Repeated injections with PMSG and hCG significantly reduced the number of primary follicles compared to a single injection. The number of secondary and antral follicles increased slightly, while the number of corpus luteum increased significantly with repeated injections. On the other hand, repeated injections did not affect apoptosis in follicles associated with follicular atresia. The expression of autophagy-related genes Atg5, Atg12, LC3B, and Beclin1, cell proliferation-related genes mTOR, apoptosis-related genes Fas, and FasL was not significantly different between the two groups. In addition, the expression of the aging-related genes Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, and AMH were also not significantly different. In this study, we demonstrated that repeated ovarian stimulation in mice affects follicular development, but not autophagy, apoptosis, aging in ovary. These results suggest that repetition of COH in the IVF-ET cycle may not result in ovarian aging, such as a decrease in ovarian reserve in adult women.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.290-301
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• 2019

Paeonol has neuroprotective function, which could be useful for improving central nervous system disorder. The purpose of this study was to characterize the functional mechanism involved in brain transport of paeonol through blood-brain barrier (BBB). Brain transport of paeonol was characterized by internal carotid artery perfusion (ICAP), carotid artery single injection technique (brain uptake index, BUI) and intravenous (IV) injection technique in vivo. The transport mechanism of paeonol was examined using conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cell line (TR-BBB) as an in vitro model of BBB. Brain volume of distribution (VD) of [$^3H$]paeonol in rat brain was about 6-fold higher than that of [$^{14}C$]sucrose, the vascular space marker of BBB. The uptake of [$^3H$]paeonol was concentration-dependent. Brain volume of distribution of paeonol and BUI as in vivo and inhibition of analog as in vitro studies presented significant reduction effect in the presence of unlabeled lipophilic compounds such as paeonol, imperatorin, diphenhydramine, pyrilamine, tramadol and ALC during the uptake of [$^3H$]paeonol. In addition, the uptake significantly decreased and increased at the acidic and alkaline pH in both extracellular and intracellular study, respectively. In the presence of metabolic inhibitor, the uptake reduced significantly but not affected by sodium free or membrane potential disruption. Similarly, paeonol uptake was not affected on OCTN2 or rPMAT siRNA transfection BBB cells. Interestingly. Paeonol is actively transported from the blood to brain across the BBB by a carrier mediated transporter system.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.61-61
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• 2001

The main goal of this study was to produce transgenic piglets by the method of injection of sperm-mediated exogenous DNA. Spermatozoa (1$\times$106 sperm of final concentration) obtained from caudal epididymis were mixed with pBC1-hEPO (20 ng/${mu}ell$) or pcDNA3 LAC Z (20 ng/${mu}ell$), and followed by electroporation (500 V, 25 ㎌). Matured oocytes having the first polar body and dense cytoplasm were selected and centrifuged at 12,000g for 6 min. After sperm injection, the oocytes were activated electrically (1.7 ㎸/cm, 30 $\mu$ sec, single pulse) in 0.3 M mannitol solution. Eggs injected sperm were cultured in NCSU 23 medium (0.4% BSA) at 39$^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ in air for 192 h. This study were comprised 3 experiments. Experiment 1 compared the developmental efficiencies between the sperm-injected oocytes (Group 1) and further activated electrically (Group 2). Experiment 2 compared the expression of pcDNA3 LAC Z in the embryos produced by Group 1 and Group 2. Finally, experiment 3 carried out transfer of embryos (1-8 cell stage) transfected with pBC1 -hEPO into surrogate recipients synchronized by injection of combination of PG600 with hCG. The rates of cleavage and development into blastocyst stage in Group 2 were significantly higher than those of Group 1 (71.3% and 28.1% vs. 43.3% and 10.3%, respectively, p<0.05). Thirty (24.2%) out of 124 embryos analyzed in Group 2 were positive by X-gal. Similarly, in Group 1, 16.3% (8/49) were positive. After transfer of 789 embryos to 7 recipient gilts, three out of them examined by ultrasound became pregnant. One recipient is in day 50 pregnancy. On day 54 of gestation, two were carried out uterotomy in order to confirm the pregnancy One had 7 and another had 2 fetuses. We conclude that injection of sperm-mediated gene transfer will be used as a valuable tool for the production of transgenic piglets.