• Toxicological Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2008

Mutant mouse which show dwarfism has been developed by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis using BALB/c mice. The mutant mouse was inherited as autosomal recessive trait and named Small Body Size (SBS) mouse. The phenotype of SBS mouse was not apparent at birth, but it was possible to distinguish mutant phenotype from normal mice 1 week after birth. In this study, we examined body weight changes and bone mineral density (BMD), and we also carried out genetic linkage analysis to map the causative gene(s) of SBS mouse. Body weight changes were observed from birth to 14 weeks of age in both affected (n = 30) and normal mice (n = 24). BMD was examined in each five SBS and normal mice between 3 and 6 weeks of age, respectively. For the linkage analysis, we produced backcross progeny [(SBS${\times}$C57BL/6J) $F_1{\times}$ SBS] $N_2$ mice (n = 142), and seventy-four microsatellite markers were used for primary linkage analysis. Body weight of affected mice was consistently lower than that of the normal mice, and was 43.7% less than that of normal mice at 3 weeks of age (P < 0.001). As compared with normal mice at 3 and 6 weeks of age, BMD of the SBS mice was significantly low. The results showed 15.5% and 14.1 % lower in total body BMD, 15.3% and 8.7% lower in forearm BMD, and 29.7% and 20.1% lower in femur BMD, respectively. The causative gene was mapped on chromosome 10. The map order and the distance between markers were D10Mit248 - 2.1 cM - D10Mit51 - 4.2 cM - sbs - 0.7 cM - D10Mit283 - 1.4cM - D10Mit106 - 11.2cM - D10Mit170.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.888-893
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• 2000

The present study was conducted to evaluate heterosis effects of body weight and jumping height for successive generations of rotational crossing using two subspecies of mice which are very different in body weight and in genetic relationship from each other. Domesticated laboratory mouse $CF_{{\sharp}1}$ (C) and Yonakuni wild mouse (Y) were used as materials. Two groups of rotational crossing was made according to the parent used at the beginning of crosses, C male$\times$Y female and Y male$\times$C female. These crosses were done to produce the first ($G_1$ and $G_1{^{\prime}}$), second ($G_2$ and $G_2{^{\prime}}$) and third generations ($G_3$ and $G_3{^{\prime}}$) with sire used was alternated. Individual body weights were weighed at 1 (wk1), 3 (wk3), 6 (wk6) and 10 weeks of age (wk10) and jumping heights were measured at six weeks of age (wk6). Only the first litter used. For body weight, results of this study showed that genetic group effects were significant (p<0.01) source of variation at all ages studied. Sex effects were significant (p<0.01) at wk3, wk6 and wk10, but not at wk1. Significant interaction effects (p<0.01) between genetic group and sex were found at wk6 and wk10. The C mice with large maternal effects produced heavier offspring body weight and crosses using sire of this subspecies maintained heavy weight compared to wild Y mouse sire that has small body size. Heterosis tended to exist at the rotational crossing started from Y male C female. For jumping height, effects of genetic group and sex were significant, sire and dam effects (heterosis) exhibited from the first to third generations, and no maternal effects were observed.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2016

Echinostomes are intestinal trematodes that infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including humans, in their adult stage and also parasitize numerous invertebrate and cold-blooded vertebrate hosts in their larval stages. The purpose of this study was to compare Echinostoma malayanum parasite growth, including worm recovery, body size of adult worms, eggs per worm, eggs per gram of feces, and pathological changes in the small intestine of experimental animals. In this study, 6-8-week-old male hamsters, rats, mice, and gerbils were infected with echinostome metacercariae and then sacrificed at day 60 post-infection. The small intestine and feces of each infected animal were collected and then processed for analysis. The results showed that worm recovery, eggs per worm, and eggs per gram of feces from all infected hamsters were higher compared with infected rats and mice. However, in infected gerbils, no parasites were observed in the small intestine, and there were no parasite eggs in the feces. The volume of eggs per gram of feces and eggs per worm were related to parasite size. The results of histopathological changes in the small intestine of infected groups showed abnormal villi and goblet cells, as evidenced by short villi and an increase in the number and size of goblet cells compared with the normal control group.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.139-146
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• 2008

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ $(PPAR{\gamma})$ plays a central role in adipogenesis and lipid storage. The $(PPAR{\gamma})$ ligands, thiazolidinediones (TZDs), enhance in vitro adipogenesis in several cell types, but the role of the TZDs on in vivo adipogenesis is still poorly understood. To investigate how $PPAR{\gamma}$ ligand troglitazone regulates adipogenesis in female mice, we examined the effects of the troglitazone on adipose tissue mass, morphological changes of adipocytes, and the expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$ target and adipocyte-specific genes in low fat diet-fed female C57BL/6 mice. Administration of troglitazone for 13 weeks did not change body and total white adipose tissue weights compared with control mice. Troglitazone treatment also did not cause a significant decrease in the average size of adipocytes in parametrial adipose tissue although it is reported to increase the number of small adipocytes in male animals. Troglitazone did not affect the mRNA expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and its target genes as well as adipocyte-specific genes in parametrial adipose tissue. These results suggest that $PPAR{\gamma}$ does not seem to be associated with adipogenesis in females with functioning ovaries and that its inability to induce adipogenesis may be due to sex-related factors.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.95-101
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• 2007

Recently, small-animal imaging technology has been rapidly developed for longitudinal screening of laboratory animals such as mice and rats. One of newly developed imaging modalities for small animals is an x-ray micro-CT (computed tomography). We have developed two types of x-ray micro-CT systems for small animal imaging. Both systems use flat-panel x-ray detectors and micro-focus x-ray sources to obtain high spatial resolution of $10{\mu}m$. In spite of the relatively large field-of-view (FOV) of flat-panel detectors, the spatial resolution in the whole-body imaging of rats should be sacrificed down to the order of $100{\mu}m$ due to the limited number of x-ray detector pixels. Though the spatial resolution of cone-beam CTs can be improved by moving an object toward an x-ray source, the FOV should be reduced and the object size is also limited. To overcome the limitation of the object size and resolution, we introduce zoom-in micro-tomography for high-resolution imaging of a local region-of-interest (ROI) inside a large object. For zoom-in imaging, we use two kinds of projection data in combination, one from a full FOV scan of the whole object and the other from a limited FOV scan of the ROI. Both of our micro-CT systems have zoom-in micro-tomography capability. One of both is a micro-CT system with a fixed gantry mounted with an x-ray source and a detector. An imaged object is laid on a rotating table between a source and a detector. The other micro-CT system has a rotating gantry with a fixed object table, which makes whole scans without rotating an object. In this paper, we report the results of in vivo small animal study using the developed micro-CTs.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.221-229
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• 1985

The echinostomatid metacercariae encysted in the gill of the fresh water fish, Pseudorasbora larva were identified through obtaining adult worms after eBperimental infection to mice. In addition, a brief course of worm development and maturation was observed in this experimental host. The results were as follows: 1. The echinostomatid metacercariae were elliptical, golden yellow, 0.073∼0.078 mm long and 0.0541∼0.065 mm wide. Their head portions were characterized by the presence of a head crown armed with collar spines of total 24 in number and interrupted at the mid-dorsal side of the oral sucker. 2. The average rate of worm recovery froth 12 mice (on the 1-2lth postinfection days) was 19.4 % and the rate revealed no decrease in accordance with the increase of infection duration. The worms were collected chiefly from the lower part of the small intestine. 3. After the infection, their sexual maturation was attained in 5 days and their growth in size nearly completed in 7 days. The early growth curve of genital organs was S shape while that of nongenital organs was C form. In 5 day old worms, 1 or 2 eggs were found from their uteri and the stools of mice revealed echinostomatid eggs from the 5-6th postinfection day. 4. The 7 day old adult worms were ovoid in shape, 0.54-0.69 mm long and 0.29-0.34 mm wide, and characterized by a well developed head crown with 24 collar spines and vitelline follicles distributed from the acetabular level down to the posterior end of body. Based on these characters they were identified to be Echinochasmus japonicus Tanabe, 1926. From these results, it is verified that p. larva is one of the second intermediate hosts of 5. jatonicus in Korea.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.215-222
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• 2010

The market size of engineered nanoparticles is rapidly increasing due to the fast application of nanotechnologies into different industries and consumer products. The development of new technology and materials has improved human's quality of life, but it also entails the possibility of exposure to new materials. In this study, we compared the distribution in the body by the inflow of silver nanoparticles having another diameter and shape at 1 h or 24 h after injection via the tail vein. And, we compared the cell composition and cytokine concentration in BAL fluid, and histopathological changes. As results, discharge of silver nanoparticles having small diameter and sphere shape was more rapid than that of big diameter or plate shape. It is estimated that the toxicity in liver and lung was proportional to accumulation level. The persistence of inflammation was also longer in mice treated with plate shape. Consequently, we suggest that the first choice of silver nanoparticles having small diameter and sphere shape in applying is desirable.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.708-712
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• 2020

Vacuolar protein sorting (VPS) 26b is a newly discovered member of the retromer complex; it is encoded by a single-copy gene located on mouse chromosome 9, and the complex has been reported as being composed of proteins VPS26, VPS29, and VPS35. We have previously shown that mice lacking VPS26b exhibited no significant body size or health issues. Although retromer components are widely expressed in mouse tissue, their roles have not yet been completely elucidated. The current study investigates whether the VPS26b-associated retromer complex can be used as a neurodegeneration model. Previously, we observed a significant reduction in VPS35 and VPS29 in the brain cells of in VPS26b-deficient mice as well as an absence of the VPS26b-VPS29-VPS35 retromer complex despite the normal presence of VPS26a-VPS29-VPS35. Recent studies have suggested that low levels of VPS35 can lead to Alzheimer's disease-like phenotypes including cognitive memory deficits. In this study, we successfully demonstrate an association between the absence of the VPS26b-VPS29-VPS35 retromer complex, reduced cell density in the CA3 region of the hippocampus, and learning disability in VPS26b knock-out mice. The results also indicate that the VPS26b-associated retromer complex affects neurodegenerative disorders and learning processes.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.102-112
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• 2008

We developed a high-resolution micro-CT system based on rotational gantry and flat-panel detector for live mouse imaging. This system is composed primarily of an x-ray source with micro-focal spot size, a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) flat panel detector coupled with Csl (TI) (thallium-doped cesium iodide) scintillator, a linearly moving couch, a rotational gantry coupled with positioning encoder, and a parallel processing system for image data. This system was designed to be of the gantry-rotation type which has several advantages in obtaining CT images of live mice, namely, the relative ease of minimizing the motion artifact of the mice and the capability of administering respiratory anesthesia during scanning. We evaluated the spatial resolution, image contrast, and uniformity of the CT system using CT phantoms. As the results, the spatial resolution of the system was approximately the 11.3 cycles/mm at 10% of the MTF curve, and the radiation dose to the mice was 81.5 mGy. The minimal resolving contrast was found to be less than 46 CT numbers on low-contrast phantom imaging test. We found that the image non-uniformity was approximately 70 CT numbers at a voxel size of ${\sim}55{\times}55{\times}X100\;{\mu}^3$. We present the image test results of the skull and lung, and body of the live mice.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 1994

Suture microvascular anastomosis is time-consuming and tedious and demands long and continuous training. Techinique of anastomosis of microvessel was presented interrupted suture and continuous suture. Recently the unilink instrument system is created as a fast and simple method to achieve high patency rates without long and continuous training in the anastomosis of small vessels. The author experimentally studied the femoral artery of 20 mice(0.5-1.0mm, av. 0.7mm), the femoral vein of 20 mice(0.8-1.6mm, av. 1.2mm) after anastomosis with interrupted suture in 20 cases and continuous sutre in 20 cases. For the unilink apparatus we used the carotid arteries of 15 cases in 14 rabbits(1.0-1.6mm, av. 1.3mm) and facial veins of 12 cases in 14 rabbits(0.9mm-2.2mm, av. 1.5mm). A total of 27 arterial and venous anastomoses were performed. We examined the postoperative patency at immediate, 2 weeks, and 8 weeks. The results were as followings, 1. In the arterial anastomosis the rate of patency was 90%(18/20) in interrupted suture, 90%(18/20) in continuous suture and 93%(13/15) in unilink apparatus. In the venous anastomosis the rate of patency was 90%(18/20) in interrupted suture, 80%(16/20) in continuous suture and 100%(9/9) in unilink apparatus. 2. The mean time for completion of the arterial anastomosis were 12.2 minutes in interrupted suture group, 10.3 minutes in continouous suture group and 8.5 minutes in unillnk apparatus group. The mean time for completion of the venous anastomosis were 13.6 minutes in interrupted suture group, 11.0 minutes in continuous suture group and 6.2 minutes in unilink apparatus group. 3. At the histological examination of suture group, hyperplastic reaction of middle layer and subintimal hyperplasia were observed. In unilink apparatus group, the endothelium layer was continued and the thickness of vessel wall was decreased due to moderate atrophy of the media and mild degree of nonspecific chronic inflammation were seen around the unilink apparatus. 4. No significants was noticied in foreign body reaction among the interrupted, continuous and unilink apparatus group. 5. A case of the arterial anastomosis was released with acting out at 15 minutes after operation. 6. The important factors in the technical problems were accurate apposition of the cut vessel edges in suture group and the proper selection of the ring size and optimal fitting between two rings in unilink apparatus group. Even though the outer diamater of vessel in suture group was different from that in unilink apparatus group the unilink method provides a very safe, fast, and simple way to perform microvascular anastomoses especially in anastomosis of vein. But howerver suture was needed in vessels below 1 mm outer diamater. In that situation continuous suture was benefit than the interrupted suture in operation time.