• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.278-288
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• 2011

This study was conducted to evaluate the safety of ${\beta}$-carotene biofortified rice, a genetically modified organism (GMO) developed by Rural Development Administration. ${\beta}$-carotene biofortified rice were exposed on Sprague-Dawley rats for 13 weeks. All rats survived until the end of the exposure period. There were no biologically significant differences in body weight, feed and water consumption, weight gains and feed efficiency. There were no clinical signs of toxicity attributable to exposure to GM rice. Mild decreases in AST, ALT, TG levels were observed in Group II (25% GM rice (w/w) and Group III (50% GM rice (w/w), both in females and males. Results of histopathological changes treated with the ${\beta}$-carotene biofortified rice had no significant differences between the control and treatment groups. Based on these results, we deemed that genetically modified ${\beta}$-carotene biofortified rice was as safe as conventional rice.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.129-141
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• 1998

Toxic effects of 2-bromopropane (2-BP) on the hematopoietic system and testis were investigated in male Srague-Dawley (SD) rats. 80 male SD rats, 5 weeks old, were treated with 2-BP in corn oil at levels of 0, 100, 330 and 1,000 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks orally. 10 animals from each group were maintained for additional 8 weeks following the treatment. In addition, 60 male SD rats were divided into 2 groups and administered 2-BP in corn oil at levels of 0 and 1,000 mg/kg/day orally and sacrificed after 1. 2 and 3 weeks of treatment. Clinical observation. body weight changes, food consumption, organ weight changes. hematology, serum chemistry and histopathology of the testis were performed in the study. No clinical sign and mortality were observed in the study. The body weights were significantly reduced with the treatment but gradually recovered. The relative organ weights of the testis and thymus significantly decreased in both of the groups treated with 1,000 mg/kg/day for 3 and 4 weeks. In the recovery groups, organ weights of the testis and epididymis were significantly reduced in both of the groups treated with 330 and 1,000 mg/kg/day. Platelets and reticulocytes were significantly reduced in both of the group treated with 1.000 mg/kg/day for 3 and 4 weeks. While red blood cells were de-creased but mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) were increased in the recovery group. Significant increase of chloride was observed in all of the treatment groups except the recovery groups, and calcium was significantly increased in both of the groups treated with 1,000 mg/kg/ day for 3 and 4 weeks. On the other hand. there were significant decreases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspatate aminotransferase (AST) in most of groups treated with 1.000 mg/kg/day. In the testis. the spermatogonia in stages I-VI were mostly depleted and the spermatocytes in stages VII-VIII were de-generated or necrotized at week 1 after treatment of 2-BP. The degeneration of germ cells and the a-trophy of seminiferous tubules became more severe in time-dependent and dose-dependent manners. The damaged tubules showed regeneration in part. however. they did not appear to be completely recovered within 8 weeks of the recovery period. On the basis of the results. it is suggested that 2-BP would cause toxicities in hematopoiesis by possibly interfering the production of red blood cells and platelets and in spermatogenesis by the destruction oj spermatogonia in SD male rats.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2013

In this study, the effect of Curcuma longa L. on obesity and insulin resistance was investigated in animals fed a moderate high fat diet. The animals used in this study were normal weight Spargue-Dawley (SD) rats and type 2 diabetic obese db/db mice. Accumulation of abdominal adipose tissue and weight gain were inhibited in the animals fed the C. longa extract. C. longa decreased fasting insulin and HOMA-IR in the SD rats, and effectively decreased blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c in db/db mice. C. longa decreased serum free fatty acid (FFA) level in the SD rats. FFA in db/db mice fed C. longa tended to decrease. C. longa significantly decreased serum triglyceride level. Our results collectively represent that C. longa prevented fat accumulation and insulin resistance in both normal weight SD rats and type 2 diabetic obese db/db mice fed a moderate high fat diet.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2115-2121
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• 2014

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the preventive effects of hydrazinocurcumin (HZC) on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in a male Sprague Dawley (SD) rat model. One hundred and twenty male SD rats used in this study were divided into six groups. Those receiving DEN with curcumin (CUR) or HZC were studied compared with the DEN-alone group. The study demonstrated that DEN induced severe histological and immunohistochemical changes in liver tissues, significantly increasing the levels of liver marker enzymes (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), ${\gamma}$-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and total bilirubin level (TBL)). The hepatocarcinoma incidences were 100.0%, 36.7% and 20.0% in the DEN-alone, DEN-CUR and DEN-HZC groups, respectively. Although macroscopic and microscopic features suggested that both CUR and HZC were effective in inhibiting DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, HZC was exerted a stronger influence. Immunohistochemical analysis with PCNA demonstrated significantly differences among the groups (all P < 0.05). Taken together, the results suggested application of CUR and HZC could prevent the occurrence of carcinogenesis and HZC may be a more potent compound for prevention of DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats than CUR.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.90-94
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• 2004

Objective : This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Panax Ginseng (인삼) on the sperm motility and spermatogenesis in the male rat. Methods : We used 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats, and administered the extract powder of Panax Ginseng to 5 rats (treated group) and normal saline (control group) once a day for 28 days. We isolated their testes surgically, then observed the change of the body weights before and after administration of Panax Ginseng extracts and normal saline. We observed the weight of the testes, epididymis, vascular gland, and prostate. Also, we examined the total, normal motile sperm concentration, and the concentration of testicular catalase and peroxidase. Results : We found that the concentration of normal, motile sperm in the testes of the Panax Ginseng group showed a significant difference compared with the control group. The angiogenesis of the seminiferous tubule was increased and the increasement of the number of spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocyte was observed in the Panax Ginseng group through a microscope. The body weight, the weight of the testes, epididymis, prostate and the concentration of testicular catalase and peroxidase were higher in the Panax Ginseng group but showed no significant difference. Conclusion : This study shows that Panax Ginseng may have an effect on the morphology and motility of sperm, the important factor in male fertility, and can promote the concentration of antioxidants, catalase and peroxidase, which is the important factor in spermatogenesis.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.94-98
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• 2003

Effect of mixture of food material water extracts(modouri) composed of Job's tears, maize, buckwheat Japanese mushroom, lovage, licorice and jujube(13 : 50 : 15 : 2 : 5 : 5 : 5, v/v)] on the content of testosterone(T) and dihydrotestosterone(DHT), biochemical and histological changes of rat were investigated. Animal experiments(30 rats) were divided into 3 experimental groups(control, modouri and propecia). The summarized results were as follows: Activities of GOT, GPT, ALP, ${\gamma}$-GTP and content of total cholesterol and total lipid are normal in modouri group. Therefore modouri does not give rise to any damage in the liver. Also in the histological view, modouri does not have any hepatotoxic effect and increase the number of hair folicle. Total(T+DHT) and DHT content in rat serum and skin are significantly decrease in modouri group compare to the control but there is not any significant difference with propecia.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.385-389
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• 2004

A novel gene Jpk, originally isolated as a trans-acting factor associating with the position-specific regulatory element of murine Hox gene has been reported to be expressed differentially in the liver of diabetic animals. Therefore, in an attempt to develop a possible diagnostic marker and/or new therapeutic agent for the Diabetes Mellitus, we analysed the expression pattern of Jpk among organs of normal and diabetic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Total RNAs were isolated from each organs (brain, lung, heart, liver, spleen, kidney, muscle, blood, and testis) of diabetic and normal rats in both normal feeding and after fasting condition. And then RT (reverse transcription) PCR has been performed using Jpk­specific primers. The Jpk gene turned out to be expressed in all organs tested, with some different expression profiles among normal and diabetes, though. Upon fasting, Jpk expressions were reduced in all organs tested except kidney, muscle and brain of normal rat. Whereas in diabetes, Jpk expressions were increased in all organs except heart, muscle and testis when fasted. Compared to the normal rat, the Jpk expression level in blood was remarkably upregulated (about 15-30times) in diabetic rat whether in normal feeding or fasting conditon, suggesting that the Jpk could be a candidate gene for the possible blood diagnostic marker for the Diabetes Mellitus.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.109-126
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• 2002

The herbal extract (YMT_02) is a modified herbal extracts from Yukmijihwangtang (YMJ) to promote memory-enhancing. The YMJ extracts has been widely used as an anti-aging herbal medicine for hundred years in Asian countries. The purpose of this study is to; 1) quantitatively evaluate the memory-enhancing effect of YMT_02 by hehavior task, 2) identify candidate genes responsible for enhancing memory by cDNA microarray and 3) assess the anti-oxidant effect of YMT_02 on PC12 cell. Memory retention abilities are addressed by passive avoidance task with Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rat. Before the training session, the rats are subdivided into four groups and administrated with YMT_02, Ginkgo biloba, Soya lecithin and normal saline for 10 days. The retention test was performed. 24 hours after the training session. The retention time of the YMT_02 group was significantly (p<0.05) delayed $({\sim}100%)$, whereas Ginkgo biloba and Soya lecithin treatment delayed 20% and 10% respectively. The hippocampi of YMT_02 and control group were dissected and mRNA was further purified. After synthesizing cDNA using oligo-dT primer, the cDNA were applied and mRNA was further purified. After synthesizing cDNA using oligo-dT primer, the cDNA were applied to Incyte rat GEMTM 2 cDNA microarray. The microarray results show that prealbumin(transthyretin), phosphotidy lethanolamine N-methyltransferase, and PEP-19 are expressed abundantly in the YMT_02 treated group. Especially, PEP-19 is a neuron-specific protein, which inhibits apoptotic processes in neuronal cell. On the other hand, transcripts of RAB15, glutamate receptor subunit 2 and CDK 108 are abundant in control group. Besides, neuronal genes involved in neuronal death or neurodegeneration such as neuronal-pentraxin and spectrin are abundantly expressed in control group. Additionally, the YMT_02 shows an anti oxidative effect in the PC12 cell. The list of differentially expressed genes may implicate further insight on the action and mechanism behind the memory-enhancing effect of herbal extracts YMT_02, for example, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative, and neuroprotective effects.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.336-343
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was conducted to analyze the single-dose toxicity and the safety of Mahwangcheonoh pharmacopuncture extracts. Methods: Six-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were used for this study. Doses of Mahwangcheonoh pharmacopuncture extracts were set at 0.25 mL (low-dose), 0.5 mL (medium-dose) and 1.0 mL (high-dose) for the test groups. A dose of 1.0 mL of normal saline solution was set for the control group. During 14 days, general symptoms, mortalities, and changes in hematology, blood biochemistry and histopathology of all rats were observed. Results: No death was observed in all test groups. Any abnormal symptom was not observed in all of the groups. No significant changes in weight between the control group and the test groups were observed. In addition, no significant differences in the hematology signs, the blood biochemistry levels and the histopathological signs related to the Mahwangcheonoh pharmacopuncture extracts injection were observed. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that Mahwangcheonoh pharmacopuncture at doses of 1.0 mL or less may be consider safe and non-toxic. So, it can be used for therapy of obesity sufficiently. But further studies on this subject must be performed to confirm and verify this conclusion.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.327-335
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• 2016

This study aimed to evaluate the potential toxicity and safety of ethyl hydrogen adipate (EHA) by determining its effect on the reproductive function and development of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at dose levels of 0 (control), 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg/day. One male and five females of the 800 mg/kg/day died. Body weight loss was observed in the males of the 800 mg/kg/day and in females of the 400 and 800 mg/kg/day. In addition, mating indices decreased and pre-implantation loss rates increased in parental animals of the 400 and 800 mg/kg/day. The gestation index decreased in the male and female rats of the 800 mg/kg/day. Moreover, the body weight of the pups from the 800 mg/kg/day group decreased on post-parturition day 4. These results indicated that the no-observed-adverse-effect level of EHA for parental males and females was 400 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day, respectively, and that for pups was 400 mg/kg/day.