• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.54.1-54.13
• /
• 2021

Background: Hypoxia causes oxidative stress and affects cardiovascular function and the programming of cardiovascular disease. Melatonin promotes antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the correlation between melatonin and hypoxia induction in cardiomyocytes differentiation. Methods: Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) were induced to myocardial differentiation. To demonstrate the influence of melatonin under hypoxia, mESC was pretreated with melatonin and then cultured in hypoxic condition. The cardiac beating ratio of the mESC-derived cardiomyocytes, mRNA and protein expression levels were investigated. Results: Under hypoxic condition, the mRNA expression of cardiac-lineage markers (Brachyury, Tbx20, and cTn1) and melatonin receptor (Mtnr1a) was reduced. The mRNA expression of cTn1 and the beating ratio of mESCs increased when melatonin was treated simultaneously with hypoxia, compared to when only exposed to hypoxia. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α protein decreased with melatonin treatment under hypoxia, and Mtnr1a mRNA expression increased. When the cells were exposed to hypoxia with melatonin treatment, the protein expressions of phospho-extracellular signal-related kinase (p-ERK) and Bcl-2-associated X proteins (Bax) decreased, however, the levels of phospho-protein kinase B (p-Akt), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) proteins, and antioxidant enzymes including Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, and catalase were increased. Competitive melatonin receptor antagonist luzindole blocked the melatonin-induced effects. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that hypoxia inhibits cardiomyocytes differentiation and melatonin partially mitigates the adverse effect of hypoxia in myocardial differentiation by regulating apoptosis and oxidative stress through the p-AKT and PI3K pathway.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.19-27
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the water quality and phytoplankton community in Bukhan River which account for 44.4 % of the total inflow into Lake Paldang, using multivariate statistical techniques (i.e., correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA)/factor analysis (FA)). Water samples were collected from March to November 2015 and the following parameters measured; water temperature, pH, DO, EC, SS, BOD, Chl-a, COD, TN, $NO_3-N$, $NH_3-N$, TP, DTP, $PO_4-P$, and phytoplankton community. The water quality of the main stream and the tributaries were not significantly different apart from the relatively high concentration of BOD, COD and nutrients recorded in MH. The highest cell density of Stephanodiscus hantzschii and Merismopedia glauca dominated phytoplankton was observed in PD. Based on the correlation analysis, total phytoplankton and cyanophyceae were highly correlated with BOD, COD and nutrients. PCA/FA resulted in four main factors accounting for 82.240 % of the total variance in the water quality dataset. The group of component 1 (TN, DTN, DO, $NO_3-N$, water temperature) and component 2 ($PO_4-P$, T-P, DTP, SS) were classified as nutrient element factor whereas component 3 (Chl-a, COD, BOD, $NH_3-N$, pH) was related to organic substances. Hence, the identification of the main potential environmental pollution factors in Bukhan River will help policy makers make better and more informed decisions on how to improve the water quality.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.167-178
• /
• 2023

Large amounts of waste and wastewater from aquaculture have negatively impacted ecosystems. Among them, shrimp aquaculture wastewater contains large amounts of nitrogen contaminants derived from feed residues in an aerobic environment. This study isolated candidate strains from adult rockworms to treat shrimp aquaculture wastewater (SAW) in an aerobic environment. Among 87 strains isolated, 25 grew well at the same temperature as the shrimp aquaculture with excellent polymer degradation ability (>0.5 cm clear zone). Six isolates (strains AL1, AL4, AL5, AL6, LA10, and PR15) were finally selected after combining strains with excellent polymer degradation ability without antagonism. 16S rRNA sequencing analysis revealed that strains AL1, AL4, AL5, AL6, LA10, and PR15 were closely related to Bacillus paramycoides, Bacillus pumilus, Stenotrophomonas rhizophila, Bacillus paranthracis, Bacillus paranthracis, and Micrococcus luteus, respectively. When these six isolates were applied to SAW, they reached a maximum cell viability of 2.06×10⁵ CFU mL^-1. Their chemical oxygen demand (COD_Cr) and total nitrogen(TN) removal rates for 12h were 51.0% and 44.6%, respectively, when the COD_Cr/TN ratio was approximately 10.0. Considering these removal rates achieved in this study under batch conditions, these six isolates could be used for aerobic denitrification. Consequently, these six isolates from rockworms are good candidates that can be applied to the field of aquaculture wastewater treatment.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
• /
• v.57 no.2
• /
• pp.256-270
• /
• 2024

The antidepressant drug trazodone (TRZ) is commonly used for treating depression, anxiety, and insomnia, however, it causes cardiotoxicity, which is one of its limitations. The objective of this work was to investigate the impact of sage (Salvia officinalis) in rats against cardiotoxicity induced by TRZ and to investigate the mechanisms involved in its cardio-protective properties through autophagy and oxidative stress. Fifty male albino rats were split randomly into five experimental groups: control group, sage oil group (100 mg/kg), TRZ group (20 mg/kg), protective group, and curative group. Cardiac function biomarkers (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], creatine kinase-MB [CK-MB], and cardiac troponin T [cTnI]) were assessed in serum. Oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in cardiac tissue (total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, and tumor necrosis factor-α) were evaluated. Heart tissues were subjected to histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural evaluations. DNA damage also evaluated. Significant rise in the levels of AST, CK-MB, and cTnI were observed with enhanced autophagy along with marked histopathological changes in the form of interrupted muscle fibers with wide interstitial spaces with areas of hemorrhage and extravasated blood and interstitial mononuclear cellular infiltration in TRZ group. DNA damage was also significantly increased in TRZ group. However, administration of sage in both protective and curative groups show marked improvement of the cardiac alterations. In conclusion, sage ameliorated the alterations in the heart induced by trazadone through modulation of autophagy and oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.37 no.1 s.106
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2004

The limnological characteristics of a coastal lagoon were studied in Lake Hyangho, one of a series of brackish lagoons along the eastern coast of Korea. Phytoplankton community structure, physical factors, and chemical factors were surveyed from May 1998 through November 2002 on a two-month interval basis. Temperature, salinity, Secchi disc transparency, TN, TP, organic matter content of sediment, chlorophyll a concentration, dominant phytoplankton species, and phytoplankton cell density were measured. Salinity gradient was formed between the overlying freshwater stream water and the permeated seawater at the bottom. The chemocline was persistent at the depth of 2 ${\sim}$ 5 m that caused discontinuities of salinity, DO, and temperature profiles. The inversion of vertical temperature profiles with higher temperature in deeper layer was observed in early winter. Secchi disc transparency was very low with the range of 0.1 to 1.1m. TP, TN, and Chl. a concentration in the epilimnion was 0.011 ${\sim}$ 0.238 mgP $L^{-l}$, 0.423 ${\sim}$ 2.443 mgN $L^{-l}$, and 0.7 ${\sim}$ 145.2 mg $m^{-3}$, respectively. Sediment was composed of silt and coarse silt. COD, TP, and TN content of dry sediment were 19.7 ${\sim}$ 73.3 mg$O_2\;g^{-1}$, 0.61 ${\sim}$ 1.32 mgP $g^{-l}$ and 0.64 ${\sim}$ 0.88 mgN $g^{-l}$, respectively. Dominant phytoplankton species were chlorophytes (Ankistrodesmus falcatus) and cyanobacteria (Oscillatoria sp. and Merismopedia tennuissima). The total cell density was in the range of 560 ${\sim}$ 35,255 cells $mL^{-l}$.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.217-226
• /
• 2004

The present study is to examine the water quality and to analyze the plank tonic and benthic phytoplankton communities at 6 stations in the Dong River and its tributary streams of Kangwon Province from November, 2001 to March, 2002. During the studies, water temperature ranged from 3.5 to 12.8℃; pH, 6.5-7.9; DO, 9.29-11.36 mg·l^(-1); BOD_5, 0.20-2.38 mg·l^(-1); TN, 1.2842-3.1871 mg·l^(-1); TP, 0.0052-0.0576 mg·l^(-1); and SS, 0.85-9.62 mg·l^(-1). The standard of water quality according to the Korean Environmental Preservation Law showed the first class except St. 6 through the survey. Six taxa of plank tonic phytoplankton identified were poor flora in November, 2001. The representative species frequently observed were the diatoms Achnanthes lanceolata, Achnanthes minutissima, Cymbella minuta, Cymbella parva, Diatoma vulgare, Fragilaria construens, Gomphonema pervulum, Navicula cryptocephala, Nitzschia palea., Scenedesmus sp. of green algae and Stephanodiscus hantzschii. Monthly dominant species of phytoplankton were Achnanthes lanceolata and A. minutissima in both February and March, 2002, but the blue-green algae, Oscillatoria sp. and the diatom, Stephan discus hantzschii were predominant at some stations in March. Phytoplankton standing crops ranged from 9.84 ${\times}$ 10$^3$ to 3.56 ${\times}$ 10$^4$ cell·l$^{-1}$ in November and 1.68-2.99 ${\times}$ 10$^5$ cell·l$^{-1}$ in February, while it changed 4.52-8.01 ${\times}$ 10$^5$ cell·l$^{-1}$ at St. 1, 2, 3 and 1.03-1.71 ${\times}$ 10$^6$ cell·l$^{-1}$ at St. 4, 5, 6 in March. Benthic phytoplankton communities was composed of 38 taxa in November, 31 taxa in February and 23 taxa in March. It showed a contrary tendency to planktonic phytoplankton diversity. Benthic diatoms which were more than 25% of the total populations were Cymbella turgida, Diatoma vulgare, Cocconeis placentula, Navicula cryptocephala var. intermedia in November; Achnanthe lanceolata, Cocconeis placentula, Achnanthes minutissima in February; and Achnanthes lanceolata and Cyclotella meneghiniana in March.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.52-59
• /
• 2016

This study investigated the occurrences and succession patterns of harmful cyanobacteria, as well as environmental factors, during a 3-year period (September 2012 to August 2015) in the upper region of the Nakdong River around Sangju weir. A total of 27 cyanobacterial taxa were observed in this study, and classified into 26 species and 1 variety belonging to 11 genera, 5 families, and 3 orders. Cell density ranged from 24 to 42,001 cells/ml, with a geometric mean of 33 cells/ml, during the survey period. The dominant orders differed depending on the survey year; order Oscillatoriales in 2013, Chroococcales in 2014 and Nostocales in 2015. An Aphanizomenon bloom occurred in June 2015 at which time the highest cell density of 36,873 cells/ml was detected in the upper region of the Nakdong River, where as the Aphanizomenon spp. cell density (190-1,704 cells/ml) had been low prior to that time. An Aphanizomenon bloom also occurred at around the same time downstream in the Young River, a major inflow branch of the Nakdong River. The Aphanizomenon cell density along the Nakdong River increased markedly after joining of the YoungRiver, indicating that the Aphanizomenon bloom in the YoungRiver caused a bloom in the Nakdong River. Meteorological and environmental parameters, such as very low precipitation, higher water temperature, pH, and TP concentration, and lower TN/TP ratio, in May and June of 2015 than in 2013 and 2014 exerted marked effects on the Aphanizomenon bloom in June 2015 in the Young River.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.257-268
• /
• 2008

Species composition, standing crop and dominant species of phytoplankton were investigated at 6 sites of Galgok stream and Incheon river which run into Gomso Bay, Jeollanam-do in April, August and November 2007. Total of 210 taxa were found which were classified as 6 classes, 12 orders, 25 families, 66 genera, 177 species, 27 varieties, 5 forms and 1 unidentified species. These river and stream had lower concentration of T-N and T-P compared to that of others; however, the site 2 of Galgok stream in summer was hypertrophic in T-P and also near hypertrophic in TN, and the site 1 in Incheon river during fall appeared to be hypertrophic in T-N, and the site 3 in summer showed near hypertrophic level in T-P. Determining the trophic status of the water quality based on chlorophyll a (chl-a), the site 3 of Galgok stream in spring and the site 3 of Incheon river in fall were oligotrophic; moreover, 6 sites including the site 2 and 3 of Galgok stream in summer were mesotrophic, and 9 sites including all sites of Galgok stream in fall turned out to be eutrophic. Particularly, the site 1 of Galgok stream in summer was hypertrophic, having 58.19 mg chl-a m$^{-3}$. There was a conspicuous difference between two values of standing crops based on chl-a and cell counting. This discrepancy may have occurred because of abundant cyanophytes and exclusion of picoplankton cells in cell counting. In the study, 5 cyanophytes, Synechocystis aquatilis, Microcystis aeruginosa, M. flos-aquae, Oscillatoria angustissima, O. limnetica and 2 diatoms, Thalassiosira bramaputrae and Navicula viridula var. rostellata were abundant. Based on the T-N, T-P values, standing crops and cell counting in Galgok stream and Incheon river were between mesotrophic and eutrophic conditions.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.104-108
• /
• 1990

The chromosomal DNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens contains the genes required for bacterial attachment to plant cell which is an essential atage in crown gall tumorigenesis by Ti-plasmid. In order to clone the genes, Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain A5512 was mutagenized by transposon Tn5 and two Agrobacterium tumefaciens mutants which are attachment-defective and nontumorigenic were isolated. From one of the two mutants, a chromosomal virulence region which was required for attachment to the plant cells was cloned.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.23 no.4 s.181
• /
• pp.146-152
• /
• 2006

In micro electrochemical machining (ECM), electrodes should be prevented from unfavorable oxide and Passive layer formation on the machined surface or overall corrosion of the entire surface. Generally, metal electrodes corrode, passivate or dissolve in the electrochemical cell according to the electrode potential. Therefore, each electrode must maintain its stable potential. Tn this paper, the stable electrode potentials of tool and workpiece were determined using the potentiodynamic polarization test and verified experimentally considering machining stability and surface quality. Stable workpiece electrode potentials of two different passive materials of 304 stainless steel and nickel were determined in the 0.1 M sulfuric acid. Experimental results show good machined surface and fast machining rate using the determined electrode potentials.