• Ocean Science Journal
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.209-212
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• 2005

In the present study, we have tested the effects of 21 salt marsh plants on cell proliferation of mouse immune cells (spleen and thymus) using MTT assay in culture. The methanolic extracts of six salt marsh plants (Rosa rugosa, Ixeris tamagawaensis, Artemisia capillaris, Tetragonia tetragonoides, Erigeron annus, and Glehnia littoralis) showed very powerful suppressive effects of mouse immune cell death and significant activities of cell proliferation in vitro. Especially, the methanolic extract of Rosa rugosa was found to have fifteen times compared to the control treatment, demonstrating that Rosa rugosa may have a potent stimulation effect on immune cell proliferation. These results suggest that several salt marsh plants including Rosa rugosa could be useful for further study as an immunomodulating agent.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.207.2-207.2
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• 2003

To develop useful antifungal agents from essential oils in Korean plant resources, the activities of Thymus quinquecostatus and T. quinquecostatus var. japonica were evaluated against ten pathogenic fungi. Their results were compared with those of T. vulgaris, which is native to Europe.The essential oils of the tested Thymus species were obtained by steam distillation using a simultaneous steam distillation-extraction apparatus. The above ground parts of plants cultivated in the herbal garden of Duksung Women"s University were used. (omitted)

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.13-30
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• 1997

The experiment was performed to study the morphological responses of the thymus of the mice, to antitumour agents (5-Fluorouracil or mitomycin C). Healthy adult mice weighing 25 gm each were divided into normal and experimental groups. 5-Fluorouracil (60 mg/kg) or Mitomycin-C $(400{\mu}g/kg)$ were injected subcutaneously to the animals every other day. Animals were sacrificed at 4 days and 7 days following the first injection. Pieces of the tissue taken from the thymus were prefixed with 2.5% paraformaldehyde-l.5% glutaraldehyde, followed by post-fixation with 1% osmium tetroxide. Ultrathin sections stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate were observed with a JEM 100 CX-II electron microscope. The observed results were as follow: 1. Apoptoses of T-lymphocytes were observed more frequently in the thymus of the experimental groups than in those of a normal group. 2. In the experimental group, the plasma cells with distended cisternae of the granular endoplasmic reticulum and the eosinophile leukocytes were observed frequently. 3. In the experimental group, newly forming Hassall's corpurscles were observed frequently. 4. In the mitomycin-treated group, the epithelial reticular cells containing distended perinuclear cisternae, distended the granular endoplasmic reticula and pyknotic nuclei were observed in the cortico-medullary junctional area. 5. In the mitomycin-treated group, nuclear bodies with medium electron dense materials were often observed in the T lymphocyte. 6. In the 5-fluorouracil-treated groups, fused and dissolved tonofilament bundles and apoptotic bodies were observed in the some epithelial reticular cells in the medullary area. 7. In the 5-fluorouracil-treated groups, some elongated and bar-shaped lysosomes with electron lucent gap were often observed in the macrophages. 8. In the 5-fluorouracil-treated group, membrane complex of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum were ofen observed in the macrophage. From the above results, it was suggested that 5-fluorouracil or mitomycin could induce rapid involution of the thymus, and disturb maturation and differentiation of T lymphocytes, and, in turn, supress immunity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1325-1335
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• 2018

Objective: This study investigated whether spermine supplementation could regulate cell cycle, apoptosis, and amino acid transporter-related genes expression in the thymus and spleen of early weaned piglets. Methods: Eighty female piglets were randomly distributed to receive adequate nutrients supplemented with spermine (0.4 mmol/kg body weight/24 h) or to be provided with restricted nourishment supplemented with normal saline for 7 h or 3, 6, or 9 d in pairs. Results: Regardless of administration time, spermine supplementation significantly up-regulated cyclin A2 gene expression but down-regulated p21 and cyclin D3 mRNA levels in the thymus and spleen and reduced cyclin E2 gene expression in the thymus of piglets (p<0.05). Irrespective of the treatment period, the reduced Bax and caspase-3 gene expressions and improved Bcl-2 mRNA level were observed in the thymus and spleen of spermine-administrated piglets (p<0.05). Regardless of supplementation time, spermine intake significantly enhanced the expressions of amino acid transporter-related genes (SLC1A1, SLC1A5, SLC7A1, SLC7A7, and SLC15A1) in both thymus and spleen, as well as SLC7A9 in the spleen of piglets (p<0.05). In addition, extended spermine administration also markedly promoted cell proliferation, depressed apoptosis and modulated amino acid transport (p<0.05), and such effects were the greatest during prolonged spermine supplementation (6 d) compared to the other time periods (p<0.05). Conclusion: Spermine supplementation may regulate cell cycle during the G1/S phase, suppress apoptosis and modulate amino acid transport. A period of 6 d of spermine supplementation is required to produce the optimal effects on nutritional implications.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.199-204
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• 1971

The effect of 400 R total-body X-irradiation on the rate of deoxycytidine-2-$^14 C$(CdR-2-$^14 C$) into DNA and on the degradation of DNA has been studied in the liver, spleen and thymus of the rat. The postirradiation period can be divided into a radiation reaction period followed by a regeneration period. During the period of radiation reaction, which consists of days 1-2, markdely decreased CdR-2-$^14 C$ incorporation into DNA of each organ is observed. Rate of incorporation of labeled precursor in the thymus shows the most profound decrease, whereas those in the liver and spleen show similar decrease when expressed as percent of normal. The change in the amount of DNA as percent of normal exhibits a similar pattern in all organs, but the rate of decrease is larger in the spleen and thymus compared to that in the liver. The period of regeneration as judged by the incorporation experiment appears day 4 to 5, which consists of the second phase of the regeneration period. The second phase is highlighted by a markedly increased rate of CdR-2-$^14 C$ incorporation and by a slow and continued increase in the amount of DNA in all organs. The regeneration occurs faster in the liver and spleen than in the thymus which is the most radiosensitive of the all. The findings of the present experiments are strongly suggestive of the fact that the radiation-induced loss of spleen and thymus DNA as well as the radiation-caused inhibition in the CdR incorporation into DNA of the thymus are the important factors in the elevated levels of CdR in the urine and plasma.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.279-288
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• 2012

Rats were administered zearalenone (ZEA) via gavage at dosages of 0, 1, 5, and 30 mg/kg for 36 days. On treatment day 8, inactivated porcine parvovirus vaccine (Vac) was injected intraperitoneally. Antibody production against porcine parvovirus was then measured as a function of ZEA treatment. Compared to the vaccine alone, ZEA treatment, with or without Vac, decreased the serum level of IgG. The level of IgM decreased in all ZEA groups at day 22, but the decrease was sustained only in the medium-dose ZEA group at day 36. The level of IgA was unchanged in the Vac only and ZEA groups at day 22, but was decreased in the 5 mg/kg ZEA plus Vac group compared to the Vac only group at day 36. The level of IgE was decreased by all doses of ZEA at day 22, but was unaffected in ZEA plus Vac groups compared to the Vac only group. The levels of IL-1 in the thymus and spleen; INF-${\gamma}$ in serum; IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10 in the thymus; and IL-10 and IFN-${\gamma}$ in the spleen decreased after ZEA administration. Furthermore, the levels of IL-$1{\beta}$ in the spleen and mesenteric lymph node, IL-$1{\beta}$ in the thymus, IL-2 in the thymus and spleen, IL-6 in the thymus, IL-10 and IFN-${\gamma}$ in the spleen, and GM-CSF and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the thymus decreased after vaccination in rats exposed to ZEA. In conclusion, these results suggest that ZEA exposure via drinking water can cause an immunosuppressive effect by decreasing immunoglobulins in serum and cytokines in lymphoid organs.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.285-288
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• 2009

The expression pattern of immunoproteasomes in human thymus has not been analyzed but may have important consequences during thymic selection. Here we examined the expression patterns of immunoproteasome subunits in fetal and adult thymic tissues by immunohistochemistry and found that all three subunits are expressed in both cortical and medullary stromal cells. These data suggest that thymic selection in human can be affected by peptide repertoires generated by immunoproteasomes.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1980

By means of prefractionation on a silicagel column and combination of GC-Mass spectrometry, the essential oil constituents of Thymus magnus Nakai were analysed. Ten terpenoid compounds, ${\gamma}-terpinene$, ${\alpha}-pinene$, ${\beta}-caryophyllene$, ${\beta}-bisabolene$, pcymene, 4-isopropyltropolone, thymol, carvacrol, terpinen-4-ol and Borneol, were identified by referring to the spectrums of their authentic specimens.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.262-264
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• 1991

An anomalous absorbance-temperature profile of calf thymus DNA, having a hypochromic trough just before the rise the $T_m$-region phase, occurs at the spermine concentration where the DNA collapses into a compact structure. The trough phase can be eliminated by the addition of ethidium bromide and also by a hydrophobic environment.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.90-98
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• 1999

This study was conducted to select proper substrate and nutrient solution concentration for favorable growth and quality in common thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.). The growth of common thyme was better in deep flow culture (DFT) than in other substrate cultures. As the nutrient solution concentration rose, the ratio of dry matter increased, while the fresh weight and the number of lateral shoots decreased. The contents of total chlorophyll and vitamin C were higher in DFT than others. Ca, K, P were showed high contents in cocopeat, but Mg content was the highest at half-fold concentration in DFT. Common thyme showed low content of nitrate in DFT compared with that in other substrate culture. DFT was the most effective system for pronoting growth and quality of common thyme. The optimal concentration of nutrient solution in common thyme was half-fold(EC=1.2mS/cm) of herbs nutrient solution by European Vegetable R&D Center.