• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.128-133
• /
• 1990

The chromatin of all higher eukaryotic cells contains a group of very basic low-mole-cular weight proteins, the histones. But much less is known about histones in lower eukaryotes. Our purpose was to study the histones of the genus Rhizopus. After isolation and purification of nucleoprotein the basic nucleoproteins were analyzed by gel electrophoresis, in sodium dodecyl sulfate as well as acid/urea gels and compared with calf thymus histones. Their electrophoretic mobility in polyacrylamide gel indicate that they are histone homologous, although not identical, to the H2A, H2B, H3 and H4 histones of mammals with the exception of H1. The result suggests that Rhizopus thus appears to contain histone proteins which are homologous to the histones from in higher eukaryotes. The similarity between the calf thymus histone H1 and the Rhizopus high band group remains to be discussed.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.246-257
• /
• 1998

Endocrine cells in the thymus of duck(Anas platyrhynchos platyrhyncos, Linne) were studied immunohistochemically from 23 days of incubation to 32 weeks of age. Somatostatin-, growth hormone(GH)-, gastrin/cholecystokinin(Gas/CCK)-, polypeptide YY(PYY)-, S-100 protein(S-100 P)-, dopamine-, serotonin(5-HT)-, and bovine chromogranin (BCG)-immunoreactive cells were detected in the duck thymus by the PAP techniques. These immunoreactive cells were observed in the medulla and in the juxtacortical medulla. No immunoreactivity of calcitonin and bovine pancreatic polypeptide(BPP) antiserum were observed. The argyrophil cells by Grimelius techniques were observed from 23 days of incubation to 32 weeks of age and peaked in 5 weeks of age. In the early develpmental stage, the argyrophil cells were distributed only in the medulla, while these cells were distributed mainly in the medulla and a few cells were distributed in the corticomedullary junction from 3 weeks of age. These immunoreactive cells were generally round, oval and elliptical and occasionally spindle, polygonal and polymorphous with the long cytopslasmic processes in shape. The present study suggests that the intrathymic endocrine cells may associate with the functional maturation of T-lymphocytes on the establishment of immunity. The further study will be needed to elucidate the function of these thymic endocrine cells.

• Journal of Aquaculture
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.123-134
• /
• 1994

Effects of glucocorticosteroids (GCS) on the thymus and peripheral lymphocytes of Nile tilapia. Oreochromis niloticus were examined. Young fish (5-7g) were injected into intraperitonial cavity with various dose of dexamethasone (DEX) or hydrocortisone (HC). Histology of thymus and thymocyte counts in treated fish were compared to normal ones. The results showed that in vivo adminstration of DEX or HC induced weight loss of thymus and reduction of thymocytes, and both of these were dose and time dependent. In vivo treatment of thymocytes with 10 mM DEX or 10 mM HC for 12hrs caused DNA fragmentation. Both drugs could split the DNA into fragments of about 180-200 base paire multiples. There was no change in granulocytes of peripheral blood due to the treatment of DEX or HC with various length of time. In contrast, treatment of DEX or HC for 2-3 days decresed number of peripheral lymphocytes. The results indicate that the thymocytes and circulating lymphocytes would respond to GCS depending on several factors, such as nature of the hormone, dose, and duration of treatment.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 1975

Despite a number of recent studies on appendix its function appears to remain unknown. The present studies were undertaken in order to extend and confirm the previous studies concerning the role of appendix in immune response. An early hemagglutinin response of mercaptoethanol sensitive antibody(IgM antibody) in rabbit injected intravenously(i.v.) with 200mcg of bovine gamma globulin(BGG) was abolished by lethal whole body irradiation(900 r), but preserved in animals whose appendix and bone marrow were shielded during irradiation. Late formation of mercaptoethanol resistant antibody(IgG antibody) and the development of memory in bone marrow shielded animals were not affected by irradiation of the appendix. Formation of either IgM or IgG antibody to sheep red blood cells(SRBC) injected i.v. as determined by direct plaque forming cell(DPFC) technique in spleen were effectively abolished by appendectomy, thymectomy, or both followed by irradiation. When bone marrow was shielded in combination with autologous appendix reconstitution, DPFC response was about 5 times greater than the sum of two. Lysed appendix cells failed to restore the response. Lethally irradiated rabbits restored with combination of autologous appendix and thymus cells showed DPFC responses which were essentially normal. Three pools of appendix were obtained by manual separation technique and were stimulated with soluble concanavalin A(Con A), phytohemagglutinin-P(PHA) and pokeweed mitogen(PWM). Rabbit appendix cells responded to Con A, PHA and PWM. Cells of thymus dependent area(TDA) of the appendix were relatively enriched in their response to T cell mitogens compared to dome and follicle cells. The PHA/Con A responsive ratio of appenix TDA subpopulation was high, indicating that Con A responsive cells have a wider distribution among appendix. This finding showed that interfollicular area of the appendix is thymus-dependent. The present studies confirmed other evidence that the rabbit appendix cells itself are unable to form antibody and T lymphocytes in appendix TDA may be heterogenous, and that the appendix cells are synergistic with either bone marrow or thymus cells in the early hemagglutinin on splenic antibody response to BGG or SRBC.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.164-168
• /
• 1964

We isolated histone-type basic proteins from lemna paucicostata for the first time. Basic proteins were extracted directly with dilute mineral acids from homogenized lemna paucicostata. Amino acid compositions of basic protein portions adsorbed on Amberlite CG-50(at pH 6. 0) were resembled to those of calf thymus histones. Especially, lysine content was the greatest of the other amino acids. By chromatographic studies, adsorbed portions of basic protein components on carboxymethyl cellulose column(at pH 4. 2) were shown to be homogeneous to calf thymus histones, however, the area under the individual curve was different, and furthermore, the containing of a non-adsorbed portion in the large extent was markedly different from calf thymus histones. And amino acid compositions of adsorbed portions represented the histone-type basic propertes, but non-adsorbed portions were considered as a different protein compared with the typical histone. When calf thymus histone and protein components separated from lemna paucicostata were heated($60^{\circ}C$) with a solution of $HgSO_4-H_2SO_4$, precipitates were not obtained.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.12
• /
• pp.1381-1384
• /
• 1996

Thymoma Is an anterior mediastinal tumor, arising from the thymus, but occasionally has ectopic focus such as neck, trachea, thyroid, pulmonary hilum, lung parenchyme and pleura. Forty-two year old male patient was admitted due to progressive development of shortness of breath in 4 months. He had a history of exposure to asbestos for About 10 years duration In recent 15 years. Radiologically, multiple pleural masses were seen rom apex to diaphrAgm, with no evidence of anterior mediastinal mass,with fluid in right pleural cavity. Closed thoracotomy drainage with open biopsy were performed. Effusion cell block showed many T cell marker positive Lymphocytes & some epithelial cells compatible with thymoma, and the tissue also showed cortical type thymoma. Pleuropneumonectomy and thymectomy followed by 60 Gy radiation therapy were done and the patient is well 8 months postoperatively. The pleura is markedly thickened by the invasion of thymoma and the interstitial space of the lung tissue,but the normal appearance of thymus was present in remote area (Masaoka classification IVa). We report a case of ectopic invasive thymoma arising from the right pleura with intact thymus.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.153-156
• /
• 2008

One of the most common drugs used against a wide variety of anaerobic protozoan parasites is metronidazole. However, this drug is mutagenic for bacteria and is a potent carcinogen for rodents. Thymus vulgaris is used for cough suppression and relief of dyspepsia. Also it has antibacterial and antifungal properties. The aim of this study was to investigate antiamebic effect of Thymus vulgaris against Entamoeba histolytica in comparison with metronidazole. One hundred gram air-dried T. vulgaris plant was obtained and macerated at $25^{\circ}C$ for 14 days using n-hexane and a mixture of ethanol and water. For essential oil isolation T. vulgaris was subjected to hydrodistillation using a clevenger-type apparatus for 3 hr. E. histolytica, HM-1: IMSS strain was used in all experiments. It was found that the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for T. vulgaris hydroalcoholic, hexanic extracts, and the essential oil after 24 hr was 4 mg/mL, 4 mg/mL, and 0.7 mg/mL, respectively. After 48 hr the MIC for T. vulgaris hydroalcoholic and hexanic extracts was 3 and 3 mg/mL, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that the Iranian T. vulgaris is effective against the trophozoites of E. histolytica.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.258-262
• /
• 2007

The antifungal activity of the essential oil fraction from Thymus magus, and its major component thymol, against Candida albicans was investigated in vitro and in vivo. The combined effects of the oils and clotrimazole, a commonly used antifungal drug for treatment of external candidiasis, were evaluated in this study. In experimental vaginal candidiasis the essential oil fraction of T. magnus resulted in relatively milder inhibition of fungal growth following the inoculation of test mice compared to clotrimazole. However, new fungal growth was not detected up to 12 days after cessation of treatment. In contrast, in a similar experiment using clotrimazole, C. albicans was detected in the $12^{th}$ day post-treatment with the sample. This result indicates that T. magnus oil could be a promising drug to control vaginal candidiasis. In checkerboard titer tests, the combination of clotrimazole with the essential oil fraction of T. magus or T. quinquecostatus resulted in significant synergism, with FIC indices between 0.14 and 0.27 against C. albicans, while clotrimazole combined with thymol, the major component of these oils, produced only an additive effect, with FIC indices ranging between 0.50 and 1.00. Thus, the prominent synergistic effects of clotrimazole combined with T. magus essential oil indicate that these compounds may be an effective treatment for C. albicans infections.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.77-82
• /
• 1998

In order to compare the suppressive effect of galangin on the genotoxicity by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) or benzo[a]pyrene B(a)P, in vivo micronycleus test using mouse peripheral blood and in vitro sister chromatid exchange(SCE) test using mouse spleen lymphocytes were performed. MNU or B(a)P-induced micronucleated reticulocytes in vivo was decreased by the simultaneous treatment of galangin. MNU or B(a)P-induced SCEs in vitro was also decreased by the simultaneous treatment of galangin. On the other hand, the determinations of [$^3$H]MNU-induced total DNA binding and methylated DNA were performed to find out the mechanism of action. [$^3$H]MNU-induced total DNA binding was inhibited by the treatment of galangin in calf thymus DNA. HPLC analysis of DNA hydrolysates showed that galangin caused a decrease of 7-methyl guanine and $O^{6}$-methyl guanine in calf thymus DNA. To elucidate the action mechanism of galangin against B(a)P, alteration of B(a)P metabolism was studied. Galangin inhibited B(a)P metabolism in the presence of S-9 mix and decreased B(a)P-DNA binding in calf thymus DNA with S-9 mix.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.223-229
• /
• 1989

These studies were carried out to investigate the changes of blood pictures, hitological findings and testosterone concentrations after orchidectomy in ageing rat. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. The total W.B.C. counts were $9.27{\pm}12{\times}10^3/mm^3$ in the control group, $9.54{\pm}34{\times}10^3/mm^3$ in the sham-operation group and $12.08{\pm}28{\times}10^3/mm^3$ in the orchidectomy group when it was checked 50days after the operation. 2. The number of lymphocytes after orchidectomy began to increase gradually as time passes, thereafter markedly increased $10.12{\pm}03{\times}10^3/mm^3$ at 50days after orchidectomy. 3. The concentration of testosterone in serum began to decrease gradually after orchidectomy showed lowest level $1.68{\pm}0.61pg/ml$ at 50days after orchidectomy while it was $5.82{\pm}0.39pg/ml$ in control group. 4. The histological findings of thymus after orchidectomy were marked increase of thymic lymphocyte, disapearance of fat cells and appearance of mitotic figures.