• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.357-361
• /
• 2014

An Ni-Fe/YSZ core-shell structured anode for uniform microstructure and catalytic activity was synthesized. Flat tubular segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cell-stacks were prepared by decalcomania method using synthesized anode powder. The Ni-Fe/YSZ core-shell anode exhibited better electrical conductivity than a commercially available Ni-YSZ cermet anode. Also power output increased by 1.3 times with a higher open circuit voltage. These results can be attributed to the uniformly distributed Ni particles in the YSZ framework. The impedance spectra of a Ni-Fe/YSZ core-shell anode showed comparable reduced ohmic resistance similar to those of the commercially available Ni-YSZ cermet anodes.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.67-76
• /
• 1977

The periodic changes of testis and \ulcorner션 epididymidis in Korean hibernating bats, the oriental discoloured bats (Vesportilio superans Thomas) and the Korean greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korak Kuroda) were studied in order to clarify the possibility of correlation between their histological findings and one of physiological facets, hibernation, and the results obtained were as follows: 1. The spermatogenic function of the oriental discoloured bats obtained in July and August was depressed although the spermatocytes showed a considerable cell proliferation. Few mature sperms were observed in the seminiferous tubules of the bat obtained in August. 2. The spermatogenic function of the Korean greater horeshoe bats obtained in September was not remalkable but a considerable number of sperms were stored in the excretory ducts which were characterized by existence of para-tubular spaces in the ductus epididymidis. 3. The spermatogenic epithelia of the Korean greater horseshoe bats obtained in December showed histologically atrophied figures. However, a vast number of sperm remained in extremely expaned luminae of the ductuc epididymidis which epithelial cells were maintained rectangular in shape. 4. These results suggest that there are periodic changes of the spermatogenic epithelia and the excretory ducts, and that those histological changes are closely related to their wintering.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.31-38
• /
• 2014

Cordyceps is a fungus used as a traditional medicine in China, Japan, and Korea. Paecilomyces (P.) japonica is a new cordyceps that was recently cultivated on silkworm pupae in Korea. The present study evaluated the toxicological effects of P. japonica in rats. Forty rats were treated with oral doses of P. japonica (0, 20, 100, or 500 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. Twenty additional rats were treated with 0 or 500 mg/kg/day of P. japonica for 4 weeks and then maintained for 2 weeks without treatment. Clinical signs, body weight, food and water consumption, and organ weight as well as hematology, serum biochemistry, and histopathology data were examined. Body weight gain of the group treated with 500 mg/kg/day was significantly reduced. Microscopically, karyomegaly, single cell necrosis, and mitosis were observed in the renal tubular epithelium of all treated groups. In conclusion, P. japonica caused a reduction of body weight and renal injury in rats. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of P. japonica was less than 20 mg/kg/day.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.204-210
• /
• 2012

Sulfur has been used as a general physical strengthening agent from ancient times in Asia. On the basis of this point, we measured spermatogenic effect of sulfur and methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) which is used a functional food for arthritis in rats. MSM, a kind of organic sulfur, is used as an alternative of sulfur by some people. Sulfur was administered as a dietary supplement and MSM was administered orally as a solution to 7 week old rat for 6 weeks. All sulfur administered groups showed a significant dose dependent increase in the number of sperm in the testes compared with the control group. Moreover, a histological examination showed an apparent increase in the number of seminiferous tubular cell layers in the testes of the sulfur treated rats. However, there were no observed any increase of sperm in MSM dosing group. In sulfur treated rats, the weights of body, liver, spleen, kidney, testes and epididymides didn't show significantly differences compared with the control. Histopathological examination was not revealed any morphological change in the liver, spleen and kidney. Thus, sulfur may be effectively used to treat sperm deficiency of men, but not MSM.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.228-234
• /
• 2000

We have synthesized a novel platinum(II) coordination complex containing trans-ι-1,2-diaminocy-clohexane (DACH) as a carrier ligand and 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) as a leaving group. A new series of [Pt(trans-ι-DACH)(DCE)](PC) was evaluated for its cytotoxic activity on MKN-45 human gastric adenocar-cinoma cells and normal primary cultured kidney cells. The new platinum complex has demonstrated high efficacy in the cytotoxicity against MKN-45/P, MKN-45/ADM and MKN-45/CDDP cell-lines. The cytotoxicity of PC against rabbit proximal renal tubular cells, human renal cortical cells and human renal cortical tissues, determined by MTT assay, the [$^3H$]-thymidine uptake arid glucose consumption tests, was found to be quite less than those of cisplatin. Based on these results, this novel platinum(II) coordination complex appears to be better for improving antitumor activities with low nephrotoxicity and is a valuable lead in the development of new, clinically available anticancer chemotherapeutic agents.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.204-212
• /
• 1998

This study was conducted to evaluate the repeated dose toxicity of DA-1131/betamipron, newly developed carbapenem antibiotic, in rats. DA-1131/ betamipron was administered intravenously once a day for 4 weeks to 10 males and 10 females per group at the doses of 0(control),40, 160 and 640 mg/kg. Throughout the study period, all rats survived. The administration of DA-1131/betamipron induced soft stool or diarrhea in rats of both sexes receiving 160 or 640 mg/kg. The water consumption was increased with a statistical significance in 640 mg/kg during observation period. At the end of administration, hematological and serum biochemical examination showed no toxicological changes in DA-1131/betamipron treated groups compared with control group. Histopathologic examination revealed inflammatory cell infiltration, tubular dilatation and focal necrosis of kidney in two males and three females in 640 mg/kg. On the basis of these results, the noobserved-adverse-effect-level of DA-1131/betamipron was estimated to be 40 mgtg under the present test condition.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.44 no.5
• /
• pp.399-405
• /
• 2000

We have synthesized a novel platinum (II) coordination complex containing trans-ι-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH) as a carrier ligand and 1,2-bis (diphenylphosphino)ethane (DPPE) as a leaving group. In addition, nitrate was added to improve the water-solubility. A new series of [Pt (trans-ι-DACH) (DPPE)].2NO$_3$(PC) was evaluated for its cytotoxic activity on MKN-45 human gastric adenocarcinoma cells and normal primary cultured kidney cells. PC has demonstrated high levels of cytotoxicity against MKN-45/S, MKN-45/ADR and MKN-45/CDDP cells. The cytotoxicity of PC against rabbit proximal renal tubular cells, human renal cortical cells, and human renal cortical tissues, determined using the MTT assaying technique, the ($^3$H)-thymidine uptake and the glucose consumption tests, was found to be quite less than those of cisplatin. Based on these results, this novel platinum (II) coordination complex appears to be better for improving antitumor activities with low nephrotoxicity and is a valuable lead in the development of new clinically available anticancer chemotherapeutic agents.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.194-200
• /
• 2022

Albizia julibrissin Durazz. (AJ; family Minosaceae) is widely distributed worldwide, and its stem bark has been used as a traditional herbal medicine. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinical syndrome that results in sudden loss of renal function. This study aimed to investigate the effects of AJ against cisplatin-induced AKI using a human kidney proximal tubule epithelial cell line (HK-2) and cisplatin-treated mice. In vitro, cisplatin treatment increased apoptosis in HK-2 cells. However, AJ treatment decreased apoptosis of cisplatin-treated HK-2 cells. In vivo, cisplatin treatment accelerated renal injury by increasing the levels of renal injury markers, such as blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, kidney injury molecule 1, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, which were reversed by AJ treatment. Histopathologically, AJ treatment resulted in decreased renal damage with less tubular necrosis and brush border desquamation compared with the AKI group. Additionally, cisplatin treatment upregulated mitochondrial fission, a pathological characteristic of AKI, which was downregulated by AJ treatment. Along with increased mitochondrial fission, AJ treatment also reduced cisplatin-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that AJ may be a potential therapeutic agent for cisplatin-induced AKI.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.50
• /
• pp.20.1-20.9
• /
• 2020

Arthropods have an open circulatory system with a simple tubular heart, so it has been estimated that the contractile pumping structure of the cardiac muscle will be less efficient than that of vertebrates. Nevertheless, certain arthropods are known to have far superior properties and characteristics than vertebrates, so we investigated the fine structural features of intercalated discs and cardiac junctions of cardiac muscle cells in the black widow spider Latrodectus mactans. Characteristically, the spider cardiac muscle has typical striated features and represents a functional syncytium that supports multiple connections to adjacent cells by intercalated discs. Histologically, the boundary lamina of each sarcolemma connects to the basement membrane to form an elastic sheath, and the extracellular matrix allows the cells to be anchored to other tissues. Since the intercalated disc is also part of sarcolemma, it contains gap junctions for depolarization and desmosomes that keep the fibers together during cardiac muscle contraction. Furthermore, fascia adherens and macula adherens (desmosomes) were also identified as cell junctions in both sarcolemma and intercalated discs. To enable the coordinated heartbeat of the cardiac muscle, the muscle fibers have neuronal innervations by multiple axons from the motor ganglion.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.157-165
• /
• 2001

Sertoli cells in the normal adult testis are nondividing cells, which are relatively inconspicuous on cross section of the seminiferous tubule and comprise about 10% to 15% of the tubular cellular elements. Ultrastructurally, Sertoli cells have characteristic nucleoli, plasma membrane, and cytoplasmic components. The plasma membrane has two types of intercellular junctions which are developed at puberty: junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells and Sertoli cell-germ ceil junction. However, the ultrastructural findings of Sertoli cells in human fetus is not fully elucidate yet. In the present study, human fetal testes ($14\sim27$ weeks) obtained from artificially induced abortions legally without gross malformation were studied using transmission electron microscopy to make clear the differentiation process of Sertoli cells in human. In human fetal testes from 14 weeks to 27 weeks, the cell junctions of Sertoli-germ cells and Sertoli-Sertoli cells are desmosome like structure and not tight junction or desmosome. The Overall intracytoplasmic organelles of Sertoli cells are relatively sparse. The mitochondrias are relatively abundant but no developed cristae. And the rough endoplasmic reticuli are abundant and smooth endoplasmic reticuli are sparse. The amount of lipid droplets are regularly observed in human fetal Sertoli cells. No microfilaments or Charcot-Bottcher's crystalloids are present. From the results, Sertoli cells in human fetal testes are somewhat different ultrastructural findings with puberty or adult. However, to make clear the differentiation process of Sertoli cells in human, further study for 28 weeks to puberty is required.