• Applied Microscopy
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.119-130
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• 2006

To investigate the role of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) in the normal aging process, aging-related morphometric and ultrastructural analyses of the MAG-positive (MAG-(+)) oligodendrocytes were carried out in the cerebral cortex of the Sprague-Dawley rats. In the aged rats, the density of MAG-(+) oligodendrocytes was significantly decreased in the cortical layer (IV-VI) compared with that of the adult rats. However, the percentage of medium and dark types of oligodendrocytes was significantly increased by aging. In the aged rats, the mean nuclear area of the MAG-(-) oligodendrocytes was interestingly reduced compared with that of MAG-(+) oligodendrocytes. In addition, MAG immunoreactive products were markedly decreased in the medium-dark type of oligodendroglial cytoplasm and processes, and were scarcely localized in the dark type of oligodendrocytes of the aged rats. These results suggest that degeneration of oligodendrocytes-myelin system by aging is associated with down regulation of MAG, and that may contribute to further understanding of the biology of MAG in the oligodendrocytes-myelin system.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10413-10420
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• 2015

Side effects are an unavoidable consequence of chemotherapy drugs, during which liver injury often takes place. The current study was designed to investigate the protective effect of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) against the hepatotoxicity induced by frequently-used chemical therapy agents, cyclophosphamide (CTX), docetaxel (DTX) and epirubicin (EPI)) in mice. Mice were divided into five groups, controls, low or high dose groups ($DTX_L$, $CTX_L$, $EPI_L$ or $DTX_H$, $CTX_H$, $EPI_H$), and low or high dose chemotherapeutics+APS groups ($DTX_L$+APS, $CTX_L$+APS, $EPI_L$+APS or $DTX_H$+APS, $CTX_H$+APS, $EPI_H$+APS). Controls were treated with equivalent normal saline for 28 days every other day; low or high dose group were intraperitoneal (i.p) injected with low or high doses of CTX, DTX and EPI for 28 days every other day; low or high dose chemotherapeutics+APS group were separately intraperitoneal (i.p) injected with chemotherapeutics for 28 days every other day and i.p with APS (100 mg/kg) for 7 days continually from the 22th to the 28th days. The body weight, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), histopathological features, and ultrastructure morphological change of liver tissues, protein expression level of caspase-3 were estimated at different time points. With high dose treatment of DTX, CTX and EPI, weight gain was inhibited and serum levels of ALT and AST were significantly increased. Sections of liver tissue showed massive hepatotoxicity in $CTX_H$ group compared to the control group, including hepatic lobule disorder, granular and vacuolar degeneration and necrosis in hepatic cells. These changes were confirmed at ultrastructural level, including obvious pyknosis, heterochromatin aggregation, nuclear membrane resolution, and chondrosome crystal decrease. Western blotting revealed that the protein levels of caspase-3 increased in $CTX_H$ group. The low dose groups exhibited trivial hepatotoxicity. More interestingly, after 100 mg/kg APS, liver injury was redecued not only regarding serum transaminase activities (low or high dose chemotherapeutics+APS group), but also from pathological and ultrastructural changes and the protein levels of caspase-3 ($CTX_H$+APS group). In conclusion, DTX, CTX and EPI induce liver damage in a dose dependent manner, whereas APS exerted protective effects.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.5
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• pp.617-628
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• 1998

In order to understand the pathogenetic mechanism of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the role of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in association with oxidative stress was investigated in rats. $Interleukin-1{\alpha}\;(IL-1,\;50\;{\mu}g/rat)$ was used to induce acute lung injury by neutrophilic respiratory burst. Five hours after IL-1 insufflation into trachea, microvascular integrity was disrupted, and protein leakage into the alveolar lumen was followed. An infiltration of neutrophils was clearly observed after IL-1 treatment. It was the origin of the generation of oxygen radicals causing oxidative stress in the lung. IL-1 increased tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, but mepacrine, a PLA2 inhibitor, did not change the levels of these cytokines. Although IL-1 increased PLA2 activity time-dependently, mepacrine inhibited the activity almost completely. Activation of PLA2 elevated leukotriene C4 and B4 (LTC4 and LTB4), and 6-keto-prostaglandin $F2{\alpha}\;(6-keto-PGF2{\alpha})$ was consumed completely by respiratory burst induced by IL-1. Mepacrine did not alter these changes in the contents of lipid mediators. To estimate the functional changes of alveolar barrier during the oxidative stress, quantitative changes of pulmonary surfactant, activity of gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), and ultrastructural changes were examined. IL-1 increased the level of phospholipid in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, which seemed to be caused by abnormal, pathological release of lamellar bodies into the alveolar lumen. Mepacrine recovered the amount of surfactant up to control level. IL-1 decreased GGT activity, while mepacrine restored it. In ultrastructural study, when treated with IL-1, marked necroses of endothelial cells and type II pneumocytes were observed, while mepacrine inhibited these pathological changes. In histochemical electron microscopy, increased generation of oxidants was identified around neutrophils and in the cytoplasm of type II pneumocytes. Mepacrine reduced the generation of oxidants in the tissue produced by neutrophilic respiratory burst. In immunoelectron microscopic study, PLA2 was identified in the cytoplasm of the type II pneumocytes after IL-1 treatment, but mepacrine diminished PLA2 particles in the cytoplasm of the type II pneumocyte. Based on these experimental results, it is suggested that PLA2 plays a pivotal role in inducing acute lung injury mediated by IL-1 through the oxidative stress by neutrophils. By causing endothelial damage, functional changes of pulmonary surfactant and alveolar type I pneumocyte, oxidative stress disrupts microvascular integrity and alveolar barrier.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.87-101
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• 1998

There is considerable interests in the effect of regular, vigorous exercise, in particular weight training as a possible measure in improving myocardial function. The present investigation aimed to examine possible effect of a long-term weight training program on the heart in aging rats. Male rats aged 3-,10-, and 20-month-old were divided at random into a control (sedentary) and the exercise group. The training group was exercised for 5 days a week by 1 RM of ten times with weight training apparatus. This investigation examined the changes of the heart muscle relative to histological, ultrastructural, cytochemical, and stereological studies in rats. Quantity of lipofuscin pigments was clearly increased in the weight training group of 15-month-old rats, and mitochondrial degeneration, vacuolization, and interstitial proliferation were observed as well. In the weight training group of 25-month-old rats the frequency as separated intercalated discs, fraying myofibrils and hypercontraction band increased in number compared with the same 15-mon1h-old group. From the experimental result of glucose-6-phosphatase activity, the enzyme activities decreased in the weight training group of 15-month-old rats, and more decreased in the same 25-month-old group. In stereological study, both 15- and 25-month-old training groups, mitochondrial and myofibrilar volume densities significantly decreased, whereas interstitial volume density significantly increased. From the experimental results obtained in the present study, it is suggested that long-term weight training exercise do not cause any significantly qualitative and quantitative ultrastructural change of the heart muscle in the young. On the contrary, long-term weight training exercise stress may actually induce degenerative changes in the heart muscle in the old age.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1219-1224
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• 2008

The embryonic zebrafish (Danio rerio) is rapidly becoming an important model organism for studies of early events in vertebrate development. Neural crest-derived pigment cell precursors of the embryonic zebrafish give rise to melanophores, xanthophores, and/or iridophores. Cell-signaling mechanisms related to the development of pigmentation and pigment pattern formation remain obscure. In this study, zebrafish embryos were treated with various signaling-related molecules - LiCl (an inositol-phosphatase inhibitor), forskolin (a protein kinase-A activator), a combination of LiCl/forskolin, and LiCl/heparin (an IP3 inhibitor) in order to identify the mechanisms involved in pigmentation. LiCl treatment resulted in ultrastructural and morphological alterations of melanophores. To identify the possible proteins responsible for this ultrastructural and morphological change, phosphorylation patterns in vitro and in vivo were analyzed. LiCl and LiCl/forskolin treatment elicited dramatic increases in the phosphorylation of a 55-kDa protein which was inhibited by heparin treatment. LiCl treatment also induced phosphorylation of a 55-kDa protein in melanophores purified from adult zebrafish. Collectively these results suggest that a LiCl-induced 55-kDa phosphoprotein plays a role in melanophore morphology and ultrastructure and ultimately effects gross pigmentation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.269-279
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• 2000

This present study was investigated to elucidate degenerative changes according to the change of habitual environment on the myocytes of doves by restricting them from flight that is instinct behavior of this animal and strong exercise. To restrict doves from flight, they were confined in the cage (1 $m^3$) for 2 months. After this period, the myocardium of the experimental group was compared to that of wild doves in the ultrastructural and cytochemical ways. In addition, stereological changes were also examined. The results were as followings: 1. The body weight of the confined experimental groups was higher than that of the wild doves, but the ratios of the pectoral muscle/body weight (p<0.05) and the heart/body weight were lower. 2. At the ultrastructural level, the myocardium of confined doves appeared as wavy fibers in the smaller area than in the myocardium of wild doves. Also, the length of sarcomeres was longer in the confined doves. The number of sarcoplasmic reticulum and capillary was smaller in the myocardium of confined doves. 3. Cytochemical examinations showed that the activities of cytochrome oxidase were lowered in the confined doves. 4. Stereological analysis revealed that the density of myofibrils was greater in the confined doves. In contrast the volume density of sarcoplasmic reticulum (p<0.05) and the surface density of mitochondrial inner membrane (p<0.05) was lower in the confined doves, while the numerical density of mitochondrial inner membrane was higher (p<0.05). These results suggest that even the short period of restricted exercise can induce negative effects on the functions of myocytes of doves that are adapted for the strong exercise such as flight. Therefore, the maintenance of prolonged exercise seems to be one of the important factors that are critical to retain the functions of myocardium.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.197-215
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• 1997

A morphologic study on the effect of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on experimental hepatocarcinogenesis induced by 3'-methyl-4-dimethyl aminoazobenzene (3'-MeDAB) was investigated. A total of 110 Sprague-Dowley male rats weighting about 200 g each were used for the experiment, and divided into 4 groups; the 3'-MeDAB, BHT, 3'-MeDAB/BHT treated group, and the control group. Four to eight rats of each group were sacrified on the 4th, 8th, 14th and 16th experimental weeks, with continuous pelletized feeding containing 0.09% 3'-MeDAB and 0.5% BHT. The liver was examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The results were as follows; Electron microscopically, the fine structure of the hepatocytes remained consistently abnormal up to 16 weeks after the 3'-MeDAB treatment. There was no significant difference in the groups observed earlier than in the ones observed later. Many subcellular changes were observed : nuclear change, decreased glycogen, mitochondrial abnormalities, disaggregated rough endoplasmic reticulum, marked proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, dilatation and distortion of bile canaliculi, increased lysosomes, apoptotic bodies, migration of bile ductule cell. In the BHT treated group, the ultrastructural changes of hepatocytes were not significant, except for the lipid droplets and proliferated smooth endoplasmic reticulum among hepatocytes depending on the experimental duration. The various subcellular changes of 3'-MeDAB/BHT treated groups were simillar to those of the 3'-MeDAB treated group, but the degree of changes in the 3'-MeDAB/ BHT treated group decreased compared with those of the 3'-MeDAB treated group. These results suggest that dietary butylated hydroxytoluene has a protective/inhibitory effect on the hepatocarcinogenesis induced by 3'-methyl-4-dimethyl -aminoazobenzene.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.54-63
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the anatomical and ultrastructural responses of the oxyfluorfen-tolerant and -susceptible rice cultivars with barnyardgrass, a typical susceptible weed by oxyfluorfen and the herbicides having similar mode of action treatment. After the treatment of $10^{-5}M$ oxyfluorfen, the tolerant rice cultivars no showed the structural damage of leaf surface, but the susceptible rice cultivate was damaged in the wax and the susceptible barnyardgrass was even destroyed in the tissue irregularly. Also in the susceptible rice cultivars and barnyardgrass the thickness of leaf blade was greatly decreased. The anatomical change was not observed in the tolerant rice cultivars but epidermal cells, mesophyll cells and bundle sheath cells were badly broken in the susceptible rice cultivars and barnyardgrass and especially after 24 hours of the treatment the structure of susceptible rice cultivars was completely disintegrated. The irregularity of chloroplast shape and the distortion of chloroplast envelope were generally observed and the starch tended to decrease by oxyfluorfen treatment regardless of rice cultivars. Such a structural damage were appeared more badly in the susceptible rice cultivars and bamyardgrass than in the tolerant rice cultivars. By the treatment of diphenyl ether herbicides, the thickness of leaf blade greatly reduced in the order of oxyfluorfen > acifluorfen > bifenox > oxadiazon, and the susceptible rice cultivars showed more reduction than the tolerant rice cultivars. Especially, the susceptible rice cultivars showed that the leaf structure was badly broken down with damage epidermal cells and bundle sheath cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 1998

In order to understand the action mechanism of polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) to the cyst of Accnthcnloebc on the morphological basis, the cysts of four corneal isolates of Acanthanoebc were treated with minimal cysticidal concentration (MCC) of PHMB and their ultrastructural changes were examined by transmission electron microscopy. The most striking change of cysts treated with PHMB compared with normal cysts was the shrinkage of intracystic amoebae, which resulted in the separation of the plasma membrane of intracystic amoeba from endocystic wall. Subplasmalemmal lipid droplets became irregularly shaped . In severely damaged cysts, cytoplasm was aggregated and organelles were severely deformed. Cytoplasmic materials were leaked out through the damaged plasma membrane. Most cysts showed aggregation of nuclear chromatin material. Number of mitochondrial cristae was also reduced. Ecto- and endo-cystic walls were relatively well tolerated. Findings in the present study revealed that PHMB affected mainly on plasma membrane, but lesser on organellar membrane of intracystic amoeba. It seemed likely that PHMB might kill cystic forms of Accnthamoebc by similar mechanism in which this environmental biocide can damage the cell wall of Escherichia coli by binding with acidic phospholipids.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.211-221
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• 1999

The ultrastructural changes of cuticular surface, excretory and digestive organs of Anisakis simplex larvae chronologically recovered from experimental cats were observed with a SEM and TEM. The larva recovered from an experimental cat at 3 days post-infection (PI) retained the cuticular surface with regular transverse striations and a longitudinal groove on the lateral side of body. This finding suggests that the molting of the 3rd stage larva of A. simplex to 4th one occurred from the 3rd day after infection in cats. The excretory organ (renette cell) consisted of a large cell with numerous ductules ramified from the main duct, mitochondria and secretory granules in cytoplasm. Secretory granules in the renette cell of larvae recovered at 24 hours PI were round whereas those of control and larvae recovered at 6 hours PI were amorphous. Muscular esophagus and ventriculus also retained many secretory granules in the cytoplasm. The secretory granules in these organs of larvae recovered at $6\sim24$ hours PI were electron-dense and widely distributed whereas those of control worm were packed in a pocket and retained various electron densities. In the cytoplasm of intestinal epithelial cells, numerous fine glycogen particles and mitochondria were distributed. The chronological changes of secretory granules in renette cell, muscular esophagus and ventriculus seem to be related with the worm penetration into host tissue.