• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.10
• /
• pp.1606-1611
• /
• 2007

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dihydropyridine on laying performance and fat metabolism of laying hens. Five hundred and forty laying hens, 40 weeks old, were randomly allotted to three groups, each of which included four replicates of 45 hens. The groups were given a basal corn-soybean meal diet supplemented with 0, 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg dihydropyridine. Results showed that compared with the control group (0 mg/kg dihydropyridine), supplements of 150 and 300 mg/kg dihydropyridine increased egg production rate by 9.39% (p<0.01) and 12.97% (p<0.01), increased mean egg weight by 3% (p>0.05) and 4.8% (p>0.05), and improved feed efficiency by 9.54% (p<0.05) and 7.25% (p<0.05), respectively; The addition of 150 and 300 mg/kg dihydropyridine decreased percentage of abdominal fat by 35.4% (p<0.05) and 46.9% (p<0.05), decreased liver fat content by 32.4% (p<0.05) and 10.5% (p<0.05), increased HSL activity of abdominal fat by 39.64% (p<0.05) and 48.48% (p<0.05), increased HSL activity of liver by 9.4% (p>0.05) and 47.34% (p<0.05) and increased the content of cAMP in adenohypophysis by 14.67% (p<0.05) and 10.91% (p<0.05), respectively; The inclusion of 150 mg/kg dihydropyridine increased liver superoxide dismutase activity by 69.61% (p<0.05), and increased hepatic apoB concentration by 53.96% (p<0.05); The supplementation of 150 or 300 mg/kg dihydropyridine decreased malondialdehyde concentration of hepatic mitochondria by 30.90% (p<0.01) and 10.39% (p<0.05), respectively; Supplemented dihydropyridine had no significant effects on TG, Ch HDL-C and VLDL-C concentrations in serum; addition of 150 or 300 mg/kg dihydropyridine increased T3 levels in serum by 15.34% (p<0.05) and 11.88% (p<0.05) and decreased insulin concentration by 40.44% (p<0.05) and 54.37% (p<0.05), respectively. The results demonstrated that adding dihydropyridine had the tendency of improving very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) content in the ovary. It was concluded that dihydropyridine could improve laying performance and regulate the fat metabolism of laying hens and that 150 mg/kg dihydropyridine is the optimum dose for laying birds in practical conditions.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.93-101
• /
• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to observe the anti-diabetic effect and underlying mechanisms of Galgunhwanggumhwangryun-tang (GHH; Gegen-Qinlian-decoction) in the C2C12 myotubes. Methods: GHH (1.0 mg/ml) or metformin (0.75 mM) or insulin (100 nM) were treated in C2C12 myotubes after 4 days differentiation. The glucose uptake was assessed by 2-[N-(7-160 nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxy-d-glucose uptake by C2C12 cells. The expression of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and phosphorylation AMPK (pAMPK) were measured by western blot. We also evaluated gene expression of glucose transporter type 4 (Slc2a4, formerly known as GLUT4), glucokinase (Gk), carnitine palmitoyltransferase IA (Cpt1a), nuclear respiratory factors 1 (Nrf1), mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (Ppargc1a) by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: GHH promoted glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes. The expression of AMPK protein, which plays an essential role in glucose metabolism, was increased by treatment with GHH. GHH treatment tended to increase gene expression of Slc2a4, Gk, and Nrf1 but was not statistically significant. However, GHH significantly improved Tfam and Ppargc1a gene expression in C2C12 myotubes. Conclusions: In summary, GHH treatment promoted glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes. We suggest that these effects are associated with increased gene expression involved in mitochondrial biosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation, such as Tfam and Ppargc1a, and increased expression of AMPK protein.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.495-505
• /
• 2024

Gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon, LE) can mitigate obesity-induced skeletal muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-skeletal muscle atrophy effects of LE and the underlying molecular mechanism. C2C12 myotubes were pretreated with LE or shikonin, and active component of LE, for 24 h and then treated with 500 μM palmitic acid (PA) for an additional 24 h. Additionally, mice were fed a HFD for 8 weeks to induced obesity, and then fed either the same diet or a version containing 0.25% LE for 10 weeks. LE attenuated PA-induced myotubes atrophy in differentiated C2C12 myotubes. The supplementation of LE to obese mice significantly increased skeletal muscle weight, lean body mass, muscle strength, and exercise performance compared with those in the HFD group. LE supplementation not only suppressed obesity-induced skeletal muscle lipid accumulation, but also downregulated TNF-α and atrophic genes. LE increased protein synthesis in the skeletal muscle via the mTOR pathway. We observed LE induced increase of mitochondrial biogenesis and upregulation of oxidative phosphorylation related genes in the skeletal muscles. Furthermore, LE increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha and the phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase. Collectively, LE may be useful in ameliorating the detrimental effects of obesity-induced skeletal muscle atrophy through the increase of protein synthesis and mitochondrial biogenesis of skeletal muscle.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2021

Brown seaweeds have been shown to decrease blood glucose levels and improve insulin sensitivity previously. In this study, we investigated the effect of fucoidan, a complex polysaccharide derived from brown seaweeds, on glucose uptake to improve insulin resistance, and examined its mechanism of action in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We observed that fucoidan significantly increased glucose uptake and it was related to an increased expression of plasma membrane-glucose transporter 4 (PM-GLUT4) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Fucoidan treatment increased the activation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and the phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1tyr) compared with that of the control cells. Fucoidan also promoted the phosphorylation of Akt and protein kinase C (PKC)-λ/ζ compared to that of the control cells. Moreover, fucoidan significantly upregulated acetyl-CoA-carboxylase (ACC) and adenosine monophosphate - activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation. As a result, translocation of GLUT4 was significantly enhanced in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which significantly promoted glucose uptake via the PI3K/AMPK pathways. The elevation of glucose uptake by fucoidan was blocked by inhibitor of PI3K and inhibitor of AMPK in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These findings indicate that fucoidan might ameliorate glucose uptake through GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane by activating the PI3K/Akt and AMPK pathways in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Fucoidan is thought to be of high material value to diabetes treatments and functional foods.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.62-67
• /
• 2015

Myelophycus simplex Papenfuss is distributed over the northern Pacific and southern coast of Korea, and is a member of the brown algae family. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of M. simplex methanol extract on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Treatment with M. simplex methanol extract significantly suppressed terminal differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by a decrease in lipid droplet content observed by Oil Red O staining. Also, the M. simplex methanol extract significantly suppressed the triglyceride content of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with 300 and $500{\mu}g/ml$ of M. simplex methanol extract caused a 42% and 76% reduction in lipid droplet content, respectively. In order to understand the anti-adipogenic effects of M. simplex methanol extract, the changes in the expression of several adipogenic transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) ${\gamma}$-cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$, were investigated using immunoblotting. M. simplex suppressed the expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$, $C/EBP{\alpha}$, and $C/EBP{\beta}$ proteins compared with control. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that M. simplex methanol extract inhibits adipocyte differentiation and thus may have applications as a potential source for an anti-obesity functional food agent.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.720-728
• /
• 2011

Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used as a source food as well as a traditional folk medicine ingredient since ancient times. Aged black garlic is a type of fermented garlic and is expected to have stronger anticancer and antioxidant activities than raw garlic. However, the mechanisms of their inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis are poorly understood. In the present study, the effects and mechanisms of water extracts of raw garlic (WERG) and aged black garlic (WEABG) on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were investigated. Treatment with WEABG significantly suppressed terminal differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner as confirmed by a decrease in lipid droplet number and lipid content through Oil Red O staining, however WERG had no such effect. In addition, WEABG reduced accumulation of cellular triglyceride, which is associated with a significant inhibition of key pro-adipogenic transcription factors including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ (PPAR${\gamma}$), cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}$ (C/EBP${\alpha}$) and C/EBP${\beta}$. Taken together, these results provide important new insight that aged black garlic might inhibit adipogenesis by suppressing the pro-adipogenic transcription factors in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, and further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds that confer the anti-obesity activity of aged black garlic.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.209-214
• /
• 2019

Sargassum horneri (Turner) C. Agardh is a marine brown algae widely distributed in the North Pacific Ocean. It is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-atopic effects. In this study, we determined the effects of ethanol extract of Sargassum horneri (Turner) C. Agardh (EESH) on anti-obesity activities in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Our results indicated that treatment with EESH decreased the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by a decrease in lipid droplet content observed by oil red O staining. The concentrations of cellular triglycerides were also reduced in 3T3-L1 cells after treatment with EESH. Triglyceride content was inhibited by 13%, 16%, and 23% after treatment with 250, 500, and $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ of EESH in 3T3-L1 cells, respectively. Western blotting analysis showed that EESH suppressed adipogenic transcription factor expression in a dose dependent manner. Specifically, it suppressed cytidine-cytidine-adinosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT) /enhancer binding proteins $(C/EBP){\alpha}$, $C/EBP{\beta}$ and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $(PPAR){\gamma}$. This indicated that EESH could control the expression of adipogenic transcription factors and inhibit the differentiation of adipocytes. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that EESH showed anti-obesity effects and could have potential uses in the field of nutraceuticals.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.251-260
• /
• 2017

Platelet activation is essential at the sites of vascular injury, which leads to hemostasis through adhesion, aggregation, and secretion process. However, potent and continuous platelet activation may be an important reason of circulatory disorders. Therefore, proper regulation of platelet activation may be an effective treatment for vascular diseases. In this research, inhibitory effects of cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) on platelet activation were determined. As the results, cordycepin increased cAMP and cGMP, which are intracellular $Ca^{2+}$-antagonists. In addition, cordycepin reduced collagen-elevated $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ mobilization, which was increased by a cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibitor (Rp-8-Br-cAMPS), but not a cGMP-protein kinase (PKG) inhibitor (Rp-8-Br-cGMPS). Furthermore, cordycepin increased $IP_3RI$ ($Ser^{1756}$) phosphorylation, indicating inhibition of $IP_3$-mediated $Ca^{2+}$ release from internal store via the $IP_3RI$, which was strongly inhibited by Rp-8-Br-cAMPS, but was not so much inhibited by Rp-8-Br-cGMPS. These results suggest that the reduction of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ mobilization is caused by the cAMP/A-kinase-dependent $IP_3RI$ ($Ser^{1756}$) phosphorylation. In addition, cordycepin increased the phosphorylation of VASP ($Ser^{157}$) known as PKA substrate, but not VASP ($Ser^{239}$) known as PKG substrate. Cordycepin-induced VASP ($Ser^{157}$) phosphorylation was inhibited by Rp-8-Br-cAMPS, but was not inhibited by Rp-8-Br-cGMPS, and cordycepin inhibited collagen-induced fibrinogen binding to ${\alpha}IIb/{\beta}_3$, which was increased by Rp-8-Br-cAMPS, but was not inhibited by Rp-8-Br-cGMPS. These results suggest that the inhibition of ${\alpha}IIb/{\beta}_3$ activation is caused by the cAMP/A-kinase-dependent VASP ($Ser^{157}$) phosphorylation. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that inhibitory effects of cordycepin on platelet activation were due to inhibition of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ mobilization through cAMP-dependent $IP_3RI$ ($Ser^{1756}$) phosphorylation and suppression of ${\alpha}IIb/{\beta}_3$ activation through cAMP-dependent VASP ($Ser^{157}$) phosphorylation. These results strongly indicated that cordycepin might have therapeutic or preventive potential for platelet activation-mediated disorders including thrombosis, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, or cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.637-643
• /
• 2013

We have demonstrated that 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) isolated from Bacillus subtilis MORI could enhance the levels of adiponectin and its receptors in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which has been shown to be effective in lowering blood glucose levels and enhancing insulin sensitivity. DNJ was not toxic to differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes for up to a concentration of $5{\mu}M$. In terms of expression levels of adiponectin and its receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2), DNJ in concentrations as low as $0.5{\mu}M$ elevated both mRNA and protein levels of adiponectin and transcript levels of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2. In addition, DNJ increased phosphorylation of 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in a statistically significant manner. Finally, treatment with DNJ resulted in increased mRNA expression of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), which encodes for a glucose transporter, along with a significant increase in glucose uptake into the adipocytes based on results of a 2-deoxy-D-[$^3H$] glucose uptake assay. Our findings indicate that DNJ may greatly facilitate glucose uptake into adipose tissues by increasing the action of adiponectin via its up-regulated expression as well as its receptor genes. In addition, the glucose-lowering effects of DNJ may be achieved by an increased abundance of GLUT4 protein in the plasma membrane, as a consequence of the increased transcript levels of the GLUT4 gene and the activation of AMPK.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.25-40
• /
• 2024

Objectives: In the present study, we investigated the effects of clean-diabetes mellitus 3 (C-DM3), a herbal formula with Trichosanthis Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma, Crataegi Fructus, and Cinnamomi Cortex, on the pathological and serological symptoms of diabetes and its related molecular mechanisms in diet-induced obese mice. Methods: We prepared an obese mouse model using a high-fat diet for 8 weeks and then administered the C-DM3 extract for 4 weeks. The changes of pathological and serological biomarkers for diabetes assessment were measured in the mice and histological changes were observed in the liver and pancreas tissues. We also identified the main compounds in the C-DM3 extract using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and analyzed the molecular mechanism of the disease condition by network pharmacological analysis. Results: In the in vivo, the administration of C-DM extract to obese mice significantly reduced body weight gain, fatty liver symptoms, and muscle loss, and decreased the levels of fasting blood glucose, insulin, aspertate aminotransferase, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. In addition, C-DM extract significantly increased the phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1, protein kinase b (AKT), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, and glucose transporter 4 in all pancreatic and liver tissues, with inhibition of histopathological changes in obese mice. HPLC analysis identified hyperoside, berberine, epiberberine, columbamin, coptisine, coumarin, jatrorrhizine, and citric acid as the main compounds. In the network pharmacological analysis, the molecular targets of C-DM3 extract on obesity and diabetes were shown as the insulin, AKT, PI3K, and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways with the regulation of inflammatory molecules interleukin 6 (IL-6), jun proto-oncogene, and IL-1β, which matched our in vivo targets. Conclusions: Based on these results, C-DM3 extract is expected to be effective in improving obesity and preventing diabetic progression.