• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.1_2
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• pp.175-182
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• 1997

LBD-001, a recombinant human interferon $\gamma$ produced by genetically engineered yeast as a host system, was intravenously administered to pregnant female rats (Sprague-Dawley) from day 17 of gestation to day 21 of lactation at dose levels.of $0.35 \times 10^6$, $0.69 \times 10^6$, and $1.38 \times 10^6$ I.U./kg/day. In vasopressin-treated group, vasopressin (5 I.U./kg/day) was intravenously injected only for 5 days of perinatal period. (1) No signicant changes by the treatment of LBD-001 were observed in the body weights, food and water consumption, feeding and nurshing behaviors, and the weights of main organs of mother rats. In vasopressin-treated group, no significant changes were observed except the decrease in the food consumption on day 18 of gestation and one case of abnormal offspring with bleeding spots on the skin. (2) No significant changes in the body weights, survival rates, locomotor activity, emotional development. and the motor coordination of offsprings (F1) by the treatment of LBD-001 were observed except the fact that increase of ambulation in the female offsprings of LBD-001 ($0.69 \times 10^6$ or $1.38 \times 10^6$ I.U./kg/day)-treated groups and the increase of rearing in the males of LBD-($1.38 \times 10^6$ I.U./kg/day)-treated group, and the increase of the weight of liver and ovaries in the female offsprings in the LBD-001 ($1.38 \times 10^6$ I.U./kg/day)-treated group were observed. Altogether, the results show that LBD-001 at the dose of $1.38 \times 10^6$ I.U./kg/day or less does not significantly affect the mother rats and their offsprings (F1) except the minor influences when treated during the perinatal and postnatal period.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.367-386
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• 2012

Objectives : The object of this study was to observe the effects of Gamioryung-san (GOS), which consists of 22 types of herbs, on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy rats. Methods : Three different dosages of GOS were orally administered once a day for 28 days from 3 weeks after STZ treatment. Six groups, each of 8 rats per group were used. Changes on the body weights, blood glucose levels, serum BUN and creatinine levels, urine volumes, and UAER were observed with changes on the kidney malondialdehyde contents and glutathione, dismutase and catalase contents. In addition, histopathology of kidney, pancreas, thymus and spleen were observed. The results were compared with antioxidant silymarin 100 mg/kg, of which the effects on STZ -induced diabetes and related complications are already confirmed. Results : As a result of treatment of GOS 800, 400 or 200 mg/kg for 28 days, STZ-induced decreases of body weights, hyperglycemia, atrophic changes of pancreatic islets with decreases of insulin-immunoreactive cells and decreases of glucagon -immunoreactive cells were inhibited dose-dependently. Increases in kidney weight, serum BUN and creatinine levels, urine volumes, UAER, vasodilated atrophic glomerulus and abnormal tubules were inhibited dose-dependently. Also increases of kidney MDA contents and decreases of GSH contents, SOD and CAT activities, decreases of thymus and spleen weights, and atrophic changes at histopathological observation were also inhibited. The effects of GOS 400 mg/kg showed similar effects to silymarin 100 mg/kg. Conclusions : These results suggest that 400 mg/kg of GOS retarded the STZ-induced diabetic nephropathies as similarly to silymarin 100 mg/kg, through modulations of oxidative stress and immune systems.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.7-13
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• 2014

Objectives : Anti-obesity drugs that have been developed so far have limited efficacies and considerable adverse effects affecting tolerability and safety. Therefore, most anti-obesity durgs have been withdrawn. We tried to develop anti-obesity agent by combinations from herbs that are used in food ingredients as well as in traditional medicines. Methods : The 80% (v/v) ethanol extracts from Bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescence) leaf (BL) and Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) and their 1:1 combination (BLSB) was evaluated on high fat diet induced obese mice compared to Omega-3 as a positive control. The mice were divided into six groups (n=5), one group fed a normal diet (ND), and the others fed a high fat diets for eight weeks. Two weeks after starting feeding the diets, the high fat diet groups were orally administered vehicle and Omega-3, BL, SB, and BLSB at dosage of 200 mg/kg/day for six weeks. All groups were assayed for body weights, food efficiency ratio, blood biochemistry parameters, and organic tissue weights. Results : BLSB group showed significant reductions in body weight gain and fat weights of liver and epididymal adipose tissue compared to BL or SB alone as well as control. Total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels significantly decreased, and HDL-cholesterol level increased. In liver tissue, macrovesicular steaotisis was remarkably improved and its fat cell size was also significantly decreased. Conclusions : These results suggested that a combination preparation of bamboo leaf and S. baicalensis has anti-obesity effect and have synergistic effect compared to bamboo leaf or S. baicalesis.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.368-375
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• 2020

Objectives: Some animal studies have reported that methyl mercury causes developmental toxicities such as placental and fetal weight loss, but the mechanism is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the developmental toxicities of methyl mercury, focusing on placental endocrine function and fetal growth retardation in rats. Methods: Positively same-time-mated female Sprague-Dawley rats were purchased on gestational day (GD) eight and treated with 0, 5, 10 and 20 ppm of methyl mercury (n=5) dissolved in tap water from GD eight through 19. During treatment, the drinking water (methyl mercury) intake and body weight of each pregnant rat was measured daily. On day 19, caesarean sections were performed and blood samples were collected. Developmental data such as placental and fetal weights, fetus numbers, and placental efficiency (fetal weight/placental weight) were also collected. Placental prolactin-growth hormone (PRL-GH) family, such as placental lactogen (PL) -Iv, II, and prolactin-like protein (PLP) -B, levels in serum were analyzed by ELISA. Also, placental tissues were assigned to histochemistry. Results: The mean cumulative methyl mercury exposure for the 5, 10, and 20 ppm groups were 2.37, 4.63, and 9.66 mg, respectively. The mean daily exposure of the 5, 10, and 20 ppm groups were 0.24, 0.47, and 0.97 mg, respectively. Maternal body weight increased in accordance with GD. There was no significant difference in weight gain among the experimental groups. Histopathologic changes were not observed in placental tissues among the experimental groups. However, mean placental and fetal weights were lower in the 10 and 20 ppm exposed groups compared to the control. Placental efficiency was also lower in the 10 and 20 ppm exposed groups compared to the control. Serum PL-Iv and II levels were lower in the 10 and 20 ppm exposed groups than the control, in accordance with the changing pattern of placental and fetal weights and placental efficiency. Conclusion: The inhibitory effects of methyl mercury on the serum levels of placental PRL-GH family such as PL-Iv and II may be secondary leads to the reduction of placental efficiency and fetal growth retardation in rats.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2000

Hershberger assay is known as one of the in vivo-short-term scrrning assays for endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), but this method is not a validated test system. In the present study, the establishment of Hershberger assay to detect EDCs was tried using a model substance, di(n-butyl)phthalate (DBP), a plasticizer for plastics. Thirty-six immature male rats were randomly assigned to six groups: DBP 0, 40, 200, and 1000mg/kg, a positive control (flutamide 20 mg/kg), and a combination group(DBP 1000mg/kg and testosterone 50 ug/kg). DBP and flutamide were administered by gavage to male rats from day 21 to 40 post partum. Testosterone was subcutaneously injected during the same period. We evaluated body weigth gain, weights of ventral prostate, seminal vesicle, and levator ani and bulvocavernous muscle, and serum concentrations of testosterone and lutenizing hormone in male rats. The weights of seminal vesicle and levator ani and bulvocavernous muscle of males receiving 1000mg/kg of DBP was significantly lower than controls. There was no effect of DBP-treatment on body weight gain, prostate weight, and hormone concentrations. In the positive control group, the weights of seminal vesicle and levator ani and bulvocavernous muscle of males receiving 20mg/kg of flutamide were significantly lower than controls. In the combination group, there was no effect of co-treatment of DBP and testosterone on all parameters effect against DBP. This method was found to be a useful short-term screening assay system for EDCs.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.425-432
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• 2000

Objective : It is well known that Gagamsojeokbackchool-san show antitumor effects and its activities are result from enhancement of immune function, we investigated the antitumor effects of Sambonggangyongbaneo-tang and its mechanism. Methods : We measured change of body weight, weight of immune organs (Spleen, Thymus), Liver, Kidney, tumor weight, cytotoxicity for investigation of antitumor effects of Sambonggangyongbaneo-tang. Results : 1. The body weight of mouse has no significant difference between control and sample groups. 2. The weights of immune organs (Spleen and Thymus) decreased significantly in sample groups. The weights of Liver and Kidney have no significant difference. 3. The tumor weights in mouse decreased significantly in sample groups and showed dose-dependent effect. 4. Cell viability of Sarcoma 180 has no significant difference in sample groups. 5. HeLa cell viability has no significant difference in low concentration, but it decreased significantly in high concentration. Conclusions : According to the above results, it could be suggested that Sambonggangyongbaneo-tang has prominant antitumor effects and cytotoxicity.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.385-391
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• 2008

This study was performed to examine the effect of 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB#118) on testis of male rats. PCB#118 (20 mg/kg/week) in corn oil was intraperitoneally injected to adult male rats for 2, 5, 8 weeks. The body and testicular weights were measured at 3, 6, 9 weeks of PCB treatment. The morphological changes in the rat testes were then analyzed by light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that PCB#118 caused significant change in the body weights and testicular weights. Moreover, the morphological studies that were conducted on the PCB-treated rats revealed that the number of spermatocytes and spermatids in their seminiferous tubules decreased than control group (LM). The nuclear membrane was damaged when PCB was administered to them for 9 weeks (TEM). These results suggest that the reproductive function of the adult male rats is sensitive to PCB#118, and that may affect the testicular morphology of adult male rats.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.344-353
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• 2013

The widespread pursuit for the thin physique may have detrimental impact on the wellbeing of the young generation, especially females. This study aimed to determine the effect of wanting very low body weight on dietary habits and psychological factors of female adolescents. Participants were 619 girls from 5 high schools in Kyeonggi, Korea. Information on dietary behaviors, psychological factors as well as current heights and weights and the desired weight for current height were obtained by questionnaire. Of total subjects, 38.1%, 35.5%, and 26.5% desired weights corresponding to normal (10~85 percentile), low (3~10 percentile) and very low BMI (< 3 percentile), respectively. The subjects who wanted to be very low weight had the average BMI of 18.57 kg/m2, which was significantly lower than $21.21kg/m^2$ of those who wanted to be normal weight (p < 0.001). The subjects who desired very low weight had significantly higher scores for depression symptoms (p < 0.05), while there were no differences in obsession to lose weight and obesity stress. Moreover, more subjects in this group had undesirable dietary habits such as eating fast foods more than weekly (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the desire for extreme thinness may lead female adolescents to have not only unreasonably similar obesity stress and obsession to lose weight but also higher depression symptoms, along with undesirable dietary habits. The findings suggest the potential harm from excessive weight concerns of female adolescents; thus efforts to teach this group about healthy weights are urgently needed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.171-173
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• 2003

Bisphenol A (4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol, C$\_$15/H$\_$16/O$_2$) is the monomer used in the manufacture of polycarbonate. Polycarbonate, in turn, is used in a wide array of plastic products, with new applications continuously being developed. Also it has been used to produce epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics for food container. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of bisphenol A on lactation period to dams and F1, Sprague-Dawley females were mated with on 2:1 ratio basis. Various doses of bisphenol A (0, 2, 20, 200, and 2,000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg) were daily administered to females for 21 days after parturition. Dams and offsprings were sacrificed at the time of weaning. The results were as follows, 2000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg of bisphenol A decreased the dams' body weight at post-partum 18 days and also 200 and 2000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg of bisphenol A decreased the body weight of neonates at the days of post-partum 21 days. Bisphenol A increased the relative weights of liver and spleen in male offsprings, depending on the doses. But female offsprings showed high relative organ weights of ovaries, and low relative organ weights of uterine in a some dose-response manners. High dose of bisphenol A induced low viability of neonates exposed during lactation period. The dams treated with bisphenol A showed prematured estrous stage. Bisphenol A was recovered about 21.2% average in serum of dams, and also in offsprings'. The results indicate that the bisphenol A induces estrous cycle during lactation period in dams, also reaches to the of offspring through breast milk. Thus bisphenol A exopsed to dams and neonates via lactation induces some estrogenic and toxic effects.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.141-152
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• 2011

Objective : This study was carried out to investigate the acute toxicity and safety of Insampaedok-san and Fermented Insampaedok-san. Methods : SPF ICR male and female mice were administered orally with Insampaedok-san and Fermented Insampaedok-san. of 0(control group), 1,250, 2,500 and 5,000 mg/kg. After single administration, we daily examined number of deaths, clinical signs, gross findings and changes of body weight for 14 days. Hematological parameters and isolated organ weights were determined after 14 days of administration. Results : No dead animal and no significant changes of body weights were found during experimental period. In addition, no differences were found between control and all of treated groups in clinical signs, organ weights, hematology, and other findings. Conclusions : Insampaedok-san and Fermented Insampaedok-san. did not show any toxic effects and oral $LD_{50}$ values of the extracts was over 5,000 mg/kg in ICR mice.