• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.229-233
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• 2013

This study was aimed at investigating the possible effects of phytoceramide (Pcer) on learning and memory and their underlying mechanisms. Phytoceramide was orally administered to ICR mice for 7 days. Memory performances were assessed using the passive avoidance test and Y-maze task. The expressions of phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured with immunoblot. The incorporation of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) in hippocampal regions was investigated by using immunohistochemical methods. Treatment of Pcer enhanced cognitive performances in the passive avoidance test and Y-maze task. Immunoblotting studies revealed that the phosphorylated CREB and BDNF were significantly increased on hippocampus in the Pcer-treated mice. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the number of immunopositive cells to BrdU was significantly increased in the hippocampal dentate gyrus regions after Pcer-treatment for 7 days. These results suggest that Pcer contribute to enhancing memory and BDNF expression and it could be secondary to the elevation of neurogenesis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.103-109
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study aimed to investigate that dieckol - isolated from Ecklonia cava - supplementation can improve cognitive ability in mice. Methods : 48-male mice(6 weeks old) were divided into four groups; High-Dieckol group(n=12), Low-Dieckol group(n=12), Placebo group(n=12), Control group(n=12) and they were administered orally 5 days per week for 4 weeks at the same time. We performed Morris water maze test, Passive avoidance test, Blood serotonin analysis. And there was examined on neurogenesis in dentate gyrus of hippocampus using 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) to label proliferating cells. Results : The results are as follows; As a Morris water maze results, Trial duration was significantly decreased in high dieckol group comparing to placebo group and control group. Distance to target was significantly decreased in high dieckol group and low dieckol group comparing to placebo group and control group. Mean speed was significantly low in high dieckol group comparing to low dieckol group, placebo group and control group. As a Passive avoidance test results, latency time was significantly long in high dieckol group comparing to low dieckol group, placebo group and control group. BrdU cell count was significantly high in high dieckol group comparing to low dieckol group, placebo group and control group. Conclusions : As a conclusion, it is considered that dieckol supplementation might improve learning and cognitive ability.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.279-286
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• 2011

Hypoxic ischemia injury is a common cause of functional brain damage, resulting from a decrease in cerebral blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain. The main problems associated with hypoxic ischemia to the brain are memory impairment and dopamine dysfunction. Hypothermia has been suggested to ameliorate the neurological impairment induced by various brain insults. In this study, we investigated the effects of hypothermia on memory function and dopamine synthesis following hypoxic ischemia to the brain in rats. For this purpose, a step-down avoidance task, a radial eight-arm maze task, and immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) were performed. The present results indicated that the hypoxic ischemia-induced disturbance of the animal's performances and spatial working memory was associated with a decrement in TH expression in the substantia nigra and striatum, and an increase in cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Hypothermia treatment improved the animals' performance and spatial working memory by suppressing the decrement in TH expression in the substantia nigra and striatum and the increase in cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus. We suggest that hypothermia can be an efficient therapeutic modality to facilitate recovery following hypoxic ischemia injury to the brain, presumably by modulating the dopaminergic cell loss.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.21-32
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• 2004

Objective : Effect of treadmill exercise on hippocampal neural cell proliferation under normal conditions and alcohol intoxication conditions has been recently studied; however, this effect under sensory stimulation application has not clarified yet. In the present study, the effect of compression stimulation application on hippocampal neural cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus in normal and alcohol intoxicated rats was investigated. Methods : Experimental design: comparative investigation on number of 5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine(BrdU)B-positive cells in dentate gyrus 5 days after commencement. Setting: animal laboratory. Participants: male Sprague-Dawley rats of 3weeks old in age weighing $80{\pm}10gm$. Intervention: animals were randomly assigned into 4 groups; control-rest group(n=8), control-compression group(n=8), alcohol intoxication-rest group(n=8) and alcohol intoxication-compression group(n=8). Animals of the alcohol intoxicated groups were injected intraperitoneally with alcohol(2g/kg) twice per day for 3 days. All animals were injected BrdU(50mg/kg) intraperitoneally, and rats compression stimulation application groups were compressed using sphygmomanometer cuff times per day, for 5 days following alcohol administration. Measures: mean number of BrdU-positive cells in dentate gyrus was observed via immunohistochemistry. Results : Compression stimulation application significantly increased the number of BrdU-positive cells in the dentate gyrus. Also, treatment with alcohol for 3 days inhibited cell proliferation, and compression stimulation application alleviated alcohol-induced inhibition of new cell formation. Conclusion : These results suggest the possibility that compression stimulation application may help in improvement following alcohol-induced brain damaged.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.412-427
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was carried out to compare the effects of Eejin-tang, Hyangsaeejin-tang and Naeso-san extracts on indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal lesions in mice. Methods : Experimental mice were divided into six groups. The normal group had no gastro-inflammation. In the control group, gastro-inflammation was elicited by indomethacin. Misoprostol, Eejin-tang, Hyangsaeejin-tang and Naeso-san group were those in which misoprostol, Eejin-tang extract, Hyangsaeejin-tang extract and Naeso-san extract were administered after gastro-inflammation is elicited. This study examined the anti-inflammation effects and distribution of mucus secreting cells, zonula occludin-1 (ZO-1), heat shock protein (HSP) 70, periodic acid-schiff reaction stain (PAS), peanut agglutinin (PNA), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-${\kappa}B$) p65, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Results : 1. The hemorrhagic erosion and damaged mucus secreting cell, the positive reaction HSP70 increased in the control group, but decreased in the Eejin-tang, Hyangsaeejin-tang and Naeso-san groups. 2. The positive reaction of ZO-1, PAS, PNA, COX-1 and BrdU decreased in the control group, but increased in the Eejin-tang, Hyangsaeejin-tang and Naeso-san groups. 3. The positive reaction of NF-${\kappa}B$ p65, iNOS and COX-2 increased in the control group, but decreased in the Eejin-tang, Hyangsaeejin-tang and Naeso-san groups. Conclusions : Among the three extracts, the effects were in the order of Naeso-san, Hyangsaeejin-tang and Eejin-tang group, Naeso-san being the most effective.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.29-44
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Gentianae Radix on neurogenesis and apoptosis in ethanol- induced newborn rats hippocampus dentate gyrus. Methods : In vivo, laboratory animals were divided into three groups; Normal group(N), Control group(C) and Treated group (TG)(n=7 for each group). N were treated saline daily for five days. C were treated 1.5 g/kg ethanol and saline daily for five days. TG were treated 1.5 g/kg ethanol and 300 mg/kg Gentianae Radix daily for five days. BrdU(5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine) assay was used to test neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. And TUNEL(Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) assay was used to test apoptosis in the dentate gyrus. Three groups were measured body weight, serum ethanol concentration, BrdU-positive cells and TUNEL-positive cells in the dentate gyrus. In vitro, MTT(3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was used to test viability in SK-N-MC cells. BrdU assay was used to test neurogenesis in SK-N-MC cells. DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 enzyme activity assay were used to test apoptosis in SK-N-MC cells. And treated ethanol and Gentianae Radix of all in vitro tests were made various concentration. Results : In vivo, Gentianae Radix modulated ethanol-induced neurogenesis and apoptosis in newborn rats hippocampus dentate gyrus. In vitro, TG 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ have significantly modulated ethanol-induced neurogenesis and apoptosis in SK-N-MC cells. And only TG 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ have significantly protected SK-N-MC cells from ethanol-induced cytotoxicity. Conclusions : Gentianae Radix may have the effect that modulated ethanol-induced neurogenesis and apoptosis in SK-N-MC cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 1993

We performed bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) staining to observe the proliferation pattern of epithelial cells on the biliaJy mucosa in Clonorchis sinensis infection. Albino rats were infected with 100 metacercariae each and their livers were processed for histopathological observation after BrdU injection. Five to six sites in the liver of a rat were selected for paraffin section, and stained immunohistochemically to visualize BrdU incorporating cells. The flukes were mainly in the common bile duct and right or left hepatic bile ducts. The proportion of stained epithelial cells in the infected bile ducts where the worms were found on the section was 2.9-10.2% at 1 week after infection. 7.3-12.8% at 2 weeks, 7.3-13.4% at 5 weeks, and 8.4-14.8% at 15 weeks while in the non-infected ducts o to 2.7% cells were stained. The stained cells were mainly at the base of the mucosal layer. It is suggested that mucosal epithelial cells of the bile ducts infected with C. sinensis become hyperplastic mainly by direct and local stimulation of the worms.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.236-242
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• 2004

Cerebral ischemia resulting from transient or permanent occlusion of cerebral arteries leads to neuronal cell death and eventually causes neurological impairments. Bee venom has been used for the treatment inflammatory disease. In the present study, the effects of bee venom on apoptosis and cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus following transient global ischemia in gerbils were investigated using immunohistochemistry for cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), caspase-3, and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU). It was shown that apoptotic cell death and cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus were significantly increased following transient global ischemia in gerbils and that treatment of bee venom suppressed the ischemia-induced increase in apoptosis and cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus. The present results also showed that 1 mg/kg bee-venom treatment suppressed the ischemia-induced increasing apoptosis, cell proliferation, and COX-2 expression in the dentate gyrus. It is possible that the suppression of cell proliferation is due to the reduction of apoptotic cell death by treatment of bee venom. In the present study, bee venom was shown to prosses anti-apoptotic effect in ischemic brain disease, and this protective effect of bee venom against ischemia-induced neuronal cell death is closely associated with suppression on caspase-3 expression.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.15-30
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• 2011

Objectives : The present study investigated the effects of Achyranthis Radix on short-term memory, apoptotic neuronal cell death in the hippocampus following transient global ischemia in gerbils. Methods : The gerbils were divided into 5 groups(n=10); Sham operation group, ischemia-induced group, ischemia-induced and 50 mg/kg Achyranthis Radix-treated group, ischemia-induced and 100 mg/kg Achyranthis Radix-treated group, ischemia-induced and 200 mg/kg Achyranthis Radix-treated group. For this study, a step-down avoidance task, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) assay, immunohistochemistry for caspase-3 and BrdU(5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine), and western blotting for bax, bcl-2 were performed. Results : The results revealed that ischemic injury impaired short-term memory and increased apoototic neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA1(cornu ammonis area 1) region. Ischemic injury enhanced cell proliferation in the hippocampal CA1 region, the compensatory and adaptive process for excessive apoptosis. Achyranthis Radix treatment improved short-term memory by suppressing ischemia-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA1 region. Also, Achyranthis Radix suppressed the ischemia-induced increase in cell proliferation in the hippocampal CA1 region. Conclusions : We showed that Achyranthis Radix alleviates ischemia-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death, thus facilitates the recovery of short-term memory impairment induced by ischemic cerebral injury.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.36-47
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• 2010

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of skin application with Gelidium amansii extract on skin with deep second degree burns in mice. Methods: BALB/c mice were divided into four groups: normal (NOR) group; burn-elicited mice (CON) group, Silmazine-treated mice after burn elicitation (ST) group, and Gelidium amansii-extract treated mice after burn elicitation (GT) group. To examine the skin recovery effect after burn, changes of burn area, angiogenesis and histologic structure were analyzed. To measure effect of edema regulation, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was analyzed. To estimate the skin regenerative & stable effect, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) and substance P were analyzed. Results: 2 weeks later, 1. The size of burn area decreased in the GT and ST groups more than the CON group. 2. Alleviation of angiogenesis appeared in the GT and ST groups more than in the CON group. 3. Blood clot, epithelial cell hyperplasia, and inflammatory cell infiltration declined in the GT and ST groups more than in the CON group. 4. MMP-9, BrdU, and substance P positive reaction decreased in the GT and ST groups more than in the CON group 5. In the comparative study, the GT group was superior to the ST group. Conclusion: The skin application of Gelidium amansii extract could lessen skin damage by the medium of regulation MMP-9 activation. This skin stabilization was induced in mice with deep second degree burns.