• Applied Microscopy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.83-94
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• 1999

The ultrastructure of small arterioles and capillaries in the lumbrical muscles of rat digits were studied by electron microscopy and following results were obtained. 1. The diameter of small arterioles of rat digits were $12\sim20{\mu}m$, and it was relatively smaller than human $(30\sim35{\mu}m)$. 2. All the endothelial cells of small arterioles and capillaries in the lumbrical muscles of rat digits were continuous type, and they had typical morphological characteristics of continuous endothelial cells : numerous cytoplasmic pinocytic vesicles and many tight junctions between the endothelial cells. 3. In the small arterioles subendothelial layers were irregularly spaced beneath the basal lamina, and membrane to membrane contacts were found between the endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. 4. Pericytes were often found nearby capillary endothelium, and their cytoplasmic processes surrounded part of endothelial cells. They were enclosed by basal lamina. 5. Smooth muscle cells in tunica media of small arterioles were only one layered, that is, they were terminal arterioles. Sarcoplasm of smooth muscle cell was divided to 2 areas; homogeneous or filamentous area and non-homogeneous perinuclear area. 6. The tunica adventitia contained fibroblasts with extremely attenuated cytoplasmic processes and collagen fibirls.

• Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.106-116
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• 2020

Background/Aims Emerging evidence shows that the mechanism of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with neurotrophic factors and tight junction proteins (TJPs). It is known that there are sex differences in the pathophysiology of IBS. The aim of the present study is to determine expression levels of neurotrophic factors, TJPs, and cytokines according to IBS subtype and sex. Methods From 59 IBS (33 IBS-constipation, 21 IBS-diarrhea, and 5 IBS-mixed) and 36 control patients, colonic mucosa mRNA expression levels of transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1), nerve growth factor (NGF), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and various TJPs were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Western blot was performed to determine levels of zonular occludens-1 (ZO-1). Serum levels of cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results TRPV1, GDNF, and NGF mRNA levels were significantly increased in those with IBS-constipation compared to those in controls (all P < 0.05). However, they showed no significant difference between those with IBS-diarrhea and controls. Expression level of TRPV1 correlated with that of GDNF (r = 0.741, P < 0.001) and NGF (r = 0.935, P < 0.001). ZO-1 RNA expression levels were lower (P = 0.021) in female IBS-diarrhea than those in controls, although they showed no significant differences between male IBS-diarrhea and controls. Serum IL-1β levels in female IBS were significantly higher than those of male IBS, especially in IBS-constipation (P < 0.001). Conclusion Our results suggest that neurotrophic factors and IL-1β are closely related to IBS-constipation and that decrease of ZO-1 is an important factor in female with IBS-diarrhea.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.231-239
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• 2004

Cerebral microvessel endothelial cells that form blood-brain barrier (BBB) have tight junction for maintaining brain homeostasis. Occludin, one of tight junction protein, is crucial for BBB function. $H_2O_2$ induced occludin changes and effects in bovine brain BBB endothelial cells were examined in this study. The decrease of transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) by $H_2O_2$ was due to disruption of occludin localization. Cytotoxicity test revealed that $H_2O_2$ did not cause cell death below 1 mM $H_2O_2$ within 4 hr. $H_2O_2$ caused intermittent disruption and loss of occludin at tight junctions and occludin disappeared with dose dependent manner from tight junction in confocal laser microscopy. But Western blot revealed that the total amounts of occludin increased by $H_2O_2$ administration. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the ultrastructure of tight junction was not changed by $H_2O_2$. These data suggest that functional disruption of BBB by $H_2O_2$ was due to the localized loss of occludin in tight junction, but the expression of occludin increased in order to compensate the disrupted function in BBB.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.31 no.5 s.88
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• pp.525-534
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• 2001

Bone remodeling in response to force requires coordinated actions of osteoblasts, osteoclasts, osteocytes, and periodontal ligament cells. Coordination among these cells may be mediated, in part, by cell-to-cell communication via gap junctions. This study was designed to evaluate the expression of gap junction, connection 43 In periodontal tissue during the experimental movement of rat's incisors, by LSAB(labelled streptavidine biotin) immunohistochemical staining for connexin 43. Twenty seven Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a control group(3 rats), and 6 experimental groups(24 rats) where 75g of force was applied from helical springs across the maxillary incisors. Rats of experimental groups were sacrificed at 12 hours, 1, 4, 7, 14 and 28 days after force application, respectively. And the tissues of a control group and experimental groups were studied immunohistochemically. The results were as follows : 1. In control group, the expression of connexin 43 was rare in gingiva, dentin, cementum, periodontal ligament, and bone cells. 2. In experimental group, the expression of connexin 43 was increased in pulp, periodontal ligament, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts, comparing to that in control. And it was rare in gingiva, dentin, and odontoblasts regardless of the duration of force application, which was not different from that of control group. 3. The expression of connexin 43 in pulp of experimental group began to increase in 4-day after force application and got to the highest degree at 7-day. And it decreased after 14-day to be similar to that of control group at 28-day. 4. The expression of connexin 43 in periodontal ligament was noted in small capillaries adjacent to alveolar bone, showing higher intensity of immunolabelling after 4-day And it was stronger in the pressure side than in tension side of periodontal ligament. After 7-day, decrease in connexin 43 expression was observed. 5. The expression of connexin 43 in alveolar bone began to increase 1-day, reached to the highest degree at 4-day, and decreased at 7-day. And the expression in osteoclasts was more than that in osteoblasts or osteocyte at 7-day.