• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.149-155
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• 2008

The effects of noise stress response on hematological parameters (hemoglobin, hematocrit and MCHC) and plasma parameters (cortisol, glucose and albumin) in Korean rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli), a very important commercial marine fish in Korea, were investigated. These parameters were analyzed on fish exposed to an explosion of noise. There were no significant differences or trends in hematological parameters (hematocrit; control $29.7{\pm}4.8%$, experiment 32.0 35.5%; hemoglobin; control $6.5{\pm}0.7g/dL$, experiment 6.2 7.8 g/dL; MCHC; control $19.6{\pm}0.6g/dL$, experiment 19.9~22.2 g/dL). However, plasma cortisol and glucose exhibited significant differences from start to finish and displayed the following patterns (cortisol; control $180.7{\pm}35.4ng/mL$, experiment 247.0 444.5 ng/mL; glucose; control $32.5{\pm}6.3mg/dL$, experiment 50.5 109.0 mg/dL). In addition, the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mRNA expression and basal levels of various tissues (eye, gills, liver, intestine, skin and gonads) were investigated for the first time in this marine fish. When the Korean rockfish was exposed to explosive noise stress, the GR mRNA was expressed more in the gonads than in other tissues tested and was elevated significantly from two and four times in the liver and gills, respectively, after noise exposure.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.257-263
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• 2014

A mammalian cell renovates itself by autophagy, a process through which cellular components are recycled to produce energy and maintain homeostasis. Recently, the abundance of gap junction proteins was shown to be regulated by autophagy during starvation conditions, suggesting that transmembrane proteins are also regulated by autophagy. Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1), an ion channel localized to the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), is a sensory transducer that is activated by a wide variety of exogenous and endogenous physical and chemical stimuli. Intriguingly, the abundance of cellular TRPV1 can change dynamically under pathological conditions. However, the mechanisms by which the protein levels of TRPV1 are regulated have not yet been explored. Therefore, we investigated the mechanisms of TRPV1 recycling using HeLa cells constitutively expressing TRPV1. Endogenous TRPV1 was degraded in starvation conditions; this degradation was blocked by chloroquine (CLQ), 3MA, or downregulation of Atg7. Interestingly, a glucocorticoid (cortisol) was capable of inducing autophagy in HeLa cells. Cortisol increased cellular conversion of LC3-I to LC-3II, leading autophagy and resulting in TRPV1 degradation, which was similarly inhibited by treatment with CLQ, 3MA, or downregulation of Atg7. Furthermore, cortisol treatment induced the colocalization of GFP-LC3 with endogenous TRPV1. Cumulatively, these observations provide evidence that degradation of TRPV1 is mediated by autophagy, and that this pathway can be enhanced by cortisol.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.649-656
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• 2015

The protective effect of zinc against cortisol-induced cell injury was examined in rainbow trout gill epithelial cells. Cells exposed to cortisol for 24 h showed increased leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with zinc ($100{\mu}M$ $ZnSO_4$) reduced the severity of both LDH release and cell death as well as protected cells against cortisol-induced caspase-3 activation, indicating reduction of apoptosis. Cortisol-induced cell death, leakage of LDH, and caspase-3 activation were blocked by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist Mifepristone (RU-486), suggesting that cell injury was cortisol-dependent. In addition, we studied the effect of zinc on the expression of antioxidant genes such as metallothionein A (MTA), metallothionein B (MTB), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) during cortisol-induced cell injury. MTA, MTB, GST, and G6PD mRNA levels increased after treatment with zinc or cortisol, separately or in combination. Higher mRNA levels of MTA, MTB, GST, and G6PD were detected when cells were treated with $100{\mu}M$ $ZnSO_4$ and $1{\mu}M$ cortisol in combination at the same time compared to treatment with zinc or cortisol separately. Cells treated with zinc showed increased intracellular free zinc concentrations, and this response was significantly enhanced in cells treated with cortisol and zinc. In conclusion, zinc treatment inhibited cortisol-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis through indirect antioxidant action.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.734-741
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• 2019

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between plasma and salivary cortisol concentrations in beef cattle that were subjected to handling prior to sampling. Methods: Twenty-one Nguni cows of three age categories; 5 to 7 yr (n = 7), 8 to 10 yr (n = 6), and 11 to 13 yr (n = 8) were handled for five consecutive weeks. In the pen, a human avoidance test was performed and cattle responses to restraint in the chute and crush were observed. In addition, rectal temperature readings were taken and, faecal samples were collected and analysed for glucocorticoid metabolites. Through the handling and restraint process, excretory and vocalisation behaviour, as a sign of stress were observed and recorded. Thereafter, six cows were randomly selected and subjected to an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge. Blood and saliva samples were extracted to determine cortisol concentrations. Results: Repeated handling affected (p<0.05) faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, rectal temperatures, avoidance distance, crush scores as well as urination and defaecation behaviour. Acclimation to handling was variable based on each respective parameter. Saliva cortisol concentrations increased and decreased significantly (p<0.001). A peak value of $136.78{\pm}15.869nmol/L$ was observed 30min after administration of ACTH, from a baseline value of $8.75{\pm}15.869nmol/L$. Plasma cortisol concentrations did not differ (p>0.05) across the time of sampling. A low and insignificant correlation (r = 0.0131, p>0.05) between plasma and saliva cortisol was therefore observed. Conclusion: We conclude that if beef cows are subjected to handling prior to sampling, a weak relationship exists between plasma and salivary cortisol levels.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.853-860
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• 2011

We measured blood plasma parameters(cortisol, glucose, albumin) and glucocorticoid receptor(GCR) gene expression level of the Japanese eel(Anguilla japonica) exposed to an explosion noise for an hour in order to evaluate the effects of noise stress and to explore the possibility of these parameters as biomarkers on noise stress for one of this valuable aquaculture species. Plasma cortisol and glucose reached high levels with significant differences compared to the control group, whereas albumin showed a low value after 1 h of exposure. In addition, tissue distribution of GCR gene expression was studied by real-time RT-PCR of ten organs(brain, eye, gill, gonad, heart, intestine, kidney, liver, muscle and skin). Liver showed the highest level of expression in the control followed by gill, muscle and intestine. A time-course study revealed induction in liver, gill, muscle and intestine after 30 min or 1 h of noise exposure.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2010

The present study investigated the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mRNA as a stress response during salinity changes (35, 10, and 0 psu) and water temperature changes (from $20^{\circ}C$ to $30^{\circ}C$, $1^{\circ}C$/day) in black porgy. We cloned the full-length GR cDNA from the kidney and examined its expression in the gill, kidney, and intestine by quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR) during salinity and water temperature changes. During salinity changes, the levels of GR mRNA in the gill, kidney, and intestine were highest at 0 psu, and the levels of plasma cortisol and glucose were elevated, but triiodothyronine ($T_3$) decreased. Also, during water temperature changes, the levels of GR mRNA in the gill, kidney, and intestine increased at $30^{\circ}C$. Plasma parameters also increased with an increase in water temperature. Therefore, this upregulation of GR mRNA was a good indicator of stress, such as those resulting from changes in salinity and water temperature.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.163-171
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• 2016

Steroid hormone, glucocorticoid (GC) has strong anti-inflammatory effects by binding to glucocorticoid receptor (GR) inhibiting the expression of inflammatory genes. Therefore, agents that activate the GR have been used for the treatment of dermatitis. However, the agents have side effects such as skin barrier dysfunction and dermal atrophy, inducing skin damage as well as skin aging. It has been reported that GC is activated by 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 ($11{\beta}$-HSD1) to increase the activity of the GR. This study aimed to identify natural materials that can effectively inhibit dexamethasone. We found that alpinetin isolated from Alpinia katsumadai extract has a significant effect on this. Alpinetin not only inhibited $11{\beta}$-HSD1 expression, but also suppressed the increase of phosphorylated GR and cortisol concentration. Alpinetin also recovered collagen expression in dexamethasone-treated dermal fibroblasts, and the reduction of dermal thickness in dexamethasnone-treated 3D skin model. These results suggest that alpinetin prevents skin aging induced by the increase of $11{\beta}$-HSD1 expression.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.517-523
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• 2018

Elevated levels of cortisol caused by chronic stress may lead to neuron damage in the hippocampus by activating the glucocorticoid receptors (GRs). In cortisol-deficient animals, corticosterone is known to function as a stress hormone. In humans however, corticosterone is considered a precursor of aldosterone and a glucocorticoid with similar properties to cortisol. Recently, many studies have been conducted on the role of cortisol and other synthetic glucocorticoids like dexamethasone in humans, but the exact function of corticosterone is unknown. This study examined the viability of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells treated with various concentrations of corticosterone for 24 and 48 hr via MTT assay. The MTT-assay results showed that corticosterone had an antiproliferation effect on SH-SY5Y cells at higher concentrations (500 and $1,000{\mu}M$), while in lower concentrations ($100{\mu}M$), it showed no antiproliferation effect. Cytotoxicity analysis of extracts from three medicinal crops (Liriope muscari, Schisandra chinensis, and Wolfiporia extensa) revealed that they all possessed deleterious effects on SH-SY5Y cells depending on dosage. However, it was observed that, at a concentration of $500{\mu}g/ml$, Liriope muscari attenuated the corticosterone-induced antiproliferation on SY-SH5Y cells and restored cell growth after 48 hours of treatment. The study examined the synergistic effect of six mixtures each containing $500{\mu}g/ml$ of Liriope and various concentrations of Schisandra (50 or $100{\mu}g/ml$) and Wolfiporia (10, 30, and $50{\mu}g/ml$). The results showed minor growth-restoration activity but less than that of Liriope muscari only, suggesting that Schisandra and Wolfiporia had no additive or synergistic effects.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.148-152
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• 1994

The benign adrenal cortical adenoma usually secretes cortisol and its size is less than 3 cm in diameter. Though adrenal cortical carcinoma also secretes cortisol and other steroid hormones, its size is usually over 6 cm. We present a huge glucocorticoid producing adrenal cortical adenoma ($15{\times}11{\times}12 cm$), which was diagnosed by NP-59 scan and confirmed by surgery, with a review of the literature.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2018

Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a collection of symptoms caused by prolonged exposure to excess cortisol. Chronically elevated glucocorticoid (GC) levels contribute to hepatic steatosis. We hypothesized that histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) could attenuate hepatic steatosis through glucocorticoid receptor (GR) acetylation in experimental CS. To induce CS, we administered adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH; 40 ng/kg/day) to Sprague-Dawley rats by subcutaneous infusion with osmotic mini-pumps. We administered the HDACi, sodium valproate (VPA; 0.71% w/v), in the drinking water. Treatment with the HDACi decreased steatosis and the expression of lipogenic genes in the livers of CS rats. The enrichment of GR at the promoters of the lipogenic genes, such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Acc), fatty acid synthase (Fasn), and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (Srebp1c), was markedly decreased by VPA. Pan-HDACi and an HDAC class I-specific inhibitor, but not an HDAC class II a-specific inhibitor, attenuated dexamethasone (DEX)-induced lipogenesis in HepG2 cells. The transcriptional activity of Fasn was decreased by pretreatment with VPA. In addition, pretreatment with VPA decreased DEX-induced binding of GR to the glucocorticoid response element (GRE). Treatment with VPA increased the acetylation of GR in ACTH-infused rats and DEX-induced HepG2 cells. Taken together, these results indicate that HDAC inhibition attenuates hepatic steatosis through GR acetylation in experimental CS.