• Applied Microscopy
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.325-333
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• 2003

Fine structural characteristics of the heart tube and its cardiac muscle cells in spider, Araneus ventricosus are investigated by both of scanning and transmission electron microscopes. The heart tube of the spider is extended mid-dorsally along the anterior part of the abdomen, and is consisted of the thin outer layer of connective tissue (epicardium) and the thick muscle layer (myocardium). The myocardium in the spider has a typical fanlike spiral structure toward anterior part put across between the muscle fibers. Therefore, it did not give rise to the intima, and muscle cells are in direct contact to the hemolymph. The heart tube appeared to be three pairs of ostia and numerous hemocytes accumulated at the inner surface of the myocardial layer. Among several kinds of the hemocytes, the oenocytoids are the most predominant hemocytes accumulated along the myocardial folds which stretched toward heart lumen. The heart muscle cells are cross striated, branched, and multinucleated. They contain a lot of mitochondria, which provide for the continuous energy demands of the heart. Thread-like ganglion on the dorsal side of the heart tube gives off axons that innervate the heart muscle cells.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 1998

Ultrastructural study of the development of the atrioventricular (AV) node was studied by electron microscopy in human fetus ranging from 30 mm to 260 mm crown rump length, and compared with human adult. By 30 mm fetus, the right AV nodal primordium was located below the attachment of the right venous valve. The left AV nodal primordium was observed below the attachment of septum primum. The cytoplasm of the nodal primordia contained few mitochondria, and myofibrils. These cells were apposed to each other with occasional desmosomes. In 40 mm fetus, the AV node cells were poorly organized myofibrils, while working myocardial cells were well organized myofibrils with sarcomere. At 70 mm fetus, intercalated discs were developed in the working myocardial cells. At 100 mm fetus, the nodal cells contained a relatively clear cytoplasm with a few groups of myofibrils and mitochondria. By $140\sim200$ mm fetuses, the nodal cells were an increasing number of myofibrils and mitochondria and these were scattered throughout the cytoplasm. At 260 mm fetus, the nodal cells were small and contained a clear cytoplasm with sparse and poorly organized myofibrils and mitochondria. All major ultrastructural features which characterize the adult AV nodal cells were found in this stage. The working myocardial cells were larger and had a more compact cytoarchitecture than nodal cells. Zonula adherens or fasciae adherens type junction were not found between nodal cells, but they frequently observed between nodal and working myocardial cells.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.86-92
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• 2019

Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) has long been a challenge for clinicians due to its poor responsiveness to immunosuppressants, and rapid progression to end-stage renal disease. Identifying a monogenic cause for SRNS may lead to a better understanding of podocyte structure and function in the glomerular filtration barrier. This review focuses on genes associated with slit diaphragm, actin cytoskeleton, transcription factors, nucleus, glomerular basement membrane, mitochondria, and other proteins that affect podocyte biology.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.186-197
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• 1980

We attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of cold blood potassium cardioplegia [Group B] compared with that of intermittent aortic cross clamp with topical hypothermia [Group A] in each six dogs. The studies were performed under the extracorporeal circulation with moderate hypothermia by using Mongrel dogs. 1. In Group A [6], it was difficult to maintain the temperature below 20?. but in Group B [6], it was possible to maintain the temperature. 2. In blood pressure and myocardial recovery ability, Group B was more excellent than Group A. 3. There was no significant difference in Na+, Ca++ and Cl- between both groups, but in K+ level, Group A was mild decreased and Group B was nearly normal level. 4. In serum LDH level, Group A was higher than Group B, but in SGOT level there was no significance between both groups. 5. On electromicroscopical study, Group A showed severe change in mitochondria, but Group B was nearly normal view. Thus we suggest that cold blood potassium cardioplegia would be more effective than intermittent aortic cross clamp with topical hypothermia for myocardial protection in open heart surgery.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.204-210
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• 2014

The aim of this review was to understand the effects of ${\beta}$-adrenergic stimulation on oxidative stress, structural remodeling, and functional alterations in the heart and cerebral artery. Diverse stimuli activate the sympathetic nervous system, leading to increased levels of catecholamines. Long-term overstimulation of the ${\beta}$-adrenergic receptor (${\beta}AR$) in response to catecholamines causes cardiovascular diseases, including cardiac hypertrophy, stroke, coronary artery disease, and heartfailure. Although catecholamines have identical sites of action in the heart and cerebral artery, the structural and functional modifications differentially activate intracellular signaling cascades. ${\beta}AR$-stimulation can increase oxidative stress in the heart and cerebral artery, but has also been shown to induce different cytoskeletal and functional modifications by modulating various components of the ${\beta}AR$ signal transduction pathways. Stimulation of ${\beta}AR$ leads to cardiac dysfunction due to an overload of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in cardiomyocytes. However, this stimulation induces vascular dysfunction through disruption of actin cytoskeleton in vascular smooth muscle cells. Many studies have shown that excessive concentrations of catecholamines during stressful conditions can produce coronary spasms or arrhythmias by inducing $Ca^{2+}$-handling abnormalities and impairing energy production in mitochondria, In this article, we highlight the different fates caused by excessive oxidative stress and disruptions in the cytoskeletal proteome network in the heart and the cerebral artery in responsed to prolonged ${\beta}AR$-stimulation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate an effect of Mori Cortex in the cardiac injury following dermal scald burn in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced scald bum (15％ of total body surface area). Heart was removed at 5 h postburn and examined with biochemical assay, ultrastructural observations and stereological analysis. The activity of serum aspartate aminotransferase and creatinine was increased at 5 h postburn compared with them of control. Administration of heat extracts of Mori Cortex after scald burn inhibited the production of KC (neutrophil chemoattractant cytokine) and increased the activity of protein kinase C (PKC) in heart tissue. The activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in heart tissue was decreased both at 5 h postburn and in case of Mori Cortex administration after scald burn. Ultrastructurally, many contraction bands and separation of intercalated disk induced by scald burn were decreased by administration of heat extracts of Mori Cortex. In stereological analysis, administration of Mori Cortex after scald burn resulted the volume densities of myofibril and mitochondria were increased compared with them of burn control. These data suggest that Mori Cortex may be a useful stuff to the range of available treatments for cardiac injury induced by skin burn.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2002

To investigate an effect of bum on the cardiac function, we studied some biochemical assay, ultrastructural changes and stereological analysis in heart tissue. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced a 15% total body surface area scald burn. 5 and 24 hours later, the heart was excised. Burned rats showed the decrease of heart weight per body weight (%) compared with control. The activity of serum aspartate aminotransferase was significantly increased at 5 (p＜0.001) and 24 hours (p＜0.01) after burn compared with control. And the activity of serum LDH was decreased at 5 hours after burn but increased at 24 hours compared with control. Ultrastructurally, enlargement of interstitium and destruction of sarcolemma were observed at 5 and 24 hours after burn. Especially at 5 hours postburn, hypercontraction band was noted and at 24 hours, wavy fiber and muscle fraying were noted. In stereological changes, volume density of mitochondria and myofibril was significantly decreased at postburn 5 and 24 hours. But volume density of sarcoplasmic reticulum was significantly increased at postburn 5 hours. Our data suggest that dermal scald bum causes myocardial dysfunction.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.127-159
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• 1990

This study was investigated to elucidate the effect of chlorambucil on the heart in aging rats. Male rat ranging in age from 3 to 36 months were used. Each age groups(3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36 months) included control and chlorambucil treated rats. As a part of the study, the ultrastructural changes in the left ventricular myocardial cells were described by using the qualitative and morphometric techniques. The results are summarized as follows. Age associated ultrastructural changes included: an increase in vacuoles, protrusion of plasma membranes, lipid droplets, and lipofuscins in myocardium of control groups. These changes which begin to occur at 12 months and continue through 36 months. At the 36 months some instance of unusual formation of contraction band and separation of intercalated discs were encountered. Morever, these changes and contents with chlorambucil treatment were remarkably increased in comparison with control groups. Age-dependent changes of control group measured with morphometry were not observed in the volume densities of mitochondria and myofibrils. But there was increase in interstitium. On the other hand decrease in sarcoplasmic reticulum and T-tubule system. In chlorambucil treated groups, volume densities of mitochondria and interstitium were increased in comparison with those of the control groups. But sarcoplasmic reticulum and T-tubule system were remarkably decreased.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2020

Objectives : Mitochondria are typically known as intracellular double membrane-bound structures that supply energy for intracellular metabolism including Krebs cycle and beta-oxidation. Also, acupuncture has been known to stimulate the flow of energy. To explore the effect of acupuncture on the mitochondrial respiratory chain activities in rat's heart and kidneys, the activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I to IV were observed. Methods : The rats were divided into 11 groups; Normal (no acupuncture treatment and under anesthesia for 10 min), heart meridian five-transport-points (acupuncture treatment at HT9, HT8, HT7, HT4 and HT3 under anesthesia for 10 min), and kidney meridian five-transport-points (acupuncture treatment at KI1, KI2, KI3, KI7 and KI10 under anesthesia for 10 min). All rats were sacrificed and the heart and kidneys were examined for the changes of respiratory chain activities. Results : Acupuncture at HT7 increased the activity of succinate dehydrogenase; acupuncture at KI2 increased the activity of ubiquinol cytochrome C oxidoreductase; and acupuncture at HT9, HT8, HT3 and KI1 increased activities of cytochrome C oxidase. Conclusions : Acupuncture assists mitochondrial repiratory chain activity via the Cytochrome C oxidase signaling pathway in heart and kidney of rats.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.774-782
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• 2004

The water extract of Dancheonhwan (DCH) has been used to treat ischemic brain and heart damage in oriental medicine. However, little is known about the mechanism by which the water extract of DCH rescues cells from ischemic damage. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the protective mechanisms of DCH on the H₂O₂-induced toxicity in H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells. Treatment of H₂O₂ markedly decreased the viability of H9c2 cardiomyoblast in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The nature of H₂O₂-induced toxicity of H9c2 cells resulted from apoptotic death confirmed with genomic DNA fragmentation. DCH increased the viability of H₂O₂-treated H9c2 cells by about 23%, and partially suppressed the genomic DNA fragmentation and PARP cleavage. H₂O₂ also activated caspase-3 protease and -9 protease, but not both caspase-6 protease and -8 protease. H₂O₂ induced the mitochondria dysfunction, including mitochondria membrane permeability transition (MPT) and cytosolic release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, which was prevented in part by pretreatment of DCH. N-acetylcystein (NAC), a free-radical scavenger, alone increased the viability of H₂O₂-treated H9c2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the combination of NAC with DCH significantly increased the viability of the H₂O₂-treated H9c2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. These data indicate that DCH has the protective effect on ROS-induced apoptosis of cadiomyoblast H9c2 cells.