• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.207-213
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• 2003

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are orphan nuclear hormone receptors that are known to control the expression of genes that are involved in lipid homeostasis and energy balance. PPARs activate gene transcription in response to a variety of compounds, including hypolipidemic drugs. Most of these compounds have high affinity to the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of PPARs and cause a conformational change within PPARs. As a result, the receptor is converted to an activated mode that promotes the recruitment fo co-activators such as the steroid receptor co-activator-1 (SRC-1). Based on the activation mechanism of PPARs (the ligand binding to $PPAR{\gamma}$ induces interactions of the receptor with transcriptional co-activators), we performed Western blot and ELISA. These showed that the indomethacin, a $PPAR{\gamma}$ ligand, increased the binding between $PPAR{\gamma}$ and SRC-1 in a ligand dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that the in vitro conformational change of $PPAR{\gamma}$ by ligands was also induced, and increased the levels of the ligand-dependent interaction with SRC-1. Collectively, we developed a novel and useful ELISA system for the mass screening of $PPAR{\gamma}$ ligands. This screening system (based on the interaction between $PPAR{\gamma}$ and SRC-1) may be a promising system in the development of drugs for metabolic disorders.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.112-112
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• 2001

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is an environmental toxin that activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and disrupts multiple endocrine signaling pathways by enhancing ligand metabolism, altering hormone synthesis, down regulating receptor levels, and interfering with gene transcription. And TCDD-mediated gene transactivation via the AhR has been shown to be dependent upon estrogen receptor (ER) expression in human breast cancer cells. In the present study, we have examined the effect of natural estrogen, phytoestrognes and environmental estrogens on the regulation of CYP1A1 gene expression in MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. that ER and AhR are co-expressed. pCYP1A1 -luc reporter gene was transiently transfected into MCF-7 cells. These cells were treated with various chemicals and then luciferase assay was carried out. 17be1a-estradiol significantly inhibited TCDD stimulated luciferase activity dose dependently and this inhibition was partially recovered by concomitant treatment of tamoxifen. 17beta-estradiol metabolites, 2-hydroxyestradiol and 16alpha-estriol resulted in less potent inhibitory effect than estradiol and synthetic estrogen, diethylstilbestrol (DES) showed no effect on CYP1A1 gene expression. This study demonstrated that estrogen down-regulated TCDD stimulated CYP1A1 expression via ER mediation. And we have found out that several flavonoids such as genistein, kaempferol, daidzein, naringenin, and alkylphenols such as nonylphenol, 4-octylphenol and resveratrol also inhibited TCDD induced CYP1A1 expression like estrogen.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.323-328
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• 2006

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary betaine on egg production, estradiol, progesterone, and melatonin secretion in laying hens. Seventy two ISA-Brown laying hens were placed into individual cage and fed four different levels of betaine (0, 300, 600, 1,200 ppm) in diets for four weeks. Basal diets were mainly mixed with corn-soybean and contained 2,800 kcal/kg ME and 16% CP. Dietary supplementation of betaine showed significantly higher (p<0.05) egg weight and daily eggmass than controls, but did not have consistent influence on the egg production. The serum estradiol was statistically different in betaine treatments compared to that of control (p<0.05). No significant changes in serum progesterone concentrations were observed by the addition of betaine in diets. Serum melatonin concentrations also increased with betaine supplementation in diets (p<0.05). The results of this study indicate that the dietary betaine may contribute to increase daily eggmass, serum estradiol and melatonin concentration in laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.963-967
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• 2002

Eighteen crossbred goats were selected from the Institute's goat herd to determine the changes in hormones, blood metabolites and yield and composition of milk during lactation. The blood and milk samples were collected from each goat in a heparinized vacutainer tubes at fortnightly interval for a period of 150 days. In milk samples, fat, protein and lactose contents were estimated while in blood plasma hormones viz., prolactin, GH, cortisol, insulin, $T_4$ and $T_3$ were measured using radioimmunoassay methods. The plasma concentration of prolactin, GH and cortisol were high during early lactation when the goats acquired peak milk yield. During remainder of lactation their concentration varied. The high NEFA concentration during early lactation indicated mobilization of body reserves as the body weights also decrease during early lactation. However, with the advancement of lactation, the body weights of the goats and the concentration of NEFA declined which indicated utilization of NEFA for energy yielding purposes in addition to fatty acid synthesis. The ambient temperatures did not influence plasma concentration of prolactin, GH, insulin, $T_3$ and $T_4$ during the lactation cycle. The fat content of milk varied significantly (p<0.01) but protein and lactose content of milk remains unchanged during different stages of lactation. Growth hormone was positively correlated with insulin (p<0.05) during lactation while prolactin had a positive correlation with lactose and plasma NEFA (p<0.01) and negative correlation with $T_3$ (p<0.05).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.570-575
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• 2002

Effects of active immunization against native 14-mer somatostatin (SRIF, somatotropin releasing inhibiting factor) and its two 14-mer-somatostatin analogues on the milk production in rat mammary cells were studied. Native SRIF, Tyr11-somatostatin (Tyr11-SRIF), and D-Trp8, D-Cys14-somatostatin (Trp8Cys14-SRIF) were conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) for immunogen preparation. Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups and immunized against saline (Control), SRIF, Tyr11-SRIF, and Trp8Cys14-SRIF at five weeks of age. Booster immunizations were performed at 7, 9, and 11 weeks of age. SRIFimmunized rats were mated at 10 weeks of age. The blood and mammary glands were collected at day 15 post-pregnancy and -lactation. To measure the amount of milk protein synthesis in the mammary gland, mammary cells isolated from the pregnant and the lactating rats, were cultured in the presence of $^3H$-lysine. No significant differences in growth performance, concentration of growth hormone in the circulation, and the amount of milk protein synthesis were observed among the groups. Inductive levels of serum anti-SRIF antibody in the SRIF and Tyr11-SRIF groups but not in the Trp8Cys14-SRIF group, were significantly higher than that of the control group during the pregnancy and lactation periods. The result suggests that active immunization against native 14-mer SRIF and Tyr11-SRIF was able to induce anti-SRIF antibodies, but did not affect the milk protein synthesis.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.547-553
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of branch extracts of Vaccinium oldhamii (VOB) on melanin synthesis in B16F10 cells. VOB promoted melanin production in absence or presence of ${\alpha}$-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (${\alpha}-MSH$) in B16F10 cells. However, VOB did not affect the expression of tyrosinase and TRP-1 associated with melanin synthesis at the mRNA and protein levels in B16F10. But, VOB decreased TRP-2 protein level and induced tyrosinase activation in B16F10 cells. Inhibition of tyrosinase activity and tyrosinase knockdown attenuated VOB-mediated melanin synthesis. In conclusion, VOB may stimulate melanin synthesis through activating tyrosinase activity.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.290-300
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• 2011

Objectives: There is limited data regarding the toxicity of methylcyclohexane, despite its wide use in rubber adhesives, paint diluents, and cleansing agents. This study aimed to verify the toxicity and influence on the reproductive system of methylcyclohexane after its repeated injection in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Methods: Methylcyclohexane was injected subcutaneously into male and female SD rats once a day, five times a week, for 13 weeks at different doses (0, 10, 100, and 1,000 mg/kg/day) for each group. The toxicity of testing material was verified by observing the change in body and organ weight, hematological change, pathological findings, and effect on the reproductive system at each different concentration. Results: In the 1,000 mg/kg/day group, there were cases of animal deaths. In animals that survived, hematological changes, including a decrease in the red blood cell count, were observed. A considerable weight gain or loss and pathological abnormalities in the liver, kidney, and other organs were found. However, the 10 and 100 mg/kg/day groups did not cause deaths or other specific abnormalities. In terms of reproductive toxicity, there were changes in hormone levels, including a significant decrease in hormones such as estradiol and progesterone (p < 0.001) in male animals. Menstrual cycle change for female animals did not show concentration dependency. Conclusion: When injected repeatedly for 13 weeks, methylcyclohexane proved to be toxic for the liver, heart, and kidney at a high dose. The absolute toxic dose was 1,000 mg/kg/day, while the no observed adverse effect level was less than 100 mg/kg/day. The substance exerted little influence on the reproductive system.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate stimulatory effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on nuclear maturation and the expression level of EGF-receptor (EGFR), GM-130 (a marker of Golgi apparatus), transport protein Sec61 subunit beta ($Sec61{\beta}$), and coatomer protein complex subunit gamma 2 (COPG2) in porcine oocytes. The cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected from follicle with 3-6 mm in diameter. They were incubated in medium with/without EGF for 22 h (IVM I) and subsequently incubated hormone-free medium with/without EGF for 22 h (IVM II). Nuclear maturation state was checked by aceto-orcein stain. Protein expression of EGFR, GM-130, $Sec61{\beta}$, and COPG2 were measured by immunofluorescence. In results, nuclear maturation of oocytes in EGF non-treated oocytes were significantly lower than EGF-treated groups at IVM I or IVM II stage (P<0.05), whereas maturational rate in EGF treatment groups at both of IVM stage was higher in among the all treatment groups (P<0.05). EGFR, GM-130, $Sec61{\beta}$ and COPG2 were expressed in the cytoplasm of oocytes. Especially, GM-130 and EGFR were strongly expressed, but $Sec61{\beta}$ and COPG2 were weakly expressed in cortical area of cytoplasm. The protein level of GM-130, $Sec61{\beta}$, and COPG2 were significantly higher in the EGF-treated groups (P<0.05). However EGFR was no difference between non EGF-treated groups and control. In conclusion, EGF plays an important role in the systems for oocyte maturation with endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. In addition, the protein levels of $Sec61{\beta}$ and COPG2 could be changed by EGF in the porcine oocytes during maturation.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.147-162
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• 2015

Objectives: The objective of this review was to summarize the primary role of three representative endocrine axes in aquatic vertebrates and discuss the effects on endocrine systems and their interactions in teleost fish after exposure to environmental contaminants. Methods: We summarized individual traits and mechanisms for hormonal and transcriptional interactions between the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad (HPG), hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT), and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes in fish. We also provided a brief discussion on the effects of nonylphenol-induced toxicity on endocrine systems and their interactions in fish as a demonstration of holistic explanation. Results: Currently-available data showed that thyroid dysfunction is associated with reproductive toxicity due to changes in steroidogenic gene expressions and sex hormone levels as well as gonad glands in fish. As an example, we demonstrated that exposure to nonylphenol could induce estrogenicity in male fish by decreasing thyroid hormones, which contributes to increased aromatase expression. Although the mechanisms are complicated and involved in multiple ways, a number of studies have shown that sex steroids influence the HPT axis or the HPA axis in fish, indicating bi-directional crosstalk. Critically missing is information on the primary target or toxicity mechanisms of environmental contaminants among the three endocrine axes, so further studies are needed to explore those possibilities. Conclusions: This review highlights the interactions between the HPG, HPT, and HPA axes in fish in order to better understand how these endocrine systems could interact with each other in situations of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.258-262
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• 2001

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of chromium picolinate (CrP) on growth, carcass characteristics and serum metabolites in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 96 Landrace$\times$Yorkshire$\times$Duroc hybrid pigs, initial live weight about $38.12{\pm}00kg$, were randomly assigned to 2 groups (16 pigs per pen, 3 pens per group), each group had 48 pigs with an equal number of barrows and gilts. The pigs were fed the diet with or without $200{\mu}g/kg$ Cr from CrP. The results indicated that the addition of $200{\mu}g/kg$ CrP increased ADG by 3.58% and decreased feed conversion rate (FCR) by 3.00% compared to the control group. Pigs fed CrP had 7.58% (p<0.05) higher carcass lean percentage, 15.55% (p<0.05) larger longissimus muscle area (LMA) and 10.90% (p<0.05) lower back fat thickness, 15.17% (p<0.05) lower carcass fat percentage. In addition, the IGF-I level in serum was elevated by 79.20% (p<0.05), the Insulin and cortisol level decreased by 27.35% (p<0.05) and 34.58% (p<0.05) respectively with supplementation of CrP. Analysis of subcutaneous fat (10th rib) showed that the activity of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) increased by 79.58% (p<0.05) and the activities of isocitrate dehydrogenase (ISD) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) decreased significantly by 15.06% (p<0.05) and 54.53% (p<0.05) respectively in the $200{\mu}g/kg$ CrP group. The concentration of RNA, RNA/DNA in LMA increased by 31.89% (p<0.05) and 5.41% (p<0.05) respectively with the addition of CrP. These results suggest that CrP reduced fat deposits by decreasing lipogenic enzyme activities and increasing HSL activity and may have promoted muscle anabolic metabolism through elevated IGF-I levels.