• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.209-215
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• 2003

This research was performed to investigate the effects of the supplementation of multi-extracts of mori folium (MF) and of exercise on blood lipid profiles and tissue differentiation in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The animal groups consisted of a normal-control group, a STZ-control group, three STZ-induced diabetic groups supplemented ad libitum with various amounts of MF extracts (MF-720, MF-360, and MF-180 groups), and a STZ-induced diabetic group supplemented with MF-360 combined with exercise; eight male Sprague-Dawley rats, 4 weeks old, were assigned to each experimental group and were raised in the laboratory for a 10 week experimental period. The MF supplementation group showed a significant reduction in levels of serum total cholesterol and triglyceride compared to the STZ-control group. HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly increased in the MF supplementation group compared to STZ-control group. The ratio of HDL-cholesterol to total cholesterol was significantly higher in MF supplementation group compared to the STZ-control group. The Atherogenic Index (AI) values in the MF supplementation groups were found to be significantly lower than in the STZ-control group. Serum AST and ALT levels were significantly reduced in the MF-supplementation groups compared to the STZ-control group. Total cholesterol level in the liver tissue was significantly decreased in the MF-360 group and in the MF-360 + exercise group compared to the STZ-control group. In immunohistochemical staining of the pancreatic islets of the MF-supplemented groups, a significantly higher number of insulin-immunoreactive cells were observed compared to the STZ-control group. In the MF supplementation groups, Bowman's capsules were clearly observed as hypertrophy of the glomeruli was not obvious. In the MF supplementation groups, a relative reduction in the hypertrophy of the basement membrane of the glomeruli and a significant reduction in the mesangium were observed compared to the STZ-control group. The results of this study suggest that supplementation of MF has beneficial effect in improving plasma lipid and tissue metabolism in streptozotocin-induced rats.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.161-166
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• 2012

The deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) protein mediates attractant responses to netrin during axonogenesis. In the rat trigeminal ganglia (TG), axons must extend toward and grow into the trigeminal nerve to innervate target tissues such as dental pulp. Our present study aimed to investigate the expression of DCC in the TG. Four developmental timepoints were assessed in the experiments: postnatal days 0, 7 and 10 and adulthood. RT-PCR and western blotting revealed that the expression of DCC mRNA and protein does not significantly change throughout development. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that DCC expression in the TG was detectable in the perikarya region of the ganglion cells during development. Nerve injury at 3 and 5 days after the mandibular nerve had been cut did not induce altered expression of DCC mRNA in the TG. Moreover, DCC-positive cell bodies also showed similar immunoreactive patterns after a nerve cut injury. The results of this study suggest that DCC constitutively participates in an axonogenesis attractant in ways other than expression regulation.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2002

Background: The molecular pathogenesis of hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma is well known to be associated with germ-line mutation in the RET proto-oncogene and sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma has been shown to carry somatic RET mutation especially in exon 13 and 16. The aim of this study is to evaluate the genetic background in the pathogenesis of the sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma which shows extremely high incidence in Korea. Materials and Methods: Direct DNA sequencing for RET exon 13 and 16, as well as immunohistochemistrical assay for a monoclonal RET antibody were performed from 20 cases of archival tissues of medullary thyroid carcinoma. Results: Monoclonal RET antibody with C-terminal epitope showed comparatively stronger expression in tumor cells than in normal tissues and immunoreactive area in the tumor was $66.0{\pm}40.1%$. Direct sequencing of RET exon 13 revealed 4 cases of mis-sense mutations in Codon 778, Codon 767, and both in Codon 768 and 778. One case showed a silent mutation (ACG-ACT) in RET exon 16 (Codon 926). Conclusions: The strong RET immunoreactivity of medullary thyroid carcinoma may suggest that there could be a genetic alteration in oncoprotein level. RET proto-oncogene mutation may be involved in the evolutional process of medullary thyroid carcinoma in the aspect of molecular basis.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.201-209
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• 2000

In association with the international validation program to establish a rodent uterotrophic assay, we conducted preliminary uterotrophic assay proposed by GECD using immature female rats. In the present study, oral and subcutaneous routes were chosen to compare the effects of estrogenic com-pounds in the two dosing regimens. The reference compound ethinyl estradiol (EE) and the antagonist ZM189154(ZM) were administered by gavage or subcutaneously (s.c.) to immature female SD rats from 20 to 22 days of age. For each study, sixty-six female rats were randomly assigned to eleven groups: Untreated control, EE 0,0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0,3.0 and 10.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg, EE 3.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg(gavage)/0.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg(s.c) & ZM 0.1 mg/kg, and EE 3.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg(gavage)/0.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg (s.c) & ZM 1.0 mg/kg. There were no treatment-related changes in clinical signs, body weights, food consumption, and necropsy findings in any groups of two studies. The wet and blotted uterus weights increased dose-dependently. Histopathological examination revealed that diameter of uterine duct, height of uterine luminal epithelium. and height oj vaginal epithelium increased dose-dependently. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactive cells were increased in number dose-dependently. The estrogenic effects observed in the present studies occurred at $\geq$ 0.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg of oral dose and $\geq$ 0.1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg of s.c. dose. An antagonistic effect of ZM against EE was found in both uterus weight and histopathological parameters. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that dose-dependence of the uterotrophic assay using EE and ZM was well demonstrated by gavage and subcutaneous administration and that the estrogenic effects of EE by s.c. dose were higher than those by gavage administration. In addition, blotted uterus weight was more sensitive than wet uterus weight and vaginal epithelial height was found to be the most sensitive parameter among the parameters examined.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.783-788
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• 2002

Bovine yolk sac at day 24 of pregnancy, and placental membranes (chorion and allantois) from days 70 and 100 of pregnancy were isolated and cultured in a modified minimum essential medium in the presence of $[^{35}S]$methionine. Proteins synthesized and secreted by isolated bovine yolk sac, chorion and allantois were analyzed by fluorography of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Serum-like proteins,transferrin, ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein, ${\alpha}$1-antitrypsin and ${\alpha}$1-acid glycoprotein,were the major protein products of yolk sac. A 21 kDa protein produced by yolk sac was identified immunochemically as retinol-binding protein (RBP). Chorion and allantios from days 70 and 100 of pregnancy were active in protein synthesis and secretion. Both chorion and allantois did not secret serum-like proteins but secreted a number of neutral-to-acidic proteins including RBP. Secretory proteins produced by the yolk sac, chorion and allantois may play important roles in the embryonic development and the successful outcome of pregnancy. Antiserum against bovine placental RBP was employed to the immunocytochemistry by immunoperoxidase method. Immunoreactive RBP was localized in epithelial cells and island-like cell clones of yolk sac. Immunostaining for RBP was detected in simple columnar epithelium of chorion and in simple squamous epithelium of allantois. In the present study, proteins synthesized and secreted by yolk sac at day 24 of pregnancy, chorion and allantois from days 70 and 100 of pregnancy were characterized In addition, RBP was localized in yolk sac, chorion and allantois by immunoperoxidase method. The immunoperoxidase method has been proven to be a very effective technique to identify the cellular source of protein synthesis in extraembryonic membranes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.79-83
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• 2011

Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease due to infection with Trichomonas vaginalis, and it can cause serious consequences for women's health. To study the virulence factors of this pathogen, T. vaginalis surface proteins were investigated using polyclonal antibodies specific to the membrane fractions of T. vaginalis. The T. vaginalis expression library was constructed by cloning the cDNA derived from mRNA of T. vaginalis into a phage ${\lambda}$ Uni-ZAP XR vector, and then used for immunoscreening with the anti-membrane proteins of T. vaginalis antibodies. The immunoreactive proteins identified included adhesion protein AP65-1, ${\alpha$-actinin, kinesin-associated protein, teneurin, and 2 independent hypothetical proteins. Immunofluorescence assays showed that AP65-1, one of the identified immunogenic clones, is prevalent in the whole body of T. vaginalis. This study led us to identify T. vaginalis proteins which may stimulate immune responses by human cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1568-1572
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• 2005

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), such as benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P), are toxic environmental contaminants known to enhance oxidative stress, production of pro-inflammatory and inflammatory cytokines. The present study was designed in order to determine whether wild ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) protect PAH-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. B(a)P (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment increased the distribution of immunoreactive cells for tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-\alpha$ and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in peri-portal triad region and immunoreaction was shown in the cytoplasm of macrophage. Pre-treatment with wild ginseng significantly decreased immune responses in the rats treated with B(a)p. The rats given 50 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks before B(a)P treatment had 1.39-fold and 1.5-fold inhibition of $TNF-\alpha$ and COX-2 positive reaction, respectively. Wild ginseng extract alone had no effect on the distributional changes. The SOD activity as scavenger enzymes after wild ginseng administration dose-dependantly increased compared with butylated hydroxytoluene, a general radical scavenger. These data likely indicate that wild ginseng extract may act as inflammatory regulator in conjunction with inhibition of oxidant dependent metabolic activation in environmental contaminants-induced hepatic inflammation.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.77-88
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• 2004

Acupuncture has been shown to have therapeutic effects on many mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse in human and animal studies. Maternal separation (MS) is a risk factor in the development of mood-related disorders such as depression. This study investigated the effects of acupuncture during MS by evaluating locomotion as behavioral markers of depression and by observing changes in c-Fos expression in the limbic system (hippocampus, amygdala and cingulate cortex) to elucidate the mechanism of the therapeutic effect. The employed acupoint, Shinmun (HT7), has been clinically used to treat mental disorders. MS for 7 days beginning on postnatal day 14 induced a significant decrease in locomotion, while acupuncture treatment at acupoint HT7 resulted in a significant increase in locomotion. c-Fos immunoreactive cells in area dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus were increased in the MS group, but significantly decreased in the acupuncture group. These findings suggest that acupuncture has an effect on the depression-like disorder caused by MS, possibly by modulating c-Fos expression in DC of the hippocampus.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.107-113
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• 1997

Antisera against the myotropic neuropeptide leucokinin I, originally isolated from head extracts of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae, have been used to investigate the distribution of the leucokinin I-immunoreactive (LK I-IR) neurons in the brain of the common cutworm, Spodoptera Iitura, during postembryonic development. The LK I-IR neurons are found at the larval stages (excluding first instar larval stage), pupal stages, and adult stage, of which the brains have been examined in this experiment. The number of the LK I-IR neurons in the brain increases from the second instar larva to the fifth instar larva which has about 32, the largest number in all postembryonic stages. Thereafter, the LK I-IR neurons begin to decrease in number. During the pupal stages, smaller number of LK I-IR neurons persist in the brains; 6 or 4. At adult stage the brain contains 8 LK I-IR neurons. The LK I-IR cell bodies are distributed in each dorsal cortex of both cerebral hemispheres in the second instar larva and through all the neuromeres of the brain during later larval stages, despite of being a large number of the LK I-IR cell bodies in dorsolateral neuromeres. At pupal stages, most of the LK I-IR cell bodies are found in the pars intercerebralis. Extremely small number of the LK I-IR cell bodies are localized in the pars lateral is. Adult brain contains the LK I-IR cell bodies in the pars intercerebralis and the middle cortex of the posterior brain. The LK I-IR nerve processes can be easily found in the neuropils of almost all the neuromeres in the brains of third, fourth, fifth and sixth instar larvae. Most of the LK I-IR nerve fibers in those brains are originated from the LK I-IR cell bodies located in the brains. The LK I-IR cell bodies which have very weak reactivities to the antisera do not show projection of the LK I-IR nerve processes in the brains.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3 s.39
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• pp.66-76
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to asses the etlect of Uncaria rhynchophylla (UR). one of the oriental herbs having a capability to block calcium channels, on affecting vestibular compensation (VC) in Sprague - Dawley rats. Animals were divided into a drug treatment group receiving, UR per oral for 10 days preceding unilateral labyrinthectomy (ULX) and a control group with saline ingestion, To evaluate behavioral changes. horizontal spontaneous nystagmus (SN) and roll head tilt (RHT) were recorded by a video camem with zoom lens in the course of vestibular compensation (VC). Immunohistochemical staining was performed by conventional ABC method to visualize cFos-like immunoreactive (cFLI) neurons in the medial vestibular nuclei (MVN) and cFLI cells were counted by image analyzer. Bodyweight was increased significantly, about 35g, by UR treatment for 10 clays before ULX. Compared with the control group, the drug group showed significant reduction of RHT 6 hrs after ULX as well as fast disappearance of SN at early stages of vestibular compensation. Also, recovery of the spatial and temporal cFLI expressions in the bilateral MVN was accelerated 24 hrs after ULX. These results suggest that Uncaria rhynchophyila has a beneficial effect to ameliorate vestibular compensation in unilateral labryinthectomized rats.