• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.944-952
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• 2009

Purpose : To investigate the effects of angiotensin II inhibition on the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the developing kidney, we tested the expression of EMT markers and nestin in angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor-treated kidneys. Methods : Newborn rat pups were treated with enalapril (30 mg/kg/d) or a vehicle for 7 days. Immunohistochemistry for the expression of ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (SMA), E-cadherin, vimentin, and nestin were performed. The number of positively-stained cells was determined under 100 magnification in 10 random fields. Results : In the enalapril-treated group, ${\alpha}SMA-positive$ cells were strongly expressed in the dilated tubular epithelial cells. The number of ${\alpha}SMA-positive$ cells in the enalapril-treated group increased in both the renal cortex and medulla, compared to the control group (P<0.05). The expression of E-cadherin-positive cells was dramatically reduced in the cortical and medullary tubular epithelial cells in the enalapril-treated group (P<0.05). The number of vimentin- and nestin-positive cells in the cortex was not different in comparisons between the two groups; however, their expression increased in the medullary tubulointerstitial cells in the enalapril-treated group (P<0.05). Conclusion : Our results show that ACE inhibition in the developing kidney increases the renal EMT by up-regulating ${\alpha}SMA$ and down-regulating E-cadherin. Enalapril treatment was associated with increased expression of vimentin and nestin in the renal medulla, suggesting that renal medullary changes during the EMT might be more prominent, and ACE inhibition might differentially modulate the expression of EMT markers in the developing rat kidney.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.991-995
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• 1996

Renal size(length, width and height) of rabbits was measured by radiographs and nephrosonograms and compared with actual size. After measuring on the radiographs and nephrograms, both kidneys were removed from the body and actual size was also measured. On radiographs, right kidney was observed at the T13-L2 vertebrae and left kidney was at L2-L4 vertebrae. On nephrosonograms, the renal cortex was visible as small, homogenous echoes that were hypoechoic relative to the surrounding tissues, whereas the renal medulla was anechoic to slightly hypoechoic. The actual length, width and height of the left kidney were $35.84{\pm}3.12(mean{\pm}SD)$, $23.52{\pm}3.21$, $15.11{\pm}2.58cm$, respectively, whereas those of the right kidney were $36.02{\pm}3.42$, $23.69{\pm}3.50$ and $14.13{\pm}3.55cm$, respectively. On radiographs, the length and width of both kidneys were a little magnified(102-104%) when compared to actual size. On nephrosonograms, the length, width and height of bothkidneys were lessened(70-96 %) when compared to actual size. The length and width of kidney were 1.85 and 1.25 times the length of the second lumbar vertebrae on the ventrodorsal view. In correlation and correlation coefficient of body weight with the renal size, the body weight and renal size were significantly correlated with each other other(p<0.01) and the correlation coefficents of body weight with left, right and both Kindneys were 0.748, 0.794 and 0.859, respectively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.879-887
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• 2019

This study investigated the localization and changes in the concentration of injected mercury in the kidney, liver, and spleen of mice. To evaluate changes in the concentration of mercury over time, the mice were euthanized 10, 150, and 300 days post-treatment. Localization of accumulated mercury was identified by the autometallography method. Mercury was densely located in the supranuclear cytoplasm of epithelial cells of proximal tubules of the kidney but was not detected in the glomerulus 10 days post-treatment. In the liver, mercury was mainly found in hepatocytes around the portal vein and in sinusoidal Kupffer cells 10 days post-treatment. Mercury was scattered throughout both white and red pulp of the spleen 10 days post-treatment. In terms of changes in the concentration of mercury, the levels were lower in the renal cortex and medulla 150 and 300 days post-treatment as compared with those 10 days post-treatment. Mercury was found at low concentrations in liver hepatocytes 150 and 300 days post-treatment. The mercury concentration was also low in both the white and red pulp of the spleen 150 and 300 days post-treatment. Therefore, the concentrations of accumulated mercury in the kidney, liver, and spleen 150 and 300 days post-treatment were lower than those 10 days post-treatment. We identified the localization of mercury in cells and tissues of several organs and observed that accumulated mercury in organs decreased naturally over time.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.249-255
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• 1996

In this paper, a in situ hybridization(ISH) has been used to investigate the yield of viral RNA expression from each organ tissues. It is studied to establish a rapidly, specific diagnostic method detecting rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus(RHDV) RNA in 10% formalin-fixed, paraffin-em-bedded tissues of naturally RHDV-infected rabbits using oligonucleotide probe to be made by RHDV total sequences. Biotin was used as the oligonucleotide probe marker. in situ hybridization is detected the virus genome in the cells and tissue as specifically compared with others nucleic acid hybridization method. All ISH procedure of RHDV were completed to Mi-croProbe$^{TM}$ capillary action system within 1-2 hours. In this report, RHDV was distributed widely in the cytoplasm of liver cell and the cortex of kidney but lung tissue and medulla of kidney were showed to positive reaction at locally. Although not entirely free of technical limitations, nucleic acid identification holds advantages over other diagnostic tests, including exquisite sensitivity, specificity, interchangeability and speed. It is expected that, in the immediate future viral nucleic acid detection will be a prominent part of the methods used in histopathology.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.1 s.26
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• pp.51-56
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• 1980

Phytolaccae Radix (PR), Brunella Herba (BH), Akebiae Lignum (AL) and Atractylis Rhizoma (AR) are some of the diuretic agents used in Chinese medicine and folk remedy. Water or methanol extracts of them (100mg/kg) were intravenously injected to rabbits in order to re-evaluate the effects on renal function. PR water extract elicited moderate diuresis while water extracts of BH, AL and methanol extract of AR had antidiuretic effects. Influence of PR on renal hemodynamics and $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity in rabbit kidney were observed in vivo and in vitro. The results were as follows: 1) Clearances of inulin and p-aminohippuric acid increased significantly after 15 minutes following the administration of PR water extract, but Na+ reabsorption rate was not changed. 2) The increase of $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity in renal cortex, outer and inner medulla was observed at 15 minutes after PR water fraction was given intravenously, and the change was most prominent in cortical area. 3) More than 50% of decrease in $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity in renal tissues was observed with PR water fraction $(10^{-2}g/ml)$ in vitro experiments. However, the inhibition of $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity was reversed with lower concentrations $(10^{-4}g/ml,\;10^{-6}g/ml)$ of PR water fraction in outer and inner medullary zone. These results suggest the diuretic effect of PR is due to improved renal hemodynamics, and contradictory reults concerning $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity require further investigation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.135-143
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to determine whether the methanol extract of Cassia mimosoides var. nomame Makino, a naturally growing plant in Korea, could prevent the renal-ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat model or not. Methods : The radical scavenging activities of the extracts, and ascorbic acid as a positive control, were measured in vitro. At one hour after an intraperitoneal injection of the extract (400 mg/kg), renal ischemia/reperfusion injury was generated by 40 min clamping of the left renal artery in rats. After renal ischemia/reperfusion and 24 hr restoration of blood circulation, the serum creatinine concentration was measured. And the extent of epithelial cell injury and apoptosis was assessed by various staining technologies. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and activated caspase-3 were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results : The extract showed a slightly lower level of radical scavenging activity than that of ascorbic acid. Compared to those of the vehicle-treated group, the extract-treated group displayed a significantly smaller tubular epithelial cell injury of 54% reduction in the outer medulla region and a lower serum creatinine concentration of 50% reduction. It seems that the reduction in cellular injury is due to the attenuation of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and the inhibition of caspase-3 activation by the extract of Cassia mimosoides. Conclusions : Cassia mimosoides var. nomame Makino could be a good candidate for a prophylactic agent against the ischemia/reperfusion/induced kidney injury.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.171-187
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• 1998

Garlic occupies a special position among the many foods of vegetable origin because it is the sole food for Koreans during the their lives. And vitamin A has been ingested by forms of food or additives. Cadmium has been described as one of the most dangerous trace elements in the food and environment of man and livestocks. Since the de novo synthesis of stress proteins can be detected early after exposure to some agents, analysis of cadmium-induced changes in gene expression , ie. alterations in patterns of protein synthesis, may be useful to develop as biomarkers of exposure and damage for food hygiene. He acute and chronic combine effects of cadmium (Cd, CdCl2 20mg/kg), garlic oil(Dds: diallyl disulfide 50mg/kg, 3 times a week) and vitamin A(Ra: retinol acetate 50,000 IU/kg, 3 times a week) on Wistar male rats were evaluated concerning cadmium contents, tissues enzyme activity, HSP expression histopathological and electron microscopical examinations. The results of the study are as follows ; 1. Less cadmium was absorbed through the digestive tracts, but the ratio of contents in tissue were not changed by the simultaneous adminstration of diallyl disufide or retinol acetate. 2. ALT(alanine aminotransferase) , AST(aspartate aminotransferase), glucose, BUN (blood urea nitrogen), creatinine, the key indices of the clinical changes in hepatic and renal function were significantly hanged by the cadmium treatment after 1 week in liver, after 4 weeks in kidney. 3. Histopathological changes in cadmium treated rats were appeared at 8 weeks age treatment in kidneys. Homogenous eosinophilic material was accumulated in cortical and collecting tubular lumens at 16 weeks. Degenerated or necrotized tubular cells were observed in cortex and medulla. Degenerated seminiferous tubules and homogeneous eosinophilic material was seen in interstitial tissue of rat treated with cadmium for 16 weeks. Calcium deposits were seen in degenerated seminiferous tubules and the tubules showed severe calcification of rat treated with cadmium for 16 weeks. Electron microscope changes in kidney were observed in rats treated with CdCl2 20 mg/kg. Proximal convoluted tubule cells showed selling of cytoplasm and narrow lumen. Capillary endothelial cells showed cytoplasmic vacuoles and swelling. Degenerated epithelial cells were accumulated in tubular lumen of kidney. 4. Enhanced synthesis of 70 KDa relateve molecular mass proteins were detected in 2 hours after cadmium, exposure, with maximum activity occurring at 8~48 hours. Induction of HSP 70 was evident at proximal tubules and glomeruli in kidney. Testicular cells produced enough HSP to be detected normally. From the above results, it could be concluded that HSP70 induction by the cadmium treatment was a rapid reaction to indicated the exposure of xenobiotics, and retinol acetate reduced the cadmium induced nephrotoxicity.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.91-105
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• 2002

Urea transport in the kidney is mediated by a family of transporter proteins that includes renal urea transporters (UT-A) and erythrocyte urea transporters (UT-B). The cDNA of five isoforms of rat UT-A, UTA1, UT-A2, UT-A3, UT-A4, and UT-A5 have been cloned. The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of UT-A (L194), which marked UT-A1, UT-A2 and UT-A4. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing approximately 200 g, were divided into three group: control rats had free access to water, dehydrated rats were deprived of water for 3 d, and water loaded rats had free access to 3% sucrose water for 3 d before being killed. The kidneys were preserved by in vivo perfusion through the abdominal aorta with the 2% paraformaldehyde-lysine- periodate (PLP) or 8% paraformaldehyde solution for 10 min. The sections were processed for immunohistochemical studies using pre-embedding immunoperoxidase method and immunogold method. In the normal rat kidney, UT-A1 was expressed intensely in the cytoplasm of the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cell and UT-A2 was expressed on the plasma membrane of the terminal portion of the shortloop descending thin limb (DTL) cells (type I epithelium) and of the long-loop DTL cells (type II epithelium) in the initial part of the inner medulla. Immunoreactivity for UT-A1 in the IMCD cells, was decreased in dehydrated animals whereas strongly increased in water loaded animals compared with control animals. In the short-loop DTL, immunoreactivity for UT-A2 was increased in intensity in both dehydrated and water loaded groups. However, in the long-loop DTL of the outer part of the inner medulla, immunoreactivity for UT-A2 was markedly increase in intensity in dehydrated group, but not in water loaded group. In conclusion, in the rat kidney, UT-A1 is located in the cytoplasm of IMCD cells, whereas UT-A2 is located in the plasma membrane of both the short-and long-loop DTL cells. Immunohistochemistry studies revealed that UT-A1 and UT-A2 may have a different role in urea transport and are regulated by different mechanisms.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2429-2435
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• 2012

Methyl isocyanate may have a role in cancer etiology, although the link is unclear. There is evidence in the literature that it can induce cancer in animals but the carcinogenic potency is weak. Pheochromocytoma of adrenal medulla and acinar cell tumors of pancreas have been observed in methyl isocyanate exposed animals. Conversely, emerging data from population-based epidemiological studies are contradictory since there is no evidence of such cancers in methyl isocyanate exposed humans. Recently, we reported a high prevalence of breast and lung cancers in such a population in Bhopal. In vitro findings appearing in the latest scientific literature suggest that genomic instability is caused by methyl isocyanate analogs in lung, colon, kidney, ovary epithelial cells, and that hepatocytes may undergo oncogenic transformation, have obvious implications. The conflicting information prompted us to present this update over the last three decades on methyl isocyanate-induced cancers after an extensive literature search using PubMed. While the pertinent literature remains limited, with a scarcity of strong laboratory analyses and field-epidemiological investigations, our succinct review of animal and human epidemiological data including in vitro evidences, should hopefully provide more insight to researchers, toxicologists, and public health professionals concerned with validation of the carcinogenicity of methyl isocyanate in humans.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2008

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important regulator of renal blood flow, glomerular hemodynamics, and tubule transport processes in the kidney. There is also evidence that NO is involved in cell cycle regulation and mitotic division. During development the nNOS expression pattern differs from that observed in adult animals. However, little is known about temporal and spatial patterns of nNOS expression in the developing kidney. The purpose of this study was to establish the time of expression and the distribution of nNOS in the developing rat kidney. Kidneys from 14-, 16-, 17-, 18-, and 20-day-old fetuses, 1-, 4-, 7-, 14-, and 21-day-old pups, and adult animals were preserved and processed for immunohistochemistry. In the adult kidney, nNOS was detected in the parietal epithelium of Bowman s capsule, macula densa, descending thin limb and inner medullary collecting duct. nNOS immunoreactivity appeared first in the distal tubule anlage at 15 days of gestation, and in all epithelial cells of developing thick ascending limbs (TAL) as well as macula densa of 17- and 18-day-old fetuses. From 20 days of gestation to 14 days after birth, nNOS was expressed in the newly formed cortical TAL, which are located in the medullary ray, whereas in mature TAL of juxtamedullary nephrons, nNOS immunolabeling gradually decreased in intensity and became restricted to the macula densa. In inner medullary collecting ducts, nNOS immunoreactivity appeared first at 7 days after birth in the papillary tip and gradually ascended to the border between outer and inner medulla. In the descending thin limb and parietal epithelium of Bowman's capsule, weak nNOS immunoreactivity was observed at 14 days after birth and labeling gradually increased to adult levels at 21 days after birth. These results suggest that differential expression of nNOS in the developing kidney is an important physiological regulator of renal function during kidney maturation.