• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1406-1415
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• 2013

The study was conducted to correlate the periparturient immune status in terms of neutrophil functions and cytokine expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cell culture with impending postpartum reproductive disorders in buffaloes. Forty pregnant buffaloes were observed for occurrence of postpartum reproductive disorders (PRD), i.e., metritis, endometritis and delayed uterine involution etc., during one week prepartum to four weeks postpartum period. A representative number (n = 6) of buffaloes that did not develop any PRD were included in group I (healthy, control), while the animals which experienced PRD were assigned into group II (PRD, n = 8). The blood samples were collected at weekly interval from one week prepartum to four weeks postpartum period considering the day of calving as 'd 0'. Differential leucocytes counts, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production activity in isolated neutrophils and the mRNA expression profile of cytokines i.e., IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-${\gamma}$ in PBMC culture were studied in all the samples. A higher total leucocytes, neutrophil and band cells count along with impaired neutrophil functions i.e., lowered level of production of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide before parturition and during early postpartum period were observed in buffaloes developing PRD. Further, a lower expression of IL-2, IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-4 mRNA in PBMC culture was observed at calving in buffaloes that subsequently developed PRD at later postpartum. Thus, suppression in neutrophil function and cytokine expression at prepartum to early postpartum period predisposes the buffaloes to develop postpartum reproductive disorders. Hence, monitoring of neutrophils function and cytokine expression profile would be effective to predict certain reproductive disorders at late pregnancy or immediately after parturition in buffaloes. In future, this may be a novel approach for determining suitable management and therapeutic decisions for prevention of commonly occurring reproductive disorders in farm animals.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.3.1-3.7
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• 2014

We examined the effects of Prunella vulgaris Labiatae (P. vulgaris L.) on specific and non-specific immune responses of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. The optimal concentration without toxicity of P. vulgaris was determined to $30-40{\mu}g/ml$ in vitro and $120{\mu}g$/100 g of fish in vivo. P. vulgaris significantly elicited an antibody titer compared to FCA or ${\beta}$-glucan. ${\beta}$-glucan plus P. vulgaris group synergistically enhanced antibody production. No significant difference in antibody production was observed between P. vulgaris and P. vulgaris plus ${\beta}$-glucan group. A respiratory burst activity of head kidney (HK) leucocytes of tilapia administered with 300 or $500{\mu}g$ P. vulgaris was significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced compared with the PBS-injected control group and FCA-treated group. Maximum increase in the NBT reduction value was observed in $500{\mu}g$ P. vulgaris group but no significant difference was found between 300 and $500{\mu}g$ P. vulgaris group. The level of serum lysozyme activity was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the 300 and $500{\mu}g$ P. vulgaris than $100{\mu}g$ P. vulgaris and FCA group. The phagocytic activities of HK leucocytes from tilapia administered with 300 and $500{\mu}g$ P. vulgaris were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than $100{\mu}g$ P. vulgaris and the control group. P. vulgaris was revealed with a good immunoadjuvant evoking the specific and non-specific immune responses of tilapia.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 1983

Commercial deerhorns were extracted in boiling water, the deerhorn extracts were per os introduced into rabbits, and then the effects of the extracts on the antibody productions aginst Escherichia coli antigens were investigated for 4 weeks. The experimental rabbits were divided into 4 groups ; control, only deerhorn, only antigen, and antigen plus deerhorn treated groups. The effects of the treatments were measured by counting the number of blood cells, weighing, and immunoelectrophoresis. The rabbits' body weights gained up to 185% in the deerhorn group, and the other groups gained nearly 120%. The numbers of red blood cells in the antigen plus deerhorn group increased somewhat. However, the numbers of leucocytes gradually increased after one week in the antigen group, and at 4 weeks increased up to 290%. In the antigen plus deerhorn group the numbers of leucocytes increased suddenly up to 189% at one week, but after one week the numbers recovered to normal state. Strangely in the deerhorn group the numbers decreased up to 40%. The amounts of serum globulin increased in the control after one week, but maintained about 130%. In the deerhorn group the amounts increased like the control, but after 4 weeks increased up to 175%. In the antigen group the amounts were not changed until 2 weeks, but after 3 weeks abruptly increased over 175%. In the deerhorn plus antigen group the amounts increased gradually up to 262% until 3 weeks, after 3 and 4 weeks the amounts did not increase. The amounts of serum .gamma.-globulin decreased in the control group, and in the deerhorn group and antigen group the amounts did not change until 2 weeks, but after 3 weeks abruptly increased over 175%. In the deerhorn plus antigen group the amounts increased gradually up to 262% until 3 weeks, after 3 and 4 weeks the amounts did not increase. The amounts of serum ${\gamma}-globulin$ decreased in the control group, and in the deerhorn group and antigen group the amounts did not change until 3 weeks, but after 4 week the amounts slightly increased up to 110%. However, the amounts in the deerhorn plus antigen group did not change until 2 weeks, but after 2 weeks abruptly increased up to 174%. The recognized immunoglobulins were IgG and IgM, and the enhanced immunoglobulin was IgG.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.259-269
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• 2006

Hemocytes of the spider Araneus ventricosus were investigated with histochemistry, density analysis of percoll gradient, and fine structural examinations using transmission electron microscope. The hemocytes of this spider were classified into two major groups: granulocytes and non-granulocytes. The granular hemocytes were subdivided into three subtypes according to their histochemical properties which are eosinophilic granuloctes(EGs), basophilic granulocytes(BGs) and cyanocytes. The EGs, which have small granules within the cytoplasm comprise about 5% of the total henocytes. However the granules of BGs are larger than those of HGs. The cyanocytes were characterized to contain hemocyanin granules in their cytoplasm. On the other hand, the non-granulocytes were divided into three subtypes; hyaline leucocytes, oenocytoids, and molting homocytes. The hyaline leucocytes are the most abundant and the smallest hemocyte type in this spider. The oenocytoids that have $10{\sim}15{\mu}m$ in diameter are mostly found at the marginal region of the myocardium in the heart tube. The molting hemocytes, which only appeared during the molting period, contains plenty of glycogen particles in their cytoplasm.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 2004

Interferons are kinds of cytokines that play an important role in antiviral defense mechanisms during viral infection by converting cells to synthesize proteins that inhibit viral replication. In the present study, an antiviral response against Spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) was developed in common carp, Cyprinus carpio following stimulation with the potent interferon inducer, poly inosinic : cytidylic acid (poly I:C). Poly I:C injected fish showed lower cumulative mortalities against SVCV than untreated fish did. Moreover, in vitro study showed that head kidney leucocytes (HKLs) produced an interferon-like cytokine (ILC) after stimulation with poly I:C. According cytopathic effect reduction (CPER) assay to examine antiviral activity of crude ILC, the capacity of HKLs for ILC production was highest at 1×$10^6$cells/ml and significantly enhanced when treated with 20~50$\mu{g}$/ml of poly I:C. The optimal temperature and concentration of FBS to induce the highest ILC production were $20^\circ{C}$ and 5%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.93-99
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• 1975

In order to compare the diagnostic value of Modified California Mastitis Test (MCMT), Modified Whiteside Test (MWT) and Resazurin Reduction Test (RRT) using the direct microscopic leucocyte count (DMLC) as standard, a total of 739 quarter milk samples were examined. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Of the 739 samples, 24.4% had positive DMLC value (over 500,000 leucocytes per mI.), 32.6% positive MCMT reaction, 34.9% positive RRT reaction and 39.9% positive MWT reaction. 2. The identical ratings of the three mastitis screening tests with DMLC values were 60.7% (MWT), 61. 8% (MCMT) and 72.1% (RRT). 3. The mean reaction values of the predicted mastitis screening tests were $1.09{\pm}0.01$ (MWT), $1.12{\pm}0.06$ (MCMT) and $1.25{\pm}0.40$ (RRT). The efficiency ratings of them were 34.8% (MWT), 49.3% (RRT) and 55.0% (MCMT) respectively.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.14-28
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• 1991

The present study was designed in order to clarify ultrastructural characteristies of the spermatogenetic process and to examine survival state of the spermatozoa introduced into the female reproductive tract after autumnal coitus in the Korean greater horseshoe bats(Rhinolophus ferrumeguinum korai). The general morphological characteristics of spermatogenesis were principally similar to those of the other mammalian species; acrosomal formation, flagellar formation, middle piece formation and concentration of the spermatozoan nucleus. The spermatozoa introduced into the vagina were found to be dead forming a vaginal plug, the opaque central core of which consisted of trapped dead spermatozoa. Some spermatozoa introduced into the uterus were observed to be phagocytized by the polymorphonuclear leucocytes infiltrated into the uterine glandular lumen. The oviductal epithelium, consisted of ciliated and secretory cells; the luminal surface of secretory cells were covered by a number of microvilli with well developed glycocalyx, suggesting a close relationship to nutrient (e.g. glycogen) supply for the spermatozoa during hibernation.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.346-351
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• 2003

Single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) was used to detect DNA single strand break in blood cells from several marine fish species. Three fish species were collected from Georgia coastal area. Mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus showed higher DNA damage than sea bass, Lateolabrax japonicus and trout, Oncorhynchus masou masou under the same experimental conditions. Mummichogs had more alkaline-labile sites on their DNA than other fish species. The comet assay with mummichog blood cells at pH 12.5 showed a dose-response curve with the increasing concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. While the isolated leucocytes showed no increase of DNA damage after in vitro exposure to 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (MNQ), erythrocytes showed dose-dependent DNA damage. These results indicate that the comet assay can be applied successfully as a bioassay using erythrocyte for environmental monitoring.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.63-65
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• 1972

It is well known that pharmacological actions of bradykinin are smooth muscle dilatation, increase in capillary permeability, accumulation and migration of leucocytes and inducement of pain. The most significant action of bradykinin is the dilatation of blood vessels. The responses of bradykinin (0.5ug/kg, i. v. injection) on blood pressure were observed before and after single i. v. administration of guanethidine (2mg/kg) in the rabbits. The result of experiment was as follows: In the rabbit pretreated with guanethidine, the depressor response of bradykinin was much pronounced in comparison with that of normal rabbit.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 1991

The general pharmacological tests with rhGM-CSF indicated that it had no influences on rotarod and locomotor activity tests, but shortened hexobarbital-sleeping time at the large dose of 3 mg/kg s.c. in mice. It elicited no hypothermic, analgesic and antiepileptic action. No influences on blood pressure and respiration in rabbits were observed at the dose of 1 mg/kg, i.v. and it did neither affect the receptors of adrenaline, acetylcholine, serotonin, histamine, kinin and oxytocin, nor antagonize the actions of histamine, serotonin and oxytocin at its concentrations of 1$\times$$10^{-6}$g/ml. However, this substance was demonstrated to stimulate the formation of leucocytes in rats.