• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.54-60
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• 2016

Amomum cadamomum Linne (ACL) has long been utilized against the inhibited qi movement related diseases such as dyspepsia, acute gastroenteritis, vomiting and diarrhea in Korean medicine. We speculated that ACL could improve the metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes through removing the phlegm-dampness and promoting the qi movement or stagnation. This study was designed to investigate effects and molecular mechanisms of ACL extract on the improvement of adipocyte dysfunction induced by TNF-α in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Potential roles of ACL extract in the lipogenesis, inhibition of inflammatory cytokines and insulin resistance, were investigated in this study. Also, we examined the adipose genes and signaling molecules related to insulin resistance and glucose uptake to elucidate its mechanism. Our data demonstrated that TNF-α significantly incresed the release of lipid droplets and the production of MCP-1 and IL-6 from adipocytes. In gene expression, TNF-α reduced the expression of aP2, PPARγ, C/EBPα, GLUT4, and IRS-1 related to lipogenesis and insulin sesitivity, while TNF-α increased the expression of MCP-1 related to inflammation. In addition, TNF-α down-regulated the PPARγ and IRS-1 protein and up-regulated the IRS-1 Ser307 phosphorylation. These alterations induced by TNF-α were prevented by the treatment of ACL extract. Thus, our results indicate that ACL extract can be used to prevent from the TNF-α-induced adipocyte dysfunction through insulin and PPARγ pathways.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권10호
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• pp.1645-1653
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• 2018

The genus Acer contains several species with various bioactivities including antioxidant, antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties. However, Acer okamotoanum Nakai, one species within this genus has not been fully studied yet. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the anti-adipogenic activities of leaf extract from A. okamotoanum Nakai (LEAO) on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Adipogenesis is one of the cell differentiation processes, which converts preadipocytes into mature adipocytes. Nowadays, inhibition of adipogenesis is considered as an effective strategy in the field of anti-obesity research. In this study, we observed that LEAO decreased the accumulation of lipid droplets during adipogenesis and down-regulated the expression of key adipogenic transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ (PPAR ${\gamma}$) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ (C/EBP ${\alpha}$). In addition, LEAO inactivated PI3K/Akt signaling and its downstream factors that promote adipogenesis by inducing the expression of PPAR ${\gamma}$. LEAO also activated ${\beta}$-catenin signaling, which prevents the adipogenic program by suppressing the expression of PPAR ${\gamma}$. Therefore, we found that treatment with LEAO is effective for attenuating adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. Consequently, these findings suggest that LEAO has the potential to be used as a therapeutic agent for preventing obesity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Pathology Conference
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• 한국수의병리학회 2002년도 추계학술대회초록집
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• pp.146-146
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• 2002

Hepatic disease has been noted and reported for involvement various detrimental factors. Among many detrimental injury factors, alcohol has been noted for hepatitis, fatty liver, fibrosis, and hepatic cirrhosis. The purpose of this study is to develop animal model for hepatic fibrosis in pig with ethanol, and to search new anti-fibrogenic agent. Twelve male Landrace pigs were divided into 3 groups of 4 animals each. Group 1, 2 and 3 were fed with ceramic water only, ceramic water + liquid diet containing 20％ ethanol and normal tap water + containing 20％ ethanol for 12 weeks, respectively. At week 12, all pigs were immediately sacrificed for collection each tissue and blood. Serologically, serum ALT and AST levels were significantly reversed in group 2, comparing to group 3. They were normal range in pigs of group 1. Microscopically, macrovesicular lipid droplets and moderate necrosis were evident in the tap water + ethanol fed group 3. However, ceramic water intake group 1 showed normal. Moreover, in group 3, little fatty changes and mild necrosis were observed. Collagen fibers were detected in the spaces of surrounding periportal and interlobular areas in the group 3 of tap water + ethanol, but collagen synthesis and its thickness of fibrotic septa connecting portal tracts was markedly reduced in the group 2 of ceramic water + ethanol. In immunohistochemistry, myofibroblasts were detected in the ethanol and tap water treated group 3. No or a few myofibroblasts were observed in groups 1 and 2. CYP 2E1 was rarely detected in group 1 fed ceramic water. However, group 2 showed slightly activation of CYP 2E1 in the area of pericentral, while CYP 2E1 was significantly activated in group 3 fed tap and ethanol. Taken together above, alcohol fibrosis model in pig was established. Furthermore, ceramic water had an inhibitory and protecting ability for alcohol-induced hepatic damages.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.345-359
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• 2003

A number of toxicants have been incriminated as a causing hepatic disease. Among many detrimental injury, alcohol has been noted for hepatitis, fatty liver, fibrosis, and hepatic cirrhosis. The purpose of this study was to develop animal model for hepatic fibrosis in pigs fed ethanol, and to search for a new anti-fibrogenic agent via this model. Twelve male Landrace pigs were divided into 3 groups of 4 animals each. Group 1, 2 and 3 were fed with active ceramic water only, ceramic water + liquid diet containing 15% ethanol and normal tap water + liquid diet containing 15% ethanol for 12 weeks, respectively. At week 12, all pigs were immediately sacrificed for collection each tissue and blood. Serologically, serum ALT and AST levels were significantly reversed in group 2, as compared to group 3. They were normal range in pigs of group 1. Microscopically, macrovesicular lipid droplets and moderate hepatocellular necrosis were evident in the tap water + ethanol fed group 3. However, the active ceramic water treated group 1 showed normal architecture. Moreover, in group 2, mild fatty changes and necrosis were observed in hepatocytes. Collagen fibers were increased in spaces surrounding periportal and interlobular connective tissues in the group 3 of tap water + ethanol, but collagen synthesis and its thickness of fibrotic septa connecting portal tracts were markedly reduced in the group 2 of ceramic water + ethanol. Myofibroblasts were detected mainly in the interlobular connective tissues of pig liver of group 3 treated ethanol and tap water. Few to no myofibroblasts were observed in groups 1 and 2. CYP2E1 was not or rarely detected in group 1 fed ceramic water. However, group 2 showed slightly activation of CYP2E1 in the area of pericentral vein, while CYP2E1 was significantly activated in group 3 fed tap water and ethanol. Based on the above data, we believe that we have developed a unique alcohol induced fibrosis model in pig, which will be useful in developing anti-fibrotic agents and drugs. Furthermore, the active ceramic water used in our study had an inhibitory and may be protective against ethanol induced hepatic toxicity and fibrosis.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.177-186
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• 2005

The foregut epithelium of the last instar larva in the scarab beetle, Allomyrina dichotoma was observed with electron microscopes. The foregut epithelium of the scarab beetle larva is composed of a single-layered squamous absorptive cell. The luminal surface of the epithelium is covered with cuticular intima. The free surface of the squamous cell has a irregular array of microvilli 'brush border', while cell membrans close to the basal lamina are infolded and a lot of mitochondria are concentrated in those processes. The cytoplasm in the epithelial cells is well developed nucleus, mitochondria. And the basal region of cell contains large lipid-, protein droplets and numerous glycogen granules. The basal lamina is located between the basal membrane and muscle bundle, providing barrier between the epithelium and the hemolymph. The epithelium is surround by the subepithelial space and muscles. The subepithelial space, which is composed of fibrous connective tissue is innervated by many tracheoles and axon.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.13-30
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• 1983

[ $1-{\beta}-D-Arabinofuranosylcytosine$ ](ara-C), which is a pyrimidine nucleoside analog is cytotonic to mammalian cells in culture and is active in vitro and in vivo against a variety of DNA viruses. The precise mechanism of action of ara-C has not been determined, although ara-C is thought to act as an antimetabolite, interfering with the synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA). Cytosine arabinoside originally seemed to act principally by inhibiting the conversion of cytidine to deoxytidine, thus inhibiting DNA synthesis. But recent data suggest that effects upon DNA polymerase and effects via incorporation into DNA and RNA may well be of equal importance. The author have demonstrated the effect of cytosine arabinoside on the hepatocytes of albino mice treated with ara-C, observing changes in the cytoplasmic organelles of the hepatocytes. A total of 120 healthy male albino mice were divided into the control and ara-C treated groups. The animals of the ara-C group were given 10mg. per kg of body weight of mouse ara-C in physiological saline solution and the animals of control group were given physiological saline solution, intraperitoneally. After an administration of ara-C or physiological saline solution, the animal were killed at. interval of 6, 12, and 24 hours. The specimens, which were obtained from the left anterier lobe of the liver, were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and observed with JEM 100B electron microscope. The results were obtained as follow: A pronounced dilatation, sacculation and fragmentation of the cisterane of rough endoplasmic reticulum with dissociation of membrane bound-ribosomes, disaggregation of free ribosomes in the cytoplasm, proliferation of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum associated with depletion of glycogen paracles, atrophies of Golgi complex, production of numerous lipid droplets, and formation of antophagic vacuoles, multivesicular bodies and residual bodies are recognized in the hepatocytes of ara-C treated mice. Consequently it is suggested that cytosine arabinoside would induce a changes of the cytoplasmic organelles of the hepatocytes in albino mice.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.79-88
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• 1992

In order to identify the effects of the kainic acid in the retina kainic acid (120 nmol/$5{\mu}l$) were injected through the pars plana of the ciliary body into the duck eye ball at 7th day after hatching. The animals were sacrificed by decapitation on the 1st, 4th and 10th day after injection of the kainic acid. The specimen was processed for the light and electron microscopes respectively. The results obtained were as followings 1. The inner nuclear, inner plexiform and ganglion cell layers of the retina showed marked changes in all of the groups. 2. The cells in the inner nuclear layer showed marked degenerative changes of the organelles including the pyknoses and destruction of the nucleus on the 1st day after injection. These destructive changes of the cells were progressively disappeared until the 10th day after injection. 3. After injection of the kainic acid the neurites of the inner plexiform layer were swollen at the first, and thereafter those changes were gradually disappeared until the 10th day. 4. In the ganglion cell defected by the kinic acid, the enlargement and segmentation of the endoplasmic reticulum and pyknosis of the nucleus were-observed in all the groups, although the lipid droplets were only shown in the 4th day. From the above results, the evidence suggests that kainic acid gives to the toxic effect on the nuurons of the retina with exception of the photoreceptors.

• Development and Reproduction
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.19-29
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• 2012

The ultrastructural characteristics of germ cell differentiations during spermatogenesis and mature sperm morphology in male $Atrina$ ($Servatrina$) $pectinata$ were evaluated via transmission electron microscopic observation. The accessory cells, which contained a large quantity of glycogen particles and lipid droplets in the cytoplasm, are assumed to be involved in nutrient supply for germ cell development. Morphologically, the sperm nucleus and acrosome of this species are ovoid and conical in shape, respectively. The acrosomal vesicle, which is formed by two kinds of electron-dense or lucent materials, appears from the base to the tip: a thick and slender elliptical line, which is composed of electron-dense opaque material, appears along the outer part (region) of the acrosomal vesicle from the base to the tip, whereas the inner part (region) of the acrosomal vesicle is composed of electron-lucent material in the acrosomal vesicle. Two special characteristics, which are found in the acrosomal vesicle of A. ($S$) $pectinata$ in Pinnidae (subclass Pteriomorphia), can be employed for phylogenetic and taxonomic analyses as a taxonomic key or a significant tool. The spermatozoa were approximately $45-50{\mu}m$ in length, including a sperm nucleus (about $1.43{\mu}m$ in length), an acrosome (about $0.51{\mu}m$ in length), and a tail flagellum (about $46-47{\mu}m$). The axoneme of the sperm tail evidences a 9+2 structure.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.63-76
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• 1991

Butylated hrdroxyanisole(BHA), a widely used food additive phenolic antioxidant, is known to inhibit cancer formations inducible with a wide variety of chemical carcinogens including aflatoxin $B_1(AFB_1)$. Thus, in the present study morphological characteristics underlying the hepatoprotective effects of BHA against $AFB_1$ inducible ultrastructural changes of hepatocytes have been examined. The obtained results are as follows : 1 . Livers obtained from rats treated with $AFB_1$ in vivo have been examined with transmission electron microscope. Among the many hepatocellular structural aberrations induced by $AFB_1$ treatment, the nuclear chromatins were found to be distributed irregularly('cap formation') and the nuclear membrane was found to be partially segregated. Furthermore, there were many lipid droplets, hyperplasia of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, dialated rough endoplasmic reticulum and, lysosomes arrested at various stages of its development. 2. Also, when $AFB_1$ was given in vitro to hepatocytes which have been isolated from untreated normal rats and examined under scanning electron microscope, there were much 'blobbing' phenomena resulting from cytoskeletal disturbances. 3. However, in the liver obtained from rats pretreated with BHA and then give the $AFB_1$, the observed morphological aberrations were in much reduced extent. Similarly, the BHA-hepatocytes had much decreased severity in the $AFB_1$ inducible blob formations.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.97-117
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• 1992

In order to study process of spermiogenesis of the Korean greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai, the cycle of seminiferous epithelium was examined by the light and electron microscope and the following results were obtained based on the epithelial cell differentiation. 1. Spermiogenesis occurred from early July to mid-Octber, and spermatogenic activity was vigorous from mid-August to late September. Spermatocytes including spermatogonia were found to be degenerated in only July. It is deduced that the degeneration serves as the mechanism to regulate effective use of energy to prepare for mating and hibernating periods, and regulation of breeding cycle. 2. Spermiogenesis of the Korean greater horseshoe bat was divided according to differentiation of the cell structure, into Golgi, cap, acrosome, maturation and spermiation phases; Golgi, cap and spermiation phases were further divided into two steps of early and late phase respectively, and acrosome phase into three steps of early, mid and late phases, and maturation phase has only one step. Hence, the spermiogenesis consists of ten phases. The first research was done in this article on the changes of chromatin with nucleus, the time of appearance and disappearance of chromatin granules, in case of Korean greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai). Chromatin granule began to be condensed in late Golgi and the condensation proceeded to form an irregular mass of a electron-dense chromatin in a form of circular cylinder in the center of nucleus at the phase of maturation. Finally, the chromatin condensation proceeded and perfect nucleus of sperm with homogeneous density was formed when the sperm was separated from Sertoli cell. Therefore, appearance and disappearance of chromatin granules occurred in the period of time between late Golgi and maturation phase, The tail of sperm began to develop in early cap phase, Numerous lipid droplets were obseved in the cytoplasm of spermatids during the maturation phase, which seemed to be used as energy source necessary to make mature sperm during spermiogenesis.