• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.86-91
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• 2003

In this study, in order to examine whether salt and heat shock stress would alter or not contraction and relaxation of isolated rat aorta. Under anesthesia with sodium pentobarbital(50 mg Kg$^{-1}$ i.p.), male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 300-330 g were subjected to 0, heat shock combined salt stress, where as the sham group was left at modified Krebs-bicarbonate solution. To measure contractile response of vascular ring preparation isolated from rat was determined in organ bath and was recorded on physiograph connected to isometric transducer. And the strip was checked for expression of heat shock protein(Hsps) by means of western blotting. The combination group of heat and 50 mM NaCl group increased vascular contractility, and the heat and 150 mM NaCl group decreased vascular contractility for 5 hours, and then recovered for 8 hours compared to that of control. Expressin of Hsp 70 of vascular muscle of rat aorta more increased by combination of heat and NaCl treatment than those of single treatment of heat or NaCl treatment, and vascular Hsp 70 showed a little decrease at 8 hours compared at 5 hours. These result indicate that mixed environmental stress either increased or decreased in vascular contractility by combination of heat and NaCl concentration.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.175-188
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• 1991

A study was performed to investigate the effect of electrical stimulation on disused rat soleus muscle, of male rat. The animal's hindlimbs were immobilized 4weeks by plaster of paris, and stimulated with E. S. T for 4weeks (20min/day) The changes on soleus were examined with histochemical, histological, and morphometric method. The results are summarized as follows. 1. Disued atrophy group from immobilization, which margin of sarcolemma and myofibril in sarcoplasm were not cleared, also degenerated from necrosis with phagocytosis. 2. The numbers of nuclear were much increased and accumulation of nuclear were finded, and relatively muscular atrophic changed. 3. Increased inflammatory cyte, also finded neutrophil and macrophage. 4. Relatively atrophic changed from severe fibrosis by incleased connectivetissue. 5. The glycogen granules were much decreased in E. S. T group. It means that electrical stimulation effected the muscle exercise. 6, The activity of the NADH-TR reaction of E. S. T. Tgroup were white muscle group are transformed into red muscle fiber than normal group. 7. These results indicate that the electrical stimulation effected to soleus also prevention and delayed muscular atrophy.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.47-63
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• 1990

The purpose of this study was to determined the effect of low-frequency electrical stimulation on the denervated gastrocnemius muscles of the albino rats, Sprague-Dawley. Fifteen Sprague-Dawley adult male albino rats were divided into non-treated (normal) group, denervated (control) group, denervated and electrical stimulated (experiments). The gastrocnemius muscles of the right leg were submaximally stimulated with 30 Hz electrical stimulation. After 4-week period, the animals were sacrificed, and muscle were removed, fixed by immersion, and processed for light and electron microscopy. The numbers of Ag-NOR increased significantly (p<0.001), but significant reductions of girth(p<0.01), wet muscle weight (p<0.001), high glycogen content fiber (p<0.01), and mitochondrial number (p<0.05) were found in denervated control group. In comparison with control group, significant increase of right leg girth (p<0.05), wet muscle weight (p<0.001), high glycogen content fiber (p<0.05), numbers of Ag-NOR(p<0.001), number of mitochondria (p<0.01), mitochondrial volume found in electrical stimulated experimental group. The results suggest that the electrical stimulation of the muscle partially prevented the denervated atrophy in the rat gastrocnemius muscles.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.293-299
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• 2006

The aim of present study was to investigate the possible influence of Rho-kinase inhibition on the plant-derived estrogen-like compounds-induced arterial relaxation. Agonist- or depolarization-induced vascular smooth muscle contractions involve the activation of Rho-kinase pathway. However there are no reports addressing the question whether this pathway is involved in genistein-or daidzein-induced vascular relaxation in rat aortae precontracted with phenylephrine or thromboxane $A_2$ mimetic U-46619. We hypothesized that Rho-kinase inhibition plays a role in vascular relaxation evoked by genistein or daidzein in rat aortae. Endothelium-intact and denuded arterial rings from male Sprague-Dawley rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded using a computerized data acquisition system. Genistein concentration-dependently inhibited phenylephrine or thromboxane $A_2-induced$ contraction regardless of endothelial function. Surprisingly, in the agonists-induced contraction, similar results were also observed in aortae treated with daidzein, the inactive congener for protein tyrosine kinase inhibition, suggesting that Rho-kinase might act upstream of tyrosine kinases in phenylephrine-induced contraction. In conclusion, in the agonists-precontracted rat aortae, genistein and daidzein showed similar relaxant response regardless of tyrosine kinase inhibition or endothelial function.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2022

Background: There is still unmet need in treating neuropathic pain and increasing awareness regarding the use of drug combinations to increase the effectiveness of treatment and reduce adverse effects in patients with neuropathic pain. Methods: This study was performed to determine the individual and combined effects of pregabalin, tianeptine, and clopidogrel in a rat model of neuropathic pain. The model was created by ligation of the L5-L6 spinal nerve in male Sprague-Dawley rats; mechanical allodynia was confirmed using von Frey filaments. Drugs were administered to the intrathecal space and mechanical allodynia was assessed; drug interactions were estimated by isobolographic or fixed-dose analyses. Results: Intrathecal pregabalin and tianeptine increased the mechanical withdrawal threshold in a dose-dependent manner, but intrathecal clopidogrel had little effect on the mechanical withdrawal threshold. An additive effect was noted between pregabalin and tianeptine, but not between pregabalin and clopidogrel. Conclusions: These findings suggest that intrathecal coadministration of pregabalin and tianeptine effectively attenuated mechanical allodynia in the rat model of neuropathic pain. Thus, pregabalin plus tianeptine may be a valid option to enhance the efficacy of neuropathic pain treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of melatonin and selenium in freezing extenders on frozen-thawed rat sperm. Methods: Semen samples were collected from 20 adult male Wistar albino rats. Following dilution, the samples were divided into six groups: four cryopreserved groups with 1 mM and 0.5 mM melatonin and selenium supplements, and two fresh and cryopreserved control groups. The rapid freezing technique was used to freeze the samples. Flow cytometry was used to assess plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and DNA damage, while computer-assisted sperm analysis was used to assess motility. Results: Total motility was higher in the 1 mM melatonin supplementation group than in the cryopreserved control group (mean±standard error of the mean, 69.89±3.05 vs. 59.21±1.31; p≤0.05). The group with 1 mM selenium had the highest plasma membrane integrity (42.35%±1.01%). The cryopreserved group with 0.5 mM selenium had the highest mitochondrial membrane potential, whereas the cryopreserved control group had the lowest (45.92%±4.53% and 39.45%±3.52%, respectively). Conclusion: Cryopreservation of rat semen supplemented with 1 mM melatonin increased sperm motility after freeze-thawing, while supplementation with 0.5 mM selenium increased mitochondrial activity.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.272-280
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study was to observe effects of manual acupuncture(MA), electro-acupuncture(EA) and moxibustion (MO) on the rat with loperamide-induced constipation. Methods : This study measured small intestinal motility and number of fecal pellets in rats with loperamide induced constipation. MA and EA(intensity, 5 times muscle twitch threshold) was applied for 30 minutes and MO was treated on 5 times moxa cautery to the groups divided with age and sex. Results : The small intestinal motility was decreased by ST36 EA and ST37 EA in 5 weeks male group and ST37 EA in 7 weeks male and female groups, and ST36 MO in 7 weeks female group, but it was increased by ST39 EA in 7 weeks male group and ST37 MO and ST39 MO in 7 weeks male group. The number of fecal pellets was decreased by MA, EA, MO of ST36 in all group except 5, 7 weeks male groups only, and MA, EA of ST37 in 5, 7 weeks male group and ST37 MO in 7 weeks female group, and ST39 EA in 5 weeks male group and 7 weeks female group and ST39 MO in 7 weeks female group, but increased by ST37 EA in 5 weeks female group and ST39 EA in 7 weeks male group. Conclusions : Although these differences do not have a established tendency, it suggests that acupuncture and moxibustion are experimentally dependent upon the sex and age on intestinal motility in rats.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.188-198
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• 2009

This work was conducted to investigate the effect of bisphenol A (BPA) on estradiol (E2) 2-and 4-hydroxylase activities in the liver, kidney and lung tissues of male and female rats. After intraperitoneal administration of BPA to male and female rats for 4 days at 0, 10, and 50 mg/kg, the conversion of the substrate for hepatic and extra-hepatic enzyme activities was measured by GC/MSD. The result showed decreases of body and organ weights at 50 mg/kg BPA of male and female rats. Male hepatic E2 2-hydroxylase activity was inhibited by 68% at 10 mg/kg and by 82% at 50 mg/kg BPA. Female hepatic E2 2-hydroxylase activity was decreased by 46% at 10 mg/kg and by 56% at 50 mg/kg to the control. E2 4-hydroxylase was inhibited by 57 and 57% at 10 mg/kg and 54 and 78% at 50 mg/kg in liver of female and male, respectively. The urinary excretion rate of 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE), androsterone and testosterone in urine of female rats with 50 mg/kg BPA were decreased significantly. The results showed that 50 mg/kg BPA was decreased E2 2-and 4-hydroxylase activities in liver, but not in other tissues. The urinary excretion rates of 2-OHE, androsterone and testosterone were also decreased. In liver, estrogenic enzyme activity were higher in male than female. These results suggest that BPA can disrupt estrogen metabolism by suppressing E2 2-and 4-hydroxylase activities in the liver of male and female rats.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.325-331
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• 2009

The object of this study was to evaluate the single oral dose toxicity of Low Molecular Weight Fucoidan (LMF) in male and female rats. LMF was administered to female and male SD rats as an oral dose of 2,000, 1,000 and 500 mg/kg (body wt.). Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in body weight, clinical signs and gross observation organ weight and histopathology of 14 principle organs were examined upon necropsy. As the results, no LMF treatment related mortalities, clinical signs, changes on the body and organ weights, gross and histopathological observations against 14 principle organs were detected up to 2,000 mg/kg in both female and male rats except for some sporadic findings not LMF treatment related toxicological signs. Therefore, $LD_{50}$ (50% lethal dose) and approximate LD of LMF after single oral treatment in female and male rats were considered over 2,000 mg/kg - the limited dosages recommended by KFDA Guidelines [2005-60, 2005], respectively.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.144-152
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• 2012

Objective: Concerns are growing about the decrease in male reproductive health. Caffeine is one of the popular nutrients that has been implicated as a risk factor for infertility. In the present study, we examined whether in utero and lactational exposure to caffeine affects the reproductive function of the offspring of rats. Methods: Pregnant rats received caffeine via drinking water during gestation (26 and 45 mg/kg) and lactation (25 and 35 mg/kg). Body and reproductive organ weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, germinal epithelium height, sperm parameters, fertility rate, number of implantations, and testosterone level of the offspring were assessed from birth to adulthood. Results: Significant dose-related decreases were observed in the body and reproductive organ weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, and germinal epithelium height of the offspring. Sperm density had declined significantly in offspring of the low-dose and high-dose groups, by 8.81% and 19.97%, respectively, by postnatal day 150. The number of viable fetuses had decreased significantly in females mated with male offspring of the high-dose group at postnatal days 60, 90, 120, and 150. There were also significant reductions in testosterone levels of high-dose group offspring from birth to postnatal day 150. Conclusion: It is concluded that maternal caffeine consumption impairs gonadal development and has long-term adverse effects on the reproductive efficiency of male offspring rats.