• Title/Summary/Keyword: male rat

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Effect of Acupuncture on the Expressions of Neuropeptide Y and Leptin Receptor in the Hypothalamus of Food-deprived Rats (침치료가 굶긴 쥐 시상하부에서 neuropeptide Y(NPY)와 leptin receptor(LR)의 발현에 미치는 영향에 대한 실험적 연구)

  • Kim, Mi-A;Jung, Woo-Sang;Moon, Sang-Kwan;Kim, Young-Suk;Kim, Chang-Ju;Cho, Ki-Ho
    • The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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    • v.34 no.2
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    • pp.113-121
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    • 2013
  • Objectives : This study aimed to find out whether acupuncture at various acupoints shows any effects on appetite by regulating neurotransmitters in the hypothalamus through the expression of NPY and LR in the PVN via immunohistochemistry. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into eight groups of five mice each. The rats in the acupuncture groups were treated with acupuncture at respective acupoints, twice per a day for 3 days. The animals were sacrificed 72 h after commencement of the experiment, the brains being dissected into serial coronal sections. Expressions of neuropeptide Y and leptin receptor in the hypothalamus were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results : NPY expression in the PVN was enhanced and LR expression in the PVN was decreased by food deprivation. NPY immunoreactivity in the PVN of the food-derived rats was decreased by acupuncture at the auricular acupoint, Zusanli-acupoint, a and non-acupoint. However, acupuncture at the auricular acupoint showed most potent suppressing effect on NPY expression in the PVN of food-deprived rats. LR expression in the PVN decreased following food deprivation, and auricular acupuncture increased LR expression in the PVN of food-deprived rats. In normal conditions (fed state), LR expression in the PVN was not changed by acupuncture treatment at several sites. Conclusions : From this study, we have shown that acupuncture at the auricular acupoint exerts the most potent appetite suppressing effect on the food restriction state.

Experimental and epidemiological studies on the life cycle of Echinostoma hortense Asada, 1926(Trematoda: Echinostomatidae) (남한강류역(南漢江流域)의 호르텐스극구흡충(棘口吸蟲) 감염실태(感染實態)와 생활사(生活史)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究))

  • Ahn, Yung-Kyum;Ryang, Yong-Suk
    • Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.121-136
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    • 1986
  • Recently there have been some reports on human infections of Echinostoma hortense in Korea. It was found that a few species of freshwater fishes were playing the role of the second intermediate host of E. hortense. However, molluscan intermediate host has not been identified yet in Korea. The present study aimed to establish the life cycle of E. hortense in laboratory. Experimental studies such as egg production from the rat, development of the eggs in vitro, exposure of miracidia to freshwater snails, shedding pattern of cercariae from infected snails, morphology of cercariae, cercarial infection to the second intermediate host and infection of metacercariae to the definitive hosts were done. In addition, epidemiological surveys on the infection status in inhabitants and house rats, and on the natural infection of larval echinostomes in the snails and fishes were carried out along the South Hangang-river. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The eggs deposited from adults in physiological saline were cultivated at room temperature($20{\sim}24^{\circ}C$). The miracidia were firstly observed on 8 days after cultivation, and 85.5% of the eggs contained the mature miracidia on 11 days after cultivation. More than 90% formed the miracidia when cultivated at temperature $22{\sim}27^{\circ}C$. Hatching of the miracidia began on 12 days after cultivation and continued for a week. The size of the miracidia was $103.0{{\times}}51.4{\mu}m$ in average. The motility of the miracidia were active up to 8 hours after shedding, but they were all dead within 10 hours after shedding. 2. A freshwater snail, Radix auricularia coreana was cultivated in aquaria. A hatched $F_1$ snails from the egg masses were exposed to 20 miracidia respectively. Escape of cercariae started on 15 days after infecton. Radix auricularia coreana was experimentally identified as the first intermediate host of E. hortense in Korea. 3. Cercarial shedding started on $15{\sim}20$ days after infection by snail, continued for about 10 days (8.8 days in average). Infected snails were dead within 32 days after the miracidial infection. About 1,335 cercariae($328{\sim}1,994$) per snail were shed in its life, and 119 cercariae in average per snail per day were shed. The cercariae were motile for more than 24 hours, and then squirming at the bottom until death. The body and tail sizes of cercariae were $356{\times}186{\mu}m$ and $510{\times}68{\mu}m$ in average, respectively. The rediae parasitized in the snail hosts were found mainly around the pericardial regions, and their size was $1,575{\times}258{\mu}m$ in average. The numbers of developing cercariae in a mature redia were 14 in average ($7{\sim}20$ in range). The numbers of rediae in a snail were 102 in average on 15 days after miracidial infection and 221 in average on 28 days. 4. Three uninfected Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, less than 6.5cm long were used in for the cercarial infection. They were all exposed with 755 cercariae, and examined at 5-day intervals starting from 10 days after infection. All the fishes were infected with metacercariae of E. hortense and a total of 275 was found infected(36.4%). The metacercariae were fed to rats and the adult worms were obtained on 15 days after infection. 5. The infected rats began to deposit the eggs on 11 days after infection. The number of eggs deposited per day per worm (EPD/worm) was $400{\sim}500$ on 3 weeks after infection and was increased to $1,000{\sim}1,500$ on 4 to 17 weeks, then decreased to 800 on 21 weeks after infection. 6. A total of 745 stool specimens collected from 576 male and 169 female residents of 8 different villages along South Hangang basin was examined. Out of 745 specimens, the eggs of Echinostoma sp. were found in 2 cases (0.3%). Of 34 house rats one showed egg-positive (2.9%). 7. Total 971 Radix auricularia coreana collected from 7 sampling stations were examined for shedding of cercariae. Three snails (0.3%) shed the cercariae of E. hortense. A total of 119 out of 542 freshwater fishes (22.0%) had the metacercariae of E. hortense. The fishes parasitized with the metacercariae were 4 out of 14 examined species. The infection rates of 4 species were 34.1% (106 out of 311) in Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, 30.4% (7 out of 23) in Misgurnus mizolepis, 4.3% (2 out of 46) in Moroco oxycephalus and 22.2% (4 out of 18) in Odontobutis obscura interrupta. In summarizing the above results, the first intermediate host of E. hortense was found as Radix auricularia coreana in Korea. Also, it took about 46 days for the shortest completion of a life cycle of E. hortense in summer; that is, 10 days for miracidial development in eggs, 15 days for cercarial development in the snail, about 10 days for metacercarial development in the second intermediate hosts, and 11 days for the maturation as the adults in the definitive hosts. The natural infection rates of E. hortense in the intermediate hosts were relatively high but those in the definitive hosts were low in the middle areas of South Hangang basin.

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Rectal Temperature Maintenance Using a Heat Exchanger of Cardioplegic System in Cardiopulmonary Bypass Model for Rats (쥐 심폐바이패스 모델에서 심정지액 주입용 열교환기를 이용한 직장체온 유지)

  • Choi Se-Hoon;Kim Hwa-Ryong;Paik In-Hyuck;Moon Hyun-Jong;Kim Won-Gon
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.39 no.7 s.264
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    • pp.505-510
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    • 2006
  • Background: Small animal cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) model would be a valuable tool for investigating path-ophysiological and therapeutic strategies on bypass. The main advantages of a small animal model include the reduced cost and time, and the fact that it does not require a full scale operating environment. However the rat CPB models have a number of technical limitations. Effective maintenance and control of core temperature by a heat exchanger is among them. The purpose of this study is to confirm the effect of rectal temperature maintenance using a heat exchanger of cardioplegia system in cardiopulmonary bypass model for rats. Material and Method: The miniature circuit consisted of a reservoir, heat exchanger, membrane oxygenator, roller pump, and static priming volume was 40 cc, Ten male Sprague-Dawley rats (mean weight 530 gram) were divided into two groups, and heat exchanger (HE) group was subjected to CPB with HE from a cardioplegia system, and control group was subjected to CPB with warm water circulating around the reservoir. Partial CPB was conducted at a flow rate of 40 mg/kg/min for 20 min after venous cannulation (via the internal juglar vein) and arterial cannulation (via the femoral artery). Rectal temperature were measured after anesthetic induction, a ter cannulation, 5, 10, 15, 20 min after CPB. Arterial blood gas with hematocrit was also analysed, 5 and 15 min after CPB. Result: Rectal temperature change differed between the two groups (p<0.01). The temperatures of HE group were well maintained during CPB, whereas control group was under progressive hypothermia, Rectal temperature 20 min after CPB was $36.16{\pm}0.32^{\circ}C$ in the HE group and $34.22{\pm}0.36^{\circ}C$ in the control group. Conclusion: We confirmed the effect of rectal temperature maintenance using a heat exchanger of cardioplegia system in cardiopulmonary bypass model for rats. This model would be a valuable tool for further use in hypothermic CPB experiment in rats.

Cholesterol-lowering and Anti-obesity Effects of Polymnia Sonchifolia Poepp. & Endl. Powder in Rats Fed a High Fat-High Cholesterol Diet (야콘 분말이 고지방-고콜레스테롤 식이를 급여한 흰쥐의 콜레스테롤 저하 및 비만 억제효과에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Ah-Ra;Lee, Jae-Joon;Lee, Yu-Mi;Jung, Hae-Ok;Lee, Myung-Yul
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.39 no.2
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    • pp.210-218
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    • 2010
  • This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Yacon (Polymnia sonchifolia Poepp. & Endl.) powder on cholesterol-lowering and anti-obesity effects in rats fed a high fat-high cholesterol diet for 4 weeks to induce hyperlipidemic and obese rat model. Weight-matched male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to four groups according to dietary fat, cholesterol levels and Yacon powder levels. Experimental groups were normal diet group (N), high fat-high cholesterol diet group (HFC), high fat-high cholesterol diet with 5% Yacon powder group (HFC-PSL) and high fat-high cholesterol diet with 10% Yacon powder group (HFC-PSH). The body weight gain and FER were increased by a high fat-high cholesterol diet, but gradually decreased in the Yacon powder fed groups compared with the HFC group. Food intake was lower in HFC groups compared with N group. The liver and adipose tissue weights of HFC group were heavier than those of N group, whereas those of groups administered Yacon powder were gradually decreased. The serum ALT, AST, ALP and LDH activities elevated by a high fat-high cholesterol diet were significantly decreased by Yacon powder administration. Levels of serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor showed a decreasing tendency in the Yacon powder fed groups compared with HFC group. The serum HDL-cholesterol level decreased in the HFC group and markedly increased in the Yacon powder fed groups. Levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride in liver and adipose tissues were lower in Yacon powder administered groups than those in HFC group. These results suggest that Yacon powder may improve lipid metabolism of serum, liver, and adipose tissue and potentially reduce lipid storage.

Effects of Vitamin E on the Metallothionein Synthesis in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats (Streptozotocin유발 당뇨쥐에 있어서 Metallothionein 합성에 미치는 비타민 E의 영향)

  • 이순재;최원경
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.183-194
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    • 1995
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin E on the synthesis of the metallothionein in the liver of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats($220{\pm}10mg$) were randomly assigned to one control and three STZ-diabetic groups. Diabetic groups were classified to STZ-0E(vitamine E free diet), STZ-40E(40mg vitamin E/kg of diet) and STZ-400E(400mg vitamin E/kg of diet) according to the level of vitamin E supplementation. Blood glucose levels of STZ-diabetic rats were three times higher than that of control. The contents of vitamin E in liver were lower signifciantly STZ-0E, STZ-40E groups by 50%, 36% compared with that of control. Lipid peroxide values(LPO) in liver were higher 5.6 and 2.5 times in STZ-0E and STZ-40E groups than that of control. Plasma cortisol levels were higher STZ-0E and STZ-40E groups compared with those of control, but cortisol levels were lower significantly in STZ-400E group compared with those of the STZ-0E and the STZ-40E groups. The plasma insulin levels were lower in all three STZ-diabetic group compared with that of control, but were not affected by the level of dietary vitamin E. The metallothionein (MT) contents in liver, kidney and small intestine were five times higher in STZ-0E, STZ-40E and STZ-400E compared with that of control, but STZ-400E group was lower in the MT contents in tissues compared with that of STZ-40E group. Zn-MT peak in STZ-diabetic rats liver increased than that of control by Sephadex G-75, and Zn-MT peak divided into MTI and MTII peaks by DEAE Sephadex A-25 column chromatography. The present results indicate that STZ-induced diabetic rats are more sensitive to oxidative stress, leading to the acceleration of lipid peroxidation process, which can be more promoted low level of dietary vitamin E. And the result may that increase synthesis of MT induced in the liver of diabetic rats increased so it can be sure that the diabetes is one of the MT induce factor by free radical generation. And high vitamin E supplementation reduced total MT contents of liver, kidney and small intestine and the peak of purified Zn-MT. Through the results of these experiments, we can conclude that MT might be the free radical scavenger.

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Effects of Green Tea Catechin on Microsomal Phospholipase A2 Activity and Arachidonic Acid Cascade in Rat Lung Exposed to Microwave (마이크로웨이브를 조사한 흰쥐 폐조직의 Phospholipae A2 활성과 Arachidonic Acid Cascade계에 미치는 녹차 Catechin의 영향)

  • Kim, Mi-Ji
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.41 no.7
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    • pp.936-942
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    • 2012
  • In the present study, the effects of green tea catechin on microsomal phospholipase $A_2$ ($PLA_2$) activity and the arachidonic acid (AA) cascade in the lungs of microwave exposed rats were investigated. One Sprague-Dawley male rats weighting $100{\pm}10$ g was randomly assigned to the normal group and three were assigned to the microwave exposed groups. The microwave exposed groups were subdivided into three groups according to the levels of dietary catechin supplementation: catechin free diet (MW) group, 0.25% catechin (MW-0.25C) group and 0.5% catechin (MW-0.5C) group. Rats were sacrificed on the 6th day after microwave irradiation (2.45 GHz, 15 min). The lung microsomal $PLA_2$ activity in the MW and MW-0.25C groups was 30% and 15% greater than that of the normal group, respectively, whereas no significant difference between the normal group and MW-0.5C group was observed. The percentage of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) hydrolyzed in the lung microsome in the MW, MW-0.25C and MW-0.5C group increased by 47%, 18% and 20%, respectively, due to microwave irradiation. The formation of thromboxane $A_2$ ($TXA_2$) in the lung microsome was 50% greater in the MW group than in the normal group. However, the levels of $TXA_2$ in the MW-0.25C and MW-0.5C group were normal. The formation of prostacyclin ($PGI_2$) in the lung microsome was 31% lower in the MW group than in the normal group, while the levels of $PGI_2$ in the MW-0.25C and MW-0.5C group were similar to the normal group. The lung microsomal thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) concentration, which can be used as an index of lipid peroxide was 34% greater in the MW group, when compared with the normal group. However, there was no difference between the MW-0.25C, MW-0.5C and normal groups. In conclusion, lung function appeared to be improved by green tea catechin supplementation due to its antithrombus action, which in turn controls the AA cascade system.

Biochemical and Nutritional Effects of Rice, Barley, and Millet on Rats (백미대맥(白米大麥) 및 속(粟) 사료(飼料)가 실험용(實驗用) 백서(白鼠)에 미치는 영양학적(營養學的) 및 생물화학적(生物化學的) 연구(硏究))

  • Haw, Kum
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.1 no.1
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    • pp.9-18
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    • 1968
  • Dividing into six(6) experimental groups; Stock Diet(SD) Group, Rice Diet(RD) Group, Rice Diet supplemented with Barley(RD-BD) Group, Barley Diet(BD) Group, Rice Diet supplemented with Millet(RD-MD) Group, and Millet Diet(MD) Group, biochemical and nutritional effects of rice, barley, and millet on rats are studied. The grains used in this experiment are polished ones and purchased from market. Six(6) weaning male albino rats are housed into the individual cages in each group and fed with each experimental diet and water ad libitum for 21 weeks. The composition of the experimental diets are shown in Table 1. At the end of experiment, the appearences of rats are observed and the bloods are sampled by heart puncture method following ether anesthesia for determinations of serum protein and serum cholesterol. And the livers are sampled immediately right after heart after heart puncture for determinations of liver weight, liver nitrogen, liver fat, and liver glycogen. And also liver tissues are observed histologically. The result of growth experiment is shown in Table 2 and Figure 7. The results of blood analysis are shown in Table 3 and the results of liver analysis are shown in Table 4. And the histological observations of liver tissue are shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. According to the above results, it could be summarized as follows; 1) The normal appearences are observed at SD Group and BD Group. Alopecia is observed at RD, RD-­BD, RD-MD, and MD groups and the wet appearences of hair are observed at RD-MD and MD groups. The color of hair is changed to yellowish white at RD, RD-MD groups. The maximum growth inhibition, is observed at MD group and the growths of RD, RD-BD, BD, and RD-MD groups are significantly lower than that of SD group. The growth of RD group is lower than those of RD-BD and BD groups, though this difference is not significant. 2) At the blood analysis, the highest serum protein content is shown at SD group and the lowest serum protein is observed at MD group. The serum cholesterol contents are not significantly different among the six(6) experimental groups. 3) The highest liver weight is observed at SD group and the lowest weight is shown at MD group. However, oppositely the highest liver weight per 100 grams of body weight at MD group and the lowest liver weight per 100 grams of body weight at SD group are observed as shown in Table 6. 4) The differences of liver nitrogen contents of RD, RB-BD, BD, RD-MD, and MD Groups are not significant except SD group showing the highest content. 5) The significant highest content of liver fat is observed at RD group and the lowest content of liver fat is shown at SD group. And no significant differences in contents of liver glycogen are observed among the six(6) experimental groups. 6) No significant abnormal histological changes of liver tissue are observed at SD, RD-BD, and BD groups. However, the fat metamorphosis at peripheral zone of liver tissue is observed at RD Group and the some histological abnormal changes are observed at RD-MD and MD groups. According to the above summaries, the followings might be estimated and recommended; 1) The BD group shows histological normality of liver tissue, improvement of liver fat and liver nitrogen, normality of appearence, and better growth compared with RD Group. This could be indicated that barley is nutritionally and biochemically better than rice as the feeding diet on rat. And it might be considered that there might be the species speciality for nutritionary evaluation of food. 2) Recently, Marshall indicated that the high consumption of carbohydrate causes fatty liver and Kondo reported that the higher consumption of rice causes the more heart disease and the shorter life span. Considering these reports, the higher consumption of rice as a main dish in our country should be considered as an important national nutritional problem. And this might be improved by supplementing with barley or other grains to rice.

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Effect of γ-PGA (Poly-γ-Glutamic Acid) Supplement on Calcium Absorption and Bone Metabolism in Rats (γ-PGA(Poly-γ-glutamic acid) 보충이 흰쥐의 칼슘 흡수율 및 골대사에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Min-Sook;Kang, Jung-Il;Kim, Hyun-Su
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.35 no.3
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    • pp.255-261
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    • 2006
  • This study was Conducted to investigate the effect of ${\gamma}-PGA\;({\gamma}-poly\;glutamic\;acid)$ on Ca absorption and bone metabolism in rats. Weaned 4-week old male rats were fed Ca-deficient diets for 3 weeks after the adjustment period. Rats were divided into 6 groups and were fed experimental diets for four weeks. Experimental groups were basal (Ca deficient), control (Ca diet: Ca 0.45%), CP1(Ca 0.45%+casein phosphopeptide 1%), PG1(Ca 0.45%+gamma poly glutamic acid 1%), CPG (Ca 0.45%+casein phosphopeptide 1%+gamma poly glutamic acid 1%) and PG3(Ca 0.45%+gamma poly glutamic acid 3%). Though daily Ca intake and food intake of experimental groups showed no significant difference that of control group. The values of fecal Ca excretion and urinary Ca excretion in groups fed ${\gamma}-PGA$ were significantly lower than that in tile control group. The values of Ca absorption in groups fed ${\gamma}-PGA$ were significantly higher than that in the control group. The levels of femur Ca in ${\gamma}-PGA$ supplemented group were significantly increased compared to the control group. Also, breaking force of femur in ${\gamma}-PGA$ supplemented group showed about 40% increase compared to the control group. These results show that ${\gamma}-PGA$ supplement could be helpful to increase Ca absorption as well as to intensify the femur strength and to increase the Ca content of femur in rats.

Basic Studies on the Development of Diet for the Treatment of Obesity I. The Inhibitory Effect of Alginic Acid as a Dietary Fiber on Obesity (비만치료식 개발을 위한 기초연구 1. 식물섬유로서의 알긴산의 비만억제효과)

  • CHOI Jin-Ho;RHIM Chae-Hwan;KIM Jae-Yeun;YANG Jong-Soon;CHOI Jae-Sue;BYUN Dae-Seok
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.19 no.4
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    • pp.303-311
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    • 1986
  • This work was designed as basic studies on the development of diet for the treatment of obesity. The effect of alginic acid which is the major component of brown algae was investigated by comparing with agar, cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), chitin, and lignin as dietary fibers. These dietary fibers ($10\%$) supplemented to basic diet were fed ad libitum to Sprague Dawley rat for 4 weeks, and the inhibitory effects on obesity were evaluated by measuring body weight gain and feed efficiency, the content of glucose and cholesterol in serum, lipase activity in serum, lipid content in liver, adipose tissue around epididymis and ovarium, and Lee index etc. Among the inhibitory effect of these dietary fibers on obesity, lignin was the most effective (p<0.001), followed by Na-alginate (p<0.01) for body weight gain, but lignin was the most effective, followed by CMC, and followed by Na-alginate for feed efficiency (p<0.001). In the inhibitory effects on lipid accumulation in liver and adipose tissue around epididymis and ovarium, lignin and Na-alginate group among these dietary fibers were more effective than others, but there was no significant difference between male and female. The inhibitory effect on obesity evaluated by Lee index was effective in the order of Na-alginate>lignin>CMC>chitin>cellulose (p<0.001). The decreasing effects of lipid content in liver by dietary fibers were found in the order of agar>CMC>cellulose>Na-alginate>chitin>lignin (p<0.001). Glucose content in serum was significantly decreased in cases of CMC, lignin and Na-alginate, whereas a slight difference was found in chitin, but cholesterol content in serum was decreased for all dietary fibers examined except cellulose group. The increasing effect of lipase activity in plasma was found in cases of Na-alginate and chitin, while cellulose, CMC and lignin groups were decreased.

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Effect of Dietary Cadmium Level on Clinical Toxicity, Sperm Capacity and Histopathological Changes in Rats (카드뮴 투여수준이 흰쥐의 임상적인 중독증과 정자능력 및 장기조직에 미치는 영향)

  • 한찬규;노정해;이남형;채찬희;김광식;이복희
    • Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.1-12
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    • 1999
  • The present study was conducted to find the effects of different cadmium(Cd) levels in diets on clinical toxicity, sperm capacity and histopathological changes in rats. Thirty male rats of Sprague-Dawley weighing 125.3$\pm$15.2g were randomly blocked into five groups according to body weights. Five levels of Cd in AIN-76 purified diet(0, 25, 50, 100 and 250 ppm) had been fed for 8 weeks. Cadmium was supplemented with a form of CdCl$_2$. 1. After 8 weeks of Cd intake had resulted in apparent cadmium intoxication; reduced growth rate, enlarged kidney and testis, decreased hematocrit value and hemoglobin content in response to supplemented Cd levels in the diets. 2. Cadmium accumulation in liver and kidney showed a tendency to increase in cadmium-exposed groups. The levels of metallothionein were also significantly elevated in the tissues of liver in response to the levels of Cd supplemented(P<0.05). 3. Although sperm motility was not significantly different among treatments, rats fed Cd tended to have reduced sperm motility but sperm concentration of Cd supplemented groups were significantly lower than that of control(p<0.05). 4. Based on the findings from gross lesion, rats fed 250ppm of Cd were externally emaciated, had exposed penis and observed atrophies of kidney and testis. Histopathological observation seemed that the liver of groups feeding Cd supplemented diets showed cellular degeneration and accumulation of eosinophilic materials in the capillaries. In kidney, rats fed Cd diets had shown tubular epithelium degeneration and lesions of basophilic materials, while testes were weakened in numbers of spermatid and sporadically enlarged of giant cells.

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