• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2000

Hershberger assay is known as one of the in vivo-short-term scrrning assays for endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), but this method is not a validated test system. In the present study, the establishment of Hershberger assay to detect EDCs was tried using a model substance, di(n-butyl)phthalate (DBP), a plasticizer for plastics. Thirty-six immature male rats were randomly assigned to six groups: DBP 0, 40, 200, and 1000mg/kg, a positive control (flutamide 20 mg/kg), and a combination group(DBP 1000mg/kg and testosterone 50 ug/kg). DBP and flutamide were administered by gavage to male rats from day 21 to 40 post partum. Testosterone was subcutaneously injected during the same period. We evaluated body weigth gain, weights of ventral prostate, seminal vesicle, and levator ani and bulvocavernous muscle, and serum concentrations of testosterone and lutenizing hormone in male rats. The weights of seminal vesicle and levator ani and bulvocavernous muscle of males receiving 1000mg/kg of DBP was significantly lower than controls. There was no effect of DBP-treatment on body weight gain, prostate weight, and hormone concentrations. In the positive control group, the weights of seminal vesicle and levator ani and bulvocavernous muscle of males receiving 20mg/kg of flutamide were significantly lower than controls. In the combination group, there was no effect of co-treatment of DBP and testosterone on all parameters effect against DBP. This method was found to be a useful short-term screening assay system for EDCs.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.131-137
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• 2010

Objectives: Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) is a liquid compound obtained by condensation of two molecules of epichlorohydrin with one molecule of bisphenol A. General and reproductive toxicity with BADGE has been reported higher than 1000 mg/kg/day. This study was performed to show the effects of acute exposure to BADGE below 1000 mg/kg/day on the testis in adult male rats. Methods: BADGE was administered by gastric lavage in a single dose of 500, 750, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day in 8-week old male SPF Sprague-Dawley rats. The right testis was processed for light microscopic analysis. The left testis was homogenized and spermatids were counted to determine the daily sperm production and daily abnormal sperm production. The sperm count, sperm motility, and incidence of abnormal sperm were estimated in the epididymis. In testicular sections, the seminiferous tubules were observed for qualitative changes. The progression of spermatogenesis was arbitrarily classified as full-matured, maturing, and immature. The specimen slide was observed at 3 points and 10 seminiferous tubules were evaluated at each point. Results: The male rats exposed to single oral dose of BADGE at 750, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day were significantly increased the number of immature and maturing sperm on the testis. There were no significant differences with respect to sperm head count, sperm motility, and sperm abnormality in the BADGE treatment groups. Conclusions: These results suggest that single oral exposure of BADGE 750 mg/kg/day can affect adult male testis development.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 1977

This study was designed to compare the Biological effects of the cereals and legumes Proteins on albino rats. Fifty weaning albino rats weighing $49\;gr{\pm}2$ in both sexes were divided into 5 groups and fed corn crude protein diet, wheat crude protein diet, soybean protein diet, yeast diet and 30% sugar-casein diet for the control group. The protein contains same levels with isocaloric values each diet. After 12 weeks the rats were sacrificed for chemical analysis and the results are as follow ; 1. The highest food consumption was found in the groups of yeast and soybean, and the lowest was found in the groups of wheat diet and corn diet. 2. The groups of yeast & soybean protein showed the highest body weight increase, while the groups of wheat diet and corn diet showed the lowest. 3. Highly significant difference was found between the standard group and the groups of corn protein and soybean protein in Food Efficiency Ratio. (F. E. R.) (p<0.01). 4. Protein Efficiency Ratio showed a similar pattern as the F.E.R., however, there was no significant differences among the groups. 5. The kind of diets did not influence the hematology of the subjects. 6. The rate of nitrogen retention of male standard group was lower compared with all the experimental groups (p<0.01), and that of female soybean group was higher than any other groups (p<0.01). 7. Female corn diet group had the lowest organ weights, as found in the growth rate, which was significant (p<0.01). In the male corn diet group only the kidney showed significantly low in weight (p<0.01), and the spleen of male yeast group was also shown low with significance (p<0.01). 8. Nitrogen retentions of the liver and muscle in male corn diet group were lower than any other groups (p<0.05), and the brain nitrogen content of female standard group was high with significance (p<0.01). According to the results above, yeast and soybean protein can be regarded as a nutritious and also inexpensive protein sources.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2001

The goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship between ambient hexavalent chromium concentration and the concentration of the chromium in whole blood, plasma, erythrocytes, and its urinary excretion of male rats after inhalation exposure of sodium chromate during 1, 2, and 3 weeks. 1. Differences of mean chromium concentration in urine, whole blood, erythrocytes, and plasma of male rats exposed to sodium chromate by exposure level were statistically significance, respectively. 2. At low and high exposure groups, differences of mean chromium concentration in urine, whole blood, erythrocytes, and plasma of male rats by duration of inhalation exposure were statistically significance, respectively. 3. Ratio of whole blood chromium to plasma chromium increased with the increased duration of inhalation exposure of sodium chromate. 4. Ambient hexavalent chromium was positively and strongly correlated with in erythrocyte chromium, and also erythrocyte chromium was strongly correlated with in whole blood chromium. In conclusion, this study showed that chromium in erythrocyte increased with the increased exposure level and exposure duration, therefore this study suggests that chromium in erythrocytes is a good biological exposure index of the internal dose from exposure to soluble hexavalent chromium compound.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.16-22
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• 2003

BBP (Butyl benzyl phthalate), a widely used plasticizer. can enter the food and environment as consequence of its manufacture, use, and disposal. BBP was found to be developmental and teratogenic or endocrine disrupting chemical in rats. The effects of BBP were investigated in female rats (P) and second generation (F1) via lactations. Sprague-Dawley were given BBP by oral administration at 0, 5, 10, 100, 1000 mg/kg on day 0 to 21 of lactation period. The results were as follows : At maternal findings, there were some significant changes (p<0.05) in relative organ weight, especially liver and uterus weight by BBP administration. In estrous cycle, high treated group was inclined to be proestrus or estrus compared to control group. BBP indues estrous cycle earlier than the control group. At fetal findings, there were some significant changes in relative liver and spleen weight, especially 100, 1000 mg/kg administered groups. The relative weight of ventral prostate was decreased, so it was represent to dose-response tendency. Parent rats (P) were detected monobenzyl phthalate (MBeP) 3.21~5.81 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml in 100, 1000 mg/kg dose groups. MBeP of male and female fetuses (F1) were detected at the level of 1.21~2.63 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of serum. Male serum concentration oi MBeP was higher than the females'. Estrogen receptor $\alpha$ expression by BBP and bisphenol A in uterus and testis of F1 were studied. The ER$\alpha$ expression were increased in F1 male testis and female uterus. F1 male showed distint ER$\alpha$ expression, especially in the combined exposrue. Synergistic ER$\alpha$ expression was found by combined treatment group of BBP and bisphenol A. From the above results, it could be concluded that the effects of dams and F1 by BBP administration during lactation period were estrogenic, and BBP can transfer to F1 via lactation, and make estrogenic at F1 reproductive organs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.508-516
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• 2019

Objectives: The present study was performed to obtain acute toxicity information on glyoxal in male rats after intratracheal instillation. Methods: In order to calculate the LD₅₀ of glyoxal using Probit analysis with SAS, the test article was one intratracheal instillation to male Sprague-Dawley rats at dose levels of 0, 225, 451 or 902 mg/kg. During the test period, mortality, clinical signs, and body and organ weights were examined. At the end of the 14-day observation period, all animals were sacrificed and complete gross postmortem and histopathological examinations were performed. Results: Four animals of the 902 mg/kg group died within one week after the administration of glyoxal. All treatment group in a dose dependent manner, decreased body weight was found during the study period. The absolute and relative lung weight, and histopathological changes (bronchiolar-alveolar hyperplasia, chronic inflammation) of lung exhibited an increased in glyoxal treated groups in a dose dependent manner. However, there were no changes on the organ weights and histopathological changes of any other organ except lung. Conclusions: The results obtained in the present study suggest that the LD₅₀ in male Sprague-Dawley rats after a single intratracheal instillation of glyoxal was considered to be 866.9 mg/kg and the lung was found to be the target organ for glyoxal.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.265-270
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• 1991

This study was designed to investigate the effect of dietary vitamin E on the lipid peroxidation by dietary iron-injected to male rats. Sprague-Dawely strain male rats were divided into three experimental groups, namely control, iron injected and iron-vitamin E injected groups. The control group was fed with normal diet; the iron injected group was given normal diet and while injected intraperitoneally 30mg of ferric hydroxide/100g of body weight 20 times every 3 days. The iron-vitamin E injected group was intraperitoneally administered 30mg of ferric hydroxide/100g of body weight 20 times every 3 days and vitamin E every day with the dose of 5IU(5mg)/100g body weight. All experimental groups were maintained for 60 days with feeding on the respective ratio. The results obtained from this experiment were summarized as following: 1. The net weight gain was significantly decreased by the iron injection, but much increased by the vitamin E injection. 2. The contents of unsaturated fatty acid in phospholipid in liver, kidney, muscle and serum were decreased by the iron injection, but increased by the vitamin E injection. 3. The increment of malondialdehyde contents was induced by the iron overloading, but significantly decreased by the vitamin E injection. Therefore, it is suggested that dietary iron administration to male rats facilitates the lipid peroxidation in vivo and vitamin E has the inhibiting effect on lipip peroxidation process by iron.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.473-483
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• 2021

Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the potential toxicity of 2-butoxyethanol after intratracheal instillation in male rats. Methods: In order to calculate median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of 2-butoxyethanol using Probit analysis with SAS program, the 2-butoxyethanol was administered with dose levels of 0, 101.64, 203.28 and 406.56 mg/kg by once intratracheal instillation to male rats. During the test period, clinical signs, mortality, body weights, organ weights, hematology, and serum biochemistry were examined. At the end of 14 days observation period, all animals were sacrificed and gross finding and histopathological examination were performed. Results: All animals of 406.56 mg/kg group died within 2 weeks after the administration of 2-butoxyethanol. Treatment-related clinical signs, gross observation and histopathological changes (mucous cell hyperplasia, alveolar macrophage aggregation, and hemorrhage) of lung exhibited an increased in 2-butoxyethanol treated groups in a dose dependent manner. However, there were no changes in the organ weights, hematology and serum biochemistry, and histopathology of any other organ except lung. Conclusions: On the basis of the results, it was concluded that a single intratracheal instillation of 2-butoxyethanol in male Sprague-Dawley rats resulted in some adverse effects on mortality, clinical sign, and histopathology in the lung. In the experimental conditions, the LD₅₀ of 2-butoxyethanol was considered to be 287.2 mg/kg and lung was founded to be the target organ of 2-butoxyethanol.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.265-272
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• 2011

It is well known that adipose tissue or body fat has been proved as a crucial component of brain-peripheral axis which can modulate the activities of reproductive hormonal axis in female mammals including rodents and human. Concerning the male reproduction, however, the role of adipose tissue has not been thoroughly studied. The present study was carried out to elucidate the effect of a high-fat (HF) diet on the reproductive system of postpubertal male rats. The HF diet (45% energy from fat, HF group) was applied to male rats from week 8 after birth for 4 weeks. The blood glucose levels, body and tissue weights were measured. Histological studies were performed to assess the structural alterations in the reproductive tissues. To determine the transcriptional changes of reproductive hormone-related genes in hypothalamus and pituitary, total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Body weights (p<0.01) and blood glucose levels (p<0.01) of HF group were significantly higher than those of control animals. Similarly, the weights of epididymis (p<0.05), prostate (p<0.01), seminal vesicle (p<0.01) in HF group were higher than control levels. The weights of testis were not changed. The weights of kidney (p<0.001) and spleen (p<0.01) were significantly higher than control levels while the adrenal and pancreas weights were not changed. There were only slight alterations in the microstructures of accessory sex organs; the shape of luminal epithelial cells in epididymis from HF group were relatively thicker and bigger than those from control animals. In the semi-quantitative RT-PCR studies, the mRNA levels of hypothalamic GnRH (p<0.05) in HF group were significantly higher than those from the control animals. The mRNA levels of kisspeptin in HF group tend to be higher than control levels, the difference was not significant. Unlike the hypothalamic GnRH expression, the mRNA levels of pituitary $LH{\beta}$ and $FSH{\beta}$ were significantly decreased in HF group (p<0.05). The present study indicated that the 4-weeks feeding HF diet during the postpubertal period can alter the hypothalamus-pituitary (H-P) neuroendocrine reproductive system These results suggest that the increased body fat and the altered leptin input might disturb the H-P reproductive hormonal activities in male rats, and the changed activities seem to be responsible for the changes of tissue weights in accessory sex organs.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 1973

Metabolic responses to the protein-free, high-carbohydrate diet and subsequent food restriction on the same diet at the level of 50% and 75% has been studied on the adult albino rats. The energy source was either corn starch or sugar. In experiment I, adult male rats weighing $509{\pm}8g$ were divided into two groups 10 rats each. Rats fed on the stock diet served as a control. Rats of restriction group received a protein free diet until they reduced their weight down to 400g and continue on a protein-calorie restriction diet until they reduced their weight down to 300g. In experiment II, 28 adult male rats and the same numbers of female rats weighing $329{\pm}5g$ and $223{\pm}4g$ respectively were divided into four groups, 7 males and females in each. Rats fed on a stock diet were sacrificed at the point when others started a protein free diet. These were served as the control. The protein free group received a protein free diet ad libitum for 4 weeks. The 50% restriction group and 75% restriction group were fed on a protein free diet coupled with food restriction at levels of 50% and 75% respectively for 3 weeks. In the result of this study: 1. The rate of body weight changes was similar between the males and the females. Feeding protein free diet ad lib. initiated a rapid weight lost of approximately 25% and protein free diet coupled with food restriction showed 37-43% reduction of their initial weight. 2. There was no significant differences in the value of the N concentration in liver, spleen, brain and muscle between controls and experimental groups. 3. Rats fed on protein free diet showed 1/10 value of the control in the nitrogen excretion in urine. However female showed less N excretion than male. 4. Observing blood picture, the effects of protein depletion and calorie restriction were not appeared any remarkable changes. 5. There was no sign of fatty liver which might result from protein depletion and calorie restriction. 6. Following semi-starvation, FAO and HMP-DH total enzyme activity was reduced, but activity per unit weight was relatively stable.