• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.917-922
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• 2009

The effect of adding docosahexaenoic acid into an n-3 fatty acid adequate diet on the improvement of learning related brain function was investigated. On the second day after conception, Sprague Dawley strain dams were subjected to a diet containing either n-3 fatty acid adequate (Adq, 3.4% linolenic acid) or n-3 fatty acid adequate+docosahexaenoic acid (Adq+DHA, 3.31%linolenic acid plus 9.65% DHA). After weaning, male pups were fed on the same diet of their respective dams until adulthood. Motor activity and Morris water maze tests were measured at 10 weeks. In the motor activity test, there were no statistically significant differences in moving time and moving distance between the Adq and Adq+DHA diet groups. The n-3 fatty acid adequate with DHA (Adq+DHA) group tended to show a shorter escape latency, swimming time and swimming distance compared to the n-3 fatty acid adequate group (Adq), but the differences were not statistically significant. There was no difference in resting time, but the Adq+DHA group showed a higher swimming speed compared to the Adq group. In memory retention trials, the numbers of crossing of the platform position (region A), in which the hidden platform was placed, were significantly greater than those of other regions for both Adq and Adq+DHA groups. Based on these results, adding DHA into the n-3 fatty acid adequate diet from gestation to adulthood tended to induce better spatial learning performance in Sprague Dawley rats as assessed by the Morris water maze test, although the difference was not significant.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.7-19
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• 2016

Purpose: To investigate the effect of early hypothermia on post-resuscitation myocardial recovery and survival time after cardiac arrest and resuscitation in a rat model of myocardial infarction(MI). Methods: Thoracotomies were performed in 10 male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 450-455g. Myocardial infarction was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Ninety minutes after arterial ligation, ventricular fibrillation was induced, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was subsequently performed before defibrillation was attempted. Animals were randomized to control group and experimental group(acute MI-normothermia)($32^{\circ}C$ for 4 hours). Duration of survival was recorded. Myocardial functions, including cardiac output, left ventricular ejection fraction, and myocardial performance index were measured using echocardiography. Results: Myocardial function was significantly better in hypothermia group than the control group during the first 4 hours post-resuscitation. The survival time of the experimental group was greater than that of the control group(p<.050). Conclusion: This study suggests that early hypothermia can attenuate post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction after acute myocardial function, and may be a useful strategy in post-resuscitation care.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.899-905
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• 2003

The effects of cooked soybean and a traditional fermented soy product, chongkukjang, on blood pressure and lipid metabolism were studied in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). SHRs were divided into 3 groups (n=10, male), and fed casein, powders of cooked soybean, and chongkukjang as dietary protein sources for 6 weeks. Body weight gain was not different among experimental groups, but food efficiency was increased in groups fed cooked soybean and chongkukjang diets compared to control group. Consumption of cooked soybean and chongkukjang for 6 weeks in SHR significantly suppressed blood pressure rise with aging (p<0.05). Feeding of cooked soybean and chongkukjang to SHR decreased plasma triacylglycerols (p<0.05) by 21.6% and 30.2% and LDL-cholesterol by 30.0% and 27.5%, respectively. Addition of cooked soybean and chongkukjang to the diet resulted in reduction of total lipids and triacylglycerols of liver, while consumption of cooked soybean and chongkukjang resulted in the increase of fecal cholesterol and bile acid excretions, respectively (p<0.05). Cooked soybean and chongkukjang diets down-regulated the activity of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase by 56.4% and 94.5%, compared to control, respectively. From the above-mentioned results, it can be concluded that consumption of cooked soybean and chongkukjang might be helpful in preventing cardiovascular disease by suppressing blood pressure rise and hyperlipidemia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2007

Background: Cerebral blood vessels are innervated by sympathetic nerves that originate in the superior cervical ganglia (SCG). This study was conducted to determine the effect of an SCG block on brain injury caused by focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in a rat model. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (270-320 g) were randomly assigned to one of three groups (lidocaine, ropivacaine, and control). After brain injury induced by middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion/reperfusion, the animals were administered an SCG bloc that consisted of $30{\mu}l$ of 2% lidocaine or 0.75% ropivacaine, with the exception of animals in the control group, which received no treatment. Twenty four hours after brain injury was induced, neurologic scores were assessed and brain samples were collected. The infarct and edema ratios were measured, and DNA fragmented cells were counted in the frontoparietal cortex and the caudoputamen. Results: No significant differences in neurologic scores or edema ratios were observed among the three groups. However, the infarct ratio was significantly lower in the ropivacaine group than in the control group (P < 0.05), and the number of necrotic cells in the caudoputamen of the ropivacaine group was significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.01). Additionally, the number of necrotic and apoptotic cells in theropivacaine group were significantly lower than inthe control group in both the caudoputamen and the frontoparietal cortex (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Brain injury induced by focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion was reduced by an SCG block using local anesthetics. This finding suggests that a cervical sympathetic block could be considered as another treatment option for the treatment of cerebral vascular diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.100-105
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• 2007

Background: Ginseng has been used to manage various types of pain in folk medicine. This study characterized the effect of treatment with intrathecal ginsenosides, the active components of ginseng in a postoperative pain model. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with lumbar intrathecal catheters. An incision was made in the plantar surface of the hindpaw. Withdrawal thresholds following the application of a von Frey filament to the wound site were measured. To determine the role of the opioid or GABA receptors following treatment with the ginsenosides, naloxone, bicuculline (a $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist), and saclofen (a $GABA_B$ receptor antagonist) were administered intrathecally 10 min before the delivery of the ginsenosides and the changes of the withdrawal thresholds after application of the von Frey filament were Observed. Results: Treatment with the intrathecal ginsenosides increased the withdrawal threshold in a dose dependent manner. Pre-treatment with intrathecal naloxone reversed the antinociceptive effect of the ginsenosides. However, pre-treatment with intrathecal bicuculline and saclofen failed to have an effect on the activity of the ginsenosides. Conclusions: These results suggest that ginsenosides are effective to alleviate the postoperative pain evoked by paw incision. The opioid receptor, but not GABA receptors, may be involved in the antinociceptive action of the ginsenosides at the spinal level.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.261-266
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• 2009

This study aim to disclose a possible mechanism for the neuronal cell death induced by peripheral nerve injury following a spinal nerve ligation (SNL) as a neuropathic pain model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (270~290 g) were used for this study. Pain threshold was evaluated for their response to mechanical (von Frey hairs) stimuli 1, 3, and 7 days after a tight ligation of L5 ventral ramus. In control group, the small ganglion cells were strongly stained with routine toluidine blue (TB), whereas the large ganglion cells showed a little bit weak stainity. Each large ganglion cell is surrounded by perineuronal satellite cells. In experimental groups, small ganglion cells showing apparent degenerative changes increased on 1 day, and showed a peak in degenerative cell number at 3 days group, and decreased gradually at 7 days group. We also found a small number of large-sized ganglion cells showing mild degenerative changes. However their satellite cells ware relatively intact with no typical findings throughout this experiment. Under the electron microscope, small ganglion cells showed various stage and typical features of the dark degeneration including mitochondrial swelling.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.153-164
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• 1995

Sympathomimetic amines, especially ephedrine, are a major ingredient in proprietary medications for symptomatic treatment of upper respiratory infections. Their frequent uses can lead to occasional instances of abuse and habituation. The clinical symptoms of ephedrine abuse are similar to that of amphetamine psychosis and resemble closely that of schizophrenia. Because both amphetamine psychosis and schizophrenia are thought to be mediated primarily through the action on catecholamines, ephedrine-induced changes of the biogenic amines can be suspected. However, there were few studies about the central effects of ephedrine because of the milder central action than peripheral. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken to elucidate the relations between the effects of single or repeated administration of ephedrine on the regional levels of biogenic amines in rat brain and ephedrine-induced CNS stimulation. The male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing $100{\sim}200\;g$ were used. After single or repeated administrations of ephedrine, blocks of tissue were obtained from frontal cortex, corpus striatum, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, substantia nigra and cerebellum. The concentration of biogenic amines(norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)) and their metabolites (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid(HVA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA)) were measured by means of high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detector(HPLC-ECD). The results obtained were as follows: 1) In the normal rat, the concentration of norepinephrine was the highest in hypothalamus. Dopamine, DOPAC and HVA were highest in corpus striatum, and 5-HT and 5-HIAA were highest in substantia nigra. Epinephrine was not detectable in any part of the brain tissue. 2) In a single administration of ephedrine, the concentration of DOPAC was decreased in corpus striatum. However, the other biogenic amines and their metabolites were not changed. 3) In repeated administration of ephedrine, the concentration of norepinephrine was decreased in all brain region checked. Dopamine was decreased in corpus striatum and substantia nigra and, increased in hypothalamus, and HVA was decreased in corpus striatum. 5-HT was decreased in all brain region except cerebellum and, 5-HIAA was decreased only in frontal cortex. The ratio of 5-HIAA/5-HT was increased in corpus striatum, thalamus, hypothalamus and substantia nigra. These data indicated that, although a single administration of ephedrine did not change the central neurotransmitters, repeated administration of ephedrine caused the decreases of norepinephrine and 5-HT in the most regions of brain, which may be responsible for the emergence of abnormal behavioral effect after ephedrine abuse.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.323-328
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• 2010

Root extract of Lythrum salicaria reported a hepato-protective effect on $CCl_4$-induced liver toxicity of rat was prepared into fractions such as n-hexane up layer (HA), n-hexane down layer (HB), diethyl ether (E), ethylacetate (EA), n-butanol (B) and water (W). Fractions prepared were tested their activities in vitro and in vivo condition. All of the fractions showed effective antioxidant asctivities on DPPH radical and $CuSO_4$-induced oxidation of human low density lipoprotein and E fraction showed the highest inhibitory effect (98.1% at $50\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) on linoleic acid autoxidation at $40^{\circ}C$, which was more effective than $\alpha$-tocopherol (82.4%). Five fractions (H = HA plus HB, E, EA, B, and W, 150 mg/kg/day) were fed into Sprague Dawley, male rats for 4 days, which were intoxicated with intra-peritoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride ($1\;m{\ell}/kg$ in corn oil) at the 4th day and were sacrificed in 24 hrs. Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-$\alpha$), a proinflammatory cytokine, elevated with $CCl_4$-intoxication in negative control group ($83\;pg/m{\ell}$) was significantly decreased in E fraction-supplemented group ($18\;pg/m{\ell}$). Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased in negative control group (0.12 U/mg protein) was decreased in E fraction (0.07 U/mg protein). From the results, it is suggested that ether fraction from root extract of L. salicaria would be a potent antioxidant candidate for ameliorating liver injury induced by chemical intoxicant.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.259-264
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• 2001

Purpose : We investigated the temporal alterations of apoptosis and mitotic death following irradiation in the rat's small intestinal crypts. Materials and methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were irradiated 2 Gy by 6 MV linear accelerator and sacrified at 2, 4, 8, 24, 48 hours after irradiation. The mean numbers of the apoptotic cells and mitotic cells per their small intestinal crypts were measured in the unirradiated control and irradiated groups. To compare with H & E staining, ISEL (In Situ End Labelling) were peformed in the group having the highest apoptotic count. Results : The mean number of the apoptosis per crypt in the control group was 0.14 and those at 2, 4, 8, 24, 48 hours after irradiation were 1.43, 3.19, 1.15, 0.26, 0.17, respectively. So the apoptosis development was increased upto 4 hours and then normalized around 24 hours following irradiation. The mean number of the mitotic cells per crypt in the control group was 1.29 and those at 2, 4, 8, 24, 48 hours after irradiation were 0.56, 0.47, 0.23, 0.65, 1.19, respectively. The mitotic cell counts following irradiation was decreased to 8 hours and recovered to the normal level about 48 hours. So the increment of apoptotic cell count was occurred earlier and more remarkable than the decrement of mitotic cell count after irradiation. According to the staining time, false positivity was found in the ISEL staining. Conclusions : The cell death in the small intestinal crypt developed by acute radiation damage was usually decreased to the normal level within $24\~48\;hours$ after irradiation and the apoptosis was thought to be more important process than the mitotic death.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.331-340
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• 1993

This study investigate the epidemiological feature of Metagonimus infection in Kangwon-do (province). The average Infection rate of the surveyed inhabitants was 7.8% (83 positives out of 1, 067 examinees) by stool examination; male, 11.4% and female, 3.2%, respectively. The egg positive rate in residents in the Som river area was 7.3%, that of the Chuchon river area 6.3%, the Pyongchang river area 12.8%, the Tong river area 3.8%, the Hongchon river area 9.8%, and the Ohsip stream area of Samchok 8.0%,respectively. The average metacercarial infection rate of genus Metagonimus in the fish was 81.0% (256 positives out of 318 fish). The infected fleshes were Zacco platypus. Zacco teminki, Opswiichthys biens, Squdidis sp., Corqssius carassius, etc. in western Kangwon-do Meanwhile, in the Ohsip stream area of Samchok-gun, eastern costal Kangwon-do, the infected fish were Plecoglossus altivelis and Tribolodon hokonensis. The rats and dogs are infected with the metcercanae obtained from Zacco platypus and Opsariichthys biens, adult worms collected were Miyata type of Metagonimus with some M. takahashii. When infected with metacercariae from Plecoglossus ltivelis, Metagonimus yokogowai was only found. M. yoogawai and Metagonimus Mlyata type were fecund together in Tribolodon hakonenis in Ohsip stream area of Samchok, in the eastern Kangwon-do. The intestinal flukes of genus Metogonimus in western Kangwon-do were Miyata type of MetQnonimuT and M. takahashii transmitting mainly by Zacco platypus and Opsariichtys bidens as a source of infection. In the eastern part of Kangwon province (Ohsip stream area of Samchok), M. yokogowai was mainly distributed by P. altivelis and T. hakonesis, but some T. hakonensis harbored the metacercariae of Miyata type of Metagonimus with those of M. yokogawai.