• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.135-144
• /
• 2001

Objectives : This study was carried out to research the protective effects of Sagunja-Tang(SA) through in vivo experiments, and tried to investigate the relation between oxidation of renal tissues and deficiency of Qi. Methods : Acute renal injury which initiated from free radical induced by $HgCl_2$, were applied to mice and metabolic data were obtained. In order to measure the degree of renal injury, serum level of creatinine, blood urea nitrogen(BUN), total protein(TP) and glucose were measured. Besides, serum level of alanine aminotransferase(AST), aspartate aminotransferase(ALT) were measure too. Lipid peroxidation of renal cortex was examined by measuring malondialdehyde(MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation. Results : SA had protective effects on acute renal injury caused by decrease of glomerular filtration which was initiated by subcutaneous injection of $HgCl_2$. SA protected acute liver injury too. Conclusions : Through this study, we found that SA have healing effects on renal injury of $HgCl_2$ induced oxidative stress that is similar to deficiency of Qi. And further studies have to be followed to certify the mechanisms.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.131-136
• /
• 1993

In the present study, the effect of $HgCl_2$on the function of human peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes(PMNs) was examined. PMNs were isolated from human peripheral blood with density centrifugation in Ficoll-Paque. The cells were then incubated with $0.5{\sim}5{\mu}M\;HgCl_2$and glass adherence, chemotactic activity and erythrocyte-antibody rosette forming activity were measured. $HgCl_2$ decreased the function of PMNs in all three aspects tested. $HgCl_2$significantly diminished glass adherence(40.5 {\mu}M: 92{\pm}12%$ (percentage of control, $mean{\pm}$ S.D.); 41 {\mu}M: 46{\pm}11%,$ P<0.01; $3{\mu}M: 35{\pm}7%,$P<0.01;$5{\mu}M:49{\pm}10%,$ P<0.01). Similarly, significant differences were observed in chemotactic activity after $HgCl_2$treatment compared with control (control: $0.95{\pm}0.14mm; 0.5 {\mu}M: 0.91{\pm}0.11 mm; 1 {\mu}M: 0.77{\pm}0.16mm, P<0.05; 3{\mu}M: 0.61{\pm} 0.06mm, P<0.01; 5{\mu}M: 0.15{\pm}0.03 mm, P<0.01).$ Also, 4HgCl_2$decreased the percentage of rosette-forming PMNs, indicating diminished phagocytic activity of PMNs upon $HgCl_2$ exposure compared with control (control: $58{\pm}4%; 1{\mu}M: 53{\pm}4%, p<0.05; 3{\mu}M: 49{\pm}3%, P<0.01; 5{\mu}M: 46{\pm}3%, P<0.01).$ Cell viability was not antered after $HgCl_2$treatment (483{\pm}5%$ viability in control PMNs versus $81{\pm}8%$ viability in $5{\mu}M$ Hg-treated PMNs), suggesting that the impaired PMN function after $HgCl_2$treatment was not due to nonspecific cytotoxicity induced by $HgCl_2$. $HgCl_2$-induced decrease in the function of PMNs may have some implications in depressed host susceptibilityupon bacterial challenge after mercury exposure.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.79-84
• /
• 1988

${\alpha}$-Galactosidase from Aspergillus niger as a possible enzyme for removal of flatulence factors in soybean foods was produced the highest in 120 hours in either Czapeck-Dox liquid medium or wheat bran solid medium. The most efficient carbon and nitrogen sources in Czapeck-Dox medium were raffinose and sodium nitrate, respectively, whereas the addition of the sources showed negative effects in wheat bran. pH optima for enzyme activity and stability were 4.0-5.0 and 3.5-6.5, respectively, and optimum temperature for stability was $40-50^{\circ}C$. Upon reaction on p-nitrophenyl-${\alpha}$-D-galactoside, Michaelis constant was 0.42 mM and maximum velocity was 152 ${\mu}moles$ substrate/minute/kg solid medium. Mercuric chloride acted as a strong noncompetitive inhibitor and p-chloromercuribenzoate, even in low concentration, acted as a competitive inhibitor. Crude ${\alpha}$-galactosidase hydrolyzed raffinose and stachyose completely, giving spots of monosaccharides only on thin-layer chromatogram.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.35-41
• /
• 2006

The unique gene encoding thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) was previously cloned and characterized from the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and its expression was induced by oxidative stress. To elucidate tbe regulatory mechanism of the S. pombe TrxR gene, three fusion plasmids were generated using polymerase chain reaction: pYUTR20, pYUTR30, and pYUTR40. Plasmid pYUTR20 has an upstream region of 891 base pairs, pYUTR30 has 499 in this region, and pYUTR40 has an 186 bp upstream region. Negatively acting sequence is located between $-1,526\;\~\;-891bp$ upstream of the gene. The upstream sequence, responsible for the induction of TrxR by menadione (MD), is situated on the $-499\;\~\;-186bp$ region, which is also required for TrxR induction by mercuric chloride. The same region also appeared to be required for Pap1-mediated transcriptional regulation of the TrxR gene, which contains the two plausible Papl binding sites, TTACGAAT and TTACGCGA. Consistently, basal and inducible expression of the TrxR gene was markedly lower in the Pap1-negative TP108-3C cells than in wild-type yeast cells. In summary, up-regulation of the S. pombe TrxR gene is mediated by Pap1 via the transcriptional motif(s) located on the $-499\;\~\;-186bp$ region.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.63-69
• /
• 2017

Golgi staining has been modified and developed since Camillo Golgi introduced the black reaction in 1873. This study focuses on the commonly used Golgi staining methods and presents comprehensive data regarding three Golgi staining methods along with their strong and weak points. The Golgi-Cox method uses mercuric chloride for brain tissue impregnation and is a reliable technique for analyzing the complete dendritic tree of cortical neurons. However, specimens tend to shrink during the staining steps. Recent combination of the Golgi-Cox method and immunofluorescence provides additional options for neuroscientists. Rapid Golgi staining requires osmium tetroxide for the post-fixation process. It homogenously stains whole structures of neurons and provides their detailed anatomical morphology. This staining is influenced by the age of the specimen, temperature of the laboratory, and duration of each procedure. The Golgi-Kopsch method uses formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde instead of osmium tetroxide and can be used regardless of the age of the specimen and the duration after fixation. This method is suitable for research using human brain fixed for a long time or for specimens obtained from old-aged animals. Selecting a Golgi staining protocol that is appropriate for the specimen type and research purpose is important to achieve best results.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.25-39
• /
• 2017

A total number of 668 apparently healthy fish were obtained from farm to study the effect of two heavy metals in a form of (Copper sulfate and Mercuric chloride) on some hematological and biochemical parameters of blood. The $LC_{50}$ /96 hr. of Cu and Hg were estimated and fish exposed to $\text\tiny{^1/_2}$ $LC_{50}$ for 7 days and for $1/_{10}$ $LC_{50}$ for 8 weeks from each product separately. Results showed decrease in RBCs count, PCV% and Hb in acute and chronic mercury while a significant increase was shown in acute and chronic copper toxicity, total leucocytic count showed decrease in acute mercury toxicity and increase in the chronic case, while in copper toxicity non-significant decrease in acute and significant decrease in chronic toxicity was noticed. Elevated serum urea and creatinine in both acute and chronic mercury and copper toxicity was detected. No changes in total bilirubin in the acute mercury and chronic copper toxicity while significant increase in chronic mercury and acute copper. Elevation of serum AST and ALT in some days of acute toxicity of mercury and copper while in chronic mercury toxicity a significant elevation of both serums AST and ALT were detected .while in chronic copper toxicity serum AST was fluctuated and ALT showed no significant changes. CK study revealed significant decrease in acute mercury with fluctuation in the chronic toxicity while in copper toxicity it showed fluctuation in acute and significant decrease in chronic toxicity. Glucose value decreased in acute and chronic mercury toxicity while in copper toxicity it showed significant increase in the acute and increase followed by significant decrease in the chronic copper toxicity.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.113-117
• /
• 1978

An attempt was made to establish a mass-screening technique for resistance to purple seed stain .disease in soybean. Seeds sterilized in 1 : 10000 'mercuric chloride for 1 minute and transffered to Petridishes containing 20ml water agar plus 50ppm of the sodium salt of 2,4-D were inoculated by placing a small agar cube containing fungal mycelium on the seed coat of each seed. A positive correlation between natural infection of purple seed :stain and purple discoloration by seed inoculation technique was highly significant and by this technique, some native soybean collections and introduced varieties were tested for resistance to the disease. Most of the soybean varieties tested were susceptible except for the varieties Hill, Harosoy and Sac, resistant comparatively.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.431-446
• /
• 1996

This experiment was performed to study the ultrastructural changes of the juxtaglomerular cell of mice following subcutaneous injection of heavy metallic agents. Male mice were divided into normal and experimental groups. The mice were subcutaneouly injected with $HgCl_2$ (2mg, 5mg or 10 mg/Kg/BW) or with $K_{2}Cr_{2}O_7$(5 mg, 10 mg or 20 mg/Kg/BW). Mice were sacrificed on 6 hours, 3 days and 14 days after the injection. Kidneys were fixed in the 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde solution, followed by refixation in the 1% osmium tetroxide solution. Dehydrated blocks were embedded in araldite mixture. The sections were cut on a LKB-V ultratome, and ultrathin sections stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate were observed with JEM 100CX II electron microscope. The results were as follow: 1. Juxtaglomerular cell of the experimental groups showed some alterations, especially in the structures of protein synthesis including dilations and degradations of granular endoplasmic reticula, atrophy of Golgi complex, and numerous free ribosomes in the cytoplasm. 2. Juxtaglomerular cells treated groups showed a number of vacuoles, protogranules and some myelin figures in the cytoplasm, especially in the earlier groups. 3. Juxtaglomerular cells of treated groups, contained a large number of secretory granules showing variable electron densities and pleomorphism in later groups (2 weeks). From the above results, it was concluded that, the mercuric chloride or potassium bichromate induces acute renin release from juxtaglomerular cells of the mice, but many juxtaglomerular cells may secrete prematured secretory granules, or the synthetic system of the cell can not perform normal function.

• Advances in environmental research
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.207-216
• /
• 2014

A study was conducted to determine the phytotoxic effect of mercury on seed germination and seedling growth of an important arid legume tree Albizia lebbeck. The seeds germination and seedling growth performance of A. lebbeck responded differently to mercuric chloride treatment (1 mM, 3 mM, 5 mM and 7 mM) as compared to control. Seed germination of A. lebbeck was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by mercury treatment at 1 mM. Root growth of A. lebbeck was not significantly affected by mercury treatment at 1 mM, and 3 mM. Shoot and root length of A. lebbeck were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by 5 mM concentration of mercury treatment. Increase in concentration of mercury treatment at 5 mM and 7 mM significantly (p < 0.05) reduced seedling dry weight of A. lebbeck. The treatment of mercury at 1 mM decreased high percentage of seed germination (22%), seedling length (10%), root length (21.85%) and seedling dry weight (9%). Highest decrease in seed germination (51%), seedling (34%), root length (48%) and seedling dry weight (41%) of A. lebbeck occurred at 7 mM mercury treatment. A. lebbeck showed high percentage of tolerance (78.14%) to mercury at 1 mM. However, 7 mM concentration of mercury produced lowest percentage of tolerance (51.65%) in A. lebbeck. The seed germination potential and seedling vigor index (SVI) clearly decreased with the higher level of mercury. Plantation of A. lebbeck in mercury-polluted area will help in reducing the burden of mercury pollution. A. lebbeck can serve better in coordinating in land management programs in metal contaminated areas. The identification of the toxic concentration of metals and tolerance indices of A. lebbeck would also be helpful for the establishment of air quality standard.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.274-282
• /
• 2019

Mercury-resistant ($Hg^R$) bacteria were isolated from heavy metal polluted wastewater and soil collected near to tanneries of district Kasur, Pakistan. Bacterial isolates AZ-1, AZ-2 and AZ-3 showed resistance up to $40{\mu}g/ml$ against mercuric chloride ($HgCl_2$). 16S rDNA ribotyping and phylogenetic analysis were performed for the characterization of selected isolates as Bacillus sp. AZ-1 (KT270477), Bacillus cereus AZ-2 (KT270478) and Bacillus cereus AZ-3 (KT270479). Phylogenetic relationship on the basis of merA nucleotide sequence confirmed 51-100% homology with the corresponding region of the merA gene of already reported mercury-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. The merE gene involved in the transportation of elemental mercury ($Hg^0$) via cell membrane was cloned for the first time into pHLV vector and transformed in overexpressed C43(DE3) E. coli cells. The recombinant plasmid (pHLMerE) was expressed and the native MerE protein was obtained after thrombin cleavage by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The purification of fusion/recombinant and native protein MerE by Ni-NTA column, dialysis and fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC/SEC) involved unfolding/refolding techniques. A small-scale reservoir of wastewater containing $30{\mu}g/ml$ of $HgCl_2$ was designed to check the detoxification ability of selected strains. It resulted in 83% detoxification of mercury by B. cereus AZ-2 and B. cereus AZ-3, and 76% detoxification by Bacillus sp. AZ-1 respectively (p < 0.05).