• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 1992

In order to compare the intraspecific variation in host-parasite relationship of Clonorchis sinensis, six strains of inbred mice, ICR, DDY, GPC, BALB/c, nude and DS, were infected orally with 20 metacercariae of C. sinensis. The biologic incubation period of C. sinensis was the shortest in DDY mice, 21.2 days in average, followed by GPC 21.4, BALB/c and DS 23.2, ICR and nude 23.4 days, respectively. The fertile period of the cuke was also the longest in the DDY strain, 164 days on average, followed by GPC 132, BALB/c 97, nude 37, DS 32 and ICR 28 days. The egg-laying capacity of the cuke in DDY and GPC was relatively high and stable compared with the other four strains of mice. It was found that there are intraspecific variations in biologic incubation period, fertile period, and fecundity of C. sinensis. The DDY mouse is likely to be the most suitable experimental animal among the six strains of the mice tested. Key words: Mouse strain, Clonorchis sinensis, egg-laying capacity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.107-114
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• 1993

Most of voltage operated $Ca^{2+}$ channels can be divided into three types (T-, N-, and L-type), according to the electrical and pharmacological properties. Their distribution is closely related to cell specific functions. Properties of the voltage activated $Ca^{2+}$ current in mouse eggs were examined to classify channel types and to deduce the function by using whole cell voltage clamp technique. $Ca^{2+}$ currents appeared below -40 mV and reached a maximum at -15 mV (half maximum was -31 mV), then decayed rapidly (inactivation time constant ${\tau}=28.2{\pm}9.59$ ms at -10 mV within 50 ms after the onset of step depolarization. Activation and inactivation of the $Ca^{2+}$ channel was steeply dependent on voltage, in a relatively low range of $-70\;mV{\sim}-10 mV,$ half maximum of activation was -31 mV and that of inactivation was -39 mV, respectively. This current was not decreased significantly by nifedipine, a specific dihydropyridine $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker in the range of $1\;{\mu}M\;to\;100{\mu}M.$ The inhibitory effect of $Ni^{2+}\;on\;Ca^{2+}$ current was greater than that of $Cd^{2+}.$ The conductance of $Ba^{2+}$ through the channel was equal to or lower than that of $Ca^{2+}$ These results implied that $Ca^{2+}$ current activated at a lower voltage in the mouse egg is carried via a $Ca^{2+}$ channel with similar properties that of the T-type channel.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2011

Change in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$-concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) is an essential event for egg activation and further development. $Ca^{2+}$ ion is originated from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$-store via inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor and/or $Ca^{2+}$ influx via $Ca^{2+}$ channel. This study was performed to investigate whether changes in $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaM KII) activity affect $Ca^{2+}$ influx during artificial egg activation with ethanol using $Ca^{2+}$ monitoring system and whole-cell patch clamp technique. Under $Ca^{2+}$ ion-omitted condition, $Ca^{2+}$-oscillation was stopped within 30 min post microinjection of porcine sperm factor, and ethanol-induced $Ca^{2+}$ increase was reduced. To investigate the role of CaM KII known as an integrator of $Ca^{2+}$- oscillation during mammalian egg fertilization, CaM KII activity was tested with a specific inhibitor KN-93. In the eggs treated with KN-93, ethanol failed to induce egg activation. In addition, KN-93 inhibited inward $Ca^{2+}$ current ($I_{Ca}$) in a time-dependent manner in whole-cell configuration. Immunostaining data showed that the voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels were distributed along the plasma membrane of mouse egg and 2-cell embryo. From these results, we suggest that $Ca^{2+}$ influx during fertilization might be controlled by CaM KII activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1278-1282
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• 2001

Effect of the egg yolks from laying hens intubated, p.o., astaxanthin (designated AEY) on the catabolic response overcome of mice was examined. Female ICR mice (6~7 weeks of age) were adapted in a temperature- and humidity-controlled house for one week and randomly divided into 5 groups (6 mice/cage/treatment). Mice were intubated p.o., AEY (5, 10 and 15 mg), control egg yolk (CEY, 10 mg), or fish oil (5 mg) dissolved in 0.2 mL phosphate buffered saline (PBS) every two days for 14 days. At day 15, the 0.1 mL of lipopolysaccharide solution (LPS, 30$\mu\textrm{g}$/0.1 mL 10 mM HEPES) was injected through tail vein, and then, the body weight of mouse and the amount of feed intake were measured over a period of 72 hours. Control group mice were received only PBS and LPS. AEY treatment suppressed the loss of mice body weight in a dose-response manner. Twenty four hours post LPS injection, the reduced body weight per mouse of AEY 5, AEY 10, and AEY 15 mg treatment groups was 3.70, 3.54, and 3.25 g, respectively. Body weight suppression effect of AEY treatment was greater than that of CEY, but less than fish oil. AEY treatment did not alter thymus weight, but increased the weight of spleen or liver. These results indicate that AEY suppressed the loss of body weight by LPS via any function of the spleen and/or liver.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.398-405
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• 2015

Egg allergy has been shown to be the most common food allergy in children with atopic dermatitis. Allergic reactions to proteins derived from egg white (EW) are more common than those derived from egg yolk. Ovomucoid, ovalbumin, ovotransferrin, and lysozyme have been identified as major allergens in EW. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of EW on immune modulation in an induced allergy mouse model. A total of 50 five-week-old BALB/c male mice were treated with trimellitic anhydride (TMA) for three weeks to induce allergy-like symptoms. The TMA-treated mice were rested for one week and then divided into five groups and fed 0, 10, 50, and 100 mg/d EW for four weeks. All EW consumption groups showed no significant increase or decrease in the populations of white blood cells; however, a significant increase in B-lymphocyte activity was observed in the fourth week. Furthermore, EW consumption did not influence serum immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin E levels. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the consumption of EW by TMA-treated mice did not increase allergic parameters such as serum IgE level, but enhanced the lymphocyte activities against pathogens. Therefore, this study suggests that the consumption of EW promotes Th2 immune modulation, and EW could be an excellent candidate for maintaining health.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.782-788
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• 2009

The genotoxicological safety of gamma-irradiated egg white and yolk was examined to ensure that required safety parameters were met, and in an effort to further apply gamma-irradiation for improvement of the hygienic qualities of eggs. Egg white and yolk were irradiated at 20 kGy, much higher than the legally approved dose (less than 5 kGy), and possible genotoxicity was evaluated using in vitro and in vivo tests. The SOS chromotest employing Escherichia coli PQ37, and a chromosomal aberration test in cultured Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells, were performed in vitro with or without metabolic activation (S9). An in vivo micronucleus development test was conducted using mouse bone marrow cells. Negative results were obtained in the SOS chromotest. The incidence of chromosomal aberration in CHL cells and the frequency of micronuclear developmentin mouse bone marrow cells treated with irradiated samples were not significantly different from those of non-irradiated controls. Thus, it may be concluded that up to 20 kGy of gamma irradiation applied to egg white and yolk did not show any genotoxic effects under our experimental conditions.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.389-399
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• 2010

Fertilization is a complex process comprised of numerous steps. During fertilization, two highly specialized and differentiated cells (sperm and egg) fuse and subsequently trigger the development of an embryo from a quiescent, arrested oocyte. Molecular interactions between the sperm and egg are necessary for regulating the developmental potential of an oocyte, and precise coordination and regulation of gene expression and protein function are critical for proper embryonic development. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has emerged as a valuable model system for identifying genes involved in fertilization and the oocyte-to-embryo transition as well as for understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern these processes. In this review, we will address current knowledge of the molecular underpinnings of gamete interactions during fertilization and the oocyte-to-embryo transition in C. elegans. We will also compare our knowledge of these processes in C. elegans to what is known about similar processes in mammalian, specifically mouse, model systems.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.297-306
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• 2020

Repetitive changes in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) triggers egg activation, including cortical granule exocytosis, resumption of second meiosis, block to polyspermy, and initiating embryonic development. [Ca²⁺]i oscillations that continue for several hours, are required for the early events of egg activation and possibly connected to further development to the blastocyst stage. The sources of Ca²⁺ ion elevation during [Ca²⁺]i oscillations are Ca²⁺ release from endoplasmic reticulum through inositol 1,4,5 tri-phosphate receptor and Ca²⁺ ion influx through Ca²⁺ channel on the plasma membrane. Ca²⁺ channels have been characterized into voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels (VDCCs), ligand-gated Ca²⁺ channel, and leak-channel. VDCCs expressed on muscle cell or neuron is specified into L, T, N, P, Q, and R type VDCs by their activation threshold or their sensitivity to peptide toxins isolated from cone snails and spiders. The present study was aimed to investigate the localization pattern of N and P/Q type voltage-dependent calcium channels in mouse eggs and the role in fertilization. [Ca²⁺]i oscillation was observed in a Ca²⁺ contained medium with sperm factor or adenophostin A injection but disappeared in Ca²⁺ free medium. Ca²⁺ influx was decreased by Lat A. N-VDCC specific inhibitor, ω-Conotoxin CVIIA induced abnormal [Ca²⁺]i oscillation profiles in SrCl₂ treatment. N or P/Q type VDC were distributed on the plasma membrane in cortical cluster form, not in the cytoplasm. Ca²⁺ influx is essential for [Ca²⁺]i oscillation during mammalian fertilization. This Ca²⁺ influx might be controlled through the N or P/Q type VDCCs. Abnormal VDCCs expression of eggs could be tested in fertilization failure or low fertilization eggs in subfertility women.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.500-504
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• 2001

Gamma irradiation was applied to reduce egg allergy. Ovalbumin (OVA), an egg white protein, was used as model allergen and was gamma-irradiated at 3, 5, or 10 kGy in an aqueous state (2.0 mg/mL). The changes in allergenic and antigenic properties of OVA resulted from gamma irradiation were monitored by ELISA with serum from egg-hypersensitive patients (H-IgE), and mouse monoclonal IgG (M-IgG) or rabbit polyclonal IgG (R-IgG). The binding ability of H-IgE to irradiated OVA was dose-dependently reduced. However, IgGs from animal did better recognize 3 or 5 kGy-irradiated OVA. In the evaluation of immune reactivity using blind test, the reactivity of H-IgE rapidly decreased depending upon the irradiation dose. However, the reactivities of M-IgG and R-IgG was higher at 5 and 3 kGy-irradiated OVA than non-irradiated control. The results provide a new possibility to use irradiation process for reducing the allergenicity of egg white.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1283-1286
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• 2001

Effect of the egg yolks from laying hens intubated, p.o., astaxanthin (designated AEY) on mouse humoral immunity was investigated using male ICR mouse (6~7 weeks of age). Mice were adapted in a temperature- and humidity- controlled house for one week and randomly divided into 5 treatment groups (9 mice/cage/treatment). Mice were intubated p.o., AEY (100, 250 and 500$\mu\textrm{g}$) or control egg yolks (CEY, 250$\mu\textrm{g}$), dissolved in 0.1 mL DMSO, for consecutive 4 days. At day 5, carbon suspension (pilot drawing ink 3 mL+3% gelatine 3 mL) was injected 3 $\mu$L Per 1 g body weight through tail vein. Carbon clearance time was measured at 5 and 35 minutes Post the injection of carbon suspension. Another two experiments were conducted to determine the hemagglultinin-titer (HGT) and hemolysin-titer (HLT) with male ICR mouse (8 mice/cage/treatment). Mice treated with AEY were induced immune activity with SRBC. HGT and HLT were measured from the blood at day 1 and 3 after treatment of SRBC. AEY treatment reduced the carbon clearance time. Especially the carbon clearance time by 500 $\mu\textrm{g}$ AEY treatment was 5.00 minutes, which was very short time compared with 9.42 minutes by control and 9.01 minutes by CEY. AEY group showed slights higher values of HGT and HLT than CEY group and control. At day 1, HGT in control, 250$\mu\textrm{g}$ CEY and 250$\mu\textrm{g}$ AEY groups was 5.50, 5.63, and 6.00, respectively. Similiarly, HLT in control, 250$\mu\textrm{g}$ CEY and 250$\mu\textrm{g}$ AEY groups was 4.75, 5.38, and 5.50, respectively, at day 1. These results suggest that AEY exhibited immunity-enhancing effect.