• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.196-204
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• 2003

Aqueous extract of Enicostemma littorale is reported to have antidiabetic activity. In the present investigation, we studied the effect of aqueous extract of E. littorale and its different fractions i.e., toluene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol fractions and remaining residual fraction in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced neonatal type 2 diabetic rats. Fasting glucose and insulin levels in NIDDM were significantly (P<0.05) higher than control rats and they were significantly decreased by treatment with aqueous extract of E. littorale and its n-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions. Results of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) showed that aqueous extract and its n-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions significantly (P<0.05) decrease both $AUC_{glucose}$ and $AUC_{insulin}$ values in NIDDM treated groups. Insulin sensitivity $(K_{ITT})$ index of NIDDM control was significantly lower as compared to normal control and this was significantly (P<0.05) increased after treatment with aqueous extract, its n-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions. Treatment with aqueous extract of E. littorale and its n-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions lowered the elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels observed in NIDDM rats. Treatment with aqueous extract of E. littorale and its n-butanol fraction showed significant decrease in creatinine, urea, SGPT and SGOT levels as compared to NIDDM control rats. However ethyl acetate fraction showed significant changes only in creatinine and SGOT levels, and not in the levels of urea, and SGPT as compared to NIDDM control rats. Treatment with toluene, chloroform and residual fractions of E. littorale did not produce any effect on glucose, insulin, triglyceride, cholesterol, creatinine, urea, SGPT or SGOT levels as compared to NIDDM control rats. Our data suggest that n-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions contain the active compounds which may be responsible for the above activity and associated complications in NIDDM diabetes mellitus.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.235-245
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• 2006

Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) are ubiquitously distributed chemicals that are widely used as plasticizers and also found at low levels in foods. The aims of this study were to determine whether perinatal exposure to DBP, DINP and DEHA could alter normal patterns of neonatal development. Dams were provided with pulverized soy-free diet containing 20, 200, 2,000 and 10,000 ppm of DBP, 40, 400, 4.000 and 20,000 ppm of DINP, or 480, 2,400 and 12,000 ppm of DEHA from gestational day 15 to postnatal day 21. Exposure to the high doses of DBP, DINP and DEHA during gestational period significantly decreased food consumption and body weight gain of dams. These chemicals reduced neonatal body weight as well as that of the after maturation. Also, exposure to DINP of all the doses used and the higher doses (2,400 and 12,000 ppm) of DEHA decreased AGD at PND 1 in male neonates, though that to DBP did not affect AGD in males. In female neonates, an increase in AGD was observed in DBP- and DINP-exposed animals at the highest doses. Moreover, these chemicals affected survival rate of pups at PND 5, and delayed onset of eye opening in all chemica1-exposed groups at PND 17. These results suggest that perinatal exposure to these chemicals may affect the normal development and/or growth of offspring.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.201-208
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• 2005

Earlier we have reported the antidiabetic activity of fresh juice of rhizomes of Zingiber officinale (Z. officinale) and its correlation with 5-HT receptor antagonism. Since 6-gingerol the marker compound of Z. officinale is reported to posses 5-HT anatgonistic activity, the present investigation, was undertaken to find out the concentration of 6-gingerol present in methanolic extract of Z. officinale and its different fractions (petroleum ether, toluene and chloroform). We also evaluated these fractions for antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced neonatal type 2 diabetic rats. Fasting glucose and insulin levels in non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rats were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher than control rats and these were significantly decreased by treatment with methanolic extract of Z. officinale and its fractions. The results of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) showed that methanolic extract and its fractions significantly (P < 0.05) decreased both STZ-induced increase in $AUC_{glucose}$ and $AUC_{insulin}$ values in NIDDM groups. Treatment with petroleum ether fraction produced a greater reduction in elevated glucose and $AUC_{glucose}$ levels as compared to treatment with other fractions. Treatment with methanolic extract of Z. officinale and its fractions also produced significant reduction in the elevated lipid, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) levels in NIDDM rats. The effect of petroleum ether fraction on elevated lipid, SGOT and SGPT levels was significantly greater as compared to treatment with other fractions. The concentration of 6-gingerol was found to be maximum in petroleum ether fraction (11.430%) and minimum in chloroform fraction (0.973%). The methanolic extract and toluene fraction was found to contain 3.080% and 2.191 %, 6-gingerol respectively. In conclusion, our data suggest that methonolic extract and its fractions possess significant antidiabetic activity in NIDDM rats. The extent of activity appears to be dependent on the concentration of 6-gingerol present in the extract or its fractions.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.81-89
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• 1995

A teratogenicity study of KTC-1, a new semisynthetic rifamycin antituberculous drug, was conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats. Dosages of KTC-1 0, 7, 21, and 63 mg/kg/day were administered to darns orally gayage from day 7 to day 17 of gestation. Two-third of dams per group were subjected to cesarean section on day 21 of pregnancy for examination of their fetuses, and the remaining one-third of darns per group were allowed to deliver naturally for postnatal examination of their offspring. At 21 mg/kg/day, an increase in the skeletal variations of F1 fetuses and a decrease in the body weight of F1 offspring were seen. At 63 mg/kg/day, a loss in body weight was observed in darns. An increase in fetal death rate, a decrease in litter size and body weight, and an increase in the incidence of visceral malforrnations and skeletal variations were found in F1 fetuses. In particular, lumar rib occurred at an incidence of 31%. In addition, an increase in the dead newborns at birth and neonatal deaths during the lactation period, a loss in body weight, and a decrease in spleen weight were observed in F1 offspring. There were no signs of maternal toxicity or embryotoxicity at 7 mg/kg/day. The results suggest that the no-effect dose level(NOEL)for dams is 21 mg/kg/day, and NOELs for F1 fetuses and offspring are 7 mg/kg/day.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.211-219
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• 2005

Trigeminovascular system plays an important role for the cerebral memodynamics. The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations in cerebrovascular reactivity by trigeminovascular system injury in rats. Trigeminovascular system of male Sprague-Dawley rats was injured by either denervation of nasocilliary nerve or neonatal capsaicin treatment. Trigeminovascular system was stimulated by controlled hemorrhagic hypotension or somatosensory (whisker) stimulation. Changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and pial arterial diameter were continuously measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry and videomicroscopy, respectively. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in cerebral cortex was determined by measuring the conversion of $L-^3H-arginine\;to\;L-^3H-citrulline$. Cyclic GMP levels in cerebral cortex and pial artery were determined using the cyclic GMP $^{125}I$ scintillation proximity assay system. rCBF autoregulation was impaired or almost abolished by trigeminovascular system injury. rCBF response to whisker stimulation was significantly attenuated by trigeminovascular system injury. NOS activity as well as cyclic GMP level in cerebral cortex and pial artery were significantly reduced in the group of trigeminovascular system injury. These results suggest that trigeminovascular system injury causes prominent alterations in cerebrovascular reactivity, and that NO, which is generated by neuronal NOS in the trigeminovascular system, is implicated in the regulation of rCBF.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.732-742
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• 2002

목 적: 저산소-허혈에 대한 신경독성의 규명 및 xanthine oxidase inhibitor인 allopurinol의 저산소성-허혈 유도에 미치는 방어효과를 조사하기 위하여 본 연구를 시도하였다. 방 법: 신생쥐에 우측 총경동맥을 결찰 및 8% O2의 노출로 허혈 및 저산소 상태를 만든 후 저산소성-허혈이 12-72시간 동안 대뇌의 neuron과 astrocyte에 미치는 영향을 조사하여 신경독성을 규명하고, 또한 xanthine oxidase inhibitor인 allopurinol이 저산소성-허혈 유도에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위하여 저산소성-허혈 유도 15분 전에 150 mg/kg의 allopurinol을 복강 투여한 다음 투여 후 14일 후에 신생쥐를 희생하여 이의 뇌 조직으로부터 순수분리 배양한 신경 세포에 대하여 세포의 수적 변화와 생존율을 비롯하여 LDH와 단백질합성 및 PKC를 조사하였다. 결 과 : 1) 저산소성-허혈은 저산소-허혈 유도 직후부터 72시간 동안 시간경과에 비례하여 신생쥐의 대뇌 neurons의 수와 세포생존율을 유의하게 감소시켰다. 2) 저산소성-허혈은 저산소-허혈 유도 직후부터 72시간 동안 시간경과에 비례하여 신생쥐의 대뇌 astrocyte의수와 세포생존율을 다소 감소시켰다. 3) 저산소-허혈 유도 14일 후 neuron의 수와 세포 생존율 및 단백질합성은 대조군에 비하여 유의하게 감소하였으나 LDH는 매우 증가하였다. 4) 저산소-허혈 유도 직전 allopurinol 처리에 의하여 neuron의 수와 세포생존율 및 단백질합성은 유의하게 증가하였고 LDH치는 현저히 감소하였다. 5) 배양된 neuron에 대한 PKC 조사에 있어서 허혈 유도 10분에 현저한 PKC치의 증가를 보였으며, allopurinol의 전 처리는 허혈 유도에 의한 PKC치의 증가를 유의하게 감소시켰다. 결 론 : 저산소성-허혈은 신생쥐의 대뇌 신경세포에 독성효과를 나타냈으며 활성산소 제거제인 allopurinol은 세포수 및 세포생존률의 증가에 의한 신경세포의 손상보호를 나타내었고, 단백질합성 증가, LDH치 및 PKC치의 감소로 세포손상에 대한 효과적 방어도 관찰할 수 있었다.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.251-264
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• 2003

Alcohol exposure during development leads to significant long-term neurobehavior dysfunction and central nervous system alteration. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of enriched enviroment in developmental period through motor behavior test and expression of BDNF. Neonatal rat exposed to alcohol on postnatal days 4 through 10 were studied. Female Sprague-Dawley pups were assigned to two groups. Experimental group(EG) via 4.5 g kg-1day-1 of ethanol was housed in enriched enviornment for 9 weeks. The main result of this study were as follows: 1. There was significant difference in the mean of weight change between control and experimental group. 2. In motor behavior test, there was significant difference in the mean of weight change between control and experimental group. 3. Regarding the immunoreactivity of BDNF were higher appeared experimental group than control group. In conclusion, the present results reveals that enriched enviroment in developmental period is to be extremely useful in neuronal reprganization and motor behavior improvement after alcohol exposure.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.319-329
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• 1999

Onset of female puberty follows a series of prepubertal cellular and molecular events including changes of synaptic plasticity, synthetic and releasing activity and gene expression. Dramatic increase of gonadal steroid level is one of the most prominent changes before the onset of puberty. Based on the importance of steroid feedback upon the hypothalamus, we adopted an estrogen sterilized rat (ESR) model where 100 ng of 17$\eta$-estradiol were administered into neonatal pubs for 7 days after birth. To identify genes involved in the onset of female puberty, we applied PCR differential display using RNA samples derived from ESR and control rat hypothalami. About 100 out of more than 1000 RNA species examined displayed differential expression patterns between a 60-day old control rat and ESR. Sequence analysis of differentially amplified PCR products showed homology with genes such as mouse kinesin superfamily-associated protein 3 (KAP3) and several cDNAs previously described by others in mouse and human tissues. Several gene products such as 2-1 and 8-1 corresponded to novel DNA sequences. We analyzed mRNA levels of KAP3, 2-1 and 8-1 genes in the hypothalami derived from neonatal, 6-, 28-, 31-, and 40-day old rats. Northern blot analysis showed that mRNAs of KAP3, 2-1 and 8-1 genes were markedly increased before the initiation of puberty. Neonatal treatment of estrogen clearly inhibited prepubertal increases in KAP3, 2-1 and 8-1 mRNA levels. Therefore, these genes may play important roles in the initiation of hypothalamic puberty. In addition, intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of antisense KAP3 oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) clearly delayed puberty initiation determined by vaginal opening, which further confirmed that KAP3 plays an important role in the regulation of puberty initiation.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.327-331
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• 2001

There is a critical developmental period during which brain sexual differentiation proceeds irreversibly under the influence of gonadal hormone. Recently, kinesin superfamily-associated protein 3 (KAP3) gene expressed during the 'critical period' of rat brain differentiation was identified by us (Choi and Lee, 1999). KAP3 functions as a microtubule-based motor that transports membranous organelles anterogradely in cells, including neurons (Yamazaki et al., 1996). mRNA level of KAP3 gene markedly increased before the initiation of puberty. Neonatal treatment of estrogen clearly inhibited the prepubertal increase in KAP3 mRNA level (Choi and Lee, 1999). In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as endocrine disruptors (EDs) on the expression of KAP3 gene during the 'critical period' of rat brain development. In our data, PCBs significantly decreased the expression of KAP3 gene in the fetal (day 17) and the neonatal (day 6 after birth in) male and female rat brains. The body weight and the breeding ability were significantly decreased in the PCBs-exposed rats compared with the control. These results showed that PCBs affect the transcriptional level of brain sexual differentiation related gene, KAP3, in the fetal and the neonatal rat brains. The maternal exposure to the PCBs may lead to toxic response in embryonic brain sexual differentiation and breeding ability after sexual maturation. This study indicates that KAP3 gene may be useful as a gene marker to analyze the molecular mechanism of toxic response in the animal brain development and sexual maturation exposed to PCBs.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.44-52
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• 2010

목 적 : 경구 내독소와 저산소 자극을 이용하여 신생쥐에서 실험적 괴사성 장염(necrotizing enterocolitis, NEC)을 유발하고 그 병태생리에서 세포자멸사의 역할을 알아본다. 방 법:신생쥐에 경구로 내독소(5 mg/kg)를 투여하고 8% 저산소 자극을 주어 NEC를 유발하고 성공적으로 NEC가 유발된 군에 caspase 억제제를 전처치하고 비교하였다. 장 조직의 병리학적 분석은 hematoxylin-eosin 염색한 슬라이드로 하였고 세포자멸사는 TUNEL 염색과 장 조직 caspase-3 활성으로 분석하였다. IEC-6세포주에 내독소와 저산소를 처리한 후 세포자멸사와 Bax, Bcl-2, Fas, FasL의 발현을 분석하였다. 결 과:경구 내독소(5 mg/kg)와 반복적으로 60분간 2회 투여된 8% 저산소 자극에 의해서 NEC와 유사한 장병변이 신생쥐에서 유발되었다. 장 조직은 세포자멸사와 caspase-3 활성의 증가를 보여주었다. Caspase 억제제 전처치에 의해서 세포자멸사와 NEC의 중증도가 모두 감소하였다. IEC-6 세포주도 내독소와 저산소 자극에 의해서 세포자멸사와 caspase-3 활성의 증가를 보여주었으며 Bax/Bcl-2 ratio가 유의하게 증가하였다. 결 론:경구 내독소와 저산소를 이용한 본 NEC 신생쥐 모델은 caspase-3 활성에 의해 매개되는 장 상피세포의 세포자멸사가 병태생리에 관여함을 보였다. 본 동물모델은 임상에서 흔히 접할 수 있는 자극을 적용하였기 때문에 그 병태생리와 치료적 시도의 연구에 더욱 유용하리라고 본다.