• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.372-380
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) containing nerve fivers after pulp exposure in rats. The Spague-Dawley rats weighing about 250 - 300g were used. The animals were devided into normal control group and experimental groups. Experimental animals were sacrified on 2, 4, 7, 10 days after pulp exposure. The maxillary teeth and alveolar bone were removed and immersed in the 4% paraformaldehyde plus 0.1M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). Serial frozen $50{\mu}m$ thick sections were cut with a cryostat. In the immunohistochemical staining procedure, the rabbit CGRP antibody was used as a primary antibody. The sections were incubated for 48 hours at $4^{\circ}C$, and placed into biotinylated anti-rabbit IgG as a secondary antibody and incubated in ABC (avidin-biotin complex), The sections were visualized by 0.05% 3.3 diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride. The results of this study were as follows: 1. In control group, CGRP containing nerve fibers ran parallel to the long axis of root and reached the coronal pulp. They were distributed on Raschkow plexus under the odontoblastic layer. 2. In 2 day group after pulp exposure, tissue necrosis and acute inflammation occurred and CGRP containing nerve fibers increased. In 4 day group, the necrotic tissue extended to the pulp and CGRP containing nerve fibers were distributed around the inflammation zone. 3. In 7 day group after pulp exposure, pulp necrosis occurred, and in 10 day group, the abscess under the necrotic pulp extended to the root apex area and CGRP containing nerve fibers were not observed in root canals. 4.The sprouting of CGRP nerve fibers was most remarkable at the pulp chamber under injury in 4 day group, and it was found at inflammation zone under the necrotic tissue in 7 day group and the remaining root pulp tissue in 10 day group. As mentioned above, CGRP nerve fibers had a tendency to increase around the inflammatory zone, especially around the acute inflammation tissue, when compared with control group. It is suggested that CGRP nerve fibers maybe related to the control of inflammatory response of pulp tissue.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.893-901
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• 2001

We developed the nerve growth factor (NGF) loaded poly (L - lactide) (PLA) scaffolds by means of emulsion freeze drying method to the possibility for the application of the nerve regeneration of spinal cord disease and the degeneration in Alzheimer's disease. The release amount of NGF from NGF loaded PLA scaffold were analyzed over a 4 week period in vitro at phosphate buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.4, at $37^{\circ}C$. It can be observed the open cell pore structure of porous scaffolds and can be easily controlled the pore structure by the controlling of formulation factors resulting in the controlling of the release rate and the release period. The stability of NGF during the preparation of PLA scaffold was evaluated by comparing the released amounts of total NGF, assayed NGF enzyme - linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Released NGF has been found to enhance the neurite sprouting and outgrowth from pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells. These results suggest that the released NGF from NGF loaded PLA scaffold such as conduit type can be very useful for the nerve regeneration in the neural tissue engineering area.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.63-71
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• 2004

Denervated skeletal muscle produces muscle atrophy as well as changes at the neuromuscular junction which leads to terminal axonal sprouting and an ultrastructural remodeling. NT-3 is expressed in adult muscle and motoneurons. Normally NT-3 has a potential role in regulating adult neuromuscular jungtion and recovering following muscle atrophy. Also, it could influence synaptic neurotransmission between motoneurons and skeletal muscle cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of electrical stimulation therapy(EST) on NT-3 expression in neuromuscular junction following sciatic nerve transsection in rats. After EST application during 7 days, the immunoreactivity of NT-3 was increased in neuromuscular junction

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.100-115
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide containing nerve fibers in rat pulp after dentinl injury by means of immunohistochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscope. The Spague-Dawley rats weighing about 250-300gm were used. The animals were devided into normal control and experimental groups. Experimental animals were sacrified 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 21days after dentinal injury (dentin cutting, and then acid etching with 35% phosphoric acid) on the maxillary molar teeth. The maxillary teeth and alveolar bone were removed and immersed in the 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), then were decalcified with 15% formic acid for 10 days. Serial frozen $50{\mu}m$ thick sections were cut on a cryostat. The rabbit CGRP antibody was used as a primary antibody with a dilution of 1:2000 in 0.01M PB. The sections were incubated for 48 hours at $4^{\circ}C$, and placed into biotinylated antirabbit Ig G as a secondary anti body with dilution of 1:200 in 0.01M PB and incubated in ABC(avidin-biotin complex). The peroxidase reaction was visualized by incubating the sections in 0.05% 3,3 diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride containing 0.02% $H_2O_2$. For the confocal laser scanning microscopic examination, Primary antibody reaction was same as immunoperoxidase stainning, but fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC)-conjugate antirabbit IgG as a secondary antibody was used. The confocal laser scanning microscope was used for the examination. A series of images of optical sections was collected with a 20x objective at $3{\mu}m$ intervals throughout the depth of specimen. FITC fluerescence was registrated through a 488nm and 568nm excitation filter, and images were saved on optical disk. The stereoscopic images and three dimentionnal images were reconstructed by computer software, and then were analyzed. The results were as follows : 1. In normal control group, CGRP containing nerve fibers were coursed through the root with very little branching, and then formed a dense network of terminals in coronal pulp. 2. A slight increase in CGRP containing nerve fibers at 1 and 2day postinjury was noted subjacent to the injury site. In the 4day group, there were an extensive increase in the number of reactive fibers, followed by a partial return toward normal levels at 7~10 day postinjury, and return by 21days. 3. The sprouting of the CGRP containing nerve fibers was evident within 2day after dentinal injury, and by 4days there was a maximal increased, but was decreased at 7days and returned to normal 10~21 day postinjury. 4. In confocal laser scanning microscopic exammination, the distinct distribution pattern and sprouting reaction of CGRP containing nerve fibers were observed in stereoscopic images and three dimentional images. These results suggest that CGRP containing nerve fiber can be important role in the response to dental injury and pain regulation.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.334-340
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• 2003

In order to fabricate new sustained delivery device of nerve growth factor (NGF), we developed NGF-loaded biodegradable poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA, the mole ratio of lactide to glycolide 75:25, molecular weight: 83,000 and 43,000 g/mole, respectively) film by novel and simple sandwich solvent casting method for the possibility of the application of neural tissue engineering. PLGA was copolymerized by direct condensation reaction and the molecular weight was controlled by reaction time. Released behavior of NGF from NGF-loaded films was characterized by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and degradation characteristics were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The bioactivity of released NGF was identified using a rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cell based bioassay. The release of NGF from the NGF-loaded PLGA films was prolonged over 35 days with zero-order rate of 0.5-0.8 ng NGF/day without initial burst and could be controlled by the variations of molecular weight and NGF loading amount. After 7 days NGF released in phosphate buffered saline and PC-12 cell cultured on the NGF-loaded PLGA film for 3 days. The released NGF stimulated neurite sprouting in cultured PC-12 cells, that is to say, the remained NGF in the NGF/PLGA film at 37 $^{\circ}C$ for 7 days was still bioactive. This study suggested that NGF-loaded PLGA sandwich film is released the desired period in delivery system and useful neuronal growth culture as nerve contact guidance tube for the application of neural tissue engineering.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.67-80
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of deer antler extract on the regeneration of peripheral nerves. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing about 300 gm were fed deer antler extract for 1, 2, and 3 weeks per oral (1.5 ml/100 gm B.W.), respectively, once a day and transected both sides of sciatic nerve of each leg. After keeping for 6 hours, sciatic nerves taken from proximal part of transected region were treated with conventional transmission electron microscopical method and then observed with electron microscope. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. Sciatic nerves of normal control group were not showing any sprouts and electron dense axolemmal projections were frequently observed. 2. Sciatic nerves of saline treated groups were showing axonal sprouts at the nodes of Ranvier. The length of them was usually short, and numerous vesicles, vacuoles and organelles including neurofilament were contained. The number of nodes of Ranvier containing sprouts from 100 longitudinal sectioned nerve fibers was 29 (29%) in 1 week treated group, 32 (32%) in 2 weeks treated group, and 30 (30%) in 3 weeks treated group, respectively. 3. Sciatic nerves of deer antler treated groups were showing axonal sprouts at the node of Ranvier as well. Although most of the sprouts were short, some sprouts of 2 weeks and 3 weeks treated groups were quite long. Sprouts usually contained numerous vesicles, vacuoles and cell organelles such as neurofilaments and mitochondria. The number of nodes of Ranvier containing sprouts from 100 longitudinal sectioned nerve fibers was 38 (38%) in 1 week treated group, 46 (46%) in 2 weeks treated group, and 48 (48%) in 3 weeks treated group respectively. The results described above explain pretreatment of deer antler extract improves the sprout formation of transected sciatic nerves, and then it suggests deer antler may be effective for the regeneration of peripheral nerves.