• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2011

Aging in females is associated with a reduced metabolic function, increased incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, and cognitive dysfunction, as a result of loss in gonadal function. The change can alter the states of phosphorylation on the proteins, which cause dramatic changes in the cellular location or activity of the proteins. In this study, the differential phosphorylation of the proteins responsible for the functions related to cognition was studied using the ovariectomized adult rats. Phosphoproteomic analysis using the cerebral and hippocampal tissues could identify 51 differentially phosphorylated proteins including 12 proteins for energy metabolism, 8 cytoskeletal proteins, 6 signaling proteins, and other functional proteins in the ovariectomized rats. Further, anti-oxidative enzymes, superoxide dismutase and peroxiredoxin-2, which are known to be inactivated by phosphorylation, were found to be differentially phosphorylated in the cerebellum and hippocampus of the ovariectomized rats, respectively. Many of the deactivated proteins by differential phosphorylation identified in this study were overlapped to those of Alzheimer's disease cases. These results will provide information for neurodegenerative learning and memory impairments in women as brought about by menopause.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.102-107
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• 1989

The present experiment was performed to study whether or not ovariectomized female rats can be used as an animal model to investigate the effects of estrogen on body compositions. Six-month-old, female rats were ovariectomized and the changes in body compositions were evaluated 6 months after surgery. As summarized in Fig. 2, body fat accretion was double in ovariectomized rats compared to shamoperated rats. Muscle weights were not d!fferent, while bone weights were lower in ovx rats than in sham rats when the values were expressed as a per\ulcornercentage of body weight. Results of the present study suggest that these ovariectomized rats can be utilized as an animal model to study the body compositions of postmenopausal obese women and related health problems.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.109-113
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of a combined treatment consisting of an isoflavone diet and aerobic exercise on the Caspase 9 levels, and Bcl-2 levels during menopause, using 30 S.D ovariectomized rats as a model, over 12 weeks. The ovariectomized rats were divided into 4 experiment groups, with 8 rats in each group, as follows: (1) General diet group (GD, n=8), (2) Isoflavone diet group (ID, n=8), (3) General diet + Exercise group (GEX, n=8), (4) Isoflavone diet + Exercise group (IEX, n=8). The findings of this study were as follows: 1. Combined treatment consisting of an isoflavone diet and regular exercise resulted in a significant reduction in the expression of caspase-9 proteins (p<0.05), and a significant increase in the expression of Bcl-2 proteins (P<0.001). In addition, apoptotic cells were more decreased (p<0.001) in GEX and IEX group. This also suggests that cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women might be prevented or inhibited to exert positive apoptotic inhibitory effects by increasing Bcl-2 protein expression within aortic tissues during vascular movement and decrease caspase-9 protein.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.33-37
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• 2021

[Purpose] Sex hormones deficiency leads to dramatically bone loss in particular postmenopausal women. Royal jelly has anti-osteoporosis effect due to maintain bone volume in that condition. We hypothesized that royal jelly protein (RJP, a latent residue after extracting royal jelly) also prevents bone deficient in ovariectomized (OVX) female rats, the animal model of postmenopausal women. [Methods] Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 30, 6 weeks age old) were sham operated (Sham; sham operated group, n = 7), OVX control group (OC, n = 7), OVX with low RJP intake group (ORL, n = 8), and OVX with high RJP intake group (ORH, n = 8) during 8 weeks experimental periods. In the end point of this experiment, the bone samples (lumbar spine, tibia, and femur) were surgically removed under anesthesia. These bone samples were evaluated bone mineral density (BMD) and bone strength. [Results] BMD of lumbar spine in RJP intake groups (ORL, ORH) were higher than that in OC group (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) in RJP intake volume dependent manner. BMD of tibial proximal metaphysis and diaphysis in RJP intake groups were also higher than these in OC group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01 / p < 0.05 and p < 0.001). In addition, breaking force of femur in RJP intake groups were significantly increase compared with that in OC group (p < 0.001 respectively). [Conclusion] These findings indicate that RJP contribute to prevent sex hormone related bone abnormality.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2005

This study was performed to determine the effect of three different concentrations of soy-isoflavones on calcium and phosphorus balance in either sham-operated or ovariectomized female rats. Seventy-two 16-week old Sprague-Dawley rats underwent sham operation or bilateral ovariectomy. They were provided diets containing different levels of soy iso-flavones for 6 weeks: 50 ppm (Jow isoflavone intake; LI) , 250 ppm (medium isoflavone intake; MI) and 500 ppm (high isoflavone intake; HI). The subsequent fecal and urinary excretions of calcium and phosphorus were then measured. In the sham-operated rats, body weight gains and food efficiency ratio of the MI and HI groups were significantly lower than the control group while food intake was not different. However, there was no significant difference in the ovariectomized rats. The fecal excretion of calcium was significantly lower in the LI, MI and HI groups than the control group in sham operated rats, and significantly lower in the HI group than the control group in ovariectomized rats. Also, apparent ab-sorption rate of calcium and phosphorus did not show any significant difference among groups. Urinary excretion of calcium and phosphorus was significantly lower in the HI group than the LI group in the sham-operated rats. Urinary excretion of calcium was significantly higher in the control ovariectomized rats than in the control sham-operated rats. Retention of calcium and phosphorus did not show any significant difference in both groups. From the above result, we see that isoflavone intake increases calcium retention through an increase in calcium absorption and also suppresses the increase of calcium excretion in urine in ovariectomy. Therefore, it is suggested that isoflavone intake is recommended for menopausal women who experience sharp bone loss due to the decrease in estrogen honnone.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.298-308
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• 1995

To investigate the effect of estrogen and dietary protein level on Ca metabolism, female rats were undergone ovariectomy or sham-operation. Ovariectomized rate were divided into either estrogen-or vehicle-treated groups. Each treatment group was again divided into 40%-casein(H) or 10%-casein(L) diet groups. All experimental diets contained 0.2% Ca, 0.4% P and fed to rats for 8 weeks. Apparant Ca absorption and Ca balance were not affected by dietary protein level and ovariectomy, however they were increased by estrogen injection and this effect was even higher in low protein groups. Urinary Ca excretion were higher in high protein groups. GFR was not affected by dietary protein level, ovariectomy, or by estrogen injection. Urinary protein excretion was higher in high protein groups, which implies that the kidney funtion was deteriorated by high protein diet, and this may account partly for the higher urinary Ca in high protein groups. Ovariectomy or estrogen treatment had no effect on urinary protein excretion. Urinary hydroxyproline was higher in ovariectomized rats and increased in high protein grous. Elevated value of ovarictomized rats was lowered by estrogen injection, especially in low protein group. Alkaline phosphatase tended to increase in ovariectomized groups and lowered with estrogen treatment, but this difference was not statistically significant. Serum PTH was not affected by ovariectomy and dietary protein level. Therefore the increased hydroxproline excretion does not seem to be attributed to PTH. Dietary protein level, ovariectomy and estrogen treatment did not affect the weights and components of femur, scapular, and 4th vertebra. Ash/wt ratio of femur was, however, lower in ovariectomized rats and increased with estrogen treatment. Therefore, among the bones studied, femur seemed to be the most vulnerable. The results of this study shows that estrogen treatment may alleviate or reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women somewhat, especially for those people with low protein diet.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.206-215
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of manganese (Mn) supplementation on bone status and calcium balance in ovariectomized rats according to the calcium intake levels. Total of 50 Sprague Dawley female rats (6 weeks) were divided into 5 groups and bred for 12 weeks: sham operated control group (SACa), OVX Ca deficiency group (OLCa) with Ca deficiency diet (0.1% Ca modified AIN-93N diet), OVX Ca deficiency & Mn supplement group (OLCaMn), OVX adequate Ca group (OACa; 0.5% Ca AIN-93N diet) and OVX adequate Ca & Mn supplement group (OACaMn). BMD (bone mineral density) of the femur was increased by Mn supplementation in OVX adequate Ca group. However, BMDs of spine, femur and tibia were lowered in OLCa compared to the OLCaMn group. Bone strength of tibia in OLCaMn group was significantly lower than OLCa group. Serum ALP (alkaline phosphatase) and CTx (C-telopeptide of collagen cross-links) levels were significantly higher in ovariectomized rats than those in the sham group, but they were not changed by Mn supplementation. Ca retention rate and Ca absorption rate did not differ among the experimental groups. Urinary Ca excretion was increased by Mn supplementation in Ca deficiency rats. In summary, Mn supplementation resulted in positive effects on bone mineral density ovariectomized rats with which intake adequate Ca. However, Mn supplementation on Ca deficiency ovariectomized rats resulted in decrement of BMO and bone strength by increasing Ca excretion. Therefore, it is encouraged to consider calcium intake levels in supplementation of manganese in order to prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis and to keep bone healthy. (KoreanJNutr2008; 41(3): 206~215)

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.249-254
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate the effects of sea tangle (ST) extracts on serum lipid concentration in ovariectomized rats. Weight-matched female Sprague-Dawley strain rats were assigned to four groups. Three groups were surgically ovariectomized (OVX). The fourth group was sham operated. Rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: sham-operated rats (Sham), ovariectomized control rats (OVX-control), ovariectomized rats supplemented with ST at 50 mg/kg body wt (OVX-ST50) and ovariectomized rats supplemented with ST at 200 mg/kg body wt (OVX-ST200). The activities of serum GOT and GPT were increased by ovariectomized. The serum GOT levels in OVX-ST50 and OVX-ST200 groups were decreased than OVX-control group. But GPT level was only decreased in the serum of OVX-ST200 group. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride contents decreased in sham group compared with OVX-control group by ovariectomy. Six weeks feeding of ST extract resulted in a significant lowering of serum triglyceride and lowering tendency of total cholesterol Level. The serum HDL-cholesterol was higher in ST groups than OVX-control group. These results suggest that the beneficial effect of ST extract may be used to possibly improve on the lipid metabolic syndrome of menopausal women.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1680-1687
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• 2012

Postmenopausal women are at an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease, primarily due to dyslipidemia that accompanies the loss of estrogen secretion. This study was performed to investigate the effects of Opuntia humifusa seed extracts on blood flow and serum lipid level in ovariectomized rats. Twenty-eight 9-week old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups as sham-operated rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX-CON), and ovariectomized rats that were treated with Opuntia humifusa seed extracts (OVX-OHS 2% and OVX-OHS 6%). The diets were fed to the rats for 7 weeks after operation. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride contents decreased in the SHAM group compared to the OVX-CON group. Seven weeks of feeding of Opuntia humifusa seed extracts resulted in significant (p<0.05) lowering of serum triglyceride and a decreasing tendency in total cholesterol levels. The level of HDL-cholesterol in serum increased significantly by feeding diets containing the 2% and 6% Opuntia humifusa seed hot-water extract (p<0.05). Blood passage times were shorter in the Opuntia humifusa seed extract-supplemented groups than in the untreated group (OVX-CON). The platelet aggregation ability was lower in groups treated with Opuntia humifusa seed extracts than in the OVX-CON group. These results suggest that Opuntia humifusa seed extracts may have benefits in improving metabolic syndrome in menopausal women.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1841-1846
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• 2009

Menopause is often associated with the incidence of several chronic diseases including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an effective regimen that has been found to prevent these diseases in postmenopausal women. However, HRT is accompanied by an increased risk of unfavorable outcomes. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Ecklonia cava, a kind of seaweed, extract on bone turnover markers in symptomatic menopausal women. For this study, the following four groups of 9-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were evaluated over 6 weeks: normal rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX-CON) and ovariectomized rats that were treated with Ecklonia cava extracts. The optimum extraction temperature and solvent of Ecklonia cava were found to be $80^{\circ}C$ and 80% ethanol. We measured the osteocalcin and CTx content, enzyme ALP activity in serum and collagen content in the cartilage, bone, skin and lungs. We found that the levels of indicators of bone metabolism such as ALP, osteocalcin and CTx were lower in rats in the Ecklonia cava extract group than the OVX-CON group. In addition, the collagen contents in the bone, cartilage, skin and lungs decreased in response to ovariectomy, but the levels of collagen were greater in the bone of rats that were treated with Ecklonia cava extract than in the bone of rats in the OVX-CON group. According to these results, we were able to know the effects of Ecklonia cava extract on bone aging in ovariectomized rats. Consequently, we expect Ecklonia cava extract to have an effect on bone aging in postmenopausal women.