• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.89-102
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• 2008

Purpose : The experiments was undertaken to evaluate the effects of herbal medicine, Ojeoksan, in pregnant rats Methods : Female Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered with the Ojeoksan at dose of 5mg/kg/day for 20 days. Pregnant rats were sacrificed at 20th day of gestation, and observed internal and reproductive organs. Approximately live fetuses in the 20th day of gestation were randomly selected and fixed in 95% ethanol. Results : Maternal body weight of Ojeoksan treated group has a tendency to increase compared to that of control group. There were no significant difference in internal and reproductive organs. There were no significant changes between two groups in blood chemistry and hematological values. There were no significant changes in number of corpus luteum, implantation, live fetuses and sex ratio. But Ojeoksan administered group showed higher delivery rate, early resorption rate than the control group. Also Ojeoksan administered group showed higher implantation rate, late resorption rate than the control group. Conclusion : From these results, it can be concluded that Ojeoksan showed no toxicity effects on maternal body weight and number of live fetuses. There were no significant changes in organ weight, hematological data, reproductive organs. We need more precise study to investigate the mechanism of early or late resoption by the herbal medicines such as Ojeoksan.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2000

The objective of this experiment is to investigate neurobehavioral and developmental effects of fumonisin B1 (FB1) after prenatal FB1 administration in rats. FB1 (0.8 or 1.6 mg/kg) was orally exposed to pregnant rats during gestational days 13 to 20, whereas the vehicle alone was administered to control group. Maternal and offspring body weights, physical landmarks of incisor eruption, eye opening, testes descending and vaginal opening, open field activity, running wheel activity, and complex maze performance were included as endpoints for developmental and neurobehavioral measurement. Maternal body weights were not signfficantly altered after FB1 exposure. Percentage of maternal weight gain difference between control and 1.6 mg/kg FBI groups was about 4%. Pre- and post-weanling weight of offsprings after prenatal exposure to FB1 was not signfficantly changed, suggesting that FB1 at 0.8 or 1.6 kg/kg doses may not cross the placenta. Significant gender difference in running wheel activity on postnatal days 57 to 63 and complex maze performance on postnatal days 75 to 78 was observed.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.331-338
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• 1997

A teratogenic study on Original Woo-Whang-Chung-Sim-Won was carried out in SpragueDawley rats. Original Woo-Whang-Chung-Sim-Won suspended in distilled water was administered to pregnant dams by oral gavage during organogenesis period (from 7th to 17th day of gestation) at daily doses of 1/9, 1/3 and I pill/kg. About two-thirds of dams were sacrificed at 20th day of gestation to scrutinize the pregnant performances and fetal development, and the remaining dams were allowed to deliver. The growth, reflex, behaviour and reproductive function of F1 offsprings were examined. There was no treatment-related difference in body weight, food consumption and necropy findings of dams. No gross, skeletal and visceral abnormalities was observed in F1 fetuses from dams treated with Original Woo-Whang-Chung-Sim-Won. F1 offsprings did not show any treatment-related difference in growth, reflex, behaviour and reproductive peuformance. At caesarean section of F1 dams, no growth retardation and gross abnormality was observed in F2 fetuses. In conclusion, Original Woo-Whang-Chung-Sim-Won did not show any potential teratogenic activity in rats.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.157-165
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• 1994

This experiment was examined the effect of splenectomy on the hematology in pregnant wistar rat. Only animals that had been shown regular 4-day estrous cycles for more than two cycles were used. The day after mating with the same male animal ws designated Day 0 of pregnancy. Spleen was removed from Day 0(early), 6(middle) and 13(late) of pregnant rat, respectively. Blood sample was collected at Day 1, 7, 14 and 21 of the pregnancy. 1. RBC was increased significantly(P<0.05) to the progress of pregnancy in control rat. The late splenectomized rats were decreased significantly(P<0.05) at Day 21 of pregnancy than control rats. 2. Hb was increased significantly (P<0.05) at 21th day of pregnancy in late splenectomized groups than others group. 3. In the late splenectomized rats, Ht was decreased significant (P<0.05) due to the progress of pregnancy and decreased significantly (P<0.05) at Day 21 of pregnancy in all splenectomized groups. 4. WBC was increased significantly (P<0.05) at Day 1 of pregnancy in splenectomized groups compared with control. 5. In differential leukocyte rate, the Basophils and Monocytes was not significantly changed. Neutrophils was increased significantly(P<0.05) at Day 14 and 21 than Day 1 and 7 of pregnancy in control. Lymphocytes was decreased significantly(P<0.05) in control due to progress of pregnancy. Neutrophils was increased and Lymphocytes was decreased significantly(P<0.05) in splenectomized groups compared with control.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.167-174
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• 1994

This experiment was undertaken to investigate the effect of splenectomy on the hematology and maintenance of pregnant rats. Those animals that had shown regular 4 or 5 day estrous cycles for more than two cycles were used. The day after mating ws designated Day 0 of pregnancy. Spleen was removed from Day 0(early), 6(middle) and 13(late) of pregnant rat, respectively. Blood was collected on Day 1, 7, 14 and 21 of the pregnancy. 1. The total serum protein was increased significantly (P<0.05) to the progress of pregnancy in control rat. All rats that splenectomized groups were decreased significantly(P<0.05) at Day 21 of pregnancy than control rats. 2. Albumin was not significantly changed. 3. Globulin was decreased significantly(P<0.05) between contol and middle treatment at Day 7, 14 of pregnancy. 4. Glucose was increased for the due to the pregress of pregnancy. It was no significance differences among the each groups. 5. Rate of abortion was increased in groups of early and middle of splenectomy compared with control. 6. Period of pregnancy was delayed in middle and late splenectomized gruops companed with control. 7. Litter size was lowed significantly (P<0.05) in early and middle splenectomized groups compared with control.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.173-182
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• 2011

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a stress-related mental disorder induced by severe external stressors such as assault, disaster or severe accident. We investigated the effects of treadmill exercise on short-term memory in relation to apoptosis and cell proliferation in the hippocampus following PTSD. Stress to the pregnant rats was induced by exposure of maternal rats to the hunting dog in an enclosed room. Exposure time was 10 min, repeated three times per day, with 1 hour interval. Exposure of maternal rats to the hunting dog was continued 7 days after pregnancy until delivery. The pregnant rats in the exercise groups were forced to run on a treadmill for 30 min once a day for the same duration of stress exposure. Step-down avoidance task for short-term memory, western blot for Bcl-2, Bax, and immunohistochemistry for caspase-3, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), and Ki-67 were conducted. Maternal rats exposed to stress during pregnancy showed short-term memory impairment. Expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, ratio of Bax to Bcl-2, and caspase-3 in the hippocampus were increased in the PTSD rats. Cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was decreased in the PTSD rats. Treadmill exercise alleviated short-term memory impairment and suppressed expressions of Bax, the ratio of Bax to Bcl-2, and caspase-3. Treadmill exercise also increased cell proliferation. The present results indicate that treadmill exercise alleviated PTSD-induced short-term memory impairment by suppressing apoptotic cell death and enhancing cell proliferation in the hippocampus.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.139-144
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• 2002

Pregnancy is a physiological state accompained by a high energy demand of many bodily functions and an increased oxygen requirement. Because of the increased intake and utilization of oxygen, increased levels of oxidative stress would be expected. So we observed the activities of the hepatic antioxidant enzymes from rat treated with total saponin from the red ginseng against free raicals produced in pregnant rats. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the control group was slightly decreased during pregnancy, and SOD activity in total saponin treated group was not observed any siginificant change compared with the control group. The activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GRD) and catalase in the control group have shown the decreasing tendency during pregnancy, whereas the activities of GRD and catalase in total saponin treated group showed significant increased tendency compared with the control group. GPX activity in total saponin treated group was slightly decreased tendnency compared with the control group. The activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in the control group was increased to keep the state of homaeostasis tendency in pregnant rats. On the other hand, the activity of GST after total saponin treatment was increased than control group. Activity of all enzymes in the control group and total saponin treated group recovered the normal level after delivery of rats. In spite of the physiological changes in vivo, the inflaunce of total saponin on activaties of hepatic antioxidant enzyme in pregnant rats seems to be regulated the biological homeostatic adaptation mechanism which protects the maternal liver aganist oxygen induced toxicity

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.523-532
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• 2004

The present study was carried out to investigate the potential adverse effects of amitraz on pregnant dams after maternal exposure during the gestational days (GD) 1 through 19 in Sprague-Dawley rats. The test chemical was administered orally to pregnant rats at dose levels of 0, 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg/ day. During the test period, clinical signs, mortality, body weights, food consumption, serum biochemistry, gross findings, organ weights and reproductive findings on GD 20 were examined. In the 30 mg/kg group, an increase in the incidence of abnormal clinical signs and death, a suppression in the body weight gain, and a decrease in the food consumption were observed. A decrease in the liver weight and increases in the kidneys, adrenal glands and heart weights were also found. Serum biochemical investigations revealed increases in the aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin, and chloride. In addition, an increase in the fetal death and decreases in the litter size and fetal body weight were seen at caesarean section. Inthe 10 mg/kg group, an increase in the incidence of abnormal clinical signs, decreases in the food consumption and liver weight, increases in the total bilirubin and chloride, and a decrease in the fetal body weight were observed. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs, mortality, body weights, food consumption, serum biochemistry, gross findings, organ weights and reproductive findings in the 3 mg/kg group. Based on the results, it was concluded that the 19-day repeated oral dose of amitraz to pregnant rats caused increases in the clinical signs, kidneys, adrenal glands and heart weights, AST, total bilirubin and chloride and decreases in the body weight gain, food consumption and liver weight at the dose levels of above 10 mg/kg/day. Under the present experimental conditions, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of amitraz was considered to be 3 mg/kg/day.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.45-45
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• 2003

The present study was conducted to investigate the potential embryo-fetal toxicity of Artesunate, an antimalarial drug, in Sprague-Dawley rats. The test item was orally administered by gavage to pregnant rats (22 females per group) from days 6 through 15 of gestation at dose levels of 0, 2, 4 and 8 mg/kg/ day. (omitted)

• Toxicological Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2009

We have recently reported that the continuous exposure of rats to a concrete building environment under cool temperatures had adverse effects on general health parameters and embryo-fetal development. This study examined to compare the potential effects of concrete and wood building environments on pregnant dams and embryo-fetal development in rats. Groups of 10 mated females were exposed to polycarbonate (control), concrete, or wood cages from gestational days (GD) 0 to 20 under cool temperatures $(11.9\sim12.3^{\circ}C)$. All the females underwent a caesarean section on GD 20, and their fetuses were examined for any morphological abnormalities. The temperatures in the cages were similar in all groups but the relative humidity in the concrete and wood groups were higher than in the control group. The concentration of volatile organic compounds in the wood group was higher than in the control group. In the concrete group, maternal effects manifested as an increase in the incidence of clinical signs, a lower body weight, and a decrease in the thymus and ovary weights. Developmental effects included increased post-implantation loss and decreased litter size. Infrared thermal analysis showed that the skin temperature of the rats in the concrete group was lower than that in the control group. In contrast, there were no exposure-related adverse effects on the maternal and developmental parameters in the wood group. Overall, the exposure of pregnant rats to a concrete building environment under cool temperatures has adverse effects on the clinical signs, body weight, skin temperature, organ weight, and embryo-fetal development. On the other hand, exposure to a wood building environment does not have any adverse effects in rats.