• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.861-869
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• 2015

One of the domesticated species; the dog has been selectively bred for various aims by human. The dog has many breeds, which are artificially selected for specific behaviors and morphologies. Dogs contribute their life to human as working dogs for guide, rescue, detection or etc. Working dogs requires good personality, such as gentleness, robustness and patience for performing their special duty. Many studies have concentrated on finding genetic marker for selecting the high-quality working dog. In this study, we confirmed quantitative expression patterns of eight genes (ABAT; 4-Aminobutyrate Aminotransferase, PLCB1; Phospholipase C, Beta 1, SLC10A4; Solute Carrier Family 10, Member 4, WNT1; Wingless-Type MMTV Integration Site Family, Member 1, BARX2; BarH-Like Homeobox 2, NEUROD6; Neuronal Differentiation 6, SEPT9; Septin 9 and TBR1; T-Box, Brain, 1) among brains tissues from four dog breeds (Beagle, Sapsaree, Shepherd and Jindo), because these genes were expressed and have functions in brain mostly. Specially, BARX2, SEPT9, SLC10A4, TBR1 and WNT1 genes were highly expressed in Beagle and Jindo, and Sapsaree and German Shepherd were vice versa. The biological significance of total genes was estimated by database for annotation, visualization and integrated discovery (DAVID) to determine a different gene ontology (GO) class. In these analyses, we suppose to these eight genes could provide influential information for brain development, and intelligence of organisms. Taken together, these results could provide clues to discover biomarker related to functional traits in brain, and beneficial for selecting superior working dogs.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2007

Ethane 1,2-dimethane sulfonate(EDS), a toxin which specifically kills Leydig cells(LC), has been widely used to prepare the reversible testosterone(T) depletion rat model. In the present study, we monitored the gene expression profiles of pituitary gonadotropins, LH and FSH, up to 7 weeks after EDS injection. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats($300{\sim}350\;g$ B.W.) were injected with a single dose of EDS(75 mg/kg i.p.) and sacrificed on weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Total RNAs were purified from each pituitary, and the message levels of common alpha subunit($C{\alpha}$) of pituitary glycoprotein hormones, LH beta subunit($LH{\beta}$), FSH beta subunit($FSH{\beta}$) and GnRH receptor(GnRH-R) were evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCRs. The message levels of $C{\alpha}$ increased sharply during weeks 1-4, then return to the control level on week 5. The mRNA levels of $LH{\beta}$ were elevated after week 2, reached the peak at week 4, then declined to the control level after week 5. The message levels of $FSH{\beta}$ were elevated after week 2, reached the peak at week 3, then declined to the nadir at week 5. Similarly, the mRNA levels of GnRH-R were elevated after week 2, reached the peak at week 3, then gradually declined to the control level after week 5. The present study indicated that EDS treatment could induce reversible alterations in the transcriptional activities of gonadotropin subunits and GnRH-R in the anterior pituitary from male rats. EDS injection model might be useful to understand the mechanism of hormonal regulation of hypothalamus- pituitary neuroendocrine axis in male rats.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.115-125
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• 2014

With Single Comb White Leghorn (WL) and Korean Native Chicken (KNC) breeds, we compared the stress response with chicken breeds that were subjected to a high stocking density. Stress response was analyzed by the quantity of telomeric DNA, the rate of DNA damage and the expression levels of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and hydroxyl-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) genes on tissues and blood. The telomere length and telomere shortening rates were analyzed by quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization on the nuclei of lymphocytes and tissues. The DNA damage rate of lymphocytes was quantified by the comet assay. The expression levels of HSP70, HSP90-${\alpha}$, HSP90-${\beta}$ and HMGCR genes were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in lymphocytes. There was no significant difference between KNC and WL in body weight, weight gain, telomere shortening rate and DNA damage rate. However, the growth rate significantly decreased in chickens raised under high stocking density conditions, as compared to the control group. The telomere-shortening rate, DNA damage and HSPs expression of the lymphocytes were significantly higher in the high stocking density group than the control. The stress condition and breeds had a significant effect on the expressions of HSP70, HSP90-${\alpha}$ and HSP90-${\beta}$ in lymphocytes, except HMGCR. The stress response of WL was higher than that of KNC, as analyzed to the expression of HSP70 and HSP90-${\alpha}$. Therefore, we concluded that the chickens which were exposed to a high stocking density had increased the individual physiological stress response regardless of breeds, and White Leghorns are more susceptible to stress condition than Korean Native Chickens.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.593-597
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• 2009

The uterus plays a critical role in pregnancy and steroid hormones, and both estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) especially play important roles in the cross-talk between embryos and uterus to support the pregnancy. E2 stimulates uterine growth during early pregnancy to prepare for implantation of embryos. This cross-talk during the implantation period involves hormones (E2 and P4) and growth factors, including insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). In the uterus of a pregnant pig, the action of E2 is mediated by estrogen receptor-${\beta}$ (ER-${\beta}$). The expression of ER-a was much higher in early pregnancy than in mid- and late- pregnancy, suggesting E2 secretion from embryos enhances transcription of ER-a during early pregnancy. In order to prove whether IGF-I is an E2 target gene, quantitative real-time PCR was performed on ovariectomized murine uterus with E2 and/or P4 treatment(s). Increased IGF-I mRNA expression was observed with E2 treatment, however, it was not significantly induced by P4 treatment, which clearly demonstrates that, in mice, E2 depends on the activation of uterine IGF-I gene expression. The expression of IGF-I in the uterus of pigs was much higher in early pregnancy than in mid- and late- pregnancy and these data exhibited the same expression pattern with the ER-${\beta}$ gene expression in the uterus. It suggests that a positive co-relationship between IGF-I and ER-${\beta}$ expression exists in the uterus, and that both gene expressions of IGF-I and ER-${\beta}$ are regulated by E2. It further suggests that uterine the IGF-I gene expression might be initiated by E2 secreted from embryos to increase ER-${\beta}$ gene expression, and that this increased ER-${\beta}$ further stimulates the expression of IGF-I in the uterus during early pregnancy.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.479-484
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• 2004

Immunoinhibitory protein extracted from sonicated Treponema denticola have been shown to suppress cell cycle progression of human lymphocytes. To study in detail about the effect of this microorganism on the function of lymphocytes. we investigated the levels of Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and Interleukin-4 (IL-4) production by T lymphocytes before and after the addition of $12.5{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ T. denticola sonicated extracts. In this study. levels of IL-2 and IL-4 produced from T cells pretreated with sonicated extracts were evaluated by using the quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. In response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation. T cell produced increased levels of IL-2 and IL-4. However. the expressions of both cytokines were significantly inhibited when PHA activated-T cells were pre-exposed to sonicated T. denticola extracts (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the T. denticola sonicated extracts induced-immunosuppression in Th1 and Th2 cell functions could be a part of the pathogenic mechanism of the endodontic failure associated with this microorganism.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.2 s.75
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• pp.231-239
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• 2006

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in bone marrow (BM) can be induced to differentiate into a variety of mesenchymal tissues, including adipocytes, osteoblasts and chondroblasts, under the influence of certain growth or environmental factors. In this study, we analyzed the differentiation process and the associated gene expression profiles inherent to the process by which hMSCs differentiate into osteoblasts. We conducted a comparison of gene expression profiles of the normal human BM MSCs, using human 8K cDNA microarray, incubated in media containing either a combination of $\beta$-glycerol phosphate, L-ascorbic acid, and dexamethasone, or in medium lacking these osteogenic supplements. During the osteoblastic differentiation process, 36 genes were determined to be up-regulated, and 59 genes were shown to be down-regulated. Osteoprotegerin, LRP5, and metallothionein 2A, all of which are associated with the osteogenetic process, were up-regulated, and genes associated with the differentiation of MSCs into other lineages, including muscle, adipose tissue and vascular structure were down-regulated. The set of differentially expressed genes reported in this work should contribute to our current understanding of the processes inherent to the differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.813-819
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• 2010

The intracellular lipid droplets were stained with Oil Red O dye and quantified. Compared to the control, lipid accumulation was significantly decreased by 19.4% with the treatment of LCM at the concentration of $1000\;{\mu}g$/mL. Intracellular triglyceride (TG) level was also reduced by 21% at the concentration of $1000\;{\mu}g$/mL. To determine the mechanism for the reduction in TG content, levels of glucose uptake and glycerol release were measured. Incubation of the 3T3-L1 adipocytes with LCM did not affect the cellular uptake of glucose. However, the level of free glycerol released into the cultured medium drastically increased by 24.3% with the treatment of LCM. In subsequent measurements using quantitative real-time PCR, mRNA levels of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) except lipoprotein lipase (LPL) were significantly elevated at higher concentration. These results suggest that LCM partially stimulates the lipolysis through the induction of HSL and/or ATGL gene expression, resulting in the reduced lipid accumulation and increased glycerol release.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.795-802
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• 2003

Purpose : We investigated the hormonal control of OB gene expression and leptin secretion in cultured human visceral adipose tissue. Methods : Visceral adipose tissues were cultured for up to 48 hrs in modified Eagle's medium with varying concentration of hormones : Control(no hormone), bovine insulin(100 nM), Dexamethasone(DEX, 100 nM), growth hormone(GH, 40 ng/mL), insulin+DEX(100 nM each), insulin+DEX+GH(100 nM insulin and DEX, 40 ng/mL GH). Quantitative analysis of leptin mRNA was performed by competitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and leptin secretion in culture medium was measured by IRMA using a commercial kit. Results : The addition of dexamethasone to the medium significantly increased OB gene expression and leptin secretion(P<0.05). Unlike dexamethasone, insulin did not affect OB gene expression and leptin secretion. Both insulin and dexamethasone, at high concentration, significantly stimulated leptin secretion compared with basal values(P<0.05). Leptin gene expression was not significantly increased by GH treatment alone, however GH, in combination with high concentrations of insulin and dexamethasone, attenuated the stimulatory effects of high concentrations of insulin and dexamethasone. Conclusion : Insulin cannot increase leptin secretion without the presence of dexamethasone. The mechanism suggested is that insulin may increase leptin secretion in cytoplasm only after dexamethasone increases the expression of OB gene. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanism of the action of insulin on leptin secretion after increasing OB gene expression by dexamethasone.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10407-10412
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• 2015

Background: ${\beta}$-elemene, extracted from herb medicine Curcuma wenyujin has potent anti-tumor effects in various cancer cell lines. However, the activity of ${\beta}$-elemene against glioma cells remains unclear. In the present study, we assessed effects of ${\beta}$-elemene on human glioma cells and explored the underlying mechanism. Materials and Methods: Human glioma U87 cells were used. Cell proliferation was determined with MTT assay and colony formation assay to detect the effect of ${\beta}$-elemene at different doses and times. Fluorescence microscopy was used to observe cell apoptosis with Hoechst 33258 staining and change of glioma apoptosis and cell cycling were analyzed by flow cytometry. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western-blotting assay were performed to investigated the influence of ${\beta}$-elemene on expression levels of Fas/FasL, caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax. The experiment was divided into two groups: the blank control group and ${\beta}$-elemne treatment group. Results: With increase in the concentration of ${\beta}$-elemene, cytotoxic effects were enhanced in the glioma cell line and the concentration of inhibited cell viability ($IC_{50}$) was $48.5{\mu}g/mL$ for 24h. ${\beta}$-elemene could induce cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase. With Hoechst 33258 staining, apoptotic nuclear morphological changes were observed. Activation of caspase-3,-8 and -9 was increased and the pro-apoptotic factors Fas/FasL and Bax were upregulated, while the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 was downregulated after treatment with ${\beta}$-elemene at both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, proliferation and colony formation by U87 cells were inhibited by ${\beta}$-elemene in a time and does-dependent manner. Conclusions: Our results indicate that ${\beta}$-elemene inhibits growth and induces apoptosis of human glioma cells in vitro. The induction of apoptosis appears to be related with the upregulation of Fas/FasL and Bax, activation of caspase-3,-8 and -9 and downregulation of Bcl-2, which then trigger major apoptotic cascades.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of supplementation of mulberry powder, mulberry extract and silkworm powder during the 8 weeks of resistance exercise on Androgen receptor(AR) mRNA and Myogenic regulatory factors(MRFs) expression of rats muscle. Fifty males, Sprague-Dawley rat, were randomly divided into 5 groups: CON(control group, n = 10), REG(resistance exercise group, n = 10), MP REG(mulberry powder intake and resistance exercise group, n = 10), ME REG(mulberry extract intake and resistance exercise group, n = 10) and SP REG(silkworm powder intake and resistance exercise group, n = 10). After climbing the ladder without weights during the 1 week of adaptation period, the rats in the resistance exercise group were trained to climb a 0.98-m vertical(80 degree incline) ladder with weights in their tail during 7 weeks(10 times each day, 2 days per week). After exercise, the skeletal muscle was extracted from the flexor hallucis longus. After separating the total ribonucleic acid (RNA) of each group, quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze RNA quantitatively. AR mRNA and MRFs expression revealed that all of the treated groups had significantly difference. AR mRNA expression increased in ME REG $6.24{\pm}1.85$ and SP REG $9.68{\pm}0.28$ fold compared to CON. Myod mRNA expression increased in MP REG $6.04{\pm}0.47$, ME REG $4.31{\pm}1.58$ and SP REG $8.11{\pm}0.57$ fold compared to CON. And myogenin mRNA expression increased in MP REG $4.11{\pm}0.42$, ME REG $4.12{\pm}0.45$ and SP REG $6.50{\pm}0.61$ fold compared to CON. In conclusion, during the resistance exercise, providing mulberry and silkworm gives positive effect on AR mRNA and MRFs expression increase.