• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 1983

This study was conducted to observe the nutritoinal effect of the diets supplemented with the leaf or trunk of ginseng in rats. The male albino rats (110 heads), Sprague-Dowley strain weighing 75g to 79g, were used as the experimental animals. And twelve kinds of animal diets were prepared. The animals were divided into twelve diet groups and maintained with corresponding diet for 40 days, and then sacrificed. After sacrificing the animals, the contents of some chemical components in some organs and serum were analyzed. The results obtained are summarized as follows; 1) The lipid contents of the liver in the experimental diet groups added ginseng steamed leaf or trunk were significantly lower than those in the control group. And the cholesterol contents of liver in the diet groups supplemented with ginseng steamed 4% leaf and 2% trunk were very significantly lower than those in the control group. 2) The total protein contents of serum in each experimental diet group supplemented with ginseng steamed leaf or trunk were lower than those in the control group, but not significant. 3) The glucose contents of serum in each experimental diet group supplemented with ginseng steamed leaf or trunk were lower than those in the control group, especially, those in experimental group added ginseng steamed 4% trunk were significantly lower than those in the control group. 4) The lipid contents of serum in the experimental diet groups added ginseng steamed 4% leaf and 2% trunk were significantly lower than those in the control group. The cholesterol of serum in the experimental diet groups added ginseng steamed leaf and 2% trunk were significantly lower those in the control group. 5) The ratios of ${\alpha}$-lipoprotein fraction in each experimental diet group were over than those in the group. but not significant.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.165-172
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• 2020

Objectives: In the past few years, herbal medicines have gained popularity over synthetic drugs because of their natural source and minimal side effects which has led to a tremendous growth of phytopharmaceuticals usage. With the development of nanotechnology, it provides alternative approaches to overcome several limitations using nano-formulations. In spite of considerable quantity of antianemic preparations with different iron forms available, currently additives are used and represented in modern pharmaceutical market. Iron deficiency anemia is a major global public health problem which particularly affects pregnant women, children and elderly persons. The situation is complicated because of disadvantages and drug side effects from existing antianemic medicines. There is a great demand for the development of new antianemic preparations. Green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles, possess high potential in this field. Methods: Our study focuses on developing green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) of 10-50 nm with spherical shape where different dosages were used -1 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg for exposure in Wistar albino female rats for 28 days. The toxicity was assessed using various parameters such as measurements of the rat body and organ mass, hematology, biochemical evaluation and histopathological examinations. Results: No significant differences were observed in body and organ weights. Hematological indices also indicated no significant differences whereas biochemical factors showed increase in levels of direct bilirubin and globulin of medium as well as high dose and SGPT levels were increased only in high dose. The major organs (heart, kidney and liver) showed histopathological alterations in 10 and 100 mg/kg whereas brain showed only in 100 mg/kg. Conclusion: The toxicity of IONPs was found to be more significant when the concentration was increased; however, low doses can be used for further investigation as an antianemic preparation.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.441-448
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• 2017

Bisphenol-A(BPA) is a member of alkylphenol family, and shows adverse effects including reduced fertility, reproductive tract abnormalities, metabolic disorder, cancer induction, neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity. In the present study, we conducted Hershberger assay to evaluate whether the two candidates to replace BPA have androgenic or antiandrogenic activity. The assay was carried out using immature castrated Sprague-Dawley male rats. After 7 days of the surgery, testosterone propionate (TP, 0.4 mg/kg/day) and test materials (low dose, 40 mg/kg/day; high dose, 400 mg/kg/day) were administered for 10 consecutive days by subcutaneous (s.c.) injection and oral gavage, respectively. Test materials were BPA, isosorbide (ISO) and cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM). The rats were necropsied, and then the weights of five androgen-dependent tissues [ventral prostate, seminal vesicle, levator ani-bulbocavernosus (LABC) muscle, paired Cowper's glands, and glans penis] and three androgen-insensitive tissues (kidney, spleen and liver) were measured. All test materials including BPA did not exhibit any androgenic activity in the assay. On the contrary, antiandrogen-like activities were found in all test groups, and the order of the intensity was CHDM > BPA > ISO in the five androgen-sensitive tissues. There was no statistical difference between low dose treatment and high dose treatment of BPA group as well as ISO group. In CHDM group, high dose treatment exhibited most severe weight reduction in all measured tissues. There was no statistical difference in androgen-insensitive tissue measurements, except BPA groups. Since the effects of ISO treatment on the accessory sex organs were much less or not present at all when compared to those of BPA, ISO could be a strong candidate to replace BPA. CHDM treatment brought most severe weight reduction in all of androgen-sensitive tissues, so this material should be excluded for further screening of BPA substitute selection.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2018

In the present study, we employed Hershberger assay to determine possible androgenic or antiandrogenic activities of three di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) substitute candidates. The assay was carried out using immature castrated Sprague-Dawley male rats. After 7 days of the surgery, testosterone propionate (TP, 0.4 mg/kg/day) and test materials (low dose, 40 mg/kg/day; high dose, 400 mg/kg/day) were administered for 10 consecutive days by subcutaneous (s.c.) injection and oral gavage, respectively. Test materials were DEHP, 2-ethylhexyl oleate (IOO), 2-ethylhexyl stearate (IOS) and triethyl 2-acetylcitrate (ATEC). The rats were necropsied, and then the weights of five androgen-dependent tissues [ventral prostate, seminal vesicle, coagulating glands, levator ani-bulbocavernosus (LABC) muscle, paired Cowper's glands, and glans penis] and four androgen-insensitive tissues (kidney, adrenal glands, spleen and liver) were measured. All test materials including DEHP did not exhibit any androgenic activity in the assay. On the contrary, antiandrogen-like activities were found in all test groups, and the order of the intensity was ATEC < DEHP < ISO < IOO in the five androgen-sensitive tissues. There was no statistical difference between low dose treatment and high dose treatment of all replacement candidate groups. In DEHP groups, high dose treatment exhibited significant weight gains in LABC and Glan Penis. There was no statistical difference in androgen-insensitive tissue measurements. Since the effects of ATEC treatment on the accessory sex organs were much less or not present at all when compared to those of DEHP, ATEC could be a strong candidate to replace DEHP. IOO treatment brought most severe weight reduction in all of androgen-sensitive tissues, so this material should be excluded for further screening of DEHP substitute selection.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.68-78
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was carried out to evaluate the acute oral toxicity of Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz in Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats. Methods : Male and female rats were administered orally with Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz water extract of 1,000 mg/kg(low dosage group), 2,000 mg/kg(middle dosage group) and 4,000 mg/kg(high dosage group). We daily observed number of deaths, clinical signs and gross findings for 7 days. After 7 days, we measured body and organs weight. Also we analyzed hematological changes. Results : No dead SD rats and no clinical signs were found during the experiment period. Also other specific changes were not found between control and treated groups in hematology. But we found out subtle changes in body weight and individual organ weight of the female group. In addition specific changes were observed in serum biochemical value of female group. Conclusions : These results suggest that water soluble extract of Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz has not acute oral toxicity and oral $LD_{50}$ value was over 4,000 mg/kg in SD rats. Also Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz is expected to be sensitive with respect to the female.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.2 s.42
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• pp.231-250
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• 1993

Thirty five male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with cadmium chloride solution ranging from 0.2 to 3.2mg $CdCl_2/kg$ by intravenous single injection. At 48 hours after administration of cadmium, total cadmium, MT bound cadmium and histopathologic finding in liver, kidney, lung, heart, testis, metallothionein in liver, kidney and total cadmium in bleed were examined. Tissue cadmium concentration was highest in liver, followed by in kidney, heart, lung and testis. Cadmium bound to rnetallothionein (MT-Cd) and ratio of MT-Cd to total cadmium were increased in liver and kidney dependently of cadmium exposure dose, but not significantly changed in other organs. On histopathologic finding, the most susceptible organ was heart in considering cadmium exposed dose, but testis in considering cadmium concentration. Blood cadmium concentration was increased with dose-dependent pattern, and significantly correlated with tissue cadmium concentration, so that we may estimate tissue cadmium concentration by measurement of blood cadmium concentration. Metallothionein in liver and kidney was increased with dose-dependent pattern, higher in liver than in kidney, and was significantly correlated with tissue cadmium concentration. However, metallothionein induction efficiency of tissue cadmium(${\mu}g\;MT/{\mu}g\;Cd$) was eater in liver than in kidney, and reverse to tissue concentration or exposed dose of cadmium.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.189-196
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• 2006

Micro computed tomography (micro-CT) has been used for in vivo animal study owing to its noninvasive and high spatial resolution capability. However, the sizes of existing detectors for micro-CT systems are too small to obtain whole-body images of a small animal object with $\sim$10 micron resolution and a part of its bones or other organs should be extracted. So, we have introduced the zoom-in micro-tomography technique which can obtain high-resolution images of a local region of an live animal object without extracting samples. In order to verify our zoom-in technique, we performed in vivo animal bone study. We prepared some SD (Sprague-Dawley) rats for making osteoporosis models. They were divided into control and ovariectomized groups. Again, the ovariectomized group is divided into two groups fed with normal food and with calcium-free food. And we took 3D tomographic images of their femurs with 20 micron resolution using our zoom-in tomography technique and observed the bone changes for 12 weeks. We selected ROI (region of interest) of a femur image and applied 2D FDT (fuzzy distance transform) to measure the trabecular bone thickness. The measured results showed obvious bone changes and big differences between control and ovariectomized groups. However, we found that the reliability of the measurement depended on the selection of ROI in a bone image for thickness calculation. So, we extended the method to 3D FDT technique. We selected 3D VOI (volume of interest) in the obtained 3D tomographic images and applied 3D FDT algorithm. The results showed that the 3D technique could give more accurate and reliable measurement.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.228-236
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• 2015

Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a well-established method commonly used to measure the diffusion of fluorescent solutes and biomolecules in living cells or tissues. Here a fiber-optic-based FRAP (f-FRAP) system was developed, and validated using macromolecules in water and agarose gels of different concentrations. We applied f-FRAP to measure the site-specific diffusion of fluorescein (NaFluo) in peritoneal membranes (PMs) on the liver, cecum, and kidney of a living rat during peritoneal dialysis. Diffusion of fluorescein in PM varied in a time-dependent manner according to the type of organ ($D_{PM\;on\;Liver}/D_{NaFluo}=0.199{\pm}0.085$, $D_{PM\;on\;Cecum}/D_{NaFluo}=0.292{\pm}0.151$, $D_{PM\;on\;Kidney}/D_{NaFluo}=0.218{\pm}0.110$). The proposed method allows direct quantitative measurement of the three-dimensional diffusion in local PM in vivo, which was previously inaccessible by peritoneal function test methods such as peritoneal equilibration test (PET) and standardized PM assessment (SPA). f-FRAP is promising for local and dynamic assessments of peritoneal pathophysiology and the mass transport properties of PMs, presumed to be affected by variation of tissue structures over different organs and functional changes of the PM with years of peritoneal dialysis.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.65-66
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• 2021

Glycyrrhiza species (Licorice) are one of the most commonly used medicinal plants in Asian countries such as China, India and Korea. It has been traditionally used to treat many disease including cough, cold, asthma, fatigue, gastritis and respiratory tract infections. Glycyrrhiza new variety, Wongam (WG), have been developed by Korea Rural Development Administration and revealed several pharmacological effects. However, limited data are available on the potential adverse effects of the WG. Here, we evaluated the general toxicity of the WG extract through single oral dose toxicity study in Sprague-Dawley rats. After single oral dose administration, there was no mortality up to 5000 mg/kg during experiment period. In addition, there was no clinical signs including body weight change, gross findings and necropsy findings up to 5000 mg/kg during experiment period. To conclude, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of WG was higher than 5000 mg/kg and no target organs were identified in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2002

5-Hydroxytryptamine(5-HT; serotonin) system has been implicated in the modulation of male sexual behaviors and the secretion of reproductive hormones. In human males, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors(SSRIs) are known to improve the major male sexual dysfunction, premature ejaculation, through the central nervous system-mediated pathways. As numerous hormone and local factors, 5-HT may have peripheral role in the regulation of male sexual function. The expression of 5-HT receptor subtypes in the target tissue, however, has not been explored yet. The present study was undertaken to test whether the 5-HT receptor subtypes are expressed in the reproductive tissues of male rat, especially in ejaculatory machinery such as seminal vesicle and vas deferens. To do this, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Southern blot analysis were employed. The transcripts for the 1A, 1B and 2C subtypes of 5-HT receptor were amplified in all the tested tissues. The present study demonstrated the expression of 5-HT receptor in the rat ejaculatory machinery, suggesting that 5-HT may play a pivotal role in the male sexual function via not only central pathway but also peripheral route. Further study on the receptor subtype-specific effect and their harmonized mode of action will be needed to establish the understanding of ejaculation mechanism and drug design.