• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.625-634
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• 2021

Based on the field investigations in 91 investigation sites (counties) in southwest China between 2001 and 2019, the present paper reported the chigger mites on A. agrarius mice in southwest China for the first time by using a series of statistical methods. From 715 striped field mice captured in 28 of 91 investigated sites, only 255 chiggers were collected, and they were identified as 14 species, 6 genera in 3 subfamilies under 2 families. Of 715 A. agrarius mice, only 24 of them were infested with chigger mites with low overall prevalence (P_M=3.4%), overall mean abundance (M_A=0.36 mites/host) and overall mean intensity (M_I=10.63 mites/host). The species diversity and infestation of chiggers on A. agrarius were much lower than those previously reported on some other rodents in southwest China. On a certain species of rodent, A. agrarius mouse in southwest China seems to have a very low susceptibility to chigger infestations than in other geographical regions. Of 14 chigger species, there were 3 dominant species, Leptotrombidium sialkotense, L. rupestre and Schoengastiella novoconfuciana, which were of aggregated distribution among different individuals of A. agrarius hosts. L. sialkotense, one of 6 main vectors of scrub typhus in China, was the first dominant on A. agrarius. The species similarity of chigger mites on male and female hosts was low with C_SS=0.25, and this reflects the sex-bias of different genders of A. agrarius mice in harboring different chigger species.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.462-467
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• 2008

TPA is known to cooperate with an activated Ras oncogene in the transformation of rodent fibroblasts, but the biochemical mechanisms responsible for this effect have not been established. In the present study we used c-fos promoter-luciferase constructs as reporters, in transient transfection assays, in NIH3T3 cells to assess the mechanism of this cooperation. We found a marked synergistic interaction between TPA and a transfected v-Ha-ras oncogene in the activation of c-fos promoter and SRE. SRE has binding sites for TCF and SRF. A dominant-negative Ras (ras-N17) inhibited the TPA-Ras synergy by blocking the PKC-MAPK-TCF pathway. Dominant-negative RhoA and Rac1 (but not Cdc42Hs) inhibited the TPA-Ras synergy by blocking the Ras-Rho-SRF signaling pathway. Constitutively active $PKC{\alpha}$ and $PKC{\varepsilon}$ showed synergy with v-Ras. These results suggest that the activation of two distinct pathways such as Ras-Raf-ERK-TCF pathway and Rho-SRF pathway are responsible for the induction of c-fos by TPA and Ras in mitogenic signaling pathways.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 2015

Murine mycoplasmosis, caused by Mycoplasma (M.) pulmonis, is a prominent disease in rodent animals. The aim of this study was to develop a sensitive and specific PCR assay to detect M. pulmonis in animals and to assess the suitability of this assay for the detection of mycoplasmal infection in rats experimentally infected with M. pulmonis. A new PCR assay using the M. pulmonis-specific primer pairs MPul-F and MPul-R was developed. The primers and probe for the assay were designed from regions in the 16S rRNA gene that are unique to M. pulmonis. The novel PCR assay was very specific and sensitive for M. pulmonis, detecting the equivalent of 5 pg of target template DNA. It detected only M. pulmonis and no other Mycoplasma species or other bacterial species. The newly developed PCR assay also effectively detected M. pulmonis infection in rats. These results suggest that this PCR assay using M. pulmonis-specific primer pairs of MPul-F and MPul-R will be useful and effective for monitoring M. pulmonis infection in animals.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.5
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• pp.770-776
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• 2010

This study was conducted to assess the existing flora and fauna, and to develop a spatial map of Alapang communal forest located in the province of Benguet, Philippines. A total of 52 species belonging to 27 families were identified during the inventory in this communal forest using the quadrat method while a total of 30 species belonging to 18 families were recorded using line intercept technique for the assessment of grasses, herbs, vines and other low-lying vegetation. The diversity index of the species in Alapang communal forests using the quadrat method was 2.6649 while for the line intercept technique it was 2.5446. The most dominant species in this area was found to be Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon (Benguet pine) under Family Pinaceae with an importance value of 106.74%. In the faunal assessment, four species of birds and a small mammal particularly a rodent were identified during the study. Aside from the high species diversity of this communal forest, the presence of endemic and indicator species in the area denotes that this forest was still in good condition hence must be protected. Spatial maps and database system were generated based from data gathered in the field using Geographic Information System (GIS).

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.78-91
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• 1997

Peroxisome is a single membrane-bounded organelle found in hepatic parenchymal cells and kidney tubular epithelial cells. A number of enzymes exist in peroxisome contributing to anabolic and catabolic peroxisomal functions. Extramitochontriai $\beta$-oxidation of fatty acid is a major function of peroxisome. Peroxisomes can be proliferated by many structually unrelated compounds such as hypolipidemic drugs, plasticizers, pesticides, some pharmaceutical agents and high fat diet. These chemicals, called peroxisome proliferators, act via the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor, to induce peroxisome proliferation, hepatomegaly and hepatocellular carcinoma in rodent. The clear mechanisms of peroxisome proliferator-induced hepatocarcinogenesis have been not demonstrated. Since they are not genotoxic, biochemical changes or changes in gene expressions may be involved. A free radical theory has been suggested based on the finding of oxidative damages of macromolecules by hydrogen peroxide released in the peroxisomal $\beta$-oxidation of fatty acid. Increased cell proliferation by a peroxisome proliferator has been also thought to be an important factor in the hepatocarcinogenesis as suggested in other cases of nongenotoxic carcinogenesis. The alternation of eicosanoid concentrations by peroxisome proliferators may be important in the peroxisome proliferator-induced hepatocarcinogenesis since peroxisome proliferators decrease the concentration of eicosanoids, and the peroxisome proliferator ciprofibrate-eicosanoid combination is comitogenic and costimulates some mitogenic signals in hepatocytes. All of proposed mechanisms should be considered in the peroxisome prolifrator-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2000

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates follicle growth, and inhibits the follicle atresia in the immature rodent ovaries. The present study was carried out to know the histological changes of ovarian follicles after FSH treatment in the prepubertal mice. Ten i.u. of recombinant FSH was i.p. injected on 3 weeks old mice. After the treatment, at 1, 2 and 3 days, left ovaries were collected for the histological study. The atretic ratio of preantral follicles increased with time after FSH treatment. However, in the case of antral follicles, there was no significant change in the ratio. The degenerating follicles contained apoptotic granulosa cells, macrophage, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the follicular cavity. The present results suggest that follicular degeneration caused by FSH hyperstimulation could be mediated by apoptosis as well as the acute inflammation.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.591-594
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• 1999

Leptospirosis has been known as endemic disease in Korea since 1984. Wild rodent, mostly Apodemus agrarius, has been known as an important source of leptospiral infection especially in rainy circumstances in harvest reason of rural area. The infection rates of Leptospira interrogans in field rodents, Apodemus agrarius, was investigated by culture and PCR detection of leptospiral DNA, and compared with previous data. Furthermore, the serogroup and serovar were investigated. Two hundred twenty two Apodemus agrarius were captured during October to December 1996. Spirohaetes were isolated from 22 (9.9%) and leptospiral DNA was detected in an additional six rodents (12.6%). Subsequent cross-agglutinin absorption test, monoclonal antibody reactivity classified 21 cultures among 22 isolates as Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohemorrhagiae serovar lai. The above data did not differ from previous survey in 1984 to 1987. There was no significant change of Leptospira interrogans infection in field rodents in Korea.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.231-236
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• 2001

How much do we know about the biology of aging from cell culture studies Most normal somatic cells have a finite potential to divide due to a process termed cellular or replicative senescence. A growing body evidence suggests that senescence evolved to protect higher eu-karyotes, particularly mammals, from developing cancer, We now know that telomere shortening due to the biochemistry of DNA replication, induces replicative senescence in human cells. How-ever in rodent cells, replicative senescence occurs despite very long telomeres. Recent findings suggest that replicative senescence is just the tip of the iceberg of a more general process termed cellular senescence. It appears that cellular senescence is a response to potentially oncogenic in-sults, including oxidative damage. In young orgainsms, growth arrest by cell senescence sup-presses tumor development, but later in life, due to the accumulation of senescent cells which se-cret factors that can disrupt tissues during aging, cellular senescence promotes tumorigenesis. Therefore, antagonistic pleiotropy may explain, if not in whole the apparently paradoxical effects of cellular senescence, though this still remains an open question.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.21-21
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• 2003

Male germ cell apoptosis has been extensively explored in rodent. In contrast, very little is known about their susceptibility to apoptosis stimuli of developing germ cell stages at the time when germ cell depletion after busulfan treatment occurs. Furthermore, it is still unanswered how spermatogonial stem cells are resistant to busulfan treatment. We examined the change of gene expression in detail using cDNA microarray analysis of mouse testis treated with busulfan. A subtoxic dose of busulfan (40mg/kg of body weight) transiently increased 228 mRNA levels among of the 8000 genes analyzed. TagMan analysis confirmed that the mRNA levels such as defensive protein, support protein, enzymatic protein, transport protein, and hormonal protein were rapidly increased. These results were re-confirmed by real-time PCR analysis. However, the expression levels of these genes induced by busulfan treatment were significantly reduced in control testis, indicating that both of male germ cells and somatic cells after busulfan treatment induces self-defense mechanism for protection of testicular cell death. Among them, we conclude that defense proteins play a key role in testis injury induced by busulfan.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.37-37
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• 2001

포유동물의 정자형성과정 (spermatogenesis) 은 유사분열과 감수분열이 동시에 일어나는 매우 복잡하지만, 효율적으로 생식세포를 증식, 분화시키는 시스템이다 정상적인 spermatogenesis가 일어나는 testis에서는 haploid (IN), diploid (2N), 그리고 tetraploid(4N)과 같은 핵형을 갖는 세포들이 일정한 비율로 존재한다. DNA flow cytometry(DNA FCM) 는 세포의 핵형(ploidy)을 신속·정확하게 측정하여, 1N, 2N 그리고 4N에 대한 비율을 예측할 수 있어서, 생식세포를 포함한 다양한 유형의 세포주기를 분석하는데 적용되어져 왔다. 세포주기 분석법 중 이와 같은 FCM이외에, flow cytometer와 static image cytometer를 결합시켜 새롭게 고안된 laser scanning cytometer (LSC)가 있다. 그리고, 이제까지 LSC를 사용한 spermatogenesis에 관한 연구에 대해서는 보고된 바가 없다. 본 실험은 설치류에 있어 각기 다른 발달단계에 있는 정상적인 정소세포를 분리하여 PI (propidium iodide) 로 DNA를 염색한 후, DNA함량을 LSC로 분석하였다. 이것을 FCM에 의한 정소세포의 DNA분석과 비교·검토하였으며, 이 방법을 정상적인 spermatogenesis 가 일어나지 않는 동물시스템에 적용시켰다. 생식세포를 소멸시키기 위해 항암제인 busulfan과 비타민 A를 결핍시켜 이것이 세포주기의 어떤 시점에서 어떻게 작용하여, 생식세포를 소멸시키는지 알아보았다. 위의 실험·분석결과로부터 LSC를 사용한 DNA함량과 핵형의 결정은 FCM과 동일한 수준의 정확성을 제시하였다. busulfan 또는 비타민 A의 결손은 살아있는 세포의 80% 이상이 2N의 핵형에 해당하는 G0/G1 기에 있는 것으로 나타났다. 그리고 1N:2N 및 4N:2N의 핵형비율의 변화를 가져왔다. 이러한 자극은 생식세포주기제어에 관여하며, 생식세포가 증폭하고 분화로 들어가는 단계를 차단, G0/G1 기에서 정체(arrest)되는 것으로 시사된다.