• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 2012

Epimedii Herba is a traditional medicinal herb used in Korea and China and exerts estrogenic activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of peripubertal administration of Epimedii Herba on pubertal development in female rats using a modified protocol of the rodent 20-day pubertal female assay. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (21 days old after weaning, 10 rats per group) were divided into five groups: saline (Con), ethinyl estradiol (E2), Epimedii Herba ext (Ext), icariin (ICI), and icaritin (ICT), which were administered by oral gavage (E2 by subcutaneous injection) from postnatal day (PND) 21 through PND40. The time to vaginal opening (VO) was shorter for the Epimedii groups, particularly for the ICT group (p<0.05). Treatment with ICI and ICT significantly increased the duration of the estrus cycle (ICI, 2.78 days; ICT, 4.0 days; control, 1.78 days). Ovary weight was reduced by E2 treatment and increased by the Ext, ICI, and ICT treatments while the weight of the uterus and pituitary glands increased significantly only in the E2 and ICT groups. Although Epimedii Herba displayed relatively weak estrogenic activity, its repeated administration could affect pubertal development in female rats.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.146-154
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• 2013

Capillaria hepatica (syn. Calodium hepatica) is a parasite found mainly in rodent liver. But, it has also been found in a wide variety of mammals, including humans. This worm is unique as it is the only nematode parasite that is embedded in the liver parenchyma of the host even during the adult stage of the life cycle. They produce eggs that elicit a marked granulomatous reaction that eventually destroys the worms. Fibrosis and lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltration are often observed around adult nematodes embedded in the liver parenchyma of the host. For this reason, complete isolation of this slender worm and observation of the intact ultrastructure is very difficult. In this study, 10 intact whole worms (C. hepatica) were isolated from the liver of 3-week-old mouse after inoculation of artificially embryonated eggs collected from house rats (Rattus norvegicus). Their external structure of was observed with light and scanning electron microscopy. The length of the isolated female and male C. hepatica was approximately 69.60 mm and 36.92 mm, respectively. More detailed ultrastructure, including bacillary band, eggs and vulva in female and spicule and spicule sheath in male C. hepatica was also described.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2013

Rats and mice are commonly used in experimental laboratories and anesthetic drugs are important for researchers to understand the details. Administration of fluids helps to stabilize the experimental animals before anesthesia via intravenously through the lateral vein in rats and in case of difficulty in catheterization and maintenance, fluids are usually administered as boluses. Large volumes of cool fluids will rapidly lead to hypothermia and all parenteral fluids must be warmed to body temperature before administration. Premedication with a sedative may ease induction with volatile anesthetic drugs. The first choice for rodent anesthesia is complete inhalational anesthesia. The second option is using injectable anesthesia. Recovery from the volatile agents that have been used rapid when the agent is no longer administered. Anesthetic monitoring equipment is an infant-size bell sthethoscope that can be used to ausculate the heart and lungs. Supplemental heating should be provided to reduce the heat loss supply and maintain core body temperature. The kinds of drugs, characteristics, route of administration and care after surgery were reviewed and summarized from the references. Anesthetic drugs, maintenance, monitoring and aftercare are important in the laboratories to keep the animal safe in all experimental procedures.

• CELLMED
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.26.1-26.9
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• 2014

Reactive oxygen species are known to mediate various pathological conditions associated with malaria. In this study, the antioxidant potential of Clerodendrum violaceum leaf extracts, an indigenous antimalarial remedy, was evaluated. Total phenol, flavonoid, selenium, vitamins C and E contents of Clerodendrum violaceum leaf extracts were determined. The free radical scavenging activities of the extracts against DPPH, superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide coupled with their reducing power were also evaluated in vitro. Moreover, responses of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) in a rodent malaria model to a 4-day administration of Clerodendrum violaceum leaf extracts were also evaluated. The methanolic extract was found to contain the highest amounts of antioxidant compounds/element and also demonstrated the highest free radical scavenging activity in vitro. The results showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in SOD and CAT activities with a concurrent significant (p < 0.05) increase in GPx and GR activities in both erythrocytes and liver of untreated Plasmodium berghei NK65-infected animals compared to the uninfected animals. The extracts were able to significantly increase (p < 0.05) SOD and CAT activities and significantly reduce (p < 0.05) GPx and GR activities in both the liver and erythrocytes compared to those observed in the untreated infected animals. The results suggest the augmentation of the antioxidant system as one of the possible mechanisms by which Clerodendrum violaceum extract ameliorates secondary effects of malaria infection, alongside its antiplasmodial effect in subjects.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 2007

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) is expressed at very high levels in the gastrointestinal epithelium. Many of the functions of $PPAR{\gamma}$ in gastrointestinal epithelial cells have been elucidated in recent years, and a pattern is emerging which suggests that this receptor plays an important role in gastrointestinal physiology. There is also strong evidence that $PPAR{\gamma}$ is a colon cancer suppressor in pre-clinical rodent models of sporadic colon cancer, and there is considerable interest in exploitation of $PPAR{\gamma}$ agonists as prophylactic or chemopreventive agents in colon cancer. Studies in mice and in human colon cancer cell lines suggest several mechanisms that might account for the tumor suppressive effects of $PPAR{\gamma}$ agonists, although it is not in all cases clear whether these effects are altogether mediated by $PPAR{\gamma}$. Conversely, several reports suggest that $PPAR{\gamma}$ agonists may promote colon cancer under certain circumstances. This possibility warrants considerable attention since several million individuals with type II diabetes are currently taking $PPAR{\gamma}$ agonists. This review will focus on recent data related to four critical questions: what is the physiological function of $PPAR{\gamma}$ in gastrointestinal epithelial cells; how does $PPAR{\gamma}$ suppress colon carcinogenesis; is $PPAR{\gamma}$ a tumor promoter; and what is the future of $PPAR{\gamma}$ in colon cancer prevention?

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2002

The composition of monosaccharides of acidic polysaccharide isolated from ethanol-insoluble and water-soluble fractions of red ginseng roots was analysed and its immunological activities were investigated. Red ginseng acidic polysaccharide (RGAP) was composed of glucose (26.1 mole %), arabinose (1.6 mole %), glucuroninc acid (51.8 mol %) and galacturonic acid (5.1 mole %) as determined by gas liquid chromatography. Addition of RGAP increased production of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ in the rodent macrophage cultures. Peritoneal macrophages from RGAP-treated mice exhibited potent tumoricidal activities toward P815 and WEHI 164 tumor cells. It was also observed that concentrations of NO and TNF-$\alpha$ were high in the culture medium of macrophages from the mice administered with RGAP. Moreover, treatment of RGAP in vivo stimulated tumoricidal activities of natural killer (NK) cells. Treatment with RGAP increased life span of sarcoma 180-bearing mice and decreased tumor weights of B16-tumor-bearing mice. These results suggest that activation of macrophages and NK cells serve to enhance in vivo anticancer activities of RGAP.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.417-425
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• 2019

Cadmium (Cd) generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in turn cause the apoptosis of various cell types including developing germ cells in rodent testis. Ascorbic acids (AA), one of the ROS scavengers, had been reported to protect against Cd-induced apoptosis. N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), another ROS scavenger, is known to remove ROS and alleviate the Cd-induced apoptosis in various cell types. In this study we tried to elucidate how NAC affected on Cd-induced cell apoptosis in rat testis. Rats were administered with NAC before and after Cd treatment and then testicular cell apoptosis was examined. NAC treatment resulted in the reduction of Cd-induced chromosomal DNA fragmentation in agarose gel electrophoresis. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay showed that treatment of NAC reduced the Cd-induced apoptosis of germ cells. The administration of NAC showed that the translocation of apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) from mitochondria to nucleus was prevented, which indicated that the mechanism of Cd-induced testicular apoptosis is mediated through the release of AIF in caspase-independent manner. Taken together, the NAC may remove Cd-induced ROS and protect ROS-induced cell apoptosis in rat testis.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.336-341
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• 2004

Leptin, resisitn and PAI-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1) are synthesized and secreted by rodent fat cells and recently postulated to be an important link to obesity. This study was conducted to characterize the hormonal regulation of leptin, resistin, and PAI-1 gene expression in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The cells were treated with 0.5 $\mu$M insulin, 1 $\mu$M dexamethasone (Dex), or 0.05 $\mu$M triiodothyronine (T3) for 72 hours. The mRNA levels of each peptide were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The mRNA level of the leptin-producing ob gene was significantly increased by insulin, Dex, and T3 by 3.2-, 3.1- and 2.7-fold, respectively, compared to the control (p < 0.05). The level of resistin mRNA was increased by insulin, Dex, and T3 by 2.7-, 2.5- and 2-fold, respectively, compared to the control (p < 0.05). Likewise, the level of PAI-1 mRNA was significantly increased by insulin, Dex, and T3 compared to the control (p < 0.05). Taken together, our results suggest that insulin, Dex, and T3 may regulate the gene expression of leptin, resistin, and PAI-1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.428-430
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• 2011

We previously demonstrated that in vivo engagement of CD137, a member of TNF receptor superfamily, can delete allorective $CD4^+$ T cells through the induction of activation-induced cell death (AICD) in chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) and subsequently reverse established cGVHD. In this study, we further showed that agonistic anti-CD137 mAb was highly effective in triggering AICD of donor $CD8^+$ T cells as well as donor $CD4^+$ T cells in the $C57BL/6{\rightarrow}unirradiated$ $(C57BL/6\;{\times}\;DBA/2)F1$ acute GVHD model. Our results suggest that strong allostimulation should facilitate AICD of both alloreactive $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ T cells induced by CD137 stimulation. Therefore, depletion of pathogenic T cells using agonistic anti-CD137 mAb combined with potent TCR stimulation may be used to block autoimmune or inflammatory diseases mediated by T cells.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.279-285
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• 2007

The present study attempted to analyze the mechanism of PCB-induced neurotoxicity with respect to the PKC signaling. Since the developing neuron is particularly sensitive to PCB-induced neurotoxicity, we isolated cerebellar granule cells derived from 7-day old SD rats and grew cells in culture for additional 7 days to mimic PND-14 conditions. Only non-coplanar PCBs at a high dose showed a significant increase of total PKC activity at $[^3H]PDBu$ binding assay, indicating that non-coplanar PCBs are more neuroactive than coplanar PCBs in neuronal cells. PKC isoforms were immunoblotted with respective monoclonal antibodies. PKC-alpha and-epsilon were activated with non-coplanar PCB exposure. The result suggests that coplanar PCBs have a PKC pathway different from non-coplanar PCBs. Activation of PKC with exposure was dampened with treatment of high molecular weight of chitosan. Chilean (M.W. > 1,000 kDa) inhibited the total activity of PKC induced by the non-coplanar PCBs. Translocation of PKC isoforms was also inhibited by the high molecular weight of chitosan. The study demonstrated that non-coplanar PCBs are more potent neurotoxic congeners than coplanar PCBs and the alteration of PKC activities by PCB exposure can be blocked with the treatment of chitosan. The results suggest a potential use of chitosan as a means of nutritional intervention to prevent the harmful effects of pollutant-derived diseases.