• Animal cells and systems
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.367-373
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• 2000

In the present study we determined if NELL2, a neural tissue-specific protein containing 6 epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeat domains, plays an important role in the regulation of puberty initiation in the rat hypothalamus. We origin811y found that NELL2 is a new estrogen-responsive gene in hypothalami derived from estrogen-sterilized and control rats using a PCR differential display. In the 40-day-old female rat hypothalamus, NELL2 was up-regulated by neonatal estrogen treatment. In situ hybridization histochemistry showed that NELL2 is very abundant in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus that is responsible for the control of sex behavior. NELL2 mRNA level in the medial basal hypothalamus showed a dramatic increase before female puberty onset, which suggests that NELL2 may be involved in the process regulating female puberty onset. We attemped to block NELL2 synthesis with intracerebroventricular injection of an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) to the NELL2 mRNA, and examined its effect on the puberty onset of the female rat. The antisense ODN significantly delayed puberty initiation determined by vaginal opening. In summary, NELL2 may play an important role in the regulation of female puberty onset.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2015

Objective: In this study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that aerobic exercise might exert its cardio-protective effect by preventing oxidative stress and improving cardiac function in rat models with doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: We randomly divided experimental rats into four groups: the normal group was used as a non-cardiomyopathy normal control (n=10); the control group included non-aerobic exercise after doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy (n=10); the experimental group I included aerobic exercise (3 m/min) after doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy (n=10); and experimental group II included aerobic exercise (8 m/min) after doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy. Rats in the treadmill training groups underwent treadmill training, which began at 2 weeks after the first intraperitoneal injection. At the end of the exercise period, we determined the heart weight change for each rat. Changes in the levels of oxidative stress enzymes (superoxide dismutase [SOD], thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances [TBARS], and catalase) in the cardiac tissue of rats from all four groups were examined at the end of the experiment. Results: Significant cardiac myocyte injury and increase in myocardial TBARS concomitant with a reduction in myocardial SOD and catalase were observed following cardiomyopathy (p<0.05). Significant cardiac tissue and increase in myocardial TBARS along with reduction in myocardial SOD and catalase were observed following cardiomyopathy (p<0.05). Oxidative parameters were significantly improved in the aerobic exercise groups compared with the control group. Conclusions: These findings indicate that aerobic exercise effectively prevents oxidative stress in rat models with cardiomyopathy.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.401-412
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• 2013

Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is an oriental herbal preparation obtained from Panax ginseng Meyer (Araliaceae). To expand our understanding of the action of KRG on central nervous system (CNS) function, we examined the effects of KRG on tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression in rat primary astrocytes. KRG extract was treated in cultured rat primary astrocytes and neuron in a concentration range of 0.1 to 1.0 mg/mL and the expression of functional tPA/PAI-1 was examined by casein zymography, Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. KRG extracts increased PAI-1 expression in rat primary astrocytes in a concentration dependent manner (0.1 to 1.0 mg/mL) without affecting the expression of tPA itself. Treatment of 1.0 mg/mL KRG increased PAI-1 protein expression in rat primary astrocytes to $319.3{\pm}65.9%$ as compared with control. The increased PAI-1 expression mediated the overall decrease in tPA activity in rat primary astrocytes. Due to the lack of PAI-1 expression in neuron, KRG did not affect tPA activity in neuron. KRG treatment induced a concentration dependent activation of PI3K, p38, ERK1/2, and JNK in rat primary astrocytes and treatment of PI3K or MAPK inhibitors such as LY294002, U0126, SB203580, and SP600125 (10 ${\mu}M$ each), significantly inhibited 1.0 mg/mL KRG-induced expression of PAI-1 and down-regulation of tPA activity in rat primary astrocytes. Furthermore, compound K but not other ginsenosides such as Rb1 and Rg1 induced PAI-1 expression. KRG-induced up-regulation of PAI-1 in astrocytes may play important role in the regulation of overall tPA activity in brain, which might underlie some of the beneficial effects of KRG on CNS such as neuroprotection in ischemia and brain damaging condition as well as prevention or recovery from addiction.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.165-177
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to perform on the biological activity of Magnolia and Zizyphi fructus extract mixtures on the wound healing of defected rat calvaria. For the determination of the mixture ratio of two extracts for oral administration, preliminary experiments were performed with the mixture combination of 2000 and $3000{\mu}g/ml$ of Magnolia extract, and also 20, 30, 200, 300, 2000 and $3000{\mu}g/ml$ of Zizyphi fructus extract, respectively and divided into 6 groups. The combination of extracts mixture were tested on the enhancing effect of cellular activity. The effect of the extracts mixture on the cellular activity was evaluated using MTT method and measured on the results with optical density by ELISA reader. The ability to tissue regeneration of the extracts mixture was performed by measuring new bone and new connective tissue regeneration on the 5mm defected rat calvaria for 1, 2 and 3 weeks after oral administration of 2 different dosages groups : 10:1(0.1g/kg) and 10:1(0.5g/kg). It was employed the same dosages of unsaponifiable fraction of Zea Mays L as positive controls. Each group of rat was sacrificed and en bloc section for histological examination. The effect on the cellular activity of each mixture ratio showed significantly higher in $2000{\mu}g/ml$ of Magnolia extract and $200{\mu}g/ml$ of Zizyphi fructus extract group to compare with other groups. These preliminary results showed that appropriate mixture ratio of two extracts was 10:1 of Magnolia and Zizyphi fructus extract. Histological examination on the activity of tissue regeneration of each group showed that 2weeks and 3weeks specimens of 0.5g/kg of 10:1 extract mixture of Magnolia and Ziziphi fructus administrated rat calvaria revealed significantly more osteoid and new bone formation of defected calvaria with unification of defected area than the specimens of any other negative and positive controls. Even though the specimen administrated the same dosages of unsaponifiable fraction of Zea Mays L, positive controls, showed the trend that they promote significantly the repair of calvarial defect, their bone reparative activities were less inductive than the same dosages of Magnolia and Ziziphi fructus extract mixture. These results implicated that the mixture of Magnolia and Zizyphi fructus extracts should be highly effective on the wound healing of bony defected site and might have potential possibilities as an useful drug to promote periodontal tissue regeneration.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2003

The purposes of this study was to evaluate the effect of low power GaAsAl laser on tissue contraction in a linear incision wound on rat skin. The linear incision wound was made on the midline of the backside in the experimental animals. Low power laser applications with different intensities such as 3, 6, or 10 mW were applied to the experimental animals twice a day for 10 days. On either the seventh or tenth postoperative day, the quantitative analysis of the inflammatory reaction surrounding the linear incision wounds on the rats were performed using enzymatical analysis of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. The number of neutrophil was $.07-1.0{\times}106/m{\ell}$ from a normal blood sample that was obtained from the normal experimental animals. Each concentration of neutrophil showed .04-.62 unit activity of MPO. Therefore, the 6 unit activity of MPO per neutrophil was $.57{\pm}.014{\times}10^{-6}$ unit. On the 7th and 10th post operative day, non treated tissues demonstrated increased MPO activity as compared to that of normal tissue. These data indicated that the inflammatory reaction of tissue was induced after wound induction and the MPO activity were increased in the inflammed tissues. While both 3 mW or 6 mW intensity of laser treatments did not affect the tissue MPO activity, 10 mW intensity of laser treatment significantly decreased the tissue MPO activity on the 7th and 10th post operative day. These data demonstrated that only 10 mW intensity of laser treatment successfully suppressed tissue inflammatory reaction after wound induction. In conclusion, these findings suggested that 10 mW of GaAIAs laser treatments effectively suppressed the inflammatory reaction of tissue that was induced during the wound healing process.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.7 no.1_2
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• pp.53-57
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• 1992

Amount of lead burden in a tissue reflects poisoning of lead in that tissue, so is the removal of lead directly connected to curement of lead poisoning. The purpose of present study was to investigate the relative effects of penicillamine and thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTFD) or thiamine propyl disulfide (TPD) in the removal of lead from rat brain tissue treated with excessive lead. Wistar rat pups of both sexes were used in this experiment. Within 1 day of parturition, experimental mothers nursing their pups as well as rat pups were given drinking water containing 0.2% lead acetate, TTFD 20mg/1.2 L (2 mg/kg/day), TPD 20 mg/1.2 L (2mg/kg/day), penicillamine 40 mg/1.2 L (40 mg/kg/day), 0.2% lead acetate+TTFD 20mg/1.2 L (2 mg/kg/day), 0.2% lead acetate+ TPD 20 mg/1.2 L (2 mg/kg/day) or 0.2% lead acetate+ penicillamine 40 mg/1.2 L (40 mg/kg/day) ad libitum, throughout the entire period of experiment. Rat pups in the control group received normal tap water. The animals were sacrificed by decapitation on the day when they become 2 or 8 weeks of age. Brains were dissected into five regions: telencephalon, diencephalon, midbrain, pons/medulla and cerebellum. The dissected brain tissues were lyophillized and then solubilized by acid mixture (nitric acid + sulfuric acid). Lead levels in the solubilized brain tissues were measured by the inductively coupled plasma. In lead-exposed rats, lead levels were significantly higher than those of control group in all brain legions, lead levels in brain regions of TTFD or TPD group were generally lower than those of control group. The simultaneous administration of lead with TTFD or TPD to animals caused significant decrement of lead from all brain regions. In the elimination of lead from brain regions, effectiveness of TTFD or TPD was equivalant to penicillamine.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.245-250
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• 1996

This study was undertaken to illustrate the uterotonic effect of Leonurus sibiricus. It was dissolved in sterile water and several different dosages were administered both in vitro and in vivo study. Rat uterine tissue for in vitro bioassay was obtained from estrous rat. From the low to high dosages of Leonurus sibiricus were tried and each uterine contraction was recorded and integrated. Anesthetized estrous rat for in vivo study was cannulated into the jugular vein for infusion of the compound. Another cannula with a balloon tipped and water filled was inserted into the uterus to measure uterine activity. While the uterine tissue did not respond to low dosage of compound, high dosage of compound stimulated the tissue to contract less than 1 minute with low amplitude. In vivo rat uterus showed a certain, consistent pattern of contractions which was initial relaxation and followed by prolonged and increased amplitude of contractions. It also caused a short breathing stop which might be due to acute acidosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5071-5074
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• 2016

Background: Azoxymethane (AOM) is a well-known colon cancer-inducing agent in experimental animals via mechanisms that include oxidative stress in rat colon and liver tissue. Few studies have investigated AOM-induced oxidative stress in rat liver tissue. Red seaweeds of the genera Hypnea Bryodies and Melanothamnus Somalensis are rich in polyphenolic compounds that may suppress cancer through antioxidant properties, yet limited research has been carried out to investigate their anti-carcinogenic and antioxidant influence against AOM-induced oxidative stress in rat liver. Objective: This study aims to determine protective effects of red seaweed (Hypnea Bryodies and Melanothamnus Somalensis) extracts against AOM-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. Materials and Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats received intraperitoneal injections of AOM, 15 mg/kg body weight, once a week for two consecutive weeks and then orally administered red seaweed (100 mg/kg body-weight) extracts for sixteen weeks. At the end of the experiment all animals were overnight fasted then sacrificed and blood and liver tissues were collected. Results: AOM treatment significantly decreased serum liver markers and induced hepatic oxidative stress as evidenced by increased liver tissue homogenate levels of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde, decreased total antioxidant capacity and glutathione, and inhibition of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase). Both red seaweed extracts abolished the AOM-associated oxidative stress and protected against liver injury as evidenced by increased serum levels of liver function markers. In addition, histological findings confirmed protective effects of the two red seaweed extracts against AOM-induced liver injury. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that red seaweed (Hypnea Bryodies and Melanothamnus Somalensis) extracts counteracted oxidative stress-induced hepatotoxicity in a rat model of colon cancer.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.197-205
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• 2016

Adipose tissue is one of the major endocrine gland. More recently, local production of steroids in adipocytes differentiated from mouse 3T3-L1 cell-line was reported. We hypothesized that rat adipocytes have steroidogenic machinery and the expression patterns of the components might be differentially regulated, depending on the distribution and sex. To verify this hypothesis, we collected the adipose tissues depot-and sex-specifically at postnatal day (PND) 30, and performed quantitative RT-PCRs. In overall aspects, the abundances of the transcripts were lower in the brown adipose of both sexes. $3{\beta}-HSD$ transcript levels in female abdominal and reproductive adipose, CYP17 transcript levels in female reproductive adipose, $17{\beta}-HSD$ transcript levels in female abdominal and reproductive adipose, and CYP19 transcript levels in female abdominal adipose were significantly lower than those of male counterparts. Similar to steroidogenic factors, the abundance of the $ER-{\alpha}$ transcripts were generally lower in the brown adipose of both sexes. $ER-{\beta}$ transcripts were more abundant in male white adipose depots than their female counterparts. The levels of LHR transcripts in female reproductive adipose were significantly higher than those of male counterpart. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the expressions of steroidogenesis-related genes were depot- and sex-specifically occurred in the immature male and female rat adipose tissues. Our study suggested that the adipose tissues are not only targets but de novo synthesizing sites of sex steroid(s), though the synthesizing activities could be much less than in gonads. Further researches in this field will be helpful for understanding the adipose physiology and for medical application such as sex-specific steroid supplement therapies for older populations.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.90-94
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• 2005

Absorption, metabolism, and tissue concentrations of quercetin were examined and compared in mice and rats after oral administration of quercetin at 50 or 100 mg/kg. Quercetin was absorbed quickly in mice and reached maximum plasma concentration in I hr post-administration, and declined sharply after 4 hr. Plasma concentration of isorhamnetin, a major metabolite, also increased sharply, indicating rapid metabolic conversion, but elevated level was maintained longer than that of quercetin. Quercetin and isorhamnetin were found predominantly in glucuronide/sulfate-conjugate forms in both mice and rats. Tissue concentrations of quercetin and isorhamnetin in mice and rats were in the order of liver>kidney>spleen>plasma both 1 and 6 hr postadministration. These results show that quercetin is absorbed in mice after oral feeding and quickly metabolized into isorhamnetin as demonstrated in humans and other animal species. The results also can be used to explain various pharmacological activities reported in mouse models.