• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.199-203
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• 1995

The focus of this study was to investigate that cellular parameters and glucose uptake might be altered by extracellular calcium and starvation. Addition of 1 mM $Ca^{++}$ to hepatocytes (equalling to the free calcium concentration of blood) significantly increased intracellular $Na^+$ and decreased $Na^+$ & LDH leakage. This pertains to the hepatocytes of control rats as well as those of rats fasted for 24 and 48. hr. These effects might be come from the membrane-stabilizing effects of calcium. But calcium had no effects on cell volumes, superoxide-formation and glucose uptake. Actually hepatocytes of starved rats showed changes in several cellular parameters. Starvation increased LDH leakage, glucose uptake and the total concentration of $Na^+$ and $Na^+$ whereas it markedly decreased cell volumes. Since total tonicity remained unchanged, intracellular $Na^+$ and $Na^+$ could contribute to a higher share of total osmolarity in starvation. Starvation increased the cytoplasmic pH because $R-NH^{3+}$ions and their corresponding counterions disappeared. This increase may be related to suppress the protonization of amino groups in proteins. Starvation decreased hepatic glycogen, a major compound that affects cytosolic volume of hepatocytes. The data indicate that starvation increases the glucose transport activity. The possible molecular basis will be discussed.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2004

This study aimed to determine the association of maternal oxidative stress and adverse pregnancy outcome with serum vitamin C concentration and a myeloperoxidase (MPO) genetic polymorphism during pregnancy. We investigated 450 pregnant women who visited Ewha Womans University Hospital for prenatal care during gestational weeks 24～28. During the second trimester, we measured serum vitamin C levels and urinary 8-hydroxyde-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) as an oxidative stress biomarker. We determined the presence of a maternal MPO polymorphism (G-to-A substitution at nucleotide 463) using a PCR-RFLP assay. We compared the level of oxidative stress and birth weight with the vitamin C concentration and the presence of the MPO polymorphism. The mean level of maternal oxidative stress tended to be higher and the birth weight lower for MPO type A/A than for types A/G and G/G. Vitamin C levels above the 75 percentiles were associated with reduced concentrations of urinary MDA and 8-OHdG but increased birth weight. Our data demonstrate that oxidative stress and neonatal birth weight are associated with the MPO genetic polymorphism, with the association modified by the maternal vita-min C levels.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.230-240
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• 1992

The metabolic profile of doxylamine, N,N-dimethyl-2-[1-phenyl-1-(2-pyridinyl)ethoxy] ethanamine, was determined in the human urine. The free fractions of extracts were obtained without hydrolysis, and the conjugated fractions of extracts were obtained with enzyme hydrolysis using ${\beta}-glucuronidase/arylsulfatase$ from Helix pomatia. The mixture of acetic anhydride/pyridine (10 : 1, v : v) was used to derivatize the urinary extracts and then analyzed by gas chromatography and mass selective detector. N-desmethyldoxylamine, doxylamine carboxylic acid, desaminohydroxydoxylamine, N, N-didesmethyldoxylamine, N-acetyl conjugates of N-desmethyl and N, N-didesmethyldoxylamine, quarternary ammonium N-glucuronide of doxylamine, N-desmethyldoxylamine N-glucuronide and unchanged doxylamine were detected in the human urine obtained after oral treatment with doxylamine succinate. $N-methyl-{\alpha}-hydroxy-2-[1-phenyl-1-(2-pyridinyl)$ ethoxy] ethanamine, which can be a key intermediate of this metabolism, was tentatively identified by the interpretation of its mass spectrum. In this study, we proposed the metabolic pathway of doxylamine in the human on the basis of our data of the identified metabolites of doxylamine.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.257-263
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• 1997

Pentachlorophenol(PCP) which ks widely used in wood preservation, pulp and paper mills, has led to a substantial envirortmental contamination. To get the reliable data for the effective health risk assessment with PCP, covalent binding potential of PCP to cellular macromolecules and glutathione(GSH) was investigated after intraperitoneal administration of $^{14}C-PCP$ to rats. PCP metabolites were able to bind covalently to serum albumin and hepatic protein in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Hepatic protein adducts of PCP metabolites were increased as a function of cytochrome P-450 activities, whereas, albumin adducts significantly decreased. Covalent binding of PCP metabolites with DNA or hemoglobin was not observed. GSH levels in liver tissue decreased over 12hrs, however, the level was recovered after 48hrs. Tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone (1,4-TCBQ), one of the most reactive PCP metabolites, conjugated with GSH very rapidly. Base on our results, we could conclude that PCP metabolized to reactive electrophilic metabolites by cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes and conjugated rapidly with neighboring protein or nonprotein sulfhydryl before reacting with DNA or hemoglobin. We propose that albumin adducts and mercapturic acids of PCP metabolites can be used good biomarker of recent PCP exposure.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.239-253
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• 2000

This study was carried out to evaluate the three months subacute intravenous toxicity of water soluble dimethyl dimethoxy biphenylate derivative (DDB-S), a newly formulated therapeutic agent for hepatitis, in Beagle dogs. Groups of 12 male and 12 female dogs were given different dosage of DDB-S, 10 mg/kg/day (high dose group), 5 mg/kg/day (middle dose group), 2.5 mg/kg/day (low dose group) and 0 mg/kg/day (control group) for three months by intravenous route. 1n the three months intravenous toxicity study, there were neither dead animals nor significant changes of body weights during the experimental period. 1n addition to, no significant DDB-S related changes were found in clinical signs, urinalysis and other findings. Statistical changes were observed in hematological. biochemical, partial thromboplastin time (PIT) and organ weight parameters of treated groups. However, these alteration had no relationship with dosage. No histopathological lesions were observed in both control and treated animals. Above data suggest that no observed adverse effect level of test materials in Beagle dogs might be over 10 mg/kg/day in this study.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.179-185
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• 2000

Zinc is known to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) including superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), which eventually contribute to cytotoxicity in a variety of cell types. Here in, we demonstrated that zinc decreased the viability of C6 glial cells in a time and dose-dependent manner, which was revealed as apoptosis characterized by ladder-pattern fragmentation of genomic DNA. chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation in Hoechst dye staining. Zinc-induced apoptosis of C6 glial cells was prevented by the addition of catalase and antioxidants including reduced glutathione (GSH), N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC). Wefurther confirmed that zinc decreased intrac-ellular levels of GSH and generated $H_2O_2$in C6 glial cells. Moreover, antioxidants also decreased the generation of zinc-induced $H_2O_2$ in C6 glial cells. These data indicated that zinc-induced the apoptotic death of C6 glial cells via generation of reactive oxygen species such as $H_2O_2$.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.265-274
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• 1997

Uhwangchungsimwon(UC) is widely used as a herbal medicine on various circulatory disorders in Korea. The objective of this investigation was to characterize the acute, subacute hepatotoxic potency of orally administered UC in rats. In the acute and short-term studies, male rats of 150~170g were gavaged with 0, 7.5 g/kg once daily for up to 1, 5, 10 consecutive days. No differences in body weight, serum enzyme activities, absolute and relative liver weight and histopathological examination on liver between control and UC-fed groups were found. In the subacute study, UC was administered orally to both sexes of rats for 30 days(0, 1.875, 3.75 or 7.5 g/kg/day). There were no-doserelated hepatotoxic signs of general symptoms, body weight gain, water consumption and serum biochemical analysis. Slight decreases of food consumption observed at 3.75 and 7.5 g/kg groups of both sexes were due to be full of UC fed. Gross necropsy and histopathology revealed no evidence of hepatotoxicity related to UC. Our data indicate that hepatotoxicity was not caused by administration of UC up to 7.5 g/kg/dayfor 30 days in rats.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2008

The results of recent studies indicate that high levels of free fatty acids(FFAs) and adipokines may be the main causes of non-alcoholic liver disease; however, the molecular mechanism that links FFAs to lipotoxicity remains unclear. In the present study, we treated HepG2 cells with FFA(either palmitate or oleate) to investigate the mechanisms involved in lipotoxicity in the liver cells. We also treated cells with palmitate in the presence of a chemical chaperone, 4-phenylbutyric acid(PBA), to confirm the involvement of ER stress in lipotoxicity. Palmitate significantly induced cytotoxicity in dose- and time-dependent manners. Apoptosis was also significantly induced by palmitate as measured by caspase-3 activity and DAPI staining. Palmitate led to increased expressions of the spliced form of X-box-protein(Xbp)-1 mRNA and C/EBP homologous transcription factor(CHOP) protein, suggesting activation of the unfolded-protein response. PBA co-incubation significantly attenuated apoptosis induced by palmitate. The above data demonstrate that high levels of palmitate induce apoptosis via the mediation of ER stress in the liver cells and that chemical chaperones act to modulate ER stress and accompanying apoptosis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.335-340
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• 2006

A large number of toxicological substances and pharmacological and physical agents can cause reproductive intervention at the cellular and molecular level. The present study was designed to assess the effect of mercury ($HgCl_2$) at 50 to $550{\mu}M$ concentration ranges, in vitro, on the sperm membrane and DNA integrity, viability, and acrosomal status of normal bull spermatozoa. The samples were processed for sperm analyses using semen-diluting fluid (PBS, pH 7.2). We recorded a sharp increase in the lipid peroxidation/LPO rate; the highest was at $550{\mu}M$ mercury concentration, indicating a deleterious effect of mercury on the sperm membrane intactness. There was also a strong negative correlation between LPO rate and % viable spermatozoa (R = 0.987, p<0.001). Data obtained from a comet assay technique revealed that mercury is capable of inducing DNA breaks in the sperm nuclei. Interestingly, 92% of DNA breaks were double-stranded. The correlation between LPO rate and % DNA breaks was 0.984. Performing the gelatin test indicates that mercury is able to alter the integrity of acrosomal membranes showing an abnormal acrosome reaction. In this regard, a strong link was found between LPO rate and % halos (R = 0.990, p<0.001). Collectively, mercury proved to be a potent oxidant in the category of environmental factors affecting bull spermatozoa. Hence, considering the wide spread use of mercury and its compounds, these metals should be regarded with more concern.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.449-460
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• 1997

Single and 4 weeks oral administration of l-muscone, a major active ingredient of musk, to beagle dogs of both sexes were performed to investigate both acute and subacute toxicity. Beagle dogs(3 males and 3 females) in acute experiments were administered orally with single dosage of 2,000 mg/kg and groups of 9 male and 9 female beagle dogs in subacute experiments were given daily different dosage of l-muscone, 0.2 mg/kg/day(low dosage group), 2 mg/kg/day(middle dosage group), or 20 mg/kg/day(high dosage group) once a day for 4 weeks by oral route according to the Established Regulation of Korean Food and Drug Administration(1996.4.16). $LD_{50}$ value for beagle dogs was more than 2,000 mg/kg on oral route for both male and females. In animals administered with l-muscone, there were neither dead animals nor significant changes of body weights. In addition, no differences were found between control and treated groups in clinical signs, urinalysis, eye examination, hematology, serum chemistry, organ weight and other findings. No histolopathological lesions were observed in both control and treatment groups. Above data strongly suggest that l-muscone in beagle dogs is considered to be safe.