• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.849-859
• /
• 2018

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection has been a public health concern worldwide. It is the leading cause of genital herpes and a contributing factor to cervical cancer and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. No vaccine is available yet for the treatment of HSV-2 infection, and routinely used synthetic nucleoside analogs have led to the emergence of drug resistance. The small molecule $Retro-2^{cycl}$ has been reported to be active against several pathogens by acting on intracellular vesicle transport, which also participates in the HSV-2 lifecycle. Here, we showed that Retro-2.1, which is an optimized, more potent derivative of $Retro-2^{cycl}$, could inhibit HSV-2 infection, with 50% inhibitory concentrations of $5.58{\mu}M$ and $6.35{\mu}M$ in cytopathic effect inhibition and plaque reduction assays, respectively. The cytotoxicity of Retro-2.1 was relatively low, with a 50% cytotoxicity concentration of $116.5{\mu}M$. We also preliminarily identified that Retro-2.1 exerted the antiviral effect against HSV-2 by a dual mechanism of action on virus entry and late stages of infection. Therefore, our study for the first time demonstrated Retro-2.1 as an effective antiviral agent against HSV-2 in vitro with targets distinct from those of nucleoside analogs.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.30 no.3 s.47
• /
• pp.419-426
• /
• 2004

The nano-ceramide capsulation is a technique that capsulates ceramide III and tocopheryl linoleate at the mono-vesicle to act on the horny layer in skin. In this technique, $0.5{\~}5.0\;wt\%$ of hydrogenated lecithin and $0.01{\~}2.00\;wt\%$ of lysolecithin are used as the membrane-strengthen agents of the mono-vesicle and $5.0{\~}10.0\;wt\%$ of propylene glycol and $5.0{\~}10.0\;wt\%$ of ethyl alcohol are used as solvents. Active ingredients such ceramide III and tocopheryl linoleate are utilized to enhance the moisturizing efficacy and treat atopy skin. These materials do not contain synthetic emulsifiers. The optimal conditions or nano-ceramide capsulation are such that particles pass Microfludizdizer 3 times at 1,000 bar and $60{\~}70^{\circ}C$ and pH of nano capsules is $5.8{\pm}0.5.$ The average size of particles is $63.1{\pm}7.34\;nm$ showing lucid state like water by the laser light scattering. A zeta potential value is $-55.1\pm0.84\;mV.$ Through clinical tests, the moisturizing effect (in-vivo, n=8, p-value<0.05) showed $21.15\%$ of improvement comparison to comparison-samples and $36.31\%$ of improvement compared to the state before treatment. Moreover, the effectiveness of atopy skin showed positive reaction from 10 volunteers.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.87-101
• /
• 1975

Electron microscopic studies on the ultrastructure of the mouse oocyte were made to investigate the inhibition of germinal vesicle breakdown by dibutyryl cAMP. The nuclear membrane of the dibutyryl cAMP-treated oocyte is characterized by a decreased degree of folding, maintains the normal double membrane structure, and shows an increased occurrence of the nuclear pore. It is suggested that these may be related to the suppression of the maturation of oocytes at the germinal vesicle. Mitochondria in the control cell were shown to be spread evenly throughout the cytoplasm and structurally underdeveloped or transitionary having little cristae development. On the contrary, mitochondria in the treated oocyte were found to be localized mainly around the nucleus and to show a greater extent of cristae development. The oocyte treated with dibutyryl cAMP appears to have fewer and structurally simpler lysosomes as compared to the control. The Golgi complex in the control oocyte exhibits the typical granular and lamellar structure, whereas that in the treated cell is poorly developed. Many multivesicular bodies, tonofilaments, and free ribosomes were observed in the control as well as in treated cells. The microvilli become structurally irregular, and a development of the perivitelline space is apparent in the treated oocyte. It is concluded that there is no basic difference in the ultrastructure between the oocytes treated with dibutyryl cAMP for 24 hours in the medium and those collected directly from the follicle. However, the finding that dibutyryl cAMP induces a development of more pores along the nuclear membrane strongly suggests the possibility that this compound inhibits the maturation of oocytes by influencing the permeability of the nuclear membrane.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.57-66
• /
• 1999

The nervous tissue in the cerebral ganglion of Korean planaria was observed using electron microscope. The obtained results are as follows: A cerebral ganglion is composed of the nerve cells, neurosecretory cells, neuroglial cells and neuropils. The nerve cells are round or ovoidal-shaped cells (diameter, $5{\mu}m$), which has a large ellipsoidal nucleus containing the evenly developed heterochromatin. Their cytoplasms were found to be relatively simple, because of their undeveloped cell organelles. The neurosecretory cells are long and ellipsoid or spindle-shaped cells, where there were found a large ellipsoidal nucleus and cytoplasm filled with secretory granules (diameter, 60 nm). The neuroglial cells were seldom observed. They are spindle-shaped cells (size, $6\times0.8{\mu}m$), which were observed mainly among the nerve fibers. The neuropils are formed by the nerve fibers and nerve endings which are filled with mitochondria, neurotubules and secretory granules of four kinds (high electron dense granules of sizes 75 nm, 50 nm and 37 nm, and electron lucent granule of size 30 nm etc.). These granular vesicles are divided into single vesicle type and compound vesicle type in the nerve terminals, and neuronal synapses were observed to be the axo-dendritic and dendro-dendritic synapse type.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.151-156
• /
• 1986

There are some evidence for the presence of more than one type of calcium channels. To investigate whether organic calcium antagonist sensitive calcium channels exist in the isolated sarcolemmal membrane, we prepared high KCl-loaded sarcolemmal vesicle from the procine small instine, and induced calcium transport by high $K^+$ concentration or by electrical stimulation after preincubation of KCl-loaded vesicle in the low potassium solution. Calcium transport induced by high $K^+$ concentration (84.7mM) was significantly increased (p<0.05), compared with that by low $K^+$ concentration (2.08 mM), and not inhibited by diltiazem $(10^{-6}\;M)$. Calcium transport was inactivated with time. By continuous electrical stimulation (3V, 15Hz, 25m see), calcium transport was markedly increased, and inhibited significantly by dilltiazem $(10^{-6}\;M)$ and nifedipine $(10^{-6}\;M)$ (p<0.005), compared with the value of control without electrical stimulation. Calcium transport by electrical stimulation was not inactivated with time for at least 2 min. From these results, it was concluded that there was organic calcium antagonist sensitive channel in the isolated intestinal sarcolemma membrane, which was activated by electrical stimulation.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.399-407
• /
• 2010

On the inner side of each operculum of the crucian carp, Carassius auratus (n=10), the leech, Limnotrachelobdella sinensis of 1-4 individuals were parasitic. The leeches had approximately 41.0 mm in total length and 11 mm in width. These body was composed with anterior sucker, neck, trunk and posterior sucker and average length was 2.3 mm, 7.2 mm, 23.3 mm and 8.7 mm respectively. To both sides of the trunk lateral vesicle of 11 pair existed. When observed by SEM, anterior sucker was hemisphere shape and the mouth where proboscis comes out existed with the its center. Proboscis was connected the esophagus directly. Under light microscopy, bloodsucking gill of C. auratus showed lamella fusion, hypertrophy the epithelial cell of the filament and lamella, increased mucocytes and congested capillaries. On the other hand, necrotic and hydropic degeneration epithelial cell of the lamella, and infiltration of the macrophages from some individuals were suggested the secondary infection with the bacteria or virus after bloodsucking activity of the leech.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.105-111
• /
• 2019

In recent years, progress has been made in the search for the development of new anti-cancer agents by employing specific inhibitors of histone deacetylase (HDAC)-6 to block signal transduction pathways in cancer cells. This study examined the effects of tubastatin A (TubA), an HDAC-6 inhibitor, on the growth and development of immature oocytes in murine ovaries using RNA sequencing analysis. The results from a gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) indicated that the expression of most of the gene sets involved in the cell cycle and control and progression of meiosis decreased in the TubA-treated group as compared with that in germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes. In addition, an ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) suggested that TubA not only caused increased expression of p53 and pRB and decreased expression of CDK4/6 and cyclin D but also caused elevated expression of genes involved in the control of the DNA check point in G2/M stage oocytes. These results suggest that TubA may induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through the induction of changes in the expression of genes involved in signal transduction pathways associated with DNA damage and the cell cycle of immature oocytes in the ovary.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.87-91
• /
• 1998

The present study investigated the involvement of the phospholipase C (PLC) and protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathways during progesteroneinduced meiotic maturation in amphibian (Rana dybowskii) oocytes. Prosesterone-induced germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) of oocytes was significantly inhibited by a PKC inhibitor, staurosporine and a PLC inhibitor, U73122, in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, U73343, an inactive analogue of U73122, was ineffective in suppressing GVBD. PKC activity in oocytes reached a maximum level at 30 min after progesterone stimulation and this elevated PKC activity was effectively suppressed by U73122 or staurosporine, suggesting that the activation of PKC enzyme is closely linked to PLC signaling during oocyte maturation. In addition, these inhib itors blocked the maturation promoting factor (MPF) activity which appeared in oocytes in response to progesterone, suggesting that PKC activation is an important signal for MPF activity. Therefore, this study demonstrates that the activation of PKC via PLC signaling is directly linked to an intracellular protein kinase cascade related to the appearance of MPF activity during meiotic maturation in amphibian (Rana dybowskii) oocytes.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.45-50
• /
• 2001

Rana ovarian follicles consist of oocyte, vitelline envelope, granulosa cells, and theca/epithelial layer. Using scanning electron microscopy, the surface structure of each follicular component was investigated. Changes in oocyte surface during oocyte maturation were also examined. Theca/epithelial layer was almost transparent and some blood vessels and granulosa cells were observed underneath in intact follicle. The number of granulosa cells was estimated to be 6700-7200 per oocyte. The granulosa cells partially overlapped each other and their microvilli penetrated the vitelline membrane via holes present in the vitelline envelope and seemed to be linked to oocyte microvilli. After removal of the vitelline envelope by microforcep, oocyte microvilli were observed on the surface of the devitellined oocyte. The oocyte microvilli formed partial clusters on the surface of white spot area which appears iust before germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), whereas they were evenly distributed in other areas. The microvilli became shorter and less dense with oocyte maturation. The lengths of oocyte microvilli in the immature and mature oocyte were 1.5 $\mu$m and 0.6 $\mu$m, respectively. The present study suggests a fundamental structural change occurring on the oocyte surface during maturation.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.243-251
• /
• 2011

Environmental conditions can influence the morphology of local biota through phenotypic plasticity or local adaptation. Macroalgal morphologies are often associated with wave-exposure conditions. We investigated the relationship between morphology and wave exposure in two common endemic subtidal macroalgae, Carpophyllum angustifolium and C. maschalocarpum, from the East Cape of New Zealand. Morphological comparisons were made between individuals from two sites and four different wave-exposure zones, as defined by fetch and barnacle composition. Of the seven morphological traits measured in C. angustifolium, only total length varied, and individuals were longer in more wave-exposed environments between the two exposure zones where the species were found. In contrast, total length, stipe thickness and vesicle presence all varied significantly between exposure zones in C. maschalocarpum. C. maschalocarpum specimens were shorter with thinner stipes, and fewer individuals had vesicles in the more wave-exposed zones. Morphological traits of both species also varied between sites, suggesting that other influences are important for determining species morphology. Further study is needed to investigate the role of phenotypic plasticity and genetic variability for driving morphological variation in C. angustifolium and C. maschalocarpum.