• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1984.09a
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• pp.225-232
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• 1984

Panax ginseng extract is capable of enhancing antibody plaque forming cell response and circulating antibody titre against sheep erythrocytes, cell mediated immunity against Semliki forest virus antigen and natural killer cell activity in mice. It also enhanced production of interferon of both the pH stable and labile types induced by an interferon inducer of fungal origin.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2015

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for humans and animals, and several findings suggest that dietary Se intake may be necessary for bone health. Accumulating evidence indicates that Se compounds possess anticancer properties. Se is specifically incorporated into proteins in the form of selenocysteine and non-specifically incorporated as selenomethionine in place of methionine. This study evaluated protection by Se in the bone repair process in ovariectomized rats after irradiation. For such purpose, 80 ovariectomized female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups: ovariectomized (Ov), Ov/Se, Ov/irradiated (Irr) and Ov/ Se/Irr. A bone defect was created on the tibia of all animals 40 days after ovariectomy. Two days after surgery, only the Ov/Se and Ov/Se/Irr rats received 0.8 mg Se/kg. Three days after surgery, only the Ov/Irr and Ov/Se/Irr rats received 10 Gy of X-rays on the lower limb region. The animals were euthanized at 7, 15, 22 and 29 days after surgery to assess the repair process, which was evaluated by analysis of trabecular bone number (Masson Trichrome) and birefringence analysis (Picrosirius). It was possible to observe a delay in the bone repair process in the ovariectomized/irradiated group and similarity between the ovariectomized, Ov/ Se and Ov/Se/Irr groups. Our findings suggest that sodium selenite may influence a radioprotective effect in the bone repair of tibia of ovariectomized rats without toxicity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.796-805
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• 2021

Hepatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress contributes to the development of steatosis and insulin resistance. The components of unfolded protein response (UPR) regulate lipid metabolism. Recent studies have reported an association between ER stress and aberrant cellular lipid control; moreover, research has confirmed the involvement of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs)-the central regulators of lipid metabolism-in the process. However, the exact role of SREBPs in controlling lipid metabolism during ER stress and its contribution to fatty liver disease remain unknown. Here, we show that SREBP-1c deficiency protects against ER stress-induced hepatic steatosis in mice by regulating UPR, inflammation, and fatty acid oxidation. SREBP-1c directly regulated inositol-requiring kinase 1α (IRE1α) expression and mediated ER stress-induced tumor necrosis factor-α activation, leading to a reduction in expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α and subsequent impairment of fatty acid oxidation. However, the genetic ablation of SREBP-1c prevented these events, alleviating hepatic inflammation and steatosis. Although the mechanism by which SREBP-1c deficiency prevents ER stress-induced inflammatory signaling remains to be elucidated, alteration of the IRE1α signal in SREBP-1c-depleted Kupffer cells might be involved in the signaling. Overall, the results suggest that SREBP-1c plays a crucial role in the regulation of UPR and inflammation in ER stress-induced hepatic steatosis.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.81-91
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• 2021

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea did not have direct legislation on natural environmental conservation until the early 1970s when the regime was still in the early stage. The Law on Land was enacted in 1977 to provide the legal basis for protecting the natural environment, including land protection, protection zones, and forest formation and protection. The enactment of the Law on Environmental Protection in 1986 made progress on environmental conservation in the DPRK. The constitutional amendment in 1992 stipulated "the preservation and creation of the natural environment as the responsibility of the state." Based on the Framework Law on Environmental Protection, subordinate statutes in various fields were enacted after the1990s. While the committee designated and managed the protected zones in the early days, the Framework Law on Environmental Protection established the ground for the designation of legally protected areas, and the Law on Protection of Scenic Spots and Natural Monuments enacted in 1995, and the Law on Environmental Protection enacted in 2009 provided the details. Furthermore, the types of nature reserves include biosphere reserves, primeval forest reserves, animal reserves, plant reserves, and scenic reserves. The 2nd National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan established in 2007 based on the Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD) stated 326 protected zones in the DPRK. However, the 2018 United Nations list of Protected Areas shows only 31 registered zones, indicating the need to establish basic information on protected areas in DPRK. This study can provide basic information for a better understanding of the nature conservation system in the DPRK. Considering that environmental protection activities such as protection of endangered species and recovery of environmental pollution are subject to exceptions under the current sanctions against North Korea (UN Security Council, the United States), it will be possible to contribute to identifying possible inter-Korean cooperation projects in the field of the natural environment.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.219-227
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• 2020

As the earth's average temperature rises, crop and livestock productions are at risk. Chickens are sensitive to heat stress, and increased temperatures may have adverse effects on their production performance and animal welfare. Reliable stress measurements are crucial for heat stress adaptation. Therefore, various measurement methods and biomarkers are used to evaluate poultry stress levels. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are heat sensitive biological markers that are highly expressed under stress, thereby acting as a cellular thermometer. HSPs also have chaperone activity, which protects cells from heat stress. This review details the role of HSP70 as a molecular chaperone and biomarker for heat stress, which is important for breeding climate-adaptable, thermo-tolerant poultry.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.603-617
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• 2018

This study surveyed the diversity and community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and freshwater fish, which are the main animal classifications in a hydro ecosystem, from May to September 2017 in the western plains of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The results showed a total of 125 species of benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 66 families, 19 orders, and four phyla in the streams and wetlands. Among benthic macroinvertebrates, Coleoptera (27 spp.: 21.60%) was the largest group in terms of species richness followed by Odonata (26 spp.: 20.80%), non-Insecta (22 spp.: 17.60%), and Hemiptera (11 spp.: 8.80%) occupying in the lentic area. Of the feeding function groups (FFGs), predators (51 spp.: 56.67%) showed a relatively larger presence, indicating the dominance of hygrophilous invertebrates that usually inhabit the freshwater wetlands or ponds. Of the habitat oriented groups (HOGs), climbers (33 spp.: 24.44%) and burrowers (17 spp.: 12.59%) were the dominant groups. This observation is typical in a slow flowing habitat and can lead to the disturbance of the ecosystem due to cannibalism among predators. Cannibalism can be caused by stress induced by various population and environmental factors. For the ecosystem services benchmark (ESB) value, site 13 appeared to be the highest with 82 marks while other sites showed relatively lower rates and indices (III water quality class with ${\alpha}$-mesosaprobic). The analysis result of stability factors showed that almost all sites were evaluated to be the I characteristic group with high resilience and resistance or the III characteristic group that was sensitive to environmental disturbance and formed uneven and unstable communities. Of the freshwater fishes, 46 species (3,405 individuals) belonging to 39 families and 18 orders were identified in all the investigated sites. Among them, Cyprinidae (30 spp.: 65.2%) was the largest group, and Zacco koreanus was identified as the dominant species (728 individuals, 21.4%). The survey of freshwater fish communities found both stable communities (sites 7 and 13) with low dominant index (0.39) and high diversity index (2.29) and unstable communities (sites 2, 3, 8, and 10) in opposite tendency. This survey found five Korean endemic species, 17 species belonging to the export controlled species, two endangered species level II (Lethocerus deyrollei and Cybister chinensis), and rare species (Dytiscus marginalis czerskii) among benthic macroinvertebrates. The survey also found an invasive species, Ampullarius insularus, which was distributed throughout the whole area and thus can continuously disturb the ecosystem in the western plain area in the DMZ. Of freshwater fish, one natural monument (Hemibarbus mylodon) and three endangered species level II (Acheilognathus signifer, Gobiobotia macrocephalus, and G. brevibarba) were observed. The survey also found four introduced species (Pomacea canaliculate, Carassius cuvieri, Lepomis macrochirus, Micropterus salmoides) in the western DMZ area, indicating the need for the protection and conservation measures.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.1252-1257
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• 2014

While dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is the most commonly used cryoprotectant agent in the cryopreservation of cultured mammalian cells, it has been reported to cause differentiation of some cell lines by DNA methylation and associated histone modifications. To avoid the side effects of DMSO in cryopreservation, other agents might be more appropriate for maintaining the stable differentiation of cultured cell phenotypes through cryopreservation. All cryoprotectants should be highly soluble in water and display low cell toxicity. Cryoprotective agents have been shown to be effective in animal sperm preservation, and eight types of amides were examined in the cryopreservation of cultured mouse endothelial cells. Among the amides examined, acetamide and lactamide were effective cryoprotectants for cultured mammalian cells. The most effective concentration of lactamide, 1.5 M, had an even lower cryoprotective ability than 1M DMSO. Because successful cryopreservation of cultured cells is hampered by osmotic stress, the adequate ionic concentration was determined by diluting phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) in the 1.5M lactamide solution. The most effective concentration was $0.4{\times}PBS$, which minimized osmotic stress during the cryopreservation of cultured cells. As the addition of high molecular weight materials in cryopreservation media improves the viability of cells, the effects of bovine serum albumin (BSA), hydroxyethyl-starch (HES), and dextran were examined. The best combination of lactamide-based media for cryopreservation was found to be 1.5 M lactamide in $0.4{\times}PBS$ with 1% BSA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.805-811
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of water extract from Crassostrea gigas (CGW) against ethanol-induced hepatic toxicity in rats. Seventy-two male Wistar rats (6-week-old) were divided into six groups of 12 animals each: control group (1 mL saline/d), ethanol-treated group, positive control group (ethanol+Hovenia dulcis Thunb extract), CGWL group (ethanol+low dosage of CGW), CGWM group (ethanol+medium dosage of CGW), and CGWH group (ethanol+high dosage of CGW). All groups except the control group received ethanol (40% ethanol 5 g/kg) orally. CGW administration with ethanol resulted in prevention of ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity by increasing levels of serum alanine aminotransferase and ${\gamma}-glutamyltransferase$. CGW supplementation significantly reduced formation of malonaldehyde and inhibited reduction of hepatic glutathione and peroxidase levels, as compared with the ethanol-administration group. Further, CGW suppressed expression of CYP2E1, which was elevated by ethanol administration. Consequently, our results indicate that Crassostrea gigas may exert hepatoprotective effects against alcohol-induced hepatocyte injury by intensifying the anti-oxidative defense system.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.395-401
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• 2019

Phthalate is a chemical endocrine disrupter and interfere with the action of hormones, estrogens, androgens and thyroid hormones. It also affect cardiovascular, metabolic, immune and reproductive system in the human and animals. Curcumin is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activity and -cancer properties in the human. We studied whether phthalates damage viability, mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity of sperm in boar semen. We also treated curcumin with/without phthalates in the boar semen. Fresh boar semen was treated with phthalates and/or curcumin for examining sperm characteristics. Sperm characteristics, sperm motility, viability, mitochondrial activity, and membrane integrity were determined during storage of boar semen. Sperm motility and viability in dose-dependent manner decreased by di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP, p<0.05). Phthalates also decreased mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity of sperm (p<0.05). However, sperm motility and viability were higher than untreated-curcumin when DBP, MBP and DEHP treated with a curcumin in boar semen (p<0.05). Mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity of sperm were higher in DBP- and MBP-treated semen with curcumin (p<0.05). In conclusion, phthalates can damage sperm viability and quality during the boar semen storage, and curcumin may protect the boar sperms from phthalates during storage term.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.153-165
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• 2014

Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technology is recognizing one of method responding the climate change with reduction of carbon dioxide in atmosphere. In Korea, due to its geological characteristics, sub-seabed geological $CO_2$ storage is regarded as more practical approach than on-land storage under the goal of its deployment. However, concerns on potential $CO_2$ leakage and relevant acidification issue in the marine environment can be an important subject in recently increasing sub-seabed geological $CO_2$ storage sites. In the present study effect data from literatures were collected in order to conduct an effect assessment of elevated $CO_2$ levels in marine environments using a species sensitivity distribution (SSD) various marine organisms such as microbe, crustacean, echinoderm, mollusc and fish. Results from literatures using domestic species were compared to those from foreign literatures to evaluate the reliability of the effect levels of each biological group and end-point. Ecological effect guidelines through estimating level of pH variation (${\delta}pH$) to adversely affect 5 and 50% of tested organisms, HC5 and HC50, were determined using SSD of marine organisms exposed to the $CO_2$-induced acidification. Estimated HC5 as ${\delta}pH$ of 0.137 can be used as only interim quality guideline possibly with adequate assessment factor. In the future, the current interim guideline as HC5 of ${\delta}pH$ in this study will look forward to compensate with supplement of ecotoxicological data reflecting various trophic levels and indigenous species.