• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.207-212
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• 2012

It is widely known that sciatic nerve injury (SNI) can negatively affect the biomechanical characteristics of the musculoskeletal system. However, there were no studies that evaluated and compared denervated side with another side limb at the same time. In this study, sixteen male 12-week-old mice were allocated into two groups: HEMI (Right Sciatic nerve denervated) and CON (Control). Both limbs were scanned using micro-CT at 0 week and 4 weeks. There were significant differences in relative variation (RV) of BMD and all structural parameters compared CON and HEMI in right tibia (p < 0.05). Tb.Th and Tb.Sp distributions were differed CON with HEMI in right tibia. In left tibia, there were significant differences in RV of BMD (p < 0.05) and Tb.Sp distribution. These result means that SNI can induce bone loss in the both side tibiae. However, there was a different profile of bone loss between left and right tibiae.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.10
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• pp.587-592
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• 2014

We investigated the effects of ${\beta}$-adrenergic activation on bone marrow adiposity and on adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). C57BL/6 mice were subjected to a control (CON), high calorie (HIGH) or low calorie (LOW) diet for 12 weeks. In each group, mice were treated with vehicle (VEH) or propranolol. The number of adipocytes per area bone marrow was increased in LOWVEH and HIGHVEH mice compared with CONVEH mice, which was attenuated by propranolol. Isoproterenol increased lipid droplet accumulation and adipogenic marker gene expression in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and mouse BMSCs, which were blocked by propranolol. Conditioned medium obtained from MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts suppressed adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells, which was significantly attenuated by treatment of MC3T3-E1 cells with isoproterenol. These data suggest that ${\beta}$-adrenergic activation enhances bone marrow adipogenesis via direct stimulation of BMSCs adipogenesis and indirect inhibition of osteoblast anti-adipogenic potential.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.156-168
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• 2005

Objective : The purpose of this research is to examine the effects of Pinelliae Rhizoma (PR) extract on immune cells and cytokines in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic mice. Methods : In vivo, C57BL/6 mice were sensitized and handicapped by OVA for 12 weeks. During this experiment, the one group was then treated with PR extract for the 8 weeks (3 times per week) and analyzed by ELISA and flow cytometer. Results : In vivo, there were significant decreases in eosinophils, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IgE in BALF (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) compared with that of control group. However, $IFN-{\gamma}$ in BALF of GS group increased significantly, compared with that of control group. Additionally, the population of $CD3e^-/CCR3^+,\;CD69^+/CD3e^+,\;IgE^+/B220^+,\;CD11b^+/Gr-l^+$ cells in the PR group decreased, compared with that of control group. Conclusion : The results of this study support a role for PR as an effective treatment for asthma in its experimental success in significantly decreasing inflammation and asthma reactions, and in increasing $IFN-{\gamma}$, which helps prevent such reactions.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.96-126
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• 2002

In the course of screening natural extracts for hair growth, we found that the extract of dried root of Sophora flavescens has the prominent hair growth promoting effect. After topical application of Sophora flavescens extract to the back of C57BL/6 mice, the earlier conversion of telogen-to-anagen phase was induced. In addition, the Sophora flavescens extract revealed to possess potent inhibitory effect on $5{\alpha}$-reductase Ⅰ and Ⅱ activity. The growth of dermal papilla cells and mouse vibrissae hair follicle cultured in vitro, however, was not affected by Sophora flavescens extract treatment. RT-PCR analysis showed that Sophora flavescens extract induced mRNA levels of growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ and keratinocyte growth factor in dermal papilla cells, suggesting hair growth promoting effect of Sophora flavescens extract is mediated through inhibition of $5{\alpha}$-reductase type Ⅱ activity and the regulation of growth factors in dermal papilla cells. Furthermore, Sophora flavescens extract also showed anti-bacterial effect on Propionibacterium acnes. These results suggest that Sophora flavescens can be used as a potent treatment agent for helping hair growth stimulation and acne inhibition.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.269-274
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• 2015

Chronic inflammation has been proposed as one of the main molecular mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases. Although evidence in humans is limited, short-term calorie restriction (CR) has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in aged experimental animals. We reported on the long-term treatment of daumone, a synthetic pheromone secreted by Caenorhabditis elegans in an energy deficient environment, extends the life-span and attenuates liver injury in aged mice. The present study examined whether late onset short-term treatment of daumone exerts anti-inflammatory effects in the livers of aged mice. Daumone was administered orally at doses of 2 or 20 mg/kg/day for 5 weeks to 24-month-old male C57BL/6J mice. Increased liver macrophage infiltration and gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines in aged mice were significantly attenuated by daumone treatment, suggesting that short-term oral administration of daumone may have hepatoprotective effects. Daumone also dose-dependently suppressed tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$ )-induced nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) phosphorylation in HepG2 cells. The present data demonstrated that short-term treatment of daumone has anti-inflammatory effects in aged mouse livers possibly through suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling and suggest that daumone may become a lead compound targeting aging and age-associated diseases.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2003

This study examined the effect of pine needle distillate (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc) on the immune system and hematological parameters. C57BL/6 male mice weighing 20 ~21 g were divided into 3 groups and intraperitonially injected with either 200 $\mu$L of saline (control), 50% diluted (P50) or 100% pine needle distillate (P100) once a day for 24 days. At the end of the experiment, the mice were anesthetized by ether and peripheral blood was collected from the femoral artery and the spleen was excised. Spleen weight decreased significantly (p<0.001) in the pine needle groups compared to the control group. The blood was used for a complete blood count and flow cytometrical analysis after immunofluorescence staining. The pine needle distillate dose-dependently decreased the CD4$^{＋}$/CD8 sup ＋/ ratio (p <0.05), and showed a tendency to increase the mean FSC (forward scatter) values of the CD8$^{＋}$T cells, while decrease the values of the CD4$^{＋}$T cells. There were no significant differences in WBC, RBC and platelet counts among the three groups, but hemoglobin and hemoglobin-related parameters and platelet volume increased and red blood cell volumes decreased with the administration of the pine needle distillate. These results suggest that the pine needle distillate may have immunosuppressive effects.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.257-264
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• 2017

Introduction: Pharmacopuncture, which combines acupuncture with herbal medicine, is one of the newly developed acupuncture techniques that has recently been put into use. The possible mechanisms of scolopendra pharmacopuncture, as well as its potential effects on depressive symptoms, were investigated in this study by using a mouse model of chronic immobilization stress (CIS). Methods: C57BL/6 male mice were randomly assigned into three groups: mice not stressed with restraint and injected with distilled water, mice stressed with restraint and injected with distilled water, and mice stressed with restraint injected with scolopendra pharmacopuncture at a cervical site. Behavioral tests (an open field test, tail suspension test, and forced swimming test) were carried out after two weeks of CIS and injection treatments. The expression levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the hippocampus were determined by using western blot and immunohistochemistry analyses. Results: Mice exposed to CIS showed decreased behavioral activity, while scolopendra pharmacopuncture treatment significantly protected against the depressive-like behaviors induced by CIS. Moreover, scolopendra pharmacopuncture treatment increased GFAP protein levels in the hippocampi of the mice stressed by chronic immobilization. Conclusion: Scolopendra pharmacopuncture has an ameliorating effect on depressive behavior, which is partially mediated through protection against glial loss in the hippocampus.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.579-590
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of Ephedra sinica pharmacopuncture on the weight and lipid metabolism of obese mice.Methods: Obesity was induced in male C57BL/6 mice by a 60% fat diet. The animals were divided into three groups (n=5) fed a normal diet, high-fat diet, and high-fat diet with Ephedra sinica pharmacopuncture. After 13 wk, fasting blood sugar levels were measured in each group, and oral glucose tolerance tests were conducted. After 15 wk, body weight, epididymal fat pad weight, subcutaneous fat pad weight, and serum lipid and gene expression of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), monoacylglycerol lipase (MGL), perilipin, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ were measured in each group.Results: In the Ephedra group, body weight, fasting blood sugar, and oral glucose tolerance were significantly decreased. In addition, in the Ephedra group, the gene expression of HSL was significantly increased, whereas that of perilipin was significantly decreased.Conclusions: These results provide evidence that E. sinicapharmacopuncture affects obesity and obesity-induced metabolic syndrome, including insulin resistance and dyslipidemia, by activating lipolysis via the HSL pathway in adipose tissue.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.203-207
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• 2010

Radiation-induced late injury to normal tissue is a primary area of radiation biology research. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether the late effect of the ionizing radiation appears as an age-related oxidative status in the brain. Three groups of 4-month old C57BL/6 mice that were exposed to $^{137}Cs$ ${\gamma}-rays$ at a single dose (5 Gy) or fractionated doses ($1Gy{\times}5times$, or $0.2Gy{\times}25times$) at 2 months old were investigated for the oxidative status of their brains with both young (2-month) and old (24-month) mice. A significant (p<0.05) decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was observed in old mice brains compared with that of the young mice. malondialdehyde (MDA) content was significantly (p<0.05) increased in the old mice brain. However, any significant difference in SOD activity and MDA contents of the irradiated brain was not observed compared to age-matched control group mice. SOD activity and MDA content were observed within good parameters of brain aging and there were no late effects on the age-related oxidative level in the ${\gamma}-ray$ irradiated mice brains.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.65-80
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• 2007

Purpose: This study is to examine anti-obesity effect and cytotoxicity of the long-term oral administration of Ephedra Sinica(Ma-hwang, ES) Methods: Using diet-induced obesity C57BL/6 mouse model, anti-obesity effect and DNA chip expression and cytotoxicity of the long-term oral administration of this herbal extract were investigated. Results: The herbal extract treated groups were arrested in weight increment only when they were lodged together. Such effects were abolished when they kept individually. ES fed mice behaved very rudely and violently. On the basis of histological studies of liver tissues and also in vitro cytotoxicity tests of the liver and kidney cell lines, no significant toxicity was found by 14 weeks of ES treatments. However, we found significant changes in gene expression profile in ES treated group by micro-array analysis. In case of ES group, up-regulated genes were 113 and down-regulated were 120. Some of lipid metabolism related genes also significantly changed in treatment groups. Conclusion: ES had effects of increasing the basal metabolic rate by stimulating the sympathetic nervous systems.