• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.116-123
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• 2001

This study was undertaken to find out the effect of Korean safflower seed powder on histopathological changes of cadmium toxicity in mice. Fifty BALB/c mice were divided into a control group(A) and four experimental groups(B, C, D, E) : group A received tap water and basal diet, group B received tap water and diet supplemented with 3% Korean safflower seed powder alone, group C received basal diet and 300 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g of cadmium, group D and E received basal diet supplemented with 3% and 10% Korean safflower seed powder and 300$\mu\textrm{g}$/g of cadmium respectively. Cadmium dissolved in tap water was used, and the Korean safflower seed powder were mixed with feed. All mice were dissected on the 56th day. Histopathological changes in liver, kidney, lung, cortical osseous tissue of femoral shaft, bone trabecular of femur, and epiphyseal cartilage plate of femur were observed. Group B showed no significant changes compared with the control group. But group C showed the unclearness of specific cells in liver, the loss of architecture and focal necrosis of hepatocyte, the glomerular swelling, degeneration and necrosis of convoluted tubules, desquamation and vacuolization of the greater part of the renal tubular epithelium, the marked congestion and thickness of the wall of alveolus in lung, slightly thinning of the cortical osseous tissue in femoral shaft, reduction of cancellous bone volume and marked narrowness of bone trabecular, marked thinning of epiphyseal cartilage plate and irregular arrangement of columnar structure of cartilage cells. On the other hand, Korean safflower seed powder-treated group showed a little convalescent changes and maintained their normal architectures in liner, kidney, lung, cortical osseous tissue of femoral shaft, bone trabecular of femur and epiphyseal cartilage plate of femur.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.190-195
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• 2020

Cadmium (Cd) toxicity is a serious limitation for agricultural production. In this study, we explored tolerance mechanism associated with Cd toxicity tolerance in alfalfa plants. We used three distinct alfalfa cultivars M. sativa cv. Vernal, M. sativa cv. Zhung Mu, and M. sativa cv. Xing Jiang Daye in this study. Cd showed declined chlorophyll score in Xing Jiang Daye compared with Zhung Mu and Vernal. No significant change observed among the cultivars for root and shoot length. Atomic absorption spectroscopy analysis demonstrated a significant accumulation of Cd, Fe, S and PC in distinct alfalfa cultivars. However, Zhung Mu and Xing Jiang Daye declined Cd accumulation in root, where Fe, S and PC incremented only in Zhung Mu. It suggests that excess Cd in Zhung Mu possibly inhibited in root by the increased accumulation of Fe, S and PC. This was further confirmed by the response of Fe (MsIRT1) and S transporters (MsSULTR1;2 and MsSULTR1;3), and MsPCS1 genes associated with Fe, S and PC availability and translocation in roots and shoots. It suggests that specially the transcript signal inducing the responses to adjust Cd especially in Zhung Mu. This finding provides the essential background for further molecular breeding program for forage crops.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.187-187
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• 2017

Cadmium (Cd) pollution is rapidly increasing in worldwide due to industrialization and urbanization. In addition to its negative effects on the environment, Cd pollution adversely affects human health. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important agricultural crop worldwide, including South Korea, and studies have examined its ability to alleviate Cd uptake from the soil into plants. However, information about the relationship between sulfur (S) and antioxidants in rice seedlings is still limited with regard to Cd phytotoxicity. We therefore investigated the changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants in rice (Oryza sativa L. 'Dongjin') seedlings exposed to toxic Cd, S treatment, or both. The exposure of rice seedlings to $30{\mu}M$ Cd inhibited plant growth; increased the contents of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and malondialdehyde (MDA); and induced Cd uptake by the roots, stems, and leaves. Application of S to Cd-stressed seedlings decreased Cd-induced oxidative stress by increasing the capacity of the glutathione (GSH)-ascorbate (AsA) cycle, promoted S assimilation by increasing cysteine, GSH, and AsA contents in treated plants, and decreased Cd transfer from the roots to the stems and leaves. In conclusion, S application of plants under Cd stress promoted Cys and GSH biosynthesis and GSH-AsA cycle activity, thereby lowering the rate of Cd transfer to plant shoots and promoting the scavenging of the ROS that resulted from Cd toxicity, thus alleviating the overall Cd toxicity. Therefore, these results provide insights into the role of S in regulating the tolerance, uptake, and translocation of Cd in rice seedlings. The results of this study indicate that S application should have potential as a tool for mitigating Cd-stress in cereal crops, especially rice.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.48-57
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• 2024

Background: Cadmium (Cd) is toxic heavy metal that accumulates in organisms after passing through their respiratory and digestive tracts. Although several studies have reported the toxic effects of Cd exposure on human health, its role in embryonic development during preimplantation stage remains unclear. We investigated the effects of Cd on porcine embryonic development and elucidated the mechanism. Methods: We cultured parthenogenetic embryos in media treated with 0, 20, 40, or 60 µM Cd for 6 days and evaluated the rates of cleavage and blastocyst formation. To investigate the mechanism of Cd toxicity, we examined intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) levels. Moreover, we examined mitochondrial content, membrane potential, and ROS. Results: Cleavage and blastocyst formation rates began to decrease significantly in the 40 µM Cd group compared with the control. During post-blastulation, development was significantly delayed in the Cd group. Cd exposure significantly decreased cell number and increased apoptosis rate compared with the control. Embryos exposed to Cd had significantly higher ROS and lower GSH levels, as well as lower expression of antioxidant enzymes, compared with the control. Moreover, embryos exposed to Cd exhibited a significant decrease in mitochondrial content, mitochondrial membrane potential, and expression of mitochondrial genes and an increase in mitochondrial ROS compared to the control. Conclusions: We demonstrated that Cd exposure impairs porcine embryonic development by inducing oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Our findings provide insights into the toxicity of Cd exposure on mammalian embryonic development and highlight the importance of preventing Cd pollution.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.140-146
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• 2009

This study was performed to evaluate the toxicity of cadmium selenide for a period of 28 days in Sprague-Dawley rats. Each of 10 healthy male and females rats per group received daily oral administration for 28-day period at dosage levels 30, 300 and 1,000 mg/kg of body weight. Mortality and clinical signs were checked, and body weight, water intake and food consumption were also recorded weekly. There were no dose-related changes in food consumption or urine volume. All animals survived to the end of study with no clinical signs or differences in body weight gain observed when compared with the control group. At the end of study, all animals including control group, were subjected to necropsy. Blood samples were collected for hematology tests including coagulation time and biochemistry analysis. Blood coagulation time and relative organ weight were unaffected by all received doses. White Blood Cell (WBC) counts significantly increased in the 300 mg/kg administered male animal group when compared to the control. Monocyte (MO) value were also increased significantly in both 300 and 1,000 mg/kg male animal group. However, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) were significantly decreased compared with the control in the 1,000 mg/kg dose groups for male and female animals. Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) decreased significantly for female in the 300 and 1,000 mg/kg group compared to the control. Blood biochemical values of Inorganic phosphorus (IP) were significantly increased in both the 300 and 1,000 mg/kg dose groups in male animals when compared to the control. Creatinine (CRE) levels indicated significant increase in kidney function for the female, 30 mg/kg dose group when compared with control. There was a significant decrease in thymus absolute organ weight in the female, 1,000 mg/kg dose group when compared with control. Histopathological findings revealed no evidence of injury related to cadmium selenide except for one case of focal hepatic inflammation in the high dose (1,000 mg/kg) group. One case of lung inflammation was also seen in the control group. Basis on these result, the No Observable Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) of cadmium selenide was determined to be more than 1,000 mg/kg/day for male and female rats under conditions in this study.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.118-126
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• 2020

Silicon and phosphorus are elements that are beneficial for plant growth. Despite the abundant availability of silicate and phosphate in the Earth's crust, crop nutritional requirements for silicon and phosphorus are normally met through the application of fertilizer. However, fertilizers are one of the major causes of heavy metal pollution. In our study, we aimed to assess silicate and phosphate solubilization by the bacteria Enterobacter ludwigii GAK2, in the presence and absence of phosphate [Ca₃(PO₄)₂] or silicate (Mg₂O₈Si₃), to counteract cadmium stress in rice (Oryza sativa L). Our results showed that the GAK2-treated rice plants, grown in soil amended with phosphate [Ca₃(PO₄)₂] or silicate (Mg₂O₈Si₃), had significantly reduced cadmium content, and enhanced plant growth promoting characteristics including fresh shoot and root weight, plant height, and chlorophyll content. These plants showed significant downregulation of the cadmium transporter gene, OsHMA2, and upregulation of the silicon carrier gene, OsLsi1. Moreover, jasmonic acid levels were significantly reduced in the GAK2-inoculated plants, and this was further supported by the downregulation of the jasmonic acid related gene, OsJAZ1. These results indicate that Enterobacter ludwigii GAK2 can be used as a silicon and phosphorus bio-fertilizer, which solubilizes insoluble silicate and phosphate, and mitigates heavy metal toxicity in crops.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 1979

The short-term acute toxicities of mercury, cadmium and copper for the clam, Meretrix lusoria were determined from 28 June to 15 July, 1978. In the test with mercury and copper, the rate ot mucus excretion increased gradually at a higher concentration. But the clams did not excrete mucus in the solutions of cadmium and natural sea water. The rate of mucus excretion in mercury was $42.9\%$, and that in copper was $14.3\%$ in a test solution of 1mg/l. mercury was more toxic than copper. The median lethal concentration after 96 hours (96 hr-Lc 50) was 0.67mg/l in mercury, 7.04mg/l in copper and 7.10mg/l in cadmium. Consequently it was found that mercury was the most toxic substance and cadmium was the least. meanwhile, it was considered that exposure time by stimulation in a fixed concentration caused the test animals to respond.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 2011

MuSI, a gene that corresponds to a domain that contains the rubber elongation factor (REF), is highly homologous to many stress-related proteins in plants. Since MuSI is up-regulated in the roots of plants treated with cadmium or copper, the involvement of MuSI in cadmium tolerance was investigated in this study. Escherichia coli cells overexpressing MuSI were more resistant to Cd than wild-type cells transfected with vector alone. MuSI transgenic plants were also more resistant to Cd. MuSI transgenic tobacco plants absorbed less Cd than wild-type plants. Cd translocation from roots to shoots was reduced in the transgenic plants, thereby avoiding Cd toxicity. The number of short trichomes in the leaves of wild-type tobacco plants was increased by Cd treatment, while this was unchanged in MuSI transgenic tobacco. These results suggest that MuSI transgenic tobacco plants have enhanced tolerance to Cd via reduced Cd uptake and/or increased Cd immobilization in the roots, resulting in less Cd translocation to the shoots.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1999

The present study was conducted to find the effects of different cadmium(Cd) levels in diets on clinical toxicity, sperm capacity and histopathological changes in rats. Thirty male rats of Sprague-Dawley weighing 125.3$\pm$15.2g were randomly blocked into five groups according to body weights. Five levels of Cd in AIN-76 purified diet(0, 25, 50, 100 and 250 ppm) had been fed for 8 weeks. Cadmium was supplemented with a form of CdCl$_2$. 1. After 8 weeks of Cd intake had resulted in apparent cadmium intoxication; reduced growth rate, enlarged kidney and testis, decreased hematocrit value and hemoglobin content in response to supplemented Cd levels in the diets. 2. Cadmium accumulation in liver and kidney showed a tendency to increase in cadmium-exposed groups. The levels of metallothionein were also significantly elevated in the tissues of liver in response to the levels of Cd supplemented(P＜0.05). 3. Although sperm motility was not significantly different among treatments, rats fed Cd tended to have reduced sperm motility but sperm concentration of Cd supplemented groups were significantly lower than that of control(p＜0.05). 4. Based on the findings from gross lesion, rats fed 250ppm of Cd were externally emaciated, had exposed penis and observed atrophies of kidney and testis. Histopathological observation seemed that the liver of groups feeding Cd supplemented diets showed cellular degeneration and accumulation of eosinophilic materials in the capillaries. In kidney, rats fed Cd diets had shown tubular epithelium degeneration and lesions of basophilic materials, while testes were weakened in numbers of spermatid and sporadically enlarged of giant cells.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.742-749
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• 2010

We investigated the antioxidant efficacy of quercetin (0% Diet 1, 0.25% Diet 2, and 0.5% Diet 3) pretreatment for 30 and 60 days in response to cadmium (Cd) toxicity in the olive flounder, and measured the plasma lysozyme activity to understand the immune effects of quercetin. The lysozyme activity with Diets 2 and 3 was higher than with Diet 1. Based on this result, to examine the immune ability and antioxidant role of quercetin, we exposed olive flounder fed quercetin to Cd and then measured the expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)) and lipid peroxidation (LPO). With Diets 2 and 3, the expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes and the $H_2O_2$ concentration were lower than with Diet 1. In addition, the LPO levels were lower than with Diet 1, which protected the cell membrane. Therefore, quercetin removed the reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by Cd, indicating that quercetin has antioxidant ability. In addition to its antioxidant ability, quercetin has immune effects.