• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.589-599
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• 2019

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer is known as a conventional herbal medicine, and ginsenoside Rg1, a steroid glycoside, is one of its components. Although Rg1 has been proved to have an antiobesity effect, the mechanism of this effect and whether it involves adipose browning have not been elucidated. Methods: 3T3-L1 and subcutaneous white adipocytes from mice were used to access the thermogenic effect of Rg1. Adipose mitochondria and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Protein level and mRNA of UCP1 were also evaluated by Western blotting and realtime polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Results: Rg1 dramatically enhanced expression of brown adipocyte-especific markers, such as UCP1 and fatty acid oxidation genes, including carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1. In addition, it modulated lipid metabolism, activated 5' adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase, and promoted lipid droplet dispersion. Conclusions: Rg1 increases UCP1 expression and mitochondrial biogenesis in 3T3-L1 and subcutaneous white adipose cells isolated from C57BL/6 mice. We suggest that Rg1 exerts its antiobesity effects by promoting adipocyte browning through activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.31-38
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• 2019

Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome is a maternally inherited mitochondrial disorder of which m.3243A>G is the most commonly associated mutation, resulting in an inability to meet the energy requirements of various organs. MELAS poses a diagnostic challenge owing to its multiple organ involvement and great clinical variability due to its heteroplasmic nature. We report three cases from a family who were initially misdiagnosed with myasthenia gravis or undiagnosed. Although there is no optimal consensus treatment approach for patients with MELAS because of the disease's heterogeneity, our 21-year-long therapy regimen of ${\text\tiny{L}}-arginine$, ${\text\tiny{L}}-carnitine$, and coenzyme Q10 supplementation combined with dietary management appeared to provide noticeable protection from the symptoms and complications. Prompt early diagnosis is important, as optimal multidisciplinary management and early intervention may improve outcomes.

• 한국축산식품학회지
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.237-246
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• 2021

The taste-active and nutritional components of Thai native, broilers, black-boned, and spent hen chickens were analyzed. The amounts of tasty amino acids especially glutamic acid were the highest in Thai native chicken. The black-boned chicken had the highest arginine content, related to the least amount of consumer satisfaction. Concerning nutritional quality, choline, and taurine were deemed important for brain function. The black-boned chicken showed the highest choline and taurine contents, unlike that of the spent hens. In contrast, broilers presented the highest betaine content, which might be attributed to their lipid metabolism. L-carnitine content was abundant in black-boned and Thai native chickens. Moreover, the amounts of essential amino acids were high in Thai native chicken. In conclusion, black-boned chicken proved to be an excellent nutritional source for health-conscience consumers, whereas the Thai native chickens were flavourful and delicious.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.227-236
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• 2012

Previous study showed that swimming improved obesity but was not through $PPAR{\alpha}$ activation in liver and skeletal muscle in high fat diet-fed female mice with functioning ovaries as an animal model of obese premenopausal women. Thus, this study was aimed at investigation of the effects of swimming on the promotion of health and its molecular mechanism in adipose tissue of high fat diet-fed female mice. Eight-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two groups (a non-swim control group and a swim group, n=8/group). Mice in the swim group swam for 2 h daily for 6 weeks in water bath with temperature of $35{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. All the animals received high fat diet (45% kcal fat) for 6 weeks. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to elucidate the molecular mechanism. Female mice subjected to swimming had significantly decreased body weight gain and white adipose tissue mass compared with the female control mice. Histological studies illustrated that swimming decreases the hepatic lipid accumulation. As expected, swimming did not affect the expression of mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) ${\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\alpha}$ target genes responsible for mitochondrial fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation, such as carnitine palmitoyltransgerase-1 and medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase in the white adipose tissue. However, mice that underwent 6-weeks of swimming exercise had decreased the mRNA expression of lipogenic genes, such as sterol regulatory element-binding proteins-1C and fatty acid synthase in comparison to sedentary control mice, with decreased $PPAR{\gamma}$ target genes involved in adipocyte-specific marker genes, such as adipocyte fatty acid binding protein and leptin in the white adipose tissue. These results suggest that swimming can effectively prevent obesity induced by high fat diet-fed, in part through down-regulation of adipogenesis and lipogenesis in white adipose tissue of female obese mice. Moreover, these results suggest that swimming maybe contributing the promotion of health through regulation of adipogenesis and lipogenesis in overweight premenopausal women.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.312-317
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• 2010

Complete oxidation of fatty acid in the liver of ketotic cows was investigated. Serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) and glucose concentrations were measured using biochemical techniques. Carnitine palmitoyl transferase II (CPT II), 3-hydroxy acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HAD) and oxaloacetic acid (OAA) concentrations in the liver were detected by ELISA. Serum glucose was lower in ketotic cows than controls (p<0.05). Serum BHBA and NEFA concentrations were higher in ketotic cows than controls (p<0.05). OAA, CPT II, and HAD contents in the liver of ketotic cows were lower than in controls (p<0.05). There were negative correlations between serum NEFA concentration and OAA, CPT II and HAD, but no correlation between serum BHBA concentration and capacity for complete oxidation of fatty acid. Overall, the capacity for complete fatty acid oxidation in the liver of ketotic cows might have been decreased. High serum NEFA concentrations may be unfavorable factors for the pathway of complete oxidation of fatty acid in the liver.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제25권9호
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• pp.1300-1308
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• 2012

The 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key part of a kinase-signaling cascade that acts to maintain energy homeostasis. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the possible effects of fasting and refeeding on the gene expression of hypothalamic AMPK, some appetitive regulating peptides and lipid metabolism related enzymes. Seven-day-old male broiler (Arbor Acres) chicks were allocated into three equal treatments: fed ad libitum (control); fasted for 24 h; fasted for 24 h and then refed for 24 h. Compared with the control, the hypothalamic gene expression of $AMPK{\alpha}2$, $AMPK{\beta}1$, $AMPK{\beta}2$, $AMPK{\gamma}1$, Ste20-related adaptor protein ${\beta}$ ($STRAD{\beta}$), mouse protein $25{\alpha}$ ($MO25{\alpha}$) and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) were increased after fasting for 24 h. No significant difference among treatments was observed in mRNA levels of $AMPK{\alpha}1$, $AMPK{\gamma}2$, LKB1 and neuropeptide Y (NPY). However, the expression of $MO25{\beta}$, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), ghrelin, fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase ${\alpha}$ ($ACC{\alpha}$), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT-1) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) were significantly decreased. The present results indicated that 24 h fasting altered gene expression of AMPK subunits, appetite regulation peptides and lipometabolism related factors in chick's hypothalamus; the hypothalamic FAS signaling pathway might be involved in the AMPK regulated energy homeostasis and/or appetite regulation in poultry.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제25권9호
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• pp.1229-1236
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• 2012

Our previous studies showed that kisspeptin-10 (Kp-10) injected in vivo can markedly increase lipid anabolism in liver of quails. In order to investigate the direct effect of Kp-10 on lipid metabolism of hepatocytes in birds, cells were separated from embryos livers and cultured in vitro with 0, 100 and 1,000 nM Kp-10, respectively. The results showed that after 24 h treatment, cells viability was not affected by 100 nM Kp-10, but showed a mild decrease with 1,000 nM Kp-10 compared to the control cells. Based on the results of the cell viability, 100 nM dosage of Kp-10 was selected for the further study and analysis. Compared with control cells, total cholesterol (Tch) contents in 100 nM treated cells were increased by 51.23%, but did not reach statistical significance, while the level of triglyceride (TG), high density of lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density of lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly increased. Real-time PCR results showed that ApoVLDL-II mRNA expression had a tendency to increase, genes including sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase ${\alpha}$ ($ACC{\alpha}$), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1), 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductases (HMGCR) and stearyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase-1 (SCD1) mRNA in hepatocytes were significantly down-regulated by 100 nM Kp-10. However, contrary to its gene expression, SREBP-1 protein expression was significantly up-regulated by 100 nM Kp-10. Some of the significant correlations in mRNA expression were found between genes encoding hepatic factors or enzymes involved in lipid metabolism in liver of birds. These results indicate that Kp-10 stimulates lipid synthesis directly in primary cultured hepatocytes of chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권8호
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• pp.1095-1101
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• 2016

Ginsenoside Rg1 is a natural compound with various efficacies and functions. It has beneficial effects on aging, diabetes, and immunity, as well as antioxidant and proliferative functions. However, its effect on porcine embryo development remains unknown. We investigated the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on the in vitro development of preimplantation porcine embryos after parthenogenetic activation in high-oxygen conditions. Ginsenoside treatment did not affect cleavage or blastocyst formation rates, but did increase the total cell number and reduced the rate of apoptosis. In addition, it had no effect on the expression of four apoptosis-related genes (Bcl-2 homologous antagonist/killer, B-cell lymphoma-extra large, Caspase 3, and tumor protein p53) or two metabolism-related genes (mechanistic target of rapamycin, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B), but increased the expression of Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), indicating that it may increase glucose uptake. In summary, treatment with the appropriate concentration of ginsenoside Rg1 ($20{\mu}g/mL$) can increase glucose uptake, thereby improving the quality of embryos grown in high-oxygen conditions.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.151-159
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• 2010

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $\alpha$ (PPAR$\alpha$) is a nuclear transcription factor that plays a central role in lipid metabolism and obesity. Exercise also is a powerful modifier of the manifestations of the lipid metabolism and obesity in animal models and humans with obesity and metabolic syndrome. However, effects of exercise on lipid metabolism and obesity in normal-weight younger female subjects, having functional ovaries and not metabolic disease, remain unexplained. To explore the effects of exercise on the development of obesity and its molecular mechanism in high fat diet-fed female C57BL/6J mice, we experimented the effects of swim training on body weight, adipose tissue mass, serum lipid levels, morphological changes of adipocytes and the expression of PPAR$\alpha$ target genes involved in fat oxidation in skeletal muscle tissue of female C57BL/6J mice. Swim-trained mice had significantly decreased body weight, adipose tissue mass, serum triglycerides compared with female control mice. Histological studies showed that swim training significantly decreased the average size of adipoctyes in parametrial adipose tissue. Swim training did not affect the expression of PPAR$\alpha$ mRNA in skeletal muscle. Concomitantly, swim training did not increase mRNA levels of PPAR$\alpha$ target genes responsible for fatty acid $\beta$-oxidation, such as carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1, medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, enoyl-CoA hydratase/3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and thiolase in skeletal muscle. In conclusion, these results indicate that swim training regulates lipid metabolism and obesity in high fat diet fed-female mice although swim training did not increase mRNA levels of PPAR$\alpha$ target genes involved in fatty acid $\beta$-oxidation in skeletal muscle, suggesting that swim training may prevent obesity and improve fitness through other mechanisms in female with ovaries, not through the activation of skeletal muscle PPAR$\alpha$.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제4권6호
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• pp.462-469
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• 2010

Protamine has been widely used as a pharmaceutical product and natural food preservative. However, few studies have been conducted to assess the beneficial function of dietary protamine. This study examined the effects of dietary salmon protamine on serum and liver lipid levels and the expression levels of genes encoding proteins involved in lipid homeostasis in the liver of rats. Groups of male Wistar rats were fed AIN93G diet containing 2% or 5% protamine. After 4 weeks of feeding these diets, markedly decreased serum and liver cholesterol (CHOL) and triacylglycerol levels were noted. Increased activity of liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase-2 and acyl-CoA oxidase, which are key enzymes of fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation in the mitochondria and peroxisomes, was found in rats fed on protamine. Furthermore, rats fed protamine showed enhanced fecal excretion of CHOL and bile acid and increased liver mRNA expression levels of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) G5 and ABCG8, which form heterodimers and play a major role in the secretion of CHOL into bile. The decrease in triacylglycerol levels in protamine-fed rats was due to the enhancement of liver ${\beta}$-oxidation. Furthermore, rats fed protamine exhibited decreased CHOL levels through the suppression of CHOL and bile acid absorption and the enhancement of CHOL secretion into bile. These results suggest that dietary protamine has beneficial effects that may aid in the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases such as hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.