• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.42-61
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• 2005

Objectives:The ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1, the major components of ginseng saponin, have neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects including promotion of neuronal survival and proliferation, facilitation of learning and memory, and protection from ischemic injury and apoptosis. In this study, to investigate the molecular basis of the effects of ginsenoside on neuron, we analyzed gene expression profiling of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells treated with ginsenoside Rg1 or Rb1. Methods:SH-SY5Y cells were cultured and treated in triplicate with ginsenoside Rg1 or Rb1($80{\mu}M$, $40{\mu}M$, $20{\mu}M$). The proliferation rates of SH-SY5Y cells were determined by MTT assay and microscopic examination. We used a high density cDNA microarray chip that contained 8K human genes to analyze the gene expression profiles in SH-SY5Y cells. We analyzed using the Significance Analysis of Microarray(SAM) method for identifying genes on a microarray with statistically significant changes in expression. Results:Treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with $80{\mu}M$ ginsenoside Rg1 or Rb1 for 36h showed maximal proliferation compared with other concentrations or control. The results of the microarray experiment yielded 96 genes were upregulated(${\geq}$3 fold) in Rg1 treated cells and 40 genes were up-regulated(${\geq}$2 fold) in Rb1 treated cells. Treatment with ginsenoside Rg1 for 36h induced the expression of some genes associated with protein biosynthesis, regulation of transcription or translation, cell proliferation and growth, neurogenesis and differentiation, regulation of cell cycle, energy transport and others. Genes associated with neurogenesis and neuronal differentiation such as SCG10 and MLP increased in ginsenoside Rg1 treated cells, but such changes did not occur in Rb1-group. Conclusion:Our data provide novel insights into the gene mechanisms involved in possible role for ginsenoside Rg1 or Rb1 in mediating neuronal proliferation or cell viability, which can elicit distinct patterns of gene expression in neuronal cell line. Ginsenoside Rg1 have more broad and strong effects than ginsenoside Rb1 in gene expression and related cellular physiology. In addition, we suggest that SCG10 gene, which is known to be expressed in neuronal differentiation during development and neuronal regeneration during adulthood, may have a role in enhancement of activity dependent synaptic plasticity or cytoskeletal regulation following treatment of ginsenoside Rg1. Further, ginsenoside Rg1 may have a possible role in regeneration of injured neuron, promotion of memory, and prevention from aging or neuronal degeneration.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2010

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophic factor involved in neuronal differentiation, plasticity, survival and regeneration. BDNF draws massive attention mainly due to the potential as a therapeutic target in neurological diseases such as depression and Alzheimer's disease. In a primary screening for the natural compounds enhancing BDNF release from cultured rat primary cortical neuron, we found that compounds such as baicalein, tanshinone IIa, cinnamic acid, epiberberine, genistein and wogonin among many others increased BDNF release. All the compounds at $0.1{\mu}M$ of concentration barely showed stimulatory effect on BDNF induction, however, their combination (mixture 1; baicalein, tanshinone IIa and cinnamic acid, mixture 2; epiberberine, genistein and wogonin) showed synergistic increase in BDNF release as well as mRNA and protein expression. The level of BDNF expression was comparable to the maximum BDNF stimulation attainable by a positive control oroxylin A ($20{\mu}M$) without cell toxicity as determined by MTT analysis. Both mixtures synergistically increased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) as well as cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), an immediate and essential regulator of BDNF expression. Similar to these results, mixture of these compounds synergistically inhibited the up-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induced by lipopolysaccharide treatments in rat primary astrocytes. These results suggest that the combinatorial treatment of natural compounds in lower concentration might be a useful strategy to obtain sufficient BDNF stimulation in neurological disease condition such as depression, while minimizing potential side effects and toxicity of higher concentration of a single compound.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.341-352
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was carried out to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on reactive gliosis expressing GFAP in rat with transient global cerebral ischemia. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups, a control group and a electroacupuncture group on ST36, LI11 and SP9 with 2 Hz and 1 mA. The rats were sacrificed on 1, 3 and 7 days after transient cerebral ischemia using ligation of left common carotid artery. After making brain slide sections, they were immunostained with GFAP antisera(1:2,500). The results were as follows: The numbers of astrocytes of electroacupuncture group were decreased than those of control group at every 1, 2 and 7 days. Especially, the numbers of astrocytes at 3 days(p<0.01) and 8 days(p<0.05) were different statistically. And astrocytes had resting, hypertrophic and moving types on cerebral cortex. The decrease of numbers of astrocytes expressing GFAP showed that electroacupuncture could localise and minimize the brain damage by transient cerebral ischemia and cause brain cell plasticity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.948-954
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• 2010

Exercise can favorably influence brain plasticity by facilitating neurogeneration, neuroadaptivity, and neuroprotection. Aerobic exercise has been reported to change brain nerve growth factors (growth hormone, insulin like factor-1, estrogen and serotonin). The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effects of aerobic exercise for 12 weeks on brain nerve growth factors in girls. Fourteen female participants in elementary school grades 1 through 3 were randomly allocated to the exercise group (EG, n=6) and control group (CG, n=8). The EG participated in 60 minutes of modified ballet exercise as aerobic training three days a week for 12 weeks. Based on comparison between groups by two-way ANOVA with repeated measures, aerobic exercise program participants experienced decreased weight (p<0.01), BMI (p<0.01), fat mass (p<0.001), fat percent (p<0.001) and increased LBM (lean body mass) percent (p<0.001). In addition, we detected that aerobic exercise decreased the level of serotonin (p<0.05) and increased the level of GH (p<0.05) and IGF-1 (p<0.05). These findings suggest that aerobic exercise programs can be an efficient intervention to change body composition, alleviate central fatigue, improve brain function, and induce brain cell proliferation in girls.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.5-16
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• 2009

The is study is to evaluate the small strain shear modulus ($G_{max}$) of Busan clay using in-situ penetration tests. A series of dilatometer tests (DMT) and piezocone penetration tests (CPTu) are performed at Busan newport and Noksan sites, and hybrid oedometer tests are also carried out on the specimens obtained from both sites. The $G_{max}$ is evaluated from the shear wave velocity ($V_s$) measured by the bender elements installed at the boundary of oedometer cell. By analyzing these data, the relationship of $G_{max}$ and state variables, such as confined stress and void ratio, is developed. The analysis of lab and in-situ test results reveals that the ratio of $G_{max}$ to $q_t$ is inversely proportional to the plasticity index while the ratio of $G_{max}$ to $E_D$ has a linear relationship with ($I/I_D$)$(p_a/{\sigma}'_v)^{0.5}$. Two correlations suggested in this study, based on CPT and DMT results, appear to provide reasonable predictions of the small strain shear modulus.