• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.371-380
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• 1991

The effects of peritoneal exudate cells(PEC) and sera of athymic nude and DS mice infected with Clonorchis sinensis metacercariae or sensitized by injection of metabolic products into footpad on transfer of immunity against the fluke to the syngeneic mice were studied. There was no significant difference in eggs per gram pattern between the sensitized and control groups, and between nude and DS mice. However, the worm burdens were slightly greater in nude mice than in DS mice. Also, a few plaque forming cells were found in only DS mice given PEC and serum from Group II DS mice. In the light of these results, it is likely that PEC and sera of nude or DS mice which are deficient, at least partially, in the cellular immune system are unable to transfer immunity against C. sinensis to syngeneic recipients.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 1992

In order to compare the intraspecific variation in host-parasite relationship of Clonorchis sinensis, six strains of inbred mice, ICR, DDY, GPC, BALB/c, nude and DS, were infected orally with 20 metacercariae of C. sinensis. The biologic incubation period of C. sinensis was the shortest in DDY mice, 21.2 days in average, followed by GPC 21.4, BALB/c and DS 23.2, ICR and nude 23.4 days, respectively. The fertile period of the cuke was also the longest in the DDY strain, 164 days on average, followed by GPC 132, BALB/c 97, nude 37, DS 32 and ICR 28 days. The egg-laying capacity of the cuke in DDY and GPC was relatively high and stable compared with the other four strains of mice. It was found that there are intraspecific variations in biologic incubation period, fertile period, and fecundity of C. sinensis. The DDY mouse is likely to be the most suitable experimental animal among the six strains of the mice tested. Key words: Mouse strain, Clonorchis sinensis, egg-laying capacity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.781-787
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• 2017

Objective: The early growth response (Egr) family consists of four members (Egr1, Egr2, Egr3, and Egr4) that are zinc finger transcription factors. Among them, Egr3 is involved in transcriptional regulation of target genes during muscle spindle formation and neurite outgrowth. We previously showed that the immunoreactive Egr3 is localized on oocyte spindle and accumulate near the microtubule organizing center during meiosis I in mice. Egr3 was also shown to be localized on spermatocytes. We herein investigated if Egr3 is expressed in mouse gonads and if Egr3 blockade results in any defect in oocyte maturation. Methods: Expression of Egr3 in mouse gonads was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Full-length Egr3 and truncated Egr3 (${\Delta}Egr3$) complementary RNAs (cRNAs) with Xpress tag at N-terminus and DsRed2 at C-terminus, and small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting Egr3 were microinjected into mouse oocytes at germinal vesicle stage. Localization of microinjected Egr3 was examined by confocal live imaging and immunofluorescence staining. Results: Egr3 mRNA was detected in mouse ovaries and testes from 1 to 4 week-old mice. An uncharacterized longer transcript containing 5'untranslated region was also detected in 3 and 4 week-old gonads. Microinjected Xpress-Egr3-DsRed2 or Xpress-${\Delta}Egr3$-DsRed2 localized to nuclei and chromosomes during meiotic progression. Microinjection of these cRNAs or Egr3 siRNA in oocytes did not affect meiotic maturation. Immunofluorescence staining of Egr3 in Xpress-${\Delta}Egr3$-DsRed2-injected oocytes showed a positive signal only on meiotic spindle, suggesting that this antibody does not detect endogenous or exogenous Egr3 in mouse oocytes. Conclusion: The results show that Egr3 localizes to chromosomes during meiotic progression and that certain antibodies may not faithfully represent localization of target proteins in oocytes. Egr3 seems to be dispensable during oocyte maturation in mice.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 1998

Column-purified double-stranded RNA binding factor (RBF) protein was tested for its binding affinity for the different forms of nucleic acids structure such as single-stranded(ss) and double-stranded(ds)RNA and ss- and dsDNA. The RBF protein was incubated with each of these nucleic acid structures in separate reactions and its comparative binding affnity was visualized by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The RBF protein bound to the dsRNA molecule to form a tight RNA:protein complex in agreement with previous studies, but not to the other nucleic acid molecules confirming its distinctive affinity for the dsRNA structure. In phosphorylation assay in vito, the purified RBF protein significantly inhibited the autophosphorylation of the PKR derived from not only human but mouse source in the presence of poly(I):poly(C). It is suggesting that PKR vs. RBF is similarly under a competitive interaction among different eukaryotic organisms during protein synthesis.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.299-307
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• 2003

Objectives: The present study was conducted to evaluate the mobile transposon-like element, clone MTi7 (MTi7) expression in the mouse ovary and to determine its role(s) in the mouse oocytes by RNA interference (RNAi). Methods: MTi7 mRNA expression was localized by in situ hybridization in day5 and adult ovaries. Double stranded RNA (dsRNA) was prepared for c-mos, a gene with known function as control, and the MTi7. Each dsRNA was microinjected into the germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes then oocyte maturation and intracellular changes were evaluated. Results: In situ hybridization analysis revealed that MTi7 mRNA localized to the oocyte cytoplasm from primordial to preovulatory follicles. After dsRNA injection, we found 43-54% GV arrest of microinjected GV oocytes with 68%-90% decrease in targeted c-mos or MTi7 mRNA. Conclusions: This is the first report of the oocyte-specific expression of the MTi7 mRNA. From results of RNAi for MTi7, we concluded that the MTi7 is involved in the germinal vesicle breakdown in GV oocytes, and MTi7 may be implicated with c-mos for its function. We report here that RNAi provides an outstanding approach to study the function of a gene with unknown functions.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2002

Quantitative structure-toxicity relationships (QSTRs) between various physicochemical parameters of substituents in new herbicidal N-phenyl-3,4-dimethylphthalimide derivatives and their discriminate score (DS) for chronic and acute toxicities against mouse and rat evaluated using TOPKAT calculation were discussed quantitatively. From the basis on the findings, it was shown that carcinogenicities of female was higher than that of male and mouse had higher tendency than rat. The STR analyses results of Hansch-Fujita type equations suggested that mouse (female & male) and rat male except rat female are dependent on LUMO energy commonly in carcinogenicity. The selective carcinogenicity factor of two species between male mouse and female mouse is dependent on optimal value (ca. $(L)_{opt.}=5.0{\AA}$) for length of $R_2$-substituent mainly. According to Free-Wilson approach, in the case of rat male, alkyl and aryl substituents were superior and in the other case, contribution of fluoro group substituents were superior to chronic toxicity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.2 s.33
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• pp.47-67
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• 2007

Objective : As a result of increasing amount of ultraviolet ray, skin problems including sunburn, rapid skin aging, melanoma, and even skin cancer continue to rise. In the present study, the effect of oriental herbal extract, Daehwanggo(大黃膏,DH) and Daehwanggogasnagbakpi(大黃膏加桑白皮,DS), as external application, on the skin damage, was investigated. Methods : 30 mice were equally distributed into 3 groups : control, UVB-control and UVB-irradiated and DS-treated group. Also mouse melanoma cell lines were cultured. Tyrosinase inhibition was measured to analyze the UN-protection effect. Melanogenesis in the UV-irradiated melanoma cell lines was compared in DS-treated cell line and control cell line. Sample skin from the ear tissue of the 3 groups were analyzed to observe the inflammatory response, T cell differentiation, apoptosis of keratinocytes. Results : The tyrosinase was more significantly inhibited in the DS group compared to DH group. Antioxidative effects was more prominent in DS group when superoxide dismutase was measured. Both the DS- and DH-treated cell lines showed significantly reduced melanogenesis. The reduction of external skin damage including erythematous papule, eczema, keratinocyte, pyopoiesis was observed in the DS- and DH-treated sample cells. In terms of the effect on the skin damage, sunburn cell, activated skin mast cells, secretion of IL-12, manifestation of HSP70, hyperplasia of epithelial cells, MMP-9 and destruction of the collagen were all significantly improved in the DS-treated sample cells. Melanin cells and the apoptosis in the melanoma cell line were decreased. Conclusion : DH and DS were traditionally applied externally for the scald in the oriental medicine. The present study elucidated the possibility of herbal extracts to be used as ultraviolet protectives. Further investigations are needed to assure the clinical application.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.263-272
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• 2007

Contrast to mouse where its in vitro maturation rates are high without specific supplements or presence of the cumulus cells, there are some species, such as porcine, where its in vitro oocyte maturation rates are still very low. This comparative study was conducted to investigate the role of malate dehydrogenase(Mor2) during oocyte maturation by RNAi in the mouse and porcine. The Mor2 double-stranded RNA(dsRNA) was prepared speciesspecifically and microinjected into the cytoplasm of denuded germinal vesicle(GV) oocytes. Oocytes were cultured for 48 h(porcine) and 16 h(mouse) in M199 with 10% porcine follicular fluid, pyruvate, p-FSH, EGF, cystein, and estradiol-$17{\beta}$. We measured changes in oocyte morphology, maturation rates and mRNA levels after Mor2 RNAi. We confirmed gene sequence-specific knock down of Mor2 mRNA in both species after Mor2 RNAi. In contrast to our previous finding that mMor2 RNAi resulted in GV arrest in the mouse, we found that pMor2 RNAi resulted in MI arrest in denuded porcine oocytes(58%), but developed to MII(84.4%) in COCs. To determine whether this difference between mouse and porcine RNAi is due to differences in culture media, we cultured mouse oocytes in the M199 media for 16 h after mMor2 RNAi. Mouse oocytes were developed to MII stage(62%) and there was no statistical difference compared to that of non-injected(76.8%) and buffer-injected(73.3%) control groups. Therefore, we concluded that the mouse and porcine oocytes are having different metabolic systems in relation to malate dehydrogenase for oocyte maturation. This could be a basis for differences in maturation rates in vitro in two species. Further scrutinized studies on the metabolic pathways would led us in finding better culture system to improve oocyte maturation rates in vitro, especially in more challenging species like the porcine.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2010

An understanding of the nature of the immune response to asexual erythrocytic stages of malaria parasites will facilitate vaccine development by identifying which responses the vaccine should preferentially induce. The present study examined and compared the immune responses of NIH mice in either single or mixed infections with avirulent (DK) or virulent (DS) strains of Plasmodium chabaudi adami using the ELISA test for detecting and measurement of cytokines and antibody production. In both single and mixed infections, the study showed that both cell- and antibody-mediated responses were activated. In all experiments, an early relatively high level of IFN-$\gamma$ and IgG2a during the acute phase of the infection, and later elevation of IL-4 and IgG1, suggested that there was a sequential Th1/Th2 response. However, in the avirulent DK strain infection a stronger Th1 response was observed compared to the virulent DS strain-infection or in mixed infections. In the virulent DS infection, there was a stronger Th2 response compared to that in the DK and mixed infections. The faster proliferation rate of the virulent DS strain compared to the DK strain was also evident.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.533-540
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• 2013

Purpose: To investigate the synaptic pattern of NMDA glutamate receptor subtype NMDA R1 on the dendritic arbors of ON-OFF direction-selective retinal ganglion cells (DS-RGSs) in developing [(5,10) days postnatal (PN)] mouse retina. Methods: ON-OFF DS-RGCs were injected with Lucifer yellow and the cells were identified by their characteristic morphology. To identify glutamatergic excitatory input from bipolar cell, we used a marker for the membrane traffic motor protein kinesin. Results: We identified DS-RGCs in P5, and P10 mouse retina. The immunofluorescence labeling of NMDA R1 was most prominent in the IPL. Our results showed that their presence upon the entire dendritic arbor of ON-OFF DS-RGCs is without any evidence of asymmetry, which would predict direction selectivity. Conclusions: The glutamatergic input from bipolar cell reveals symmetry pattern in all periods of P5, and P10. The results may suggest that direction selectivity not lies in the specific pattern of NMDA R1 receptors.