• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.283-287
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• 2006

Although estrogen is known to playa role in fatty acid metabolism, it remains unclear whether fatty acid oxidation in mature female rats differs from fatty acid oxidation in peri-pubertal young rats. In this study, we measured fatty acid metabolism in the skeletal muscles and livers of 5 and 50 weeks old male and female rats. The rate of palmitate oxidation in the liver and gastrocnemius red in the 50-week-old female rats were elevated as compared to the 5-week-old females, whereas there were no differences in the male rats. The rate of palmitate oxidation in the gastrocnemius red was correlated inversely with intra-abdominal fat mass in the 5-week-old male and female rats, whereas the palmitate oxidation rate was positively correlated with fat mass in the liver and gastrocnemius red in the 50-week-old rats. HOMA-IR and plasma insulin levels were positively correlated with intra-abdominal fat mass in the pooled 50-week-old male and female rats, but this correlation was not apparent in 5-week-old rats. In summary, the rate of fatty acid oxidation measured in the middle-aged adult female rats was significantly higher than those measured in the peri-pubertal young female rats. This difference may be attributed to the influence of ovarian hormones.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.285-288
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• 2000

Nine immature 30-day-old female rats were injected sc at 0800 hr with pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin(PMSG) to induce ovulation and mating. Fifty-six hours later the animals were placed with mature male rats overnight (one female and one male). Five of 9 immature female rats treated with PMSG were pregnant and allowed to maintain the pregnancy to term. Three of 5 pregnant rats were failed to maintain pregnancy to term. Two of 5 pregnant rats seemed to be developed normally and increased abdominal enlargement as pregnancy progresses, but did not occurred parturition on day of 43 or 48 of pregnancy, respectively. On day 44 or 49, pregnant rats were killed and examined uterus and ovaries. There was no fetus but approximately 50∼60ml. of mucopurulent fluids were accumulated in the uterine cavity and 40 or 42 corpora lutea persisted in the ovaries. Pyometra was developed after coitus in PMSG-treated immature female rat.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.713-720
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• 1996

To study the effect of caffeine intake levels on iron metabolism, the iron utilization, iron contents of serum, liver, spleen, kidney, hemoglobin and hematocrit were compared in rats of different sex fed various levels of caffeine (3.5 and 7.0mg/100g body weight) for three weeks. There were no significant caffeine induced differences in feed intake, body weight gain but feed intake of male rats were significantly lower than that of female rats. Hemoglobin, hematocrit and iron contents of the serum were not significantly different between caffeine free and caffeine groups or male and female rats. Iron contents of kidney were decreased by elevation of injected caffeine levels rather than those of liver and spleen. caffeine male groups showed more increased uine volume, urinary and fecal excretions of iron than caffeine free or caffeine female groups. Apparent digestibility and retention of iron were significantly decreased by increment of injected caffeine levels. Male rate rats were more susceptible to injected caffeine on iron excretion than female rats. Current findings suggest that excessive caffeine consumption can affect iron excretion via urine and feces thereby decrease the utilization of iron, and have more significant effect on male than female rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.12-23
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• 2002

Gender differences in the effects of gonadectomy and high cholesterol diet on body weight and body cholesterol were investigated by using Sprague Dawley rats. Body weight, plasma and liver levels of cholesterol and triglyceride and platelet aggregation were examined in ovariectomized(OVX) or orchidectomized(ODX) rats with their intacts after feeding diet with or without 0.5% cholesterol. Body weight was significantly increased(p < 0.01) in OVX rats and significantly decreased(p < 0.01) in ODX rats compared to their respective intact rats, and cholesterol diet significantly(p < 0.05) decreased body weight in gonadectomized rats. Liver lobes from rats fed cholesterol diet were opaque and larger than those from rats find control dict, resulting in a significant increase(p < 0.01) in LW/BW ratio. Plasma and liver levels of total cholesterol were significantly increased (p < 0.01) in female rats regardless ovariectomy when find 0.5% cholesterol diet, but those levels in male rats were increased only when they were orchidectomized(p < 0.0l). Plasma HDL-cholesterol was significantly decreased(p < 0.05) in both sexes when find cholesterol diet. HDL-cholesterol were higher in female than male rats regardless treatments(p < 0.05). Liver triglyceride was significantly increased(p < 0.05) in both sexes when find cholesterol dict. Plasma level of triglyceride was not different among groups except significant decrease(p < 0.05) in cholesterol find ODX rats. Maximum platelet aggregation in female rats was significantly lower(p < 0.05) than male, but ovariectomy and cholesterol diet caused an increase te the level of male rats. Microscopic examination showed cholesterol diet caused a lipid accumulation in liver. Results indicate that intact female rats have higher response to hypercholestcrolemic diet than intact male rats and orchidectomy causes male rats more responsive to hypercholesterolemic diet. However, ovariectomy causes an increase female food efficiency ratio to the level of male rats, significantly increasing body weight.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.975-981
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to observe the effect of moxibustion at matched acupoints of ST36, ST37 and ST39 in rats with sex and age. This study measured small intestinal motility in rats. First, cauterize with moxa was applied to the ST36, ST37 and ST39 in rats classified by sex and age under enflurane anesthesia. And then same treatment is done to matched acupoints of ST36, ST37 and ST39. In each groups of ST36, ST37 and ST39, the small intestinal motility was increased in 5, 6, 8 weeks male and 5 weeks female rats at ST36, 6, 7 weeks male and 5, 6, 8 weeks female rats at ST37, 5, 6 weeks male and 5 weeks female rats at ST39. In matched acupoints, the small intestinal motility was increased in 5, 8 weeks male and 5, 6, 7, 8 weeks female rat at ST36+ST37, 5 weeks male and 6, 7, 8 weeks female rats at ST36+ST39, 5, 7 weeks male and 5, 8 weeks female rats at ST37+ST39. The effects of moxibustion at each acupoints decreased by advancing age and when these acupoints were combined, the effective results were shown in female rats of all age group. These results suggest that when each acupoints and matched acupoints was chosen in moxibustion treatment, the sex and age of individual is worth consideration.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.137-143
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• 1998

The effects of continuous GH(hGH) secretion on the female reproduction was studies in adults female transgenic rats expressing the hGH gene with a mouse whey acid protein (mWAP) promotor. Two line of transgenic female rats carrying the mWAP/hGH gene were established and used in the study. One was characterized by relatively high levels of serum hGH (high line), and the other had relatively low levels (low line). 1. High line female rats had recurring, Pseudopregancy-like estrous cycles accompanied by increased serum progesterone level for 2 weeks after ovulation, and they were fertile. 2. In the rats, luteinization occurred spontaneously without cervical stimulation, probably due to high levels of serum hGH, which has prolactin (PRL)-like activity in the rat. 3. Low line female rats had recurring, regular 4-days estrous PRL surge following cervical stimulation were not, detected and PRL secretion was not induced by a dopamine antagonist. 4. The ovarian tissue in this line had a much higher number of corpora lutea and grew much heavier than in normal littermates, suggesting impairment of PRL induced structural luteolized. Su, pp.ession of PRL secretion in the low line rats was, at least in part, due to a marked decrease in the number of lactotrophs in the pituitary. The present study shows that the serum hGH level plays a crucial role in regulating luteal function in female transgenic rats expressing the hGH gene.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.147-168
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• 2008

HYTE (Hyeonggaeyeongyotang Extract), a polyherbal formula has been used as folk medicine, 28days repeat oral dose toxicity was tested in SD rats according to KFDA Guideline[2005-60]. Methods : In this study, mortality, clinical signs, body weight and gains, food and water consumption, ophthalmologic observation, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, gross findings, organ weight and histopathological observations were conducted during 28days of dosing periods. Results: 1. No HYTE treatment-related mortalities and clinical signs were detected in all dosing levels tested in male and female rats during the whole experimental periods. 2. No HYTE treatment-related changes on body weight, gains and food consumption were detected in all dosing levels tested in male and female rats during the whole experimental periods except for 2000mg/kg-dosing female groups in which significantly increase of body weight, gains, food and water consumption were detected compared to that of vehicle control in some points. 3. No HYTE treatment-related changes on ophthalmologic examination were detected in all dosing levels tested in male and female rats. 4. No HYTE treatment-related changes on urinalysis were detected in all dosing levels tested in male and female rats except for 2000mg/kg-dosing female groups in which, significantly increase of urine volume and related decrease on the urine specific gravity were detected as secondary effects of increase on the water consumptions not HYTE treatment-related toxicological signs. 5. No HYTE treatment-related changes on hematology were detected in all dosing levels tested in male and female rats except for increases in the total WBC count and lymphocytes of 2000mg/kg-dosing male and female groups with decrease of large unstained cells as pharmacological effects of immune enhancements not HYTE treatment-related toxicological signs. 6. No HYTE treatment-related changes on serum biochemistry were detected in all dosing levels tested in male and female rats. 7. No HYTE treatment-related changes on gross findings, organ weight and histopathology were detected in all dosing levels tested in male and female rats except for 2000mg/kg-dosing male and female groups in which, spleen and thymus organ weights, hypertrophy at gross observation and hyperpalsia of lymphoid cells and follicles at histopathological observation in spleen and thymus were detected as pharmacological effects of immune enhancements not HYTE treatment-related toxicological signs. Conclusions : Based on these results, the NOAEL and MTD of HYTE in SD rats were considered as over 2000mg/kg, respectively at 28days repeat oral dose toxicity test because most of these findings were considered as results of pharmacological effects of immune enhancements not HYTE treatment-related toxicological signs or secondary effects.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2010

Mammalian reproduction is regulated by a feedback circuit of the key reproductive hormones such as GnRH, gonadotropin and sex steroids on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. In particular, the onset of female puberty is triggered by gain of a pulsatile pattern and increment of GnRH secretion from hypothalamus. Previous studies including our own clearly demonstrated that genistein (GS), a phytoestrogenic isoflavone, altered the timing of puberty onset in female rats. However, the brain-specific actions of GS in female rats has not been explored yet. The present study was performed to examine the changes in the activities of GnRH neurons and their neural circuits by GS in female rats. Concerning the drug delivery route, intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection technique was employed to eliminate the unwanted actions on the extrabrain tissues which can be occurred if the testing drug is systemically administered. Adult female rats (PND 100, 210-230 g BW) were anaesthetized, treated with single dose of GS ($3.4{\mu}g$/animal), and sacrificed at 3 hrs post-injection. To determine the transcriptional changes of reproductive hormone-related genes in hypothalamus, total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). ICV infusion of GS significantly raised the transcriptional activities of enhanced at puberty1 (EAP-1, p<0.05), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67, p<0.01) which are known to modulate GnRH secretion in the hypothalamus. However, GS infusion could not change the mRNA level of nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS-2). GS administration significantly increased the mRNA levels of KiSS-1 (p<0.001), GPR54 (p<0.001), and GnRH (p<0.01) in the hypothalami, but decreased the mRNA levels of LH-$\beta$ (p<0.01) and FSH-$\beta$ (p<0.05) in the pituitaries. Taken together, the present study indicated that the acute exposure to GS could directly activate the hypothalamic GnRH modulating system, suggesting the GS's disrupting effects such as the early onset of puberty in immature female rats might be derived from premature activation of key reproduction related genes in hypothalamus-pituitary neuroendocrine circuit.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2004

This study was undertaken to determine the bioavailability of isoflavones in weanling Sprague-Dawley rats by providing diets containing different levels of soy isoflavones for 6 weeks: 0.025% (low isoflavone intake; LI), 0.125% (medium isoflavone intake; MI), and 0.25% (high isoflavone intake; HI). The subsequent fecal and urinary excretion of daidzein and genistein was then measured. As the levels of dietary isoflavones increased, the amount of food intakes significantly decreased, and weight gain was slower in female rats. In male rats, there was no significant difference in weight gains related to dietary intakes. Urinary excretion of daidzein and genistein was significantly higher in the MI and HI groups in both male and female rats than the control and LI groups. The recovery % of daidzein and genistein in the urine was significantly lower in the MI and HI groups. Fecal daidzein increased as dietary isoflavone intakes increased in female rats; however, in male rats the increase was significant only in the HI group. The recovery % of daidzein and genistein in the feces of female rats was not significantly different among the four groups. When dietary isoflavones were increased from 0.025% to 0.25%, the amounts of daidzein and genistein excreted in the urine and feces increased; however, the low recovery rate of both daidzein and genistein in the urine implies an increased bioavailability of isoflavones. We also observed sex-related differences in the urinary and fecal recovery of isoflavone intakes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.188-198
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• 2009

This work was conducted to investigate the effect of bisphenol A (BPA) on estradiol (E2) 2-and 4-hydroxylase activities in the liver, kidney and lung tissues of male and female rats. After intraperitoneal administration of BPA to male and female rats for 4 days at 0, 10, and 50 mg/kg, the conversion of the substrate for hepatic and extra-hepatic enzyme activities was measured by GC/MSD. The result showed decreases of body and organ weights at 50 mg/kg BPA of male and female rats. Male hepatic E2 2-hydroxylase activity was inhibited by 68% at 10 mg/kg and by 82% at 50 mg/kg BPA. Female hepatic E2 2-hydroxylase activity was decreased by 46% at 10 mg/kg and by 56% at 50 mg/kg to the control. E2 4-hydroxylase was inhibited by 57 and 57% at 10 mg/kg and 54 and 78% at 50 mg/kg in liver of female and male, respectively. The urinary excretion rate of 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE), androsterone and testosterone in urine of female rats with 50 mg/kg BPA were decreased significantly. The results showed that 50 mg/kg BPA was decreased E2 2-and 4-hydroxylase activities in liver, but not in other tissues. The urinary excretion rates of 2-OHE, androsterone and testosterone were also decreased. In liver, estrogenic enzyme activity were higher in male than female. These results suggest that BPA can disrupt estrogen metabolism by suppressing E2 2-and 4-hydroxylase activities in the liver of male and female rats.