• Applied Microscopy
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.131-144
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• 1997

The present study was carried out to investigate the processes of the ultrastructural differentiation and the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities of the developing rat retina. The results are as follows. The retina of fetal rat on the 13th day of gestation showed the early stage of differentiation. Briefly, there appeared dividing chromosomes, the plentiful free ribosomes, and the high ratio of nucleus to cytoplasm. The reaction products by AChE were localized at the membrane of endoplasmic reticulum and on the outer membrane of nucleus. Ultrastructures and AChE activities in the retina of the fetal rats on the 18th day of gestation were similar to those of the prior stages, except the appearence of rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. According to the ultrastructural observations, the rat retina was still in immature state at birth, but the pigment epithelial cells were fully differentiated, e. g. the increase of melanin granules, the development of mitochondria and Golgi apparatus. The AChE activity was weekly detected. The differentiated retinal layers and the outer segment of photoreceptor cells were observed on the 7th postnatal day. And the pigment epithelium appeared to be fully differentiated. On the 14th postnatal day, rat retina were completely differentiated. In other words, the rat retina was characterized by the prominent outer segments, phagocytosed residues in the pigment epithelium, and the localization of reaction products by AChE in the synapses. In conclusion, the differentiation of rat retina is charaterized by the changes of cell shape, the increase of retinal layers, and the alterations of AChE activities. It seems that rat retina is to be functional from 2 weeks of birth onward, coinciding with the eye opening of the juvenile rats.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제18권9호
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• pp.1590-1598
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• 2008

Cell proliferation and differentiation are critical processes in a developing fetal rat brain, during which programmed cell death (PCD) also plays an important role. One of the decisive factors for PCD is Bcl-2 family proteins, where Bax induces cell death, whereas Bcl-2 acts as an inhibitor of PCD. As maternal drinking is known to cause fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or malformation of the fetal brain during pregnancy, the objective of the present study was to investigate whether maternal ethanol exposure alters the PCD-related Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression during fetal brain development. Pregnant female rats were orally treated with 10% ethanol and the subsequent expressions of the Bax and Bcl-2 proteins examined in the fetal brain, including the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain, from gestational day (GD) 15.5 to GD 19.5, using Western blots, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. With regard to the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax proteins (Bcl-2/Bax), the Bax protein was dominant in the forebrain and midbrain of the control GD 15.5 fetuses, except for the hindbrain, when compared with the respective ethanol-treated groups. Moreover, Bcl-2 became dominant in the midbrain of the control GD 17.5 fetuses when compared with the ethanol-treated group, representing an alternation of the natural PCD process by ethanol. Furthermore, a differential expression of the Bcl-2 and Bax proteins was found in the differentiating and migrating zones of the cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and cerebellum. Thus, when taken together, the present results suggest that ethanol affects PCD in the cell differentiation and migration zones of the prenatal rat brain by modulating Bax and Bcl-2 expression in an age- and area-dependent manner. Therefore, this is the first evidence that ethanol may alter FAS-associated embryonic brain development through the alteration of Bax and Bc1-2 expression.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.279-286
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• 2001

Recently, there is an increasing nationwide concern in Korea that exposure to electric and magnetic fields in the home environment may not be safe in humans. To identify possible effects of horizontally polarized magnetic fields (MF) exposure on embryo-fetal development, timed-mated female Sprague-Dawley rats (24/group) received continuous exposure to 60 Hz MF at field strengths of 0 Gauss (sham control), 50mG,833 mG, or 5000 mG. Dams received MF of sham exposures for 22hr/day on gestation days 6 through 20. Experimentally generated MF were monitored continuously througout the study. There was no evidence of maternal toxicity of developmental toxicity in any MF-exposed groups. Mean maternal body weight, organ weights, and gross findings in groups exposed to MF did not differ from those in sham control. No significant differences in fetal deaths, fetal body weight, and placental weight were observed between MF-exposed groups and sham control. External, visceral, and skeletal examination of fetuses demonstrated no significant differences in the incidence of fetal malformations between MF-exposed and sham control groups. In conclusion, exposure of pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats to 60 Hz at MF strengths up to 5000 mG during gestation day 6-20 did not produce any biologically significant effect in either dams of fetuses.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.11-21
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• 1982

A number of recent ultrastructural studies have shown marked differences between the two lining cell types in adult liver sinusoids, endothelial cells and Kupffer cells. In the present study, the ultrastructural features and electron microscopic cytochemistry of sinusoidal lining cells in the fetal liver were studied through fetal period to neonate in the rat. At fetal period, the sinusoid, which contains various blood component, in lined by the endothelial cells, the Kupffer cells and the fat storing cells that located in the space of Disse. As gestation proceeded, these eel's are arranged as adult liver sinusoids. The sinusoidal wall appears to be discontinuous with open fenestration between endothelial cells, but no basal lamina can observed. It seems to be morphologically and functionally distinct at the early gestation between the endothelial cells and the Kupffer cells, the latter showing marked phagocytized activity. The fat storing cells, which contain several fat droplets, are located in the space of Disse. Ultrastructural localization of the acid and alkaline phosphatase activity were noted on the sinusoidal lining cells.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.315-321
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• 2003

목적: 발육 중인 백서 태아 대뇌 피질에서 방사선조사에 의한 아포토시스 반응에 대하여 알아보고자 하였다 대상 및 방법: 임신 백서의 태령 17 내지 19일(E17$\~$E19)에 선형가속기의 X-ray를 이용하여 어미 쥐의 복부에 방사선을 조사하였다. 방사선량에 따른 아포토시스를 보기 위하여 1, 2, 3, 4 Gy를 전후 조사면으로 방사선조사를 시행하고 5시간 후 백서 태아의 뇌를 획득하였다. 시간 경과에 따른 아포토시스를 보기 위하여 E7$\~$E19에 2 Gy의 방사선을 조사한 후 1, 3, 6, 12, 24시간에 각각 백서 태아의 뇌를 획득하였다. 대조군은 방사선을 조사하지 않은 임신 쥐를 같은 조건하에서 사육하여 각 군당 3마리씩 할당하였다. 아포토시스 세포는 면역조직화학적 방법(TUNEL, In situ 707-mediated dUTP nick end labeling)으로 염색하여 관찰하였다 결과: 백서 태아 대뇌 피질에서 TUNEL 양성인 세포는 광학현미경하에서 전형적인 아포토시스의 형태학적 특징을 나타내었다 대조군에서는 대뇌 피질의 전 층에서 TUNEL 양성세포를 거의 발견할 수 없었다. 1 Gy의 방사선 조사 후 5시간에 대뇌피질 전 층에서 미약하게 관찰되었으나 2 Gy에는 전 층에서 1 Gy 경우보다 더 증가하였고 그중 뇌실대와 중간대에서 피질대보다 더 많이 나타났다. 조사된 1$\~$4 Gy 범위에서 방사선량이 증가할수록 TUNEL양성세포가 더욱 증가하는 것을 볼 수 있었다. 2 Gy의 방사선 조사 후 3시간부터 TUNEL양성세포가 관찰 되기 시작하여 방사선 조사 후 6시간에 최고점을 이루었으며 이는 24시간까지 지속되었다. 결론: 발육 중인 백서 태아 대뇌피질에서 방사선에 의한 아포토시스의 전형적인 형태학적 특징을 관찰할 수 있었다. 아포토시스는 뇌실대와 중간대에서 피질대보다 더 많이 나타났으며 이는 줄기세포와 초기의 분화세포에서 방사선조사에 대한 감수성이 더욱 민감함을 시사하였다.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.217-224
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• 1993

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is a well-known dopamine neuron-specific toxin. But the involvement of oxidative damage in the pathogenesis of MPTP-induced parkinsonism is still uncertain. In this study, by using 2',7',-dichlorofluorescin diacetate(DCFH-DA) that detects intracellular oxidative processes, the effect of MPTP on dichlorofluorescein fluorescence in dissociated cells from fetal rat mesencephalon in culture was investigated. At 7th day in culture, cells were loaded with DCFH-DA, and exposed to 1 mM MPTP or MPP+. MPTP induced dichlorofluorescein-fluorescence which was peaked at 3 min and mostly faded away 30 min after MPTP treatment.

• 한국동물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국동물학회 1999년도 공동 춘계학술대회
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• pp.61.2-61
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• 1999

No Abstract, See Full Text

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.368-375
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• 2020

Objectives: Some animal studies have reported that methyl mercury causes developmental toxicities such as placental and fetal weight loss, but the mechanism is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the developmental toxicities of methyl mercury, focusing on placental endocrine function and fetal growth retardation in rats. Methods: Positively same-time-mated female Sprague-Dawley rats were purchased on gestational day (GD) eight and treated with 0, 5, 10 and 20 ppm of methyl mercury (n=5) dissolved in tap water from GD eight through 19. During treatment, the drinking water (methyl mercury) intake and body weight of each pregnant rat was measured daily. On day 19, caesarean sections were performed and blood samples were collected. Developmental data such as placental and fetal weights, fetus numbers, and placental efficiency (fetal weight/placental weight) were also collected. Placental prolactin-growth hormone (PRL-GH) family, such as placental lactogen (PL) -Iv, II, and prolactin-like protein (PLP) -B, levels in serum were analyzed by ELISA. Also, placental tissues were assigned to histochemistry. Results: The mean cumulative methyl mercury exposure for the 5, 10, and 20 ppm groups were 2.37, 4.63, and 9.66 mg, respectively. The mean daily exposure of the 5, 10, and 20 ppm groups were 0.24, 0.47, and 0.97 mg, respectively. Maternal body weight increased in accordance with GD. There was no significant difference in weight gain among the experimental groups. Histopathologic changes were not observed in placental tissues among the experimental groups. However, mean placental and fetal weights were lower in the 10 and 20 ppm exposed groups compared to the control. Placental efficiency was also lower in the 10 and 20 ppm exposed groups compared to the control. Serum PL-Iv and II levels were lower in the 10 and 20 ppm exposed groups than the control, in accordance with the changing pattern of placental and fetal weights and placental efficiency. Conclusion: The inhibitory effects of methyl mercury on the serum levels of placental PRL-GH family such as PL-Iv and II may be secondary leads to the reduction of placental efficiency and fetal growth retardation in rats.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.189-193
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• 1993

흰쥐태 뇌간의 세포를 배양하여 glutamate에 6시간까지 노출시 glutamate의 농도 및 노출 시간에 의존적으로 세포내 5-HT 및 5-HIAA의 함량이 감소하였고, 배양액으로 LDH의 유출이 증가하였다. Tetrodotoxin은 glutamate의 작용을 차단하지 못하였다. NMDA 수용체 통로 봉쇄제인 MK-801에 의해 glutamate의 작용이 효과적으로 차단되었고, non-NMDA 길항제인 CNQX는 효과가 없었으므로, serotonin 신경세포에 대한 glutamate의 작용은 NMDA 수용체의 자극에 의한 것으로 사료된다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.129-133
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• 2007

There are growing evidences suggesting a pivotal role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. We investigated oxidative stress in the rat model of preeclampsia, and in clinical cases. Pregnant female rats were injected intraperitoneally with deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) and given 0.9% saline as drinking water during their pregnancy. We assessed plasma $F_2-isoprostane(8-iso-PGF_{2{\alpha})$ and malondialdehyde (MDA) in a rat model, and the same markers in the plasma of maternal blood and fetal cord blood in pregnant women with preclampsia. Blood samples from the umbilical arteries and veins were collected separately. The concentrations of MDA were increased in the preeclampsia groups of animal and humans, compared with the control group; it was significantly increased in the umbilical artery and vein of the preeclampsia group. The concentrations of $F_2-isoprostane$ were elevated in the preeclampsia groups of animal and humans, compared with the control group, and the increase in $F_2-isoprostane$ concentration was prominent in the umbilical vein than umbilical artery of the preeclampsia group. Therefore, it appears that the placenta has an important role in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, and the $F_2-isoprostane$ of the umbilical vein may serve as a relatively reliable marker for ischemic/hypoxic injury to the fetus during the perinatal period.