• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.263-278
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• 2013

The silkworm extract powder contain 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), a potent ${\alpha}$-glycosidase inhibitor, has therapeutic potency against diabetes mellitus. Therefore, natural products containing DNJ from mulberry leaves and silkworm are consumed as health functional food. The present study was performed to evaluate the safety of the silkworm extract powder, a health food which containing the DNJ. The repeated toxicity studies and gentic toxicity studies of the silkworm extract powder were performed to obtain the data for new functional food approval in MFDS. The safety was evaluated by a single-dose oral toxicity study and a 90 day repeated-dose oral toxicity study in Sprague-Dawley rats. The silkworm extract powder was also evaluated for its mutagenic potential in a battery of genetic toxicity test: in vitro bacterial reverse mutation assay, in vitro chromosomal aberration test, and in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay. The results of the genetic toxicology assays were negative in all of the assays. The approximate lethal dose in single oral dose toxicity study was considered to be higher than 5000 mg/kg in rats. In the 90 day study, the dose levels were wet at 0, 500, 1000, 2000 mg/kg/day, and 10 animals/sex/dose were treated with oral gavage. The parameters that were monitored were clinical signs, body weights, food and water consumptions, ophthalmic examination, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, necropsy findings, organ weights, and histopathological examination. No adverse effects were observed after the 90 day administration of the silkworm extract powder. The No-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Level (NOAEL) of silkworm extract powder in the 90 day study was 2000 mg/kg/day in both sexes, and no target organ was identified.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.255-263
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• 2017

Chemotherapy is associated with male infertility. Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloro-platinum (II) (CDDP) as a chemotherapy medication used to treat a number of cancers has been reported to most likely induce testicular toxicity. Administration of antioxidants, such as pentoxifylline (PTX) may reduce some Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) of CDDP. Therefore, this study investigated the potentially protective effects of PTX on CDDP-induced testicular toxicity in adult male rats. For this purpose, 42 male rats were randomly divided into 7 groups. The rats were orally pretreated with PTX at the 3 doses of 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg once a day for 14 successive days. On the $14^{th}$ day of the study, they were intraperitoneally (IP) administered with a single dose of CDDP (7 mg/kg). Finally, the sperm/testis parameters, serum levels of reproductive hormones, including testosterone, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) as the pivotal endocrine factors controlling testicular functions, and histopathological changes of testis tissue were examined. Pretreatment with the two doses of 75 and 150 mg/kg PTX indicated significant increases in the sperm count and motility induced by CDDP administration. The right and significantly left testis weights were decreased following the treatment with 300 mg/kg of PTX plus CDDP. However, 75 mg/kg of PTX plus CDDP showed the best near-to-normal histopathological features. The results demonstrated that PTX alone enhanced some parameters, such as the sperm count, while reducing other parameters, including sperm fast motility and germ layer thickness. Furthermore, despite testosterone or LH levels, the mean serum FSH level was significantly augmented by the doses of 75 and 150 mg/kg. It was concluded that PTX administration cannot reduce CDDP-induced testicular toxicity even at high doses (e.g., 300 mg/kg), while it seemed to partially intensify CDDP toxicity effects at a dose of 75 mg/kg. Thus, further research is required in this regard.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.239-253
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• 2017

Neodymium is a future-oriented material due to its unique properties, and its use is increasing in various industrial fields worldwide. However, the toxicity caused by repeated exposure to this metal has not been studied in detail thus far. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential inhalation toxicity of nano-sized neodymium oxide ($Nd_2O_3$) following a 28-day repeated inhalation exposure in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Male rats were exposed to nano-sized $Nd_2O_3-containing$ aerosols via a nose-only inhalation system at doses of $0mg/m^3$, $0.5mg/m^3$, $2.5mg/m^3$, and $10mg/m^3$ for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week over a 28-day period, followed by a 28-day recovery period. During the experimental period, clinical signs, body weight, hematologic parameters, serum biochemical parameters, necropsy findings, organ weight, and histopathological findings were examined; neodymium distribution in the major organs and blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and oxidative stress in lung tissues were analyzed. Most of the neodymium was found to be deposited in lung tissues, showing a dose-dependent relationship. Infiltration of inflammatory cells and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) were the main observations of lung histopathology. Infiltration of inflammatory cells was observed in the $2.5mg/m^3$ and higher dose treatment groups. PAP was observed in all treatment groups accompanied by an increase in lung weight, but was observed to a lesser extent in the $0.5mg/m^3$ treatment group. In BALF analysis, total cell counts, including macrophages and neutrophils, lactate dehydrogenase, albumin, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, increased significantly in all treatment groups. After a 4-week recovery period, these changes were generally reversed in the $0.5mg/m^3$ group, but were exacerbated in the $10mg/m^3$ group. The lowest-observed-adverse-effect concentration of nano-sized $Nd_2O_3$ was determined to be $0.5mg/m^3$, and the target organ was determined to be the lung, under the present experimental conditions in male rats.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 1992

Naegleria fowleri, a free-living amoeba commonly found in moist soil and fresh water, enters the body via the nasal mucosa and migrates along the olfactory nerve to t he brain, where it causes acute amoebic meningoencephalitis. In the present study 7 clones secreting monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) against N. fowleri were produced and the effector function of them was investigated. Their isotopes were IgGl (Nf 1, Nf 154), 19G3 (Nf 137) and 19A (Nf 1, Nf 2, Nf 256, Nf 279). Five McAbs (McAb Nf 2, Nf 279, Nf 27, Nf 154, Nf 137) were specific for N. fowleri by ELISA and recognized the antigenic determinants located on the trophoBoite surface by IFAT and immunoperoxidase stain. These aye McAbs had capacity to agglutinate N. fowleri trophozoites and inhibited the growth of the amoeba in culture medium. McAb Nf 2 inhibited proliferation of trophozoites in vitro significantly. Also the cytotoxicity of JV. fowleri against CHO cell was reduced in the presence of McAb Nf 2 and McAb Nf 154. From these results McAb Nf 2 was confirmed to weaken the virulence of the amoeba among 7 screened McAbs.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.69-80
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• 1998

Subgenus classification of Acanthcmoeba remains uncertain. Twenty-three reference strains of Acanthnmoeba including 18 (neo)type-strains were subjected for classification at the subgenus level by riboprinting, PCR/RFLP analysis of 185 rRNA gene (rDNA) . On the dendrogram reconstructed on the basis of riboprint analyses, two type- strains (A. astronwxis and A. tubinshi) of morphological group 1 diverged early from the other strains and were quite distinct from each other. Four type-strains of morphological group 3. A. culbertsoni, A. polestinensis, A. healyi were considered taxonomically valid, but A. pustulosn was regarded as an invalid synonym of A. pclestinensis. Strains of morphological group 2 were classified into 6 subgroups. Among them, A. giulni which has an intron in its 185 rDNA was the most divergent from the remaining strains. Acanthcmoebc ccstellanii Castellani, A. quinc Vil3, A. Iugdunensis L3a. A. poIyphage Jones, A. trinngularis SH621, and A. cqstellanii Ma strains belonged to a subgroup, A. castellanii complex. However, A. quinc and A. Lugnunensis were regarded as synonyms of A. ccstellanii. The Chang strain could be regarded as A. hatchetti. Acanthcmoebo nauritaniensis, A. niuionensis, A. paranivionensis could be considered as synonyms of A. rhwsodes. Neff strain was regarded as A. polyphage rather than as A. castellanii. It is likely that riboprinting can be applied for rapid identification of Acnnthcmoebc isolated from the clinical specimens and environments.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.99-108
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• 1998

The present study was performed to check the viability of eggs, filariform larvae and adults of Strongvloines venezueLensis exposed to various conditions for an in vitro maintenance. The eggs in the feces remained viable for about 25 days at $4^{\circ}C$ and 15 days at room temperature. However, the isolated eggs in sterile saline lost their viability within 24 hr at $4^{\circ}C$. The eggs in morula stage were very sensitive to air drying and rapidly lost their viability (=12 hrs. Filariform larvae survived for a maximum period of 45 days in fecal suspension and 28 days in 0.12% nutrient broth in polyvinyl culture bags maintained at $20^{\circ}C$. On the other hand, those isolated from nutrient broth cultures survived for a maximum period of 32 days in tap water and 22 days in sterile saline at $20^{\circ}C$. The mature adult worms obtained from experimentally infected rats survived maximally for 9 days in serum supplemented (10% rat-serum) 0.12% nutrient broth and 4 days in serum free nutrient broth at $37^{\circ}C$ while the culture media were changed at an alternate day. The adult female worms deposited fertile eggs in serum supplemented and serum free nutrient broth cultures, however, the hatched larvae (Ll) were not able to develop to the filariform stage in the culture media and found to die within 24 hr of maintenance. The present findings on an in vitro maintenance of different stages of 5. uenezueLetis may provide useful information for biological and biochemical studies with Strongyloines species. Key words: Strongvloides venezuelensis. viability in vitro maintenance, free-living filariform larvae (L3), embryonation of eggs

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.155-162
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• 1988

Surface membrane proteins of virulent RH strain and tissue cyst-forming Fukaya strain of Toxoplasma gondii were analysed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after LPO-catalyzed surface iodination and lectin blotting, then identified the zoite-specific antigens. Prior to the analyses, purification of RH tachyzoites from mouse peritoneal exudate and of Fukaya bradyzoites from mouse brain tissues were performed by centrifugation - on the discontinuous Percoll density-gradient. Ta- chysoites were obtained at the interface of 50U and 60% Percoll solution and brain cysts were harvested at the interfaces of 40-50% and 50-60%, then bradyzoites were obtained by treating the cysts with hypertonic solution. The LPO-catalyzed iodination detected 15 KDa and 14 KDa proteins o( brady- zoites and 30 KDa protein of tachysoites as major bands with several other minor bands. But Con A blotting revealed some bands of 200 K∼50 KDa glycoproteins of bradyzoites and 52 KDa band as major and minor bands of 33 K∼20 KDa of tachyzoites. Phytohemagglutinin did not detect any band in the two forms. EITB with anti- Fukaya antibody and anti-RH antibody revealed cross-reactivities between the two forms. Despite the cross-reactivity, anti-Fukaya antibody reacted with 15 KDa band of bradyzoites specifically and, anti-RH antibody with 52 KDa, 30 KDa, and 25 KDa bands of tachyzoites, respectively. It was identified that 15 KDa protein in bradyzoite, which was not a glycoprotein, was a major membrane protein with sufficient antigenicity, and in the case of tacky- zoite, 52 KDa surface glycoprotein (gp52) with specific antigenicity might be added to the major surface protein, p30.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 1988

The role of passive cell-mediated transfer of immunity against primary amoebic meningoen- cephalitis(PAME) in mice was studied. Waegleria fowleri, ITMAP 359, were cultured in CGVS medium. The ICR mice used were six week-old males of average weight of 15 g. Immunization was done by three intraperitoneal injections of $1{\times}10^6$ N. fowleri trophozoites at the interval of one week. Splenocytes were obtained from normal and immune mice spleens, and Ix107 cells were administered intraperitoneally into mice 3 days before challenge infection. Mice were infected intranasally with $7{\times}10^4$ N. fowleri trophozoites in a $3{\;}{\mu}l$ suspension under secobarbiturate anesthesia. Transplants of normal or immune splenocytes seem to alter the pattern of the PAME level- opment. The splenocytcs transferred from immune mice reduced the mortality rate in the JV. fowleri infected mice, as compared with the mice transferred with the same number of normal splenocytes or without splenocyte, The blastogenic response of the splenocytes to both lipopoly- saccharide and concanavalin A was elevated on duty 7 after infection the mice transinoculated with immune splenocytes. The serum antibody titers in the mice transferred with immune spleno- cytes were increased gradually from day 7 up to day 20 after infections by mean of ELISA. It is suggested that the transfer of splenocytes from immuniged mice conferred immunity against N. fowleri infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.179-188
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• 1988

The life cycle of Fibricola seoulensis was studied in the laboratory and in the field, with special interests in the larval developments within the eggs and in the intermediate hosts. The first emergence of miracidia after incubation of eggs in 26C water began on the ninth day. The miracidia, elongate and cylindrical shape, had epidermal plates in the formula of 6, 9, 4 and 3, with two pairs of flame cells and lateral processes. A kind of fresh water snail, Hippeutis (H.) cantori, was found to shed furcocercous cercariae from the 13th day after experimental challenge with miracidia while Physa acute failed to shed. The same kind of snail collected from the field also shed the same cercariae. The cercariae were equipped with 2 pairs of penetration glands and 5 pairs of fame cells. The tadpoles of Rana nigromaculata were found susceptible to experimental infection with the cercariae. The same kind of tadpoles collected from various areas were also found naturally infected. The metacercariae in the tadpoles which were infected experimentally became infective to the definitive host in 21 days. The metacercariae were located free in the body cavity of tadpoles, and attained sexual maturity in rats in 7 days. The present study successfully followed the complete life cycle of F. seoulensis and found that it is possible to maintain the life cycle in the laboratory.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 1988

The Hongcheon river system knows down through the Hongcheon area of Kangwon-do, and reaches to the Cheongpyeong "Dam in Kyonggi.do. Stool specimens from the inhabitants residing along the Hongcheon river basin were examined to detect infection rates of Metagonimus sp. , and the intermediate hosts were collected to detect larval stages. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Thirty-nine (33 males and 6 females) out of 529 (314 males and 215 females) inhabitants were infected with Metagonimus sp., showing a total positive rate of 7.4%. 2. In eight areas surveyed, the specimens from Kulji.ri of Bukbang-myon at the middle part of the river showed the highest positive rate of 26.9% (14 positives out of 52) (males; 38.2%), The specimens from Mogog-ri of Seo-myon at the downstream of the river showed a positive rate of 10.4%(13 positives out of 125) (males; 12.6%). The positive rates in other regions were less than 10%. 3. The density of the first intermediate host, Semisulcospira sp., was the highest in Kulji.ri of Bukbang-myon (10~20 snails per $m^2$), and the infection rate of Metagonimus cercariae in the snails was 10.7%(13 positives out of 121 snails). 4. The infection rate of Metagonimus metacercariae in Zacco platypus, the freshwater Bish favorably eaten raw by the inhabitants, was 68.25 (30 positives out of 44 fishes), and most metacercariae were detected under the scales (89.95). 5. Adult flukes were obtained from the small intestine of a rat, 15 days after infection with the metacercariae obtained from Z. platypus. These adult cukes were identified to be the same species as thcse obtained from human hosts. By this survey, new endemic areas of Metagonimus infection were discovered along the Hongcheon river basin and the main source of infection was the fresh water ash, Z. platypus.