• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2007

Obesity is defined as increased mass of adipose tissue, conferring a higher risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and coronary heart disease. To get a better understanding of the role of a male sex hormone testosterone on obesity, we thus measured the effects of testosterone on white adipose tissue (WAT) mass, adipocyte histology and hepatic lipid accumulation in male castrated (CAST) C57BL/6J mice. Compared to male CAST control mice, testosterone-treated mice had the decreased WAT mass and the increased the number of adipocytes. Especially, histological data showed that the adipocyte size was reduced in a dose-dependent manner and was most effective at dose 150 $\mu$g per mouse for testosterone. In addition, the administration of testosterone resulted in the inhibition of hepatic lipid accumulation compared with control mice. Our results suggest that testosterone regulates adipocytes development and hepatic lipid metabolism, resulting in the prevention of obesity in male CAST mice.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.222-226
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• 2003

Purpose: The interaction of the Fas: Fas ligand has been recognized to play an important role in radiation induced apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Fas and Fas ligand mutations, in radiation-induced apoptosis in vivo. Materials and Methods: Mice with a mutation in the Fas ($C57BL/6J-Fas^{lpr}$) and its normal control (C57BL/6J) and the Fas ligand ($C3H/HeJ-Fas^{gld}$) and its normal control (C3H/HeJ), were used in this study. Eight-week old male mice were given whole body radiation. After irradiation, the mice were killed at various time intervals, and their spleens collected. Tissue sample was stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and the numbers of apoptotic cells scored. The regulating molecules of apoptosis including the p53, Bcl-2, Bax, $Bcl-X_L\;and\;Bcl-X_s$ genes were also analyzed by Western blotting. Results: With 2.5 Gy and 10 Gy of irradiation, the levels of apoptosis were lower in the $C57BL/6J-Fas^{lpr}\;and\;C3H/HeJ-Fas^{gld}$ mice than in the control mice (p<0.05). With the expression of apoptosis regulating molecules, the Bax was increased in both the C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ mice in response to radiation; the peak levels of Bax in the C57BL6J and C3H/HeJ were 3 and 3.3-fold higher after 8hr, respectively. However the Bax was not increased in either the $C57BL/6J-Fas^{lpr}\;or\;C3H/HeJ-Fas^{gld}$mice. The p53, Bcl-X_L,\;Bcl-X_S$and Bcl-2 showed no significant changes in the $C57BL/6J-Fas^{lpr},\;C3H/HeJ-Fas^{gld}$, C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ mice. Conclusion: The levels of radiation-induced apoptosis were lower in the lpr and gld, than the control mice, which seemed to be related to the level of Bax activation due to the radiation in the lpr and gld mice. This result suggests that Fas/Fas L plays an important role in radiation-induced apoptosis in vivo.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.472-479
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to examine the effect of Sargassum coreanum extract (SCE) on blood glucose concentration and insulin resistance in C57BL-KsJ-db/db mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: For 6 weeks, male C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice were administrated SCE (0.5%, w/w), and rosiglitazone (0.005%, w/w). RESULTS: A supplement of the SCE for 6 weeks induced a significant reduction in blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations, and it improved hyperinsulinemia compared to the diabetic control db/db mice. The glucokinase activity in the hepatic glucose metabolism increased in the SCE-supplemented db/db mice, while phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase activities in the SCE-supplemented db/db mice were significantly lower than those in the diabetic control db/db mice. The homeostatic index of insulin resistance was lower in the SCE-supplemented db/db mice than in the diabetic control db/db mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a supplement of the SCE lowers the blood glucose concentration by altering the hepatic glucose metabolic enzyme activities and improves insulin resistance.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2016

Objectives: The prevalence of obesity continues rise and obesity and metabolic syndrome is a major problem in global health care. Animal models are used in the drug discovery of novel treatment for obesity. One of common models of obesity is a high fat diet induced obesity in a C5BL/6 mouse, and the development of obesity and glucose tolerance in mouse model is different according to period of diet. Therefore, this study was performed to observe the development of obesity and glucose tolerance during a high fat diet (HFD). Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice, 5 weeks of age, were fed on a standard chow diet as a normal diet (18 kcal% fat) or a HFD (60 kcal% fat) for up to 16 weeks. The various factors related with obesity and insulin resistance were measured at 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Results: The weights of body and epididymal fat were gradually increased for 8~16 weeks, however the change of hyperglycaemia and glucose tolerance have shown different with that of body weight. Blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance were increased more clearly at week 12 and 16 than week 8. Lipid accumulation of liver and body temperature were also significantly increased at week 16, compared with normal group. Conclusions: The developments of obesity and related factors were different by a HFD period in a C57BL/6 obese mice. This result suggests that the development of obesity with glucose tolerance and liver lipid may induce clearly by a HFD for 16 weeks.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.518-526
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• 2005

Hwanggumgung (HGG) is a hair-care product which is composed of several plant extracts used in oriental medicine. This study was carried out to investigate effect of HGG on hair regrowth in a shaving model of C57BL6 mice. Five-week-old mice were acclimated for 1 week under 23$\pm$3$^{\circ}C$, 50$\pm10\%$ relative humidity and 12 h of a light/dark cycle before beginning experiment. There were four experimental groups including distilled water (D.W., control), 10$\%$ ethanol (EtOH, vehicle control), a positive control of 3$\%$ minoxidil (MXD), and HGG for female and male mice, respectively; Six-weeks old mice were trimmed by electric clippers so as not to damage the skin. The next day; mice without visible scraches were selected, randomized and separated in groups of 11 mice. The test compounds were topically treated with 0.15ml per mouse per day for 21 days. The hair regrowth was photographically and histologically determined during the experimental period of 21 days. Enzyme activities of $\gamma$-glutamyl transpeptidase and alkaline phosphatase were also determined using a rate assay method. There were no clinical signs in all experimental groups. The topical application of 3$\%$ MXD and HGG in female mice promoted hair regrowth earlier and faster than the control groups. In male mice, the topical application of 3$\%$ MXD and HGG also accelerated hair growth compared with the controls. Ten percent ethanol also promoted hair growth faster than D.W group. The histology of hair growth in experimental groups was strongly associated with the hair regrowth. 3$\%$ MXD and HGG promoted elongation of hair follicles compared with the controls in both female and male mice. Activities of alkaline phosphatase and $\gamma$-glutamyl transpeptidase, enzymes related to hair growth, significantly increased after treatments of 3$\%$ MXD and HGG for 2 weeks in both female and male mice (p < 0.05). These results suggest that HGG has hair growth promoting activities and it can be for treatment for alopecia.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2012

We investigated to verify whether the $PPAR{\alpha}$ agonist fenofibrate regulates adipose tissue metabolism and to determine the molecular mechanism involved in this regulation. After male mice (C57BL/6J) received a high fat diet with or without fenofibrate for 6 weeks, the effects of fenofibrate on not only adipose tissue weight, visceral adipocyte size, serum lipid and glucose levels, but also the expression of uncoupling proteins (UCPs). Mice given a fenofibrate-supplemented high fat diet showed reduced both visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue weights versus high fat diet-fed animals. The size of visceral adipocytes was significantly decreased by fenofibrate treatment. The administration of fenofibrate resulted in decreased serum levels of triglycerides, free fatty acids, and glucose. Moreover, fenofibrate up-regulated mRNA levels of visceral adipose tissue UCP2 and skeletal muscle UCP3. Therefore, our results suggest that the increases in the expression of UCPs by fenofibrate seem to suppress diet-induced visceral adiposity as well as severe hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia in male mice.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.4 s.135
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• pp.339-343
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• 2003

We investigated the effects of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) on high fat diet- induced obesity in C57BL/6 that received ad libitum exposure to a high fat diet for 8 weeks. Male C57BL/6 mice weighing $20.1{\pm}0.95\;g$ were divided into four groups and the body weight and food intake were weighed for 8 weeks. After the administration of RVS extract, the liver, subcutaneous and retroperitoneal adipose tissue in the mice were weighed and common blood count in whole blood and biochemical parameters in plasma were measured. It was founded that body weight increase was significantly suppressed by the oral administration of RVS extract in group with high fat diet. Weight of subcutaneous adipose tissue and concentration of triglyceride in plasma from mice which were administrated RVS extract were lower than obesity control group. These results suggest that RVS extract may effect on inhibition of diet-induced obesity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.366-366
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• 2002

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.894-901
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• 2007

This study investigated the effects of cell cultured Acanthopanax senticosus extract (ASE) supplementation and swimming exercise on lipid profiles and carnitine concentrations in C57BL/6J mice fed high fat diets. Male C57BL/6J mice (n=50), aged 4 weeks, were divided into 5 groups based on exercise and/or ASE supplementation (0.5 g/kg of body weight): normal diet (N-C), high fat diet (H-C), high fat diet non-supplement & exercise (H-NSE), high fat diet supplement & no exercise (H-SNE), high fat diet supplement & exercis (H-SE). Liver nonesterified carnitine (NEC) was significantly higher in the H-SNE group than in the H-C group, and liver total carnitine (TCNE) levels were significantly higher in the H-SNE group than in the H-NSE and H-SE groups. Liver and muscle carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I (CPT-I) mRNA levels tended to be higher with ASE supplementation and/or exercise. These results suggest that supplementation with ASE and/or exercise might have a role in improving lipid oxidation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.476-480
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• 2013

Obesity is one of the most serious health problems in developed countries. It negatively affects diverse aspects of human wellbeing. Of these, a relationship between obesity and depression is widely recognized but biomarkers for assessment of obesity-associated mood changes in animal obesity models are rarely known. Here we explored the link between obesity and the plasma levels of monoamine neurotransmitters involved in mood control using a sensitive UPLC/MSMS technique in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity model in male C57BL/6 mice to explore the potential utility of plasma tests for obesity-associated mood change. HFD (60% of total calories, 8 weeks) induced significantly higher weight gains in body (+37.8%) and fat tissue (+306%) in male C57BL/6 mice. Bioanalysis of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine in plasma at 8 weeks of HFD revealed that serotonin decreased significantly in the obese mice when compared to normal diet-fed mice ($2.7{\pm}0.6$ vs $4.3{\pm}2.0ng/ml$, N=8). Notably, a negative correlation was found between the levels of serotonin and body weight gains. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) with the individual levels of neurotransmitters revealed that plasma levels of dopamine and serotonin could apparently differentiate the obese mice from lean ones. Our study demonstrated that blood plasma levels of neurotransmitters can be employed to evaluate the mood changes associated with obesity and more importantly, provided an important clue for understanding of the relationship between obesity and mood disorders.