• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.47-54
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• 2019

Estrogen withdrawal in post-menopausal women leads to overactivation of osteoclasts, which contributes to the development of osteoporosis. Inflammatory cytokines are known as one of mechanisms of osteoclast activation after estrogen deficiency. SPA0355 is a thiourea derivative that has been investigated for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, its efficacy in bone resorption has not been previously investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of SPA0355 on the development of osteoporosis and to explore its mode of action. In vitro experiments showed that SPA0355 inhibited receptor activator of $NF-{\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis in primary bone marrow-derived macrophages. This effect appears to be independent of estrogen receptor activation as ICI 180,782 failed to abrogate its effects on osteoclasts. Further signaling studies revealed that SPA0355 suppressed activation of the MAPKs, Akt, and $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathways. SPA0355 also increased osteoblastic differentiation, as evidenced by its effects on alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralization nodule formation. Intraperitoneal administration of SPA0355 to ovariectomized mice prevented bone loss, as verified by three-dimensional images and bone morphometric parameters derived from ${\mu}CT$ analysis. Noticeably, SPA0355 did not show hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity and also had little effect on hematological parameters. Taken together, the results indicate that SPA0355 may protect against bone loss in ovariectomized mice by stimulation of osteoblast differentiation and by inhibition of osteoclast resorption. Therefore, SPA0355 is a safe and potential candidate for management of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.167-174
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• 2023

Phosphorus (P) is a macro mineral needed for bone mineralization and cell membrane structure and P is also involved in several fundamental pathways of metabolism in the body. Because of the low concentration and digestibility of P in plant ingredients that are the main components of diets for poultry and pigs, feed phosphates are usually included in diets in addition to the P contributed by plant ingredients. The most widely used feed phosphates in poultry and swine diets are dicalcium phosphate (DCP) and monocalcium phosphate (MCP), but tricalcium phosphate (TCP), monosodium phosphate (MSP), and magnesium phosphate (MgP) may be used as well. Because feed phosphates are mostly produced from rock phosphate, feed phosphates have impurities that contain minerals other than P. Concentrations of P in feed phosphates range from 14.8% (MgP) to 25.7% (MSP). The standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of P in pigs ranges from 71% (TCP) to 95% (MSP). The STTD of Ca and the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of P and Ca in feed phosphates fed to pigs and poultry have been determined only in a few experiments. Available data indicate that the STTD of Ca and SID of P in MCP are greater than in DCP in both poultry and pigs, but the SID of Ca is similar between DCP and MCP fed to broilers. Information on mineral concentrations and digestibility values in feed phosphates is needed in diet formulation for pigs and poultry, but if diets are formulated to contain equal concentrations of digestible P and Ca, it is unlikely that animal performance will be impacted by the source of feed phosphates used in the diet.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제24권5호
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• pp.69.1-69.11
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• 2023

Background: Kalkitoxin (KT) is an active lipopeptide isolated from the cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula found in the bed of the coral reef. Although KT suppresses cell division and inflammation, KT's mechanism of action in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is unidentified. Therefore, our main aim was to investigate the impact of KT on vascular calcification for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Objectives: Using diverse calcification media, we studied the effect of KT on VSMC calcification and the underlying mechanism of this effect. Methods: VSMC was isolated from the 6 weeks ICR mice. Then VSMCs were treated with different concentrations of KT to check the cell viability. Alizarin red and von Kossa staining were carried out to examine the calcium deposition on VSMC. Thoracic aorta of 6 weeks mice were taken and treated with different concentrations of KT, and H and E staining was performed. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot were performed to examine KT's effect on VSMC mineralization. Calcium deposition on VSMC was examined with a calcium deposition quantification kit. Results: Calcium deposition, Alizarin red, and von Kossa staining revealed that KT reduced inorganic phosphate-induced calcification phenotypes. KT also reduced Ca⁺⁺-induced calcification by inhibiting genes that regulate osteoblast differentiation, such as runtrelated transcription factor 2 (RUNX-2), SMAD family member 4, osterix, collagen 1α, and osteopontin. Also, KT repressed Ca²⁺-induced bone morphogenetic protein 2, RUNX-2, collagen 1α, osteoprotegerin, and smooth muscle actin protein expression. Likewise, Alizarin red and von Kossa staining showed that KT markedly decreased the calcification of ex vivo ring formation in the mouse thoracic aorta. Conclusions: This experiment demonstrated that KT decreases vascular calcification and may be developed as a new therapeutic treatment for vascular calcification and arteriosclerosis.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.48-52
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• 2024

This study explores the histological features and Bmp4 expression patterns in the replaced tooth germ of Xenopus laevis. Tooth germ formation starts from the dental placode through epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, involving various signaling pathways such as Fgf, Shh, Bmp, and Wnt. In mice, Bmp4 expression in the dental placode inhibits Pax9 expression in the dental mesenchyme. Although absent in the presumptive dental lamina of birds and toothless mammals, Bmp4 remains conserved in reptiles and fish owing to gene duplication. However, its expression in amphibian tooth germs is poorly understood. Three-month-old X. laevis were employed in this study. Initially, samples underwent paraffin embedding and were sectioned into 5 or 12 ㎛ ribbons for H&E staining and in situ hybridization, respectively. Results revealed teeth appearing in two maxillary rows: the labial side, with prefunctional and functional teeth, and the lingual side, with replaced tooth germs behind functional teeth. Enameloid was observed between the inner dental epithelium and dental mesenchyme at the cap or early bell stages, whereas enamel and dentin formed during the late bell or mineralization stages from the replaced tooth germ. Bmp4 expression was evident in the inner dental epithelium (ameloblasts), dental papilla (odontoblasts), stellate reticulum, and Hertwig's epithelial root sheath. Overall, these findings highlight the conservation of Bmp4 expression in X. laevis tooth development.

• 한국습지학회지
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2007

본 연구에서는 상대적으로 정체된 환경인 시화 인공습지와 조석에 의한 흐름이 존재하는 강화도 갯벌에서 혐기성 유기물 분해능과 분해경로 중 황산염 환원과 철 환원의 상대적 중요성에 대해 비교하고, 조절요인으로서 퇴적물 상층수 흐름의 중요성을 토의하였다. 퇴적토 상층수의 흐름이 존재하지 않는 시화 인공습지의 공극수에서 $CO_2$, $NH_4{^+}$, 및 $H_2S$의 농도가 강화도 갯벌에 비해 각각 3 배, 20 배 및 3배 높은 것으로 나타났다. 또한 퇴적물의 산화-환원의 정도를 알 수 있는 Fe(III)와 총 환원된 황의 농도 비는 강화도 갯벌이 시화 인공습지에 비해 12배 이상 높은 값을 나타내어 강화도 갯벌이 시화 인공습지에 비해 상대적으로 산화된 상태인 것을 알 수 있었다. 혐기성 유기물 분해능은 강화도 갯벌 ($0.039mM\;C\;h{-1}$)이 시화 인공습지 ($0.0001mM\;C\;h{-1}$) 보다 약 390배 높은 값을 보이고 있다. 유기물 분해경로에서 황산염 환원력은 시화인공습지 ($314{\sim}580nmol\;cm^{-3}\; d{-1}$)가 담수습지임에도 불구하고 강화도 갯벌 ($2{\sim}769nmol\;cm^{-3}\; d{-1}$)과 같은 높은 값을 나타낸 반면, 철 환원력은 강화도 갯벌 ($0.1368{\mu}mol\;cm^{-3}\;d{-1}$)이 시화 인공습지 ($0.087{\mu}mol\;cm^{-3}\;d{-1}$) 보다 약 1.7배 높은 값을 보였다. 이러한 결과들은 시화 인공습지에서는 전자수용체가 적절히 공급되지 못하고 있음을 나타내며, 이의 개선을 위해서는 강화도 갯벌의 조석과 같은 상층수의 흐름을 조절하는 것이 필수적인 사항으로 인식되었다.