• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2007

The roots of Liriope platyphylla (Liliaceae) are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ethanol (70%) extract of the roots of Liriope platyphylla (ELP70) on learning and memory using behavioral and immunohistochemical methods in mice. Control animals were treated with vehicle (10% Tween 80). With sub-chronic treatments of ELP70 (p.o.) for 14 days, the latency time was significantly increased compared with that of the vehicle-treated control group (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg; P<0.05). Moreover, immunopositive cells for brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were significantly increased in the hippocapmpal dentate gyrus and CA1 regions after ELP70 treatments for 14 days (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg; P < 0.05). In addition, those cells for nerve growth factor (NGF) were also increased in the hippocapmpal dentate gyrus region (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg; P<0.05). These results suggest that the sub-chronic administration of ELP70 improves learning and memory, and that their beneficial effects are mediated, in part, by the enhancement of BDNF or NGF expression.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.79-79
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• 2003

Embryonic stem cells are capable of differentiating into a variety of cell lineages. However, the ultimate results of differentiation in vitro greatly depend on the duration of treatment and kinds of differentiating inducers added. In order to investigate the efficiencies of various differentiation inducers and the methods of treatment, we examined differentiation patterns of human embryonic stem cell (hESC, MB03) according to several different protocols. Exp. I) Upon differentiation using retinoic acid and ascorbic acid (RA/AA), embryoid bodies (EB, for 4days) derived from hESC was exposed to Rh (10$^{-6}$ M) and AA (50 mM) for 4 days, and were allowed to differentiate in N2 medium for 7, 14, 21, or 28 days. Exp. II) When bFGF was used, neuronal precursor cells were selected for 8 days in N2 medium after EB formation. After selection, cells were expanded at the presence of bFGF (20 ng/ml) for another 6 days followed by a final differentiation in N2 medium for 7, 14, 21 or 28 days. Exp. III) In addition, to examine the effects of neurotrophic factors in the production of mature neurons, groups of cells were exposed to either BDNF (5 ng/ml) or TGF-$\alpha$(10 ng/ml) during the 28 days of final differentiation. Differentiation patterns of RA/AA or bFGF treated groups were very similar; approximately 82% and 83% of the cells, respectively, were positive for anti-NF200 antibody, while it was about 10% and 11%, respectively, for anti-NF160 antibody in 28 days in N2 medium. Alsor, cells expressing TH were as low as 5%, while the cells doubled when matured at the presence of either BDNF or TGF-$\alpha$. Cells immunoreactive to anti-GAD antibody were approximately 20%. These results suggest that a maturation step rather than differentiation induction step, which is formation of EB, effects more decisively to the ultimate differentiation pattern.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.213-218
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• 2006

As the large defect of peripheral nerve occurs, the autologous nerve graft is the most ideal method but it has many limitations due to donor site morbidities. Various materials have been developed for the nerve defect as the conduits, but none of these materials is satisfactory. Among them, $Gore-Tex^{(R)}$ tube seems to be one of the most ideal nerve conduit materials at peripheral nerve defect. Many researches have focused on finding the neurotrophic factors. It is recently demonstrated that Valproic acid(VPA) has an effect of axonal regeneration as a neurotrophic factor without enzymatic degradation and toxicity problems. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of VPA on the nerve regeneration at the peripheral nerve defect. A 10 mm gap of rat sciatic nerve was made and $Gore-Tex^{(R)}$ tube filled with biceps femoris muscle was placed at the nerve defect site. We let the rat take VPA as drinking water in experimental group and did not give VPA to the control group. We estimated the results as electrophysiologic and histological aspects for 16 weeks after the surgery. The nerve conduction velocity, total myelinated axon count, myelin sheath thickness and mean nerve fiber diameter significantly increased in VPA-treated experimental group when compared to the control (p < 0.05). From the above results, we conclude that VPA promotes the nerve regeneration at the peripheral nerve defect site. It is suggested that $Gore-Tex^{(R)}$ tube filled with skeletal muscle and VPA administration may be a good substitute for autologous nerve graft.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.25-37
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• 2021

Objectives: Depression is a mood disorder showing low energy, loss of interest, anhedonia, and anxiety. It affects a patients' daily life. This disease is considered a social problem because the patient may commit suicide in extreme cases. JSB is composed of 12 Korean medicinal herbs. It has been prescribed to patients with depression. The objective of this study is to investigate anti-depressive effects of JSB on restraint stress-induced depression in a mouse model. Methods: Depression was induced by restraint stress. Mice were orally administered JSB at 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg for 14 days. Forced swimming test (FST) and open field test (OFT) were performed. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA level was measured by real time-PCR. Plasma levels of corticosterone and serotonin were measured by ELISA. Blood levels of AST and ALS were measured using a biochemical analyzer. Results: JSB treatment significantly reduced the immobility time in FST. BDNF mRNA level was increased by JSB treatment in the hippocampi of mice. Although the expression of TNF-α was also increased by JSB, such increase was not statistically significant. The increase of corticosterone level in plasma induced by restraint stress was significantly down-regulated by JSB. JSB reduced blood level of AST, but not ALT. Conclusions: JSB has a potential to manage depression, setting a foundation for clinical application of Korean medicine with safety.

• 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.603-615
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• 2016

This study was conducted by performing intensities aerobic exercise for 12 weeks, three times a week targeting 28 middle aged women. The purpose of this study was analyzing factors which affect cognitive function and changes of blood pressure, renin-aldosterone system, neurotransmitter, cognitive function and working memory after treatment. The participants were divided into three groups which are the control group(n=9, non exercise), moderate intensity aerobic exercise group(n=10, 50%V02max), high intensity aerobic exercise group(n=9, 70%V02max). The two-way ANOVA(repeated measure) and multiple regression analysis were carried out to target those three groups before and after treatment. The results were as follows like this. The moderate intensity aerobic exercise increased renin, brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF), cognitive function and working memory. Also, it reduced aldosterone, angiotensinII and aldosterone-renin ratio. The high intensity aerobic exercise showed increase BDNF, cognitive function and working memory and decrease systolic. As a result of a multiple regression analysis of factors affecting cognitive function after intensities aerobic exercise, the moderate intensity aerobic exercise affected diastolic blood pressure, decrease of aldosterone-renin ratio and working memory. Also, an increase of BDNF affected cognitive function, the high intensity aerobic exercise affected working memory BDNF and an increase of serotonin affected cognitive function. Therefore, It could be seen that more than moderate intensity exercise increase woman's cognitive function and working memory. Also, there were metabolic factors which affect the increase of cognitive function. To moderate intensity exercise, renin-aldosterone and working memory affected to increase of cognitive function. For high intensity exercise, BDNF and working memory affected to it.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.39-50
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• 2008

Purpose : This article reviewed the advances in the understanding of the effect of motor rehabilitation and brain plasticity on functional recovery after CNS damage. Methods : This is literature study with Pubmed, Medline and Science journal. Results : The inability of CNS neurons to regenerate is largely associated with nonneuronal aspects of the CNS environment. Especially, this neuronal growth inhibition is mediated by myelin associated glycoprotein, olygodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein, and NOGO. Enriched environment, motor learning, forced limb use have been utilized in scientific studies to promote functional reorganization and brain plasticity. Especially, enriched environment and motor enrichment may prime the brain to respond more adaptively to injury, in part by expressed neurotrophic factors. Conclusions : These reviews suggest that activity-induced neural plasticity occur in damaged brain areas in order to functional reorganization, where it could contribute to motor recovery, and represent a target for stroke rehabilitation.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.31-38
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study were to overview the effect of exercise on neural plasticity and the proteins related to neural plasticity. Results: Exercise increased levels of BDNF(brain-derived neurotrophic factor), Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), Synapsin, Synaptophysin, VEGF(vascular endothelial growth factor) and other growth factors, stimulate neurogenesis, increase resistance to brain insult and improve learning and mental performance. These proteins improved synaptic plasticity by directly affecting synaptic structure and potentiating synaptic strength, and by strengthening the underlying systems that support plasticity including neurogenesis, metabolism and vascular function. Conclusion: Exercise-induced structural and functional change by these proteins can effect on functional movement, cognition in healthy and brain injured people and animals.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.269-274
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• 2013

Motor neuron disease (MND) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by progressive and selective degeneration of motor neurons (MNs). Because of the versatile nature, stem cells have the potential to repair or replace the degenerated cells. In this review, we discussed stem cell based therapies including the use of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), neural stem cells (NSCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and genetically engineered cells to produce the neurotrophic factors for the treatment of MND. To achieve this goal, the knowledge of specificity of the cell target, homing and special markers are required.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.3 s.76
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• pp.464-471
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• 2006

Peripheral nerve injuries are a commonly encountered clinical problem and often result in severe functional deficits. In the present study, the effects of treadmill exercise on neurotrophin expressions and functional recovery following sciatic crushed nerve injury were investigated. Animals were randomly assigned into four groups: the sciatic nerve injury group, the sciatic nerve injury and 3-day-exercise, the sciatic nerve injury and 7-days-exercise, and the sciatic nerve injury and 14-days-exercise groups. Sciatic nerve injury was caused by crushing the right sciatic nerve for 30 s using a surgical clip. A the light-exercise was applied to each of the exercise group over the respective number of days. In the present results, we identified enhanced axonal re-growth in the distal stump of the sciatic nerve 3-14 days after crush injury with treadmill training. Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron when cultured from animals with nerve injury and treadmill training showed more enhanced neurite outgrowth than that of sedentary animals. Nerve growth factor (NGF) protein levels in low-intensity treadmill training group were highly induced in the injured sciatic nerves 3, 7 and 14 days after injury compared with sedentary group, and brain-derived neurotrophin factor (BDNF) protein levels in treadmill exercise group were highly induced in the injured sciatic nerve 3 days after injury compared with sedentary group. Then, treadmill exercise increased neurotrophic factors induced in the regenerating nerves. We further demonstrate that motor functional recovery after sciatic nerve injury was promoted by treadmill exercise. Thus, the present data provide a new evidence that treadmill exercise enhanced neurotrophins expression and axonal regeneration after sciatic nerve injury in rats.

• 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.481-492
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of treadmill exercise on cerebellar astrocyte activation and purkinje cells, neurotrophic factors expression, and motor function in aged rats. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used and divided into three groups; (1) Young Control Group (YCG; 3months aged, n=10); (2) Old Control Group; (OCG; 24months aged, n=10); (3) Old Exercise Group (OEG; 24months aged, n=10). Rats were then subjected to treadmill exercise for 5 days per week for 12 weeks during which time the speed of the treadmill was gradually increased. The results revealed that in the rota-rod test, motor function was significantly increased in the OEG compared to the OCG (p<.05), and similarly YCG. Number of calbindin-positive purkinje cell expression significantly increased in the cerebellar vermis of OEG compared to the OCG (p<.05), and similarly YCG. GFAP-, NMDAR-positive cell expression significantly increased in the OEG (respectively p<.001), GFAP and GLAST protein levels were significantly increased in the cerebellum of OEG compared to the OCG (p<.05, p<.001) and similarly YCG. BDNF and NGF protein levels were highest in the YCG, increased in the OEG compared to OCG (p<.001, p<.05). These result show that regular exercise not only improved astrocyte activation, but also increased purkinje cell expression in the cerebellum and motor function by increasing the neurotrophic factors in aged rats.