• 사상체질의학회지
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.98-110
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• 2008

1. Objectives The purpose of this study is to prove the anti-aging effects of Sipyimigwanjung-tang. 2. Methods The SD rats used in this experiment were 6, 18 and 36 weeks old. A part of the 36weeks was grown to 52 and 68 weeks at labarotary. Each age group was again divided into three groups. These 15 groups consisted of 6 rats each. One group was given no treatment, another group was dosed 200 ${\mu}l$ of normal saline daily, and the last group was dosed 200 ${\mu}l$ of 1% Sipyimigwanjung-tang(SYG) and saline mixture. At the conclusion of the experiment, the age groups were relabelled accordingly(10w, 22w, 40w, 52w and 68w). After 4 weeks, the tissue of liver, heart, spleen, lung, kidney and brain was biopsied in order to measure the SOD, GSH, MDA. 3. Results and Conclusions In liver, the activity of the SOD of 52w-SYG was significantly increased than that of 10w, 22w and 40w-SYG, the level of the GSH of 40w-SYG was significantly increased than that of the normal group, the activity of the catalase of 68w-SYG was significantly increased than that of the normal and control group, the level of the MDA of 52w-SYG and 68w-SYG was significantly decreased than that of the normal and control groups. In heart, the level of the GSH of 22w-SYG was significantly increased than that of the normal and control group. In spleen, the level of the GSH of 52w-SYG was significantly increased than that of the normal and control group. In lung, the level of the GSH of 52w-SYG was significantly increased than that of the normal group and the level of 68w-SYG was significantly increased than that of the normal and control group. In kidney, the level of the GSH of 10w-SYG was significantly increased than that of the normal group. In brain, the level of the GSH of 68w-SYG was significantly increased than that of the normal and control group. The SYG inhibited the histology degeneration of brain tissue. These results suggest that oral administration of SYG (Sipyimigwanjung-tang) decoction has anti-aging effects in aged rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.243-252
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• 1998

This study was conducted to investigated the short-term effects of early weaning and protein intake on organ and cell growth, nitrogen metabolism and physiological functions of rats. Five groups of early weaned rats separated from the dam on the 15th day postpartum were each given one five diets consisting of either one of the three levels of casein-low(8%), -normal (16%), and -high(32%), or a normal level (16%) of isolated soy protein(ISP) or egg yolk protein, for 7 days. The normal weaned rats were fed maternal breast milk for three weeks from birth. On the 22nd day postpartum , all the rats were sacrificed . The weight gain of the early weaned rats, especially the ones fed high protein, was observed to be significantly lower than that of the normal weaned rats. By the 15th day, of early weaning and especially in the ISP-fed rats, the total DNA contents of liver and kidney, which may be said to represent an index of cell numbers, significantly decreased, but their fresh and dry weight and protein/DNA ratio, allegedly representing an index of cell size, significantly increased , not affecting the cell number and cell size of brain. There were no differences in total serum protein and albumin concentrations between early and normal weaned rats. In the early weaned rats observed , the serum urea N and $\alpha$-amino N concentrations significantly increased in high protein-fed rats, and decreased in low protein-fed rats. Another observation was that no significant difference was noticed as regards to serum GOT activity, total bilirubin, uric acid, and creatinine concentration, which may represent indices of liver and kidney functions, among rat groups, GPT activity was an exception . These results suggest that premature weaning and the quality and quantity of dietary protein significantly affect organ and cell growth and nitrogen metabolism but does not seriously affect physiological functions in the neonatal development of rats.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.133-137
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• 2004

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of genistein, daidzein, and quercetin on the antioxidative systems of normal rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into seven groups and treated with flavonoids at either 2 or 20 mg/day or through vehicle for four weeks. Lipid peroxidation in the liver was inhibited significantly following administration of quercetin. Genistein and daidzein did not have significant effects except in rats treated with 20mg daidzein/day. Genistein and daidzein treatment did not affect the content of $\alpha$-tocopherol in the serum and liver, while quercetin caused a slight increase. In hepatic glutathione and its related enzymes, genistein and daidzein treatment tended to cause a decrease in $\alpha$-tocopherol content, although no significant difference was found. However, quercetin treatment significantly decreased the content of glutathione together with the activity of glutathione reductase in all doses in the liver but there was no significant difference in the brain. Interestingly, daidzein treatment in the brain at 2mg/day significantly increased glutathione (27.1% p＜0.05) compared with the control group, while at 20mg/day glutathione decreased significantly (26.6%, p＜0.05). In conclusion, genistein has not antioxidant effects. Daidzein quercetin may have the capacity to produce not only antioxidants but also have adverse effects including the production of pro-oxidants. Therefore, people should consider consumption at a high dosage.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.23-29
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• 2010

Poly-gamma-glutamic acid ($\gamma$-PGA) is a mucilaginous and biodegradable compound produced by Bacillus subtilis from fermented soybeans, and is found in the traditional Korean soy product, cheongkukjang. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of $\gamma$-PGA from a food source on the concentration of the neurotransmitter GABA and its metabolic precursor glutamate in diet-induced obese rats. Eight-week old male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=60) were used. The rats were divided into two groups and obesity was induced by providing either a 10% control fat or 45% high fat diet for 5 weeks. The rats were then blocked into 6 groups and supplemented with a 0.1% $\gamma$-PGA diet for 4 weeks. After sacrifice, brain and serum GABA and glutamate concentrations were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection. The rats fed the high fat diet had significantly increased body weights. $\gamma$-PGA supplementation significantly increased serum concentrations of glutamate and GABA in the control fat diet groups while this effect was not found in the high fat groups. In the brain, glutamate concentrations were significantly higher in the $\gamma$-PGA supplemented groups both in rats fed the normal and high fat diets than in the no $\gamma$-PGA controls. GABA concentrations showed the same tendency. The results indicated that $\gamma$-PGA intake increased GABA concentrations in the serum and brain. However, the effects were not shown in obese rats.

• 사상체질의학회지
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.58-71
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• 2008

1. Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-aging effect of oral administration with Nocyongdaebo-tang (NYD) decoction in aged rats. 2. Methods The SD rats used in this experiment were 6, 18 and 36 weeks old. A part of the 36weeks was grown to 52 and 68 weeks at labarotary. Each age group was again divided into three groups. These 15 groups consisted of 6 rats each. One group was given no treatment, another group was dosed 200 ${\mu}l$ of normal saline daily, and the last group was dosed 200 ${\mu}l$ of 1% Nocyongdaebo-tang(NYD) and saline mixture. At the conclusion of the experiment, the age groups were relabelled accordingly(10w, 22w, 40w, 52w and 68w). After 4 weeks, the tissue of liver, heart, spleen, lung, kidney and brain was biopsied in order to measure the SOD, GSH, MDA. 3. Results and Conclusions (1) The levels of GSH in the liver were significantly increased in the w-NYD(n=40) and w-NYD(n=68) groups compared with those of the normal groups. The activity of catalase in the liver was also much higher in the w-NYD (n=68) group compared with that of the saline groups. However, the levels of MDA in the liver were significantly decreased in the w-NYD(n=68) group compared with those of the normal and saline groups. (2) The levels of GSH in the spleen were significantly increased in the w-NYD(n=52) and w-NYD(n=68) groups compared with those of the normal and saline groups. (3) The levels of GSH in the lung were significantly increased in the w-NYD(n=40) and w-NYD(n=52) groups compared with those of the normal groups. (4) The levels of GSH in the kidney were higher in the w-NYD(n=40) compared with those of the normal groups and those were also higher in the w-NYD(n=52) groups compared with those of the saline groups, respectively. (5) The levels of GSH in the brain were higher in the w-NYD(n=40) compared with those of the normal groups and those were also higher in the w-NYD(n=52) groups compared with those of the normal and saline groups. (6) Degenerative changes of the brain were decreased in the w-NYD(n=68) group compared with those of the normal and saline groups. These results suggest that oral administration of Nocyongdaebo-tang decoction might have an important role to prevent age-related changes of various organs in aged rats.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.121-125
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• 2005

Objective : Many recent reports have shown that the mature mammalian brain harbors multipotent stem cells, rendering the brain capable of generating new neurons and glia throughout life. Harvested stem cells from an adult rat are transplanted in order to evaluate the cell survival and differentiation. Methods : Using a percoll gradient with a high speed centrifugation method, we isolate neural stem/progenitor cells were isolated from the subventricular zone[SVZ] of a syngeneic adult Fisher 344 rats brain. For 14days expansion, the cultured cells comprised of a heterogeneous population with the majority of cells expressing nestin and/or GFAP. After expanding the SVZ cells in the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor-2, and transplanting then into the hippocampus of normal rats, the survival and differentiation of those cells were examined. For transplantation, the cultured cells were labeled with BrdU two days prior to use. In order to test their survival, the cells were transplanted into the dorsal hippocampus of normal adult Fisher 344 rats. Results : The preliminary data showed that at 7days after transplantation, BrdU+ transplanted cells were observed around the injection deposition sites. Immuno-fluorescent microscopy revealed that the cells co-expressed BrdU+ and neuronal marker ${\beta}$-tubulin III. Conclusion : The data demonstrate that the in vitro expanded SVZ cells can survive in a heterotypic environment and develop a neuronal phenotype in the neurogenic region. However more research will be needed to examine the longer survival time points and quantifying the differentiation in the transplanted cells in an injured brain environment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.19-35
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effects of acupuncturing $PC_8$ used perpendicular needling method determine the mechanism of action of acupuncturing $PC_8$ by measuring the changes of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in normal rats. Methods : This study also investigated the effects of acupuncturing $PC_8$ on the change of rCBF in cerebral ischemic rats, and revealed the mechanism of its action. In addition, the effects of acupuncturing $PC_8$ on focal ischemic brain injury was studied in cerebral ischemic rats. Results : 1. Acupuncturing $PC_8$ significantly increase rCBF but decreased MABP in normal rats. 2. Acupuncturing $PC_8$ increased of rCBF was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with indomethacin (1mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase in normal rats. 3. Acupuncturing $PC_8$ increased of rCBF was significantly inhibited by pretreatment methylene blue (10 ${\mu}g$/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase in normal rats. 4. Acupuncturing $PC_8$ was significantly improved the rCBF than control group increased unstable in cerebral ischemic rats. 5. Acupuncturing $PC_8$ was not significantly improved the rCBF than control group by pretreatment with indomethacin (1mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase in cerebral ischemic rats. 6. Acupuncturing $PC_8$ was significantly increased the rCBF than control group by pretreatment methylene blue ($10{\mu}g$/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase in cerebral ischemic rats. Conclusions : In conclusion, our study suggested that acupuncturing $PC_8$ can increase rCBF in normal state, and improve stability of rCBF in ischemic state. In addition, we suggested that mechanisms related with acupuncturing $PC_8$ was involved in the guanylate cyclase pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.299-306
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• 2013

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) has been widely used as a treatment for the movement disturbances caused by Parkinson's disease (PD). Despite successful application of DBS, its mechanism of therapeutic effect is not clearly understood. Because PD results from the degeneration of dopamine neurons that affect the basal ganglia (BG) network, investigation of neuronal responses of BG neurons during STN DBS can provide informative insights for the understanding of the mechanism of therapeutic effect. However, it is difficult to observe neuronal activity during DBS because of large stimulation artifacts. Here, we report the observation of neuronal activities of the globus pallidus (GP) in normal and PD model rats during electrical stimulation of the STN. A custom artifact removal technique was devised to enable monitoring of neural activity during stimulation. We investigated how GP neurons responded to STN stimulation at various stimulation frequencies (10, 50, 90 and 130 Hz). It was observed that activities of GP neurons were modulated by stimulation frequency of the STN and significantly inhibited by high frequency stimulation above 50 Hz. These findings suggest that GP neuronal activity is effectively modulated by STN stimulation and strongly dependent on the frequency of stimulation.

• 한국식생활문화학회지
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.236-243
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the effects of aluminum sulfate administration on the brain tissues of old rats, when given at different concentrations. The experiment attempted to further ascertain whether aluminum exposure cause Alzheimer's disease. Seventy-five aged Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups; a control group, 2 ppm aluminum sulfate group, 20 ppm aluminum sulfate group, 40 ppm aluminum sulfate group, and 200 ppm aluminum sulfate group, and were kept on the respective diets for 12 weeks. In order to understand the influence of aluminum on the brain, serum aluminum concentrations, phospholipid composition, and catecholamine concentrations were compared between the aluminum-treated groups and the normal group. According to the results, serum aluminum was higher in the aluminum sulfate-treated groups than in the normal group. Within the cortex, catecholamine concentrationes were significantly increased but cerebellum and brainstem tissue were significantly decreased, in the aluminum sulfate-treated groups compared to the normal group. For phospholipid composition, phosphatidyl inositol was significantly increased wherase phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, and phosphatidyl serine were significantly decreased in the aluminum sulfate-treated groups versus the normal group. Based on the data, increased aluminum consumption in experimental animals causes increased serum aluminum levels and catecholamine variation. These phenomena are very similar to conditions of Alzherimer's disease. Therfore, the results of this experiment further suggest that aluminum cause Alzherimer's disease, coinciding with reports that aluminum is a cause of neurofibrilly tangles in the brain.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.355-363
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• 2005

This study aimed to investigate the cerebroprotective effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on permanent focal cerebral ischemia in Sprague-Dawley rats. Right middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded for 6 and 24 hours by an intraluminal monofilament technique. An open cranial window was made on the right parietal bone for determination of continuous changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) by laser-Doppler flowmetry. The infarct size was morphometrically determined using the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride technique. Brain edema was determined by measuring brain water content. In normal rats, rCBF was significantly increased by intravenous infusion of VEGF for 10 minutes. The VEGF-induced increase in rCBF was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with suramin, a heparin-binding growth factor inhibitor as well as $N^{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine$, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. In focal cerebral ischemic rats, the amplitude of decrease in rCBF during ischemic period was significantly less in VEGF-treated group, compared with that in vehicle-treated group. The cerebral infarct size was reduced by VEGF in a dose-dependent manner. The brain edema formation was dose-dependently reduced by VEGF in 24-hour MCA occlusion group but not in 6-hour MCA occlusion group. It is suggested that VEGF not only improves the rCBF during cerebral ischemic period but also reduces the brain edema formation, and thereby exert a protective effect on focal cerebral ischemia in rats.