• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1399-1405
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• 2013

The present study focused on establishing the effects of interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) on interleukin-18 (IL-18) expression patterns and pregnancy outcomes in pregnant rats. Pregnant rats at the post-implantation stage were randomized into control, low IFN-${\gamma}$ (L-IFN-${\gamma}$) and high IFN-${\gamma}$ groups (H-IFN-${\gamma}$) that received normal saline, 100 IU/g of IFN-${\gamma}$ and 500 IU/g of IFN-${\gamma}$ vaginal muscular injection, respectively. The effects of IFN-${\gamma}$ on IL-18 expression and pregnancy outcomes were assessed systematically using several methods, including immunohistochemistry streptavidin-perosidase (SP), image pattern analysis, enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA), whole blood count (WBC) count, microscopy and visual observation. IL-18 was detected in the uteri of all pregnant rats, and mainly distributed in the endometrium, decidual cells, vascular endothelium and myometrium. Immunohistochemistry and image pattern analyses revealed significantly lower IL-18 expression in the H-IFN-${\gamma}$ group compared to the L-IFN-${\gamma}$ and control groups (p<0.01), indicating that high doses of IFN-${\gamma}$ induce downregulation of IL-18 in the uterus of pregnant rats. ELISA results disclosed that IL-18 expression in peripheral blood of the H-IFN-${\gamma}$ group was lower than that of the L-IFN-${\gamma}$ group (p<0.05), and significantly reduced compared to the control group (p<0.01). Moreover, the number of peripheral leukocytes in the H-IFN-${\gamma}$ group was significantly higher than those in the control and L-IFN-${\gamma}$ groups (p<0.01). Morphology analysis showed no evident differences between the L-IFN-${\gamma}$ and control groups. However, for the H-IFN-${\gamma}$ group, uterine mucosa bleeding, necrosis and excoriation were observed using microscopy. Visual observation revealed marroon, swelling, crassitude and no embryo in the uterus, which are obvious indicators of abortion. These results indicate that IFN-${\gamma}$ plays a regulatory role in IL-18 expression in the uterus and peripheral blood of pregnant rats at the post-implantation stage. Moreover, high levels (500 IU/g) of IFN-${\gamma}$ influence normal pregnancy at the early stages in rats by downregulating IL-18 expression in the uterus and peripheral blood and increasing the number of peripheral leukocytes, consequently triggering termination of pregnancy.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.856-862
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• 2008

This paper presents the characterization of a continuous magnetophoretic microseparator for separating white and red blood cells from peripheral whole blood cells based on their native magnetic properties. The magnetophoretic microseparator separated the blood cells using a high gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) method without the use of additives such as magnetic beads or probing materials. Experimental results show that the paramagnetic capture mode microseparator can continuously separate out 93.5% of red blood cells and 97.4% of white blood cells from diluted whole blood, and the diamagnetic capture mode microseparator can continuously separate out 89.7% of red blood cells and 72.7 % of white blood cells by using applying an external magnetic flux of 0.2 T using a permanent magnet.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 1999

The oxygen saturation of blood can be measured by the difference absorption in optical spectra of Hb and Hb0$_2$, as the well known previous study. In this study we developed the non-invasive oxygen measurement device for diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease in lower extremity using infrared and red LED which produce a peak spectral emission at a wavelength of 660 nm, and 940 nm. To evaluate the clinical application of the oxygen measurement device, we performed lower extremity study to measure the oxygen changes in response to physiological changes within biological tissue. The results showed that oxygen saturation of blood in biological tissue can be monitored from the separation arrangement light source and detector.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.290-294
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• 1991

For the determination of peripheral COMT activity, we synthesized $[2-^{14}C]-3',4'-dihydroxyacetophenone([^{14}C]-DHAP)$, a model substrate closely related to catecholamines, which cannot be attacked by monoamine oxidase. After i.v.-injection of $[^{14}C]-DHAP$ in living animals, only 3',4'-dihydroxy-acetophenone (3',4'-DHAP) and 3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxyacetophenone (3'-MHAP) were detected in blood by thin layer radio chromatography. It could be speculated that 3',4'-DHAP was primarily O-methylated by COMT, followed by subsequent conjugations. The concentration of 3',4'-DHAP, a substrate for COMT, in blood at 5 min after injection of $[^{14}C]-DHAP$, were similar in all animals. The rate of 3'-MHAP formation can be therefore used as an indicator for peripheral COMT activity. The velocity of methylation in 15 min after i.v.-administration of $[^{14}C]-DHAP$ was $0.28\;{\mu}g/ml{\cdot}min$. From these results, 3',4'-DHAP was shown to be used as an appropriate substrate to determine the COMT activity in vivo.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.439-450
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• 1987

The arterial blood pressure response elicited by stimulating the peripheral afferent fibers of different groups and origins was studied in cats. Experimental animals were anesthetized with a-chloralose [60mg/kg] and artificially ventilated with a respirator. The lumbosacral spinal cord was exposed through a laminectomy and L7 ventral root was isolated. The sural, medial gastrocnemius and common peroneal nerves were also exposed in the hindlimb. The arterial blood pressure was monitored continuously while the exposed peripheral nerves and L7 ventral root were being stimulated. Then, spinal lesions were made on the dorsolateral sulcus area, dorsolateral funiculus and other areas at the thoracolumbar junction. The arterial blood pressure responses were compared before and after making spinal lesions. The following results were obtained. 1. The mean arterial blood pressure was elevated from 103*7.3 to 129*8, 1 [mean*S.E.] mmHg [p<0.001] during stimulation of the sural nerve with C-strength [1000T], 20Hz. Stimulation with Ad-strength, 1Hz resulted in the depression of the arterial pressure by 8 mmHg [p<0.01]. 2. Stimulation of the medial gastrocnemius nerve with Ad-strength did not elicit any significant change in arterial blood pressure. Stimulation with C-strength, 20 Hz induced a pressor response from 102*6.2 to 117*6.4 mmHg [p<0.01] while that with C-strength, 1Hz induced a depressor response from 104*6.1 to 93*4.9 mmHg [p<0.001]. 3. A pressor response by 56 [from 107*7 5 to 163*9.4] mmHg [p<0.001] was induced during stimulation of the common peroneal nerve with C-strength, 20Hz stimuli. Stimulation with A4-strength, 1Hz depressed the arterial blood pressure from 111~9.3 to 94*7.8 mmHg [P<0.005]. The activation of the ventral root afferent fibers with C-strength, 20 Hz stimuli induced a pressor response by 22 mmHg [from 115*9.4 to 137*8.6 mmHg] [p<0.001]. 4. The pressor response elicited during stimulation of the sural nerve was abolished by making lesions on the dorsolateral sulcus area bilaterally. With the medial gastrocnemius nerve, the pressor response had not been abolished completely by the dorsolateral sulcus lesions. The pressor response disappeared completely with addition of the bilateral dorsolateral funiculus lesions. 5. The depressor response induced by stimulation of the sciatic nerve with Ad-strength, 1Hz was decreased by making lesions on the dorsolateral funiculus. 6. From the above results it is concluded that the difference in the blood pressure responses to the activation of the muscular afferent and the cutaneous afferent fibers is responsible for the groups of afferent fibers and the spinal ascending pathways.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.102-106
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• 2009

We exposed ICR mice to low-dose (0.2 Gy) and low-dose-rate (0.7 mGy/h) $\gamma$-radiation ($^{137}Cs$) in the Low-dose-rate Irradiation Facility at the Radiation Health Research Institute to evaluate systemic effects of low-dose radiation. We compared the body and organ weights, number of blood cells (white and red blood cells and platelets), levels of biochemical markers in serum, and frequency of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes between low-dose irradiated and non-irradiated control mice. The ICR mice irradiated with total doses of 0.2 and 2 Gy showed no changes in body and organ weights, number of blood cells (white and red blood cells), or frequency of micronuclei in the polychromatic erythrocytes of peripheral blood. However, the number of platelets (P = 0.002) and the liver weight (P < 0.01) were significantly increased in mice exposed to 0.2 and 2 Gy, respectively. These results suggest that a low-dose-rate of 0.7 mGy/h does not induce systemic damage. This dose promotes hematopoiesis in the bone marrow microenvironment and the proliferation of liver cells. In the future, the molecular biological effects of lower doses and dose rates need to be evaluated.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.179-184
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• 2013

The biological effects of radiation are dependent on the dose rate and dose of radiation. In this study, effects of dose and dose rate using whole body radiation on plasma cytokines and blood count from male BALB/c mice were evaluated. We examined the blood and cytokine changes in mice exposed to a low (3.49m Gy $h^{-1}$) and high (2.6 Gy $min^{-1}$) dose rate of radiation at a total dose of 0.5 and 2 Gy, respectively. Blood from mice exposed to radiation were evaluated using cytokine assays and complete blood count. Peripheral lymphocytes and neutrophils decreased in a dose dependent manner following high dose rate radiation. The peripheral lymphocytes population remained unchanged following low dose rate radiation; however, the neutrophils population increased after radiation. The sera from these mice exhibited elevated levels of flt3 ligand and granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), after high/low dose rate radiation. These results suggest that low-dose-rate radiation does not induce blood damage, which was unlike high-dose-rate radiation treatment; low-dose-rate radiation exposure activated the hematopoiesis through the increase of flt3 ligand and G-CSF.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.75-82
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• 2016

The immune system and neuroendocrine systems are the two key components that maintain bodily homeostasis. Peripheral blood specimens can indicate abnormalities in a body, which often cause various threats to human health, including devastating autoimmune or metabolic diseases. To develop a treatment regimen for such diseases, experimental animal models are indispensable to researchers in academic fields. In this study, we examined the peripheral blood of 3 representative mouse strains (ICR, Balb/c, and C57Bl/6), which are widely used, to investigate whether there is a difference in reference range according to animal model. We performed hematological and chemistry analysis on individuals of both genders. The results of hematology analysis showed that the number of most types of blood cells was lower in ICR than in the other two strains. The results of chemical analysis revealed no specific pattern, but different patterns according to the individual indicator. Although the distinction between ICR and B6 was prominent, differences between Balb/c and B6 were also observed for several indicators. For some indicators, totally different patterns existed between females and males. Conclusively, this study provides the information that 3 experimentally representative mouse models have their own basal levels of blood components, suggesting the importance of a careful choice of a proper mouse model in research into immune or metabolic diseases, to exclude any biases.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1990.06a
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• pp.79-85
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• 1990

The aqueous extract of fresh ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) contains a macromolecular fraction that showed mitogenic and comitogenic activities in human peripheral blood Iymphocytes. Purification of the crude extract by size (ultrafiltration, Sephadex G-200) and charge (DEAE-cellulose. DEAE-Sepharose) yielded a semi-purified fraction (DS-3). This fraction contains at least three subgroups of anionic macromolecules with apparent molecular weight greater than 600 kilodaltons. It is a glycoprotein with a large amount of glucuronic acid. It acts as a mitogen in both T and B cells of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. It could also potentiate the mitogenic action of Concanavalin A in Iymphocyte T cells. Such potentiation is not due to increased binding of Concanavalin A to the cell surface. Its mitogenic and co-mitogenic effects do depend on the presence of extracellular Ca2+.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.92-96
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• 1997

The micronucleus test using peripheral blood reticulocytes (RETs) was evaluated in ICR mice treated with N-methyI-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] as model clastogens. The frequency of micronucleated reticulocytes (MNRETs) in both positive compounds was similar to other results which were reported previously. On the other hand, an anticlastogenic effect of the natural antioxidant, $\beta$-carotene and one of taroholds, galangin as model anticlastogens were investigated using simultaneous treatment. Mice were treated with a model clastogen alone, or with a model clastogen and a model anficlastogen simultaneously. Both $\beta$-carotene and galangin showed anticlastogenic effects against MNU- or B(a)P-induced micronuclei in mice. However, galangin has stronger activity than $\beta$-carotene. Results from our experiment suggest that the in vivo supravital staining micronucleus test using peripheral blood is useful in the evaluation of clastogenic and anticlastogenic effects.