• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.189-196
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• 2015

The sequestration of infected erythrocytes in the placenta can activate the syncytiotrophoblast to release cytokines that affect the micro-environment and influence the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to fetus. The high level of IL-10 has been reported in the intervillous space and could prevent the pathological effects. There is still no data of Th17 involvement in the pathogenesis of placental malaria. This study was conducted to reveal the influence of placental IL-17 and IL-10 levels on fetal weights in malaria placenta. Seventeen pregnant BALB/C mice were divided into control (8 pregnant mice) and treatment group (9 pregnant mice infected by Plasmodium berghei). Placental specimens stained with hematoxylin and eosin were examined to determine the level of cytoadherence by counting the infected erythrocytes in the intervillous space of placenta. Levels of IL-17 and IL-10 in the placenta were measured using ELISA. All fetuses were weighed by analytical balance. Statistical analysis using Structural Equation Modeling showed that cytoadherence caused an increased level of placental IL-17 and a decreased level of placental IL-10. Cytoadherence also caused low fetal weight. The increased level of placental IL-17 caused low fetal weight, and interestingly low fetal weight was caused by a decrease of placental IL-10. It can be concluded that low fetal weight in placental malaria is directly caused by sequestration of the parasites and indirectly by the local imbalance of IL-17 and IL-10 levels.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.161-165
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• 2005

Bisphenol A (SPA), a environmental endocrine disruptor, is considered to bind to estrogen receptors and to regulate the expressions of estrogen responsive genes. This study was to evaluate the effect of SPA administration on body weight, sex ratio and litter size on 18 days in prenatal periods, the effect of reproductive organ weight and blood hematological values on 24 days postpartum in pregnant mice. The female mice was administrated to low doses of SPA (0, 0.05, 0.5 and 5.0 mg/kg B.W.) by intraperitoneal injection in gestation days $0\~15$ with 5 times at 3 days interval. The maternal body weight, litter size and sex ratios were similar to in all experimental groups, but body weights of male and female offspring was significantly lower in 5.0mg SPA group when compared to any other groups (P<0.05). No treatment-related effects on body weight, ovary weight and blood hematological values were observed in dams on 24 days after delivery. The uterine weight in 5.0mg SPA group was slightly higher than those of any other groups, but not significantly difference. The histological evaluation of ovary in dam mice on 24 days after dilivery was not difference in all experimental groups, but the endometriosis of uterus in dam mice were significantly increased in 0.5mg SPA group when compared to control group. These results indicates that low concentration of SPA should not be considered as a selective reproductive toxicant.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.543-549
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• 2000

The pathogenicity of Br abortus RB51 strains, producted by commercial vaccine companies in Republic of Korea and USA, were evaluated in mouse and guinea pig. BALB/c and ICR mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with RB51 vaccines or virulent field strain and the existence of RB51 including its ratio of spleen to weights and persistence in spleens were examined. Groups of guinea pigs on day 55-58 of received subcutaneously with various RB51 vaccines, RB51 field isolates (Daehungjin) or virulent field isolates(Sangju) to compare the histopathogenicity in uterus. All the mice received RB51 vaccines or RB51 field isolates survived for 10 days, but the groups of mice received virulent field isolates died 5 from 11 (45.5%) in case of BALB/c mice and 12 from 12 (100%) in ICR mice, respectively. The number of RB51 in the groups of mice given with vaccine strains and RB51 field isolates were declined rapidly were in spleens between 12 and 20 days after inoculation. In contrast the mice given with the virulent field isolates rose in number of bacteria up to 20 days after inoculation. In the groups of mice infected with virulent field isolates, the ratio of spleen weights to body weight were significantly higher than those in control or in the groups inoculated with RB51 strain, including RB51 field isolates, at 12 and 20 days after inoculation. At ten days after inoculation, placentas of both the pregnant and non-pregnant guinea pigs were conducted for histopathological examination. Although any abnormal lesions were not observed in non-pregnant guinea pigs, all the strains caused the inflammation of the placenta, implying pathogenecity of RB51 in pregnant guinea pigs.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2006

We examined the radioprotection effects of acupoint (acupuncture point) stimulation during organogenesis stages of ICR mice. Pregnant mice received 1.5 Gy whole body X-irradiation on day 8 of gestation, which is the early stage of organogenesis. The embryonic death rate and teratogenesis rate by radiation were examined. Electroacupuncture to the leg acupoints and/ or transcutaneous stimulation to the back acupoints on the pregnant mice showed no protective effect against irradiation on embryonic or fetal death rate. On the contrary, the strong stimulation resulted in increase in the mortality after irradiation rather than protection. However acupoint stimulation to the pregnant mice never showed harmful effects by itself on embryos. It tended to reduce the skeletal malformations induced by X-ray irradiation. We suspect that acupoint stimulation removed the cells injured by irradiation during embryonic development, resulting in an increase in embryonic death rate and reduction in skeletal anomalies.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2000

PCBs and DDE were determined in the soil samples and the Korean striped field mice, Apodemus agrarius, collected at six localities in Changwon and one locality in Gaduck Island from August 1997 to May 1998. The residual level of PCBs in soils, in which the concentrations of high chlorinated compounds were much higher than those of low chlorinated ones, was highest in the industrial area(IA) in Changwon(60.7 ng/g in average), whereas those of DDE in soils was highest in Gaduck Island(331.9 ng/g in average). However, the levels of each compound detected from soils in the respective remaining places were relatively low. The similar tendency as in the soils was observed in the mice, indicating that the concentration of pollutants in the mice could denote the status of pollution in the terrestrial environment. The composition of PCB congeners in the mice, however, was different from that of soils, but similar to those of other mammals. Moreover, the residual levels of PCBs and DDE in pregnant females from which fetuses were removed were lower than those of males and non-pregnant females. It suggests that these compounds accumulated in pregnant females might have been transferred to the fetuses through placenta as in other mammals. Judging from the above facts, it is suggested that the striped field mouse can be an useful biological index to evaluate the contamination in mammals inhabiting terrestrial environment.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.205-211
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• 2001

Cleft palate is one of the most serious congenital anomalies in human that causes a sucking problem in newborn babies and morphologic deformity that usually leads to death in newborn mouse offspring due to an insufficient ability to suck milk. Therefore cleft palate had been researched with epidemiologic and molecular methods, and many etiologic factors were examined closely. Among of the research methods, biologic molecule researches have been more important method for cleft palate formation study. The $TGF-{\beta}$ had an important role in the cell migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation, extracellular matrix synthesis and deposition. But there was a little research which was study about correlation cleft palate induced by beta-aminonitroproprionitrile(BAPN) with $TGF-{\beta}$ expression. A purpose of this presented study was examed how $TGF-{\beta}$ expression in cleft palate mice. At gestation days 13, BAPN-monofumarate salts($(C_3H_6N_2)_2$ ${\cdot}$ $C_4H_4O_4$, Sigma Co.) was single oral administered to 4 pregnant rats according to 1g/kg body weight. And pregnant rats were sacrificed on day 20 post coitus(p.c.), The $TGF-{\beta}$ expression patterns of cleft formed fetus mice was followed that; 1.Osteoblast, mesenchymal cell and epithelial cell of cleft mice were low expression compare to control mice. 2.There was no $TGF-{\beta}$ difference expression pattern of osteocyte of cleft mice compare to control mice. 3. In western blot analysis, thickness of band of $TGF-{\beta}$ in cleft mice was thin and dilute compare to control mice.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 1985

Systemic extrogen therapy promotes multiple preantral follicular development in immature mice. Estrogen pretreated ovaries might therefore be a useful source of cells for in vitro studies of oocytes maturation. Silastic capsules (5.0 mm length; 3.18 mm outer diameter, 1.57 mm inner diameter) filled with diethylstilbesterol were implanted subcutaneously in experimental mice (ICR) for up to 6 days. Ovarian weight and histology in diethylstilbesterol pretreated and control animal were assessed before and after pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin treatment and after human chorionic gonadotrophin. The following results were obtained; 1. Ovarian weight was significantly increased by 6 days of diethylstilbesterol pretreatment. Subsequent ovarian weight gain in response to pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin and human chorionic gonadotrophin was increased. 2. Diethylstilnbesterol pretreatment stimulated the developed healthy preantral follicles. 3. Forty eight hours after pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin treatment, a larger number of the antral follicles which developed in diethylstilbesterol pretreated animals showed signs of atresia, whereas in the control ovaries there was a higher incidence of premature luteinization. 4. Forty eight hours after human chorionic gonadotrophin, numerous corpora lutea and occasional luteinized unruptured follicles were present in both control and diethylstilbesterol ovaries. 5. Ovulation rate, fertilization rate and subsequent preimplantation development in vitro were not adversely affected by diethylstilbesterol pretreatment. However, there was considerable variation in the ovulation rate the number of animals with more than 60 ovulations was greater in the diethylstilbesterol gorup (52.4%) as compared to the control (33.3%).

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.167-173
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• 2005

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a monomer used in the manufacture of a multitude of chemical products, including epoxy resins and polycarbonate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of BPA administration on reproductive characteristics and blood hematological and chemical values in offspring of pregnant dams treated with BPA. BPA was administrated to pregnant mice by intraperitoneally injection with 0, 0.05, 0.5 and 5.0 mg/kg B.W. for 5 times at 3 days interval on gestation days 1-16. There were no treatment-related effects of BPA on reproductive organ weight in male offsprings at 45 days-of-age, but body weight was the lowest in 5.0mg BPA group when compared to other groups (P<0.05). No differences in semen characteristics (sperm concentration, viability, motility and abnormality) were observed between the control and BPA treatment groups. The WBC, HB, HT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, albumin, BUN and total protein of blood hematological and chemical values in male offsprings were not difference for any treatment groups, but RBC value in BPA groups was significantly increased comparing to the control group (P<0.05). The PLT value was slightly higher in 5.0mg BPA groups than in any other group, but not significantly difference among the experimental groups. In female offsprings, the effects of BPA didn't affect to the body and ovary weight, but the uterus weight in 5.0mg BPA group was slightly heavier than that of control group (P>0.05). No statically significant difference in blood hematological values in female offsprings were observed between the control group and BPA groups, but the concentration of albumin and BUN were significantly higher in 0.5mg BPA group when compared to control and other BPA treatment groups (P<0.05). The histological evaluation of testis and ovary in growing offspring at 45 days-of-age was not difference between the control group and BPA groups, but endometriosis of the uterus in female offspring was dramatically increased in 0.5 and 5.0mg BPA groups. These founding suggest that low concentration of BPA might not have a important role on reproductive ability or blood metabolite in offspring of pregnant dams treated with BPA.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.166-173
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• 2000

Objectives : These experiments were undertaken to evaluate the effect of the administration on Korean herbal medicines, Kyoaekungkue-tang, Bojungykki-tang, Kungso-san, Antae-eum, and Antaegumchul-tang, on the reproductive functions in pregnant mice. Methods : Prepared herbal medicines(Kyoaekungkue-tang, Bojungykki-tang, Kungso-san, Antae-eum, Antaegumchul-tang) were administered to three different pregnant staged mice. We designed 3 experiments as follows; prepared herbal medicine administered from ovulation to embryo implantation (Experiment I), or administered after implantation to fetal organogenesis (Experiment II) and lastly administered from end of organogenesis to parturition (Experiment III). At day 14 of pregnancy, the whole uteri of half of the treated mice were retrieved from the Experiment I and in the Experiment II the implantation and mean weight of the fetuses were examined. The mean numbers of offspring, sex ratio and mean birth weight were examined in the other half of the mice. Results : The results from these studies were summarized as followed; 1. From the experiment I (administered from ovulation to embryo implantation), the no. of implantation between control and herbal medicine treated groups were shown similar results. Litter size after parturition was significantly decreased in the herbal medicine treated groups, except for Antaegumchul-tang. However, the mean weight of offspring after parturition showed a tendency to increase in the three herbal medicine treated groups. 2. From the experiment II (administered after implantation to fetal organogenesis), the implantation rates from the herbal medicine treated groups increased more significantly than that of the control Also, litter size and birth weight in the herbal medicine groups, except Antaeeum, increased more significantly than that of the control group. 3. From the experiment III group (administered after organogenesis to parturition), the mean number of offspring in Kyoaekungkue-tang and Antaegumchul-tang treated groups were significantly increased than that of control However, the litter size of the Kungso-san treated mice was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group. Compared with the control and other herbal treated groups, the mean weight of fetuses after parturition in the Kyoaekungkue-tang and Antaegumchul-tang treated groups increased significantly. Conclusions : From these results, it can be concluded that Antaegumchul-tang showed more beneficial effects on the reproductive functions, implantation, maintenance of pregnancy, litter size and mean weight than other herbs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 1975

In oder to investigate the effects of cobalt-60 gamma irradiation on the postnatal body gains and the other influece of the pregnant mice were subjected to single whole-body gamma irradiation externally. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The all mice of 400, 600, and 800 Rads gamma-irradiated groups showed abortion after prenatal gamma irradiation within 4 to 9 days. 2. There were significant differences of the postnatal body gains of mice between the control and treated groups (100 Rads and 200 Rads gamma irradiation). 3. The relation between gamma-irradiated doses and the postnatal growth rates of mice were inversly proportional.