• Applied Microscopy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2001

In order to investigate a pathogenesis of liver damage induced by skin burn, thermal injury was induced by scald burn on entirely dorsal surface in rats (total burn surface area $20\sim25\%$) except for inhalated injury. At 5 and 24 h after scald burn, biochemical assay and morphological changes in serum and liver tissue were examined. Skin burn increased liver weight (% of body weight, p<0.05) and the activity of serum aniline amino-transferase (ALT, p<0.05), in addition, the activity of xanthine oxidase (XO), an enzyme of oxygen free radical generating system, was elevated (p<0.01) in serum, but not in skin and in liver. Postburn treatment of allopurinol intraperitoneally decreased liver weight, serum ALT activity and serum XO activity. Scald burn induced ultrastructurally swelling of endoplasmic reticulum, ribosome detachment, accumulation of lipid, dilatation of bile canaliculi and intercellular space, neutrophil infiltration, activation of Kupffer's cells and degeneration of hepatocytic microvilli. Futhermore , thermal injury decreased not only the protein concentration in plasma but also the number of intravascular leukocytes, that indicates induction of edema formation with protein exudation and inflammation by neutrophil infiltration into the internal organs. However allopurinol injection after burn inhibited post burn ultrastructural changes. These data suggest that acute dermal scald burn injury leads to liver damage, that is related to elevation of xanthine oxidase activity in serum. Xanthine oxidase may be a key role in the pathogenesis of liver damage induced by skin burn.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 1972

The morphological and fine structural changes during the oogensis of Clonorchis sinensis were studied on the developing ovums in the ovary and ootype with electron microscope. Adult worms were removed from the hepar of the which and previously infected with metacercariae of Clonorchis sinensis. The ovary including the Mehlis' glands and an ootype from adult worm was prefixed for 1-2 hours in 1.25% glutaraldehyde buffered with 0.2M cacodylate at PH 7.2, secondarily fixed for 30 minutes in potassium bicromate and postfixed for an hour in 1% osmic acid buffered with 0.4M cacodylate at PH 7.2. After fixation tissues were dehydrated in an alcohol series, embedded in Epon 812 from propylene oxide and stained with saturated uranyl acetate and $Pn(NO_3)_2$ solution. Material was examined with a Hitachi HS-7S electron microscope. The periphery of the ovary, except for the posterior region, is made up of oogonia. As the oogonia divide they proliferate primary oocytes toward the central part of the ovary. After a period of growth the primary oocyte leaves the ovary and is penetrated by a sperm in the ootype. Sperm penetration immediately activates the primary oocyte to resume its meiotic activity. After the oocytes meiotic activity is completed, the pronuclei fuse to form a single cleavage nucleus which possesses two nucleoli. As the oocytes develop their cytoplamic materials are abundant; small mitochondria are abundant and often their profiles are more unmerous in one part of the cytoplasm than elsewhere; the granular endoplasmic reticulum becomes alveolar-sac form after it leaves the ovary it becomes stratified form. The reticulate Golgi apparatus is apparent in the developed oocyte. A little of cortical granules are distributed inside of the plasma membrane I oogonia and large quantity of cortical granules are arranged just inside of the plasma membrane of the primary oocyte and after fertilization they are disappeared with broken out.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2005

The ultrastructure of submandibular gland was examined in the lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens. The submandibular gland of C. suaveolens was a mixed gland composed of serous and mucous acinar cells. Secretory granules from the acini were discharged through the salivary ducts into the oral cavity. Serous and mucous acinar cells had well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria and large amount of granules. In case of serous acinar granules, an immature granule was formless and had only dense specks, and a matured granule was a complete round type delimiting by a single membrane and had a homogeneous dense center with dense specks on the border. In case of mucous acinar granules, while an immature granule was a round type and had an only homogeneous matrix and an indistinct limiting membrane, a mature granule was an even round type having a variety of pattern with several dense bands into the homogeneous matrix and had a distinct membrane. Therefore, a mature mucous acinar granule of C. suaveolens was not only distinct from those of the other mammalian species to have a variety of pattern but also from those of C. lasiura to have an even round type. A great serous-like secretory granules and Myelin-like body were observed in the cytoplasm and lumen of granular duct cells. Myelin-like body, a characteristic structure only reported in salivary gland of three shrews, was discharged from secretory cell into lumen by the manner of exocytosis which has little differences from discharging manner of secretory granules.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2005

The ultrastructure and histochemical characteristics of the submandibular gland was examined in the big white-toothed shrew, Crocidura lasiura. A submandibular gland of Crocidura lasiura was a mixed gland composed of serous and mucous acinar cells. Secretory granules from the acini were discharged through the intercalated duct, the granular duct and the striated duct into the oral cavity. Serous and mucous acinar cells and granular duct cells had large amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum, free ribosome and prominent Golgi apparatus at the basal cytoplasm of the cell, and many granules at the apical cytoplasm. Oval type serous granules had a homogeneously pale round shape of bead at the center. Mucous granules were distinct from those of the other mammalian species having variety patterns with several dense bands into homogeneous pale matrix. A serous-like secretory granules and myelin-like body were observed in the cytoplasm and the lumen of granular duct cells. The myelin-like body is a characteristic structure only reported in the salivary glands of two shrews, Suncus murinus and C. dsinezumi. Striated duct cell had numerous well-developed mitochondria but secretory granule was not shown at all.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.586-590
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• 2009

Horsehair worms (Chordodes koreensis) develop as parasites in the bodies of grasshoppers, crickets, cockroaches, and some beetles. Chordodes koreensis is an accidental parasite of humans, livestock, or pets and poses no public health threat. The male of Chordodes koreensis in the later larval stage from canine vomitus was investigated by the scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In cross sections, the body wall is composed of four components namely epicuticle, cuticle, epidermis, and muscle layers. The parenchymal tissue fills the rest of the body and surrounds the visceral organs such as intestine, and ventral nerve cord but testes were not found. The epicuticle is a thin superficial layer whose surface shows rows of polygonal elevations called areoles. The cuticle has 17 layers of collagenous fibers spirally wound about the long axis of the worm. The section through the cuticle reveals the layers of large fibers cut obliquely lengthwise, alternating with layers of fibers sectioned obliquely crosswise. The layers of large fiber formed a double helix about longitudinal axis of the worm. The epidermis is a single layer. The muscles were interrupted by the nervous lamella in the only midventral portion. The medulla of muscle plate is composed of lightly stained cytoplasm, mitochondria, weakly developed endoplasmic reticulum, and glycogen granules. Between the medulla of a cell and the plasmalemma lies a broad cortical zone of myofilaments. The circular muscles are absent. The characteristic feature of the cytoplasm is that there was no content in peripheral mesenchyme, but was an abundance of large clear vacuoles which give the cytosome a foamy appearance. The nucleus of mesenchyme is not easily identified in our specimens.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.313-319
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• 2008

The ultrastructure of oocytes during oogenesis and oocyte degeneration associated with follicle cells in female Sinonovacula constricta(Lamarck, 1818) were investigated by electron microscope observations. Ovarian follicles are surrounded by a matrix of vesicular connective tissue cells(VCT cells). VCT cells contain large quantities of glycogen particles and several lipid droplets in their cytoplasm. It is suggested that VCT cells act as a source of nutrients for vitellogenesis during oogenesis. In early vitellogenic oocytes, several coated vesicles, which appear at the basal region of the oocyte, lead to the formation of membrane-bound vesicles via endocytosis. The uptake of nutritive materials in coated vesicles formed by endocytosis appears through the formation of coated pits on the oolemma during vitellogenesis. During the late stage of oogenesis, yolk precursors(yolk granules), mitochondria and lipid droplets are present in the cytoplasm of late vitellogenic oocytes. In particular, proteinaceous yolk granules containing several different components are intermingles and form immature yolk granules. In the mature oocyte, small immature yolk granules are intermingled and form large mature yolk granules. Vitellogenesis occurs through a process of autosynthesis, involving combined activity of the Golgi complex, mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm of vitellogenic oocytes. The process of heterosynthesis is where extraovarian precursors are incorporated into oocytes by endocytosis at the basal region of early vitellogenic oocytes before the formation of the vitelline coat. Follicle cells appear to play an important role in vitellogenesis and oocyte degeneration. The functions of attached follicle cells to the oocyte during oocyte degeneration are phagocytosis and digestion of phagosomes originating from oocyte degeneration. After digestion of phagosomes, it is assumed that the function of follicle cells can permit a transfer of yolk precursors necessary for vitellogenesis and allows for the accumulation of glycogen and lipid during oocyte degeneration, which can be employed by vitellogenic oocytes. Follicle cells of S. constricta may possess a lysosomal system for induction of oocyte breakdown and might resorb phagosomes in the cytoplasm for nutrient accumulation during oocyte degeneration.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.87-101
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• 1997

The development of trachea in fetuses on 60, 90 and 120 days of gestation and neonates of Korean native goats was investigated by microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The results were summarized as follows; Light microscopic studies: 1. In the 60-day-old fetuses, the tracheal walls were differentiated and divided into four layers of the mucosa, submucosa, muscle and cartilage, and adventitia. The tracheal epithelium is composed of stratified ciliated columnar epithelium at 60- and 90-day-old fetuses while the epithelium observed at 120-day-old fetuses was pseudostraified ciliated colummar epithelium. 2. In the 90-day-old fetuses, tracheal glands extended into the submucosa and peripheral area of the tracheal cartilage. The blood vessels were observed in the submucosa and adventitia. The elastic and collagenous fibers were observed in the tracheal walls. 3. In the neonates, the tracheal walls consisted of mucosa with well-developed folds, submucosa, tracheal glands, muscle and cartilage, collagenous and elastic fibers, and adventitia, which were more developed than those of 120-day-old fetuses. The tracheal epithelium was developed as that in adults. Scanning electron microscopic studies: 4. In the 60-day-old fetuses, most of tracheal epithelial cells were nonciliated but short microvilli were sporadically observed on the luminal surface. On rare occasions, a few cells have solitary cilium. 5. In the 90-day-old fetuses, the ciliated cells appeared increasingly and cilia elongated longer than those of 60-day-old fetuses. 6. In the 120-day-old fetuses, the nonciliated cells covered with microvilli in dome-shape were barriered by thick carpet of cilia. The nonciliated cells also have many papillary projectons on the apical surface. 7. In the neonates, the nonciliated cells in tracheal epithelium were covered compactly with numerous cilia, and many secretory droplets were found on the cilia. Transmission electron microscopic studies: 8. In the 60-day-old fetuses, nonciliated cells of the tracheal epithelium contain large amounts of glycogen granules in the supernuclear and subnuclear areas meanwhile a few cell organelles were formed. Cilia were well formed along the apical cell membranes of the ciliated cells. Also found in the ciliated cells were basal corpuscles, mitochondria and short chains in granular endoplasmic reticulum(GER). Between the epithelial cells presented were well-defined junctional complex with zonula occludens and desmosomes. The nuclei were variable in size and shape. The more developed nucleoli were observed conspicuosly. 9. In the 90-day-old fetuses, nonciliated cells contained large glycogen granules. Accumulated glycogen granules were observed in the subnuclear and supranuclear portion of the cytoplasm. A few short microvilli were covered with glycocalyx. Ciliated cells contained numerous mitochondria and short chains of GER. 10. In the 120-day-old fetuses, the ciliated cells contained numerous mitochondria, abundant short chains of GER and nucleoli. Nonciliated cells contained some Golgi complex and mitochondria. The cell borders were well-defined and distinct junctional complex with zonula occludens, desmosomes, and interdigitorum. 11. In the neonates, well-developed goblet cells were observed in the tracheal epithelium. Ultrastructures of ciliated and nonciliated cells on the tracheal epithelia were similar in pattern as those in adults.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.347-354
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• 2013

Innate immunity is the ability to differentiate infectious agents from self. The innate immune system is comprised of a complicated network of recognition and effector molecules that act together to protect the host in the early stage of an infectious challenge. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL or mannose-binding protein, MBP) belongs to the family of $Ca^{2+}$-dependent lectins (C-type lectin with a collagen-like domain), which are considered an important component of innate immunity. While it is associated with increased risk and severity of infections and autoimmunity, the most frequent immuno-deficiency syndrome was reported to be low MBL level in blood. Deficiency of human MBL is caused by mutations in the coding region of the MBL gene. Rat homologue gene of human MBL gene was used to study functions of wild type and mutant MBL proteins. Although extensive studies have yielded the structural information of MBL, the functions of MBL, especially mutant MBL, still require investigation. We previously reported the cloning of rat wild-type MBL gene and the production of a truncated form of MBL protein and its antibody. Here, we present the cloning of mutant MBL cDNA in collagen-like domain (R40C, G42D, and G45E) using site-directed mutagenesis and differential behaviors of wild type and mutant MBL in cells. The major difference between wild type and mutant MBL was that while wild type MBL was secreted, mutant MBL was inhibited for secretion, retained in endoplasmic reticulum, and still functioned as a lectin.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1127-1131
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• 2018

Cortisol, a steroid hormone, functions within metabolism, immune response, and stress. Intense or prolonged physical exercise increases cortisol levels to enhance the gluconeogenesis pathway and stabilize blood glucose level. However, cortisol also exerts a negative impact on muscle function and creates a stressful environment in skeletal muscle cells. The present study investigated the function of cortisol as a stress hormone. To examine the effect of the exercise-induced hormone cortisol on skeletal muscles, C2C12 cells were cultured and treated with cortisol at different concentrations. As a result, we found that the morphology of C2C12 changed remarkably with 5 ug/ml cortisol treatment. Western blot analysis was conducted to learn whether ER-stress and autophagy were induced. We found that the expression ratio of LC3I/LC3II decreased and BiP expression increased after cortisol treatment. In addition, immunocytochemistry analysis with IER3 antibody clearly showed that apoptosis is induced after 12-hour cortisol treatment. These results indicate that cortisol treatment could induce apoptosis, ER-stress, and autophagy in muscle cells. This study would provide valuable information in the study of the effects of exercise on skeletal muscle cells and the development of additives to reduce cortisol stress.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1233-1243
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• 2018

Sterol regulatory-element binding proteins (SREBPs) are a family of transcription factors that regulate lipid homeostasis and metabolism by controlling the expression of enzymes required for endogenous cholesterol, fatty acid (FA), triacylglycerol, and phospholipid synthesis. The three SREBPs are encoded by two different genes. The SREBP1 gene gives rise to SREBP-1a and SREBP-1c, which are derived from utilization of alternate promoters that yield transcripts in which distinct first exons are spliced to a common second exon. SREBP-2 is derived from a separate gene. Additionally, SREBPs are implicated in numerous pathogenic processes, such as endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammation, autophagy, and apoptosis. They also contribute to obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases. Genome-wide analyses have revealed that these versatile transcription factors act as important nodes of biological signaling networks. Changes in cell metabolism and growth are reciprocally linked through SREBPs. Anabolic and growth signaling pathways branch off and connect to multiple steps of SREBP activation and form complex regulatory networks. SREBPs are activated through the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway in these processes, but the molecular mechanism remains to be understood. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of SREBPs in physiology and pathophysiology at the cell, organ, and organism levels.