• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.415-424
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• 2024

This study reveals that low-molecular-weight collagen peptide (LMWCP) can stimulate the differentiation and the mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro and attenuate the bone remodeling process in ovariectomized (OVX) Sprague-Dawley rats in vivo. Moreover, the assessed LMWCP increased the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), synthesis of collagen, and mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells. Additionally, mRNA levels of bone metabolism-related factors such as the collagen type I alpha 1 chain, osteocalcin (OCN), osterix, bone sialoprotein, and the Runt family-associated transcription factor 2 were increased in cells treated with 1,000 ㎍/ml of LMWCP. Furthermore, we demonstrated that critical bone morphometric parameters exhibited significant differences between the LMWCP (400 mg/kg)-receiving and vehicle-treated rat groups. Moreover, the expression of type I collagen and the activity of ALP were found to be higher in both the femur and lumbar vertebrae of OVX rats treated with LMWCP. Finally, the administration of LMWCP managed to alleviate osteogenic parameters such as the ALP activity and the levels of the bone alkaline phosphatase, the OCN, and the procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide in OVX rats. Thus, our findings suggest that LMWCP is a promising candidate for the development of food-based prevention strategies against osteoporosis.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.147-158
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• 2024

Hepatic fibrosis refers to the scarring of liver tissue, often resulting from chronic liver injury or inflammation. It is characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins, impairing liver function and potentially progressing to cirrhosis if left untreated. To improve the liver functions, Cordyceps militaris, a species of parasitic fungus known for its medicinal properties, is used in the form of extract. It has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine to boost energy, improve stamina, and support overall health. In this study, we investigated the hepatoprotective effects of Cordyceps militaris extract powder in a liver injury model induced by hepatic fibrosis. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were administered Dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) to induce liver injury, and the hepatoprotective effects of Cordyceps militaris extract powder intake were assessed by comparing changes in liver enzyme levels and histological observations. Rats injected with DMN were orally administered Cordyceps militaris extract powder at doses of 0, 125, 250, and 500 mg·kg^-1·day^-1 for three weeks. After three weeks of treatment, no significant differences were observed in hematological, clinical chemical, organ weight, gross examination, or microscopic examination between the DMN-alone group and the Cordyceps militaris extract powder-treated group. In conclusion, hepatoprotective effects against DMN-induced liver injury in SD rats treated with Cordyceps militaris extract powder were not observed under this study condition.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.400-407
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• 2024

Intrauterine alcohol exposure delays bone maturation and intensifies osteoporosis and fracture risk. As most studies emphasize the neurological aspects of intrauterine alcohol exposure, there is a lack of research on the implications pertaining to osseous tissue. Previous studies investigated these effects in fetuses, with limited studies on postnatal life. Postnatal studies are crucial since peak bone growth occurs during adolescence. This study aimed at assessing the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the humerus proximal and distal growth plate chondrocytes in 3-week-old rats. Sprague Dawley rats (n=9) were assigned to either the ethanol group (n=3), saline (n=3), and untreated (n=3) group and time-mated. Once pregnant, as confirmed by the presence of a copulation plug, the former 2 groups were treated with 0.015 ml/g of 25.2% ethanol and 0.9% saline. The untreated group received no treatment. The left humeri belonging to 6 pups per group were used. Serial sections were cut with a microtome at 5 ㎛ thickness. These sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin for assessment of normal morphology or immunolabeled with anti-Ki-67 and transforming growth factor β-1 (TGFβ-1) antibody. Prenatal alcohol exposure adversely effected the growth plate sizes and the number of cells in the proliferative zone. Fewer TGFβ-1 immunopositive and proliferative chondrocytes were found using the anti-Ki-67 antibody. This may explain the growth retardation in offspring exposed to gestational alcohol, showing that gestational alcohol exposure inhibits cell proliferation, aiding the diminished stature.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.289-294
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• 2002

This study attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of function of Wax Ground for obesity and the related disease of adult people can be developed by the combination of the 17 food materials screened in this study. The experiments using Sprague-Dawley male rats show that seventeen kinds of food material inhibited the increase of body weight gain, energy intake, fat pads weight, liver triglycerides content, atherogenic index, and blood glucose concentration induced by cafeteria diet. Oral administration of wax gourd decreased most body weight gain, energy intake, fat pads weight, and blood glucose concentration. Liver triglycerides content was the lowest in the group administered mulberry stem extract and the group administered pine leaves showed the lowest atherogenic index. The combined administration of wax gourd, mulberry stem extract and pine leaves improved more the obesity and related symptoms than the individual administrations.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.365-370
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• 1995

A tissue biosensor for the measurement of dopamine has been constructed by immobilizing the slice of Sprague-Dawley rat liver on $NH_3$-sensing electrode. To overcome the defect of tissue sensors, the maximal velocity of response curve was measured and applied to the Lineweaver-Burk equation instead of the Nernst equation. And then compared the results with those obtained from Nernst equation. When we obtained calibration curves from Nernst equation, there were variances on the slope and the linear range. But from Lineweaver-Burk equation, the scale of variance was small. Response time was reduced from 7~12 minutes to 2~3 minutes.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2002

The current study was conducted to investigate the effects of administration of antiserum against adipocyte plasma membrane(APM) proteins into rats on body fat mass. Twenty(20) male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into either control or antiserum treatment group(10 rats/treatment) and immunized with physiological saline(control group) and polyclonal antiserum (treatment group), respectively, raised in sheep against rat APM proteins(5times, 2day interval). All animals were killed 4weeks after last injection. Intraperitoneal(i.p.) administration of antiserum significantly(P=0.0054 and P=0.0019, respectively) reduced subcutaneous(21.9%) and perirenal + mesentric + epididymic(36.0%) adipose tissue mass in rats of treatment group. Although body weights of antiserum treated rats were decreased during immunization, the rats recovered their body weight after 1 week of treatment. There were no significant changes in the level of blood glucose and in the contents of muscle protein and fat in antiserum treated animals. Current results indicate that polyclonal antibodies against APM proteins could be used to manipulate body fat mass in meat animals as well as laboratory animals. Further studies, however, are necessary for the practical applications of the current results.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.45-50
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• 2015

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the 4-week repeated-dose oral toxicity of gami-jakyak gamcho buja decoction (Mecasin) to develop safe treatments. Methods: In order to investigate the 4-week oral toxicity of Mecasin, we administered Mecasin orally to rats. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups of five male and five female animals per group: group 1 being the control group and groups 2, 3, and 4 being the experimental groups. Doses of Mecasin of 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg of body weight were administered to the experimental groups, and a dose of normal saline solution of 10 mL/kg was administered to the control group. We examined the survival rate, weight, clinical signs, and gross findings for four weeks. This study was conducted under the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Results: No deaths occurred in any of the four groups. No significant changes in weights or food consumption between the control group and the experimental groups were observed. Serum biochemistry revealed that some groups showed significant decrease in inorganic phosphorus (IP) (P < 0.05). During necropsy on the rats, one abnormal macroscopic feature, a slight loss of fur, was observed in the mid dosage (1,000 mg/kg) male group. No abnormalities were observed in any other rats. In histopathological findings, the tubular basophilia and cast of the kidney and extramedullary hematopoiesis of the spleen were found. However, those changes were minimal and had occurred naturally or sporadically. No other organ abnormalities were observed. Conclusion: During this 4-week, repeated, oral toxicity test of Mecasin in SD rats, no toxicity changes due to Mecasin were observed in any of the male or the female rats in the high dosage group. Thus, we suggest that the doses in a 13-week, repeated test should be 0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg respectively.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 1996

Fumonisin B$_1$ is hepatotoxic in all species, but liver carcinogenic and nephrotoxic in rat. Our objective was to investigate the effects of multiple iv dose of FB$_1$. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intravenously (iv) with FB$_1$ at 1 mg/kg singly (T1), or daily for 2 (T2) or 3 (T3). T1 rats did not show any cytotoxicity in both liver and kidney. However, the most dramatic change occurred in this group was mitotic figures in liver, which increased 5.5-fold to that of control. Hepatotoxic effects were shown in T3, based on histopathology and serum chemistry. A few scattered single cell deaths occurred primarily in the centrilobular area of the liver in T2. Similar but more lesions in liver and a small number of degenerating cells with hypereosinophilic cytoplasm in outer stripe of medulla of kideny were found in T3 rats. Serum chemical profiles included liver enzymes increased, in which cholesterol was very sensitive. This study suggests that multiple exposure of low dose FB$_1$ cause cytotoxic in the liver earlier time point than kideny. FB$_1$$ also stimulates mitosis in liver that may be associated with carcinogenesis.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.278-288
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• 2011

This study was conducted to evaluate the safety of ${\beta}$-carotene biofortified rice, a genetically modified organism (GMO) developed by Rural Development Administration. ${\beta}$-carotene biofortified rice were exposed on Sprague-Dawley rats for 13 weeks. All rats survived until the end of the exposure period. There were no biologically significant differences in body weight, feed and water consumption, weight gains and feed efficiency. There were no clinical signs of toxicity attributable to exposure to GM rice. Mild decreases in AST, ALT, TG levels were observed in Group II (25% GM rice (w/w) and Group III (50% GM rice (w/w), both in females and males. Results of histopathological changes treated with the ${\beta}$-carotene biofortified rice had no significant differences between the control and treatment groups. Based on these results, we deemed that genetically modified ${\beta}$-carotene biofortified rice was as safe as conventional rice.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.6.1-6.4
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• 2014

The aims of study were to investigate the effects of intraperitoneal (i.p.) infusion of ghrelin on pancreatic ${\alpha}$-amylase outputs and the responses of pancreatic proteins to ghrelin that may relate to the pancreatic exocrine. Six male Sprague-Dawley rats (300 g) were randomly divided into two groups, a control group (C, n = 3) and a treatment group (T, $10.0{\mu}g/kg$ BW, n = 3). Blood samples were collected from rat caudal vein once time after one hour injection. The concentrations of plasma ghrelin, cholecystokinin (CCK) and alfa-amylase activity were evaluated by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) analysis was conducted to separate the proteins in pancreas tissue. Results showed that the i.p. infusion of ghrelin at doses of $10.0{\mu}g/kg$ body weight (BW) increased the plasma ghrelin concentrations (p = 0.07) and elevated the plasma CCK level significantly (p < 0.05). Although there was no statistically significant, the ${\alpha}$-amylase activity tended to increase. The proteomics analysis indicated that some pancreatic proteins with various functions were up- or down-regulated compared with control group. In conclusion, ghrelin may have role in the pancreatic exocrine, but the signaling pathway was still not clear. Therefore, much more functional studies focus on these found proteins are needed in the near future.