• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.111-124
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• 2008

In the present study, an attempt has been made to assess whether the effect of benzene extract of Ocimum sanctum leaves on the ultrastructural changes in the epithelial cells of the cauda epididymis, its subsequent recovery in the seminiferous epithelium and fertility of male albino rats. Wistar strain male albino rats were orally administered benzene extract of 250 mg/kg body weight of O. sanctum leaves followed by subsequent recovery maintaining suitable controls for 48 days. Results indicate decrease in the weights of testis, epididymis and seminal vesicles. Other accessory organs were not affected. Total count, cell and nuclei diameters of germ cells and Leydig cells were reduced. Cauda epididymis exhibited significant reduction in epithelial height and nuclei diameter of epithelial cells. Cells showed vacuolization with exhibit of signs of degeneration. Ultra study revealed that, in general, the cauda epididymis was affected and in particular, the principal, clear and basal cells were highly disturbed. Further, there was decrease in the size of lipid droplets, mitochondria, Golgi complex, endoplasmic reticulum and accumulation of lysosomal bodies. Fertility performance test showed no implantation in female rats mated with O. sanctum treated rats. Moreover, their recovery after withdrawal of treatment was observed suggesting that the effect of the treatment is transient and reversible. A recovery period resulted in normal spermatogenesis and fertility, suggesting reversible antispermatogenic and antifertility effects of the plant.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.62-68
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• 2014

The present study was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of hot water extract of Korean white dandelion (Taraxacum coreanum Nakai) on liver cancer induced in rats by a single dose of N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA). The animals were divided into three groups. The animals in the normal (Nor) group were fed basal diet. Control (Con) group were administered with NDEA (200 mg/kg, i.p.). Hot water extract of Korean white dandelion (KDDA, KDDB) group treated with hot water extracts of Korean white dandelion (30, 60 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks after NDEA. Serum AST and ALT were measured, enzyme activity of liver were examined by spectrophotometer and histological alternation of liver were examined by light microscopy. KDDA and KDDB group were decreased the increase of serum AST, ALT level induced by NDEA. The activities of SOD and CAT were significantly increased in KDDA, KDDB then in the Con. In the histological observation, KDDA and KDDB group were structure of liver lobula and nuclear shape was relatively cleared. In addition, the cytoplasm staining was similar to those of the Nor group. vacuolization of cytoplasm was not observed. These results suggest that administration of hot water extract of Korean white dandelion suppress or retard liver cancer induced by NDEA in rats.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.203-207
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• 2009

Present study was conducted to investigate potential effects of epichlorohydrin on testicular and epididymal function in male rats. The test chemical was administered to adult male rats by gavage at dose levels of 0, 3.125, 12.5, and 50 mg/kg/day for 7 days. Testicular and epididymal function were assessed by measurement of reproductive organ weight, testicular spermatid count, epididymal sperm count, motility and morphology, and histopathology in rats. At 50 mg/kg, a decrease in the sperm motility and an increase in the incidence of sperm abnormalities were observed. Histopathological examinations revealed an increase in the incidence of histopathological changes including cell debris in the ducts, vacuolization of the epithelial cells, oligospermia, and epithelial disruption in the proximal caput epididymidis. At 12.5 mg/kg, an increase in the incidence of histopathological changes of the epididymidis was found. There were no treatment-related effects at 3.125 mg/kg. These results show that 7-day repeated oral administration of epichlorohydrin to male rats results in adverse effects on sperm motility, sperm morphology, and epididymal histology at $\geq$ 12.5 mg/kg/day.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1099-1106
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• 2013

Tuta absoluta (Povolny, 1994) is a devastating moth to the Solanaceae plants. It is a challenging pest to control, especially on tomatoes. In this work, we studied the entomopathogenic activity of the Cry-forming ${\delta}$-endotoxins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis strain KS and B. thuringiensis kurstaki reference strain HD1 against T. absoluta. These strains carried the cry2, cry1Ab, cry1Aa/cry1Ac, and cry1I genes, and KS also carried a cry1C gene. The ${\delta}$-endotoxins of KS were approximately twofold more toxic against the third instar larvae than those of HD1, as they showed lower 50% and 90% lethal concentrations (0.80 and 2.70 ${\mu}g/cm^2$ (${\delta}$-endotoxins/tomato leaf)) compared with those of HD1 (1.70 and 4.50 ${\mu}g/cm^2$) (p < 0.05). Additionally, the larvae protease extract showed at least six caseinolytic activities, which activated the KS and HD1 ${\delta}$-endotoxins, yielding the active toxins of about 65 kDa and the protease-resistant core of about 58 kDa. Moreover, the histopathological effects of KS and HD1 ${\delta}$-endotoxins on the larvae midgut consisted of an apical columnar cell vacuolization, microvillus damage, and epithelial cell disruption. These results showed that the KS strain could be a candidate for T. absoluta control.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 2003

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological aspects of testicular tissue before and after freezing-thawing by light and transmission electron microscopy. Methods: Tissue biopsies were carried out on mouse testis for freezing. Samples in medium containing 20% glycerol were frozen by computer-controlled freezing program. The effect of freezing-thawing on the structural change of testicular tissues were examined by light and electron microscopy. Results: The freezing-thawing procedure had no significant effect on tubular diameter. However, it caused folding of the lamina propria, and notable damage to Sertoli cells, spermatogonia and spermatocytes. The cells were detached, desquamated from the basal lamina and had increased vacuolization. Round spermatids, elongated spermatids and spermatozoa were less affected, and most of them maintained their normal structure. Conclusions: The structure of spermatogonia, spermatocyte and basal compartments in seminiferous epithelium was significantly altered by freezing-thawing procedure of mouse testicular tissues. Thus, we need to develop a more reliable method for the cryopreservation of testicular tissues.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2003

In August-September 2001, 15 samples of bottom sediments were collected in the inner, middle and open parts of Amursky Bay near Vladivostok, Russia, and barfin plaice Pleuronectes pinnifasciatus was sampled from the inner and the middle locations of the bay. In the sediments from all three sites elevated concentrations of several heavy metals, i.e. Zn ($102-115{\mu}/g$ dry weight), Ni $(70-73{\mu}g/g)$ and Cu $(27-35{\mu}g/g)$ were discovered. The contents of oil hydrocarbons were very close to or slightly higher than the maximal normal environmental background level, $100{\mu}g/g$ dry weight. The sediments contained negligible amounts of hexachlorocyclohexane, while DDT concentrations were quite high (1.7-16.3ng/g dry weight). Generally, there were no substantial differences in the pollution levels of the locations studied and our results resembled those reported for Amursky Bay in the 1990s. Surprisingly, in 2001 'fiesh' DDT comprised 70-85% of the total DDT content in sediment from all the locations studied. In fish liver total DDTs concentrations were 212.8 and 122.54 ng/g wet weight for the inner and the middle locations, respectively, and 'fresh' DDT comprised 35 and 64% of DDTs, respectively. These results provide evidence of recent input of DDT from an unknown source into the ecosystem of Amursky Bay. Histopathological changes revealed in the plaice liver (vacuolization of hepatocytes, coagulative necrosis of hepatocytes, inflammatory reaction, and necrosis of epithelial cells of bile ducts) are probably connected with an intensive metabolism of DDT in the fish organism. No histological and histomorphometric differences were found in the state of the interrenal tissue. Similar condition of the liver and the interrenal tissue in barfin plaice sampled from the inner and the middle locations of Amursky Bay may be explained by the absence of great differences in the pollution levels of these sites.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.923-929
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• 2013

Black seabream juveniles Acanthopagrus schlegelii held at $20^{\circ}C$ were exposed to formalin at concentrations of 50 to 400 ppm, and tolerance values were determined by calculating median lethal concentration values (LC50) through probit analysis. The 12-, 24, 48, 72- and 96-h LC50 values for formalin were 297, 233, 171, 162 and 157 ppm, respectively. The histological effects of formalin on gill and liver tissues in this fish were determined. No histological effects were observed in the control group. The intensity of cell damage increased with the concentration of, and duration of exposure to, formalin. Hyperplasia, separation and epithelial necrosis, epithelial lifting, lamellar synechiae and collapsed lamellae were observed in gill tissues exposed to formalin. Hepatic lesions in liver tissues of fishes exposed to formalin were characterized by cloudy swelling of hepatocytes, necrosis, cytoplasmic vacuolization, deposition of pigments, spongiosis hepatis, nuclear hypertrophy, dilation of sinusoids and bile stagnation. The LC50 values and histological results obtained in this study will aid in designing treatment regimens to minimize toxic side effects and increase efficacy.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.345-352
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• 2004

N-decane은 지방족탄화수소로 다른 탄환수소들과 같이 혼합된 형태로 존재하며 페인트 제거제나 드라이 크리닝 제품에 사용된다. 최근의 본 연구팀이 실시한 전자산업계의 MSDS 신뢰성조사 결과에 따르면 세정제의 사용 경향은 과거의 방향족 탄화수소나 CFC. HCFC에서 $C_{10}$이상의 지방족탄화수소 물질로 변화되고 있는 경향을 보여주었다. Stoddard solvent나 나프타 같은 탄화수소 혼합물에 대한 작업 환경노출기준은 설정되어있지만 n-decane에 대해서는 제한적인 독성자료 밖에 없으며 작업환경노출기준은 설정되어 있지 않다. 따라서 작업환경에 대한 적절한 관리기준제시와 독성학적 자료를 제공하기 위해 n-decane을 28일 반복 흡입독성시험을 실시하였다. 6주령 흰쥐로 체중이 229$\pm$10g되는 숫컷과 165$\pm$7g되는 암컷 흰쥐를 4개 용량군 즉 대조군, 저농도군(50ppm), 중농도군(200ppm), 고농도군(800ppm) (각군당 10마리)으로 설정하여 하루 6시간, 주5일로 4주간 흡입쳄버에서 노출시켰다. 28일간 노출 후 n-decane의 노출용량에 따른 암수의 체중에는 유의한 변화가 없었으며 유의한 혈액학적 생화학적 변화도 발견되지 않았다. 고농도로 노출된 수컷 몇 마리에서 고환 세정관에서의 공포화(vacuolization)가 발견되었으나, 간신장, 비장, 폐, 부신, 심장, 뇌 등 다른 장기에 대한 조직병리학적 검사에서는 뚜렷한 조직병리학적인 변화를 발견할 수 없었다.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.221-233
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• 2005

Background and Objectives : Despite of high prevalence, Tinnitus remains obscure because the cause and mechanism is poorly understood. In the absence of a suitable animal model, past investigations tool place in humans. Recently, the animal model with sodium salicylate ototoxicity is broadly used because of its reversibility. Balyangtongum-Tang had been used clinically to treat tinnitus and other hearing problems. We investigated the effects of Balyangtongum-Tang on cochlear morphologic change induced by sodium salicylate ototoxicity and were to find out its therapeutic effects on ototoxicity in rat model. Materials and Methods : Healthy ten Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normal(2), control(4) and sample(4) groups. The sample group was given extract of Balyangtongum - Tang(1cc/100g) once a day for 4 days. After 3 hours when last medication were given, the sample and control groups were injected intraperitoneally with sodium salicylate(500mg/kg). We observed the cochlear morphologic changes of rats every 1, 2, 3 and 5 hours after injection. Results : The electron microscopic finding of outer hair cell shows some changes in the curticular plate and cytoplasm. Some vacuoles were found in the control and sample groups. Vacuolization in the curticular plate and cytoplasm of the sample group after 3, 5 hours were similar to the control group. But the curticular plate of the sample group after 1, 2 hours did not from vacuole. On the other hand the control group after 1, 2 hours formed vacuoles in the curticular plate. Light microscopic findings of cochlear duct in control and sample groups didn't find any difference. Conclusion : The results suggest that extract of Balyangtongum-Tang reduces the morphologic changes induced by sodium salicylate ototoxicity and the effects are remarkable in frist 2 hours. However the effective times are different with previous studies, it seems to due to the difference of tolerance and sensitivity of laboratory animals.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.116-123
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• 2001

This study was undertaken to find out the effect of Korean safflower seed powder on histopathological changes of cadmium toxicity in mice. Fifty BALB/c mice were divided into a control group(A) and four experimental groups(B, C, D, E) : group A received tap water and basal diet, group B received tap water and diet supplemented with 3% Korean safflower seed powder alone, group C received basal diet and 300 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g of cadmium, group D and E received basal diet supplemented with 3% and 10% Korean safflower seed powder and 300$\mu\textrm{g}$/g of cadmium respectively. Cadmium dissolved in tap water was used, and the Korean safflower seed powder were mixed with feed. All mice were dissected on the 56th day. Histopathological changes in liver, kidney, lung, cortical osseous tissue of femoral shaft, bone trabecular of femur, and epiphyseal cartilage plate of femur were observed. Group B showed no significant changes compared with the control group. But group C showed the unclearness of specific cells in liver, the loss of architecture and focal necrosis of hepatocyte, the glomerular swelling, degeneration and necrosis of convoluted tubules, desquamation and vacuolization of the greater part of the renal tubular epithelium, the marked congestion and thickness of the wall of alveolus in lung, slightly thinning of the cortical osseous tissue in femoral shaft, reduction of cancellous bone volume and marked narrowness of bone trabecular, marked thinning of epiphyseal cartilage plate and irregular arrangement of columnar structure of cartilage cells. On the other hand, Korean safflower seed powder-treated group showed a little convalescent changes and maintained their normal architectures in liner, kidney, lung, cortical osseous tissue of femoral shaft, bone trabecular of femur and epiphyseal cartilage plate of femur.