• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.361-366
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of high voltage pulsed current (HVPC) stimulation on proliferative activities of basal keratinocytes by measured nucleolar organizer region (NOR) expression and thickness of spinous layer in aged rat skin. Fifty-one weeks old twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats (300∼350g) were divided into control and HVPC stimulation groups. Each animal's hair on the back were removed. The HVPC stimulation group received an negative monophasic twin peak pulsed current stimulation with 50 V, while the control group was given the same treatment without electricity. The rats were sacrificed after 3 weeks. The biopsy specimens were fixed in formalin, embedded in paraffin and stained with hematoxyline-eosin and silver nitrate. The thickness of basal to granular layer of the epidennis were measured using a light microscope and computerized image analysis system. The number of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) were counted using a light microscope and computerized image analysis system and calculated as the mean number of AgNOR per nucleus in the basal keratinocyte. By using a Student's t-test, an increase in the thickness of basal-spinous layer (P<0.001) of epidermis can be observed in HVPC stimulation rats as compared with the control rats, whereas the thickness of the granular layer is not affected. A Student's t-test showed a significantly higher mean NOR number per nucleus of the basal keratinocyte in the HVPC stimulation rats than control rats (P<0.001). There was significantly positive correlation between the NOR number and the thickness of basal-spinous layer (r=0.80, P<0.05). These results suggest that the HVPC stimulation may increase the thickness of spinous layer in the epidennis due to increased proliferative activities of basal keratinocytes in epidennis in aged rat skin.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.278-284
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• 1992

This study was performed to investigate the effects of ginseng saponins on the cerebral energy metabolite's contents influenced by carbon monoxide(CO) intoxication. Each experimental group was divided young ($5{\sim}8$ weeks) and aged ($43{\sim}52$ weeks) rats, and they were exposed at 5,000 ppm CO (72%HbCO) for 30 min. One of the other groups was pretreated with ginseng saponins for 5 days before CO intoxication. The contents of cerebral energy metabolites in cerebral cortex, stratum and hypothalamus were measured. In cerebral cortex of both young and aged rats, the levels of ATP and creatine phosphate were significantly decreased, while those of lactate were significantly increased. There was no difference between the levels of cerebral energy metabolites of young and aged rats. Pretreatment of ginseng saponins before CO intoxication lowered decrease of the levels of cerebral energy metabolites and ATP levels were significantly recovered. On the other hands, contents of lactate in stratum and hypothalamus of young rats were significantly increased and the levels of ATP and creatine phosphate in stratum and hypothalamus were completely recovered at 2 weeks after CO intoxication. The results suggest that ginseng saponins have an ameliorating action against disturbance of the cerebral energy metabolites by CO intoxication.

• 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.481-492
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of treadmill exercise on cerebellar astrocyte activation and purkinje cells, neurotrophic factors expression, and motor function in aged rats. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used and divided into three groups; (1) Young Control Group (YCG; 3months aged, n=10); (2) Old Control Group; (OCG; 24months aged, n=10); (3) Old Exercise Group (OEG; 24months aged, n=10). Rats were then subjected to treadmill exercise for 5 days per week for 12 weeks during which time the speed of the treadmill was gradually increased. The results revealed that in the rota-rod test, motor function was significantly increased in the OEG compared to the OCG (p<.05), and similarly YCG. Number of calbindin-positive purkinje cell expression significantly increased in the cerebellar vermis of OEG compared to the OCG (p<.05), and similarly YCG. GFAP-, NMDAR-positive cell expression significantly increased in the OEG (respectively p<.001), GFAP and GLAST protein levels were significantly increased in the cerebellum of OEG compared to the OCG (p<.05, p<.001) and similarly YCG. BDNF and NGF protein levels were highest in the YCG, increased in the OEG compared to OCG (p<.001, p<.05). These result show that regular exercise not only improved astrocyte activation, but also increased purkinje cell expression in the cerebellum and motor function by increasing the neurotrophic factors in aged rats.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.488-492
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• 1998

This study was performed to investigate the influcence of various dietary fiber sources in Korea for activities of bacterial enzymes (${\beta}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-glucuronidase) and amounts of putrefactive product (indole) in aged rats. ${\beta}$-Glucosidase activity in the intestinal content was significantly lower in the seamustard 15% group than in other groups whereas the activity of ${\beta}$-glucuronidase was higher in the mugwort 15% group than other experimental groups. The amount of indole and pH in the intestinal content of aged rats were significantly lower in mugwort groups than in other groups.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.843-849
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• 2001

This study was performed to investigate the effect of n-3 fatty acids and dietary protein levels on renal function. Fifteen-month old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 diet groups. Two-month old rats were used as a control group. The experimental diets contained either a% or 25% casein and lipid levels of the diets were 20% by weight. For the control group, the lipid was composed of beef tallow and corn oil on a 1:1 basis, and fish oil was comprised 75% of the fat mixture for the fish oil group. Rats were fed the diets ad libitum for 8 weeks. GFR and urinary protein excretion were higher in high protein groups, while fish oil exhibited no effects. Renal medulla TXB$_2$and PGE$_2$ concentrations tended to be higher in high protein groups and lower in fish oil groups. Light microscopic examinations showed that glomerulosclerosis, tubular atrophy, tubular cast, interstitial inflammation and interstitial fibrosis fended to be higher in aged rats and in high protein groups and lower in fish oil groups. Serum levels of total lipid, triglyceride and total cholesterol were higher in aged rats and lower in fish oil groups while serum HDL-cholesterol level was higher in young rats and in fish oil groups. However, dietary protein level had no effect on serum lipid levels. Serum TBARS concentration was higher in aged rats and in fish oil groups. In conclusion, fish oil caused changes in serum lipid concentrations and eicosanoids metabolism. The effect of fish oil on renal function was less obvious than dietary protein. However, fish oil seemed to be effective in lessening deterioration of renal function due to aging and/or high protein diets through changes in lipid and eicosanoids metabolism.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.364-368
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• 1997

Onion (Allium cepa Linn) has been reported to have hypoglycemic activity in human and several animal models. In the present study, we performed intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) in young (1.5mo) and aged (5 mo) rats treated with onion in order to determine whether aging can influence on the anti-hy-perglycemic effect of onion. In addition, we investigated the hypoglycemic effect of onion in streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats treated with aqueous extracts of onion (500 mg/kg, i.p., daily) for 4 weeks. Blood glucose level was determined in fasted and fed rats by using a glucometer (Johnson & Johnson). In glucose tolerance test, blood glucose level was maximally increased 15 min after glucose load (2 g/kg, i.p.), and recovered to the basal level 3 hr after glucose challenge in young and old rats. The maximum blood glucose levels of young and aged rat were 184$\pm$7.49 and 225.2$\pm$ 12.55 mg/dl, respectively. A single i.p. injection of aqueous extract of onion (1 g/kg) 30 min before glucose challenge significantly decreased blood glucose levels at 15, 30, 60, 90 min after glucose load in aged rats, while the administration of onion did not show any significant effect in young rats. In onion-treated diabetic rats, significant hypoglycemic effect (p<0.05) was observed, and the effect was greater in fasted rats than in fed. In conclusion, these results suggest that anti-hyperlycemic effect of onion can be changed by age and fasting.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.231-235
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• 2009

Objective : While many factors contribute to aging, changes in calcium homeostasis and calcium related neuronal processes are likely to be important. High intracellular calcium is toxic to cells and alterations in calcium homeostasis are associated with changes in calcium-binding proteins, which confine free $Ca^{2+}$. We therefore assayed the expression of the calcium binding proteins calretinin and calbindin in the central auditory nervous system of rats. Methods : Using antibodies to calretinin and calbindin, we assayed their expression in the cochlear nucleus, superior olivary nucleus, inferior colliculus, medial geniculate body and auditory cortex of young (4 months old) and aged (24 months old) rats. Results : Calretinin and calbindin staining intensity in neurons of the cochlear nucleus was significantly higher in aged than in young rats (p<0.05) The number and staining intensity of calretinin-positive neurons in the inferior colliculus, and of calbindin-positive neurons in the superior olivary nucleus were greater in aged than in young rats (p<0.05). Conclusion : These results suggest that auditory processing is altered during aging, which may be due to increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration, consequently leading to increased immunoreactivity toward calcium-binding proteins.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.791-797
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• 2003

This study investigated the effect of Yanggyuksanhwa-tang on cerebral ischemia of the rats. Considering age-related impact on cerebral ischemia, aged rats (18 months old) were used for this study. Ischemic damage was induced by the transient occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries (BCAO) under the hypotension. Yanggyuksanhwa-tang was administered twice orally. Then changes of pyramidal neurons and heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) expressions in ischemic damaged hippocampus were of observed. The BCAO in aged rats led significant decrease of pyramidal neurons in CA1 hippocampus. While the treatment of Yanggyuksanhwa-tang significantly attenuated the reduction of pyramidal neurons in CA1 hippocampus following BCAO ischemia. The BCAO in aged rats led significant increase of HSP72 expression in CA1 and mild in CA3 hippocampus. While the treatment of Yanggyuksanhwa-tang significantly attenuated the increase of HSP72 expression in CA1 hippocampus following BCAO ischemia. The extent of HSP72 expression in CA2 and DG of hippocampus was not different between the sham operated group, the BCAO ischemia control group, and the group of Yanggyuksanhwa-tang administration after BCAO ischemia. The treatment of Yanggyuksanhwa-tang significantly attenuated the increase of normalized optical density depending on HSP72 expression in CA1 hippocampus following BCAO ischemia.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2000

Several studies have shown that the stomach has sufficient alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity to metabolize some amount of orally administered alcohol and the sex-related differences in the first-pass metabolism of alcohol might be associated with differences in the activity of gastric ADH(GADH). The aim of this study was to asses the sex-related differences in GADH in 48 male and 48 female Sprague-Dawley rats aged 1, 4, 10, 15, 20, and 30 weeks which each aged group had same sex ratio. The GADH activity was determined spectrophotometrically at 37$^{\circ}C$. The formation of NADH was monitored at 340nm for 10 minutes in the 1 ml of reaction mixture (0.5 M of Tris-HCl, pH 7.2 + 1.5 M of ethanol + 2.8 mM of NAD + 30 $\mu$l gastric mucosal supernatant). The GADH activity (nM of NADH/min/mg of cytosolic protein) was calculated using molecular extinction coefficient of 6.22 $\textrm{cm}^2$/$\mu$M for NADH. The GADH activities were 2.94$\pm$0.82 (n=48) in female rats and 3.34$\pm$2.17 (n=48) in male rats and had not significant difference between sex. However, the GADH activities were significantly (p<0.01) higher in female (1.91$\pm$0.59 and 3.30$\pm$0.49) than in male (0.68$\pm$0.43 and 1.92$\pm$0.81) of 1 and 4 weeks rats. However, it was significantly (p<0.05) higher in male (6.48$\pm$1.81, 3.65$\pm$1.04 and 5.13$\pm$1.30) than in female (4.23$\pm$1.23, 2.18$\pm$0.77 and 2.56$\pm$0.93) of 10, 20 and 30 weeks rats, respectively. Therefore, the results suggested that sex-related differences of the GADH activities in same aged rats were existed by age.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.225-230
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• 2010

This study was proposed to investigate the effects of water extract of aged black garlic on ethanol induced hangovers in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing $180{\pm}10\;g$ were divided into the following three groups; control, 130 mg/kg, and 260 mg/kg of aged black garlic extract. Aged black garlic was administered orally 30 min before and 30 min after ingestion of 40% ethanol (5 g/kg, B.W.). The rats were killed 24 hr after ethanol treatment, and blood was taken from the caudal artery at 1, 3, and 5 hr to test for ethanol or acetaldehyde in the serum. Groups that were administered aged black garlic extract pre- and post-alcohol consumption showed a significant decrease in ethanol levels in the blood at 1, 3, and 5 hr. The acetaldehyde concentrations decreased in both 130 mg/kg and 260 mg/kg groups that were administered aged black garlic extract pre- and post-alcohol consumption. The activities of alcohol dehydrogenase seemed to be unaffected, although the aged black garlic showed slightly higher activities of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in pre- or post-alcohol consumption. The aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity in the serum, elevated by ethanol, was decreased by administering a high dosage of aged black garlic extract, but resulted in no significant change in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity. These results concluded that aged black garlic extract can reduce hangover syndrome through the elevation of ALDH.