• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.135-141
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• 2011

Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS) consists of bi-layered cells derived from the inner and outer dental epithelia and plays important roles in tooth root formation as well as in the maintenance and regeneration of periodontal tissues. With regards to the fate of HERS, and although previous reports have suggested that this entails the formation of epithelial rests of Malassez, apoptosis or an epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), it is unclear what changes occur in the epithelial cells in this structure. This study examined whether HERS cells undergo EMT using a keratin-14 (K14) cre:ROSA 26 transgenic reporter mouse. The K14 transgene is expressed by many epithelial tissues, including the oral epithelium and the enamel organ. A distinct K14 expression pattern was found in the continuous HERS bi-layer and the epithelial diaphragm were visualized by detecting the ${\beta}$-galactosidase (lacZ) activity in 1 week postnatal mice. The 2 and 4 week old mice showed a fragmented HERS with cell aggregation along the root surface. However, some of the lacZ-positive dissociated cells along the root surface were not positive for pan-cytokeratin. These results suggest that the K14 transgene is a valuable marker of HERS. In addition, the current data suggest that some of the HERS cells may lose their epithelial properties after fragmentation and subsequently undergo EMT.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.405-409
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• 2011

The present study demonstrated that valproic acid (VPA) transcriptionally regulates human GM3 synthase (hST3Gal V), which catalyzes ganglioside GM3 biosynthesis in ARPE-19 human retinal pigment epithelial cells. For this, we characterized the promoter region of the hST3Gal V gene. Functional analysis of the 5'-flanking region of the hST3Gal V gene revealed that the -177 to -83 region functions as the VPA-inducible promoter and that the CREB/ATF binding site at -143 is crucial for VPA-induced expression of hST3Gal V in ARPE-19 cells. In addition, the transcriptional activity of hST3Gal V induced by VPA in ARPE-19 cells was inhibited by SP600125, a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor. In summary, our results identified the core promoter region in the hST3Gal V promoter and for the first time demonstrated that ATF2 binding to the CREB/ATF binding site at -143 is essential for transcriptional activation of hST3Gal V in VPA-induced ARPE-19 cells.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 1971

Current interest in ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has arisen from the convergence of several independent line of investigation leading to the demonstration that this and related substances are normal products of brain metabolism and that GABA has an important physiological action upon brain function as well as upon certain peripheral nervous structures. The interest for neurophysiologists has been enhanced by the importance of the discovery for the role of humoral mediator of synaptic transmission or regulator of neuronal activity in the central nervous system, particularly if it may shed some elight upon the nature of central inhibitory processes. In accordance with such an interest and importance, this work was performed in order to standardize the normal content as a preliminary investigation of so-called night active and daytime active animals GABA content in their brains when they are exposed to light and darkness. The method, through which the estimation has made in this work, was paper chromatographic method developed by Maynert and Klingman for the estimation of GABA content in animal tissues. The results obtained are summerized as follows: 1) GABA content in the cerebral cortex of house rat ranged from 90 to $310{\mu}g/gm$ of wet weight. 2) The content of GAGA ranging from 130 to $510{\mu}g/gm$ of wet weight was occurred from midbrain of the rat. 3) GABA content was ranged from 30 to $150 {\mu}g/gm$ of wet weight of the rat cerebellum. 4) The contents of fowl cerebral cortex, midbrain, and cerebellum are estimated as ranging 230-590, 250-620, $50-280{\mu}g/gm$ of wet weight, respectively. As a result, it may be concluded that among three brain tissues of both animals the midbrain is the highest region in GABA content. Fowl brain, on the other side, contains more higher GABA content than the house rat brain does.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.104-114
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• 2022

Background: Abnormalities of myelin, which increases the efficiency of action potential conduction, are found in neurological disorders. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) demonstrates therapeutic efficacy against some of these conditions, however effects on oligodendrocyte (OL)s are not well known. Here, we examined the effects of KRG-derived components on development and protection of OL-lineage cells. Methods: Primary OL precursor cell (OPC) cultures were prepared from neonatal mouse cortex. The protective efficacies of the KRG components were examined against inhibitors of mitochondrial respiratory chain activity. For in vivo function of Rb1 on myelination, after 10 days of oral gavage into adult male mice, forebrains were collected. OPC proliferation were assessed by BrdU incorporation, and differentiation and myelination were examined by qPCR, western blot and immunocytochemistry. Results: The non-saponin promoted OPC proliferation, while the saponin promoted differentiation. Both processes were mediated by AKT and extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. KRG extract, the saponin and non-saponin protected OPCs against oxidative stress, and both KRG extract and the saponin significantly increased the expression of the antioxidant enzyme. Among 11 major ginsenosides tested, Rb1 significantly increased OL membrane size in vitro. Moreover, Rb1 significantly increased myelin formation in adult mouse brain. Conclusion: All KRG components prevented OPC deaths under oxidative stress. While non-saponin promoted proliferation, saponin fraction increased differentiation and OL membrane size. Furthermore, among all the tested ginsenosides, Rb1 showed the biggest increase in the membrane size and significantly enhanced myelination in vivo. These results imply therapeutic potentials of KRG and Rb1 for myelin-related disorders.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2024

Purpose : This study aimed to demonstrate the effects of visiting cognitive activities using brain training on cognition, subjective memory complaints and depression among elderly participants residing in community living in Gwangmyeong city. Methods : Over a 14-month period (October 2022 to December 2023), four brain training instructors visited the homes of older adults and conducted the intervention using a brain training kit. The participants included 32 elderly individuals aged 65 years and older, who were living in Gwangmyeong city. The assessments were conducted by an occupational therapist, a nurse and a social worker at the Gwangmyeong dementia relief center. These assessments included the following the subjective memory complaints questionnaire (SMCQ), short geriatric depression scale-Korean (SGDS-K), a cognitive impairment screening test (CIST), the consortium to establish a registry for Alzheimer's disease-Korean (CERAD-K). The participants were divided into three groups (A: 20-30 points, B: 10-19 points, C: 1-9 points) based on the CIST score. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and wilcoxon signed-rank test were performed using SPSS 24.0, and the statistical level was at a=.05. Results : The results of the intervention showed that the SMCQ score of group A improved significantly (p<.05), the CIST score of group B also improved significantly (p<.05). However, the SGDS-K score of group C improved, but did not demonstrate statistical significance (p=.080). Conclusion : The visiting cognitive activities using brain training produced significant effects on cognition, depression, and subjective memory disorders, depending on the cognitive level of the elderly participants. In the future, it will be necessary to demonstrate the effects according to cognitive level in various aspects with more elderly people.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.183-187
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• 2006

A series of 6-hydroxy-7-methoxy-4-oxo-4H-chromene-2-carboxylic acid N-alkyl amides (3a-g) were synthesized and their antioxidant activities were evaluated using rat brain homogenates.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.6 no.3_4
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• pp.123-132
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• 1991

Acute poisoning with organic solvents and other volatile compounds now usually follows deliberate inhalation (volatile substance abuse) or ingestion of these compounds. The effect of butane gas inhalation was analyzed for serum, liver, brain, lung and muscle. And the observations are revealed on rat cholinesterase activity, lactatedehydrogenase activity and electrophoretic pattern of lactatedehydrogenase isozyme. The results are as follows: 1. The rat cholinesterase activity on serum, liver and muscle show the decreased by increasing of inhalation time of butane gas in particular the lung cholinesterase activity was greatly affected. 2. Butane gas inhalation brought out the lactatedehydrogenase activity increased of the serum and the tissues and had an important effect especially in both the liver and muscle 1actatedehydrogenase activities. 3. Each tissue was found to have a characteristic distribution of lactatedehy-drogenase isozymes on celluloseacetate electrophoresis and the development of inhalation time is shown the disappearance and diffusion of band. The toxicity of butane gas inhalation was most prominence in the liver and lung toxicity was occurred also.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.275-278
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• 2003

Antioxidative activity is an important factor in inhibiting oxidative stress. The usual methods for determining antioxidative activity are time-consuming and cumbersome. They are also indirect processes that use biological material such as brain or liver microsome. This study therefore proposed a new method. Redoxpotential was determined using galvanic cell with or without the addition of various antioxidants or herbal extracts in zinc sulfate solution. The result was compared with the results from the TBA method and the peroxide value from sodium thiosulfate titration. All methods showed significant and dose-dependent enhancement of antioxidative activity by adding ascorbic acid, quercetin, ginseng, or gingko biloba extract. The result of redox potential using galvanic cell showed the smallest standard deviation and took the shortest time among the three methods. Therefore, the antioxidative potential of chemical substances and herbal extracts can be determined simply, directly and accurately in a short period of time using galvanic cell.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.598-604
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• 1993

The calyx extract of Campsis grandiflora displayed inhibitory activity against protein kinase C from the bovine brain. Separation guided by protein kinase C enzyme assay and bleb forming assay led to isolation of a potent protein kinase C inhibitor that was identified as a known phenylpropanoid glycoside, verbascoside. It suppressed completely bleb-formation of K562 cell surface induced by phorbol 12,13-dibutylate at the concentration of 60 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml and IC$_{50}$ of the protein kinase C occured at 20 $\mu{M}$. This compound was tested for cytotoxic activity against ten human tumor cell lines in vitro. it exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity against skin tumor cell line M14 (IC$_{50}$ 2.2 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) and very weak cytotoxicity against other cell lines (IC$_{50}$>10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml)

• Journal of Korea Game Society
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.115-124
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• 2010

In the beginning brain waves were used for monkeys to control robot arm with neural activity. In recent years there are research that measured brain waves are used for the control of programs which monitor the progression of dementia or enhance of attention in children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Moreover, low-price devices that can be used as a game control interface have become available. One of the problems associated with control using brain waves is that the mean amplitude, mean wavelength, and mean vibrational frequency of the brain waves differ from individual to individual. This paper attempts to propose a method to normalize measured brain waves using normal distribution and calculate the waveforms that can be used in controlling games. For this, a framework in which brain waves are converted in seven stages has been suggested. In addition, the estimation process in each stage has been described. In an experiment the waveforms of two subjects have been compared using the proposed method in the BCI English word learning program. The level of similarity between two subjects' waveforms has been compared with correlation coefficient. When the proposed method was applied, both meditation and concentration increased by 13% and 8%, respectively. Because the proposed regularization method is converted into a waveform fit for control functions by reducing personal characteristics reflected in the brain waves, it is fitting for application programs such as games.