• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.867-882
• /
• 1997

Safflower(Carthamus tinctorius $Linn\acute{e}$ has been traditionally used for the treatment of blood stasis, and Dipsasi Radix has been used as a drug for fracture in Chinese medicine. The purpose of present study was to examine the biologic effects of safflower extract and Disasi radix extracts on the periodontal. ligament cells and osteoblastic cells and on the wound healing of rat calvarial defect. The ethanolic extract of safflower blossom, safflower seed and Dipsasi Radix(125, 250, and 500 ${\mu}g/ml$) were prepared as test group, and PDGF-BB(lOng/ml) and unsafonifiable fraction of Zea Mays L.(125, 250, and 500 ${\mu}g/ml$) were employed as positive control. The effects of each agents on the growth and survival, ALPase activity, expression of PDGF-BB receptor, chemotactic response of PDL cell and ATCC human osteosarcoma MG63 cells in vitro were examined. The tissue regenerative effect of each extracts was evaluated by histomorphometric measuring of newly formed bone on the 8mm defect in rat calvaria after oral administration of 3 different dosages groups : 0.02, 0.1 and 0.35g/kg, per day. It was also employed the same dosages of unsaponifiable fraction of Zea Mays L. as positive controls. Safflower blossom extract, safflower seed extract, and Dipsasi Radix extract stimulate the cellular activity of MG63 cells in concentration range of $125-500{\mu}g/ml$, and safflower bolssom extract and safflower seed extract stimulate also the cellular activity of periodontal ligament cells in concentration range of $250-500{\mu}g/ml$. In activity of ALPase, $250-500{\mu}g/ml$ of safflower blossom extracts showed significant stimulating effects on MG63 cells, and the same concentration range of safflower seed extracts showed significant effect on periodontal ligament cells. In the recovery on PDGF-BB receptor expression which was depressed by $IL-1{\beta}$, $125-250{\mu}g/ml$ of safflower blossom extracts and $250-500{\mu}g/ml$ of safflower seed extracts showed significant increasing effect on MG63 cells, and $500{\mu}g/ml$ of safflower blossom extract and $250-500{\mu}g/ml$ of safflower seed extracts showed significant effect on periodontal ligament cells. In chemotactic response, among all tested group, safflower seed extracts only were chemotactic to MG63 cells and periodontal ligament cells in concentration range of $125-500{\mu}g/ml$. Also in the view of bone regeneration in rat calvarial defect model, the only group that was orally administrated 0.35g/kg, day of safflower seed extract showed significant new bone formation. These results suggested that safflower extracts might have a potential possibilities as an useful drug for adjunct to treatment for regeneration of periodontal defect.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.44 no.5
• /
• pp.657-663
• /
• 2015

Ionizing radiation induces cell damage through formation of reactive oxygen species. The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of post-treatment with hesperetin against ${\gamma}$-irradiation-induced cellular damage and oxidative stress in BALB/c mice. Healthy female BALB/c mice were exposed to ${\gamma}$-irradiation and administered hesperetin (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, b.w., orally) for 7 days after 6 Gy of ${\gamma}$-irradiation. Exposure to ${\gamma}$-irradiation resulted in hematopoietic system damage manifested as decreases in spleen indexes and WBC count. In addition, hepatocellular damage characterized by increased levels of aspartate aminoransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in plasma. However, post-irradiation treatment with hesperetin provided significant protection against hematopoietic system damage and decreased AST and ALT levels in plasma. The results indicate that ${\gamma}$-irradiation induced increases in lipid peroxidation and xanthine oxidase (XO) as well as decreases in antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) and glutathione (GSH) in the liver. These effects were also attenuated by post-treatment with hesperetin, which decreased lipid peroxidation and XO as well as increased antioxidant enzymes and GSH. These results show that post-treatment with hesperetin offers protection against ${\gamma}$-irradiation-induced tissue damage and oxidative stress and can be developed as an effective radioprotector during radiotherapy.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.45-55
• /
• 2015

This study was carried out to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effect of tuna oil (TO) using LPS-induced inflammation responses and mouse models. First, nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines levels were suppressed up to 50% with increasing concentrations of TO without causing any cytotoxicity. Also, the expression of a variety of proteins, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), was suppressed in a dosedependent manner by treatment with TO. Furthermore, TO also inhibited the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and p38 protein kinase (p38). Moreover, in in vivo testing the formation of ear edema was reduced at the highest dose tested compared to that in the control, and a reduction of ear thickness and the number of mast cells was observed in histological analysis. In acute toxicity test, no mortalities occurred in mice administrated 5,000 mg/kg body weight of TO over a two-week observation period. Our results suggest that TO has a considerable anti-inflammatory property through the suppression of inflammatory mediator productions and that it could prove to be useful as a potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic material.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 1998

This study was carried out to confirm whether the developmental capacity of bovine mature oocytes frozen ultra-rapidly using electron microscopic(EM) grids and EFS30 can be obtained, and whether the cryoprotectants and the freezing method used in this study effect detrimentally to the bovine oocytes by indirect immunocytochemistry. As freezing solution, we used EFS30 which consisted of 30% ethylene glycol, 0.5 M sucrose, 18% ficoll and 10% FBS added in D-PBS. The results obtained in this experiment were summarized as follows: When the effects of cryoprotectant and freezing procedure on the microtuble, micrfilament and chromatin morphology of oocytes were evaluated using indirect immunocytochemistry, the results of freezing as well as exposure group were not different with that of the control oocytes. When the fertilization abnormality after ultrarapid freezing of bovine mature oocytes was examined by Hoechst staining, the rates of total penetration(96.7, 9.0%), normal two pronuclei formation(74.6, 68.9%) and mean number of sperm / oocyte(1.50, 1.44) were not different between control and freezing group. In addition, when the developmental capacity of frozen-thawed of oocytes(85.5%) was survived, 74.5% of them were cleaved and 31.4% of cleaved embryos were developed to blastocyst. These data were similar to those of the control(76.0%, 34.6%) and exposure(74.5%, 33.0%) except survival rates. Also, when the total cell number of blastocysts produced from the each treatment at day after IVF was examined by hoechst staining, there were not different among groups. There results demonstrate that developmental capacity of frozen-thawed bovine mature oocytes can be successfully obtained by ultra-rapid freezing method using EM grid and EFS30 solution.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.782-789
• /
• 2013

Carrot (Daucus carota L. var. sativa) is one of the most widely used crops in the world and is nutritionally important crop. However, seed-hair which is generated in epidermal cell of seeds causes the difficulty of the seedling process, because of the seed germination and absorption inhibitions. For these reasons, carrot seeds are commercialized after mechanical hair removal process. However, in this process, various damage and seed loss occur and breeding of hairless-seed carrot cultivar is needed to overcome these various weaknesses and additional seed production costs. In this study, cDNA libraries using 2 combinations, which were composed of short-hair seed CT-ATR 615 OP 666-13 & long-hair seed CT-ATR 615 OP 671-9, and short-hair seed CT-SMR 616 OP 659-1 & long-hair seed CT-SMR 616 OP 677-14, were constructed and EST sequences of each individuals were analyzed to reveal carrot seed-hair characteristics. Firstly, analyzed EST sequences were classified into FunCat functional categories. As a result, significant differences have been identified in metabolism category, protein folding and stabilization, protein binding, C-compound binding category from both of two combinations. Secondly, several candidate EST sequences related to seed trichome differentiation and cellulose biosynthetic process were selected based on GO data of EST sequences. These differences based on FunCat categories and candidate EST obtained by GO data analysis are thought to be involved in the formation of carrot seed hair. Finally, 741 SSR sites and 33 SNP sites were identified from analyzed EST sequences of two combinations. Then we designed SNP and SSR primer sets to develop molecular markers. These molecular markers will be used for classification of carrot cultivars and study seed-hair characteristic.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.796-803
• /
• 2008

Mutations in the APP gene lead to enhanced cleavage by ${\beta}-$ and ${\gamma}-secretase$, and increased $A{\beta}$ formation, which are closely associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like neuropathological changes. Recent studies have shown that exercise training can ameliorate pathogenic phenotypes ($A{\beta}-42$, BDNF, GLUT-1 and HSP70) in experimental models of Alzheimer's disease. Here, we have used NSE/APPsw transgenic mice to investigate directly whether exercise training ameliorates pathogenic phenotypes within Alzheimer's brains. Sixteen weeks of exercise training resulted in a reduction of $A{\beta}-42$ peptides and also facilitated improvement of cognitive function. Furthermore, GLUT -1 and BDNF proteins produced by exercise training may protect brain neurons by inducing the concomitant expression of genes that encode proteins (HSP-70) which suppress stress induced neuron cell damages from APPsw transgenic mice. Thus, the improved cognitive function by exercise training may be mechanistically linked to a reduction of $A{\beta}-42$ peptides, possibly via activation of BDNF, GLUT-1, and HSP-70 proteins. On the basis of the evidences presented in this study, exercise training may represent a practical therapeutic management strategy for human subjects suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.12
• /
• pp.1431-1437
• /
• 2016

Sorghum bicolor L. is one of the important minor cereals in Asia, Africa, and the central United States, and it is considered a rich source of polyphenols, flavonoids, and dietary fiber. However, there is a lack of data on the anti-cancer activity of Sorghum in prostate cancer cells and immune activity in macrophages. This study aims to investigate the potential effects of an ethanol extract of S. bicolor L. (SE) on inducing apoptosis in RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells and immunomodulatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells. SE significantly inhibited the viability of RC-58T/h/SA#4 primary prostate cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. The morphology of RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells treated with SE was shrunken and involved the formation of an apoptotic body and nuclear condensation. In addition, SE markedly activated caspase-8, -9, and -3; increased the protein levels of Bax, p53, cleaved PARP, and cytosolic cytochrome c; and decreased Bcl-2 protein expression. Furthermore, the inhibition of caspases in RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells with z-VAD-fmk attenuated SE-induced cell growth inhibition. The production of nitric oxide (NO) was also elevated by SE treatment, as revealed by immune response parameters. These results suggest that SE inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in primary human prostate cancer cells in a caspase-dependent manner, and it modulates the immune functions in macrophages. Therefore, Sorghum bicolor L. may be used as a functional food to prevent prostate cancer and enhance immune activity.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.65-71
• /
• 2010

Kribensis, Pelvicachromis pulcher is a teleost belonging to Cichlidae. The oogenesis was investigated by light microscope. The ovary was located between intestine and air bladder, a yellowish and ellipsoidal shape with the major axis 20mm and the minor axis 5 mm. Cytoplasm of oogonia in early stage was basophilic and many nucleoli were located at inside of nuclear membrane. In primary oocytes, yolk vesicles were distributed only in the marginal area and egg envelope was not formed on the outside of an egg. In secondary oocytes, the egg envelope was formed and yolk vesicles in the cytoplasm were increased than the earlier stage. The basophilic substance of cytoplasm was changed to acidic. Some yolk vesicles started forming small yolk mass except the surrounding nucleus. In case of matured egg, size of egg were increased. The yolk vesicles were changed to yolk mass in accordance with development. The yolk mass contained crystal-like structures. In conclusion, the oogenesis of Pelvicachromis pulcher was summarized by the increase in cell size, the formation and the accumulation of yolk, and the decrease of basophilic substance in the cytoplasm. The oogenesis of Coreoleuciscus splendidus is similar with other teleost. But there were differences in distribution of yolk vesicle and yolk mass containing cristal-like structures.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.1052-1059
• /
• 2006

The heat shock response is induced by environmental stress, pathophysiological state and non-stress conditions and wide spread from bacteria to human. Although translations of most proteins are stopped under a heat shock response, heat shock proteins (HSPs) are produced to protect cell from stress. When heat shock response is induced, conformation of HSF1 was changed from monomer to trimer and HSF1 specifically binds to DNA, which was called a heat shock element(HSE) within the promoter of the heat shock genes. Human HSF1(hHSFl) contains five cysteine(Cys) residues. A thiol group(R-SH) of Cys is a strong nucleophile, the most readily oxidized and nitrosylated in amino acid chain. This consideration suggests that Cys residues may regulate the change of conformation and the activity of hHSF1 through a redox-dependent thiol/disulfide exchange reaction. We want to construct role of five Cys residues of hHSF by redox reagents. According to two studies, Cys residues are related to trimer formation of hHSF1. In this study, we want to demonstrate the correlation between structural change and DNA-binding activity of HSF1 through forming disulfide bond and trimerization. In this results, we could deduce that DNA binding activity of DNA binding domain wasn't affected by redox for always expose outside to easily bind to DNA. DNA binding activity of wild-type HSF's DNA binding domain was affected by conformational change, as conformational structure change (trimerization) caused DNA binding domain.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.17 no.2 s.82
• /
• pp.198-203
• /
• 2007

DNA transfection is a powerful tool for studying gene functions. The $Ca^{2+}$-phosphate precipitation remains one of the most popular and cost-effective transfection techniques. Mature neurons are more resistant to transfection than young ones and most other cell types, and easy to die if microenvironment changes. Here, we report a transfection protocol for mature neurons. The critical modifications are inclusion of glial cells in culture and careful control of $Ca^{2+}$-phosphate precipitation under microscope. Cerebral glial cells were grown until ${\sim}70-80%$ confluence in DMEM/10% horse serum, which was thereafter replaced with serum-free Neurobasal/Ara-C, and 319 hippocampal neurons were plated onto the glial layer Formation of fine $DNA/Ca^{2+}$-phosphate precipitates was induced using Clontech $CalPhos^{TM}$ Mammalian Transfection Kit, and the size ($0.5-1\;{\mu}m$ in diameter) and density(about 10 particles/$100\;{\mu}m^2$) were carefully controlled by the time of incubation in the medium. This modified protocol can be reliably applied for transfection of mature neurons that are maintained longer than two weeks in vitro, resulting in 10-15 healthy transfected neurons per a well of 24-well plates. The efficacy of the protocol was verified by punctate expression of $pEGFP-CaMKII{\alpha}$, a synaptic protein, and diffuse expression of pDsRed2. Our protocol provides a reliable method for transfection of mature neurons in vitro.