• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.190-195
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• 2007

In the present study, the author investigated to the cytotoxocity in cultured rat hepatocytes of Viscum album lectin. The cytotoxcity effect in Viscum album lectin on the activity of LDH was also investigated. Viscum album lectin significantly increased LDH leakage into medium of hepatocytes treated or untreated with $CCl_4$ (p<0.001). However, Viscum album lectin significantly increased LDH leakage from $CCl_4$-induced hepatocyte (p<0.001). There was a significant increase in LDH levels relative to the control group. Histological observation basically supported the result obtained from LDH assay. The livers of rats challenged with $CCl_4$ produced a marked increased cytoplasmic vacuoles and inflammatory cells in number, while the number of necrotic cells and swollen hepatocytes did not change significnatly. Rats administered DMSO alone did not alter the normal hepatic architecture. Histological observation of liver section in rat treated 72 hrs with either Viscum album lectin $CCl_4$-induced liver damage showed number of cytoplasmic vaculoe and necrotic cell. The number of inflammatory cell increased markedly. This results suggest to the conclusion that Viscum album lectin has a effect of hepatotoxicity activator.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.61-66
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• 2001

Using maize green- and white-leaf tissue, we have examined the effect of various chemicals on cytoplasmic leakage with respect to the light requirement or chloroplast targeting for their activities. Oxyfluorfen, oxadiazon, diuron, and paraquat, which are known as representative herbicides acting on plant chloroplasts, caused the electrolyte leakage only in the green tissues, whereas 2, 4-dinitrophenol, rose bengal (singlet oxygen producing chemical) and methyl-jasmoante (senscence-stimulating chemical) play a role both in green- and white-tissue. Benzoyl(a) pyrene, generating superoxide radical upon light illumination, functions only in white tissues. Tralkoxydim, metsulfuron-methyl and norflurazon showed no effect in two tested plant samples. In terms of light requirement in electrolyte leakage activity, diuron, oxyfluorfen, oxadiazon, rose bengal, and benzoyl(a) pyrene absolutely require the light for their functions, but other chemicals did not. based on these results, we could classify into four different response types according to whether chemicals require light or chlroplasts for their action. This classification is likely to be applied to simply and rapidly identify the requirement of light and chlroplasts for the actions of chemicals, thereby it makes easy to characterize many new herbicides that their action mechanisms are unclear, and to elucidate the mode of action of them.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 1984

A Korean local maize line, MET, which has multi-ears and tillers has been proved as a potential source for silage production. However, no fundamental genetic nature for the line has been investigated. Therefore, this study was done to find genetic information on the multi-earing and -tillering habits of MET line. MET line and a hybrid. (Mo 17 ${\times}$ B68), with monoculm and single ear per plant were used for production of F$_1$(F$\_$1-12/ and F$\_$1-21/), F$\_$2-12/, F$\_$2-21/, BC$\_$1-12/ and BC$\_$1-21/ generations. From the comparison of reciprocal crosses, it was found that the tillering and earing habits of the MET line are controlled by cytoplasmic factors. The tiller and ear numbers, and barren ears were all characters associated with the MET cytoplasm. The cytoplasmic effect of MET on tiller and ear numb en was not evident in F$_1$ generation, probably because of suppressing effect of heterosis on appearance of tillers or ears. Genetic parameters for the gene action for both tiller and ear number also indicated a lack of mono- or digenic-chromosomal gene effects. The heritability (broad) was very low for both characters. Therefore, it is strongly concluded that the tillering and earing characters of MET line are due to cytoplasmic reasons.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2003

Cellular redox state is known to be perturbed during ischemia and that $Ca^{2+}$ and $K^2$ channels have been shown to have functional thiol groups. In this study, the properties of thiol redox modulation of the ATP-sensitive $K^2$ ($K_{ATP}$) channel were examined in rabbit ventricular myocytes. Rabbit ventricular myocytes were isolated using a Langendorff column for coronary perfusion and collagenase. Single-channel currents were measured in excised membrane patch configuration of patch-clamp technique. The thiol oxidizing agent 5,5'-dithio-bis-(2-nitro-benzoic acid) (DTNB) inhibited the channel activity, and the inhibitory effect of DTNB was reversed by dithiothreitol (disulfide reducing agent; DTT). DTT itself did not have any effect on the channel activity. However, in the patches excised from the metabolically compromised cells, DTT increased the channel activity. DTT had no effect on the inhibitory action by ATP, showing that thiol oxidation was not involved in the blocking mechanism of ATP. There were no statistical difference in the single channel conductance for the oxidized and reduced states of the channel. Analysis of the open and closed time distributions showed that DTNB had no effect on open and closed time distributions shorter than 4 ms. On the other hand, DTNB decreased the life time of bursts and increased the interburst interval. N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), a substance that reacts with thiol groups of cystein residues in proteins, induced irreversible closure of the channel. The thiol oxidizing agents (DTNB, NEM) inhibited of the $K_{ATP}$ channel only, when added to the cytoplasmic side. The results suggested that metabolism-induced changes in the thiol redox can also modulate $K_{ATP}$ channel activity and that a modulatory site of thiol redox may be located on the cytoplasmic side of the $K_{ATP}$ channel in rabbit ventricular myocytes.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.66-80
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• 1984

The organic phosphorus compounds have been widely used as an insecticide, since toxicity of these compounds is especially drastic to the insects than to men and other mammals. The organic phosphates are rapidly hydrolized and hence have little cumulative and ecologic effects. However, due to their acute toxic effects organophosphate have recorded rather high fatalities in men and domestic animals. The organic phosphorus compounds are powerful inhibitors to the carboxylic esterase enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase and pseudocholinesterase. As a result of firm binding characteristics of phosphate radicals to the active sites of enzyme, the activities of these enzymes are inhibited by the organophosphates. The organophosphates such as diazinon is easily observed from skin, gastrointestinal tract, conjunctivas and respiratory tract, and it is converted to more toxic form during metabolism in the liver The present study was carried out in order to investigate the hepatotoxicity of diazinon by observing the changes in the ultrastructure of cytoplasmic organelles of hepatic cells in albino mice. The animals were killed at 6, 12 and 24 hours after administration of 25mg/kg diazinon. The piece of hepatic tissue obtained from each animal was ultrathinly sectioned. The specimens stained by uranyl acetate and lead citrate double contrast methods were observed with JEM model 100B electron microscope. The results obtained were as follows: 1) A prominent dilatation and sacculation of the cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum associated with detachment of membrane bound-ribosomes, and disaggregation of the free ribosomes were recognized. 2) The hypertrophy of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum associated with depletion of the glycogen particles was observed. 3) The atrophy of cisternae of Golgi complex was observed. 4) A large number of secondary lysosomes (autophagic vacuoles and residual bodies) were formed. Consequently it is suggested that diazinon would induce disorganization of the cytoplasmic organelles of hepatocytes in albino mice.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.5
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• pp.611-616
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• 1998

Although the $Ca^{2+}-activated\;K^+\;(I_{K,Ca})$ channel is known to play an important role in the maintenance of resting membrane potential, the regulation of the channel in physiological condition is not completely understood in vascular myocytes. In this study, we investigated the role of cytoplasmic $Mg^{2+}$ on the regulation of $I_{K,Ca}$ channel in pulmonary arterial myocytes of the rabbit using the inside-out patch clamp technique. $Mg^{2+}$ increased open probability (Po), but decreased the magnitude of single channel current. $Mg^{2+}-induced$ block of unitary current showed strong voltage dependence but increase of Po by $Mg^{2+}$ was not dependent on the membrane potential. The apparent effect of $Mg^{2+}$ might, thus, depend on the proportion between opposite effects on the Po and on the conductance of $I_{K,Ca}$ channel. In low concentration of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+},\;Mg^{2+}$ increased $I_{K,Ca}$ by mainly enhancement of Po. However, at very high concentration of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+},$ such as pCa 5.5, $Mg^{2+}$ decreased $I_{K,Ca}$ through the inhibition of unitary current. Moreover, $Mg^{2+}$ could activate the channel even in the absence of $Ca^{2+}.\;Mg^{2+}$ might, therefore, partly contribute to the opening of $I_{K,Ca}$ channel in resting membrane potential. This phenomenon might explain why $I_{K,Ca}$ contributes to the resting membrane potential where membrane potential and concentration of free $Ca^{2+}$ are very low.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.31-31
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• 2001

This study was to establish in uitro culture system of mouse preantral follicles and to obtain higher in vitro development rates and production of live young. Preantral follicles were obtained from 12-day-old FI mouse (C57BL $\times$ CBA) by enzymatical methods. Oocyte-granulosa cell complexes (OGCs) of preantral follicles were loaded on Transwell-COL insert and cultured in $\alpha$MEM supplemented with 5% FBS, 100 mIU/$m\ell$ FSH and 100 mIU/$m\ell$ hMG for IVG. IVM was performed in $\alpha$MEM supplemented 1.5 IU/$m\ell$ hCG for 18 hrs and IVF was carried out in Ml6 medium. Embryos were cultured in modified Ml6 medium supplemented 10% FBS for 4 days. The effect of the OGCs size on the nuclear/cytoplasmic maturation was significantly higher in 120-150 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ (MII: 33.0%, $\geq$2-cell: 36.7%, $\geq$morula: 20.9%) than in 70-110 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ (MII: 12.2%, $\geq$2-cell: 10.2%, $\geq$morula: 4.8%) (p<0.001). In period of the IVG days, the rate of $\geq$2-cell was significantly higher in 10 days(38.2%) than in 12 days (20.0%) (p<0.01). In period of IVF time, 9 hrs ($\geq$2-cell: 31.5%, $\geq$ morula: 14.3%) indicated significantly higher cytoplasmic maturation rate than 4 hrs ($\geq$2-cell: 17.5%, This study was to establish in vitro culture system of mouse preantral follicles and to obtain higher in vitro development rates and production of live young. Preantral follicles were obtained from 12-day-old FI mouse (C57BL $\times$ CBA) by enzymatical methods. Oocyte-granulosa cell complexes (OGCs) of preantral follicles were loaded on Transwell-COL insert and cultured in $\alpha$MEM supplemented with 5% FBS, 100 mIU/$m\ell$ FSH and 100 mIU/$m\ell$ hMG for IVG. IVM was performed in $\alpha$MEM supplemented 1.5 IU/$m\ell$ hCG for 18 hrs and IVF was carried out in Ml6 medium. Embryos were cultured in modified Ml6 medium supplemented 10% FBS for 4 days. The effect of the OGCs size on the nuclear/cytoplasmic maturation was significantly higher in 120-150 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ (MII: 33.0%, $\geq$2-cell: 36.7%, $\geq$morula: 20.9%) than in 70-110 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ (MII: 12.2%, $\geq$2-cell: 10.2%, $\geq$morula: 4.8%) (p<0.001). In period of the IVG days, the rate of $\geq$2-cell was significantly higher in 10 days(38.2%) than in 12 days (20.0%) (p<0.01). In period of IVF time, 9 hrs ($\geq$2-cell: 31.5%, $\geq$ morula: 14.3%) indicated significantly higher cytoplasmic maturation rate than 4 hrs ($\geq$2-cell: 17.5%, $\geq$morula: 4.8%) and 7 hrs ($\geq$2-cell: 20.4%, $\geq$morula: 6.1%) (p<0.01). However, there was no difference in cytoplasmic maturation between co-cultured preantral follicle ( $\geq$morula: 17.4%) and preantral follicle cultured in Ml6 ( $\geq$morula: 17.4%). 22 morula and blastocysts produced in above optimal condition were transferred to uterus of 2 pseudopregnant recipients, 1 recipient was pregnant and then born 1 live young. This result demonstrates that in vitro culture system of preantral follicles can be used efficiently as another method to supply mouse oocyte.morula: 4.8%) and 7 hrs (2-cell: 20.4%, $\geq$morula: 6.1%) (p<0.01). However, there was no difference in cytoplasmic maturation between co-cultured preantral follicle ( $\geq$morula: 17.4%) and preantral follicle cultured in Ml6 ( $\geq$morula: 17.4%). 22 morula and blastocysts produced in above optimal condition were transferred to uterus of 2 pseudopregnant recipients, 1 recipient was pregnant and then born 1 live young. This result demonstrates that in vitro culture system of preantral follicles can be used efficiently as another method to supply mouse oocyte.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.157-167
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• 1987

Benzyl alcohol is known to have dual effect on the red blood cell shape change. At low concentration up to 50 mM benzyl alcohol transformed the shape from discocyte to stomatocyte by preferent binding to the inner hemileaflet, however, at higher concentratransformed the shape from discocyte to stomatocyte by preferential binding to the inner monolayer, however, at higher concentration above 50 mM benzyl alcohol transformed to echinocyte by affecting both monolayers. These results suggest that the effect of benzyl alcohol on the red blood cell shape and $Ca^{++}$ transport across cardiac cell membranes to assess the effects of the drug on the structures and functions of the biological cell membranes. The results are as follows: 1) Benzyl alcohol up to 40 mM caused progressive stomatocytic shap change of the red blood cell but above 50 mM benzyl alcohol caused echinocytic shape change. 2) Benzyl alcohol up to 40 mM inhibited both osmotic hemolysis and osmotic volume change of the red blood cell in hypotonic and hypertonic NaCl solutions, respectively. 3) Benzyl alcohol inhibited both Bowditch Staircase and Wood-worth Staircase phenomena at rat left auricle. 4) Benzyl alcohol at concentration of 5 mM increased $Ca^{++}-ATPase$ activity of red blood cell ghosts slightly but above S mM benzyl alcohol inhibited the $Ca^{++}-ATPase$ activity. 5) Benzyl alcohol at concentrations of 5 mM and 10 mM increased $Ca^{++}-ATPase$ activity slightly at rat gastrocnemius muscle S.R. but above 10 mM benzyl alcohol inhibited the $Ca^{++}-ATPase$ activity. Above results indicate that benzyl alcohol inhibit water permeability and $Ca^{++}$ transport across cell membranes in part via effects on the fluidity and transition temperatures of the bulk lipid by preferential intercalation into cytoplasmic monolayer and in part via other effect on the conformational change of active sites of the $Ca^{++}-ATPase$ molecule extended in cytoplasmic face.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 1995

The cytoplasmic endo-$\beta$-l, 4-glucanase (endoglucanase) was purified from cell extracts of Escherichia coli (pBS1) transformant carrying the Bacillus subtilis endo-$\beta$-l, 4-glucanase gene after full growth, and its molecular weight was found to be 52 kilodaltons (kDa). The endo-$\beta$-l, 4-glucanase isolated from the periplasmic space was smaller than 52-kDa cytoplasmic enzyme. The 52-kDa endoglucanase was found to be cleaved in the periplasm and finally converted to 34.5-kDa protein. Small amounts of both 52-kDa and 34.5-kDa proteins were secreted into the culture broth. The cleavage took place in the C-terminal portion of the enzyme. The N-terminal amino acid residues of both 52-kDa and 34.5-kDa enzymes were determined to be the same, Ala, the 30th residue of the primary translation product. Cleavage of the C-terminal portion showed to have no significant effect on the basic enzyme properties.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.371-375
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• 1999

AL072 is a potent anti-Legionella antibiotic produced by Streptomyces strain AL91. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AL072 against Legionella pneumophila was 0.2$\mu$g/ml. Bacterial growth was rapidly inhibited at the dose range between the MIC and 20 times of the MIC when the antibiotic was added at the mid-exponential phase. Ultrastructural changes in L. pneumophila were observed upon treatment with AL072. Under electron microscopical observation, the organisms treated with AL072 exhibited characteristic morphological changes in the cellular outer coat. Also irregular morphological changes, such as the formation of filamentous materials in the cytoplasm, an increase in the size and number of cytoplasmic vacuoles, the extruding of cytoplasmic contents, the formation of spheroplast and ghost cells, and blebbings in the cell wall were observed. Furthermore, immunoelectron microscopical observation of the group treated with the MIC showed that the immune complex attached mainly to the cell wall. The results of these experiments indicate that AL072, like the inhibitors of cell wall synthesis, act selectively on the cell wall of L. pneumophila.