• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• 제50권12호
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• pp.11.1-11.9
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• 2018

Estrogen has diverse effects on cardiovascular function, including regulation of the contractile response to vasoactive substances such as serotonin. The serotonin system recently emerged as an important player in the regulation of vascular tone in humans. However, hyperreactivity to serotonin appears to be a critical factor for the pathophysiology of hypertension. In this study, we examined the modulatory mechanisms of estrogen in serotonin-induced vasoconstriction by using a combinatory approach of isometric tension measurements, molecular biology, and patch-clamp techniques. $17{\beta}$-Estradiol (E2) elicited a significant and concentration-dependent relaxation of serotonin-induced contraction in deendothelialized aortic strips isolated from male rats. E2 triggered a relaxation of serotonin-induced contraction even in the presence of tamoxifen, an estrogen receptor antagonist, suggesting that E2-induced changes are not mediated by estrogen receptor. Patch-clamp studies in rat arterial myocytes showed that E2 prevented Kv channel inhibition induced by serotonin. Serotonin increased Src activation in arterial smooth muscle required for contraction, which was significantly inhibited by E2. The estrogen receptor-independent inhibition of Src by E2 was confirmed in HEK293T cells that do not express estrogen receptor. Taken together, these results suggest that estrogen exerts vasodilatory effects on serotonin-precontracted arteries via Src, implying a critical role for estrogen in the prevention of vascular hyperreactivity to serotonin.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.95-100
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• 2003

본 연구는 환경호르몬(endocrine disruptors)으로 분류되었으며, 제초제로 널리 사용되었던 Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane(DDT)가 설치류의 생식세포 중 Leydig 세포의 testosterone(T)생성억제 및 그 관련 작용메카니즘을 규명코자 수행되었다. 먼저 흰쥐의 웅성 생식세포주인 R2C세포에 T의 양 및 aromatase 활성도를 radio immunoassay (RIA)방법을 이용하여 측정하였다. 그 결과 R2C 세포에 황체형성호르몬(LH)를 처리하여 testosterone생성을 증가시킨 후, DDT를 처리한 군들은 대조군에 비하여 농도 의존적으로 T의 양은 감소하였으며, aromatase 활성도는 증가하였다. 또한 DDT자체만 처리한 군에서도 대조군에 비하여 testosterone의 생성이 감소하였다. 이러한 aromatase활성 증가가 estradiol receptor(ER)와의 상호 관련성을 확인하기 위해 ER antagonist인 ICI 182.780를 처리한 후 T의 양 및 aromatase 활성도를 측정한 결과 DDT에 의해 증가된 aromatase활성도가 ICI 182.780에 의해 다시 감소됨을 확인하였다. 또한 DDT에 의해 감소된 T의 양도 ICI 182.780에 의해 다시 회복되었다. In vivo실험으로 흰쥐에 DDT를 직접 투여한 후 정소 내 성 호르몬들을 측정해 본 결과 T의 양은 유의성 있게 감소하였으며, estradiol(E$_2$)의 양은 증가하였으며, aromatase 활성도도 감소하였다. 이러한 결과를 종합해 볼 때 DDT는 aromatase를 감소시키고, 이렇게 감소된 aromatase에 의해 testosterone 생성량을 억제하고, 이러한 DDT의 aromatase의 감소는 ER을 경유하는 것으로 추정할 수 있다.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.141-146
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• 2000

Phthalate esters are used extensively as a plasticizer in the manufacture of plastic products such as PVC bags and medical devices. Recently, phthalate esters have been shown to induce endocrine system mediated responses. However. only a Jew studies have been conducted for estrogenic activity of phthalate esters. In this study estrogenic activities of seven phthalate esters. butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-butylphthalate (DBP), diethylphthalate (DEP), di-n-pentylphthalate (DPP), di-n-propylphthalate (DPrP) and dicyclohexylphthalate (DCHP), were examined in vitro using E-screen assay and competitive binding assay. From the E-screen assay, BBP. DEHP. DBP and DEP showed weak estrogenic activity at the concentration of 5 $\mu\textrm{M}$. The relative proliferative effect (RPE) and the relative proliferative potency (RPP) were 50~70% and 0.01%. respectively, when compared with 500 pM of 17$\beta$-estradiol (E2). In competitive binding assay with the rat uterine estrogen receptor (ER), BBP and DEP showed weak binding potency ［(l/$10^4$~1/$10^5$ of E2］ while DEHP and DBP scarcely bound to ER. These results suggest that some phthalate esters have weak estrogenic activities in vitro.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제18권5호
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• pp.1463-1470
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• 2004

Paljinickmohwan(八珍益母丸) is used in female infertility. especially due to deficiency of qi and blood or Qihyulyanghe(氣血兩虛). An attempt was made to evaluate the influences of PJIMH on the serum concentrations of FSH, LH, and estradiol(E2), the histological changes of ovary and the immunohistochemical staining for AT2 receptor in ovary of rats. The results of the study were as follows : Blood FSH level significantly increased in experimental group as compared with control group. In blood LH level, experimental group as compared with control group showed no efficacy. Blood E2 level significantly increased in experimental group as compared with control group. In histological observations of ovary, ovulation increased in experimental group as compared control group, which showed no efficacy. In observations of immunohistochemical staining for AT2 receptor in ovary, there is no difference between control group and experimental group. According to these results, it can be concluded that PJIMH influences ovary to increase the ovulation of rats.

• BMB Reports
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• 제44권7호
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• pp.452-457
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• 2011

The Egr-1 is an immediate early response gene encoding a transcription factor that functions in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. Estrogen has diverse physiological effects, including cellular proliferation and neuroprotection against brain injury. There are two types of estrogen receptors (ERs), $ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$. $ER{\alpha}$-induced Egr-1 expression has been extensively studied; however, the role of $ER{\beta}$ is yet not known. In the present study, we investigated whether or not $ER{\beta}$ induces Egr-1 expression in C6 rat glioma cells, which express $ER{\beta}$ but not $ER{\alpha}$. Our results show that $ER{\beta}$ promoted up-regulation of Egr-1 expression via a non-genomic mechanism involving the Raf/MEK1/Erk/Elk-1 signaling cascade.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.106-113
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• 2006

Phthalate analogues are a plasticizer and solvent used in industry. Phthalates were classified in the category of "suspected" endocrine disruptors. The purpose of our study was to screen and elucidate the endocrine disrupting activity of seven phthalate analogues. E-screen assay was performed in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells with seven phthalate analogues. In this cell proliferation assay, benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) showed high estrogenic activity. Their relative proliferation efficiencies (RPE) were 109 and 106%, respectively. In vitro estrogen receptor (ER) binding assay, BBP, di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP) and dinonyl phthalate (DNP) showed weak relative binding affinity (RBA: 0.02%) compared to $17{\beta}-estradiol\;(E2)$ (RBA: 100%). In uterotrophic assay, E2 produced a significant increase, whereas four tested phthalate analogues had potential estrogenic effects in vitro did not increased in uterus weight in immature rats. From these results, we demonstrated that phthalate analogues exhibit weak estrogenic activity in vitro assays at high concentrations. Although phthalates induced an increase in MCF-7 cell proliferation by an estrogenic effect, they could not induce a uterus weight increase in vivo. From these, we may suggest that these phthalate analogues are easily metabolized to inactive forms in vivo. Further investigation in other in vitro and in vivo experimental systems might be required.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.80-87
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• 2008

Purpose: Hypoestrogenism caused by ovariectomy, disease, or menopause is associated with increased obesity in women. Altered fat distribution and weight gain are consequences of menopausal hypoestrogenism, but the mechanisms responsible are not completely known. This study examined the effect of estrogen on obesity in ovariectomized rats. Method: The groups of female rats were 4 weeks post ovariectomy (OVX) or, 4 weeks post-sham operation (SHAM), and 2 weeks post ovariectomy followed by 2 weeks replacement with estradiol benzoate (ER-$16{\mu}g$/kg, subq, qd). Serum ghrelin level was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The expression of adrenergic receptors in adipose tissue was measured by Western blotting assay. Result: OVX significantly increased body weight, serum cholesterol. Two weeks estrogen replacement reduced body weight accompanied by the increment of serum ghrelin and the reduction of the receptor ratio of adrenergic ${\alpha}_{2A}/{\beta}_1$, and ${\alpha}_{2A}/{\beta}_3$. Conclusion: We provide evidence that estrogen reduces obesity through the altered receptor ratio of adrenergic ${\alpha}_{2A}/{\beta}_1$, and ${\alpha}_{2A}/{\beta}_3$ in adipose tissue in ovariectomized rats.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.218-222
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• 2007

에스트로젠 수용체와 리포터 유전자인 ${\beta}-galactosidase$가 도입된 효모재조합검색시험법을 이용하여 DEHP와 DBP의 내분비계 장애작용을 검색하였다. 양성대조 시험물질로 $17{\beta}-estradiol$을 설정하여 DEHP와 DBP의 에스트로젠 활성을 비교분석 하였을 때, $17{\beta}-estradiol$의 경우 $10^{-9}M$에서 가장 활성이 높게 관찰되었다. DEHP의 경우 $10^{-10}M$에서 $10^{-7}M$까지 시험하였을 때 농도의존적으로 에스트로젠활성이 증가하였으며, $10^{-7}M$의 경우 가장 강력한 에스트로젠활성을 보였다. DBP의 경우 $10^{-9}M$에서 $10^{-6}M$까지 에스트로젠활성이 관찰되었다. DEHP와 DBP의 경우 최대활성화 대비 50% 이상의 활성도를 보이기 시작하는 농도가 $10^{-9}M$로 나타나서 비슷한 농도에서 에스트로젠 활성화가 이루어지는 것으로 추측할 수 있었다. 그러나, 에스트로젠 최대활성화 시의 농도를 비교해 보면 DBP가 DEHP보다 10배 낮은 농도에서 최대활성치가 관찰되었기 때문에 DBP가 DEHP보다 에스트로젠 작용에 더 민감하게 반응하는 것으로 판단할 수 있었다. 결과적으로 본 실험에 사용되어진 시험물질인 DEHP와 DBP는 효모재조합시험법에 있어서 에스트로젠 활성을 유도하는 것으로 판단되어지며 감수성에 있어서는 DBP가 DEHP보다 높은 것으로 여겨진다.

• 한국어류학회지
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.173-179
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• 2000

Estradiol-$17{\beta}(E_2)$와 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2, 4- D)가 난황 전구물질의 합성에 미치는 영향을 넙치 Paralichthys olivaceus 간세포의 초대 배양을 통하여 조사하였다. 배양간세포의 생존율은 배양온도 $27^{\circ}C$에 서 가장 높게 나타났으며, $15^{\circ}C$에서는 생존율이 급격히 감소하여 약 50%의 생존율을 나타내었다. $E_2$에 의한 VTG 의 합성은 $10^{-6}M$에서 최대치를 나타내었다. 2, 4-D $10^{-7}\sim10^{-5}M$의 첨가에 의해 VTG의 합성은 이루어지지 않았다. 그러나, 저농도인 $10^{-8}M$에서는 VTG의 합성이 증가하였다. $E_2$ 및 2, 4-D에 의해 합성된 VTG는 $10^{-6}M$ tamoxifen의 첨가에 의해 유의하게 억제되었다 (P<0.01). 본 연구 결과에서 $E_2$와 2, 4-D의 동시 첨가는 VTG의 합성을 억제하지 않았다. 이러한 결과는 2, 4-D의 작용이 $E_2$와 유사한 작용을 가지지만, VTG의 합성에 있어서 $E_2$ 수용체에의 작용 양식은 서로 다른 것으로 추정된다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.293-299
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• 2000

Many methods have been developed for screening chemicals with hormonal activity. Using recombinant yeasts expressing either human estrogen receptor [Saccharomyces cerevisiae ER + LYS 8127 (YER)] or androgen receptor [S. cerevisiae AR + 8320 (YAR)], we evaluated the hormonal activities of several chemicals by induction of ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity. The chemicals were $17{\beta}-estradiol$ (E2), testosterone (T), ${\rho}-nonylphenol$ (NP), bisphenol A (BPA), genistein (GEN), 2-bromopropane (2-BP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), and butylparaben (BP). To assess the estrogenicity of NP, the result of the in vitro recombinant yeast assay was compared with an E-screen assay using MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and an uterotrophid assay using ovariectomized mice. In the YER yeast cells, E2, NP, BPA, GEN, and BP exhibited estrogenicity in a doseresponse manner, while TCDD did not. All the chemicals tested, except T, did not show androgenicity in the YAR yeast cell. The sensitivity of the yeast (YER) assay system to the estrogenic effect of NP was similar to that of the E-screen assay. NP was also estrogenic in the uterotrophic assay. However, in terms of convenience and costs, the yeast assay was superior to the E-screen assay or uterotrophic assay. These results suggest that the recombinant yeast assay can be used as a rapid tool for detecting chemicals with hormonal activities.