• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2016

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a natural, hydrophilic nontoxic bile acid, is clinically effective for treating cholestatic and chronic liver diseases. We investigated the chronic effects of UDCA on age-related lipid homeostasis and underlying molecular mechanisms. Twenty-week-old C57BL/6 male and female mice were fed a diet with or without 0.3% UDCA supplementation for 25 weeks. UDCA significantly reduced weight gain, adiposity, hepatic triglyceride, and hepatic cholesterol without incidental hepatic injury. UDCA-mediated hepatic triglyceride reduction was associated with downregulated hepatic expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, and of other genes involved in lipogenesis (Chrebp, Acaca, Fasn, Scd1, and Me1) and fatty acid uptake (Ldlr, Cd36). The inflammatory cytokines Tnfa, Ccl2, and Il6 were significantly decreased in liver and/or white adipose tissues of UDCA-fed mice. These data suggest that UDCA exerts beneficial effects on age-related metabolic disorders by lowering the hepatic lipid accumulation, while concurrently reducing hepatocyte and adipocyte susceptibility to inflammatory stimuli.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.118-118
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• 2003

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of glucose on embryonic development of mouse embryos. Two cell embryos were recovered from ICR female mice(3-4weeks) at 46~50 hrs after hCG 5 IU injection (mated just after hCG injection) and cultured in 50 $\mu m$ DMEM droplets supplemented with nothing (control: n=46), glucose 0.5mM (Group A; n=46) or glucose 3.15 mM(Group B; n=46) under mineral oil. All experimental media were supplemented with 20% human follicular fluid. Total blastocyst formation rates was lower (NS) in glucose groups (group A: 52.2% : B. 47.8%) than control group (60.9%). ZiB rates was the highest (P<0.05) in control (47.8%) than those in group A (21.7%) and B (28.3%). ZeB rates were the highest (NS) in group A (30.4%) than those in control (13.0%) and group B (19.6%). Blastocysts, cultured in group B (50.5), had the highest (NS) mean cell number compared with the others (control: 39.2 ; group A: (45.6). The ICM proportion (% ICM of total cells) in blastocysts cultured in group A (20.6%) was the highest (NS) than those of other tested groups (control: 15.2 ; group B: 13.9%). This study shows that a low dose of glucose added to culture medium increases the ICM proportion of blastocysts in mice.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 1995

The immune system is partially under the control of the sympathetic and parasymphathetic nervous systems through the regulatory feedback loop. Methamphetamine (MA) is a neurotoxic chemical which affects the neurotransmitter system. The objective of this study was to investigate the immunotoxic effect of MA on the major immune target organ and lymphocyte proliferation to the various mitogens. Female Balb/C mice, 15 to 20 g, were injected subcutaneously with 0, 0.5, or 5 mg MA/kg for 14 consecutive days. In MA treated mice, the body weight gain and relative spleen and thymus weight were decreased in doserelated manner. Histopathologically, there was a paucity of lymphold follicles and germinal centers in the spleen, and thymic cortical atrophy with lymphophagocytosis was prominent. Apoptosis also occurred in germinal centers of spleen and thymic cortex. The threshold and peak of lymphocyte proliferation at various concentration of mitogens showed similar patterns. However, the response to lipopolysaccaride (LPS) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) in the 5 mg MA/kg treated group showed threshold and peak proliferation at high concentration of mitogens (25${\mu}g$ LPS/ml for MA vs 15${\mu}g$ LPS/ml for control; 60${\mu}g$ PWM/ml for MA vs 45${\mu}g$ PWM/ml for control), which suggest that MA impairs T cell dependent-B cell function. This preliminary study indicated that MA affected the lymphold organs and immune function.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.289-295
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• 1998

Used gasoline engine oils(UGEO) are carcinogenic in long term studies and capable of increasing the number of carcinogen-DNA adducts in short term studies when dermally applied to mice. The carcinogenic risk of UGEO has been attributed to the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAH) which accumulate in the lubricating system during the combustion of gasoline. When dermally exposed to UGEO, the use of hand cleanser was commonly recommended for removing it. But generally workers who dermally exposed oils, use kerosene as cleaner which make skin trouble. During this study, female mice aged 4-6 weeks were utilized to evaluate the efficiency of kerosene, as solvent-based cleanser, following dermal exposure to UGEO. DNA adduct were detected at skin and lung tissues by using the $^{32}P$-postlabeling method. Washing with cleansers were done at two different interval times following dermal application of UGEO. The total DNA adducts in skin and lung tissues were statistically significantly increased in positive control groups, and of which the total adduct level in skin tissues was statistically significant higher than those in lung tissues(p=0.005). When washing kerosene, the DNA adduct level in skin tissues was statistically significantly decreased(p=0.0001). But DNA adducts in lung tissue was statistically increased(p=0.0039), and that washed at 8hr post exposure was more severly increase(p<0.05). The slope of regression between DNA adducts of lung between skin tissues was 1.0802. In conclusion, skin cleaning with kerosene facilitates passage of carcinogens to the lungs of animals dermally treated with used gasoline engine oils(UGEO).

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.318-324
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• 2009

1-Furan-2-yl-3-pyridin-2-yl-propenone (FPP-3) has recently been synthesized and characterized to have an anti-inflammatory activity through the inhibition of the production of nitric oxide. In the present study, adverse effects of FPP-3 on hepatic functions were determined in female BALB/c mice. When mice were administered with FPP-3 at 125, 250 or 500 mg/kg for 7 consecutive days orally, FPP-3 significantly increased absolute and relative weights of liver with a dose-dependent manner. In addition, FPP-3 administration dramatically increased the hepatotoxicity parameters in serum at 500 mg/kg, in association of hepatic necrosis. FPP-3 significantly induced several phase I enzyme activities. To elucidate the possible mechanism(s) involved in FPP-3 induced hepatotoxicity, we investigated the hepatic activities of free radical generating and scavenging enzymes and the level of hepatic lipid peroxidation. FPP-3 treatment significantly elevated the hepatic lipid peroxidation, measured as the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance, and the activity of superoxide dismutase. Taken together, the present data indicated that reactive oxygen species might be involved in FPP-3-induced hepatotoxicity.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.97-111
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• 2005

This study was performed to evaluate anti-thrombotic activities and anti-inflammatory effects of ChungyeolHaedogHwaeoTang water extract(CHHT). The results were summarized as follows. In experiment of anti-thrombotic effect; 1. CHHT inhibited human platelet aggregation induced by ADP and epinephrine as compared with the control group, and inhibited pulmonary embolism induced by collagen and epinephrine (inhibitory rate is 37.5%). 2. CHHT increased platelet number significantly, and also CHHT shortened PT and APTT significantly as compared with the control group in thrombus model induced by dextran. In experiment of anti-inflammatory effect; 3. CHHT inhibited $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, COX-2 and NOS-II mRNA expression as compared with the control group in a concentration-dependent degree, and inhibited NO production significantly at 50, 100 ${\mu}g/ml$, and also inhibited ROS production in a concentration-dependent degree as compared with the control of group in RAW 264.7 cell line. 4. CHHT inhibited $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production significantly in serum of acute inflammation-induced mice, and decreased $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production in spleen tissue, and also decreased $IL-1{\beta}$, and IL-6 production in liver tissue, but increased TNF-${\alpha}$ production in liver tissue of acute inflammation-induced Balb/c mice. 5. CHHT increased survival rate from the 3rd day in ICR mice with lethal endotoxemia induced by LPS. These results suggest that CHHT can be useful in treating diverse female diseases caused by thrombosis and inflammation such as menstrual pain, menstrual disorder, leukorrhea, vaginitis, cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease and so on.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.139-147
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECFTIVES: The present study was conducted to examine the inhibitory effect of loquat leaves on MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation and invasion. MATERIALS/METHODS: Female athymic nude mice were given a subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation of MDA-MB-231 cells and randomly grouped to receive a s.c. injection of either 500 mg/kg ethanol, water extract or vehicle five times a week. Tumor growth, mitotic rate and necrosis were examined. MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured with DMSO or with various concentrations of loquat water or ethanol extract. Proliferation, adhesion, migration, invasion and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity were examined. RESULTS: Tumor growth of xenograft nude mouse was significantly reduced by loquat extracts. The results of mitotic examination revealed that loquat extracts reduced tumor cell division. Both ethanol and water extracts significantly inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation. The protein expression of ErbB3 was significantly down-regulated by loquat leaf extracts. Loquat leaf extracts increased apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells following 24 hour incubation and the ethanol extract was more potent in inducing apoptosis than the water extract. Furthermore, loquat extracts inhibited adhesion, migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. MMP activity was significantly inhibited by loquat extracts. CONCLUSION: Our results show that extracts of loquat inhibit the growth of tumor in MDA-MB-231 xenograft nude mice and the invasion of human breast cancer cells, indicating the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and invasion.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.386-392
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Changes in nutritional status during gestation and lactation have detrimental effects on offspring metabolism. Several animal studies have shown that maternal high-fat diet (HFD) can predispose the offspring to development of obesity and metabolic diseases, however the mechanisms underlying these transgenerational effects are poorly understood. Therefore, we examined the effect of maternal HFD consumption on metabolic phenotype and hepatic expression of involved genes in dams to determine whether any of these parameters were associated with the metabolic outcomes in the offspring. MATERIALS/METHODS: Female C57BL/6 mice were fed a low-fat diet (LFD: 10% calories from fat) or a high-fat diet (HFD: 45% calories from fat) for three weeks before mating, and during pregnancy and lactation. Dams and their male offspring were studied at weaning. RESULTS: Dams fed an HFD had significantly higher body and adipose tissue weights and higher serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels than dams fed an LFD. Hepatic lipid levels and mRNA levels of genes involved in lipid metabolism, including $LXR{\alpha}$, SREBP-2, FXR, LDLR, and ABCG8 were significantly changed by maternal HFD intake. Significantly lower total liver DNA and protein contents were observed in dams fed an HFD, implicating the disturbed liver adaptation in the pregnancy-related metabolic demand. HFD feeding also induced significant oxidative stress in serum and liver of dams. Offspring of dams fed an HFD had significantly higher serum cholesterol levels, which were negatively correlated with liver weights of dams and positively correlated with hepatic lipid peroxide levels in dams. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal HFD consumption induced metabolic dysfunction, including altered liver growth and oxidative stress in dams, which may contribute to the disturbed cholesterol homeostasis in the early life of male mice offspring.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.103-110
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• 1986

Cytochrome P-450(CP-450) is one of the three components of the liver microsomal enzyme system which hydroxylates fatty acids, hydrocarbons and a variety of drugs and other foreign compounds. Female Balb/c mice were immunized with purified polychlorinated bipheny(PCB)-induced CP-450 LMII. The spleen cells derived from immunized mice were fused with $SP^2$ myeloma cells using polyethylene glycol(PEG 3500). The hybrid cells were selected by hypoxanthine-aminopterine and thymidine(HAT) medium and the culture fluid were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to CP450 LMII. The hybrid cess(${\times}10^7$) were innoculated into intraperitoneal cavity of Balb/c mice for the purpose of production of ascitic fluids. Monoclonal antibody(Mab) was purified from ascitic fluid by DEAE cellulose ion exchange chromatography and $I^{125}$-labeled Mab was also confirmed by autoradiography and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (MW : 55,000 and 110,000).

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.733-741
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• 2006

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary calcium and soy isoflavone on body fat and lipid metabolism in high fat-induced obesity. Four week old female C57/BL6J mice, known as a good model of diet-induced obesity, were fed low Ca and high fat diet for 6 weeks. After induced obesity, mice were divided into six groups according to diets varying calcium contents (0.1 or 1.5%) and genistein contents (0 or 500 or 1,000 ppm). Body weight, fat pad (perirenal fat and parameterial fat), adipocyte size, serum total lipid and total cholesterol were significantly decreased by both high Ca intake and genistein supplementation. However, the effect of genistein supplementation showed in low Ca-fed groups. Serum LDL-cholesterol and TG were significantly decreased by high Ca intake and genistein supplementation, respectively. In liver, lipogenic enzymes (fatty acid synthase and malic enzyme) activity and TG were significantly decreased by both high Ca intake and genistein supplementation. This inhibitory effect of genistein on lipogenic enzymes showed in low Ca-fed groups. But liver total cholesterol and total lipid were significantly decreased by high Ca intake and genistein supplementation, respectively. Fecal excretion of total lipid, total cholesterol and TG were significantly increased by high Ca intake, not by genistein supplementation. In conclusion, high calcium intake and genistein supplement may be beneficial for suppression of obesity through direct anti-adipogenesis by decreasing fat weight and size and indirect anti-lipo-genesis by inhibiting lipogenic enzymes activity and improving lipid profile.