• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2021

Several herbs including Artemisia are known to possess conceptive property. In the present study, mouse spermatozoa were incubated with ethanol extract of Artemisia vulgaris leaves. The effect of extract on acrosome exocytosis was studied by labeling spermatozoa with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) peanut agglutinin and by staining with Coomassie blue. Viability and membrane integrity were studied by Trypan-blue staining and hypo-osmotic swelling test. Artemisia extract at very low concentration caused precocious acrosome reaction and loss of sperm viability. Acrosome reaction increased remarkably from 22.63% to 88.42% with increasing extract concentration from 0 to 2,000 ㎍/mL. However, the viability loss of spermatozoa was increased from 11.71% in control to 63.73% in samples treated, evaluated by Trypan-blue staining method. Membrane damage caused by the extract, evaluated by hypo-osmotic swelling test was even low, ranging from 2.27% to only 24.23%. These results indicate that Artemisia extract might block fertilization by causing precocious acrosome exocytosis in spermatozoa. A direct contraceptive effect was tested by injecting the plant extract into the vagina of female mice and then allowing them to mate with normal males. The treated female mice delivered significantly fewer litters in comparison to the control.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.241-256
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• 2001

Alginate microspheres, containing fluorescein isothiocyanate-bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) or green fluorescent protein (GFP) were prepared and used as a model drug to develop the oral vaccine delivery system. The alginate microspheres were coated with poly-L-lysine or chitosan. Two methods, w/o-emulsion and spray, were used to prepare alginate microspheres. To optimize preparation conditions, effects of several factors on the particle size and particle morphology of microsphere, and loading efficiency of model antigen were investigated. In both preparation methods, the particle size and the loading efficiency were enhanced when the concentration of sodium alginate increased. In the w/o-emulsion preparation method, as the concentration of Span 80 was increased from 0.5% to 2%, the particle size was decreased, but the loading efficiency was increased. The higher the emulsification speed was, the smaller the particle size and loading efficiency were. The concentration of calcium chloride did not show any effect on the particle size and loading efficiency. In the spray preparation method, the particle size was increased as the nozzle pressure $(from\;1\;kgf/m^2\;to\;3\;kgf/m^2)$ and spray rate was raised. Increasing calcium chloride concentration (<7%) decreased the particle size, in contrast to no effect of calcium chloride concentration on the w/o-emulsion preparation method. Alginate microspheres prepared by two methods were different in the particle size and loading efficiency, the particle size of microspheres prepared by the spray method was about $2-6\;{\mu}m$, larger than that prepared by the w/o emulsion method $(about\;2{\mu}m)$, and the loading efficiency was also higher with spray method. Furthermore, drying process for the microspheres prepared by the spray was simpler and easier, compared with the w/o emulsion preparation. Therefore, the spray method was chosen to prepare alginate microspheres for further experiments. Release pattern of FITC-BSA in alginate microspheres was evaluated in simulated intestinal fluid and PBS (phosphate buffered saline). Dissolution rate of FITC-BSA from alginate/chitosan microsphere was lower than that from alginate microsphere and alginate/poly-L-lysine microsphere. By confocal laser scanning microscope, it was revealed that alginate/FITC-poly-L-lysine microspheres were present in close apposition epithelium of the Peyer's patches of rabbits following inoculation into lumen of intestine, which proved that microspheres could be taken up by Peyer's patch. In conclusion, it is suggested that alginate microsphere prepared by spray method, showing a particle size of & $10\;{\mu}m$ and a high loading efficiency, can be used as a model drug for the development of oral vaccine delivery system.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2010

Objective : The purpose of study was to evaluate the feasibility of brain magnetic resonance (MR) images of the rat obtained using a 1.5T MR machine in several blood-brain barrier (BBB) experiments. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. MR images were obtained using a clinical 1.5T MR machine. A microcatheter was introduced via the femoral artery to the carotid artery. Normal saline (group 1, n = 4), clotted autologous blood (group 2, n = 4), triolein emulsion (group 3, n = 4), and oleic acid emulsion (group 4, n = 4) were infused into the carotid artery through a microcatheter. Conventional and diffusion-weighted images, the apparent coefficient map, perfusion-weighted images, and contrast-enhanced MR images were obtained. Brain tissue was obtained and triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was performed in group 2. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled dextran images and endothelial barrier antigen (EBA) studies were performed in group 4. Results : The MR images in group 1 were of good quality. The MR images in group 2 revealed typical findings of acute cerebral infarction. Perfusion defects were noted on the perfusion-weighted images. The MR images in group 3 showed vasogenic edema and contrast enhancement, representing vascular damage. The rats in group 4 had vasogenic edema on the MR images and leakage of dextran on the FITC-labeled dextran image, representing increased vascular permeability. The immune reaction was decreased on the EBA study. Conclusion : Clinical 1.5T MR images using a rat depicted many informative results in the present study. These results can be used in further researches of the BBB using combined clinical MR machines and immunohistochemical examinations.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.211-218
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• 2011

Fragmentation in human pre-implantation embryos has been suggested as the process of apoptosis. We have previously demonstrated a direct relationship between the increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis in human pre-implantation embryos. ROS is known to suppress the function of mitochondria in which steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) are presented. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the expression of StAR and PBR in human pre-implantation embryos and to evaluate whether reduction of these proteins is associated with apoptosis. Apoptosis was detected by annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethyl-benzimidazolyl-carbocyanine iodide (JC-1). Immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting were applied to examine the expression of StAR and PBR in the embryos. Lipid droplets in the embryos were stained with Oil Red O. The fragmented pre-implantation embryos were stained with annexin V-FITC, but not the normal ones. The mitochondria with active membrane potential were present less in the fragmented embryos compared with the non-fragmented embryos. We also confirmed that both StAR and PBR were expressed in the embryos and their expression levels were lower in the fragmented ones. In addition, the number and size of lipid droplets were increased in the fragmented embryos. The present study provides evidence that reduction of StAR and PBR in human pre-implantation embryos is associated with an increase in the lipid droplets leading to apoptosis.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.178-184
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• 2010

The aim of this work is the fabrication of polyelectrolyte microcapsules composed of biocompatible polymers such as chitosan, heparin and alginate, to encapsulate the fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC)-albumin, and to investigate the protein release behavior therefrom. Polyelectrolyte capsules with 4-layer structures could be prepared with biocompatible materials by oppositely charged adsorption using melamin-foramide as a template. Transmission electron microscope(TEM), scanning electron microscope(SEM) and optical microscope confirmed hollow capsule structures. Protein release before and after encapsulation was monitored with a UV-Vis spectrometer. Microcapsules have different behaviors depending on the kind of polyelectrolyte polymers, chitosan-heparin capsules or chitosan-alginate capsules. In conclusion, the polyelectrolyte multilayer shells can be switched between an open and closed state by means of tuning the pH value.

• Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2016

Background: Excess energy supply induces chronic low-grade inflammation in association with oxidative stress in various tissues including intestinal epithelium. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of high-fat diet (HFD) on intestinal cell membrane integrity and intestinal tumorigenesis in $Apc^{Min/+}$ mice. Methods: Mice were fed with either normal diet (ND) or HFD for 12 weeks. The number of intestinal tumors were counted and biomarkers of endotoxemia, oxidative stress, and inflammation were determined. Changes in intestinal integrity was measured by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran penetration and membrane gap junction protein expression. Results: HFD group had significantly higher number of tumors compared to ND group (P < 0.05). Blood total antioxidant capacity was lower in HFD group, while colonic 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine level, a marker of oxidative damage, was higher in HFD group compared to that of ND group (P < 0.05). The penetration of FITC-dextran was substantially increased in HFD group (P < 0.05) while the expressions of membrane gap junction proteins including zonula occludens-1, claudin-1, and occludin were lower in HFD group (P < 0.05) compared to those in ND group. Serum concentration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor (CD14) and colonic toll-like receptor 4 (a LPS receptor) mRNA expression were significantly higher in HFD group than in ND group (P < 0.05), suggesting that significant endotoxemia may occur in HFD group due to the increased membrane permeability. Serum interleukin-6 concentration and myeloperoxidase activity were also higher in HFD group compared to those of ND group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: HFD increases oxidative stress disrupting intestinal gap junction proteins, thereby accelerating membrane permeability endotoxemia, inflammation, and intestinal tumorigenesis.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.468-474
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• 2005

PLGA and PCL copolymers initiated by carbitol as drug carriers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide (LA), glycolide (GA), and $\varepsilon-caprolactone(\varepsilon-CL)$. Implantable wafers were simply fabricated by direct compression method after physical mixing of copolymers and bovine serum albumin-fluorescein isothiocyanate (BSA-FITC) as a model protein drug. The release amounts of BSA-FITC from wafers were determined by fluorescence intensity using the fluorescence spectrophotometer. Also, the release behavior of BSA-FITC on wafers was controlled by adding the additives such as collagen, small intestinal submucosa (SIS), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), and poly(thylene glycol) (PEG). The wafer prepared by PLGA and PCL exhibited slow release within $10\%$ for 30 days. But, those prepared by a variety of additives exhibited the controlled BSA release patterns with a dependence on the additive contents. furthermore, the wafers containing natural materials such as collagen and SIS showed more zero-order release profile than that with synthetic materials such as PVP and PEG. It was confirmed that the release of BSA from implantable wafers could be easily controlled by adding natural additives.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.197-208
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• 1996

Endosomes lower their internal pH by an ATP-driven proton pump, which is critical to dissociation of many receptor-ligand complexes, the first step in the intracellular sorting of internalized receptors and ligands. Endosomes are known to exhibit n great range of pH values that can vary between 5.0 and 7.0 within a single cell although the factors that regulate endosomal pH remain uncertain. To evaluate the morphological and topological differences of endosomes in the different stages, confocal microscopy was used. The early endosomes labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran for 10 min at $37^{\circ}C$ were identifiable at the peripheral and tubule-vesicular endosome compartment. In contrast, the late endosomes formed by 10 min pulse and 20 min trace were located deeper in the cytoplasm and showed more vesicular features than early endosomes. For the purpose of determining whether ATP-dependent acidification was heterogeneous and whether the differences in acidification were attributed to differences in the activity of $Na^{+}-K^{+}$-ATPase and/or $Cl^{-}$ channel, endocytic compartments were fractionated into subpopulation using percoll gradient and measured ATP-dependent acidification. While all fractions exhibited ATP-dependent acidification activity, both the initial rate of acidification and extent of proton translocation were lower in early endosomes and gradually increased in late endosomes. Phosphorylation by PKA and ATP enhanced ATP-dependent acidification in both early and late endosomes, hut there was no difference in the degree of enhancement by phosphorylation between two subpopulations. When ATP-dependent acidification was determined in the presence or absence of vanadate ($Na_{3}VO_{4}$) or ouabain, only early endosomes exhibited the vanadate or ouabain dependent stimulation of acidification activity, suggesting the inhibition of $Na^{+}-K^{+}$-ATPase. Therefore, it seems probable that the inhibition of early endosome acidification by $Na^{+}-K^{+}$-ATPase observed in vitro at least in part plays a physiological role in controlling the acidification of early endosomes in vivo.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2004

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and effect of various cryopreservation method on the survival and the cytoskeletal stability of metaphase II mouse oocyte. Methods: Mouse ovulated oocytes were collected and cryopreserved by a modified slow-freezing method with 1.5 M 1, 2-propanediol (PrOH)+0.1 M sucrose or by vitrification using cryo loop and EM grid with 40% ethylene glycol+0.6 M sucrose. Four hours after thawing, intact oocytes were fixed and stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated monoclonal anti-$\beta$-tubulin antibody to visualize spindle and propidium iodide (PI) to visualize chromosome. Spindle morphology was classified as follows: normal (barrel-shaped), slightly and absolute abnormal (multipolar or absent). Results: Survival rate of the frozen-thawed oocytes in vitrification group was significantly higher than that of slow-freezing group (62.7% vs. 24.4%, p<0.01). Vitrification with cryo loop showed significantly higher survival rate than that with EM grid (67.7% vs. 53.5%, p<0.05). On the other hand, proportion of normal spindle and chromosome configurations of the frozen-thawed oocytes between two vitrification group was not significantly different. Conclusion: For mouse ovulated oocytes, vitrification with cryo loop may be a preferable procedure compared to slow-freezing method. Further study should be needed to investigate developmental competency of frozen-thawed mouse oocytes.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.271-275
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• 2015

Colloidal semiconductor CdSe-ZnS core-shell nanocrystal quantum dot (Qdot) are luminescent inorganic fluorophores that show potential to overcome some of the functional limitations encountered with organic dyes in fluorescence labeling applications. Salmonella Enteritidis has emerged as a major cause of human salmonellosis worldwide since the 1980s. A rapid, specific, and sensitive method for the detection of Salmonella Enteritidis was developed using Qdot as a fluorescence marker coupled with immunomagnetic separation. Magnetic beads coated with anti-Salmonella Enteritidis antibodies were employed to selectively capture the target bacteria, and biotin-conjugated anti-Salmonella antibodies were added to form sandwich immune complexes. After magnetic separation, the immune complexes were labeled with Qdot via biotin-streptavidin conjugation, and fluorescence measurement was carried out using a fluorescence measurement system. The detection limit of the Qdot method was a Salmonella Enteritidis concentration of $10^3$ colony-forming units (CFU)/mL, whereas the conventional fluorescein isothiocyanate-based method required over $10^5CFU/mL$. The total detection time was within 2 h. In addition to the potential for general nanotechnology development, these results suggest a new rapid detection method of various pathogenic bacteria from a complex food matrix.