• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2006

Mineral-induced alkaline-reduced water (MRW) is generated by the chemical reaction of water with alkaline earth metals and characterized by high pH and low oxidation-reduction potential. As ROS are believed to have a role in the pathogenesis of obesity, we attempted to determine the effect of MRW on obesity in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats fed on a high-fat diet. The body weight of the MRW group was significantly lower than that of the control group in most periods of the examination (P<0.05). Serum level of triglycerides (p<0.05) and fat deposition in the livers of the MRW group were found to have been significantly reduced. This suggests that MRW down-regulates lipid metabolism, thereby suppressing obesity. Possible mechanisms of MRW related to reactive oxygen species were also discussed. Our results suggest that MRW is effective in the alleviation of obesity in SD rats fed on high-fat diet.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.179-184
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• 2002

We investigated the morphological changes and TUNEL reaction of apoptotic cells in the liver of D-galactosamine (20 mg/mouse) and lipopolysaccharide (5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mouse)-treated 30 mice (BALB/c), and in additioa also of apoptotic cells in kidney and spleen. The livers and other some organs of mice at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hrs after treatment were collected and were fixed with 10% neutral formalin and paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin or terminal deoxynucleotidly transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. Morphological changes in apoptotic hepatocytes were chondensation of nuclei and density of cytoplasms, then the margination and pyknosis of chromatin, the formation of half-moon- or horse-shoe- or ship-like shapes of condensed chromatin mass, lastly formation of apoptotic bodies, disappearance of nuclear envelopes, decrease of stainability, then lysis and disappearance of apoptotic bodies. TUNEL positive reactions of hepatocytes were appeared first moderate in uncondensed hepatocytes, severe in condensed hepatocytes, moderate in chromatin-marginated hepatocytes. These reactions also were appeared moderate in hepatocytes with half-moon- or horse-shoe- or ship-like pyknotic chromatin mass or apoptotic bodies, and mild or negative in hepatocytes with lysed apoptotic bodies or with disappeared nuclear envelopes. Consequently these results suggested that TUNEL positive reactions of hepatocytes appeared at more early stages than appearance of chromatin condensation and disappeared at more early stage than disappearance of histological findings of apoptosis. We also confirmed that the differentiation of apoptotic cells from normal healthy cells of Kupffer cells and vascular endothelial cells in liver, reticular cells and lymphocytes in spleen and epithelial cells of tubules and ducts in kidney was impossible in H-E preparations but was possible in TUNEL preparations.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 1984

An ultrastructural study on the mature spermatoBoa oi Cloptorchis sineitsis was carried out. For this study, the liver cukes were collected from the livers of rabbits and rats artificially infected with the metacercariae obtained from the fresh water fish, Pseudorasbora parve. Six-month old worms were used. The collected liver fiukes were washed with 0.85% saline solution and then immediately moved to cold 2% glutaraldehyde buffered with 0.1M Millonig's phosphate buffier (pH 7.4) . The materials were dissected into appropriate pieces in the fixative about 30 minutes after beginning of the fixation. Two hours later the materials containing the seminal receptacle were rinsed several times with the buffier and were secondarily fixed with cold, bugeyed 1% osmium tetroxide(OsO4) for 2 hours. The fully mixed tissue blocks Ivere dehydrated in a series of graded concentrations of acetone and were embedded in Epon 812 mixture. Thin sections obtained from LKB-5 ultramicrotome were stained with uranyl acetate and Reynold's lead citrate. Observations of the sections were carried out with JEM-100CX II electron microscope, In general, the mature sperm was long thread-like form with a sickle-shaped head. According to the longitudinal sectioned view of the sperm tail, the nucleus seemed to be spirally coiled and run a little far along the tail. The acrosome was not observed. The cytoplasm of the tail was biflagellated as usual in trematodes. Unlike other platyhelminth spermatozoa, the sperm tail of Clenorchis sinensis showed the ${\ulcorner}9+2{\lrcorner}$ in the microtubular arrangement. The mitochondria with poorly developed cristae were observed throughout the middle piece. The middle piece of the tail showed dull ladder or triangular shapes with the two flagella at the bottom. But, the principal piece of the tail was slightly flattened cylindrical shape with two aagella within the cytoplasm. The end piece was uniflagellated. It was not clearly identised whether the end piece was subdivided into two by aagellum or the lengths of the two aagella were different. The glycogen granules were rich in the cytoplasm throughout the lenght of the spermatozoa. These granules might be the energy source for the movement of the spermatosoa.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2006

The KFDA (Korea Food & Drug Administration) has performed a collaborative toxico-genomics project since 2003. Its aim is to construct a toxicologenomic database of 12 hepatotoxic compounds from mice livers. Phenylbutazone which is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug was assigned. It was administered at low (0.0238 mg/kg) and at high (0.238 mg/kg) dose (5 mice per group) orally to the postnatal 6 weeks ICR mice, then the serum and liver were collected at the indicated time (6, 24 and 72 h) after administration. Serum biochemical markers for liver toxicity were measured and histopathologic studies also were carried out. The gene expression profiling was carried out by using Applied Biosystems 1700 Full Genome Expression Mouse. The 2-way ANOVA was used to find genes that reflected phenylbutazone-induced acute toxicity or dose-dependant changes. By self-organization maps (SOM), we identified groups with unique gene expression patterns, some of them are supposed to be related to phenylbutazone induced toxicity, including lipid metabolism abnormality, oxidative stress, cell death and cytoskeleton destruction.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2011

Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), the most widely utilized industrial plastizer and a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, can act on peroxisome proliferators-activated nuclear hormone receptor family (PPAR) isoforms. To understand the contribution of sphingolipid metabolism to DEHP-induced hepatotoxicity, effect of DEHP exposure on activities of sphingolipid metabolic enzymes in rat liver was investigated. DEHP (250, 500 or 750 mg/kg) was administered to the rats through oral gavage daily for 28 days. The activities of acidic and alkaline ceramidases were slightly increased in 250 mg/kg DEHP-administered rat livers and significantly elevated in 500 mg/kg DEHP-administered ones, although the level of 750 mg/kg DEHP-administered ones was not increased. Neutral ceramidase, acidic and neutral sphingomyelinases, sphingomyeline synthase and ceramide syhthase were not changed at all by DEHP exposure. Therefore, acidic and alkaline ceramidases might play important roles in DEHP-induced hepatotoxicity.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.219-227
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• 2013

This study was to investigate serum triglyceride (TG), phospholipid (PL), and cholesterol concentrations after feeding the combined diets of prepared traditional Cheonggukjang (TC) or Cheonggukjang made from sword bean powder (CS), the feed, and high-fat cholesterols at certain ratio for 8 weeks in rats, and then confirmed the effects of the diets based on the changes in the tissues of livers, kidneys, and spleens. The serum TG concentrations were lower in CS group compared to that of in TC group. The increase of PL concentrations was greater in CS group than that of TC group. FChCS6 group (92% feed+2% cholesterol+6% CS) showed the lowest total-cholesterol (T-C), $60.1{\pm}8.5mg/dL$, indicating that CS was effective to lower the T-C. Both TG/PL and T-C/PL ratio tended to be decreased. As CS intake was effective in the reduction of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol level as well as the increase of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol level, it would be effective in the prevention of adult diseases and circulatory diseases. It was confirmed that there were no changes in organ appearance and tissues in the rats with CS intake. Therefore, CS intake showed superior functionalities than that of TC intake.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.6
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• pp.571-578
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• 1999

This study evaluated the effects of PKC activation using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and PKC inhibition using the isoquinoline sulfomide derivative H-7 on hemodynamics and glucoregulation in the isolated perfused rat liver. Livers were isolated from fed male Holtzman rats and perfused with Krebs Ringer bicarbonate solution under a constant flow of 50 ml/min at $35^{\circ}C.$ Portal vein pressure, glucose and lactate concentrations in the medium and oxygen consumption rates were continuously monitored by a Grass polygraph, YSI glucose and lactate monitors, and a YSI oxygen monitor, respectively. PMA at concentration of 2 to 200 nM increased the portal vein pressure, glucose and lactate production, but decreased oxygen consumption rate in a dose-dependent fashion. H-7 $(200\;{\mu}M)$ attenuated PMA (50 nM)-induced vasoconstriction $(15.1{\pm}1.36\;vs\;10.56{\pm}1.17\;mmHg),$ glucose production rate $(91.3{\pm}6.15\;vs\;71.8{\pm}2.50\;{\mu}moles/g/hr),$ lactate production rate $(72.4{\pm}6.82\;vs\;53.6{\pm}4.82\;{\mu}moles/g/hr)$ and oxygen consumption rate $(33.7{\pm}1.41\;vs\;27.9{\pm}1.75\;{\mu}l/g/min).$ The effects of PMA were blocked either by addition of verapamil $(9\;{\mu}M)$ or perfusion with $Ca^{2+}-free$ KRB. These results suggest that the hemodynamic and glucoregulatory changes in the perfused rat liver are mediated by protein kinase C activation and require $Ca^{2+}$ influx from the extracellular fluid.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.84-92
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• 2020

Objectives: To observe the effects on liver and kidney of gynecology patients' during long term Korean Medicine. Methods: This research was conducted as a panel study on 29 female gynecology patients at Korean medicine clinic and compares their conditions before, 3 months after, and 6 months after Intake of Korean medicine. This analysis was conducted to frequency(%), repeated measure ANOVA and significantly statistics was p<0.05, confidence interval. Results: The most common conditions among the subjects were polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and uterine myoma. Except in a few instances, liver functions (AST, ALT, γ-GTP) were within the normal range before and after the intake of Korean medicine. Further, while there was a slight change in liver functions when three months and six months after the intake, but there was no statistical significance (p>0.05). As for the kidney functions (BUN, Creatinine, BUN/Creatinine), they were within the normal range before and after the intake of Korean medicine. Further, while there was a slight change in kidney functions three months and six months after the intake, there was no statistical significance(p>0.05) either. Conclusions: Based on these results, it can be concluded that Korean medicine does not have a negative impact on the gynecology patients' liver and kidney.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.727-733
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of arsenic ($As^{III}$) on lipid peroxidation, glutathione content and antioxidant enzymes in growing pigs. Ninety-six Duroc-Landrace-Yorkshire crossbred growing pigs (48 barrows and 48 gilts, respectively) were randomly assigned to four groups and each group was randomly assigned to three pens (four barrows and four gilts). The four groups received the same corn-soybean basal diet which was supplemented with 0, 10, 20, 30 mg/kg As respectively. Arsenic was added to the diet in the form of $As_2O_3$. The experiment lasted for seventy-eight days after a seven-day adaptation period. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, glutathione (GSH) contents and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were analyzed in serum, livers and kidneys of pigs. The results showed that pigs treated with 30 mg As/kg diet had a decreased average daily gain (ADG) (p<0.05) and an increased feed/gain ratio (F/G) (p<0.05) compared to the controls. The levels of MDA significantly increased (p<0.05), and the contents of GSH and the activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, GR and GST significantly decreased (p<0.05) in the pigs fed 30 mg As/kg diet. The results indicated that the mechanism of arsenic-induced oxidative stress in growing pigs involved lipid peroxidation, depletion of glutathione and decreased activities of some enzymes, such as SOD, CAT, GPx, GR and GST, which are associated with free radical metabolism.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1244-1249
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• 2014

Goose fatty liver is one of the most delicious and popular foods in the world, but there is no reliable genetic marker for the early selection and breeding of geese with good liver-producing potential. In our study, one hundred and twenty-four 78-day-old Landes geese bred in Shunda Landes goose breeding farm, Jiutai, Jilin, China were selected randomly. The fatty livers were sampled each week after overfeeding during a three week period. Polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism and DNA sequencing were used to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of fatty acid synthase (FAS), which is an important enzyme involved in the synthesis of fat under both physiological and pathological conditions. Least-squares correlation was established between these SNPs and fatty liver weight, abdominal fat weight, and intestinal fat weight of the overfed Landes geese, respectively. The results showed that fatty liver weight of geese with EF and FF genotypes (amplified by primer P1) was significantly higher than that of the EE genotype (p<0.05), and liver weight of CD and DD genotypes (amplified by primer P2) was significantly higher than that of the CC genotype (p<0.05). Different genotype combinations showed different liver weights, and from highest to lowest were ABDD, DDEF, DDFF, DDEE, ABEF, ABFF, AADD, and CDEF. Further analysis of DNA sequencing showed that there were two SNPs within the 5' promoter region the FAS gene. The geese of EF and FF genotypes carried a change of T to C, and the geese of CD and DD genotypes carried a change of A to G. The changes of the bases could potentially influence the binding of some transcription factors to this region as to regulate FAS gene. To our knowledge, this is the first report of SNPs found within the 5' promoter region of the Landes goose FAS gene, and our data will provide an insight for early selection of geese for liver production.