• Applied Microscopy
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 2008

In this study morphological changes of the testes of golden hamsters treated with 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN, 10 mg/kg body weight) in every two days were investigated using light and transmission electron microscopes. After the 7th injection of 6-AN, body weights of hamsters were significantly reduced, and the weight of testes were markedly reduced in the group of hamsters after 5th injections. Degeneration of seminiferous epithelium appeared first in the group receiving 5th injections, which were followed by severe degenerations after the 9th injection. In the degenerated seminiferous epithelium, deep vacuolization, and destruction of spermatogenic cells and Sertoli cells were also oberved. Multinuclear giant cells were also observed in the lumen of destructed seminiferous epithelium. But there were no edematous changes in the interstitial tissue, and the Leydig cells were found to be relatively intact. Therefore, these results show that 6-AN trigger severe morphological alteration of the spermatogenic cells and Sertoli cells, however Leydig cells are unaltered by 6-AN.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10659-10663
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• 2015

Background: Rapamycin is an effective anti-angiogenic drug. However, the mode of its action remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to elucidate the antitumor mechanism of rapamycin, hypothetically via apoptotic promotion, using MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods: MCF-7 cells were plated at a density of $1{\times}10^5$ cells/well in 6-well plates. After 24h, cells were treated with a series of concentrations of rapamycin while only adding DMEM medium with PEG for the control regiment and grown at $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ and 95% air for 72h. Trypan blue was used to determine the cell viability and proliferation. Untreated and rapamycin-treated MCF-7 cells were also examined for morphological changes with an inverted-phase contrast microscope. Alteration in cell morphology was ascertained, along with a stage in the cell cycle and proliferation. In addition, cytotoxicity testing was performed using normal mouse breast mammary pads. Results: Our results clearly showed that rapamycin exhibited inhibitory activity on MCF-7 cell lines. The $IC_{50}$ value of rapamycin on the MCF-7 cells was determined as $0.4{\mu}g/ml$ (p<0.05). Direct observation by inverted microscopy demonstrated that the MCF-7 cells treated with rapamycin showed characteristic features of apoptosis including cell shrinkage, vascularization and autophagy. Cells underwent early apoptosis up to 24% after 72h. Analysis of the cell cycle showed an increase in the G0G1 phase cell population and a corresponding decrease in the S and G2M phase populations, from 81.5% to 91.3% and 17.3% to 7.9%, respectively. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that rapamycin may potentially act as an anti-cancer agent via the inhibition of growth with some morphological changes of the MCF-7 cancer cells, arrest cell cycle progression at G0/G1 phase and induction of apoptosis in late stage of apoptosis. Further studies are needed to further characterize the mode of action of rapamycin as an anti-cancer agent.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.213-219
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• 2003

We investigated the effects of Insamsapye-tang (ISSPT) water extract on the cell proliferation of human lung carcinoma A549 cells. ISSPT treatment resulted in the inhibition of cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. This anti-proliferative effect of A549 cells by ISSSPT treatment was associated with morphological changes such as membrane shrinking and cell rounding up. DNA flow cytometric histograms showed that population of G1 phase of the cell cycle was increased by ISSPT treatment in a concentration-dependent manner. ISSPT treatment induced the levels of tumor suppressor p53 protein and cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p27 without significant alteration of cyclins and Cdks expression. In addition, ISSPT treatment resulted in down-regulation of phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein (pRB). However, the levels of p130, the pRB family protein, and transcription factors. E2F-1 and E2F-4. were remained unchanged. The present results indicated that ISSPT-induced inhibition of lung cancer cell proliferation is associated with the blockage of G1/S progression and the induction of apoptosis, and we suggest that ISSPT will be an effective therapeutic agent on human lung cancer.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.348-357
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• 2005

The present study was carried out to analyze the leaf variation of hex corn uta which are one of very important native landscape woody materials, but rapidly destroyed by habitat alteration in the past decades. The leaf characters were ranged as 0.9-11.8cm for the leaf length, 0.4-7.7cm for the leaf width, 0.2-13.0mm for the petiole length, $0.7-46.7cm^2$ for the leaf area and 1-13 for the number of leaf serrations. Due to the leaf shape, number of spines, and colours of leaf and fruits, which are the main characters of the cultivars of the Chinese holly, the hollies in the wild and planted as identified as 9 cultivars and one hybrid including 'Cholbuam', 'Inchon' and 'Sun Chun'.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.70-76
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• 2016

Silver nanoparticles(AgNPs) were attached to wool fibers using glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride(GTAC), which is a type of quaternary ammonium salt. GTAC, which contains an epoxy functional group that, under high temperatures, generates a ring-opening reaction with wool fibers, which contain the amine group. Then, the AgNPs are attached to the surface of the GTAC-treated wool fibers by treatment with a silver colloidal solution. The process involves the following procedures: (1) The wool fibers are immersed in the GTAC solution, followed by pre-drying at $80^{\circ}C$ and curing at $180^{\circ}C$ to induce an alteration in the chemical structure; and (2) The wool fibers treated with GTAC are immersed in the silver colloid at $40^{\circ}C$ for 120 min to chemically induce a strong attachment of the AgNPs to the wool fibers. Scanning electron microscopy was used to analyze the influence of the concentrations of GTAC and the silver colloid, as well as the influence of the applied temperature of the silver colloid on the wool fibers, and the influence of the morphological changes in the wool fiber surfaces. As a result, the enhanced concentrations of GTAC and the silver colloid together with an elevated applied temperature of silver colloid have a tendency to increase in Ag atomic%.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4807-4814
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• 2012

Purpose: The chemoresistance of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to cytotoxic drugs, especially intrinsic or acquired multidrug resistance (MDR), still remains a major challenge in the management of HCC. In the present study, possible mechanisms involved in MDR of HCC were identified using a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-resistant human HCC cell line. Methods: BEL-7402/5-FU cells were established through continuous culturing parental BEL-7402 cells, imitating the pattern of chemotherapy clinically. Growth curves and chemosensitivity to cytotoxic drugs were determined by MTT assay. Doubling times, colony formation and adherence rates were calculated after cell counting. Morphological alteration, karyotype morphology, and untrastructure were assessed under optical and electron microscopes. The distribution in the cell cycle and drug efflux pump activity were measured by flow cytometry. Furthermore, expression of potential genes involved in MDR of BEL-7402/5-FU cells were detected by immunocytochemistry. Results: Compared to its parental cells, BEL-7402/5-FU cells had a prolonged doubling time, a lower mitotic index, colony efficiency and adhesive ability, and a decreased drug efflux pump activity. The resistant cells tended to grow in clusters and apparent changes of ultrastructures occurred. BEL-7402/5-FU cells presented with an increased proportion in S and G2/M phases with a concomitant decrease in G0/G1 phase. The MDR phenotype of BEL-7402/5-FU might be partly attributed to increased drug efflux pump activity via multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1), overexpression of thymidylate synthase (TS), resistance to apoptosis by augmentation of the Bcl-xl/Bax ratio, and intracellular adhesion medicated by E-cadherin (E-cad). P-glycoprotein (P-gp) might play a limited role in the MDR of BEL-7402/5-FU. Conclusion: Increased activity or expression of MRP1, Bcl-xl, TS, and E-cad appear to be involved in the MDR mechanism of BEL-7402/5-FU.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.438-445
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• 2009

We investigated global gene expression from both mouse liver and mouse hepatic cell lines treated with acetaminophen (APAP) in order to compare in vivo and in vitro profiles and to assess the feasibility of the two systems. During our analyses of gene expression profiles, we picked up several down-regulated genes, such as the cytochrome P450 family 51 (Cyp51), sulfotransferase family cytosolic 1C member 2 (Sult1c2), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A synthase 1 (Hmgcs1), and several genes that were up-regulated by APAP, such as growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible 45 alpha (Gadd45a), transformation related protein 53 inducible nuclear protein 1 (Trp53inp1) and zinc finger protein 688 (Zfp688). For validation of gene function, synthesized short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) for these genes were transfected in a mouse hepatic cell line, BNL CL.2, for investigation of cell viability and mRNA expression level. We found that siRNA transfection of these genes induced down-regulation of respective mRNA expression and decreased cell viability. siRNA transfection for Cyp51 and others induced morphological alterations, such as membrane thickening and nuclear condensation. Taken together, siRNA transfection of these six genes decreased cell viability and induced alteration in cellular morphology, along with effective inhibition of respective mRNA, suggesting that these genes could be associated with APAP-induced toxicity. Furthermore, these genes may be used in the investigation of hepatotoxicity, for better understanding of its mechanism.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 1990

Follicular atresia is a universal and characteristic phenomenon of both non-mammalian and mammalian vertebrates. Generally it is estimated that greater than 99% of follicles become atretic in higher domestic animals and human. The number of selected follicles developing to the preovulatory stage are thus fewer. Follicles can become atretic at any stage of development. The previous studies emphasized on descriptive and retrospect aspects of a limited population of the fully grown preovulatory follicle. The main efforts in ovarian physilogical researches are focused on follicular development culminating in ovulation but recent advances have resulted in a better understanding of atresia. Nowadays, recent studies are concentrated on the induction of atresia in a selected population of follicles and of the associated cellular, endocrine, biochemical and molecular changes. The factors initiating atresia and follicle selections are worthy of investigations. Another intriguing question is whether one can predict when a follicle will become atretic, i.e., what biochemical markers indicate that a follicle is destined for atresia. It is generally agreed that atretic process may vary even in antral follicles at different stages of their differentiations and among species. The dicisive factors are follicular responsiveness and the hormonal milieu. Some generalizations can be made on the basis of experimental induction of atresia. Alteration of the pattern of follicular steroid production is associated with the initiation stage of atretic process. Atresia appears to be a process unfolding gradually and affecting progressively in increasing number of functions and components of the follicle. The oocyte may be the latest to be afflicted in the atretic process. The high steroidogenic activity of atretic follicles lends support to the notion that atresia is not necessarily a degenerative process and that atretic follicles may play an essential role in ovarian physiology. The simultaneous occurence of growth and atretic processes may render the search for regulatory mechanisms involved in atresia difficult extremely. The questions such as how follicles are selected to undergo ovulation rather than atresia or what the mechanism of atresia is remain unanswered. However, the factors regulating or modifying ovarian hormonal milieu for the initiation of follicular growth and maturation or of atresia are being elucidated.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 1976

Growth inhibition and morphological alteration of Bacillus megaterium NRRL B-1368 in aflatoxin-containing TGY liquid media and its growth restoration in normal media were investigated. Crude aflatoxins $(B_1\;22.7%,\;B_2\;1.6%,\;G_1\;3.6\;%\;and\;G_2\;0.2%)$ at concentrations of more than $20{\mu}g/ml$ inhibited the growth of the microorganism and prevented the formation of septum, resulting in abnormal elongation and disturbance of cell division. The aberrant cells, however, grew normally by septum formation and cell division upon returning to aflatoxin-free culture media. It was, therefore, assumed that aflatoxin affects the function of mesosome related to septum formation in bacteria.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.124-129
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• 2005

Resveratrol, a phytoalexin found at high levels in grapes and in grape products such as red wine, has been reported to possess a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities including anti-oxident, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, and anti-carcinogenic effects, but its molecular mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, we examined the effects of resveratrol on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced growth inhibitory activity and cell growth-regulatory gene products in astroglioma C6 cells to elucidate its possible mechanism for anti-cytotoxicity. It is shown that LPS induced time-dependent growth inhibition and morphological changes of C6 cells, which were recovered by pre-treatment with resveratrol. The anti-proliferative effect of LPS was associated with the induction of tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21 (WAF1/CIP1) expression assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis in time-dependent manner in C6 cells. In addition, the pro-apoptotic Bax expression was also up-regulated in LPS-treated C6 cells without alteration of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL expression. However, resveratrol significantly inhibited LPS-induced p53, p21 and Bax levels, suggesting that the modulation of p53, p21 and Bax levels could be one of the possible pathways by which resveratrol functions as anti-cytotoxic agent.