• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.34-38
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• 2019

Hypogonadism is a clinical syndrome that results in hormone deficiency and can be classified as 1) primary caused by the gonadal failure and 2) secondary by the hypothalamus-pituitary gland dysfunction and/or cardiometabolic complications. Recently the presence of thyroid hormone receptors in different testicular cell types was demonstrated, and thus thyroid dysfunctions would be another cause of secondary hypogonadism. Thus, we investigated the effects of perinatal hypothyroidism on hypogonadism in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Perinatal hypothyroidism was induced by daily administration of 0.05% 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) by tap water from gestation day 15, which were compared with negative control (PTU (-)) group. At postnatal day 28, hypothyroid pups were divided into 2 groups: PTU (+) group - continued PTU treatment and PTU (+/-) group - stopped PTU until postnatal day 49. Body weights, dehydrotesosterone (DHT), and testosterone levels were checked 2 and 3 weeks after grouping. Body weights were significantly decreased in PTU(+) and PTU(+/-) groups compared with PTU (-) group at postnatal day 28. 3 weeks later, PTU (+/-) group significantly gained weight compared with PTU (+) group. DHT and testosterone levels significantly decreased with PTU treatment, but increased 3 weeks after stopping PTU administration. Perinatal PTU-induced hypothyroid hypogonadism was sustained for 2 weeks after stopping PTU administration, but restored gonadal hormone levels 3 weeks after stopping PTU. These results suggest that researchers should design an experiment on hypothyroid hypogonadism based on the estimated period.

• BMB Reports
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.527-532
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• 1995

Human taurine transporter has 12 transmembrane domains and its molecular weight is 69.6 kDa. The long cytoplasmic carboxy and amino termini might function as regulatory attachment sites for other proteins. Six potential protein kinase C phosphorylation sites have been reported in human taurine transporter. In this report, we studied the effects of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and glucocorticoid hormone on taurine transportation in the RAW 264.7, mouse macrophage cell line. When the cells were incubated with $[^{3}H]taurine$ in the presence or absence of $Na^+$ ion for 40 min at $37^{\circ}C$, the [$[^{3}H]taurine$ uptake rate was 780-times higher in the $Na^{+}-containing$ buffer than in the $Na^{+}-deficient$ buffer, indicating that this cell line expresses taurine transporter protein on the cell surface. THP1, a human promonocyte cell line, also showed a similar property. The $[^{3}H]taurine$ uptake rate was not influenced by the inflammatory inducing cytokines such as interleukin-1, gamma-interferon or interleukin-1+gamma-interferon, but was decreased by the PMA in the RAW 264.7 cell line. This suggests that activation of protein kinase C inhibits taurine transporter activity directly or indirectly. The inhibition of $[^{3}H]taurine$ uptake by PMA was time-dependent. Maximal inhibition occurred in one hr stimulation with PMA Increasing the treatment time beyond one h reduced the $[^{3}H]taurine$ uptake inhibition due to the depletion or inactivation of protein kinase C. The cell line also showed concentration-dependent $[^{3}H]taurine$ uptake under PMA stimulation. The phorbol-ester caused 23% inhibition at the concentration of 1 ${\mu}m$ PMA. The inhibition was significant even at a concentration as low as 10 nM PMA The reduced $[^{3}H]taurine$ uptake could be recovered by treatment with glucocorticosteroid hormone. Dexamethasone led to recover of the reduced taurine uptake induced by phorbol-ester, recovering maximally after one hr. This may suggest that macrophage cells require higher taurine concentration in a stressed state, for the secretion of glucocorticoid hormone is increased by hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis activation in the blood stream.

• 한국동물번식학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국동물번식학회 2003년도 학술발표대회 발표논문초록집
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• pp.49-49
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• 2003

본 연구에서는 vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G)를 envelope로 가지는 pantropic retrovirus vector system을 이용하여 재조합 human FSH 유전자가 전이된 형질전환 닭을 생산하고자 하였다. Human FSH $\alpha$ 및 $\beta$ 유전자와 CTP linker는 human pituitary gland cDNA library에서 RT-PCR 방법을 이용하여 cloning하였으며, 각각의 fragment는 FSH$\beta$-CTP-FSH$\alpha$ 순서의 단일사슬로 연결하였다. 연결된 FSH$\beta$-CTP-FSH$\alpha$는 retroviral vector 내의 $\beta$-actin promoter의 조절 하에 도입한 후, PT67 packaging cell line에 transfection하여 virus를 생산하였으며 생산된 virus는 pantropic한 virus producing cell인 GP293에 infection하여 FSH 유전자가 도입된 virus를 생산하였다. FSH 유전자의 발현을 in vitro에서 확인하기 위하여 CHO (chinese hamster ovary) 세포에 virus를 감염시킨 후, 세포의 배양액을 취하여 electrochemilumine-scence immunoassay 방법으로 정량하였다. In vitro에서 전이 후 발현이 확인된 FSH 외래유전자의 retroviral vector virus를 초원심분리로 고농축하여 stageX의 계란의 배반엽 층에 주입하였으며, 그 결과 18%의 부화율과 91%의 부화한 닭의 유전자 전이율을 확인할 수 있었다. 전이된 유전자의 확인은 FSH$\beta$와 Neo 유전자에 대한 primer를 이용한 RT-PCR의 방법을 이용하였다. In vitro에서와는 달리 in vivo에서는 FSH 유전자의 전이는 확인되었으나 발현을 확인하지는 못하였는데, 이는 적은 수의 실험군이 형질전환율에 비해 상대적이지 못하였거나, 외래 유전자인 FSH의 발현에 의한 생리적인 부작용이 유발되어 해당개체가 부화되지 못한 것으로 추정된다. 본 문제점을 해결하기 위하여 실험군의 수를 늘리고 외래 유전자에 대한 controllable expression system이 보완될 필요성이 요구되며, 이러한 점이 해결된다면 높은 유전자 전이율에 기인하여 retrovirus를 이용한 형질전환 방법은 형질전환 가금의 생산에 있어서 매우 효율적이고 주목할 만한 방법으로 사료된다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.17-24
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• 2012

The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortex (HPA) axis is the central mediator of the stress response. The supramammillary (SuM) region is relatively unique among the hypothalamic structures in that it sends a large, direct projection to the hippocampal formation. It has been shown that mild stress could activate the SuM cells that project to the hippocampus. However, the role of these cell populations in modulating the stress response is not known. The present study examined the effect of stress on different populations of SuM cells that project to the hippocampus by injecting the fluorescent retrograde tracer, fluorogold (FG), into the hippocampus and utilizing the immunohistochemistry of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF), serotonin (5-HT), glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and NADPH-d reactivity. Immobilization (IMO) stress (2 hr) produced an increase in the expression of ChAT- immunoreactivity, and tended to increase in CRF, 5-HT, GAD, TH-immunoreactivity and nitric oxide (NO)-reactivity in the SuM cells. Fifty-three percent of 5-HT, 31% of ChAT and 56% of CRF cells were double stained with retrograde cells from the hippocampus. By contrast, a few retrogradely labeled cells projecting to the hippocampus were immunoreactive for dopamine, ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and NO. These results suggest that the SuM region contains distinct cell populations that differentially respond to stress. In addition, the findings suggest that serotonergic, cholinergic and corticotropin releasing cells projecting to the hippocampus within the SuM nucleus may play an important role in modulating stress-related behaviors.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.249-255
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• 2009

All living things have been developed efficient strategies to cope with external and internal environmental changes via a process termed 'homeostasis'. However, chronic prenatal maternal stress may significantly contributes to pregnancy complications by disturbing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the automatic nervous system (ANS), and results in unfavorable development of the fetus. Dysregulation of these two major stress response systems lead to the increased secretion of the glucocorticoids (GCs) which are known to be essential for normal development and the maturation of the central nervous system. As Hox genes are master key regulators of the embryonic morphogenesis and cell differentiation, we aimed to determine the effects of dexamethasone, a potent synthetic glucocorticoid, on gene expression in mesenchymal stem cell C3H10T1/2. Analysis of 39 Hox genes based on reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) method revealed that the expression patterns of Hox genes were overall upregulated by long dexametasone treatment. These results indicate that maternal stress may have a deleterious effect on early developing embryo through the stress hormone, glucocorticoid.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.609-627
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• 1992

The study was carried out to obtain the basic data for types, incidence and histopathological features of the spontaneous tumors of the specific pathogen free (SPF) Ktc : ICR mice bred in a barrier system in Technology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology. One hundred of the mice consisted of 50 males and 50 females were examined for 18 months. 1. The overall incidence rate of spontaneous tumors was 51(51%) of 100 heads tested. The male mice showed slightly higher incidence(28%) than the female(23%), and the incidence rate and the number of affected organs were increased with the increasing age of mice. 2. The incidence rate of primary tumor was 59(59%) of 100 heads tested, consisted of 30 cases (50.8%) of benign tumors and 29 cases(49.2%) of malignant tumors. Among the malignant tumors twenty cases were metastasized to various organs. 3. In tumor incidence rates by systems and organs, the male mice showed the high incidence rate in the liver (18%), hematopoietic system (16% ) and lung (14%), while the female mice, in the hematopoietic system(18%), lung(12%), liver(8%) and uterus(8%). 4. The tumors showing the particularly low incidence rates (<1.0%) were rhabdomyosarcoma in the skeletal muscle, malignant schwannoma in the peripheral nerve, cortical adenoma in the adrenal gland, transitional cell carcinoma in the urinary bladder, tubular cell adenoma in the kidney and adenoma in the pituitary gland and harderian gland.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.22-36
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• 2000

The mammary gland contains a subpopulation of epithelial cells with large proliferative potentials which are the likely targets for carcinogens. These clonogenic cells can proliferate and differentiate into functional glandular structures. Multicellular secretory alveolar units (AU) develop from these clonogens in grafts of monodispersed rat mammary epithelial cells (RMEC) in gland-free mammary fat pads in intact recipient F344 rats co-grafted with mammotropic hormone-secreting pituitary tumors (MtT F4). Multicellular nonsecretory ductal units (DU) develop in grafts of monodispersed RMEC in gland-free fat pads in adrenalectomized recipient WF rats co-grafted with MtT W10. However, this effect were reversed by hydrocortisone replacement therapy. RMEC were isolated from appropriate donor rats as monodispersed mixed cells or, alternatively, RNA＋ cells were sorted by flow cytometry of mixed RMEC stained with FITC-RNA and PE-anti-Thy-1.1 monoclonal antibody. We grafted mixed or sorted PNA+ cells in gland-free mammary fat pads in recipient rats that were endocrinologically manipulated to induce AU or DU. Cells were also isolated from these AU or DU as mixed or sorted RNA＋ cells and sub-transplanted in recipient rats treated appropriately to induce AU or DU, respectively. Cells obtained from AU in grafts gave rise to clonal AU and from DU in grafts to DU on sub-transplantation in appropriate recipients. When adrenalectomized recipient WF rats co-grafted with MtT W10 received daily subcutaneous injections of hydrocortisone for periods of 21 days following the PHA＋ cell transplantation, AU, instead of DU, were developed. The histologies of these secondary AU and DU were not different from those of the primary AU and DU. Casein and laminin proteins were demonstrated by immunocytochemical staining of primary and secondary AU. Electron micrographs also demonstrated that AU were composed of secretory cells with milk protein in the cytoplasm. DU were composed of little or non-secretory ductal epithelial cells. These AU and DU also secreted large amounts of lipids. Clonogenic cells were more common in DU than in AU. Thus, AU and DU contain persistent subpopulations of clonogenic stem-like cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.77-83
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• 2024

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by neuronal cell death and memory impairment. Corticosterone (CORT) is a glucocorticoid hormone produced by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in response to a stressful condition. Excessive stress and high CORT levels are known to cause neurotoxicity and aggravate various diseases, whereas mild stress and low CORT levels exert beneficial actions under pathophysiological conditions. However, the effects of mild stress on AD have not been clearly elucidated yet. In this study, the effects of low (3 and 30 nM) CORT concentration on Aβ_25-35-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells and underlying molecular mechanisms have been investigated. Cytotoxicity caused by Aβ_25-35 was significantly inhibited by the low concentration of CORT treatment in the cells. Furthermore, CORT pretreatment significantly reduced Aβ_25-35-mediated pro-apoptotic signals, such as increased Bim/Bcl-2 ratio and caspase-3 cleavage. Moreover, low concentration of CORT treatment inhibited the Aβ_25-35-induced cyclooxygenase-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokine expressions, including tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β. Aβ_25-35 resulted in intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, which were effectively reduced by the low CORT concentration. As a molecular mechanism, low CORT concentration activated the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2, a redox-sensitive transcription factor mediating cellular defense and upregulating the expression of antioxidant enzymes, such as NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase, glutamylcysteine synthetase, and manganese superoxide dismutase. These findings suggest that low CORT concentration exerts protective actions against Aβ_25-35-induced neurotoxicity and might be used to treat and/or prevent AD.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.93-102
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• 1998

Normal and abnormal follicular growth and steroidogenesis depend on gonadotropins as well as intraovarian peptides, which may mediate or potentiate gonadotropin action. Inhibin also affect follicular development and steroidogenesis and may play a role in dominant follicle selection and follicular atresia. Therefore, we studied the differences of serum inhibin, gonadotropin and androgen levels in the women with only the ultrasound findings and no disorder, and polycystic ovary (PCO) with ovulatory disturbance. We prospectively analysed forty-three women with PCO. The diagnosis of PCO was based on typical appearance of the ovaries on TVS. Twelve women with regular menstrual cycle and normal ovarian morphology were selected as control. Basal levels of inhibin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol $(E_2)$, testosterone (T), androstenedione (ADD), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DS), prolactin and TSH in serum were determined. There were significant differences in basal LH levels and LH/FSH ratio between the control and the women with PCO. The basal levels of inhibin and $E_2$ in the oligo-amenorrheic PCO (N=34) were significantly higher than those in the control. There was higher negative correlation between the inhibin and T levels in the oligo-amenorrheic PCO, but, not in the regular cycling PCO. Also, there was higher positive correlation between the LH and T levels in the oligo-amenorrheic PCO, but not in the regular cycling PCO. These data presume that the initial event of PCO is elevated pituitary LH secretion. Elevated levels of LH may down-regulate LH receptors on granulosa cells and also cause hypertrophy of the thecal layer. High level of androgen secreted by the hypertrophied thecal layer may stimulate inhibin secretion from granulosa cells and can be converted to estrogen by extraovarian tissues and could serve to augment pituitary sensitivity to GnRH with a resultant secretion of more LH than FSH. Inhibin may inhibit FSH action on granulosa cell in the PCO follicle, impairing follicular development and dominant follicle selection resulted in ovulatory disturbance.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.197-206
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• 2007

P2X receptors are membrane-bound ion channels that conduct $Na^+,\;K^+$, and $Ca^{2+}$ in response to ATP and its analogs. There are seven subunits identified so far ($P2X_1-P2X_7$). $P2X_2$ receptors are known to be expressed in a wide range of organs including brains and adrenal grands. PC12 cells are originated from adrenal grand and differentiated by nerve growth factor or pituitary adenylate cyclase activating poly peptide (PACAP). Previous studies indicate that $P2X_2$ receptor activation in PC12 cells couples to $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ release of catecholamine and ATP. It is known that acidic pH potentiates ATP currents at $P2X_2$ receptors. This leads to a hypothesis that $P2X_2$ receptors may play an important role in PC12 cell differentiation, one of the characteristics of which is neurite outgrowth, induced by the hormones under lower pH. In the present study, we isolated several clones which potentiate neurite outgrowth by PACAP in acidic pH (6.8), but not in alkaline pH (7.6). RT-PCR and electrophysiology data indicate that these clones express only functional $P2X_2$ receptors in the absence or presence of PACAP for 3 days. Potentiation of neurite outgrowth resulted from PACAP (100 nM) in acidic pH is inhibited by the two P2X receptor antagonists, suramin and PPADS ($100\;{\mu}M)$ each), and exogenous exprerssion of ATP-binding mutant $P2X_2$ receptor subunit ($P2X_2[K69A]$). However, acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) are not involved in PACAP-induced neurite outgrowth potentiation in lower pH since treatments of an inhibitor of ASICs, amyloride ($10\;{\mu}M$), did not give any effects to neurite extension. The vesicular proton pump ($H^+-ATPase$) inhibitor, bafilomycin (100 nM), reduced neurite extension indicating that ATP release resulted from $P2X_2$ receptor activation in PC12 cells is needed for neurite outgrowth. These were confirmed by activation of mitogen activated protein kinases, such as ERKs and p38. These results suggest roles of ATP and $P2X_2$ receptors in hormone-induced cell differentiation or neuronal synaptogenesis in local acidic environments.