• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2000

This study compared the permeability of $[^3H]taurine,\;[^3H]phenylalanine,\;and\;[^3H]oxytocin$ through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in mice and rats with common carotid artery perfusion (CCAP) method that modified internal carotid artery perfusion (ICAP) method. External carotid artery (ECA) was cannulated with coagulating pterygopalatine artery (PPA) in ICAP method, while CCA was cannulated without coagulating PPA in CCAP method. Also, for evaluation of BBB permeability of drugs in mice and rats, we used intravenous injection technique. The results of CCAP method in mice at a perfusion flow-rate of 2 ml/min, the brian volume of distribution $(V_D)$ of $[^{14}C]sucrose,\;[^3H]taurine,\;[^3H]phenylalanine,\;and\;[^3H]oxytocin$ were similar to the result of ICAP method in rats at perfusion flow rate of 4 ml/min. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve and brain uptake of $[^3H]taurine$ by intravenous injection technique, were $65.5{\pm}9.7%ID^*min/ml\;and\;0.515{\pm}0.093%ID/g$, respectively, in mice, and the corresponding values were $8.00{\pm}0.03%ID^*min/ml\;and\;0.052{\pm}0.003%ID/g$ in rats. But the BBB permeability surface-area product of $[^3H]taurine$ was similar between mice and rats. In conclusion, the CCAP method in mice was simple, fast and comparable to ICAP method in rats for drug permeability through the BBB.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.368-373
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• 1998

Plasma amino acid concentration and Urinary exretion of free amino acids were measured in health female vegetarians(n=20, 19.9 $\pm$0.43 years old ) and age-mateched imnivores(n=20, 21.9$\pm$0.38years old) in Korean. differences infasting plasma amino acid concentrations and plasma aminogram pattern were not spectacular between the vegetarian and omnivore controls. Compared to the omnivores, vegetarians showed significantly lower plasma levels of methionine , phenylalanine, $\alpha$-aminobutyrate, citrulline, phosposerine and tarurine, and significantly higher plasma concentrations of arginine, $\alpha$-aminobutyrate, cirtrulline, phosphosierine and taurine, and significantly higher plasma concentrations of arginine, $\alpha$-aminoadipate, asparagine, aspartate, glutamate and ornithine. Although these differences were statistically significant, they were all within the normal range (21~70% differences )for human adults. Most of the urinary amino acids (nmol/mg creatinine or $\mu$mol/24 hr urine) were excreted to significantly lesser degree in vegetarians than was the case in omnivore controls. For almost every individual free amino acid, plasma concentration did not significantly correlate with urinary excretion level. These results indicate that vegetarians excreted less amino acids in their urine than did dominivores, most probably in an effort to maintain amino acid homeostasis to an altered dietary protein intake level and/or amino acid composition of their diets.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1253-1261
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• 1998

Effects of dietary cholesterol and taurine supplementation on hepatic total and phospholipid fatty acid compositions were evaluated in rats fed one of the following semisynthetic diets for 5 weeks : control diet(CD, cholesterol free and taurine free diet); high cholesterol diet(HCD, CD＋1.5% cho lesterol); high cholesterol, high taurine diet(HCHTD, HCD＋1.5% taurine). Diet induced changes in hepatic total fatty acid compositions were very similar to those in hepatic phospholipid fatty acid compositions. The HCD significantly decreased the percentage of total saturated fatty acids(SFA), and increased the percentage of total monounsaturated fatty acids(MUFA) of hepatic total lipids and phospholipids as compared to the values for the control rats(p<0.001). HCHTD significantly elevated the percentage of $\Sigma$SFA and lowered the percentage of $\Sigma$MUFA compared to the values for the HCD(p<0.001). Percentages of hepatic total and phospholipid 18:3$\omega$3, 20:5$\omega$3, 18:2$\omega$6 and 20:3$\omega$6 were significantly higher in rats fed the HCD than the values for the control rats, and the percentages of their elongation and desaturation products(22:5$\omega$3, 22:6$\omega$3, 20:4$\omega$6, 22l:4$\omega$6 and 22: 5$\omega$6) were significantly lower in rats fed the HCD compared to those for the control rats. HCD significantly lowered the Δ5 desaturation(20:3$\omega$6⇒20:4$\omega$6) and Δ4 desaturation(22:4$\omega$6⇒22:5$\omega$6) indices, and the elongation index of $\omega$3 fatty acid(20:5 $\omega$3⇒22:5$\omega$3) in rat liver. HCHTD reversed the cholesterol induced changes in the compositions of $\omega$3 and $\omega$6 fatty acids. These results suggest the possibility that dietary cholesterol and taurine supplementations affect plasma and liver lipid levels, at least in part, by changing the hepatic phospholipid fatty acid compositions and thereby modulating the physical characteristics of the membrane and the activities of microsomal enzymes involved in lipid metabolism.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.729-736
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-oxidative effects of pyruvate, taurine and melatonin on sperm characteristics(motility, membrane integrity) and lipid peroxidation(LPO) for in vitro storage of boar semen. Semen was treated with various antioxidants such as pyruvate(1mM), taurine(50mM) and melatonin(100nM) with or without 100uM H2O2. Antioxidant treatments were significantly increased the sperm motility when compare to control group in all incubation periods(P≤0.05). Hypoosmotic swelling test(HOST), membrane integrity was similar to the result of motility. In lipid peroxidation measurement by TBA reactions of spermatozoal plasma membrane, malondialdehyde(MDA) level in control and antioxidant treatments were lower than those of antioxidant plus H2O2 or H2O2 treatment for 3 to 6 h incubation period. Relationships of evaluation methods for sperm viability were investigated by motility, membrane integrity and lipid peroxidation. Among evaluation methods, LPO vs motility and membrane integrity vs LPO were negatively correlated(－0.23~－0.92 and －0.68~－0.85), but membrane integrity vs motility was positively correlated (0.53~0.94) in all treatments. These experiments indicate that supplementation of antioxidant to the semen extender can increase the sperm motility and membrane integrity and decrease the lipid peroxidation of spermatozoal plasma membrane. The HOST might be utilized to evaluate the sperm quality instead of lipid peroxidation or motility.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.37-50
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• 1972

An analysis of the free amino acid contained in the plasma and erythrocytes of the six groups of Wistar Strain male adult rats(body weight 200-300g) having fasted for sixteen hours was made by means of the HITACHI Amino Acid Autoanalyzer and the result of which was corrected with RC-24 B TOMY Micro Hematocrit Centrifuge. There was a depression of the plasma and erythrocytes free amino acid level on the noprotein diet with ad libitum feeding. But on the 20% casein diet there was an elevation in the levels of free amino acid and consequently alanine, glysine, lysine, serine and arginine level in the erythrocytes and threonine glutamic acid and taurine level in the plasma increased on the high protein diet. There was more plasma and erythrocytes free amino acid level on the 5% casein-30% fat diet than on the 5% casein-no fat diet with pair-feeding. In comparison, on the low calorie diet more free amino acids were found in plasma than in erythrocytes, but on the higher calorie diet more free amino acids were found in the erythrocytes than in the plasma. On the 20% casein-30% fat diet with pair-feeding the erythrocytes free amino acids level increased but in plasma free amino acids level decreased. Such as an opposite result was given in plasma and erythrocytes free amino acids level. In the pair-fed four groups, erythrocytes per plasma generally increased in the rate of less than 10.0 as the calorie increased. The essential amino acid per non essential amino acid generally increased in the ratio as protein level and calorie increased, and that ratio range was from 0.2 to 0.7. And essential amino acid per non essential amino acid of plasma was higher than that of erythrocytes.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.69-84
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• 1971

An analysis of the free amino acid contained in the plasma and erythrocytes of the six groups of Wistar Strain male adult rats (body weight 200-300g) having fasted for sixteen hours was made by means of the HITACHI Amino Acid Autoanalyzer and the result of which was corrected with RC-24B TOMY Micro Hematocrit Centrifuge. There was a depression of the plasma and erythrocytes free amino acid level on the no-protein diet with ad libitum feeding. But on the 20% casein diet there was an elevation in the levels of free amino acid and consequently alanine, glysine, lysine, serine and arginine level in the erythrocytes and threonine, glutamic acid and taurine level in the plasma increased on the high protein diet. There was more plasma and erythrocytes free amino acid level on the 5% casein- 30% fat diet than on the 5% casein-no fat diet with pair-feeding. In comparison, on the low calorie diet more free amino acids were found in plasma than in erythrocytes, but on the higher calorie diet more free amino acids were found in the erythrocytes than in the plasma. On the 20% casein-30% fat diet with pair-feeding the erythrocytes free amino acids level increased but in plasma free amino acids level decreased. Such as an opposite result was given in plasma and erythrocytes free amino acids level. In the pair-fed four groups, erythrocytes per plasma generally increased in the rate of less than 10.0 as the calorie increased. The essential amino acid per non essential amino acid generally increased in the ratio as protein level and calorie increased, and that ratio range was from 0.2 to 0.7. And essential amino acid per non essential amino acid of plasma was higher than that of erythrocytes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.137-137
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• 1998

Stability, efficacy, absorption and toxicity of a new nasal spray formulation including salmon calcitonin were studied in the laboratory animals. After the effects of many excipients on the stability of salmon calcitonin were evaluated using HPLC system, we selected taurine. Our experimental composition of salmon calcitonin contains taurine as a stabilizer and HPMC (hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose) as an adhesive polymer. After intranasal administration of salmon calcitonin formulations, Mia$\^$(R)/, Men$\^$(R)/ and experimental composition, 22 IU to rats, the reduction percentages of calcium concentration in plasma (ΔD%) were 16.3%, 12.9% and 20.8%, respectively. After intranasal administration of Mia$\^$(R)/, Men$\^$(R)/ and experimental composition to rats, C$\sub$MAX/ (205${\pm}$161, 244${\pm}$117, and 330${\pm}$202 pg/$m\ell$, respectively) and AUC (41585${\pm}$22070, 41191${\pm}$19125, and 63357${\pm}$43126 pg. min/$m\ell$, respectively) were calculated. The permeation coefficients 10$\^$-7/,cm/sec) of salmon calcitonin in Mia$\^$(R)/, Men$\^$(R)/ and experimental composition using Ussing chamber with rabbit nasal mucosa were 4.7${\pm}$1.5, 0.75${\pm}$0.4 and 5.3${\pm}$1.1, respectively. The experimental composition with taurine and HPMC was proved to be excellent because it improved the stability of salmon calcitonin and inhanced the absorption of salmon calcitonin and was not irritative to the nasal mucosa.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2018

Alterations in sulfur amino acid metabolism are associated with an increased risk of a number of common late-life diseases, which raises the possibility that metabolism of sulfur amino acids may change with age. The present study was conducted to understand the age-related changes in hepatic metabolism of sulfur amino acids in 2-, 6-, 18- and 30-month-old male C57BL/6 mice. For this purpose, metabolite profiling of sulfur amino acids from methionine to taurine or glutathione (GSH) was performed. The levels of sulfur amino acids and their metabolites were not significantly different among 2-, 6- and 18-month-old mice, except for plasma GSH and hepatic homocysteine. Plasma total GSH and hepatic total homocysteine levels were significantly higher in 2-month-old mice than those in the other age groups. In contrast, 30-month-old mice exhibited increased hepatic methionine and cysteine, compared with all other groups, but decreased hepatic S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine and homocysteine, relative to 2-month-old mice. No differences in hepatic reduced GSH, GSH disulfide, or taurine were observed. The hepatic changes in homocysteine and cysteine may be attributed to upregulation of cystathionine ${\beta}-synthase$ and down-regulation of ${\gamma}-glutamylcysteine$ ligase in the aged mice. The elevation of hepatic cysteine levels may be involved in the maintenance of hepatic GSH levels. The opposite changes of methionine and SAM suggest that the regulatory role of SAM in hepatic sulfur amino acid metabolism may be impaired in 30-month-old mice.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.976-985
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• 1995

Changes in free amino acid concentrations is blood and various tissues were evaluated in cats adapted to the low-protein diet(20% protein, LPD) or the high-protein diet(60% protein, HPD) for 5 weeks. Cumulative body weigth gain for the 5 week period was 463$\pm$43g, and -128$\pm$40g for cats fed HPD and LPD, respectively. Feeding HPD significantly increased the size of liver and kidney. Cats adapted to HPD for 5 weeks have significantly elevated plasma concrntrations of essential amino acids (branched-chain amino acides, threonine, trytophan, phenylalanine and methoionine), whereas plasma levels of non-essential amino acids(alanine, asparagine, glycine, glutamine and serine) were significantly reduced in animals adapted to HPD(p<0.01, or p<0.001) compared to the values for the cats fed LPD. Changes in free amino acid concentratioks in whole blood induced by the variations in dietary level of protein closely reflect the pattern seen in plasma. Amino acids such as branched-chain amino acids, proline and threonine were most difficult to maintain homeostasis and consistantly elevated in lever, kidney, skeletal muscle and brain, as well as in blood of cats adapted to HPD(p<0.01 or p<0.001). All of the free amino acids in jejunum, excluding taurine and ornithine, were significantly elevated in animals adapted to HPD, most probably due to the rapid absorption of large amount of amino acids across the epithelium of small intestine.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.281-287
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• 2008

Impairment of hepatic metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids has been known to be linked with induction of liver injury. We determined the early changes in the transsulfuration reactions in liver of rats challenged with a toxic dose of $CCl_4$ (2 mmol/kg, ip). Both hepatic methionine concentration and methionine adenosyltransferase activity were increased, but S-adenosylmethionine level did not change. Hepatic cysteine was increased significantly from 4 h after $CCl_4$ treatment. Glutathione (GSH) concentration in liver was elevated in $4{\sim}8$ h and then returned to normal in accordance with the changes in glutamate cysteine ligase activity. Cysteine dioxygenase activity and hypotaurine concentration were also elevated from 4 h after the treatment. However, plasma GSH concentration was increased progressively, reaching a level at least several fold greater than normal in 24 h. ${\gamma}$-Glutamyltransferase activity in kidney or liver was not altered by $CCl_4$, suggesting that the increase in plasma GSH could not be attributed to a failure of GSH cycling. The results indicate that acute liver injury induced by $CCl_4$ is accompanied with extensive alterations in the metabolomics of sulfurcontaining amino acids and related substances. The major metabolites and products of the transsulfuration pathway, including methionine, cysteine, hypotaurine, and GSH, are all increased in liver and plasma. The physiological significance of the change in the metabolomics of sulfur-containing substances and its role in the induction of liver injury need to be explored in future studies.