• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.195-203
• /
• 2023

Exposure to environmental chemicals, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals, during the gestational period can have profound adverse effects on several organs in offspring. Bisphenol A (BPA) can infiltrate the human body through food and drinks, and its metabolites can cross both the placental and the blood-brain barriers. In this study, we investigate the effect of gestational exposure to BPA on epigenetic, biochemical, and histological modifications in the uterine tissues of F1 adult offspring rats. Pregnant rats were exposed to BPA from gestational day 8-15, and changes in global DNA methylation in uterine tissues obtained from adult offspring born to the exposed mothers were analyzed. Global DNA methylation analysis revealed that gestational exposure to BPA resulted in DNA hypomethylation in the uterus. Progesterone receptor (PR) protein expression in uterine tissues was monitored using western blot analysis, which revealed that the PR protein content was considerably higher in all BPA-exposed groups than in the control. Immunohistochemical examination for the PR revealed that intense PR-positive cells were more frequently observed in the BPA-exposed group than in the control group. To date, the evidence that the upregulation of PRs observed in the present study was caused by the non-methylation of specific PR promoter regions is lacking. Conclusively, these results indicate that exposure to BPA during gestation induces epigenetic alterations in the uteri of adult female offspring. We speculate that the global DNA hypomethylation and upregulation of the PR observed simultaneously in this study might be associated with the uterus.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.41-51
• /
• 2003

Reproductive cycle with the gonadal development of Ruditapes philippinarum can be classified into five successive stages by histological observations: early active stage (January to March), late active stage (February to May), ripe stage (April to August), partially spawned stage (May to October), and spent/inactive stage (August to February). Changes in total protein contents in the adductor muscle tissues reached the maximum in the early and late active stages (February) and appeared the minimum in the ripe and partially spawned stages (May), while changes in their contents in the visceral mass tissues reached the maximum in the ripe and partially spawned stages (June) and gradually decreased in the partially spawned stage (June to October). On the whole, changes in total protein contents showed a negative correlationship between the adductor muscle and visceral mass tissues (r = -0.292, p < 0.05). Changes in total lipid contents in the adductor muscle tissues reached the maximum in the inactive and early active stages (January) and sharply decreased in the early and late active stages (February), while their contents in the visceral mass tissues reached the maximum in the ripe and partially spawned stages (April) and gradually decreased in the partially spawned stage (to October). On the whole, changes in total lipid contents showed a negative correlationship between the adductor muscle and visceral mass tissues (r = -0.699, p<0.05). Changes in glycogen contents in the adductor muscle tissues reached the maximum in the late active and ripe stages (April) and rapidly decreased in the partially spawned stage (May to October), while their contents in the visceral mass tissues reached the maximum in the early and late active stages (February) and rapidly decreased in the late active stage (March). Thereafter, their levels gradually increased in the ripe and partially spawned stages (April to July). On the whole, changes in glycogen contents appeared no correlationship between the adductor muscle and visceral mass tissues (r = 0.062, p > 0.05). These results indicate that the adductor muscle and visceral mass tissues are an important energy storage and nutrient supply organ in the Manila clams, and the nutrient contents of the adductor muscle and visceral muscle tissues change in response to gonadal energy needs.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.5.1-5.8
• /
• 2014

Healthcare-associated infection represents a frequent cause of mortality that increases hospital costs. Due to increasing microbial resistance to antibiotics, it is necessary to search for alternative therapies. Consequently, novel alternatives for the control of resistant microorganisms have been studied. Among them, plant antimicrobial protein presents enormous potential, with flowers being a new source of antimicrobial molecules. In this work, the antimicrobial activity of protein-rich fractions from flower tissues from 18 different species was evaluated against several human pathogenic bacteria. The results showed that protein-rich fractions of 12 species were able to control bacterial development. Due its broad inhibition spectrum and high antibacterial activity, the protein-rich fraction of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis was subjected to DEAE-Sepharose chromatography, yielding a retained fraction and a non-retained fraction. The retained fraction inhibits 29.5% of Klebsiella pneumoniae growth, and the non-retained fraction showed 31.5% of growth inhibition against the same bacteria. The protein profile of the chromatography fractions was analyzed by using SDS-PAGE, revealing the presence of two major protein bands in the retained fraction, of 20 and 15 kDa. The results indicate that medicinal plants have the biotechnological potential to increase knowledge about antimicrobial protein structure and action mechanisms, assisting in the rational design of antimicrobial compounds for the development of new antibiotic drugs.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.2 no.4
• /
• pp.328-332
• /
• 1997

The ripe fruit of Hass avocado contains one of the highest elvels of cytochrome P-450 protein found in the plant kingdom. To determine whether wounded roots of avocado contain P-450 protein, the roots of avocado were wounded by slicing, and then allowed to incubate in sealed plastic bags, in 0.4M mannitol, and in the solution to make protoplast preparation containing cellulysin and macerase during the specified times. The microsomal proteins were extracted from the samples, separated by SDS-PAGE, and then subjected to Western blot analysis using polyclonal antibodies which are generated against the CYP71A1 protein. wounded roots in sealed bags produced CYP71A1 within 6 hours after cutting, and those in 0.4M mannitol did not produce CYP71A1 even after 72 hours, but those in the protoplast preparation by cellulysin and macerase induced and produced CYP71A was induced in only 24 hours. These results indicate that CYP 71A1 plays a role for wound healing for root tissue o avocado, and would-inducible P-450 protein was not detected in the mannitol solution by preventing a synthesis of ethylene in a liquid state, but the softening of tissues by cellulysin and macerase to make protoplast preparation was involved in an activation of CYP 71A1 even in the liquid state.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.1 no.4
• /
• pp.247-253
• /
• 2007

Alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (${\alpha}$-TTP) is a liver cytosolic transport protein that faciliates ${\alpha}$-tocopherol (${\alpha}$-T) transfer into liver secreted plasma lipoproteins. Genetic defects in ${\alpha}$-TTP, like dietary vitamin E deficiency, are associated with infertility, muscular weakness and neurological disorders. Both human and ${\alpha}$-TTP deficient (${\alpha}-TTP^{-/-}$) mice exhibit severe plasma and tissue vitamin E deficiency that can be attenuated by sufficient dietary ${\alpha}$-T supplementations. In this review, we summarize the literature concerning studies utilizing the ${\alpha}-TTP^{-/-}$ mice. Levels of vitamin E in the ${\alpha}-TTP^{-/-}$ mice do not appear to be directly related to the amounts of dietary ${\alpha}$-T or to the levels of ${\alpha}$-TTP protein in tissues. The ${\alpha}-TTP^{-/-}$ mice appear to present a good model for investigating the specific role of ${\alpha}$-T in tissue vitamin E metabolism. Furthermore, ${\alpha}-TTP^{-/-}$ mice appear to be useful to elucidate functions of ${\alpha}$-TTP beyond its well recognized functions of transferring ${\alpha}$-T from liver to plasma lipoprotein fractions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
• /
• 2015.05a
• /
• pp.954-957
• /
• 2015

A recombinant baculovirus vector systems were composed of genes of polyhedron promoter, vesicular stomatitis virus G (VSVG), polyA, cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter, enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), and protein transduction domain (PTD). These recombinant baculovirus vector system were transfected into various cell lines and tissues and confirmed gene transfer and expression of these vector systems with only control vector system. From the result, gene transfer and gene expression of recombinant baculovirus vector systems were superior in terms of efficacy and safety than in the control vector system.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.522-529
• /
• 1991

The purpose of this research is to evaluate effects of chloramphenicol, phenobarbital and progesterone on damage of DNA, RNA and protein which was induced by dimethylnitrosamine. $N,N-Di[^{14}C]$ methyl-nitrosamine (DMN) was used as a damaging agent and levels of DNA, RNA and protein damage in liver, brain and pancreas were compared with a control group. Pretreatment of mice with chloramphenicol increased protein damage in pancreas two times more than the control level. Liver RNA damage was increased up to 5.8 times and brain DNA damage up to 6.95 times by treatment of phenobarbital but brain RNA damage was decreased significantly down to 21% of the control group. The damage of liver RNA was significantly decreased by treatment of progesterone, although liver protein damage, pancreas RNA damage and pancreas protein damage were increased.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
• /
• 2016.10a
• /
• pp.923-926
• /
• 2016

Baculovirus vectors were reconstructed using cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter, polyhedron promoter, vesicular stomatitis virus G (VSVG), enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), and protein transduction domain (PTD) genes. These reconstructed vector was transfected into various cell lines and tissues. We compared this reconstructed vector with other control vectors in view of gene transfer and gene expression. In conclusion, we confirmed that gene transfer and expression of these reconstructed vectors was higher efficient than any other control vector.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.219-223
• /
• 2012

The present study was performed to identify the relationship between plasminogen activator (PA) and Heat Shock Protein-90 (HSP-90) in porcine uterus tissues during the estrous cycle. Porcine uterus tissues were obtained from preovulatory (Pre-Ov), post-ovulatory (Post-Ov) and early to mid-luteal (Early-mid L) stages. The protein was extracted from uterus tissue by using M-PER Mammalian Protein Extraction Reagent. Proteins were refined by RIPA Buffer and quantified by BCA methods. As results, t-PA expression was significantly (p<0.05) higher from pre-ovulatory(Epithelium tissue: $29,067{\mu}g/{\mu}l$, Myometrium tissue: $30,797{\mu}g/{\mu}l$) compared to the post-ovulatory stage(Epithelium tissue: $54,357{\mu}g/{\mu}l$, Myometrium tissue: $53,270{\mu}g/{\mu}l$) and early to mid-luteal stage(Epithelium tissue: $42,380{\mu}g/{\mu}l$, Myometrium tissue: $43,139{\mu}g/{\mu}l$). On the other hand, the uPA expression indicated higher from early to mid-luteal stage (Epithelium tissue: $0.02198{\mu}g/{\mu}l$, Myometrium tissue: $0.02412{\mu}g/{\mu}l$) than pre-ovulatory stage (Epithelium tissue: $0.01577{\mu}g/{\mu}l$, Myometrium tissue: $0.01531{\mu}g/{\mu}l$) and post-ovulatory stage(Epithelium tissue: $0.01414{\mu}g/{\mu}l$, Myometrium tissue: $0.01429{\mu}g/{\mu}l$). However, expression of u-PA did not differ from each estrous cycle in the epithelium tissue and myometrium tissue(p<0.05). Expression of HSP-90 was differ t-PA and u-PA from pre-ovulatory in Epithelium tissue($25,423{\mu}g/{\mu}l$) and early to mid-luteal stage in epithelium tissue($177,922{\mu}g/{\mu}l$) and myometrium tissue($26,664{\mu}g/{\mu}l$). These results suggest that HSP-90 and u-PA were related with change of uterus cycle according to the reformation of the tissues in porcine uterus.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.49 no.6
• /
• pp.420-428
• /
• 2016

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the effects of Cirsium setidens ethanolic extract (CS) on the development of alcoholic fatty liver and associated injury. Methods: Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed either Lieber-DeCarli control (C) or ethanol (35.5% of total calories) liquid diet with 0 (E), 100 mg/kgBW CS (E+LCS), or 500 mg/kgBW CS (E+HCS) for 8 weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities as well as TG and cholesterol concentrations in the serum and liver tissues were measured by colorimetric assays. Liver histopathology was examined by Hematoxylin-eosin staining of the fixed liver tissues. Protein levels of phosphorylated-AMP activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), phosphorylated-acetyl CoA carboxylase (p-ACC), phosphorylated-nuclear factor kappa B (p-$NF{\kappa}B$), and $TNF{\alpha}$ were measured by Western blot analyses. Results: Both doses of CS markedly suppressed alcohol-induced lipid droplets accumulation in the liver tissues and significantly inhibited alcohol-induced increases in activities of serum ALT and serum AST. Similarly, CS significantly reduced hepatic and serum TG concentrations. Compared to groups fed alcohol only, CS supplementation strongly increased hepatic levels of p-AMPK and p-ACC. Further, CS significantly inhibited alcohol-induced phosphorylation of $NF{\kappa}B$, which was associated with reduced hepatic protein levels of $TNF{\alpha}$. Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that CS has a protective effect against alcoholic liver injury, which was associated with activation of AMPK and inhibition of $NF{\kappa}B$.