• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.7 no.1_2
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• pp.53-57
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• 1992

Amount of lead burden in a tissue reflects poisoning of lead in that tissue, so is the removal of lead directly connected to curement of lead poisoning. The purpose of present study was to investigate the relative effects of penicillamine and thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTFD) or thiamine propyl disulfide (TPD) in the removal of lead from rat brain tissue treated with excessive lead. Wistar rat pups of both sexes were used in this experiment. Within 1 day of parturition, experimental mothers nursing their pups as well as rat pups were given drinking water containing 0.2% lead acetate, TTFD 20mg/1.2 L (2 mg/kg/day), TPD 20 mg/1.2 L (2mg/kg/day), penicillamine 40 mg/1.2 L (40 mg/kg/day), 0.2% lead acetate+TTFD 20mg/1.2 L (2 mg/kg/day), 0.2% lead acetate+ TPD 20 mg/1.2 L (2 mg/kg/day) or 0.2% lead acetate+ penicillamine 40 mg/1.2 L (40 mg/kg/day) ad libitum, throughout the entire period of experiment. Rat pups in the control group received normal tap water. The animals were sacrificed by decapitation on the day when they become 2 or 8 weeks of age. Brains were dissected into five regions: telencephalon, diencephalon, midbrain, pons/medulla and cerebellum. The dissected brain tissues were lyophillized and then solubilized by acid mixture (nitric acid + sulfuric acid). Lead levels in the solubilized brain tissues were measured by the inductively coupled plasma. In lead-exposed rats, lead levels were significantly higher than those of control group in all brain legions, lead levels in brain regions of TTFD or TPD group were generally lower than those of control group. The simultaneous administration of lead with TTFD or TPD to animals caused significant decrement of lead from all brain regions. In the elimination of lead from brain regions, effectiveness of TTFD or TPD was equivalant to penicillamine.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.25-30
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• 2009

Objectives: To find the potential acupuncture points by using Trypan blue staining on the skin of rat and Nude mouse. Methods: 0.4% Trypan blue was applied to the skin of rat or Nude mouse previously treated by surfactant. Washing by warm saline was followed after enough application of trypan blue and surfactant. Frequency of Trypan blue application should be varied to the experimental animals' condition for visualizing significant spots. Results: Blue spots appeared roughly in symmetry along kidney meridian or stomach meridian. Several spots outside of kidney or stomach meridian were also observed; however, the detail stereoscopic images of those blue spots were slightly different according to the position blue-colored. DiI signals were visualized along blood vessel after DiI injection into the Trypan blue-visualized blue spots. Conclusion: Our method to visualize the potential acupuncture points as a blue spot on rat and Nude mouse skins may contribute to the next step for finding specific flowing channels among blue spots.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.754-761
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• 2001

Effects of dietary fatty acids and vitamin E on antioxidant vitamin status were studied in rat brain sections. Sources of dietary fat(10t%) were safflower oil(SO) poor in $\omega$3 fatty acid and mixed oil (MO) with computer-adjustd fatty acid ratios(AA/DHA=1.4, $\omega$6/$\omega$3=6.3, P/M/S=1.0/1.5/1, AA=2.%)with (ME) and without(MO) vitamin E(500mg/kg diet). Rats were fed the three kinds of diet from 3-4 wks prior to the conception. At the age of 3 & 9wks of the 2nd generation rat, antioxidant vitamins were measured in frontal cortex(FC), corpus striatum (CS), cerebellum(CB) and hippocampus(HP) using a multiwavelength, reverse phase gradient HPLC system. The levels of antioxidant vitamins converged to the similar value in all groups at 9 wks of age. Retinol, lycopene and cryptoxanthin levels of all experimental groups were found to be the highest in hippocampus at both 3 & 9wks of age. The levels of vitamin E appeared to be higher in the order of HP>CS-CB>FC in MO & ME. Beta-carotene and retinol showed the lowest level in hippocampus of vitamin E supplemented groups, even though vitamin E level tended to be higher in other sections. It seemed that vitamin E has an inhibitory action on the uptake of beta-carotene or acts as a preferred antioxidant to beta-carotene in certain section of the brain. By improving fatty acid balance (AA/DHA = 1.4, $\omega$6/$\omega$3=6.3, P/M/S=1.0/1.5/1, AA = 2%), the levels of vitamin E, retinol, lycopene & beta=carotene tended to be higher in MO than in SO, although crytoxanthin became lower at 3wks of age. In short, dietary fatty acids and vitamin E have different influence on antioxidant vitamin status in different rat brain sections. The higher levels of antioxidant vitamins in hippocampus should be pursued further in relation to behavioral development of rats.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.216-221
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• 2011

Objective: To differentiate the human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the defined culture condition and determine its therapeutic potential for the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases. Methods: The embryoid bodies were formed from hESCs and attached on the matrigel coated culture dishes. The neural structures consisting neural precursors were selected and expanded to form rosette structures. The mechanically isolated neural rosettes were differentiated into pigmented cells in the media comprised of N2 and B27. Expression profiles of markers related to RPE development were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunostaining. Dissociated putative RPE cells ($10^5$ cells/5 ${\mu}L$) were transplanted into the subretinal space of rat retinal degeneration model induced by intravenous sodium iodate injection. Animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after transplantation, and immnohistochemistry study was performed to verify the survival of the transplanted cells. Results: The putative RPE cells derived from hESC showed characteristics of the human RPE cells morphologically and expressed molecular markers and associated with RPE fate. Grafted RPE cells were found to survive in the subretinal space up to 4 weeks after transplantation, and the expression of RPE markers was confirmed with immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: Transplanted RPE cells derived from hESC in the defined culture condition successfully survived and migrated within subretinal space of rat retinal degeneration model. These results support the feasibility of the hESC derived RPE cells for cell-based therapies for retinal degenerative disease.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.759-769
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• 2004

Periodontal therapy has dealt primarily with attempts at arresting progression of disease, however, more recent techniques have focused on regenerating the periodontal ligament having the capacity to regenerate the periodontium. The effect of chitosan, a carbohydrate biopolymer extracted from chitin, on periodontal ligament regeneration is of particular interest. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of chitosan on the expression of extracellular matrix proteins in primary rat calvarial cells in Vitro. In the control group, cells was cultured with BGjb media. In the experimental groups, cells were cultured with chitosan in concentration of 0.01, 0.1, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/ml. Then each group was characterized by examining alkaline phosphatase activity at 3 and 7 days, and the ability to produce mineralized nodules of rat calvarial cells at 14 and 21 days. Synthesis of type I collagen (COL-I), osteocalcin (OCN), bone sialoprotein (BSP) was evaluated by RT-PCR at 14 days. The results were as follows: 1. Alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly higher in the concentration of chitosan 0.01mg/ml, 0.1mg/ml and 1.0mg/ml compared to control (p<0.05). 2. The percentage of mineralized bone nodule was more in the concentration of chitosan 0.1mg/ml and 1.0mg/ml than the control. 3. At 14 day culture, the expression of OCN was increased by chitosan in concentration of 1.0 mg/ml and 2.0 mg/ml. These results suggested that chitosan in concentration of 0.1 and 1,0 mg/ml stimulate the extracellular matrix of primary rat calvarial cells and may facilitate the formation of bone.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.400-404
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• 2007

The present study was carried out to investigate the antitumor activity of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) herbal extract in rat tumor model. We used a new tumor animal model for the invasion and metastasis of cancer using genetically k-ras-induced rat kidney cells (RK3E-ras). We observed tumor as early as 7 days after the injection of RK3E-ras cells in subcutaneous of Sprague-Dawley rats. All of the rats developed tumor mass at the inoculated site. After 7 days, the experimental groups were divided into two: saline control and injected with SM (200 mg/kg) groups. We investigated tumor's weight, size and hepatic metastasis of each group. Injection of SM herbal extract every other day for 14 days significantly inhibited tumor growth. Histologically, the tumors were undifferentiated carcinoma showing multifactorial necrosis and hemorrhage; also, the tumor invaded into hepatoportal region. Treatment with SM herbal extract caused significant inhibition of tumor cell proliferation. Our data showed that SM herbal extract is effective in controlling the tendency of tumor cell proliferation and metastasis by injection of RK3E-ras cells. These findings provided the potential value of SM as a novel antitumor agent candidate.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.159-168
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• 2000

Purpose: To elucidate the effects of the irradiation and calcium-deficient diet on expression of interleukin (IL)-1 during tooth formation of rat molar. Materials and Methods: The pregnant three-week-old Spague-Dawley rats were used for the study. The control group was non-irradiation/normal diet group, and the experimental groups were irradiation/normal diet group and irradiation/calcium-deficient diet group. The abdomen of the rats on the 9th day of pregnancy were irradiated with single dose of 350 cGy, The rat pups were sacrificed on the 14th day after delivery and the maxillae tooth germs were taken. The specimen were prepared to make sections for light microscopy, and some of tissue sections were stained immunohistochemically with anti-IL-l antibody. Results: In the irradiation/normal diet group, dental follicle showed fewer blood vessels, mononuclear cells, and fusions of mononuclear cells than in non-irradiation/normal diet group. Alveolar bone showed a few osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Periodontal ligament showed collagen fibers and fibroblasts with irregularity. Weak immunoreactivity for IL-l was shown in dental follicle, alveolar bone, and periodontal ligament. In the irradiation/calcium-deficient diet group, dental follicle showed sparse cellularity. Alveolar bone showed diminished number of osteoblasts. Periodontal ligament showed irregular collagen fibers and atrophy of cementoblasts and fibroblasts. No immunoreactivity for IL-1 was shown in dental follicle, alveolar bone, and periodontal ligament. Conclusion: Irradiation and calcium-deficient diet seems to cause disturbance of the expression of interleukin-l during tooth formation of rat molar.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.88-106
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• 1998

This study was designed to elucidate the antiinflammatory, cardiovascular, antithrombotic, and analgesic effect of Sambitang. The antiinflammatory effects was measured by the method of carrageenin induced edema, protein leakage test using CMC-pouch, and the effect of Sambitang on the cardiovascular system was observed by the change of flow rate of Ringer solution in the vascular system in the ear of rabbit, and the contraction and dilatation of rat tail artery. Death rate, platelet aggregation, plasma coagulation activity was observed for the measurement of the anticoagurative effect of Sambitang, and the analgesic effect was measured by the acetic acid method and hot plate method. The result was as follows: 1. Sambitang administration, edema and protein leakage was significantly decreased. 2. The drug increased the auricular blood flow in rabbit. 3. The drug relaxed the artery contraction by pretreated norepinephrine in rat. 4. The drug inhibited the death rate of mouse which was led to thromboembo- lism by serotonin and collagen. 5. The drug inhibited the platelet aggregation in rat. 6. The drug prolonged the prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time on the test of plasma coagulation factor activity in rat, but was not valuable. 7. The slight anagesic effect of Sambitang extract was confirmed by the observation of writhing syndrome, paw licking time, and escape time.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.241-246
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• 1995

This study was carried out to develop the antitoxic compound about cytotoxicity of cadmium on cultured rat neuroglial cells. These cells divided into 3 groups; control group (medium only) or $MTT_{50}$ group (neuroglial cell, $61{\mu}M$ cadmium) and experimental group ($61{\mu}M$ caffeic acid). Neutral red (NR) and tetrazolium MTT of the colorimetric assay were performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of cell organelles. The light microscopic study was carried out to morphological changes of cultured rat neuroglical cells. The results indicated that caffeic acid showed detoxification effect on cytotoxicity of cadmium in $61{\mu}M$ concentration. According to the spectroscopic study of 1:1 complex of cadmium and caffeic acid, it showed that this formation of complex eliminated cadmium from cultured rat neurogllal cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.55-67
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• 1991

The influence of caffeine on secretion of catecholamines (CA) was examined in the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland. Caffeine (0.3 mM) perfused into an adrenal vein of the gland produced a marked increase in secretion of CA. This secretory effect of CA evoked by perfusion of caffeine for one minute was considerably prolonged, lasting for more than 90 minutes. The tachyphylaxis to releasing effect of CA induced by caffeine was observed by repeated perfusion of this drug. The caffeine-evoked CA secretion was markedly inhibited by pretreatment with ouabain, trifluoperazine, TMB-8 and perfusion with calcium-free Krebs solution containing 5 mM EGTA, but was not affected by perfusion of calcium-free Krebs solution without other addition. CA secretion evoked by caffeine was not reduced significantly by pretreatment with chlorisondamine but after the first collection of perfusate for 3 min was clearly inhibited. Interestingly, the caffeine-evoked CA secretion was considerably potentiated by pretreatment with atropine or pirenzepine, but after the first collection for 3 min it was markedly decreased. These experimental results suggest that caffeine causes a marked increase in secretion of CA from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland by an extracellular calcium-independent exocytotic mechanism. The secretory effect of caffeine may be mainly due to mobilization of calcium from an intracellular calcium pool in the rat chromaffin cells and partly due to stimulation of both muscarinic and nicotinic receptors.