• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.418-424
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• 2012

Repeated stress induces corticosterone release. However, it is not clear that stress results in further elevation of corticosterone levels, and the roles of released corticosterone to aggravate stress-related symptoms are also not clear. This study investigated whether neuronal modulation was induced in the amygdala after two kinds of stress, that is, such as electric shock and corticosterone injection. It was found that stress by electric shock decreased the expression of tyrosine hydoroxylase (TH) in the amygdala while the expression of pERK was increased. However, there is no difference in the expressions of TH and pERK in the frontal cortex compared with those of the control group. The level of corticosterone was significantly increased in the serum after stress. To determine the effect of corticosterone on the induction of anxiety and the expression of TH, the rats received corticosterone (20 mg or 40 mg/kg i.p.) for 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks, respectively. The spent time in open arms of the EPM (elevated plus maze) test was significantly decreased after 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks. The time spent in open arms of the EPM test after repeated injections of corticosterone was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of TH in the amygdala was reduced after following repeated corticosterone treatment for 2 weeks and 3 weeks. Collectively, this study suggests that corticosterone has a major role in the induction of anxiety and the modulation of TH expression, at least, in the amygdala.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제27권9호
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• pp.949-956
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• 1994

The effect of zinc deficiency on certain immunological parameters was investigated using intragastric tube feeding to obviate decreased food intake and altered eating pattern. Male, Fischer 344 rats were bilaterally adrenalectomized(ADX) or sham operated(SHAM). ADX rats received 0.9% NaCl in their drinking water and corticosterone injections at the dose of 1mg/kg of body weight three times per day. After recovery, one half of ADX and SHAM animals were tube-fed a purified, liquid diet containing either two ppm of zinc(zinc-deficient, force-fed ; ZDF) or 50ppm(zinc-replete, force-fed ; ZRF) for 19 days. They received identical amounts of diet based on the intake of ad libitum-fed, zinc-replete rats. Although they received identical amounts of food, ZDF rats grew at a slower rate compared to ZRF rats in both SHAM and ADX rats. Regardless of surgery, force-feeding rats the zinc-deficient diet resulted in a substantial decrease in serum zinc levels. The weights of the thymus, lymph node, and spleen were lower in SHAM-ZRF rats compared to SHAM-ARF rats. Marginal zinc deficiency caused lymphopenia in SHAM animals. However, these differences in lymphoid tissues and cells between SHAM-ZDF and SHAM-ZRF rats disappeared in ADX rats. These results indicate that the impaired growth of lymphoid tissues observed in zinc-deficient, sham-operated animals can be attributed to elevated serum corticosterone levels under the conditions of our experiments.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.273-284
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• 1992

It is well known that phenytoin (PHT), a commonly prescribed anticonvulsant, has teratogenicity in experimental animals and human. The major malformation induced by PHT in mouse is cleft palate. The mechanisms of the embryotoxic effects of PHT are unknown. However, PHT and synthetic glucocorticoids share several features with respect to their teratogenicity, and it was known that PHT increased maternal corticosterone level. Therefore PHT-induced cleft palate may be mediated indirectly by elevated maternal corticosterone. Recently it was reported that secalonic acid Dinduced cleft palate and elevated endogenous corticosterone level, and that such effects were antagonized by DMSO. The purpose of this work was to investigate whether the elevated maternal corticosterone is associated with the teratogenicity of PHT in the ICR mouse fetuses by treatment with PHT or PHT plus DMSO. PHT (74mg/kg, BW) was daily administered intraperitoneally on day 10~12 of gestation with and without DMSO(2ml/kg, BW), and the fetal malformation was observed on day 18. Maternal serum corticosterone and fetal PHT levels were determined by HPLC. The results are summarized as follows. 1)The percentage of cleft palate incidense in fetuses following treatment with PHT on day 10~12 of gestation was 51.7%. 2)There was a significant decrement in the cleft palate incidence in fetuses to 30.8% in the group treated with PHT plus DMSO compared with 51.7% in that with PHT alone. 3) Maternal serum corticosterone levels following treatment with PHT on day 10~12 of gestation increased by 116~343% compared with that of vehicle control. Such effect was antagonized by DMSO. 4)PHT concentration in the fetuses was not affected by DMSO. These results suggest that PHT-induced cleft-palate in fetuses seems to be closely associated with the elevation of maternal corticosterone level.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.375-386
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• 1995

This study was designed to investigate the changes in energy substrates, glucose and non-esterified fatty acid(NEFA), and fatty acid compositions in serum, following physiolgical stress in rats fed diets containing various fatty acids. Forty two Sprague-Dawley strain male rats, weighing 108$\pm$2.1g, were fed 3 different experimental diets for 4 weeks. The diets were composed of 105 fat(w/w) of either corn oil(CO;18:2 n6:57%), plant perilla oil(PO;18:3 n3:59%), or tuna fish oil(FO;20:5 n3:17%%, 22:6 n3:19%). After 4 weeks of feeding, each group wa subdiveided into (a) control, (b) 2 min swim in ice-cold water. Animals wer decapitated 20min after commencing the swim; trunk blood, brain, liver and epididymal fat pad were obtained. The levels of serum corticosterone, glucose, NEFA, triglyceride, fatty acid compositions, brain serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were determined. Basal levels of corticosterone na NEFA of serum were significantly lower in fish oil fed animals than those of any other oil fed animals. Compared to either perilla oil-fed or corn oil-fed rats, cold swim stress in fish oil fed rats produced significantly smaller NEFA and larger corticosterone responses. However, there was no significant difference in basal levels of serum glucose. Stress increased serum glucose levels slightly, and the amount of increment was larger in fish oil rats than those of any other oil fed rats than those of any other oil fed rats, although all the values were normal level. Dietary fats and stress did not affect serotonin metabolism. In additions, the composition of fatty acids in serum was significantly affected by the dietary compostion of fatty acids and stress. Stress induced decreases in monounsaturated fatty acid and non-polyunsaturated fatty acid concentration in either perilla oil fed or fish group, but did not in corn oil fed group. Stress resulted in changes in fatty acid metabolism similar to that associated with essential fatty acid(EFA) dificiency, when feeding animals n-3 fatty acids in diet. In conclusion, feeding fish oil was more effective to decrease NEFA in serum than feeding perilla oil or corn oil and improved lipid metabolism, when the rats were maintained in normal or exposed to stressful environment. However, the fact that feeding diet containing n-3 fatty acids decreased EFA status under stress suggests that the requirement of n-6 PUFA should be increased in these groups.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.94-110
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• 2005

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of Kamikwibitang water extract (KKT) on immobilization stress in C57BL/6J mice. KKT decreased the serum level of histamine and corticosterone increased by immobilization stress. In addition, KKT decreased the cell viability of thymocytes and enhanced the cell viability of splenocytes decreased by immobilization stress. Also, KKT decreased the viability of thymocytes and splenocytes in vitro. KKT decreased DNA fragmentation of splenocytes increased by immobilization stress. KKT decreased the population of thymic $CD4^+CD8^-$ cells increased by immobilization stress, and did not affect the population of $B220^+$ cells and the population of $Thy1^+$ cells changed by immobilization stress and enhanced the population of splenic $CD4^-CD8^+$ cells increased by immobilization stress. KKT enhanced the production of ${\gamma}-interferon$ and did not affect the production of interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 decreased by immobilization stress. Also, KKT decreased the phagocytic activity and the level of nitric oxide decreased by immobilization stress. These results indicate that KKT may be useful for the prevention and treatment of stress via suppression of serum histamine and corticosterone level and enhancement of specific-immune response.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.337-341
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• 2013

The effects of gypenosides (GPS) on electric footshock (EF)-induced acute stress in mice were investigated. Mice were treated orally with GPS (30-400 mg/kg) once a day for 5 days. After 2 days of GPS treatment, mice were exposed to EF stimuli (intensity, 2 mA; interval, 10 s; duration, 3 min) for acute stress for 3 days. Spontaneous locomotor activity was increased by acute EF stress, which was decreased by treatment with GPS (100 and 400 mg/kg). In addition, the increased levels of dopamine and serotonin by acute EF stress in the brain were reduced by treatment with GPS (100 and 400 mg/kg). The serum levels of corticosterone increased by acute EF stress were also reduced by GPS (100 and 400 mg/kg). These results suggest that GPS shows the ameliorating effects on acute EF stress by modulating the activity of dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons, and the serum levels of corticosterone. Clinical trials of GPS need to be conducted further so as to develop promising anti-stress agents.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.371-378
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• 2013

Serum and liver metabolites in rats fed red ginseng (RG) were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The mass data were analyzed by partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) to discriminate between control and RG groups and identify metabolites contributing to this discrimination. The RG group was clearly separated from the control group on PLS-DA scores plot for serum samples, but not liver samples. The major metabolites contributing to the discrimination included lipid metabolites (lysophosphatidylcholine, acyl-carnitine, and sphingosine), isoleucine, nicotinamide, and corticosterone in the serum; the blood levels of all but isoleucine were reduced by RG administration. Not all metabolites were positively correlated with the health benefits of RG. However, the blood levels of lysophosphatidylcholine, which stimulate various diseases, and long-chain acylcarnitines and corticosterone, which activate the stress response, were reduced by RG, suggesting long-term RG might relieve stress and prevent physiological and biological problems.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.175-181
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• 2010

The effects of corticosterone (CORT) administration on the weight of small intestine and the expression of nutrient transporter mRNA in the small intestine of broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) were investigated. One hundred and eight sevenday-old birds were randomly divided into two equal groups comprising a control group (CTRL) and an experimental group (CORT). CTRL birds were fed a basal diet and the CORT birds were fed a basal diet containing 30 mg corticosterone/kg from d 8 to 21. At 21 d of age, average daily feed intake (ADFI), serum corticosterone level, small intestinal absolute wet weight and relative weight, and relative abundance of SGLT1, CaBP-D28k, PepT1 mRNA in the duodenum and L-FABP mRNA in the jejunum were determined. The results showed that serum corticosterone level, liver weight and small intestinal relative weight (small intestinal wet weight/body weight) of CORT chickens were about 30.15%, 26.72% and 42.20% higher, respectively, than in the CTRL group (p<0.05). CORT birds had relative mRNA abundance of CaBP-D28k and PepT1 in the duodenum, and L-FABP in the jejunum which was 1.77, 1.37 and 1.94 fold higher, respectively, than in the CTRL group (p<0.05); the relative abundance of SGLT1 was 1.67 fold higher than in the CTRL group (p = 0.097). ADFI, small intestinal wet weight and length in CORT-treated broiler chickens was about 29.11%, 31.12% and 12.35% lower, respectively, than in the CTRL group (p<0.05). In conclusion, corticosterone administration lowered the wet weight but increased the relative weight of the small intestine and the expression of intestinal nutrient transporter mRNA of broiler chickens.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.65-80
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• 2008

Objective : In recent years, many investigators have questioned whether the analgesic effect of acupuncture is simply related to the stress-induced analgesia (SIA). However, there has been lack of studies on this issue. In this study, the stress levels induced by manual acupunctures are compared with the stress in animal experiment models. The experiments have been carried out with Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Method : For stress level evaluation, Hot plate test has been used. Maximum Possible Effect (MPE) has been measured by checking the pre-test time and post-test time. Cortisol and corticosterone concentrations in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results : In the hot plate test, MPE values of post-test time were significantly decreased after 10 minutes than after 5 minutes. Therefore, optimal time interval was chosen as 10 minutes. There was significant difference of MPE values between Suspension group and all other treatment groups. However, there were no significant differences of MPE values between Sham group and all other treatment groups. However, MPE values showed tendency to decrease when acupuncture needle diameter increased. MPE values of ST040, ST040(lido), NAP040(lido) groups were markedly decreased than that of Suspension group, while that of NAP040 group was substantially increased than that of Sham group increased in acupoint and nonacupoint models. Serum cortisol concentrations of treatment groups were not significantly different from that of Suspension and Sham groups. Serum corticosterone concentration of 0.25 mm group was substantially increased than that of compared with Sham group. Serum cortisol and corticosterone concentrations of treatment groups were not significantly different from those of Suspension and Sham groups in acupoint and nonacupoint models. Conclusion : From hot plate test and serum stress hormones concentrations, it is found that manual acupuncture treatment induces negligible stress or SIA on ST36. And the stress induced by manual acupuncture is more closely related to acupuncture point needlings than diameters of acupuncture needles.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제26권7호
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• pp.858-866
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• 1993

S.D.rats were fed with 3.4% tyrosine supplemented diet for 5 days. Tyrosine diet had no effects on brain NE and MHPG-SO4 levels in non-stressed rats. When these animals were given 3 hr-immobilization stress, they responded in a manner that coped better to the stress. This was measured by the increase in brain MHPG-SO4 indicating the increase in norepinephrine turnover by the stressed animals. When rats were stressed, fed basal or high-tyrosine diet, brain tyrosine concentration dropped more than 26% over the non-stress control animals. 3-hr immobilization stress also decreased brain NE levels. However, while the stress resulted in a significant decrease(p<0.05) of brain NE in basal diet, the decrease was not significant in high-TYR diet group. And as the stress index, serum corticosterone, glucose, and free fatty acid concentratons also were assayed. In this study, it was found that high-TYR diet prevented the stress-induced depletion of brain NE and suppressed the rise in serum corticosterone, glucose, and free fatty acid. These results suggest that high-TYR diet increases the coping ability of body to stress.