• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.69-85
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• 2023

Depression is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders and is associated with dysfunction of the neuroendocrine system and alterations in specific brain proteins. Boophone disticha (BD) is an indigenous psychoactive bulb that belongs to the Amaryllidacae family, which is widely used in Southern Africa to treat depression, with scientific evidence of potent antidepressant-like effects. The present study examined the antidepressant effects of BD and its mechanisms of action by measuring some behavioural parameters in the elevated plus maze, brain content of corticosterone, brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), and neuroblast differentiation in the hippocampus of Balb/c mice exposed to the five day repeated forced swim stress (5d-RFSS). Male Balb/c mice were subjected to the 5d-RFSS protocol to induce depressive-like behaviour (decreased swimming, increased floating, decreased open arm entry, decreased time spent in the open arms and decreased head dips in the elevated plus maze test) and treated with distilled water, fluoxetine and BD. BD treatment (10 mg/kg/p.o for 3 weeks) significantly attenuated the 5d-RFSS-induced behavioural abnormalities and the elevated serum corticosterone levels observed in stressed mice. Additionally, 5d-RFSS exposure significantly decreased the number of neuroblasts in the hippocampus and BDNF levels in the brain of Balb/c mice, while fluoxetine and BD treatment attenuated these changes. The antidepressant effects of BD were comparable to those of fluoxetine, but unlike fluoxetine, BD did not show any anxiogenic effects, suggesting better pharmacological functions. In conclusion, our study shows that BD exerted antidepressant-like effects in 5d-RFSS mice, mediated in part by normalizing brain corticosterone and BDNF levels.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.297-310
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• 2014

Objectives: This study is designed to investigate the effects of Banhahubak-Tang Extract (BHTe) on stress. Methos: BHTe was fed to ICR male mice ($20{\pm}2g$) orally with the dose of 100 mg/kg/day for five days. Mice were then exposed to sociopsychological stress by observing foot shock stressed mice for one hour for five days while restrained. Results: 1) The BHTe-administered group showed a tendency of decreasing of serum corticosterone secretion compared with the control group. 2) The BHTe-administered group showed an increase in noradrenalin secretions in the dorsal cortex of the brain, but it was not significant. 3) BHTe administration had no effect on the brain level of lipid peroxidation. 4) BHTe administration decreased the serum level of lipid peroxidation. 5) BHTe administration decreased the Cu,Zn-SOD in the brain. 6) BHTe administration had no effect on catalase activity in the brain. 7) BHTe administration had no effect on the brain level of GSH. 8) BHTe administration increased the serum level of DPPH free radical scavenging activity, but not significantly enough to make a comparison with BHT. 9) The elevated plus-maze test is designed to detect the effect of anxiolytic drugs. The BHTe group showed a significant increase in latency time. Conclusions: These results suggest that BHTe can effectively rid the subject of the effects of sociopsychological stress.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.53-67
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• 2011

Objectives : Dahuanghuanglianxiexin-tang(DHXT) has been prescribed for patients with anxiety disorder and has been believed to treat Haw-Byung. The present study was carried out to investigate whether Da-Huang, Huang-Lian and DHXT have beneficial effects on ability to recover from the stressful conditions. Methods : The mice were divided into normal group, control group, positive control group and experimental groups. The experimental groups were divided into Da-Huang, Hwan-gryun and DHXT group. In the positive control group, imiprimine at $500{\mu}g$/g/day of dose were applied to mice and in the experimental groups, Da-Huang, Huang-Lian and DHXT at $50{\mu}$/g/day of dose were applied to mice. After 1 hour, the mice in the rest of groups except normal group were exposed to immobilization stress. Their body weights, phagocytosis, nitric oxide in macrophage, iNOS in hippocampus, serum levels of corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic-hormone(ACTH) were observed. Results : Da-Huang, Huang-Lian and DHXT didn't increase the body weights of immobilization stressed mice but they improved phagocytosis in immobilization stressed mice. Also they worked on reducing the amount of nitric oxide in macrophages in immobilization stressed mice. Although Da-Huang, Huang-Lian and DHXT didn't affect the serum level of ACTH in immobilization stressed mice, they reduced the serum level of corticosterone in immobilization stressd mice. Conclusions : The present study suggests that Da-Huang, Huang-Lian and DHXT have beneficial effects on ability to recover from the stressful conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.191-200
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• 2014

We investigated the anxiolytic-like activity of ${\alpha}$-asarone (AAS) from Acorus gramineus in an experimental rat model of anxiety induced by repeated administration of the exogenous stress hormone corticosterone (CORT). The putative anxiolytic effect of AAS was studied in behavioral tests of anxiety, such as the elevated plus maze (EPM) test and the hole-board test (HBT) in rats. For 21 consecutive days, male rats received 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg AAS (i.p.) 30 min prior to a daily injection of CORT. Dysregulation of the HPA axis in response to the repeated CORT injections was confirmed by measuring serum levels of CORT and the expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in the hypothalamus. Daily AAS (200 mg/kg) administration increased open-arm exploration significantly in the EPM test, and it increased the duration of head dipping activity in the HBT. It also blocked the increase in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in the locus coeruleus (LC) and decreased mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor, TrkB, in the hippocampus. These results indicated that the administration of AAS prior to high-dose exogenous CORT significantly improved anxiety-like behaviors, which are associated with modification of the central noradrenergic system and with BDNF function in rats. The current finding may improve understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms responsible for changes in emotions induced by repeated administration of high doses of CORT or by elevated levels of hormones associated with chronic stress. Thus, AAS did exhibit an anxiolytic-like effects in animal models of anxiety.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.313-322
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• 2013

Previous studies have demonstrated that repeated administration of the exogenous stress hormone corticosterone (CORT) induces dysregulation in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and results in depression and anxiety. The current study sought to verify the impact of catechin (CTN) administration on chronic CORT-induced behavioral alterations using the forced swimming test (FST) and the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Additionally, the effects of CTN on central noradrenergic systems were examined by observing changes in neuronal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity in rat brains. Male rats received 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg CTN (i.p.) 1 h prior to a daily injection of CORT for 21 consecutive days. The activation of the HPA axis in response to the repeated CORT injections was confirmed by measuring serum levels of CORT and the expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in the hypothalamus. Daily CTN administration significantly decreased immobility in the FST, increased open-arm exploration in the EPM test, and significantly blocked increases of TH expression in the locus coeruleus (LC). It also significantly enhanced the total number of line crossing in the open-field test (OFT), while individual differences in locomotor activities between experimental groups were not observed in the OFT. Taken together, these findings indicate that the administration of CTN prior to high-dose exogenous CORT significantly improves helpless behaviors, possibly by modulating the central noradrenergic system in rats. Therefore, CTN may be a useful agent for the treatment or alleviation of the complex symptoms associated with depression and anxiety disorders.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.713-717
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• 2008

In the present study, chronic effects of the hot water extracts of walnut seed (Juglans regia L.) (WSE) and Nelumbo nucifera seed (NSE) were investigated in mice exposed to 2 hr of restraint stress each day for 4 weeks. Corticosterone levels in serum were significantly increased in the vehicle-treated stressed group ($25\;{\mu}g/dL$) compared to that in the control group ($13\;{\mu}g/dL$). This stress induced gastric redness and lesions. However, treatment with WSE and/or NSE significantly protected the stomach from this lesion by 50-60% compared to that in the vehicletreated group. In the amygdala, the administration of WSE and/or NSE also reduced the immediate early gene (c-fos) expression by 70-90% vs. the vehicle-treated group. These suggest that WSE and/or NSE may reduce the appearance of symptoms induced by stress and these materials are useful as anti-stress foods, as natural products tend to be relatively safe compared to chemical products.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.706-710
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• 2006

To evaluate impacts of the construction noise, Trionyx sinensis, inland fishers aquacultural organism, were exposed to control groups (about 55 dB) and noise groups (80 dB). The survival, growth rate and feeding efficiency of the juvenile Trionyx sinensis were measured at 10, 20 and 30 days intervals (each 9 hours/day). No significant mortality occurred during the experiments, but growth rates (1.7 times) and feeding efficiency (1.83 times) showed significant reduction in time-dependent manner. Also, serum cortisol (6.7 times) and corticosterone levels (1.37 times) in noise groups significantly increased by the noise exposure, compared to the controls, In conclusion, this study may provide the fundamental knowledge on adverse effects Trionyx sinensis and apply to assessments on the impacts of aquaculture industry by construction noise.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.143-150
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated the effects of light intensity on broiler chick growth performance, blood parameters, and stress levels. A total of 240 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers (47.97±0.166 g) were subjected to three different intensities of light (20, 30, and 50 lx), with each treatment being conducted with four replicates. On the seventh day, the growth performance (body weight, feed conversion ratio, and breast muscle and liver weights) and blood parameters were determined; the levels of serum corticosterone, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α were also evaluated. The body weight, weight gain, liver weight, and breast muscle weight of chicks exposed to a light intensity of 50 lx were significantly increased compared with those of chicks subjected to 20 lx (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the leukocyte, erythrocyte, and platelet counts and the biochemical profile exceptions being the levels of glucose and inorganic phosphorus in the blood of the chicks in the three light intensity groups. However, serum corticosterone and IL-6 levels were the highest in chicks exposed to a light intensity of 20 lx (P<0.05). In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate that broiler chicks exposed to higher light intensity (50 lx) show significant improvements in terms of weight gain and corticosterone and IL-6 levels. Thus, high light intensities enhanced the growth performance, stress levels, and immune status of broiler chicks.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.107-116
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• 2003

The effects of Semen Ziziphi Spinosae extract were tested for the anti-stress action. 100g of crude drug of Semen Ziziphi Spinosae was extracted with pure water and the total extractive was evaporated under reduced pressure to give 10.7g. ICR male mice($20{\pm}2g$) were fed orally with the dose of 100mg/kg/day for five days. Foot shock was given to make experimental environment of physiological stress. Foot shock mice were placed individually in the foot shock compartments and sociopsychological mice were placed nonfoot shock compartment-the side of foot shock compartments. Mice were exposed to sociopsychological stress by restraining and seeing foot shock stressed mice for one hour for five days. Semen Ziziphi Spinosae extract administered group showed a significant decrease of serum corticosterone secretion compared with control group. Noradrenaline secretions in the dorsal cortex of brain were increased but not significant. Lipid peroxidation of the liver of mice were tested by measuring malondialdehyde, and Semen Ziziphi Spinosae extract had tendency of decreasing lipid peroxidation but not significant. But Semen Ziziphi Spinosae extract administration had the effect of decreasing serum level of aspartate aminotransferase and malondialdehyde. These results suggest that Semen Ziziphi Spinosae extract can effectively rid the sociopsychological stress and stress concerned diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.537-547
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• 1999

This study was designed to investigate the effects of sea tangle (Laminaria japonica) extract (Dasi-Ex group: dry base 4.0%) and fucoidan-added (Fuco-I, II, III group: fucoidan of 1.0%, 2.0%, 3.0% added to Dasi-Ex) beverages on the anti-stress action. ICR male mice (20$\pm$2g) were fed basic experimental diets and given free through water bottle filled with these beverages instead of water for 18 days including sociopsychological stress. Body weight gains were consistently lower in Dasi-Ex and Fuco-I,II,III groups compared with control group, expecting in a inhibitory effect of obesity. Dasi-Ex group resulted in a significant decrease of 25% in serum corticosterone (CS) secretion, while Fuco-I,IIand IIIgroups resulted in a marked decreases of 45~55% in serum CS secretion compared with control group. Noradrenaline (NA) secretions were significantly increased about 15% in Dasi-Ex group, and 20~22% in Fuco-I,II,III groups compared with control group. Significant differences in brain MHPG-SO4 levels of Dasi-Ex group could not be obtained, but Fuco-I,II,III groups resulted in a marked decreases of 20~25% in brain MHPG-SO4 ratio of brain, but Fuco-I,II and III groups resulted in a marked increases of 45~60% in NA/MHPG-SO4 ratio of brain compared with control group. These results suggest that fucoidan beverage may play a effective role in a ridding of the sociopsychological stress by pivotal anti-stress effect of fucoidan.