• Toxicological Research
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.225-234
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• 2001

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Korean red ginseng water extract (KRGWE) on developmental toxicity caused by the environmental estrogen bisphenol A (BPA) in Sprague-Dawley rats. fifty males successfully mated were randomly assigned to five experimental groups, 1.e., group I (vehicle control), group II (BPA 1000mg/kg), group III (KRGWE 400mg/kg), group IV (BPA 1000mg/kg & KRGWE 200mg/kg), and group V (BPA 1000mg/kg & KRGWE 400mg/kg). The test articles were administered by gavage to mated females from gestational days (GD) 1 through 20 (sperm vaginal lavage=day O). All females were subjected to caesarean section on GD 21 and their fetuses were examined for external, visceral, and skeletal abnormalities. In the group II, significant maternal toxic effects including suppressed body weight, decreased body weight gain during pregnancy, and reduced food consumption were observed in pregnant rats. The minimal developmental toxicity including fetal ossification delay was also found in fetuses. In addition, a tendency for increased pregnancy failure, increased pre-and postimplantation loss, and decreased fetal body weight was observed. However, no fetal morpho-logical abnormalities were seen in surviving fetuses at a dose level of 1000mg BPA/kg. On the other hand, the maternal toxicity and developmental toxicity found in the groups IV and V were comparable to those of the group II. There were no adverse signs of either maternal toxicity or developmental toxicity in the group III. These results showed that administration of BPA at a dose level of 1000mg/kg to pregnant rats resulted in significant maternal toxicity and minimal developmental toxicity, and that no protective effects on BPA-induced maternal toxicity and developmental toxicity were found by concomitant gavage dosing of KRGWE.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.163-172
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• 2000

Recently, there is a worldwide concern that a great number of man-made chemicals have a hormone-like action both in humans and in animals. DECD is developing screening programs using validated test systems to determine whether certain substances may have an effect in humans. In the present study. the establishment oj repeated-dose toxicity test method was tried. Flutamide. an anti-androgenic agent. was administered by gavage to Sprague-Dawley rats for 28 days at dose levels of 0. 0.5. 3 and 18 mg/kg body weight (10-15 rats/sex/group) to examine the effects on general findings. especially reproductive and endocrine parameters. Clinical signs. body weights, food consumption, and sexual cycle were checked and measured. For the gross and microscopic examinations. 10 rats/sex/group were sacrificed at the end of dosing period and the remaining animals of control and high dose groups (5 each) were sacrificed after 14 days recovery. Examinations for hematology and clinical chemistry were carried out at necropsy. There were no treatment-related changes in clinical signs. body weights, food consumption. gross necropsy. hematology and clinical chemistry at all doses of both sexes. The period and regularity of sexual cycle were not adversely affected at all doses by the test agent. At 18 mg/kg. both decreased weights of prostate, seminal vesicle and epididymis in males and increased weights of spleen and thymus in females were observed. In addition, decreased number of spermatids and sperms. increased serum testosterone concentration and increased incidence (100%) of interstitial cell hyperplasia were seen in males. At 18 mg/kg of the recovery group. decreased prostate weight. reduced sperm count and increased incidence (20%) of interstitial cell hyperplasia in males and increased thymus weight in females were observed. At 3 mg/kg. reduced sperm count was found. There were no adverse effects on parameters examined at 0.5 mg/kg of both sexes. The results suggested that the potential target organs of flutamide may be accessory sexual glands including testes for males and spleen and thymus for females. Taken together. this test method was found to be a useful screening test system for endocrine disrupting chemicals.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.153-159
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was carried out to determine $LD_{50}$ of benzo[a]pyrene to decide the possibility to designate them as toxic substance on the Act on the Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemical Substances, and to suggest that they should be managed in what level on the Chemical Control Act. Methods: Based on the result of a preliminary study, 300 mg/kg was set as the middle dose. A highest dose of 2,000 mg/kg and a lowest dose of 50 mg/kg were selected based on the OECD TG 423. Benzo[a]pyrene was orally administered once to female and male SD rats at dose levels of 50, 300, 2,000 mg/kg (body weight). All animals were monitored daily for clinical signs and mortality over 14 days. Also testicular spermatid count, motility and etc. were examined as well. Results: Under the condition of this experiment, $LD_{50}$ of benzo[a]pyrene was assumed to be >2,000 mg/kg. In the lesion according to autopsy, there were no specific symptoms in the control and experimental groups. At 2,000 mg/kg, a decrease in the sperm motility was observed. Benzo[a]pyrene should be designated to be toxic substance as the material assumed to be reproduction-toxicity on the Act on the Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemicals. Therefore we should abide by legal procedures determined by Chemicals Control Act in treating it. Conclusion: Considering the significant result that sperm motility in the experimental group was inferior to that in the reference group, we suggest that benzo[a]pyrene be designated as a toxic substance.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.161-167
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• 2020

Objective: Oxidative stress has been suggested as a possible mechanism for the adverse effects of heavy metal toxicity on male reproduction. Cichorium intybus L. is used in Iranian folk medicine as a hepatoprotective agent as well as for its supposed fertility-enhancing properties. The present study was performed to investigate whether the ethanolic extract of C. intybus leaves could protect male rats against lead-induced testicular oxidative stress. Methods: In this experimental study, adult Wistar rats were treated with 0.1% lead acetate in drinking water alone or with 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg body weight of C. intybus extract via gavage once daily for 70 days. The weight of their reproductive organs, levels of serum hormones, histometric parameters of the seminiferous tubules, epidydimal sperm quality, and oxidative stress status were evaluated. Results: The testis weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, epididymal sperm count, serum testosterone level, and testicular levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly reduced (p< 0.05) in the lead-treated rats. Moreover, significantly (p< 0.05) higher levels of malondialdehyde were observed in the lead-exposed group compared to the control. However, the co-administration of C. intybus ethanolic extract in lead-treated rats was associated with a significant improvement in reproductive parameters. Conclusion: We conclude that C. intybus leaf extract has the potential to prevent lead-induced testicular toxicity and to suppress the adverse effects of lead on male reproductive health.

• Advances in nano research
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.15-24
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• 2020

Iron has a crucial role in growth as part of metalo-proteins like haemoglobin or myoglobin, enzymes; they are also involved in energetic reactions. Iron plays a vital role in fertility. At high doses, Iron has a harmful consequence on the reproductive system, which can be strongly reflected the final stage of spermatogenesis. Nutritional products are claiming to use nanotechnology and it is important to recognize the potential toxicity of nano-sized nutrients. Recently iron nanoparticles were proposed as a food additive for poultry. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of L-cystein coated iron oxide nanoparticles on reproductive performance in male quails. The results of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer, Alternating Gradient Force Magnetometer and Scaning Electron Microscopy showed that iron oxide nanoparticles was produced and have been coated with L-cycstein (Fe₃O₄-Cys NPs). A total of 100 one-week-old quail chicks were randomly placed to five groups of five replicates. Four quails (two male and two females) were raised in an individual cage for each replicate. The five experimental treatment diets consisted; negative control diet, with no Iron supplementation; positive control diet supplemented with 60 mg/kg of Fe₃O₄; treatment diets supplemented with 0.6, 6 and 60 mg/kg of L-cystein coated iron oxide nanoparticles. The hemoglobin, Red blood cell, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, gonadal somatic index, daily sperm production, total testicular sperm and sperm viability of the male quails that were fed with diet supplemented by 0.6 mg/kg of Fe₃O₄-Cys NPs were improved as compare with negative control. This study showed that not only the use of the Fe₃O₄-Cys nanoparticles had no side effects but also it can be used as a feed additive to improve the reproductive performance in male quails.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.2-2
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• pp.114.2-115
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• 2003

3-Monochloro-1, 2-propanediol(3-MCPD) is a toxic compound, often present in different foods containing acid hydrolyzed(AH) protein, like seasonings and savory food products. In Korea, 3-MCPD is currently being a problem because of its toxicity in AH soybean sauce. The purpose of the present studies was to investigate the effects of 3-MCPD on male fertility, sperm and testosterone secretion. In vivo male fertility test was performed for observing the adverse effects of 3-MCPD on the function of male reproductive system and pregnancy outcome. (omitted)

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.167-180
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• 2015

Arsenic is a toxic metalloid that exists ubiquitously in the environment, and affects global health problems due to its carcinogenicity. In most populations, the main source of arsenic exposure is the drinking water. In drinking water, chronic exposure to arsenic is associated with increased risks of various cancers including those of skin, lung, bladder, and liver, as well as numerous other non-cancer diseases including gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurologic and cognitive problems. Recent emerging evidences suggest that arsenic exposure affects the reproductive and developmental toxicity. Prenatal exposure to inorganic arsenic causes adverse pregnancy outcomes and children's health problems. Some epidemiological studies have reported that arsenic exposure induces premature delivery, spontaneous abortion, and stillbirth. In animal studies, inorganic arsenic also causes fetal malformation, growth retardation, and fetal death. These toxic effects depend on dose, route and gestation periods of arsenic exposure. In males, inorganic arsenic causes reproductive dysfunctions including reductions of the testis weights, accessory sex organs weights, and epididymal sperm counts. In addition, inorganic arsenic exposure also induces alterations of spermatogenesis, reductions of testosterone and gonadotrophins, and disruptions of steroidogenesis. However, the reproductive and developmental problems following arsenic exposure are poorly understood, and the molecular mechanism of arsenic-induced reproductive toxicity remains unclear. Thus, we further investigated several possible mechanisms underlying arsenic-induced reproductive toxicity.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.504-512
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• 2021

TCDD로 유발할 수 있는 남성 난임 원인 중 가장 큰 비율을 차지하는 것은 정자형성 장애와 정자의 질적 저하가 있다. 이를 해결하기 위해 GYB의 한의학적 처방을 이용하여 TCDD-유도 생식독성을 유발한 랫드에서 내분비기능 및 생식독성 관련 지표에 미치는 영향을 조사하고자 본 연구를 시행하였다. 수컷 SD 랫드를 5개의 그룹으로 7마리씩 나누어 실험하였다. 정상 대조군은 vehicle 및 saline을 투여하였으며, TCDD 단독투여그룹은 TCDD(2 ㎍/kg, weeks) 및 생리식염수를 복강 내 투여하였으며, 시험 군은 6주 동안 GYB (75, 150, 300 mg/kg)를 3가지 농도로 나누어 경구로 투여하였다. TCDD를 투여한 모든 군에서 체중 감소가 나타났으며, 호르몬 변화에서 GYB 300 mg/kg 투여군에서 free testosterone의 유의한(p<0.01) 감소가 나타났다. 또한 GYB 투여군의 고환조직에서 생식세포 일부 파괴, 정세관 위축 그리고 정자 수의 감소가 농도 의존적으로 개선되는 것이 관찰되었다. 또한 Johnsen's score, serotoli cell index(SCI)에서도 농도 의존적으로 개선되었다(p<0.05). 이러한 발견은 향후 남성 난임의 해결방안으로 의학적 시술이 아닌 약물요법을 효과적으로 사용할 수 있을 것으로 기대할 수 있다.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.15-23
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• 2017

Acanthopanax divaricatus (Siebold & Zucc.) Seem. var. albeofructus (ADA), a traditional medical herb, has been used to treat arthritis and muscular injury, to strengthen muscle and bone, and to get vital energy. However, information regarding its toxicity is limited. ADA was administered by oral gavage to groups of rats at doses of 0 (control), 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 2,500, and 3,000 mg/kg five times per week for 13 weeks. Mortality, clinical signs, body weights, food consumption, hematology, serum chemistry, urinalysis, organ weights, necropsy, histopathological finding, vaginal cytology, and sperm morphology were compared between control and ADA-treated groups. Salivation was intermittently observed in both sexes receiving 2,500 and 3,000 mg/kg directly after dosing. Absolute liver weights increased in females receiving 2,000, 2,500, and 3,000 mg/kg ADA (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.01, respectively) and so did the relative liver weights (P < 0.001). Salivation and increased liver weight were ADA-related changes but not considered to be adverse effects. Salivation was intermittent and transient, and the liver weight increase was minor and not accompanied by other changes such as hepatic morphological or functional alterations. The no-observed-adverse-effect-level was determined to be at least 3,000 mg/kg in both sexes of rats.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.1-12
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• 1999

카드뮴 (Cd)의 투여가 흰쥐의 임상적인 중독 정도와 청자능력 및 장기조직에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 카드뮴의 임상적인 중독증 유발을 위한 시험사료는 흰쥐용 purified diet(AIN-76)에 CdCl를 이용하여 Cd 농도가 각각 0, 25, 50, 100 및 250ppm이 되도록 첨가하였다. 생후 7주령 ( 평균체중 231$\pm$14g) 된 Sprague-Dawley계 웅성 흰쥐 30 수를 체중에 따라 완전임의 배치법으로 6수씩 5군으로 나누어 8주간 사육하였다. 중체량, 사료섭취량 및 음수량은 카드뮴 첨가수준이 높을수록 유의하게 감소한 것으로 나타났으며, 장기무게에 있어서 특히 신장과 정소의 무게는 카드뮴 첨가수준이 높을수록 비대하였고 처리구간 유의한 차이가 있었다 (P＜0.05). Hematocrit 치와 hemoglobin 함량 역시 Cd 첨가수준이 높을수록 감소하였고 처리구간 유의한 차이가 있었다 (P＜0.05). 식이중 카드뮴의 간과 신장조직에의 평균 축적율은 간 조직이 34.1%, 신장조직이 54.3% 이었고, 저수준의 Cd 투여군이 고수준의 Cd 투여군 보다 간과 신장조직에의 축적율이 대체로 높았다. 간 조직중 metallothionein(MT) 함량은 대조군 (A) 이 30.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g 인데 비해 250ppm 투여군 (E) 에서는 138.6 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g 으로 카드뮴 투여수준에 따라 MT 합성은 유의한 영향을 받은 것으로 나타났다. 정자농도는 대조군에 비해 Cd 투여수준에 따라 유의한 감소 경향 (P＜0.05) 이었고, 정자 활력은 비록 통계적인 차이는 없었으나 대조군에 비해 Cd 투여군에서 낮은 경향이었다. 한편 카드뮴 투여가 조직병변에 미치는 결과를 보면 육안병변의 경우 대조군에 비하여 Cd l00ppm과 250ppm 투여군의 흰쥐에서 외관상 수척되어 있었고, 특히 250ppm 투여군의 흰쥐에서 신장과 고환의 현저한 위축이 관찰되었다. 병리조직학적 검사에서 Cd 투여군에서 간상간세포의 변성, 간세포와 간세포사이의 모세혈관이 sinusoid에서의 호산성물질의 저류 및 Kupffer cell의 활성화가 관찰되었다. 신장의 경우 Cd 투여군에서 세뇨관 상피세포의 변성 및 호염성병변이 관찰되었으며 고환에서는 Cd 투여 농도에 의해서 세포변성, 정자세포수의 감소 및 거핵세포의 출현이 관찰되었다. 따라서 카드뮴에 장기간 노출은 성선조직의 변화에 의해 정자활력 및 농도의 감소가 일어나고 이로 인해 번식효율이 저하되는 한 요인으로 작용되는 것으로 사료된다.