• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.665-670
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• 2012

This study investigated the effect of endurance exercises on blood pressure, angiogenesis, and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the skeletal muscle of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Five week old SHRs and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were randomly divided into 3 groups: Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY, n=9), SHR control (SHR-C, n=9), and SHR endurance exercise training (SHR-E, n=9). Endurance exercise training was performed on a treadmill (12-20 m/min, 0% grade, 60 min/day, 5 days/week, 16 weeks). Systolic blood pressure was monitored with the tail-cuff method. The expression of VEGF protein and capillary density were identified using western blotting and H&E staining in the soleus muscle, respectively. Systolic blood pressure was reduced by endurance exercise in SHR ($p$ <0.05). The capillary density of skeletal muscles in SHR-C was lower than in WKY ($p$ <0.05), but it was recovered by endurance exercise training (SHR-E) compared to SHR-C ($p$ <0.05), and VEGF protein was also increased by endurance exercise training compared to SHR-C ($p$ <0.05). These data suggest that the enhancement of capillary density via an increase of VEGF expression in skeletal muscles by endurance exercise training could be an important factor to inhibit blood pressure elevation in SHR.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1182-1190
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• 1996

The best treatment of congenital or acquired tracheal stenosis is resection and end to end anastomosis. Various prosthetic material and tissue graft replacement can be considered when the stenotic segment is too long, but their uses are still limited due to many serious complications. The present study examined the effect of immunosuppression and cryopreserved allograft trachea after intraperitoneal omental implantation for evaluation of the possibility of tracheal transplantation. Thirty tracheal segments were harvested from fifteen donor Wistar rats. Among them eighteen segments were implanted immediately(group I, II, III) and twelve segments were used for cryopreservation(group IV, V). Heterotopical intraperitoneal implantation was performed in five groups of rats(n=6); Group I was Wistar syngeneic controls and received no immunosuppression. Group II and III were those of Sprague-Dawley recipients, the former receiving no immunosuppression and the latter receiving immunosuppression(Cyclosporin A 15mg/kg/day, Methylprednisolone 2mg/kg/day). Group IV and V were groups of Sprague-Dawley recipients, the former receiving immunosuppression and the latter receiving no Immunosuppression. After 28 days, rats were sacrificed and the tracheal segments were histologically evaluated. Epithelial thickness was significantly decreased in group II, IV. Epithelial regeneration score was also significantly decreased in II. All rats maintained well their round tracheal contour. In conclusion; I) trachea could be preserved for a long time with cryo method, 2) epithelium could regenerate fully with omentopexy in cryopreserved trachea, 3) immunosuppresion was not necessary with cryopreserved trachea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.283-288
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• 1992

To observe the transmission patterns of karyotype of Pneumocystis carinii (Pc) by rat colonies, three strains of rats, Sprague-Dawlcy(SD), Wistar(W) and Fisher (F) from various animal vendors, were suppressed of their immunity by injection of methyl prednisolone. They were kept for 5 to 13 weeks in 3 different animal rooms, A, B, and C. The purified organisms were prepared in low melting point agarose gel by embedded Iysis method for pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Field inversion gel electrophoresis showed 2 patterns of the kart·otype of Pc. The rooms A and C contained SD rats from the source p, and also the room A was used for F and W rats. However, Pc from all of the SD and F rats in the room A showed same karyotypes, the pattern I. The SD rats from difFerent vendors, M and 5, were reared in the room B, and shared the same Pc karyotypes, the pattern II . The rats of W strain were from the vendor M, and immune-suppressed in the animal room A. Five weeks after the expe- riment, the Pc showed the karyotype pattern II but the pattern became mixed with the type I after 7 to 8 weeks. The Bindings revealed that the animals born and reared in the same animal quarter harbored Pc with same karyotypes. If the animals were kept under immune-suppression in the same room with heavily infected hosts, they could be infected by Pc from their neighbors. The present experimental findings suggest that Pc is transmitted among rats through the air.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 1999

Leaf protein (LP) was prepared by centrifugation the green juice from Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) at acid precipitation. LP was compared with casein and soybean protein isolate for their concentration of serum lipids and free amino acids in Wistar male rats for 2 weeks. Each protein source was incoporated into cholesterol free, low-fat diet to provide a protein level of 20%. A comparison of serum amino acids in leaf protein-fed vs. casein-fed rats showed that, glycine was the only amino acid having a higher concentration whereas concentration of other amino acids were lower in the leaf protein-fed rats compared with the casein-fed rats. Further alanine was significantly lower in the leaf protein-fed rats compared with the casein-fed rats, and the protein-induced differences in glycine and alanine concentration of unfed rats were reproducible. Concentration of several amino acids, rarticularly valine, leucine and tyrosine, also changed when serum cholesterol concentrations varied, but these effects could not be explained by our experiments. The results suggest that a change in serum concentration of glycine and alanine of unfed rats may be related to the change in serum cholesterol concentration. These data also suggest appear to function in a similar way to soybean protein in their hypocholesterolemic action.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 1998

In the present study, we tested whether lead intoxication induces change of the thiamine content and the seizure threshold in rats and the changes of seizure threshold are related to the changes of thiamine status. It was also tested whether administration of excessive thiamine could reverse the toxic manifestation of lead in rats. Four groups of Wistar rats were prepared: 1) control group, 2) lead treated group, 3) lead plusthiamine treated group, and 4) thiamine deficient group. Each group of animals was divided into three subgroups based on age: 3, 7 and 16 weeks. In each group, thresholds of electroshock seizure and thiamine contents in brain regions including telencephalon, brain stem, cerebellum were measured. Thiamine contents in brain regions of the lead treated group were significantly lower than those of the control group and thiamine treatment reversed the decrease back to the control level. Thresholds of the electroshock seizure of the lead treated group in 3, 7 week old rats and those of thiamine deficient group in 3 week old rats were significantly lower than those of the control group. These observations were reversed by the supplementation with thiamine. These results from the present study suggest that increased seizure sensitivity induced by lead intoxication in rats may be mediated at least in part through the changes of thiamine status.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2018

Objectives: To experimentally assess the anti-depressant effects of Gammakdaejo-tang Complex Extracts (GMDJ-Tang) in rats. Methods: Twenty Wistar Hannover (160~170 g) stressed rats were treated with different concentrations of GMDJ-Tang extracts i.e., 0, 62.5 mg/kg, 125 mg/kg, and 250 mg/kg. Chronic mild stress was induced by food deprivation, empty bottles, forced swimming, flickered light, tilt cages, shaking cages, high density breeding, water deprivation, and by soaking the litter cover according to fixed schedule. Blood and brain tissue samples were collected for biochemical analysis. Tests included serotonin and ELISA assays. Results: GMDJ-tang increased the weight of treated rats as well as levels of serotonin, BDNF and TrkB; however, the differences were not significant. In contrast, the extracts significantly decreased blood glucose in stressed rats. GMDJ-tang extracts did not significantly impact Serum AST, ALT, leukocytes, erythrocytes and thrombocytes when comparing treatment groups to control rats. Likewise, hemoglobin, hematocrit and PLT increased in treatment groups following treatment with GMDJ-tang, but this change was without significance. Conclusions: These results suggest that GMDJ-tang can alleviate chronic mild stress in rats, possibly through anti-depressant activity.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.156-163
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• 2014

We investigated the effects of a high-protein diet and resveratrol supplementation on immune cells changes induced by abdominal irradiation in rats. Female Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: 1) control diet, 2) control diet with irradiation 3) 30% high-protein diet with irradiation, 4) normal diet with resveratrol supplementation and irradiation, and 5) 30% high-protein diet with resveratrol supplementation and irradiation. We measured blood protein and albumin concentrations, lipid profiles, white blood cell (WBC) counts, proinflammatory cytokine production, and splenocyte proliferation in rats that had been treated with a 17.5 Gy dose of radiation 30 days prior. A high-protein diet affected plasma total cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, which were increased by the radiation treatment. In addition, the lymphocyte percentage and immunoglobulin M (IgM) concentration were increased, and the neutrophil percentage was decreased in rats fed a high-protein diet. Resveratrol supplementation decreased the triglyceride (TG) level, but increased the IgM concentration and splenocyte proliferation. Proinflammatory cytokine production was lower in rats fed a high-protein diet supplemented with resveratrol than in rats fed a control diet. The results of the present study indicate that high-protein diets, with or without resveratrol supplementation, might assist with recovery from radiation-induced inflammation by modulating immune cell percentages and cytokine production.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2019

Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) is a major metabolite of curcumin, which is obtained from Curcuma longa. THC has various benefits and overcomes the bioavailability issue of curcumin. To establish it as a pharmacologically active molecule, its safety profile has to be determined. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the preclinical safety profile of THC in a 90-day subchronic and reproductive/developmental toxicity study in Wistar rats. THC at oral doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg was administered daily for 90 days. Rats in the recovery group were kept for 14 days after treatment termination. The animals were observed for treatment-related morbidity, mortality, and changes in clinical signs, clinical pathology, and histopathology. In the reproductive/developmental toxicity study, THC at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg was administered orally to rats and the reproductive/developmental parameters in adult male and female rats and pups were observed. THC at up to 400 mg/kg/day of did not have any significant effect on all parameters in male and female rats in both toxicity studies. Thus, 400 mg/kg/day can be considered as the no-observed-adverse-effect-level of THC in rats.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.90-99
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• 2017

Fish muscles are classified into white and red muscles, and the chemical composition of the two fish muscles have many differences. Few reports have assessed the health-promoting functions of white fish muscle proteins (WFP) and red fish muscle proteins (RFP). We therefore evaluated the mechanisms underlying the alteration of lipid profiles and cholesterol metabolism following the intake of WFP prepared from cod and RFP prepared from light muscles of tuna. Male Wistar rats were divided into six dietary groups: casein (23%), WFP (23%), and RFP (23%), with or without 0.5% cholesterol and 0.1% sodium cholate. Compared to the WFP-containing diet, the RFP-containing diet supplemented with cholesterol and sodium cholate significantly increased serum and liver cholesterol contents. However, in the RFP groups, an alteration in cholesterol metabolism including an increased tendency to excrete fecal sterols and hepatic cholesterol $7{\alpha}$-hydroxylase was related to the reduction of hepatic cholesterol contents. This phenomenon might be related to the tendency of an increased food intake in RFP-containing diets. These results highlight the differential effects of WFP and RFP on serum and liver lipid profiles of Wistar rats fed non-cholesterol- or cholesterol-containing diets under no fasting condition.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.171-180
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• 2016

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent liver diseases associated with an altered lifestyle, besides genetic factors. The control and management of NAFLD mostly depend on lifestyle modifications, due to the lack of a specific therapeutic approach. In this context, we assessed the effect of carrot juice on the development of high fructose-induced hepatic steatosis. For this purpose, male weanling Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, fed either a control (Con) or high fructose (HFr) diet of AIN93G composition, with or without carrot juice (CJ) for 8 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, plasma biochemical markers, such as triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, and ${\beta}$-hydroxy butyrate levels were comparable among the 4 groups. Although, the liver injury marker, aspartate aminotransferase, levels in plasma showed a reduction, hepatic triglycerides levels were not significantly reduced by carrot juice ingestion in the HFr diet-fed rats (HFr-CJ). On the other hand, the key triglyceride synthesis pathway enzyme, hepatic stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), expression at mRNA level was augmented by carrot juice ingestion, while their protein levels showed a significant reduction, which corroborated with decreased monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), particularly palmitoleic (C16:1) and oleic (C18:1) acids. Notably, it also improved the long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6) content of the liver in HFr-CJ. In conclusion, carrot juice ingestion decreased the SCD1-mediated production of MUFA and improved DHA levels in liver, under high fructose diet-fed conditions. However, these changes did not significantly lower the hepatic triglyceride levels.