The elderly population is rapidly increasing in South Korea, and interest in food development considering the Sasang constitution theory from oriental medicine and balanced nutrition is increasing. We developed the oriental medicinal porridges based on the Sasang constitution for the elderly. By Sasang constitutional medicine, Taeyangin has a large lung and small liver, and Soyangin has a large stomach and small kidney. Taeeumin has a small lung and large liver, and Soeumin has a small stomach and a large kidney. In this study, proper oriental medicine and food ingredients were identified, and a total of 12 oriental medicinal porridges were developed for 3 items by 4 Sasang constitution types. A single portion was developed based on about 600±66kcal, and the food ingredients were chopped. After cooking the menu developed based on the Sasang constitution, a sensory test was conducted. Five items, such as taste, appearance, aroma, texture, and overall preference, were evaluated on a 7-point scale. Sewage omegaenggul porridge among porridges for Taeyangin had the highest overall acceptance (6.17±0.7 points). Sukjihwang abalone black sesame porridge for Soyangin had the highest score(5.83±0.9 points). Sanyakyulmu hwangtae porridge for Taeeumin had the highest score(5.90±0.6 points). Ginseng chicken curry porridge among porridges for Soeumin had the highest overall preference in taste, appearance, aroma, texture, and overall acceptability (6.53±0.7 points). A limitation of this study was that the clinical trial could not be conducted on the elderly classified as Sasang constitution. In the future, the elderly will be able to have oriental medicinal foods according to the classification of Sasang constitution.

Insamsokmieum (人蔘粟米飮), which is a kind of water gruels made with millet, ginseng, glutinous rice, and some minor ingredients, was frequently used as a medicinal food for the royal family, and it appeared first at the 10th year of King Sukjong’s reign. We investigated Insamsokmieum through a literature review and the「SeungjeongwonIlgi(承政院日記)」 of King Sukjong (肅宗) from his 1st year (1674) to 46th year (1720). We analyzed the nutritional value and efficacy of Insamsokmieum. In Oriental medicine, Insamsokmieum is prescribed mainly to treat symptoms such as nausea, languidness, and exhaustion in King Sukjong and Queen Inhyun (仁顯王后). In nutritional terms, Insamsokmieum has higher nutrition density than that of rice porridges (白粥) and has relatively high vitamin and mineral contents. Some nutrients such as leucine and glutamic acid, which are contained in the millet, are also known to help alleviate these symptoms. Whereas there have been studies on the efficacy and types of diet during the Joseon Dynasty, studies regarding nutrition characteristics are lacking. This study will demonstrate the superiority of dietary treatments of the Joseon Dynasty and their potential for application to modern nutrition.

Fruits are good sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals, which are known to reduce serum lipids, oxidative damage, and blood pressure as well as improve blood glucose control. The purpose of this study was to estimate nutrient quality indices of fruits by carrying out a critical analysis of pre-existing methods according to their nutritional compositions. Four methods were used to assess the nutrient indices of 26 fruits, which are frequently consumed by Koreans based on the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009). Naturally nutrient rich score (NNR), nutrient rich food (NRF), nutrient adequacy score (NAS), and nutrient density score (NDS) were used to calculate nutrient quality indices. The Korean Nutrition Society Food Composition database of fruits based on 100 g edible portions was used. The algorithm of each method included the mean percentage of daily values (Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans, 2010) for particular nutrients based on consumption of 1,900 kcal/day. The relative score indicated that strawberries, kumquat, and lemon had high nutrient quality indices. In addition, mango, lemon, persimmon, strawberry, apricot, and tangerine fruits are rich in antioxidant nutrients such as β-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium. However, scores of nutrient quality indices did not imply that higher scores of particular fruits are superior. We suggest moderate seasonable consumption a variety of fruits. Our results can be used as a reference for consumers when they choose fruits.

Autophagy means “self-eating” and it is a major catabolic pathway within cells. A basal level of autophagy is required for survival of cells or organisms, but prolonged activation of autophagy may have an adverse effect. In mammalian systems, autophagy is stimulated by nutrient starvation or deprivation of growth factors. Ovariectomy on day 4 of pregnancy in mice to deprive blastocysts of estrogen induces “dormancy” in blastocysts and delay the process of implantation until estrogen is given. Dormant blastocysts maintain a state of low metabolism in utero and survive for many days without initiating implantation under the unfavorable condition of estrogen deficiency. We tested the hypothesis if an autophagic response is operative in dormant blastocysts for prolonged survival in utero during the delayed implantation. We observed that autophagy is highly activated in dormant blastocysts. Interestingly, autophagic activation is more prominent in trophectoderm than in inner cell mass. Activation of blastocysts by estrogen supplementation induces formation of multivesicular bodies and exosomes in the trophectoderm. Dormant blastocysts with longer period of autophagic activation show compromised development after implantation. Thus, autophagy may be a critical cellular mechanism to provide energy source during extended survival of dormant blastocysts. However, prolonged activation of autophagy may compromise developmental outcome of blastocysts with irreparable cellular damage.

The Egr family of zinc finger transcription factors consisting of 4 members (Egr1 to -4) regulates critical genetic programs involved in cellular growth, differentiation, and function. Especially, the critical role for Egr1 in regulating luteinizing hormone responsiveness was demonstrated by using gene-targeted mouse models. Other members of Egr family were shown to be involved in other cellular and developmental processes. To understand if Egr3 is implicated in ovarian functions, we focused on identifying cell type-specific and subcellular localization of Egr3 in cycling mouse ovaries and oocytes. RT-PCR analyses show that Egr3 mRNA is expressed in the mouse ovary and oocytes. By immunofluorescence staining, we observed that Egr3 is weakly expressed in subsets of granulosa cells. Interestingly, Egr3 seems to be co-localized with meiotic spindle in some oocytes in the ovarian section. Therefore, we examined Egr3 localization in MI oocytes cultured in vitro. We confirmed co-localization of Egr3 and microtubule in the mouse oocyte during meiosis I. Egr3 localization is noted around condensing chromosomes during prometaphase I (PMI). At metaphase I (MI) and MII, Egr3 is localized on meiotic spindle and also around each cytosolic microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs) in a punctate pattern. To examine if microtubule is required for correct positioning of Egr3 on this structure, we observed the pattern of Egr3 in oocytes matured under taxol or nocodazole. In taxol-treated oocyte, Egr3 and gamma-tubulin complex are enlarged. In nocodazole-treated oocyte, Egr3 localization on spindle and MTOCs are abolished. Thus, Egr3 localization seems to require the presence of intact microtubule. Collectively, our result shows for the first time that Egr3, a transcription factor, is localized on meiotic spindle of maturing mouse oocytes. The work suggests a novel role for Egr3 as a factor involved in MTOC dynamics during meiosis.

In particular, maternal prostacyclin (PGI2) is critical for embryo implantation and the action of PGI2 is not mediated via its G protein-coupled membrane receptor, IP, but its nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ). Recently, several studies have shown that PGI2 enhances blastocyst development and/or hatching rate in vitro, and subsequently implantation and live birth rates in mice. However, the mechanism by which PGI2 improves preimplantation embryo development in vitro remains unclear. Using molecular, pharmacologic and genetic approaches, we show that PGI2-induced PPARδ activation accelerates blastocyst hatching in mice. mRNAs for PPARδ, RXRs (heterodimeric partners of PPARδ) and PGI2 synthase are temporally induced after zygotic gene activation and their expression reaches maximum levels at the blastocyst stage, suggesting that functional complex of PPARδ can be formed in the blastocyst. Carbaprostacyclin (cPGI, a stable analogue of PGI2) and GW501516 (a PPARδ selective agonist) significantly accelerated blastocyst hatching but did not increase total cell number of cultured blastocysts. Whereas U51605 (a PGIS inhibitor) interfered with blastocyst hatching, GW501516 restored U51605-induced retarded hatching. In contrast to improvement of blastocyst hatching by PPARδ agonists, PPAR antagonists significantly inhibited blastocyst hatching. Furthermore, deletion of PPARδ at early stages of preimplantation mouse embryos caused delay of blastocyst hatching, but did not impair blastocyst development. Taken together, PGI2-induced PPARδ activation accelerates blastocyst hatching in mice.