This study is intended to examine the motor skill learning and treadmill exercise on motor performance and synaptic plasticity in the cerebellar injured rats by harmaline. Experiment groups were divided into four groups and assigned 15 rats to each group. GroupⅠ was a normal control group(induced by saline); GroupⅡ was a experimental control group(cerebellar injured by harmaline); GroupⅢ was a group of motor skill learning after cerebellar injured by harmaline; GroupⅣ was a group of treadmill exercise after cerebellar injured by harmaline. In motor performance test, the outcome of groupⅡ was significantly lower than the groupⅢ, Ⅳ(especially groupⅢ)(p<.001). In histological finding, the experimental groups were destroy of dendrities and nucleus of cerebellar neurons. GroupⅢ, Ⅳ were decreased in degeneration of cerebellar neurons(especially groupⅢ). In immunohistochemistric response of synaptophysin in cerebellar cortex, experimental groups were decreased than groupⅠ. GroupⅢ's expression of synaptophysin was more increased than groupⅡ, Ⅳ. In electron microscopy finding, the experimental groups were degenerated of Purkinje cell. These result suggest that improved motor performance by motor skill learning after harmaline induced is associated with dynamically altered expression of synaptophysin in cerebellar cortex and that is related with synaptic plasticity.

Recent studies have implicated reactive oxygen species (ROS) as determinants of the pathological pain caused by the activation of peripheral neurons. It has not been elucidated, however, how ROS activate the primary sensory neurons in the pain pathway. In this study, calcium imaging was performed to investigate the effects of NaOCl, a ROS donor, on the intracellular calcium concentration ([Cα2+]i) in acutely dissociated dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. DRG was sequentially treated with 0.2 mg/ml of both protease and thermolysin, and single neurons were then obtained by mechanical dissociation. The administration of NaOCl then caused a reversible increase in the [Cα2+]i], which was inhibited by pretreatment with phenyl-N-tertbuthylnitrone (PBN) and isoascorbate, both ROS scavengers. The NaOCl-induced [Cα2+]i] increase was suppressed both in a calcium free solution and after depletion of the intracellular Cα2+ pool by thapsigargin. Additionally, this increase was predominantly blocked by pretreatment with the transient receptor potential (TRP) antagonists, ruthenium red (50 μM) and capsazepine (10 μM). Collectively, these results suggest that an increase in the intracellular calcium concentration is produced from both extracellular fluid and the intracellular calcium store, and that TRP might be involved in the sensation of pain induced by ROS.

The present study investigated the role of ERK in the onset of mechanical and cold allodynia in a rat model of compression of the trigeminal ganglion by examining changes in the air-puff thresholds and number of scratches following the intracisternal injection of PD98059, a MEK inhibitor. Male Sprague Dawley rats weighing between 250 and 260 g were used. Under anesthesia, the rats were mounted onto a stereotaxic frame and received 4% agar (10μℓ) solution to compress the trigeminal ganglion. In the control group, the animals were given a sham operation without the application of agar. Changes in behavior were examined at 3 days before and at 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 30, and 40 days after surgery. Compression of the trigeminal ganglion significantly decreased the air-puff thresholds. Mechanical allodynia was established within 3 days and persisted over postoperative day 24. To evaluate cold allodynia, nociceptive scratching behavior was monitored after acetone application on the vibrissa pad of the rats. Compression of the trigeminal ganglion was found to produce significant cold allodynia, which persisted for more than 40 days after surgery. On postoperative day 14, the intracisternal administration of 1 μg or 10 μg of PD98059 in the rat model significantly decreased the air-puff thresholds on both the ipsilateral and contralateral side. The intracisternal administration of 10 μg of PD98059 also significantly alleviated the cold allodynia, compared with the vehicle-treated group. These results suggest that central ERK plays an important role in the development of mechanical and cold allodynia in rats with compression of the trigeminal ganglion and that a targeted blockade of this pathway is a potential future treatment strategy for trigeminal neuralgia-like nociception.

The bioactive effects of ethanol extracts from fly maggot (ME) on reduction of plasma lipids levels in rats fed high-fat diets (Expt. Ⅰ), and on liver function recovery of hepatotoxicity rats by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or by orally administration of alcohol (Expt. II) were investigated. In expt. I, twenty seven, male rat SDS(sprague dawley strain) were randomly assigned to three treated groups, including normal control group, HF (group with high fat diets which have no extracts) and HFE (HF plus orally administered doses of ME extract at 5.0 mg/100g of body weight). In expt. II, forty five, male rats (SDS) were randomly assigned to each of the five groups: T1 (control), T2 (intraperitoneal injection of CCl4), T3 (intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 after orally administered with ME), T4 (orally administered with combination of ME and alcohol), T5 (orally administration of ME after orally administered with alcohol). There were significant decreases in plasma (TAG), (TC), (LDL-C) in the HFE group with orally administered doses of ME at 5.0 mg/100g of body weight, respectively, however, the (HDL-C) were significantly increased in HFE group as compared to HF group with high fat diets which have no extracts (p〈0.05). The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transferse(γ-GTP) and bilirubin were highest in T2 or T3, and high in order T4 or T5, and lowest in T1 except for bilirubin which has same with T4, T5 (p〈0.05). The high recovery of liver damage by CCl4 from the light microscopic appearance was observed in rats (T3) with extracts, and also high in T4 than T5 by orally administrated with alcohol. In conclusion, the ethanol extracts from fly maggot may have a bioactive effects to prevent for human lipids disorder and alcoholic disease.

This study aimed at investigating the gene expression profile in basal ganglia of hexa-valence chromium exposed rat based on cDNA array analysis. For cDNA array, Sprague-Dawley male rats (300 ± 25 g) were administrated with 15 mg/kg B.W/day of potassium dichromate by gavage (0.3 ml) dissolved in saline for 10 days (n=5). For dose-related gene expression analysis, rats were administrated with 0, 1, 5 mg/kg B.W/day of potassium dichromate for 10 days. Control rats were administrated with equal volume of saline (n=5). For cDNA array analysis, RNA samples were extracted from brain tissue and reverse-transcribed in the presence of [α³²P]-dATP. Membrane sets of the Atlas array II and Toxicology array kits were hybridized with cDNA probe sets. RT-PCR and Northern blot hybridization methods were employed for validation and assessment of the dose-related gene expression profile, respectively. Among the 2352 cDNAs, 43 genes showed significant (>two-fold) changes in expression. 22 genes were up-regulated and 21 genes were down-regulated in the 15 mg/kg B.W/day hexa-valence chromium treated group than control. According to the Northern blot hybridization analysis, heat shock protein 47, neurodegeneration associated protein 1 and pituitary specific growth factor 1a genes were up-regulated, but Gamma-aminobutyl-acid a1 subunit, neuroligin2, brain calcium-transporting plasma membrane type ATPase genes were down-regulated even in the low-dose of hexa-valence chromium exposed group (1 mg/kg B.W/day) than control. Genes that detected in this study may be closely related to the hexa-valence chromium-induced neurotoxicity in the rat basal ganglia and addition study of these genes can give some more useful information about the neuro-toxic mechanism by hexa-valence chromium.

Ischemia that causes stroke induces inflammation of brain cells and apoptosis and as a result, it influences much on the functional part of a man. The needle electrode electrical stimulation (NEES) that combines acupuncture of oriental medicine with electric therapy of western medicine relieves inflammation of cells and has effect on regrowth of nerve tissues. This study was conducted to verify the influence of NEES on the occurrence of c-Fos of cerebrum after applying NEES to the meridian point, Zusanli (ST 36) of a rats with induced ischemia. Global ischemia was induced by using ligation method on common carotid artery of male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The ligation was maintained for 5 minutes and then suture was removed for blood reperfusion. After inducing global ischemia, NEES was done to the left and right meridian points of Joksamri of a rat for 30 minutes after 12 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours. The findings were as follows. 1. In the result of immunohistochemical method, the number of c-Fos immune response cells significantly decreased (P<.05) in NEES group than the control group (GI) that did not get NEES. 2. In the result of western blotting, the occurrence of c-Fos after 24 hours from the inducement of ischemia significantly decreased (P<.05) in NEES group than the control group (GI) that did not get NEES. Therefore, as the effect of NEES was shown highest after 24 hours from the ischemia, it is suspected that NEES would take important role in early treatment after cerebral stroke.

Medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) neurons are involved in the reflex control of the head and eyes, and in the recovery of vestibular function after the formation of peripheral vestibular lesions. In our present study, whole cell patch clamp recordings were carried out on MVN neurons in brainstem slices from neonatal rats to investigate the actions of a group I metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonist upon synaptic transmission and ionic currents. Application of the mGluR I agonist (S)-3,5- dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) increased the frequency of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) but had no effect upon amplitude distributions. To then identify which of mGluR subtypes is responsible for the actions of DHPG in the MVN, we employed two novel subtype selective antagonists. (S)-(+)--amino-a-methylbenzeneacetic acid (LY367385) is a potent competitive antagonist that is selective for mGluR1, whereas 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine (MPEP) is a potent noncompetitive antagonist of mGluR5. Both LY367385 and MPEP antagonized the DHPG-induced increase of mIPSCs, with the former being more potent. DHPG was also found to induce an inward current, which can be enhanced under depolarized conditions. This DHPG-induced current was reduced by both LY367385 and MPEP. The DHPG-induced inward current was also suppressed by the PLC blocker U-73122, the IP₃ receptor antagonist 2-APB, and following the depletion of the intracellular Cα2+ pool by thapsigargin. These data suggest that the DHPG-induced inward current may be mainly regulated by the intracellular Cα2+ store via the PLC-IP3 pathway. In conclusion, mGluR I, via pre- and postsynaptic actions, may modulate the excitability of the MVN neurons.

The glycoprotein hormone family represents a class of heterodimers, that includes the placental hormone equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and the anterior pituitary hormones‐ follitropin (FSH), lutropin (LH), and thyrotropin (TSH). The 4 hormones are heterodimers, with a common α‐subunit and unique β‐subunits. eCG is the most heavily glycosylated of the known pituitary and placental glycoprotein hormones. Recent observations using single chain glycoprotein hormone analogs in which, the β‐and α‐subunits are linked, implied that heterodimeric‐like quaternary configuration is not a prerequisite for receptor/signal transduction. To study the function and signal transduction of tethered rec‐eCG, a single chain eCG molecule was constructed and rec‐eCG protein was produced. Molecular mass of the single chain is about 45 kDa. All mice were ovulated by tethered rec‐eCG treatment. The dual activity of tethered rec‐eCG was determined in receptor cell lines of nonequid species; in fact, this dual activity was proven in species other than horse. Tethered rec‐eCG in equids does not bind to FSH receptors, suggesting that eCG is primarily an LH‐like hormone in the horse. Taken together, these data suggest that tethered rec‐eCG has dual activity in nonequid species in vitro. However, it has only LH‐like activity in equid species in vitro.

A cell frequently utilizes glucose as a fuel of energy and a major substrate of lipid and protein syntheses. A regulation of glucose movement into and out of the cells is precisely controlled by cooperative works of passive and sodium‐dependent active processes. At least 13 glucose cotransporter (Slc2a, GLUT) isoforms involve in passive movement of glucose in cells. The efferent ductules (EDs) play in a number of important functions for maintenance of male fertility. In the present study, using real‐time PCR analysis, we determined gene expression of five Slc2a isoforms in the EDs. In addition, we compared expression levels of these Slc2a isoforms according to postnatal development ages, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months. Results from the current study showed that expression of Slc2a1, Slc2a3, and Slc2a5 mRNAs reached the highest levels at 1 month of age, followed by a transient decrease at 3 months of age. In addition, the level of Slc2a4 mRNA reminded at steady until 1 month of age and was significantly reduced at 3 months of age, whereas the highest level of Slc2a 8 mRNA was detected at 2 weeks of age. Data from the present study indicate a differential expression of various Slc2a isoforms in the ED according to postnatal ages. Thus, it is believed that glucose movement through the epithelial cells in the ED would be regulated by the coordinated manner among Slc2a isoforms expressed at a given age.

Amino acid transporters play an important role in supplying organic nutrient to cells. The expression profile of L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) and its subunit 4F2 heavy chain (4F2hc) on different differentiation stages in 4-NQO induced rat tongue carcinogenesis was examined using immunohistochemical analysis. The gradually increasing LAT1 and 4F2hc expression detected during the multistep progressive change shows that the protein may have an important role i n the multistep tongue c arcinogenesis. Conclusively, LAT1 and 4F2 hc c an b e a useful b iomarker f or a better understanding of multistep tongue carcinogenesis, while the specific inhibition o f LAT1 and 4F2 hc would be a new rationale for suppressing tumor cell growth in tongue cancer.

We recently described a novel animal model of trigeminal neuropathic pain following compression of the trigeminal ganglion (Ahn et al., 2009). In our present study, we adapted this model using male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 250-260 g and then analyzed the behavioral responses of these animals following modified chronic compression of the trigeminal ganglion. Under anesthesia, the rats were mounted onto a stereotaxic frame and a 4% agar solution (10μL) was injected in each case on the dorsal surface of the trigeminal ganglion to achieve compression without causing injury. In the control group, the rats received a sham operation without agar injection. Air-puff, acetone, and heat tests were performed at 3 days before and at 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 30, 40, 55, and 70 days after surgery. Compression of the trigeminal ganglion produced nociceptive behavior in the trigeminal territory. Mechanical allodynia was established within 3 days and recovered to preoperative levels at approximately 60 days following compression. Mechanical hyperalgesia was also observed at 7 days after compression and persisted until the postoperative day 40. Cold hypersensitivity was established within 3 days after compression and lasted beyond postoperative day 55. In contrast, compression of the trigeminal ganglion did not produce any significant thermal hypersensitivity when compared with the sham operated group. These findings suggest that compression of the trigeminal ganglion without any injury produces prolonged nociceptive behavior and that our rat model is a useful system for further analysis of trigeminal neuralgia.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Takju lees hot water extracts on the blood pressure in spontaneously hypertension rats (SHR). Twenty eight male SHR were grouped by their blood pressure and fed a control diet or experimental diets containing 1% (G1), 2% (G2), or 4% (G4) Takju lees extracts for 4 weeks. Food intake was not significantly different among the groups. However, body weight gain was significantly lower in groups fed the Takju lees extract than the control group. The systolic blood pressure was significantly lower in the Takju lees extract containing groups (especially in G4 group) than the control groups. In addition, mean blood pressure {(systolic+dyastolic)/2} decreased with an increase in the amount of Takju lees extract in the diet and feeding period. Takju lees extract decreased angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) activity in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the Takju lees extract exert an antihypertensive effect by decreasing ACE activity.

Chemicals for cosmetics, including skin, the skin absorbs some of the research in the field of science or pharmacy recently, about the environment and the health of the heightened interest in skin absorption. Many other human attributes and absorption evaluation studies are underway in various areas. This study were used rats and carried out to find out the effects of commercial permanent wave products to skin which are composed with thioglycolic acid and bases. Results were as follows. Permanent wave penetrated to 3 hours later with steady state in skins and was not significant changeable after 20hr later. In case of neutralizer with thioglycolic acid lag time and permeability coefficient in healthy skin were 3.32hr and 0.101μg/cm2/hr, in old skin were 3.08hr and 0.117μg/cm2/hr, and in wounded skin were 3.02hr and 0.166μg/cm2/hr. In conclusion, lag time and permeability coefficient in old skin and wounded skin were faster than healthy skin. In vivo, We were studied to general time and method of permanent wave. We found out that fine wrinkle and rash of skin were changeable in the case of treating with permanent wave drugs than normal skin.

This study was performed to investigate the effects of aluminum sulfate administration on the brain tissues of old rats, when given at different concentrations. The experiment attempted to further ascertain whether aluminum exposure cause Alzheimer's disease. Seventy-five aged Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups; a control group, 2 ppm aluminum sulfate group, 20 ppm aluminum sulfate group, 40 ppm aluminum sulfate group, and 200 ppm aluminum sulfate group, and were kept on the respective diets for 12 weeks. In order to understand the influence of aluminum on the brain, serum aluminum concentrations, phospholipid composition, and catecholamine concentrations were compared between the aluminum-treated groups and the normal group. According to the results, serum aluminum was higher in the aluminum sulfate-treated groups than in the normal group. Within the cortex, catecholamine concentrationes were significantly increased but cerebellum and brainstem tissue were significantly decreased, in the aluminum sulfate-treated groups compared to the normal group. For phospholipid composition, phosphatidyl inositol was significantly increased wherase phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, and phosphatidyl serine were significantly decreased in the aluminum sulfate-treated groups versus the normal group. Based on the data, increased aluminum consumption in experimental animals causes increased serum aluminum levels and catecholamine variation. These phenomena are very similar to conditions of Alzherimer's disease. Therfore, the results of this experiment further suggest that aluminum cause Alzherimer's disease, coinciding with reports that aluminum is a cause of neurofibrilly tangles in the brain.

The epididymis in the male reproductive tract is the site where spermatozoa produced from the testis become mature. The epididymis is divided into 4 different segments, initial segment and caput, corpus, and caudal epididymis, depending upon functional and morphological features. Aquaporins (Aqps) are water channel molecules, which are present in the epididymis and play a major role in removal of epididymal water, resulting in creation of microenvironment for sperm maturation and concentration of sperms. Nandrolone decanoate (ND) is a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid, which is used to treat clinical diseases and improve physical ability and appearance. Even though it is well determined that the ND causes the male infertility by affecting the testis, little is known the effect of the ND on the epididymis. The present study was focused to examine the effect of ND at different treatment doses and periods on expression of Aqp1 and Aqp9 genes in the epididymis of pubertal rats. Results showed that mRNA expression of Aqp1 and Aqp9 genes among the parts of the epididymis was differentially regulated by ND treatment doses. In addition, treatment periods of ND caused differential expression of Aqp1 and Aqp9 mRNAs among segments of the epididymis. Therefore, it is believed that male infertility induced by ND could be resulted not only from malfunction of the testis but also from aberrant gene expression of Aqp1 and Aqp9 in the epididymis.

Cyclosporin A (CsA) has been used clinically as an immunosuppressive drug to prevent organ transplant rejection and in basic research as a mitochondrial permeability blocker. It has been reported that CsA has a protective role in severed neurons and a neurotrophic effect in neuronal cells. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the stimulation of neuronal cell proliferation by CsA have not yet been elucidated. In our current study, we investigated CsA responsive proteins in PC12 cells using a systematic proteomic approach. The viability of these cells following CsA treatment increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Proteins in the CsA-treated PC12 cells were profiled by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of flight (MALDI-TOF) and electrospray ionization quadupole time-of-flight mass spectrometries (EIQ-TOFMS). This differential expression analysis showed significant changes for 10 proteins (6 up-regulated and 4 down-regulated) upon CsA treatment that were related to cell proliferation, metabolism and the stress response. These proteomics data further our understanding of the proliferation mechanisms of PC12 cells exposed to CsA and demonstrate that our methodology has potential to further elucidate the mechanisms and pathways involved.

본 연구는 항암, 항균, 항산화 등의 기능을 나타내는 식물성 플라보노이드인 naringin이 암컷 SD rat의 지질대사와 혈액 생화학적 지표에 미치는 영향을 살펴보기 위해 수행되었다. 실험은 5주령의 암컷 SD rat를 대상으로 일주일에 3번, 총 5주 동안 naringin을 경구투여하여 지질대사와 항혈전능에 미치는 영향을 비교 분석하였으며, 실험군은 대조군(non naringin group), 저용량 naringin 투여군(0.2 g/kg), 고용량 naringin 투여군(0.5 g/kg)으로 구분하였다. 실험결과 랫드의 체중증가량과 상대장기중량에서는 통계학적으로 유의적인 변화가 관찰되지 않았다. 체중증가량에서 3주차 이후에 용량에 비례하지는 않지만 대조군에 비하여 naringin 투여군의 체중 증가율이 적은 것을 관찰 할 수 있었다. 사료섭취량과 체중증가량을 이용하여 각 군의 5주간 식이효율을 구해보았을 때, 군간에 통계학적으로 유의적인 차이는 없었으며, 장기와 조직의 상대장기중량은 간을 비롯하여 신장, 비장 모두 naringin 투여군과 대조군 간에 통계학적으로 유의적인 차이가 없었다. 혈청 중 Triglyceride, free fatty acid, total lipid, glucose의 수치는 대조군에 비해 naringin 투여군에서 유의적으로 감소하였다. 혈청 total cholesterol과 HDL-cholesterol의 수치를 이용한 Atherogenic index 즉, 동맥경화지수는 대조군에 비하여 고용량군이 유의적으로 감소하였다. 항혈전능 실험결과에서는 고용량 naringin 투여군이 대조군에 비해 유의적으로 높은 수치가 관찰되었다. 이상의 결과를 종합해 볼때 암컷 SD rat에서 naringin은 체중감소에 대한 효과는 관찰되지 않았지만, 지질저하 효과, 항산화 효과 등의 면에서 모두 우수하였다. 따라서 우리나라에서 자생하는 천연물 소재에 널리 분포된 naringin은 고혈압과 당뇨병에 효능이 있는 것으로 추측되며 동맥경화에도 효과가 있는 것으로 보여 건강기능 식품 소재로 이용될 수 있는 적절한 물질이라 판단된다.