The aim of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic effects of saengshik in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and to explore the potential of three commercially available saengshik products (BS, LS, WS) as an alternative diabetic meal. Blood glucose levels were measured at 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 minutes after the ingestion of experimental materials. In experiment 1, the amount of experimental materials remained the same. We measured blood glucose-related biomarkers as the area under the blood glucose response curve (AUC), glycemic index (GI), maximum concentration (Cmax), and time to reach maximum concentration (Tmax). AUC and Cmax of the experimental group showed significant differences compared to the control group, while GI and Tmax did not show significant differences among the groups but were lower in the experimental group compared to the control group. In experiment 2, carbohydrates were adjusted to the same amount. We measured blood glucose-related biomarkers in the same manner as Experiment 1 and obtained similar results. These hypoglycemic effects appear to be attributed to phytochemicals and dietary fiber found in whole, unrefined grains. These results suggest that saengshik exerts hypoglycemic effects by modulation of glucose-related biomarkers.

Hypertension caused by high-fat and high-salt diets is is a well-known significant risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In this study, to confirm the relationship between hypertension and immune cells, angiotensin (Ang) II was administered to Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rats and Dahl salt-resistant (SR) rats. Then the expression of immune cells and the proinflammatory cytokines were compared between the SS and SR rats. It was observed that after administration of Ang II (50ng/kg/min) for three weeks, blood pressure was increased in the SS rats, but there was no significant change in the SR rats. In addition, the expression of T helper (Th) cells and Th 17 cells in the spleen and the expression of Th cell Rorγt and regulatory T regulatory (Treg) cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells did not show a significant difference between the two experimental groups even after the administration of Ang II.IL-1β expression was significantly increased in the kidney tissue of the SS rats, while there was no significant difference in the IL-6 expression in all the experimental groups. The results of this study suggest that Ang II induces hypertension by stimulating IL-1β secretion from renal macrophage in SS rats.

This study examined the subacute oral toxicity of Dendropanax morbiferus H.Lév leaves hot-water extracts (DMWE) using male and female Spargue-Dawley rats. Rats were orally administered the DMWE at dose levels of 0, 250, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg body weight (BW) for four weeks. For experimental period, clinical signs and the number of deaths were examined, and feed intake and BW of all experimental animals were measured once a week for four weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected from all rats, and all animals were euthanized and autopsies were performed to collect major organs. No dead animals were found during the experimental period. In addition, no differences were found between control and DMWE-treated groups in feed intakes, BW changes, organ weights, clinical signs, hematological parameters, and serum biochemical parameters. The results of this study provided evidence that oral administration of DMWE at the dose of 2,000 mg/kg BW is safe in rats and may not exert severe toxic effects.

This study was designed to evaluate antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects of ethanol extracts of Taraxacum mongolicum (T.m.) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to five groups: normal (NC), STZ-control (DC), and three experimental groups. Diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats with a single intravenous injection [45 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)] of STZ. An ethanol extract of T.m. was orally given to diabetic rats for 14 days. Three experimental groups were additionally treated with T.m. extract at doses of 1 g/kg b.w./day for T.m.-1, 2 g/kg b.w./day for T.m.-2, and 3 g/kg b.w./day for T.m.-3. Oral administration of T.m.-2 significantly increased their body weights. T.m.-1 and T.m.-2 significantly decreased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels than DC. T.m.-1 and T.m.-2 group significantly decreased blood glucose levels. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, and free fatty acids were significantly decreased whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly increased in groups treated with T.m. extract than those in the DC group. These results support the fact that administration of T.m. extract can reduce hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia risk in diabetic rats.

본 연구의 목적은 5% 녹두(Phaseolus aureus L.)의 급여가 고지혈증 유발 Sprague-Dawley (SD)계 흰쥐의 혈청 blood urea nitrogen(BUN), creatinine 및 요산(uric acid)의 농도와 aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), amylase, lipase 및 catalase 활성에 미치는 영향을 규명하고자 시행하였다. 연구 결과 녹두는 고지혈증으로 유발된 흰쥐의 혈청 BUN, creatinine, 요산 농도 및 AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, amylase, lipase의 활성 감소와 catalase 활성을 증가시키는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 녹두는 신장과 간 등의 기능 개선과 예방에 효과적일 것으로 판단되어 기능성 소재로서의 이용 가능성이 있을 것으로 기 대된다.

The surfactant, 2-{2-[2-(4-nonylphenoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethan-1-ol, is used in detergents, pesticides, cosmetics, and disinfectants. Since it is found in products that can be inhaled, we evaluated its toxicity to humans upon exposure. A total of 18 rats were exposed to nasal inhalation for 4 hr to determine the acute inhalation toxicity of 2-{2-[2-(4-nonylphenoxy) ethoxy]ethoxy}ethan-1-ol; the exposure concentrations were 5.0, 1.0, and 0.5 mg/L, with three males and three females at each concentration. After the end of the exposure, mortality, general symptoms, and weight changes were observed for 14 days, and autopsy findings were confirmed. The actual concentrations of the test substance in the chamber during the exposure were measured as 3.29, 1.03, and 0.52 mg/L, respectively. The delivered dose was 552.72, 173.04, and 87.36 mg/kg/day for males, and 829.08, 259.56, and 131.04 mg/kg/day for females. As a result of the test in the OECD Test Guideline 436, all animals exposed to a concentration of 3.29 mg/L died; three males and one female died out of six exposed to the 1.0 mg/L concentration. In addition, one died out of six males exposed to a 0.5 mg/L concentration. As a result, 2-{2-[2-(4-nonylphenoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethan-1-ol was considered to be Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Category 2 (> 0.5–1 mg/L).

Iron deficiency is known to be a common nutritional disorder in many countries, especially among children, women of childbearing age and pregnant women. SUNACTIVE Fe-P80 is a new type of iron supplement that applies nanotechnlateology for the purpose of overcoming the disadvantages of food supplements. This study was conducted to investigate the potential adverse effects of a 28-day repeated oral dose of SUNACTIVE Fe-P80 in rats. SUNACTIVE Fe-P80 was administered once daily by gavage to Sprague-Dawley rats for 28 days at doses of 0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg/day. Additional recovery groups from the control and highdose groups were observed for a 14-day recovery period. At the scheduled termination, the animals were sacrificed, their organs weighed, and blood samples collected. There were no treatment-related effects in the context of clinical signs, body weight, food intake, ophthalmoscopy, urinalysis, necropsy findings, organ weights, and hematologic, serum biochemical and histopathological parameters at any dose tested. Under the present experimental conditions, the no-observed-adverse-effect level of SUNACTIVE Fe-P80 was ≥ 2,000 mg/kg/day in both the sexes, and no target organs were identified. Thus, the results suggest that SUNACTIVE Fe-P80 is relatively safe, as no treatment-related adverse effects were observed following a 28-day repeated oral dose experiment.

Aralia elata, Chaenomeles sinensis fruit, and Glycyrrhizae radix have been widely used as oriental medicinal plants in Korea, China and Japan and found to possess anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. The current study was conducted to investigate the neuroprotective effect of an ethanol extract of a mixture of A. elata, C. sinensis fruit, and Glycyrrhizae radix (ACG) against ischemia-induced brain injury in rats and excitotoxic and oxidative neuronal death in primarily cultured rat cortical neurons. Transient focal cerebral ischemia was induced by 2 h middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 24 h reperfusion (MCAO/R) in rats. Oral administration of ACG (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg) 30 min before MCAO, after 1 h of MCAO, and after 1 h of reperfusion reduced MCAO/R-induced brain infarct and edema formation. ACG also inhibited development of behavioral disabilities in MCAO/R-treated rats. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to 500 μM glutamate for 12 h resulted in neuronal cell death. ACG (1, 10, and 50 μg/mL) inhibited glutamate-induced neuronal death. Furthermore, ACG inhibited 100 μM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)- and hypoxia-induced neuronal death. These results suggest that the neuroprotective effect of ACG against ischemia-induced brain damage might be associated with its anti-excitotoxic and anti-oxidative activity and that ACG may have a therapeutic role for prevention of neurodegeneration in stroke.

The rapid development of computer vision and deep learning has enabled these technologies to be applied to the automated classification and counting of microscope images, thereby relieving of some burden from pathologists in terms of performing tedious microscopic examination for analysis of a large number of slides for pathological lesions. Recently, the use of these digital methods has expanded into the field of medical image analysis. In this study, the Inception-v3 deep learning model was used for classification of chondrocytes from knee joints of rats. Knee joints were extracted, fixed in neutral buffered formalin, decalcified, processed and embedded in paraffin, and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained. The H&E stained slides were converted into whole slide imaging (WSI), and the images were cropped to 79 × 79 pixels. The images were divided into training (60.42%) and test (39.58%) sets (46,349 and 30,360 images, respectively). Then, images containing chondrocytes were classified by Inception-v3 and accuracy was calculated. We visualized the images containing chondrocytes in WSIs by adding colored dots to patches. When images of chondrocytes in knee joints were evaluated, the accuracy was within the range of 91.20 ± 8.43%. Therefore, it is considered that the Inception-v3 deep learning model was able to distinguish chondrocytes from non-chondrocytes in knee joints of rats with a relatively high accuracy. The above results taken together confirmed that this deep learning model could classify the chondrocytes and this promising approach will provide pathologists a fast and accurate analysis of diverse tissue structures.

본 연구는 hesperidin과 hesperidin의 aglycone 형태인 hesperetin의 2,2'-azobis (2-aminopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)에 의해 신장 독성이 유도된 쥐에서 신장 보호 효과에 대해 연구하였다. Hesperidin과 hesperetin은 200 mg/kg/day의 농도로 7일간 위내투여하였으며, AAPH를 복강주사하여 급성 신장 손상을 유도하였다. 이 후 쥐의 신장 조직에서 지질과산화 함량, nitric oxide (NO) 생성량, catalase 효소 활성을 측정하였으 며, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) 및 inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) 단백질 발현량을 측정하였다. AAPH로 신장 독성을 유도한 control군의 신장 내 지질과산화 및 NO 생성량은 신장 독성을 유도하지 않은 normal군에 비해 유의적으로 증가하여 산화적 손상이 유도됨을 확인하였다. 반면 hesperidin과 hesperetin를 투여했을 때 신장 내 지질과산화 및 NO 생성량이 control군에 비해 유의적으로 감소하여 산화적 스트레스 개선 효과를 확인하였다. Hesperidin과 hesperetin을 투여한 군의 경우 신장 내 항산화 효소인 catalase 활성을 유의적으로 증가시켰다. 뿐만 아니라, hesperidin과 hesperetin의 투여는 AAPH로 신장독성을 유도한 control군 100% 대비 NF-κB 단백질을 각각 66% 및 71%로, iNOS 단백질 발현을 각각 46% 및 33%로 억제시켰다. 따라서 본 연구를 통해 hesperidin과 hesperetin의 투여가 항산화 활성 조절을 통해 AAPH로 유도된 신장 독성을 억제하는 것을 알 수 있었다.

Declined salivary gland function is commonly observed in patients with diabetes. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetes-induces hypofunction of the salivary glands. Polydatin (resveratrol-3-O-β-mono-D-glucoside) is a polyphenol that can be easily accessed from peanut, grape, and red wines. Although polydatin is known to have anti-glycation, anti-oxidation, and anti-inflammation effects, its effect in the salivary gland is not known. In the present study, we evaluated the AGEs burden in the salivary gland in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and the protective effect of polydatin on diabetes-related salivary hypofunction. Polydatin (50 and 100 mg/kg/day) was orally administered in the STZ-induced diabetic rats for 4 weeks. The results showed that the salivary flow rate of the STZ-induced diabetic rats was reduced compared with that in the normoglycemic control rats. The circulating AGEs in serum and secreted AGEs in saliva increased in the STZ-induced diabetic rats. The reactive oxygen specises (ROS) were highly generated in the salivary gland in these diabetic rats. The salivary gland from the diabetic rats showed increased acinar cell apoptosis compared to normoglycemic control mice. However, polydatin suppressed all of these diabetes-related salivary changes. Overall, polydatin could provide a beneficial option for diabetes-related salivary hypofunction.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of extract mixture of C. wilfordii and P. umbrosa (IPLUS-CWPU) on bone growth in 4-week old young male SD rats. To confirm the effect of IPLUS-CWPU, we measured the length of bone growth plate, the ratio of proliferative zone to the length of growth plate and the expression level of insulin-like growth factor, IGF-1. The IPLUS-CWPU treatment shows a significant increase of tibial and femoral growth plate and the ratio of proliferative zone in growth plate. Especially, the length increased by 13.9% and 25.3% in the tibia and femur, respectively, in the high-dose group compared to the normal group. Moreover, the expression of IGF-1 gene in liver was upregulated in IPLUS-CWPU treated groups. These results indicated that IPLUS-CWPU administration could increase the proliferative zone of bone growth plate in early developmental stage by upregulation of IGF-1 gene.

본 연구는 NaF 경구 투여가 Sprague Dawley계 수컷 흰쥐의 혈청 중 non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, uric acid 및 전해질 농도에 미치는 영향을 조사 하기 위하여, 기본식이를 급여한 대조군인 BG군과 기본식이에 NaF 경구 투여군(NF3~50군) 9그룹의 식이군으로 나누어 5주간 실험사육을 행하였다. 흰쥐의 NEFA와 BUN, creatinine, uric acid 농도는 NaF 농도에 비례적으로 증가하였으며, 고농도의 NaF 투여군에서 대조군보다 유의적인 차이로 높게 관찰되었다(α=0.05). 한편, 전해질 농도 중 total calcium (T-Ca)과 인(Pi) 농도는 대조군보다 NaF 투여군에서 낮게 동정되었으며, NaF 20 mg 이상 경구 투여한 군에서 유의적인 차이를 보였다(α=0.05). 흰 쥐의 NaF 경구 투여 처리는 농도가 증가함에 따라 NEFA 및 BUN, creatinine, uric acid의 농도가 상승하였으며, 전해질 농도는 저하되는 것으로 나타나 신장 기능 장애 등 바람직하지 않은 영향을 주는 것으로 확인되었다.

The present study is designed to investigate the hypolipidemic effect of the hot-water extract from the leaves of Dendropanax morbifera L. (DMWE) in hyperlipidemic rats. Thirty male 5-week-old rats were grouped as follows: Normal control (NC) given distilled water; hyperlipidemic control (HC) administered with distilled water; drug treatment (DT) orally administered with atorvastatin (10 mg/kg body weight (BW)); DMWE-treated groups (DM-50, DM-100 and DM-200) treated with DMWE 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg BW, respectively. All groups (except for NC) were fed a high-fat diet during the experiment. After 4 weeks of administration, the BW of all groups treated with DMWEs significantly increased compared to that of HC (p<0.05) and showed no significant difference compared to that of NC. In addition, serum total cholesterol levels in all groups treated with DMWEs were meaningfully decreased, compared to that in HC (p<0.05). In serum triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, both DM-100 and DM-200 considerably decreased compared to HC (p<0.05), and no significant differences in TG levels were between DM-100 and DM-200. In high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, DM-200 was statistically different compared to HC, and there were no significant differences between DM-100, DM-200 and DT. Furthermore, aspartate transaminase and alanine aminotransferase concentrations of DM-100 and DM-200 were significantly decreased compared to those of HC (p<0.05). From results portrayed above, DMWE at the concentration of 100 mg/kg BW has been identified to be effective in the treatment of hyperlipidemic rats.

This study investigated the preventive effect of Dendropanax morbifera leaf extracts (DMLEs) drew out with water, 30, 50 and 70% ethanol against alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in vitro and vivo. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-dipenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to assess cytotoxic activity of DMLEs, and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranged between 1.11 and 2.08 mg/mL on Hep3B cells. In preventing ethanol-induced-hepatotoxicity on Hep3B cells, 30 and 50% ethanol DMLEs were significantly effective compared to the 5% ethanol treatment control. In addition, the 30% ethanol DMLE was orally provided to rats 30 min prior to the administration of ethanol (3 mL/kg body weight). At 1, 3 and 5 h after ethanol treatment, the plasma levels of ethanol and acetaldehyde were determined. The 30% ethanol DMLE effectively decreased the plasma ethanol levels during 5 h but increased the plasma acetaldehyde levels until 3 h and then significantly decreased at 5 h, as compared to the control. These results indicate that the 30% ethanol DMLE possesses a potent preventive effect against ethanol-induced liver toxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Kisspeptin is a key player in the central control of reproductive axis. Central administration of kisspeptin has been shown to advance puberty in rats. Stimulation of hypothalamic GnRH pulse generating mechanism by kisspeptin has been proposed to be the mechanism behind the onset of puberty. We hypothesized that chronic high doses of kisspeptin administration suppresses the reproductive axis and hence delays the pubertal onset. Hence, we investigated the effect of peripheral administration of chronic high doses of kisspeptin on pubertal onset, feed intake and body weight in female rats. Rats were treated with saline or kisspeptin (100 nmoles per day; intraperitoneal) for 26 days (day 25 to day 50 postnatal) and the day of vaginal opening was marked as day of puberty. Kisspeptin treated rats had delayed pubertal onset and reduced feed intake and body weight. Gonadal GPR54 mRNA was reduced suggesting that chronic high doses of kisspeptin may suppress the reproductive functions possibly by downregulation of GPR54 receptor. However, delay in puberty due to reduction in feed intake and body weight could not be ruled out in this study. Further, our study emphasizes the importance of dosage and duration of kisspeptin administration in the manipulation of reproductive axis. Our study, for the first time, suggests that kisspeptin and its analogues, if proven beneficial, could be used to treat precocious puberty in children. It appears that, though a promising tool for enhancing fertility, kisspeptin acts as a double-edged sword and has to be cautiously used to manipulate reproduction.

꽃송이버섯의 자실체가 고지방과 고콜레스테롤을 급여 한 Sprague-Dawley계 암컷 흰쥐의 지질대사와 비만에 미치는 효과를 조사하기 위해 생후 6주령의 흰쥐에 정상 식이를 급여한 군(ND), 정상 식이에 20%의 돈지(Lard)와 1%의 콜레스테롤을 첨가하여 급여한 군(HFD), HFD 식이에 꽃송이버섯 자실체 분말을 5% 수준으로 첨가하여 급여한 군(HFD+SL), HFD 식이에 simvastatin을 0.3% 수준으로 첨가하여 급여한 군(HFD+SS) 등 4개의 실험군으로 나누어 6주간 실험을 진행하였다. 각각의 실험군 간 체중의 증가율은 HFD+SL군과 HFD+SS군이 HFD군에 비해 유의하게 감소하여 ND군와 유사한 수준을 나타내 HFD 식이에 꽃송이버섯을 첨가하여 급여한 HFD+SL군의 비만이 억제되었다. ND군의 식이섭취량은 HFD군에 비해 유의하게 높았고 HFD+SL군과 HFD+SS군에 비해서는 고도로 유의하게 높았다. 혈청 총콜레스테롤(TC), 저밀도지단백질 콜레스테롤(LDL-C) 및 중성지방(TG)의 농도는 HFD군에 비해 ND군, HFD+SL군 및 HFD+SS군이 유의하게 낮았다. 심혈관계 질환의 위험도를 나타내는 동맥경화지수(AI)와 LDL-C/HDL-C 비율도 HFD군에 비해 ND군, HFD+SL군 및 HFD+SS군이 유의하게 낮아 꽃송이버섯 자실체의 급여가 심혈관계 질환의 발생 위험도를 낮출 수 있은 것으로 나타났다. 알부민, 크레아티닌, 요산 및 총단백질의 농도는 모든 실험군 간 정상적인 수치를 나타냈으나 혈당 농도는 HFD군에 비해 ND군, HFD+SL군, HFD+SS군 모두 유의하게 낮아 꽃송이버섯이 혈당을 낮추는 효과가 있었다. 간 기능 손상의 척도를 나타내는 AST와 ALT 효소의 활성은 모든 실험군 간 유의성은 없었으나 ALP 효소의 농도는 HFD에 비해 ND군 와 HFD+SL군 및 HFD+SS군이 유의하게 낮아 꽃송이버섯을 첨가한 식이의 급여가 흰쥐의 ALP 농도를 유의하게 낮추는 효과가 있었다. 실험 5주와 6주 사이에 배출된 분변의 총 지질과 콜레스테롤의 양을 측정한 결과 HFD+SL 군이 배출한 총 지질과 콜레스테롤의 양이 HFD군과 HFD+SS군에 비해 유의하게 높게 나타나 HFD식이에 함유된 일부의 지질과 콜레스테롤이 꽃송이버섯에 의해 장 내로 흡수되지 않고 분변으로 배출된 것으로 나타났다. 각각의 실험군의 간 조직을 적출하여 oil red O로 염색하고 현미경으로 관찰한 결과 HFD군에서는 심한 지방간이 관찰되었으나 HFD+SS군은 ND군과 같이 지방간이 전혀 관찰되지 않았고 HFD+SL군의 간 조직에서는 소량의 지방 방울이 관찰되어 꽃송이버섯의 자실체에는 비알코올성 지방간을 억제하는 효과가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 꽃송이버섯 자실체는 고지방과 고콜레스테롤 식이 섭취로 인해 발생하는 체중증가, 혈청의 콜레스테롤과 중성지방 농도 및 비알코올성 지방간의 개선에 효과가 있어 심혈관계 질환과 비만의 예방과 치료에 도움을 줄 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.