In order to maintain the donation of the human bodies required for medical education and research, we investigated social characteristics of those who have signed up to the donation program. The data registered in Chungbuk National University were analyzed and then compared to those registered in 9 of other universities in Korea. In addition, a telephone survey was performed for 128 registrants of Chungbuk National University. The number of registrants was rapidly increased after 1999 and the donation of body was sufficient for medical education and research after 2005. The number of registrants of Chungbuk after 2005 shows gradual increase whereas 10 other schools shows slight decrease. The age of registrants at signing up to the program showed the largest proportion in seventies (33.9%), followed by sixties (28.9%) and fifties (22%). Multiple registration which means two or more registrants from one family represented 40.9%. After the use of cadaver and cremation, most of the bereaved family preferred to keep and visit the cremains in the charnel house of medical school more than to carry out the school. By the telephone survey, 71% of the registrants answered they are in middle or upper middle class of living, and 77% responded that the motivation was voluntary for the society without any reward. Based on the present results we could expect the body donations will reasonably maintaine. Most of dornors have pure motivation without any reward from the school. Keeping their cremains at charnel house of the medical school were strongly favored so it is important to make enough facilities and management system as well.
Cadaver ; Cremation ; Education, Medical ; Human Body ; Humans ; Korea ; Motivation ; Reward ; Schools, Medical ; Sociology ; Telephone

The effects of observation program of cadaver dissection for paramedical students were surveyed and obtained the following results. After observation of cadaver dissection, the students who will participate next time with their own will, who think this program is essential for anatomy study, who understand the orientation contents, and who think their anatomical knowledge elevated were increased. However, the number staffs of medical school who think this program is essential for paramedical students were about 1/3. The problems obtained in the observation program of cadaver dissection were discordance with teaching schedule, long orientation and observation time, and the 1/2 or above staffs leading this program were teaching assistants and medical students. Through this observation program of cadaver dissection, the paramedical students were aware of the meaning of cadaver donation and the noble will of donors certainly, and gained an opportunity feel the dignity of life.
Appointments and Schedules ; Cadaver ; Humans ; Orientation ; Schools, Medical ; Tissue Donors

Hypoxia is one of the major causes of neonatal mortality. Hypoxia-induced tissue injuries are resulted from complex mechanisms such as DNA damage and apoptosis. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the changes in the expression of DNA repairing enzymes such as 8-hydroxyguanine glycosylase 1 (OGG1) and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the fetal cerebral tissue after intrauterine hypoxic injury. For this study, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to hypoxic gas (10% O2, 5% CO2, 85% N2) for 2 or 4 hours at postconception day 14.5 and 15.5. After 24 hours, the animals were anesthetized with ethyl ether and fetuses were obtained by laparatomy. Hematoxylin-eosin stain, immunohistochemical stain, and western blot were employed for analysis. The caspase-3 immunolabeled cells were significantly increased within the cerebral cortex after hypoxic injury. The expressions of OGG1, APE1, and BDNF were also increased in the cerebral tissue after hypoxic injury at post-conception day 14.5, in a dose-dependent manner. However, the expression of BDNF was significantly decreased in the cortical tissue exposed to hypoxic injury at postconception day 15.5. These results demonstrate that fetal hypoxic injury induces apoptosis of the nerve cells and promotes the expressions of the DNA repairing enzymes and neurotrophic factors. In addition, these results suggest that protection mechanisms against hypoxic injury alter along the progression of the fetal development.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Caspase 3 ; Cerebral Cortex ; DNA ; DNA Damage ; DNA Repair ; Ether, Ethyl ; Fetal Development ; Fetus ; Guanine ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Nerve Growth Factors ; Neurons ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Estrous cycle -related histological and histochemical changes in the vaginal epithelium of mature female rats were studied with PAS (periodic acid Schiff) alcian blue pH 2.5 and biotinylated lectins (DBA, SBA, PNA, BSL -1, sWGA, UEA -1, RCA -1, Con A and LCA).The prominent characteristic changes that occured during the estrous cycle were mucinous transformation in proestrus and cornification in estrus. In proestrus, the superficial mucinous cells of the epithelium were increased in number and enlarged in size, and the amount of acid and neutral mucosubstances was more increase in proestrus than in diestrus and metestrus. About the binding pattern of all lectins examined to the superficial mucinous cells, in diestrus, the binding pattern of these cells showed a similar affinity as in metestrus with intense DBA and UEA -1 reactivity. In proestrus, however, these cells were reactive with seven lectins examined except LCA and PNA, and DBA, SBA, BSL -1, RCA -1 and UEA -1 reacted more strongly than in diestrus and metestrus. In estrus, the superficial cornified cell layers showed a weak reactivity of SBA, BSL -1 and PNA. In diestrus and metestrus, the mucinous cells in the intermediate layers of the basal portion of vaginal fold stained with eight lectins examined except LCA and showed the same binding pattern to the superficial mucinous cells. About the distribution of glycoconjugates in the intermediate layer, the upper spindle cells showed different binding pattern according to the estrous stages. In diestrus, estrus, and metestrus, these cells showed a affinity for all lectins examined. In proestrus, however, DBA and PNA staining were not observed, and stained more intensely with sWGA, SBA and UEA -1, and less intensely with BSL -1 and RCA - 1. In estrus, DBA and PNA reactivity reappeared as trace, and RCA -1 and sWGA reactivity increased. In metestrus, sWGA reactivity reduced and BSL -1 and UEA -1 increased continually. The lower rounded cells of the intermediate layers stained with all lectins examined in estrus, with six lectins examined except Con A, DBA and UEA -1 in proestrus and with five lectins examined except DBA, UEA -1, sWGA and BSL -1 in diestrus and metestrus. BSL -1 reactivity for the layers increased in proestrus, estrus and metestrus, and PNA reactivity increased in estrus and reduced in metestrus. The basal layer of the vaginal epithelium showed different binding pattern to the different portion of vagina, and showed faint staining of BSL -1, SBA and RCA -1, and moderately staining of BSL -1 in proestrus and estrus. In conclusion, alpha /-N -acetyl -D -galactosamine, alpha /-D -galactose and alpha -L -fucose participate in the mucinous transformation of the vaginal epithelium, and beta -N -acetyl -D -glucosamine participates in the cornification of the vaginal epithelium.
Alcian Blue ; Animals ; Diestrus ; Epithelium* ; Estrous Cycle* ; Estrus ; Female ; Glycoconjugates ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lectins ; Metestrus ; Mucins ; Proestrus ; Rats* ; Vagina

For the study on the teratogenic effects and its mechanism of FUDR on the developing rat fetuses, Sprague -Dawley rats as experimental animal and 5 -fluoro -2 '-deoxyuridine (Sigma chemicals) as FUDR were used respectively. On the day of gestation 10.5, 60 mg/kg, 65 mg/kg and 70 mg/kg of FUDR was injected intraperitoneally, and sacrificed under ether anesthesia on the day of gestation 17.5. External congenital malformations such as hydrocephalus, lens defect, cleft palate, short tail, forelimb and hindlimb malformations were observed under stereoscope, and compared each other with control group. The results were as follows; 1. Congenital anomalies induced by FUDR were hydrocephalus, lens defect, cleft palate, short tail, and defects of extremities such as phocomelia, loss of first and second digits, undergrowth of digits, and syndactyly. 2. There is close relation between the rate of occurance of congenital anomalies and doses of FUDR in some organs. 3. There is significant differences between forelimbs and hindlimbs and between right forelimb and left forelimb in the rate of occurance of congenital anomalies of the extremities. According to the above results, it is considered that there is significant differences between the types and occurance rates of congenital anomalies induced by FUDR and the doses of FUDR. But distinct mechanism of action during teratogenesis of FUDR still remains unclear.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Cleft Palate ; Ectromelia ; Ether ; Extremities ; Fetus ; Floxuridine* ; Forelimb ; Hindlimb ; Hydrocephalus ; Pregnancy ; Rats* ; Syndactyly ; Tail ; Teratogenesis

To investigate whether the change of alpha 2A -AR mRNA expression in the DRG is an underlying mechanism of sympathetically maintained neuropathic pain (SMP), in situ hybridization for alpha 2A -adrenergic receptor (AR) mRNA with digoxigenin -labeled RNA probe in the rat DRG was conducted after tight ligation of the 5th lumbar (L5) spinal nerve up to 12 weeks. Majority of the DRG neurons expressed alpha 2A -AR mRNA and a few satellite cells expressed alpha 2A -AR mRNA in the DRG of the contralateral side. The number of the alpha 2A -AR mRNA positive DRG neurons dropped significantly at 7 day post -operation (7D PO). On the other hand, there was great increase in the number of the alpha 2A -AR positive satellite cells at 7D PO. Then, the number of the alpha 2A -AR mRNA positive DRG neurons was increased and the number of the alpha 2A -AR mRNA positive satellite cells was decreased from 7D PO to 12 weeks PO. Surgical sympathectomy reduced neuropathic pain behaviors in animal models of neuropathic pain suggest that downregulation of alpha 2A -AR mRNA expression in the injured DRG neurons following the ligation itself might be not related to SMP, but the role of upregulation of alpha 2A -AR mRNA expression in the satellite cells remain to be explored.
Animals ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Digoxigenin ; Down-Regulation ; Ganglia, Spinal* ; Hand ; In Situ Hybridization ; Ligation ; Models, Animal ; Neuralgia* ; Neurons ; Rats* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger* ; Spinal Nerve Roots* ; Spinal Nerves ; Sympathectomy ; Up-Regulation

Multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) are a prominent characteristic of granulomatous inflammation including tuberculosis. The present study was performed to investigate the characteristics and distribution pattern of intracellular and cell surface glycoconjugates of the MGCs in human pulmonary tubercles using lectin histochemistry. The cytoplasmic staining patterns could be divided into three groups. First, VVL, LCA and SBA showed intense reactivity in the great majority of the MGCs. Second, BS -I, DBA, WGA, PNA, ECL, PHA -L and PHA -E also showed positive staining in the cytoplasm of many MGCs, but the reaction patterns were not uniform. Third, the other group (BS -I - B4 and UEA -I) exhibited very weak or no staining in the cytoplasm. With regard to the membranous staining, the lectin binding patterns could be divided into two groups. First, WGA, ECL, PHA -L & PHA -E showed intense membranous staining. Second, the other lectins (BS -I, BS -I -B4, DBA, VVL, LCA, PNA, SBA and UEA -I) did not show any membranous staining. There was no significant difference in lectin binding patterns between the two types of MGCs. Our results demonstrated the characterization of glycoconjugates expressed in the MGCs in human pulmonary tubercles.
Cytoplasm ; Giant Cells* ; Glycoconjugates* ; Humans* ; Inflammation ; Lectins ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

In order to elucidate the cardiotoxicity of FeSO4 in cultured myocardial cells derived from neonatal rat, cardiotoxicity was measured by MTT assay when cultured cells were treated with various concentrations of FeSO4. In addition, the cardioprotective effect of antioxidants, glutathione and ascorbic acid was evaluated by MTT assay in these cultrures. Cell viability was remakably decreased in a dose -dependent manner after exposure of cultured rat myocardial cells to 20 microM FeSO4 for 48 hours. In the cardioprotective effect of antioxidants on FeSO4 -induced toxicity, glutathione blocked the cardiotoxicity induced by FeSO4, while ascorbic acid was not effective in blocking FeSO4 -induced cardiotoxicity in these cultures. These results suggest that FeSO4 is toxic in cultured myocardial cells from neonatal rat and selective antioxidants such as glutathione are effective in blocking the cardiotoxicity induced by FeSO4.
Animals ; Antioxidants* ; Ascorbic Acid ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Glutathione ; Rats

The distribution of transforming growth factor -alpha (TGF -alpha ) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the cardiovascular system of developing mouse embryos of gestational age 7 to 12 days were immunohistochemically (ABC method) studies to investigate the differential expression of these growth factors. Paraffin embedded sections were immunostained with antibodies for TGF -alpha and EGF. In the 8 -day -old mouse embryos, the endocardial tissue, myocardial tissue and cardiac jelly were all TGF -alpha stained. EGF stain was observed in the cardiac jelly and myocardial tissue but was not observed in the endocardial tissue. This suggests that in the initial phase of the cardiovascular system development, TGF -alpha function as earlier growth factor than EGF. The 9, 10 and 11 -day -old embryos showed TGF -alpha stain in the broad spectrum of developing cardiovascular tissues such as, the bulbus cordis, primitive atrium, sinus venosus, aortic sac, dorsal aorta, vitelline artery, endocardial cushion tissue, and myocardium of primitive ventricle. However, EGF stain was observed only in the bulbus cordis, primitive atrium and endocardial tissue. This finding indicates that TGF -alpha function as a more extensive growth factor than EGF. The 12 -day -old embryos showed stronger EGF stain than TGF -alpha in the primitive ventricle, bulbus cordis, and endocardial tissue. This suggests that EGF function as a more growth factor than TGF -alpha at this particular developmental stage and plays important role at the end stage of the primitive heart development.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Aorta ; Arteries ; Cardiovascular System ; Embryonic Structures* ; Endocardial Cushions ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Gestational Age ; Heart ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mice* ; Myocardium ; Paraffin ; Transforming Growth Factors* ; Vitellins

Changes in nitric oxide production in spinal cord or dorsal root ganglion have been known to contribute to allodynia after nerve injury. However, regulation of nNOS expression was also reported not to be responsible for the development and/or maintenance of neuropathic allodynia. The aim of this study was to elucidate role of nNOS expression in the sensory nervous system in neuropathic pain. Von Frey and acetone tests were performed in a model of peripheral neuropathy, ligation of 5th lumbar and 6th lumbar spinal nerves, in wild type and nNOS (-/-) mice. The effect of nNOS inhibitor was evaluated in neuropathic pain behavior in the mice. Mechanical allodynia was slightly reduced in nNOS (-/-) mice compared with wild type mice after peripheral neuropathy. nNOS inhibitor, L-NAME, reduced minimally mechanical allodynia, not cold allodynia, but gabapentin reduced remarkably neuropathic pain behavior (mechanical and cold allodynia) in both wild type and nNOS (-/-) mice. These results suggested that nNOS expression in the sensory nervous system may be partially associated with development and/or maintenance of mechanical allodynia in a mouse model of peripheral neuropathy.
Acetone ; Animals ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Hyperalgesia ; Ligation ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout* ; Nervous System ; Neuralgia* ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Nerves