The effects of polarized-light therapy (PLT) on high-cholesterol diet (HCD)-induced hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis were investigated in comparison with that of lovastatin in rabbits. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by feeding male New Zealand white rabbits with 1% cholesterol in diet for 2 weeks and maintained with 0.5% cholesterol for 6 weeks, followed by normal diet for 2 weeks for recovery. Lovastatin (0.002% in diet) or daily 5-min or 20-min PLT on the outside surface of ears was started 2 weeks after induction of hypercholesterolemia. Hypercholesterolemic rabbits exhibited great increases in serum cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) levels, and finally severe atheromatous plaques formation covering 57.5% of the arterial walls. Lovastatin markedly reduced both the cholesterol and LDL, but the reducing effect (47.5%) on atheroma formation was relatively low. By comparison, 5-min PLT preferentially decreased LDL, rather than cholesterol, and thereby potentially reduced the atheroma area to 42.2%. Notably, 20-min PLT was superior to lovastatin in reducing both the cholesterol and LDL levels as well as the atheromatous plaque formation (26.4%). In contrast to the increases in blood alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase following lovastatin treatment, PLT did not cause hepatotoxicity. In addition, PLT decreased platelets and hematocrit level. The results indicate that PLT attenuates atherosclerosis not only by lowering blood cholesterol and LDL levels, but also by improving blood flow without adverse effects. Therefore, it is suggested that PLT could be a safe alternative therapy for the improvement of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Platelets ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Ear ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; Lovastatin ; Male ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Rabbits

Overweight and obesity are usually related with high fat and calorie intake, and seriously causative of lifestyle-related diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, arteriosclerosis, and colon cancer. In this study, we propose a novel dietary therapy against overweight and obesity using mixtures of protamine and chitooligosaccharide (COS), which are known to interrupt the lipid metabolism in the body. Protamine is a dietary protein originated from salmon reproductive organ, and COS is an oligosaccharide made from chitin or chitosan by chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis. In the enzyme activity analysis in vitro, protamine and COS strongly suppressed the activity of pancreatic lipase, which is the primary enzyme for the digestion and absorption of lipids in the intestine. In in vivo animal test, the mixtures of protamine and COS significantly reduced the serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (T-CHO), and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDLC) and inhibited the accumulation of lipids in liver tissue of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats fed high fat diets. On the other hand, they increased fecal TG and T-CHO contents. From these alterations in lipid metabolism, we verified that protamine and COS mixtures could effectively interrupt the digestion and absorption of dietary lipids in the body by inhibiting pancreatic lipase activity. In addition, protamine and COS mixtures increased the serum level of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDLC), responsible for removing cholesterol from cells and protecting atherosclerosis, and therefore decreased the potential risks of cardiovascular diseases by lowering values of the atherogenic index (AI) and cardiac risk factor (CRF). Taken together, we suggest protamine and COS mixtures as a prominent dietary therapy for the prevention of overweight, obesity, and further cardiovascular diseases related with hyperlipidemia.
Absorption ; Animals ; Arteriosclerosis ; Atherosclerosis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Chitin ; Chitosan ; Cholesterol ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Diet, High-Fat ; Dietary Proteins ; Digestion ; Hand ; Hydrolysis ; Hyperlipidemias ; Intestines ; Lipase ; Lipid Metabolism ; Liver ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Rats ; Risk Factors ; Salmon

Yerba Mate, derived from the leaves of the tree, Ilex paraguariensis, is widely-used as a tea or as an ingredient in formulated foods. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Yerba Mate extract on weight loss, obesity-related biochemical parameters, and diabetes in high-fat diet-fed mice. To this end, by using in vivo animal models of dietary-induced obesity, we have made the interesting observations that Yerba Mate has the ability to decrease the differentiation of pre-adipocytes and to reduce the accumulation of lipids in adipocytes, both of which contribute to a lower growth rate of adipose tissue, lower body weight gain, and obesity. Our data from in vivo studies revealed that Yerba Mate treatment affects food intake, resulting in higher energy expenditure, likely as a result of higher basal metabolism in Yerba Mate-treated mice. Furthermore, in vivo effects of Yerba Mate on lipid metabolism included reductions in serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, and glucose concentrations in mice that were fed a high fat diet. In conclusion, Yerba Mate can potentially be used to treat obesity and diabetes.
Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Basal Metabolism ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Diet, High-Fat ; Eating ; Energy Metabolism ; Food, Formulated ; Glucose ; Ilex paraguariensis ; Lipid Metabolism ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Obesity ; Tea ; Trees ; Triglycerides ; Weight Loss

Many research studies report the healing effects of Aloe Vera, thyroid hormone cream and silver sulfadiazine. However, the effects of these therapeutic agents are not well understood and have not been compared in one study. This study aimed at investigating the effects of topical application of an Aloe vera gel, a thyroid hormone cream and a silver sulfadiazine cream on the healing of skin wounds surgically induced in Wistar rats for determining the treatment of choice. In a randomized controlled trial, twelve male rats, aged 120 days and with a mean weight of 250 to 300 g, were divided randomly into 5 groups based on drug treatments: Aloe vera gel (AV), thyroid hormone cream (TC), silver sulfadiazine 1% (S), vehicle (V) and control. To evaluate the efficacy of each treatment technique, a biomechanical approach was used to assess tensile stress after 14 days of treatment. Tensile stress was significantly improved in the Aloe vera gel group as compared with the other four groups (P< or =0.05). While the other treatment options resulted in better healing than the control group, this difference was not significant. We conclude that Aloe vera topical application accelerated the healing process more than thyroid hormone, silver sulfadiazine and vehicle in surgically induced incisions in rats.
Aged ; Aloe ; Animals ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Silver ; Silver Sulfadiazine ; Skin ; Thyroid Gland ; Wound Healing

This study was conducted to investigate the potential effects of alpha-chlorohydrin (ACH) on epididymal function and antioxidant system in male rats. The test chemical was administered to male rats by gavage at doses of 0, 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg/day for 7 days. Twenty-four male rats were randomly assigned to four experimental groups, with six rats in each group. Spermatotoxicity was assessed by measurement of reproductive organ weight, testicular sperm head count, epididymal sperm motility and morphology, histopathologic examination, and oxidative damage analysis in rats. At 30 mg/kg/day, an increase in the incidence of clinical signs, epididymis weight, and gross necropsy findings of the epididymis, a decrease in the sperm motility, and an increased incidence of histopathological changes of the epididymis were observed in a dose-dependent manner. At 10 mg/kg/day, an increased incidence of clinical signs and histopathological changes and decreased sperm motility were observed. In the oxidative damage analysis, an increase in the malondialdehyde concentration and a decrease in the glutathione content and glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities in the epididymal tissue were detected at > or =3 mg/kg/day. The results show that graded doses of ACH elicit depletion of the antioxidant defense system and that the spermatotoxicity of ACH may be due to the induction of oxidative stress.
alpha-Chlorohydrin ; Animals ; Catalase ; Epididymis ; Glutathione ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Organ Size ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Sperm Head ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa

Exercise training can improve strength and lead to adaptations in the skeletal muscle and nervous systems. Skeletal muscles can develop into two types: fast and slow, depending on the expression pattern of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms. Previous studies reported that exercise altered the distribution of muscle fiber types. It is not currently known what changes in the expression of caveolins and types of muscle fiber occur in response to the intensity of exercise. This study determined the changes in expression of caveolins and MHC type after forced exercise in muscular and non-muscular tissues in rats. A control (Con) group to which forced exercise was not applied and an exercise (Ex) group to which forced exercise was applied. Forced exercise, using a treadmill, was introduced at a speed of 25 m/min for 30 min, 3 times/day (07:00, 15:00, 23:00). Homogenized tissues were applied to extract of total RNA for further gene analysis. The expression of caveolin-3 and MHC2a in the gastrocnemius muscle of female rats significantly increased in the Ex group compared with the Con group (P<0.05). Furthermore, in the gastrocnemius muscle of male rats, the expression of MHC2x was significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05). There was an increased expression in caveolin-3 and a slightly decreased expression in TGFbeta-1 in muscular tissues implicating caveolin-3 influences the expression of MHC isoforms and TGFbeta-1 expression. Eventually, it implicates that caveolin-3 has positive regulatory function in muscle atrophy induced by neural dysfunction with spinal cord injury or stroke.
Animals ; Caveolin 3 ; Caveolins ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles ; Muscular Atrophy ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; Myosins ; Nervous System ; Protein Isoforms ; Rats ; RNA ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Stroke

At present, eight non-human primate research facilities exist in Korea to examine the validity and safety of new bio-products, and to generate model animal systems using primates of low health status (low quality primates). However specific-pathogen free (SPF) primates (high quality primates) are the preferred choice for emerging disease studies and for numerous other research areas, including cell/gene therapy, stem cell research, regenerative studies, and brain science. Although international primate centers in developed countries have utilized high quality primate resources for many years, there has been little or no collaboration with less developed countries on primate research. Due to this, the establishment of a high quality primate research capacity is a core priority for the advancement of the biomedical research field in less developed countries. In this study, we investigated the demand for, and opportunities to support the development of this research capability.
Animals ; Brain ; Cooperative Behavior ; Developed Countries ; Developing Countries ; Korea ; Primates ; Stem Cell Research

Since the first edition of the Korean Veterinary Anatomical Terminology (KVAT) in 1993, the new edition of KVAT has been revised and harmonized with the recent version of the Korean-English Anatomical Terminology (KAT, 1996 and 2005). The Korean Association of Veterinary Anatomists (KAVA) had been decided the new revised edition based on the Japanese-English Veterinary Anatomical Terminology (JVAT, third edition, 2000) at the first. The references had been changed from JVAT (2000) into the Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria (NAV, fifth edition, 2005) and the Nomina Embryologica Veterinaria (NEV, revised second edition, 2006) except the Nomina Histologica (NH, revised 2nd edition, 1994). Terminologia Histologica (TH), international terms for human cytology and histology, had been published by the Federative International Committee on Anatomical Terminology (FICAT) and approved by the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA) at 2008. The histological-related terms have to changed by the harmonization and the unification. It has more perfect Korean spelling standardization system compared with the Korean embryological terms of the fourth edition of the Korean-English Anatomical Terminology (1996) because of lacking the recent revised references in the embryological terms in humans. The fifth edition of the Korean Medical Association: Medical Terminology (KMA-MT) has been published at 2009. The Korean version of the NEV terms has some inadequate terms that should be corrected with the harmonization with KMA-MT (2009). I hope that the harmonization and standardization of the English/Korean of the veterinary anatomical terminology will be useful in the future evolution of terminology.
Anatomists ; Humans

The humane care and use of animals should be the prime concern and responsibility of all those individuals using animals for research, teaching or testing. The use of animals as experimental subjects in the 20th century has contributed to many important advances in scientific and medical knowledge. Although scientists have also developed non-animal models for research, these models often cannot completely mimic the complex human or animal body. Nevertheless, efforts to develop and use scientifically valid alternatives, adjuncts, and refinements to animal research should continue. Laboratory Animal Law that was prepared to improve the reliability and reproducibility of research data using laboratory animals also required an institutes to care and use animal in ways judged to be scientifically, technically, and humanely appropriate. The law introduced Assessment Program of Good Animal Care and Use Facility. The primary goal of the Assessment Program is to provide quality assurance for the care and use of experimental animals on a national basis. Although, an effective surveillance protects animals, promotes animal welfare and ensures the quality of science that uses animals, it is the responsibility of investigators to conduct animal experiment on the basis of the highest scientific, humane, and ethical principles. It is expected that the Program will accelerate the introduction of mind concerning humane and ethical animal experiment and will enhance animal well-being, the quality of biomedical research, and the advancement of biologic knowledge that is relevant to humans or animals.
Academies and Institutes ; Animal Experimentation ; Animal Welfare ; Animals ; Animals, Laboratory ; Humans ; Hydrazines ; Jurisprudence ; Research Personnel

Rectal prolapse is a protrusion of one or more layers of the rectum through the anus. A 5-year-old laboratory cynomolgus monkey who had suffered from recurrent diarrhea died after surgical resection of a prolapsed rectum. On examination, the prolapsed rectum was a cylinder-shaped tissue whose surface was moist and dark red with a small amount of hemorrhage. Histologically, the rectum was characterized by a segmental to diffuse cellular infiltration in the submucosa and muscle layers. Inflammation in the rectum resulted in irritation of the myenteric plexus, which could cause hypermotility of the intestines, leading to chronic diarrhea. Rectal prolapse would result in economical loss or death of laboratory animals. However, rectal prolapse in the laboratory monkey could be easily overlooked because diarrhea or other symptoms resulting from rectal prolapse could be sometimes misunderstood as a primary problem. Therefore, researchers should suspect rectal prolapse if intestinal symptoms in the laboratory monkey are untreatable.
Anal Canal ; Animals, Laboratory ; Diarrhea ; Haplorhini ; Hemorrhage ; Inflammation ; Intestines ; Macaca fascicularis ; Muscles ; Myenteric Plexus ; Preschool Child ; Rectal Prolapse ; Rectum