Uterine smooth muscle tumor is very rare in laboratory rats and, there has been no report in the wild rodents. Among a total of 400 wild rats captured in Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and Chungbuk provinces of Korea in 2007, 2010, and 2011, we found a uterine spindle cell tumor, diagnosed as smooth muscle cell origin based on differential features of histology and immunohistochemistry. Its incidence was very low, like in the laboratory rats, as under 0.5% for female. Considering generally applied histological and cellular criteria, this case was difficult in differential diagnosis between benign and malignant. Ki-67 labeling index was therefore further investigated, and it ranged from 26.4 to 37.6% in the 10 different areas, representing an average of 32.9+/-0.05%. The Ki-67 labeling index of neoplastic cells near the necrotic area was recorded as 83.5%. According to such high Ki-67 labeling index, it was more likely a malignant leiomyosarcoma, assenting to the previous proposal that Ki-67 labeling index is a significant criterion to differentiate between malignant and benign in the smooth muscle tumors.
Animals ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Incidence ; Korea ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Rats ; Rodentia ; Smooth Muscle Tumor

In order to investigate the effects of a fermented soybean product (Chungkookjang, CKJ) on nerve growth factor (NGF) metabolism, NGF secretion ability and its related signaling pathway were analyzed in B35 neuronal cells and the Tg2576 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In B35 cells, the concentration of NGF significantly increased upon treatment with Taegwang (TG)-CKJ and Shinhwa (SH)-CKJ extracts compared with vehicle. Further, a significant increase in PC12 cell length as well as the phsophorylation levels of TrkA and Akt, which are members of a high affinity NGF receptor signaling pathway, were observed after treatment with TG-CKJ and SH-CKJ conditional medium (CM). On the other hand, there was no difference in activation of the NGF receptor p75NTR signaling pathway between vehicle and all CKJ treated groups. In Tg2576 mice showing early stage of AD, the concentrations of NGF in the serum and brain were reduced compared with those in Non-Tg mice. Treatment of Tg2576 mice with SH-CKJ, which contains high concentrations of total flavonoids and phenolic compounds, for 8 weeks dramatically recovered the NGF level to that of Non-Tg mice. Furthermore, the low phosphorylation levels of TrkA and Erk in the NGF receptor TrkA signaling pathway were rapidly recovered to those of Non-Tg mice after SH-CKJ treatment in vehicle treated Tg2576 mice, whereas the phosphorylation level of Akt was maintained at a constant level. These results suggest that CKJ may stimulate NGF secretion ability as well as the NGF receptor TrkA signaling pathway in PC12 cells and Tg2576 mice.
Alzheimer Disease ; Animals ; Brain ; Flavonoids ; Hand ; Isoflavones ; Mice ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Neurons ; PC12 Cells ; Phenol ; Phosphorylation ; Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor ; Soybean Proteins ; Soybeans

Atopic dermatitis (AD), which is known as the most common pruritic skin disease, is caused by epidermal barrier dysfunction, allergies, microwave radiation, histamine intolerance, and genetic defects. To investigate the therapeutic effects of fermented soycrud (FSC) on AD pathology, alteration of AD phenotypes induced by phthalic anhydride (PA) treatment was assessed by ear thickness analysis, measurement of immune-related organ weights, ELISA, and histological and pathological analyses of ICR mice after FSC treatment for 2 weeks. Except for water content, the concentrations of most major components were lower in FSC compared to common tofu (CMT). Thymus and lymph node weights were significantly reduced in ICR mice treated with PA+CMT or PA+FSC, whereas spleen and body weights were maintained. Elevation of ear thickness induced by PA treatment was rapidly diminished in the CMT- and FSC-treated groups, although there was no significant difference between the two groups. Furthermore, significant reduction of epidermal thickness was detected in both the PA+CMT- and PA+FSC-treated groups. However, IgE concentration and dermal thickness were reduced only by PA+FSC treatment, whereas PA+CMT treatment maintained levels comparable to PA+vehicle treatment. The number of infiltrated mast cells was higher in the PA+vehicle-treated group compared to the untreated control. Following CMT or FSC treatment, mast cell infiltration was slightly reduced, although the CMT-treated group showed greater cell numbers. These results indicate that FSC may significantly relieve the phenotypes of AD induced by PA treatment and should be considered as a potential candidate for AD therapy.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Cell Count ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Ear ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Histamine ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Lymph Nodes ; Mast Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Microwaves ; Organ Size ; Phenotype ; Phthalic Anhydrides ; Skin Diseases ; Soy Foods ; Spleen ; Thymus Gland ; Water ; Weights and Measures

In this study, we examined rabbit gastric ulcer models that can serve as more clinically relevant models. Two types of ulcer model were studied: acetic acid-induced ulcers (AAU) and mucosal resection-induced ulcers (MRU). For AAU, rabbit gastric mucosa was exposed by median laparotomy and treated with bottled acetic acid. MRU was examined as a model for endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). Normal saline was injected into the submucosal layer and the swollen mucosa was resected with scissors. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is frequently performed for treatment of early gastric cancers. This procedure inevitably leads to ulcers and bleeding. Bleeding control is the major concern in endoscopic mucosectomy, and some endoscopic hemostatic agents are currently under clinical and preclinical studies. MRU was developed as a model for these induced ulcers and the evaluation of the healing process. The clinical relevancy of those models was compared with that of rat models. Progressive healing was observed for 7 days based on histology. Rabbit models demonstrate round, deep ulcers with clear margins and well-defined healing stages that were difficult to define in rat models.
Acetic Acid ; Animals ; Gastric Mucosa ; Hemorrhage ; Laparotomy ; Mucous Membrane ; Rats ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach Ulcer ; Ulcer

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Red L. platyphylla (RLP) on calcium and glucose levels during insulin secretion. To achieve this, alteration of insulin and calcium concentrations was measured in rat insulinoma-1 (INS-1) cells and animal models in response to RLP treatment. In INS-1 cells, maximum secretion of insulin was detected upon treatment with 200 microg/mL of RLP for 20 min. Nifedipine, an L-type calcium channel blocker, effectively inhibited insulin secretion from INS-1 cells. Regarding calcium levels, the maximum concentration of intracellular calcium in INS-1 cells was obtained by treatment with 100 microg/mL of RLP, whereas this level was reduced under conditions of 200 microg/mL of RLP. Further, RLP-treated INS-1 cells showed a higher level of intracellular calcium than that of L. platyphylla (LP), Korea White Ginseng (KWG), or Korea Red Ginseng (KRG)-treated cells. This RLP-induced increase in intracellular calcium was abrogated but not completely abolished upon treatment with 40 microM nifedipine in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the insulin level was dramatically elevated upon co-treatment with high concentrations of glucose and RLP, whereas it was maintained at a low level in response to glucose and RLP co-treatment at low concentrations. In an animal experiment, the serum concentration of calcium increased or decreased upon RLP treatment according to glucose level compared to vehicle treatment. Therefore, these results suggest that insulin secretion induced by RLP treatment may be tightly correlated with calcium regulation, which suggests RLP is an excellent candidate for diabetes treatment.
Animal Experimentation ; Animals ; Calcium ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Glucose ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulinoma ; Korea ; Models, Animal ; Nifedipine ; Panax ; Rats

Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) are essential communicative sounds used between rodent pups and their mother. Rat pups emit USVs in stressful situations, such as when they are cold or separated from the nest. We verified the ontogenetic changes in USVs emitted by infant rats isolated from their mother during the pre-weaning period. The number of calls, and the median frequency and first peak of frequency of the calls were measured at 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, and 14 days postnatal age in Wistar-Imamichi rats. Pups were placed in a cold glass beaker and USVs were recorded for 5 min. The number of calls increased to a peak on day 5 and then gradually decreased. The median frequency of calls decreased slowly during the first 12 days, and then increased slightly on day 14. Similarly, the first peak frequency of calls was the highest on day 1, and then decreased gradually by day 12. A small increase was observed on day 14. These changes in frequency were correlated with the physical development of the pups, whose body weights increased significantly with age except during postnatal days 7-10.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Cold Temperature ; Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique ; Glass ; Humans ; Infant ; Mothers ; Rats ; Rodentia ; Ultrasonics

It has been generally accepted that calcium intake prevents bone loss, and frequent fracture resulted from osteoporosis. However, it is still elusive as to how effective sole calcium intake is in preventing or attenuating the severity of osteoporosis. Here, we demonstrate the effects of eggshell-casein phosphopeptide (ES-CPP), and compared these effects those of calcium supplement, for restoring ovariectomy-mediated bone loss. CPP, synthesized from the hydrolysis of casein (0.5%) using trypsin, was added to the grinded ES and was then administered to the ovariectomized (OVX) rat at 100 mg/kg for 4 weeks. Urine and feces from each group were collected each day, and were used to calculate the apparent calcium absorption rate in a day. After 4 weeks incubation, blood and femoral bones were isolated for the analysis of parameters representing osteoporosis. The apparent calcium absorption rate was significantly increased in the ES-CPP treated groups, in comparison to both the OVX and the commercial calcium supplement (CCS) treated group. Notably, treatment with ES-CPP markedly enhanced the calcium content in femoral bone and the relative weight of femoral bone to body weight, though calcium content in serum was barely changed by treatment with ES-CPP. Parameters of osteoporosis, such as osteocalcin in serum and bone mineral density, were rescued by treatment with ES-CPP, compared to treatment with commercial calcium supplement. This finding strongly suggests the possible use of ES-CPP in preventing or attenuating the severity of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Absorption ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Bone Density ; Calcium ; Caseins ; Feces ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrolysis ; Osteocalcin ; Osteoporosis ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; Piperazines ; Rats ; Trypsin

Ferulic acid, a component of the plants Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels and Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort, exerts a neuroprotective effect by regulating various signaling pathways. This study showed that ferulic acid treatment prevents the injury-induced increase of collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP-2) in focal cerebral ischemia. Glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) regulates CRMP-2 function through phosphorylation of CRMP-2. Moreover, the pro-apoptotic activity of GSK-3beta is inactivated by phosphorylation by Akt. This study investigated whether ferulic acid modulates the expression of CRMP-2 and its upstream targets, Akt and GSK-3beta, in focal cerebral ischemia. Male rats were treated immediately with ferulic acid (100 mg/kg, i.v.) or vehicle after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and then cerebral cortices were collected 24 hr after MCAO. MCAO resulted in decreased levels of phospho-Akt and phospho-GSK-3beta, while ferulic acid treatment prevented the decrease in the levels of these proteins. Moreover, phospho-CRMP-2 and CRMP-2 levels increased during MCAO, whereas ferulic acid attenuated these injury-induced increases. These results demonstrate that ferulic acid regulates the Akt/GSK-3beta/CRMP-2 signaling pathway in focal cerebral ischemic injury, thereby protecting against brain injury.
Angelica sinensis ; Animals ; Brain Injuries ; Brain Ischemia ; Cerebral Cortex ; Coumaric Acids ; Glycogen Synthase ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; Humans ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; Ligusticum ; Male ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Phosphorylation ; Proteins ; Rats ; Semaphorin-3A

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