A Survey Study on Professional Women's Perception toward Cosmetic Surgery: 4 Year Comparison

BACKGROUND: The popular demand for cosmetic surgery is increasing explosively, but little is known about how perceptions of cosmetic surgery among women are related to demographics or psychological factors. A survey was conducted to compare changes in perception about cosmetic surgery among professional women in 2010 and 2014. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey was performed at a general hospital by female nurses in 2010 and 2014. Participants included 350 women in 2010 and 470 women in 2014; 323 individuals in 2010 and 449 individuals in 2014 completed the survey (overall response rates of 92.3% and 95.5%, respectively). Participants identified their demographic data, which included age, educational level, marital status, monthly income, and previous experience with cosmetic surgery. The survey included standardized measures for appearance interest, body image satisfaction, self-esteem, and perceptions toward cosmetic surgery (delineated in terms of actual considerations). RESULTS: Compared to 2010, actual considerations for cosmetic surgery were higher in 2014, specifically for women in their 20s, a monthly income between 2 to 3 million won, and those with high scores of self-esteem, appearance interest, and body image satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, in order for professional women to undergo appropriate cosmetic surgery and be satisfied with the results, it is necessary to obtain a deeper understanding about the factors that influence the perceptions of cosmetic surgery.

The Effect of Continuous Epidural Electrical Stimulation on Neuronal Proliferation in Cerebral Ischemic Rats

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of electrical stimulation (ES) on the recovery of motor skill and neuronal cell proliferation. METHODS: The male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with an epidural electrode over the peri-ischemic area after photothrombotic stroke in the dominant sensorimotor cortex. All rats were randomly assigned into the ES group and control group. The behavioral test of a single pellet reaching task (SPRT) and neurological examinations including the Schabitz's photothrombotic neurological score and the Menzies test were conducted for 2 weeks. After 14 days, coronal sections were obtained and immunostained for neuronal cell differentiation markers including bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN), and doublecortin (DCX). RESULTS: On the SPRT, the motor function in paralytic forelimbs of the ES group was significantly improved. There were no significant differences in neurological examinations and neuronal cell differentiation markers except for the significantly increased number of DCX+ cells in the corpus callosum of the ES group (p<0.05). But in the ES group, the number of NeuN+ cells in the ischemic cortex and the number of NeuN+ cells and DCX+ cells in the ischemic striatum tended to increase. In the ES group, NeuN+ cells in the ischemic hemisphere and DCX+ cells and BrdU+ cells in the opposite hemisphere tended to increase compared to those in the contralateral. CONCLUSION: The continuous epidural ES of the ischemic sensorimotor cortex induced a significant improvement in the motor function and tended to increase neural cell proliferation in the ischemic hemisphere and the neural regeneration in the opposite hemisphere.

cAMP/PKA Agonist Restores the Fasting-Induced Down-Regulation of nNOS Expression in the Paraventricular Nucleus

Gene expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) changes in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) depending on feeding conditions, which is decreased during food deprivation and restored by refeeding, and phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB) was suggested to play a role in its regulation. This study was conducted to examine if the fasting-induced down-regulation of the PVN-nNOS expression is restored by activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) pathway. Freely moving rats received intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of cAMP/PKA activator Sp-cAMP (40 nmol) or vehicle (sterilized saline) following 48 h of food deprivation. One hour after drug injections, rats were transcardially perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde, and the PVN tissues were processed for nNOS or pCREB immunohistochemistry. Sp-cAMP significantly increased not only nNOS but also pCREB immunoreactivities in the PVN of food deprived rats. Fasting-induced down-regulation of the PVN-nNOS was restored by 1 h after the icv Sp-cAMP. Results suggest that cAMP/PKA pathway may mediate the regulation of the PVN-nNOS expression depending on different feeding conditions.

Chronic Administration of Monosodium Glutamate under Chronic Variable Stress Impaired Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Function in Rats

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is the primary endocrine system to respond to stress. The HPA axis may be affected by increased level of corticotrophin-releasing factors under chronic stress and by chronic administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether chronic MSG administration aggravates chronic variable stress (CVS)-induced behavioral and hormonal changes. Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 200~220 g, were divided into 4 groups as follows: water administration (CON), MSG (3 g/kg) administration (MSG), CVS, and CVS with MSG (3 g/kg) administration (CVS+MSG). In addition, for the purpose of comparing the effect on plasma corticosterone levels between chronic stress and daily care or acute stress, 2 groups were added at the end of the experiment; the 2 new groups were as follows: naive mice (n=7) and mice exposed to restraint stress for 2 h just before decapitation (A-Str, n=7). In an open field test performed after the experiment, the CVS+MSG group significant decrease in activity. The increase in relative adrenal weights in the CVS and CVS+MSG group was significantly greater than those in the CON and/or MSG groups. In spite of the increase in the relative adrenal weight, there was a significant decrease in the plasma corticosterone levels in the CVS+MSG group as compared to all other groups, except the naive group. These results suggest that impaired HPA axis function as well as the decrease in the behavioral activity in adult rats can be induced by chronic MSG administration under CVS rather than CVS alone.

TGF-beta1-induced PINCH-1-ILK-alpha-parvin complex formation regulates mesangial cell proliferation and hypertrophy

TGF-beta1-induced glomerular mesangial cell (GMC) injury is a prominent characteristic of renal pathology in several kidney diseases, and a ternary protein complex consisting of PINCH-1, integrin-linked kinase (ILK) and alpha-parvin plays a pivotal role in the regulation of cell behavior such as cell proliferation and hypertrophy. We report here that PINCH-1-ILK-alpha-parvin (PIP) complex regulates the TGF-beta1-induced cell proliferation and hypertrophy in cultured rat GMCs. When GMCs were treated with TGF-beta1 for 1, 2 and 3 days, the PIP complex formation was up-regulated after 1 day, but it was down-regulated on day 2. Cell numbers were significantly elevated on day 2, but dramatically decreased on day 3. In contrast, a significant increase in cellular protein contents was observed 3 days after TGF-beta1-treatment. TGF-beta1 induced early increase of caspase-3 activity. In GMCs incubated with TGF-beta1 for 2 days, cytosolic expression of p27(Kip1) was dramatically reduced, but its nuclear expression was remarkably elevated. A significantly decreased expression of phospho-Akt (Ser 473) was observed in the cells treated with TGF-beta1 for 1 day. TGF-beta1 induced early increase of phospho-p27(Kip1) (Thr 157) expression with subsequent decrease, and similar responses to TGF-beta1 were observed in the p38 phosphorylation (Thr 180/Thr 182). Taken together, TGF-beta1 differently regulates the PIP complex formation of GMCs in an incubation period-dependant fashion. The TGF-beta1-induced up- and down-regulation of the PIP complex formation likely contributes to the pleiotropic effects of TGF-beta1 on mesangial cell proliferation and hypertrophy through cellular localization of p27(Kip1) and alteration of Akt and p38 phosphorylation. TGF-beta1-induced alteration of the PIP complex formation may be importantly implicated in the development and progression of glomerular failure shown in several kidney diseases.

Developmental Disability Animal Model Based on Neonatal Lipopolysaccharide with Altered 5-HT Function

Developmental disability shows life-long behavioral abnormality with no significant physical malformation. This study was undertaken to develop an animal model for developmental disability by using two-factor approach. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a bacterial toxin, and NAN-190, a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, were administered to Sprague-Dawley rats on postnatal day (PND) 5 to induce inflammation and an altered 5-HT system, respectively. Long-term alteration of behavior occurred in the drug-treated groups. The LPS-treated group showed impaired motor coordination in the Rota-rod test. The LPS- treated or both LPS and NAN-190-treated groups showed impaired fore-paw muscle power in the wire maneuver test. These groups also showed decreased white matter volume and increased serotonergic fibers. The LPS and NAN-190-treated group also exhibited neurologic deficit in the placing reaction test and impaired equilibrium function in the tilt table test. The results showed that a variety of altered behaviors can be generated by two factor model, and suggested that combination of important etiologic factors and possible underlying defects is a promising strategy of establishing an animal model for developmental disabilities.

Relevance of Behavioral Test in the Photothrombotic Stroke Rat Model

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to find reliable behavioral measures for the evaluation of motor dysfunction in photothrombotic ischemia rat model. METHOD: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained for behavioral test including tray reaching task (TRT), single pellet reaching task (SPRT), and rotarod task (RRT) for more than 2 weeks. Photothrombotic ischemia was induced in a stereotactically held rats using Rose Bengal dye (20 mg/kg) and cold light. Rats were assigned to either control (n=10) or experimental ischemic group (n=10). Post-lesional behavioral tests were performed for 4 weeks after confirmation of lesion by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), followed by histological examination. RESULTS: RRT showed no difference between control and experimental group. SPRT and TRT showed significant difference between control and experimental group (p<0.05). SPRT could well demonstrate the recovery of motor dysfunction after over time. CONCLUSION: SPRT could be the most reliable test to measure not only motor dysfunction but also motor recovery in unilateral motor cortex lesion of photothrombotic ischemia rat model.

Chronological Changes in Cerebral Infarction of Photochemical Thrombosis Model: Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Histopathological Correlation

OBJECTIVE: Authors investigated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological characteristics of photothrombotic infraction rat model (PIRM) on long term basis to provide a basis for further research. METHOD: Photothrombotic ischemia was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats using Rose-bengal dye (20 mg/kg) and cold light. MRI was performed 1, 6, 12, 24 hours, 3, 7 days, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after photothrombosis and obtained T1- & T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced images. Also, T2* images were obtained after superparamagnetic iron oxide injection. After MRI, animals were sacrificed and the brain sections were stained for routine immunohistopathology. RESULTS: MRI and histological analysis revealed well induced lesion in the cortex and showed biological course of infarction. However, PIRM showed rapid development of infarction lacking collateral circulation. Infarction size reached maximum 12 hours after induction, progressively decreasing over 4 weeks. Interstitial and cytotoxic edema were evident at 6, 12, 24 hours, but decreasing afterwards. Neurogenic inflammation appeared on 3rd day and reached maximum on 5~7th day. Arachnoid membrane was characteristically invaded with inflammatory cells and later thickened with fibrosis. CONCLUSION: This study showed PIRM is ideal model to study subacute and chronic stages of cerebral infarction.

Elevated Serotonin-immunoreactive Neurons in the Raphe Nucleus of the Ataxic Mutant Mouse, Pogo / 대한해부학회지

This study was carried out to investigate the distribution of serotonin-immunoreactive neruons in the raphe nucleus of the ataxic pogo (pogo/pogo) mice derived from a Korean wild mice. Using by immunohistochemistry, we undertook to elucidate any correlation between the serotonin expression and behavior ataxia including abnormal hindlimb extension in the ataxic pogo mice. The present study has two important findings. First, serotonin immunoreactivity was increased in the raphe nucleus of the ataxic pogo mice. Second, serotonin immunoreactivity was different with the region of raphe nucleus. In the dorsal part of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRD), ventrolateral part of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRVL) and median raphe nucleus (MR), serotonin immunoreactivity was increased, whereas the ventral part of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRV) and interfascicular part of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRI) was similar with the control mice. Therefore, elevated expression of the serotonin in the raphe nucleus of ataxic pogo mice might be a source of behavior ataxia and may be related with the induction of the ataxic phenotype including abnormal hindlimb movements.

Distribution of Calretinin-immunoreactive Unipolar Brush Cells in Ataxic Mutant Pogo Mice Cerebellum / 대한해부학회지

Unipolar brush cells (UBCs) are a class of putative interneurons found in the granular layer of mammalian cerebellum and dorsal cochlear nucleus. The unipolar brush cells (UBCs), as with granular cells, which receives afferent synaptic input from extrinsic mossy fiber and whose axons branch in the granular layer and establish a system of cortex-intrinsic mossy fibers, which synapse with granule cells and other UBCs. In general, UBCs have been identified most readily by their expression of the calcium-binding protein, calretinin. The purpose of this study was to provide information about UBCs distributions of the new ataxic animal model, pogo mouse cerebellum using anti-calretinin immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and its effect on calcium homeostasis. Through the examination of calretinin immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, we observed that many calretinin immunoreactive UBCs were distributed widely throughout the lobules IX and X of the granular layer of both group. But, we found the number of calretinin immunoreactive UBCs of ataxic pogo (pogo/pogo) mouse was decreased and distribution pattern was altered, compared to control mouse. This result also suggest that reduced calretinin expression may effect on cerebellar Ca2+/-homeostasis, and it may in turn, explain the impaired motor coordination found in the ataxic pogo mice.

Effects of NMDA, AMPA and Kainate on the Release of Acetylcholine in Rat Hippocampal and Striatal Slices

This study examined the effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) and kainate on basal and electrically-evoked release of acetylcholine (ACh) from the rat hippocampal and striatal slices which were preincubated with [3H]choline. Unexpectedly, the basal and evoked ACh release were not affected at all by the treatment with NMDA (3~100microM), AMPA (1~100microM) or kainate (1~100microM) in hippocampal slices. However, in striatal slices, under the Mg2 -free medium, 30microM NMDA increased the basal ACh release with significant decrease of the electrically- evoked releases. The treatment with 1microM MK-801 not only reversed the 30microM NMDA-induced decrease of the evoked ACh release, but also attenuated the facilitatory effect of 30microM NMDA on the basal ACh release. The treatment with either 30microM AMPA or 100microM kainate increased the basal ACh release without any effects on the evoked release. The treatment with 10microM NBQX abolished the AMPA- or kainate-induced increase of the basal ACh release. Interestingly, NBQX significantly attenuated the evoked release when it was treated with AMPA, although it did not affect the evoked release alone without AMPA. These observations demonstrate that in hippocampal slices, ionotropic glutamate receptors do not modulate the ACh release in cholinergic terminals, whereas in striatal slices, activations of ionotropic glutamate receptors increase the basal ACh release though NMDA may decrease the electrically-evoked ACh release.

Neuroprotective Effect of 8-OH-DPAT on Long-term Sequelae from Prenatal Ischemia in Rats

The role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)1A receptor activity in prenatal ischemia was studied, by injecting 8-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetraline (8-OH-DPAT; 50 microgram/kg, s.c.), a 5-HT1A agonist on gestation day 17, and 30 min later inducing transient ischemia by ligating the uterine vessels for 30 min. On postnatal day 95, rats that had experienced prenatal ischemia showed impaired motor coordination and reduced concentration of 5-HT in the cerebellum compared with Sham-operated controls. In addition, they showed increased 5-HT1A receptor densities in the cerebral cortex. Pretreatment with 8-OH-DPAT ameliorated the behavioral and neurochemical sequelae measured in the present study. The results suggest that 5-HT1A receptors protect the brain from ischemic insult and/or facilitate recovery after prenatally experienced ischemia.

Effects of exposure conditions to footshocks early in life on spontaneous locomotor activity at maturity in rats

Both genetic and environmental factors are involved in establishing a behavior. An animal study was done to determine the characteristics of interaction between genetic (nature) and environmental (nurture) factors. Delivery of footshocks (0.8 mA x 60 times, at random) early in life was used as the environmental stimulus. As the footshock was delivered repeatedly, a rat showed helplessness behavior and the number of shocks necessary to elicit helplessness was measured to quantify the trait of an animal in coping with the aversive environmental stimulus. The nocturnal ambulatory activity at adulthood was measured as a behavioral expression of the nature-nurture interaction. Although the experience of footshocks early in life did not significantly alter average activity levels at adulthood, the activity was positively correlated with the number of shocks necessary to elicit helplessness (nature) while receiving footshocks (nurture) on postnatal day 14. Additionally, a second exposure to identical shock parameters on postnatal day 21 reversed the relationship. These results clearly showed that an interaction between nature and nurture during infancy leads to substantial behavioral alterations later in life, and suggest that the nature-dependent determination of an adult behavior can be modified in different directions by the conditions of an environmental experience early in life.

Neurobehavioral teratology due to hypoxic exposure in newborn rats

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neurobehavioral teratology is a term used for the postnatal effects on behavior of prenatal exposure to drug or to specific environment. Perinatal hypoxia is a major risk factor for development of behavioral abnormalities, such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation and learning disability. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of neonatal hypoxia on long-term changes of behavior and neurochemical system and to learn the role of 5-hyroxytryptamine(5-HT) in hypoxic stress. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped by hypoxia and/or 5-HT receptor antagonist treatment. Exposure to 100% N2 gas was done in postnatal day(PND) 2 for 12 minutes. NAN-190 HBr or ketanserin tartrate or both were injected intraperitoneally 30 minutes before exposure to hypoxic environment. Rats were weighed periodically and examined the eye opening. Wire maneuver test was done on PND 22. Between PND 40-55 and PND 63-84, explorative behavior test and Rota-Rod test were done serially. They were sacrificed in PND 100, and aminergic neurotransimitters and their metabolites were measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatography - Electrochemical Detection(HPLC ECD) system. Receptor binding assay was done using 8-OH-DPAT and ketanserin HCl in brain cortex. RESULTS: The group treated with 5-HT receptor antagonist and hypoxia showed higher death rate than 5-HT receptor antagonist or hypoxia alone. There were no differences in weight gain, eye opening, and the result of wire maneuver test among each groups. In explorative behavior test, NAN+N2 group in male and NAN group in female showed markedly increased activities. In Rota-Rod test, NAN and NAN+N2 groups in both male and female showed decreased motor coordination. There were no differences in the concentration of aminergic neurotransmitters and their metabolites, when measured in PND 100 according to the brain sites. There were no differences in pKd of 5-HT receptors measured on PND 100. But Bmax of 5-HT1A receptor were low in N2, NAN and NAN+N2 groups. NAN and NAN+N2 groups showed elevated Bmax of 5-HT2A/2C receptor. CONCLUSION: Exposure to hypoxia in neonatal period causes long-lasting neurobehavioral changes with neurochemical abnormalities, and 5-HT receptor activity has a role in that mechanism.

Effects of neonatal footshock stress on glucocorticoid and 5-HT2A/2C receptor bindings and exploratory behavior

To investigate the effects of neonatal stress on behavior and neurochemistry, rats were exposed to the footshock stress on postnatal day (PND) 14 or PNDs 14 and 21. Rats were exposed to uncontrollable electric shocks delivered to the floor with a constant current (0.8 mA) for 5 sec period. Daily sessions consisted of 60 trials on a random time schedule with an average of 55 sec. The first exposure to footshocks on PND 14 decreased body weight gain for 1 day. However, the second exposure to footshocks on PND 21 did not affect body weight gain. Exploratory activity was measured by exposing a rat to a novel environment 24 h after experience of footshocks. Similar to the body weight changes, a decreased activity was noted after the first exposure to footshocks, while no changed activity was noted after the second exposure to footshocks. However, the Bmax value of 5-HT2A/2C receptors in the cortex decreased by the second exposure to footshocks, but not by the first exposure to footshocks. Moreover, an autoradiographic study revealed that the density of (3H)dexamethasone binding in hippocampus decreased in rats exposed to footshocks 4 times during PND 14~20. These results suggest that the uncontrollable footshock stress changes 5-hydroxytryptamine and glucocorticoid receptor systems acutely and that the repeated exposure to the same stress may not elicit behavioral alterations by the compensatory activity of young brain although changes in some neurochemistry exist.