The relationship between low survival and acute increase of tumor necrosis factor α expression in the lung in a rat model of asphyxial cardiac arrest / 대한해부학회지

Cardiac arrest (CA) is sudden loss of heart function and abrupt stop in effective blood flow to the body. The patients who initially achieve return of spontaneous circulation (RoSC) after CA have low survival rate. It has been known that multiorgan dysfunctions after RoSC are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Most previous studies have focused on the heart and brain in RoSC after CA. Therefore, the aim of this research was to perform serological, physiological, and histopathology study in the lung and to determine whether or how pulmonary dysfunction is associated with low survival rate after CA. Experimental animals were divided into sham-operated group (n=14 at each point in time), which was not subjected to CA operation, and CA-operated group (n=14 at each point in time), which was subjected to CA. The rats in each group were sacrificed at 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, and 2 days, respectively, after RoSC. Then, pathological changes of the lungs were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, Western blot and immunohistochemistry for tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). The survival rate after CA was decreased with time past. We found that histopathological score and TNF-α immunoreactivity were significantly increased in the lung after CA. These results indicate that inflammation triggered by ischemia-reperfusion damage after CA leads to pulmonary injury/dysfunctions and contributes to low survival rate. In addition, the finding of increase in TNF-α via inflammation in the lung after CA would be able to utilize therapeutic or diagnostic measures in the future.

Expression analysis of ciliary rootlet coiled coil protein mRNA during Xenopus development / 대한수의학회지

Ciliary rootlet coiled coil protein (CROCC), the structural component that originates from the basal body at the proximal end of the ciliary rootlet, plays a crucial role in maintaining the cellular integrity of ciliated cells. In the current study, we cloned Xenopus CROCC and performed the expression analysis. The amino acid sequence of Xenopus laevis was related to those of Drosophila, cow, goat, horse, chicken, mouse and human. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that CROCC mRNA encoding a coiled coil protein was present maternally, as well as throughout early development. In situ hybridization indicated that CROCC mRNA occurred in the animal pole of embryo during gastrulation and subsequently in the presumptive neuroectoderm at the end of gastrulation. At tailbud stages, CROCC mRNA expression was localized in the anterior roof plate of the developing brain, pharyngeal epithelium connected to gills, esophagus, olfactory placode, intestine and nephrostomes of the pronephric kidney. Our study suggests that CROCC may be responsible for control of the development of various ciliated organs.

Airborne Nicotine Concentrations in the Workplaces of Tobacco Farmers / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: Nicotine is a natural alkaloid and insecticide in tobacco leaves. Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is known as a disease of acute nicotine intoxication among tobacco farmers. Until now, GTS has been recognized globally as a disease that results from nicotine absorption through the skin. However, we assumed that GTS might also result from nicotine inhalation as well as absorption. We aimed to measure the airborne nicotine concentrations in various work environments of Korean tobacco farmers. METHODS: We measured the nicotine concentrations in the tobacco fields, private curing barns, and joint curing barns of farmers from July to October 2010. All sampling and analyses of airborne nicotine were conducted according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health manual of analytic methods. RESULTS: The airborne nicotine concentrations (geometric mean [geometric standard deviation]) in the tobacco field were 83.4 mg/m3 (1.2) in the upper region and 93.3 mg/m3 (1.2) in the lower region. In addition, the nicotine concentration by personal sampling was 150.1 mg/m3. Similarly, the nicotine concentrations in the private curing barn, workers in curing barns, the front yard of the curing barn, and in the joint curing barn were 323.7 mg/m3 (2.0), 121.0 mg/m3 (1.5), 73.7 mg/m3 (1.7), and 610.3 mg/m3 (1.0), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The nicotine concentration in the workplaces of tobacco farmers was very high. Future studies should measure the environmental concentration of nicotine that is inhaled by tobacco farmers.

Variation of brachiocephalic muscle in a dog / 동물의과학연구지

The brachiocephalic muscle in domestic mammals is formed as a homology of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the clavicular part of the deltoid muscle since it results from reduction of the clavicle as a clavicular intersection. The cranial insertions of the brachiocephalic muscle vary among species in domestic mammals. In the dog, the brachiocephalic muscle comprises three parts, which arise from the clavicular intersection and insert at the humerus, the dorsal cervical raphe, and the mastoid process of the temporal bone. These three parts are named the cleidobrachial muscle, the cervical part of the cleidocephalic muscle, and the mastoid part of the cleidocephalic muscle, respectively. This complexity could confuse veterinarians and complicate surgical procedures in this area. Information about the normal structure of this muscle, and any variation therein, would help to avoid such situations. During dissections of a male cross-breed dog, we found that the brachiocephalic muscle had two bellies located on the mastoid part of the cleidocephalic muscle that extended from the clavicular intersection to the wing of the atlas and the mastoid process of the temporal bone. They were innervated by the accessory nerve and the ventral branches of the second, third, and fifth cervical nerves, and they were supplied by the ascending branch of the superficial cervical artery. These bellies were considered to be a rare variation of the muscle. This is the second report of a brachiocephalic muscle variation in a dog, in which the mastoid part of the cleidocephalic muscle was made of two bellies inserted independently. Such variations should be considered during anatomical dissections and surgical procedures.

Changes in the Testis Interstitium of Rabbits from Birth to Sexual Maturity / 체질인류학회지

Changes in the testis interstitium from birth to adulthood were studied in New Zealand white rabbits of 1, 7, 21, 35, 49, 70, 105, 147, 196, and 252 days (n=8 per group) of age. Testes of rabbits were fixed by whole body perfusion using a fixative containing 2.5% glutaraldehyde in cacodylate buffer, processed and embedded in Epon-araldite. Using 1 microm sections stained with methylene blueazure II, qualitative and quantitative (stereological) morphological studies were performed. Sperm production was measured by routine technique. The volume density of the interstitium represents 66.3% of the testicular parenchyma at day 1. Adult Leydig cells initially detected at day 7 (0.001%), increased progressively to reach a volume density of 2.6% by day 252. The absolute volume of mesenchymal cells, endothelial cells, pericytes, and myoid cells increased from birth to 252 days. The number of endothelial cells, pericytes, and myoid cells per testis increased gradually with age. The absolute numbers of adult Leydig cells and mesenchymal cells per testis increased linearly from birth to 252 days. The rate of production of adult Leydig cells was greater than that of mesenchymal cells in the postnatal rabbit testis through 252 days. The average volume of a mesenchymal cell increased from day 1 to day 70 and declined thereafter; the highest value was at day 70. Total sperm production and daily sperm production per testis increased significantly from 105 to 252 days of age. These results clarified the pattern of changes in the testis interstitium in rabbits from birth to adulthood and correlation these events with spermatogenesis.

Changes in the Testis Interstitium of Rabbits from Birth to Sexual Maturity / 체질인류학회지

Changes in the testis interstitium from birth to adulthood were studied in New Zealand white rabbits of 1, 7, 21, 35, 49, 70, 105, 147, 196, and 252 days (n=8 per group) of age. Testes of rabbits were fixed by whole body perfusion using a fixative containing 2.5% glutaraldehyde in cacodylate buffer, processed and embedded in Epon-araldite. Using 1 microm sections stained with methylene blueazure II, qualitative and quantitative (stereological) morphological studies were performed. Sperm production was measured by routine technique. The volume density of the interstitium represents 66.3% of the testicular parenchyma at day 1. Adult Leydig cells initially detected at day 7 (0.001%), increased progressively to reach a volume density of 2.6% by day 252. The absolute volume of mesenchymal cells, endothelial cells, pericytes, and myoid cells increased from birth to 252 days. The number of endothelial cells, pericytes, and myoid cells per testis increased gradually with age. The absolute numbers of adult Leydig cells and mesenchymal cells per testis increased linearly from birth to 252 days. The rate of production of adult Leydig cells was greater than that of mesenchymal cells in the postnatal rabbit testis through 252 days. The average volume of a mesenchymal cell increased from day 1 to day 70 and declined thereafter; the highest value was at day 70. Total sperm production and daily sperm production per testis increased significantly from 105 to 252 days of age. These results clarified the pattern of changes in the testis interstitium in rabbits from birth to adulthood and correlation these events with spermatogenesis.

Regulation of IGF System in Rats after Experimental Myocardial Infarction / 체질인류학회지

Insulin-like growth factor system (IGF system) has been reported to be associated with the variety of disorders of myocardial function. However, the effect of myocardial infarction (MI) on the IGF system has not been fully described. Thus, the present study was to investigate in more detail the changes of IGF system in the male rat following myocardial infarction (MI). Ligation of the left coronary artery was performed in male Sprague-Dawley male rats at 60 days of age. Control rats were obtained sham-operated animals. MI rats were sacrificed at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 30 day after ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery. Control rats were sacrificed on 30 day after thoracotomy. Myocardial infarct size was assessed by planimetry and perimetry. Serum and heart concentrations of IGF-I and -II were determined by radioimmunoassay. Serum levels of IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-1 and IGFBP-3 were analyzed with a two-site immunoradiometric assay. Mean infarct size was 35.2~42.3% of the left ventricle after coronary occlusion in experimental groups. Serum levels of IGF-I were markedly reduced, but the levels of IGF-II were not altered in MI rats compared with shamligated controls. Serum IGFBP-I levels in MI rats were significantly increased at 1 and 3 day compared with sham rats. The levels of serum IGFBP-3 were significantly higher in the ligated rats. IGF-I levels of the infarct/periinfarct area of the left ventricle were significantly decreased in rats with myocardial infarction, whereas the levels of IGF-II remained unchanged. These results demonstrate that the IGF system is altered in the myocardial infarction and suggest that the IGF system plays an important role in the response of the heart to myocardial infarction.

Morphometric Studies in the Leydig Cell of Hemicastrated Rats / 체질인류학회지

The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of hemicastration and age at hemicastraion on the subsequent Leydig cell morphology and function of male rats. Sprague Dawley rats were left intact or hemicastrated at 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 days of age (n=18 rats per group). At 100 days of age, all rats were sacrificed. Testes were fixed by whole body perfusion using a fixative containing 2.5% glutaraldehyde in cacodylate buffer, processed and embedded in Epon-araldite. Using 1 micrometer sections stained with methylene blue, qualitative and quantitative morphological studies were performed. Testis incubations were used to determine lutenizing hormone (LH; 100 ng/mL) stimulated testosterone secretory capacity per testis in vitro. Testosterone levels in the incubation medium, and testosterone and LH levels in serum of these six groups of rats were determined by radioimmunoassay. Body and testis weights were not changed by hemicastration between experimental and control groups. Volume density of seminiferous tubules, interstitium, and Leydig cells was not significantly affected by hemicastration. Absolute volume of seminiferous and interstitium was significantly increased in unilaterally castrated rats at 20, 30 and 40 days of age compared to control. Significant increases in the total number of Leydig cells per testis occurred in rats hemicastrated at 20, 30, 40 and 50 days of age compared to control. A significant increase in average volume of a Leydig cell was noted in the hemicastrated rats at 30 and 40 days compared to intact rats of the same age but was significantly decreased at 60 days of age. Serum testosterone levels and LH-stimulated testosterone production per testis were significantly (P<0.05) increased in the hemicastrated rats at 30 and 40 days. In summary, when rats were unilaterally castrated at 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 days of age, those rats hemicastrated at 30 and 40 days showed compensatory hypertrophy/hypersecretion of Leydig cells when killed at 100 days of age. Especially, these data suggested that compensatory hypertrophy/hypersecretion of Leydig cells in rats hemicastrated around the time of puberty occurs in the remaining testis.

Effect of Pdx1 Expression after Sox9 Depletion in the Early Pancreatic Development in African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis) / 대한해부학회지

The pancreas is a mixed exocrine and endocrine gland involved in the control of many homeostatic functions.During embryogenesis,the pancreas arises from dorsal and ventral evaginations of the foregut,which subse- quently fuse into a single organ.The characterization of early genes expressed in the developing pancreas is critical to understand its specification and differentiation.Pdx1 is one of the earliest markers of pancreatic development and a key molecule in its development.Sox proteins form a large class of transcriptional regulators implicated in the control of a variety of developmental processes.One member of this family,Sox9,is expressed in the developing pancreas, but little is known about the function of Sox9 in the developing pancreas.We further investigated Sox9 function during pancreatic development in Xenopus .Using a hormone-inducible inhibitory mutant of Sox9 ,we found that Pdx1 expres- sion was reduced in the ventral pancreatic buds in Sox9-depleted embryos.We suggest that Sox9 gene expression may be involved in pancreatic development in Xenopus.

The Effect of Myocardial Infarction on the Reproductive Function in Adult Male Rats / 체질인류학회지

The present study was to investigate in more detail the changes of reproductive function in the male rat following myocardial infarction (MI). Ligation of the left coronary artery was performed in male Sprague-Dawley male rats at 60 days of age. Control rats were obtained sham-operated animals. MI rats were sacrificed at 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 30 day after ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery. Control rats were sacrificed on 30 day after thoracotomy. Myocardial infarct size was assessed by planimetry and perimetry. Testes of rats were fixed by whole body perfusion using a fixative containing 2.5% glutaraldehyde in cacodylate buffer, processed and embedded in Epon-araldite. Using 1 micro sections stained with methylene blue-azure II, qualitative and quantitative (stereological) morphological studies were performed. Testosterone levels in the incubation medium of luteinizing hormone-stimulated (100 ng/mL) testosterone secretion per testis in vitro, and in serum were determined by radioimmunoassay. Sperm production was measured by routine technique. Mean infarct size was 29.5~33.5% of the left ventricle after coronary occlusion in experimental groups. No changes were observed in testis volume, absolute volume of Leydig cell, Leydig cell size, and number of Leydig cell per testis in MI rats compared to sham-operated animals. Serum testosterone, LH-stimulated testicular testosterone production, and daily sperm production in MI rats were not significantly different (P>0.05) from sham-operated animals. These results demonstrate that under the experimental conditions employed here, experimental chronic myocardial infarction does not exert adverse effects on the reproductive function of male rats.

Effects of Luteinizing and Thyroid Hormones on the Aged Leydig Cells in Brown Norway Rats / 체질인류학회지

ABSTRACT: The present study was designed to investigate the possibility of restoring the testicular steroidogenic ability of the aged Brown Norway rats by administering luteinizing hormone (LH) and thyroxine (Thy). Rats of 3, 6, 12 months (M) of age (n = 8 per group) and four groups of 18 month old rats (n = 8 per group) were used. Eighteen month old rats were implanted subdermally with Alzet mini osmotic pumps containing saline (control), luteinizing hormone (LH, 24 microgram/day), thyroxine (Thy, 5 microgram/day) and LH and Thy (LH +Thy, 24 microgramday and 5 microgram/day), respectively for four weeks (i.e testing was done at 19 months). The results showed that the testis volume was unchanged among all treatment groups. The number of Leydig cell per testis was not significantly different among all treatment groups. The average volume of a Leydig cell was significantly decreased at 12 months, and a further reduction was observed at 19 months (saline-treated); values for 19 month LH-and-LH +Thy-treated rats were not significantly lower than those at 3 and 6 months of age. Testosterone secretory capacity per testis and per Leydig cell in vitro were significantly reduced concomitantly with age advancement from 6 to 19 months (saline-treated) of age. These values of LH-and Thy-treated 19 month old rats were similar to those at 12 months. LH +Thy-treated rats were equally capable to 3 and 6 month old rats in producing testicular testosterone in vitro in response to LH. Serum testosterone was unchanged from 3 M to 12 M rats but was reduced in 19M control rats. Both LH and Thy significantly raised these values above the 19M control levels, but they were still lower than the 3 M through 12 M levels. Additionally, LH +Thy significantly raised the serum testosterone levels to those of 12M rats, but these values were significantly lower than those of 3 M and 6 M rats. In summary, the present study demonstrated that the exogenous supplementation of LH and Thy was effective in restoring the steroidogenic potential of the aged Leydig cells; the most effective treatment was LH +Thy, which upgraded the capacity of aged testes to those of 3 and 6 months.

Continuous Exposure of Lactating Rat Mothers to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Increases Testis Volume, Sperm Production and Sertoli Cell Numbers in Adult Male Offspring / 체질인류학회지

Despite the possible consequences of maternal ingestion of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on future generation, information in limited on how/whether maternal PCB exposure affects testis of the adult male offspring. Therefore, we conducted two experiments to investigate the effects of intermittent and continuous of lactating rats to low and high doses of Aroclor 1242 (a PCB congener) on volume density of seminiferous tubules and interstitium, testis volume, sperm production/day and the total number of Sertoli cells per testis in adult male offspring. In experiment I, 3 groups of lactating Sprague Dawley rats received daily subcutaneous injections of 0.1 ml of corn oil, low dose (8microgram) and high dose (80microgram) of Aroclor 1242 in corn oil respectively, from parturition to weaning of pups at 21 days. In experiment II, 3 groups of lactating rats received 2 subcutaneous injections per week of 0.1 ml corn oil, low and high doses of Aroclor respectively, as in experiment I. Pups in all groups were weaned at day 21 and were raised on a normal diet until sacrificed at 90 days to evaluate volume density of seminiferous tubules and interstitium, testis volume, sperm production/day and the total number of Sertoli cells per testis. Volume density of seminiferous tubules and interstitium per testis was determined by point counting method. Testis volume and sperm production/day was measured by routine techniques. The total number of Sertoli cells per testis was determined by morphometry(disector method). In experiment I and II, the volume density of seminiferous tubules and interstitium per testis was equal in control and treated testes. In experiment I (continuous exposure), the testis volume was increased by 14.8% (low dose)~16.5% (high dose), and sperm production/day and Sertoli cell numbers were increased 20.4~25%, and 32.6~39.4%, respectively. In experiment II (intermittent exposure), testis volume, sperm production/day and the total number of Sertoli cells per testis were not significantly different (p>0.05) in PCB-exposed rats (both low and high doses) compared to controls. It is clear that continuous exposure, but not intermittent exposure of male rats to Aroclor during the neonatalprepubertal period causes detrimental effects on the testis in adult male offspring. These results emphasize the susceptibility of the developing testis to environmental factors during the crucial neonatal period.

Morphometric Study of the Testicular Interstitium of the Rat during Postnatal Development / 대한해부학회지

The purpose of this morphometric study was to obtain quantitative information on the rat testis interstitium during postnatal development. Eight groups of male rats aged 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 40, 60 and 90 days (n=5 rats per group) after birth were used. Tissue from perfusion-fixed testes was embedded in Epon-Araldite; and sections were subjected to morphometric measurements at the light microscopic level, using point counting method for volume densities and the Disector technique for numerical densities (the number of cells per unit volume of testis). The volume density of the interstitium represents 66% of the testicular parenchyma at day 1. This proportion progressively diminishes during development to reach a value of 8% at day 90. The absolute volume of blood vessels, macrophages, and endothelial cells increased with age. The absolute volume of lymphatic spaces, pericytes and myoid cells were greater at 90 days than at any other age. The absolute volume of fetal Leydig cells per testis was unchanged from 1 (0.07 mm3) to 14 (0.1 mm3) days, despite a decrease in the volume density. The number of mesenchymal cells, myoid cells, macrophages, endothelial cells, and pericytes per testis increased with age. The number of fetal Leydig cells per testis did not change from days 1 (0.054 million)~21 (0.070 million) although on day 21 (615 micrometer3) an average fetal Leydig cells was smaller in volume than at earlier ages (days 1 (1338 micrometer3)~14 (1296 micrometer3)). Adult Leydig cells were recognized at day 14 and their absolute volume and number per testis increased from 14 (0.5 mm3, 0.6 million) to 90 (52.83 mm3, 21.14 million) days. The average volume of a adult Leydig cell increased significantly with age and reached maximum size by 60 days (2548 micrometer3) of age where the volume is nearly three times bigger than that of at day 14 (832 micrometer3). No change in the average volume of the macrophages could be detected in this study groups. The average volume of the mesenchymal cells decreased significantly from day 1 (812 micrometer3) to day 14 (385 micrometer3) then increased until day 28 (901 micrometer3) at which the volume is maximum and declined significantly thereafter.

Study on the Indoor-Outdoor NO2 Levels and Related Factors in Urban Aprtments / 예방의학회지

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has been regarded as one of the main elements among air pollutants, and we measured NO2levels of near gas range, kitchen, living room and outdoor on 489 apartments in Pusan area. NO2were sampled by using Palmes tubes (diffusion tube sampler) during August 16-25, 1995 (summer) and January 15-29, 1996 (winter), respectively. Authors wanted to know comparison of NO2levels in summer and winter, NO2 levels categorized by variables, and variables affected to NO2levels. According to this study, we conducted to establish the degree of indoor-outdoor air pollution of urban apartments in Korea and methods to reduce indoor air pollution. The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1) Mean NO2levels of near gas range, kitchen, living room, and outdoor were 25.9+/-10.0 ppb, 23.3+/-8.0 ppb, 19.9+/-6.1 ppb, and 19.0+/-6.0 ppb in summer, and 34.5+/-16.8 ppb, 28.2+/-13.4 ppb, 25.3+/-12.5 ppb, 21.8+/-9.8 ppb in winter, respectively. 2) Mean NO2levels according to the floor levels were not significantly different in summer, and in winter, NO2levels were decreased as the floor levels were increasing, but those were increased above 16th floor. 3) Variables showing significant correlation (p<0.05) with NO2levels were as follows; Summer: floor level, family size, number of family during a meal, number using gas range during rice cooking per day, and natural ventilation. Winter: floor level, family size, number of person who have been respiratory disease in a house, number of family during a meal, total number of meals, and number using gas range during rice or side-dish cooking per day. 4) We suggest that the methods of reducing indoor NO2levels are ventilation during cooking, complete combustion, decreasing number and time of cooking, and substitution of fuels.