Seung Heo

Aluminium interfere with vitellogenesis in the estradiol-17β-administered immature rockfish,Sebastes schlegeli

Effect of aluminum (al) on the plasma vitellogenin (VTG), alkaline-labile phosphorus (ALPP), Calcium (Ca), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and hepatosomatic index (HSI) were examined in the estradiol-17β (E2)-administered immature rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli. Fish were intraperitoneally injected with E2 (5 mg/kg body weight (B.W.)) and/or Al (0, 0.1, 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg B.W.) and then plasma were extracted at 7 days. Thick VTG band was detected at a molecular weight position of about 170 kDa in SDSPAGE using the plasma of E2-administered rockfish. This band was reduced by the administration of Al to rockfish. Al reduced the concentrations of ALPP and Ca in a concentration-dependent way and a significant reduction occurred at Al concentrations greater than 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, respectively. The concentration of GPT was increased in concentrationdependent way at all the group of Al-administered rockfish. HSI was reduced in a concentration-dependent way. These results suggest that Al interfere with E2-induced vitellogenesis by being toxic to hepatocyte.

Knockout of krüppel-like factor 10 suppresses hepatic cell proliferation in a partially hepatectomized mouse model

The liver has marked regenerative capabilities, and numerous signaling pathways are involved in liver regeneration. The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad pathway, which is also involved in liver regeneration, regulates numerous biological processes. Krüppel-like factor 10 (KLF10) has been reported to activate the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway; however, the exact functions of KLF10 under various pathophysiological conditions remain unclear. In the present study, the role of KLF10 in liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy (PH) was investigated using KLF10-knockout (KO) mice. KLF10-KO mice exhibited lower liver/body weight ratios and 5-bromo-2-deoxy-uridine labeling indices compared with wild-type (WT) mice, and significant differences (P=0.028) were obtained at 72 h after PH. To understand the causes of the gross and histopathological findings, the expression levels of the components of the TGF-β/Smad pathway were examined using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The mRNA and protein levels of Smad3, p15, TGF-β1 and TGF-β receptor 1 were significantly increased, while those of cMyc and cyclin D1 (proliferation-associated genes) were significantly lower in the liver tissues of the KLF10-KO mice compared with those of the WT mice at 72 h post-PH. These results indicated that KLF10-KO may exhibit antiproliferative effects on liver regeneration following PH, through strengthening the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in a delayed manner.

Hempseed water extract ameliorates atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knockout mice

Abstracthe principal objective of this experiment was to evaluate the anti-atherosclerotic activity of hempseed water extract in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice. Fourteen male ApoE KO mice were divided into 2 groups and were treated via intragastric inoculation for 14 weeks. The hempseed water extract (HWE) inoculation group exhibited greater gains in weight as compared to the control group, which was inoculated with distilled water. Plaque lesion areas in the aortic sinus were reduced in the HWE group. Total plasma cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, atherosclerotic index, and cardiac risk factor were all reduced in the HWE group. These results demonstrate that HWE is an excellent nutritional resource and evidences anti-atherosclerotic activity in ApoE KO mice. Further studies will be required to assess the pharmacological mechanisms underlying these effects.