Effects of Aqueous Extract of Schizandra Chinensis Fruit on Cadmium-Induced Change of Monoamine Neurotransmitters in Rats

Zheng Lin Zhao,Guang Wen Zhao,Li Li,Meng Quan Li,Li Xin Guan,Xu Dong Yang,Hou Zhong Li,Feng Lin,Jong Rok Lee,Rong Jie Zhao 한국독성학회 2009 Toxicological Research Vol.25 No.1

The effects of aqueous extract of Schizandra Chinensis Fruit (AESC) on cadmium-induced changes of monoamine neurotransmitters in the different brain regions of adult rats were investigated. Male rats were received intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of CdCl₂ (0.6 ㎎/㎏/d) for 21 days and sacrificed 7 days after the last administration. Concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) in striatum and serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in cortex were measured by HPLC. There were significant decreases of NE, DA, 5-HT and 5-HIAA in Cd intoxicated rats (P < 0.05), while pretreatment with AESC (20 ㎎/㎏/d or 60 mg/kg/d, p.o., 30 min before CdCl₂) greatly inhibited the decrease of monoamine transmitters, respectively (P < 0.05). Also, AESC significantly increased the reduction of glutathione contents and superoxide dismutase activities in cortex induced by CdCl₂. These results suggest that AESC ameliorates Cd-induced depletion of monoamine neurotransmitters in brain through its antioxidant activity.

Effects of Aqueous Extract of Schizandra Chinensis Fruit on Cadmium-Induced Change of Monoamine Neurotransmitters in Rats

Zhao, Zheng Lin,Zhao, Guang Wen,Li, Li,Li, Meng Quan,Guan, Li Xin,Yang, Xu Dong,Li, Hou Zhong,Lin, Feng,Lee, Jong-Rok,Zhao, Rong Jie Korean Society of ToxicologyKorea Environmental Mu 2009 Toxicological Research Vol.26 No.1

The effects of aqueous extract of Schizandra Chinensis Fruit (AESC) on cadmium-induced changes of monoamine neurotransmitters in the different brain regions of adult rats were investigated. Male rats were received intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of CdCl2 (0.6 mg/kg/d) for 21 days and sacrificed 7 days after the last administration. Concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) in striatum and serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in cortex were measured by HPLC. There were significant decreases of NE, DA, 5-HT and 5-HIAA in Cd intoxicated rats (P < 0.05), while pretreatment with AESC (20 mg/kg/d or 60 mg/kg/d, p.o., 30 min before $CdCl_2$) greatly inhibited the decrease of monoamine transmitters, respectively (P < 0.05). Also, AESC significantly increased the reduction of glutathione contents and superoxide dismutase activities in cortex induced by $CdCl_2$. These results suggest that AESC ameliorates Cd-induced depletion of monoamine neurotransmitters in brain through its antioxidant activity.

Korean Red Ginseng attenuates anxiety-like behavior during ethanol withdrawal in rats

Zheng Lin Zhao,김영우,Yi Yan Wu,Jie Zhang,이주희,XiaoHua Li,조일제,박상미,Dae Hwa Jung,양재하,김상찬,Rong Jie Zhao 고려인삼학회 2014 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.38 No.4

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is known to have antianxiety properties. This study was conductedto investigate the anxiolytic effects of KRG extract (KRGE) during ethanol withdrawal (EW) andthe involvement of the mesoamygdaloid dopamine (DA) system in it. Methods: Rats were treated with 3 g/kg/d of ethanol for 28 d, and subjected to 3 d of withdrawal. DuringEW, KRGE (20 mg/kg/d or 60 mg/kg/d, p.o.) was given to rats once/d for 3 d. Thirty min after the finaldose of KRGE, anxiety-like behavior was evaluated in an elevated plus maze (EPM), and plasma corticosterone(CORT) levels were determined by a radioimmunoassay (RIA). In addition, concentrations ofDA and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) were alsomeasured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: The EPM test and RIA revealed KRGE inhibited anxiety-like behavior and the over secretion ofplasma CORT during EW. Furthermore, the behavioral effect was blocked by a selective DA D2 receptor(D2R) antagonist (eticlopride) but not by a selective DA D1 receptor (D1R) antagonist (SCH23390). HPLCanalyses showed KRGE reversed EW-induced decreases of DA and DOPAC in a dose-dependent way. Additionally, Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays showed that KRGEprevented the EW-induced reductions in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) protein expression in the CeA and THmRNA expression in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Conclusion: These results suggest that KRGE has anxiolytic effects during EW by improving the mesoamygdaloidDA system.

Hypothalamic Norepinephrine Mediates Acupunctural Effects on Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis During Ethanol Withdrawal

Zheng Lin Zhao,김상찬,Jie Zhang,Hong Feng Liu,이봉효,장은영,이철원,조일제,안원근,양재하,김영우,Rong Jie Zhao,Yi Yan Wu 사단법인약침학회 2016 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.9 No.1

A previous study demonstrated that acupuncture at ST36 (Zu-San-Li) attenuates ethanol withdrawal (EW)-induced hyperactivation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in rats. The current study investigated the involvement of hypothalamic norepinephrine (NE) in that process. Rats were intraperitoneally treated with 3 g/kg/d of ethanol or saline for 28 days. After 24 hours of EW, acupuncture was applied to rats at bilateral ST36 points or at nonacupoints (tail) for 1 minute. A high-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that EW significantly increased both the NE and the 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol (MHPG) levels in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Western blot analysis also revealed that EW markedly elevated the phosphorylation rates of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), but spared TH protein expression in the PVN. However, acupuncture at ST36, but not at nonacupoints, greatly inhibited the increase in the hypothalamic NE, MHPG, and phosphorylation rates of TH. Additionally, postacupuncture infusion of NE into the PVN significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of acupuncture at ST36 on the oversecretion of plasma corticosterone during EW. These results suggest that acupuncture at ST36 inhibits EW-induced hyperactivation of the hypothalamic NEergic system to produce therapeutic effects on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis.

Effects of Aqueous Extract of Schizandrae Fructus on Lead-Induced Change of Monoamine Neurotransmitters in Hippocampus

Zhao, Rong Jie,Zhao, Zheng Lin,Zhao, Xiu Feng,Zhao, Guang Wen,Li, Meng Quan,Wu, Yi Yan,Li, Jing Qiu,Guan, Li Xin,Kim, Sang-Chan The Korean Medicine Society for the Herbal Formula 2009 大韓韓醫學方劑學會誌 Vol.17 No.2

The effects of aqueous extract of Schizandrae Fructus (AESC) on lead (Pb)-induced changes of monoamine neurotransmitters in the hippocampus (HIP) of adult rats were investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were received intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of Pb acetate (5 mg/kg/d) for 28 days and sacrificed 7 days after the last administration. Concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in HIP were measured by HPLC. There were significant decreases of NE, DA, 5-HT and 5-HIAA in Pb treated rats (P < 0.05), while pretreatment with AESC (100 mg/kg/d or 300 mg/kg/d, p.o., 2 h before Pb) greatly inhibited the decrease of monoamine transmitters, respectively (P < 0.05). Also, AESC (300 mg/kg/d) significantly increased the reduction of glutathione contents and superoxide dismutase activities in HIP induced by chronic Pb. These results suggest that AESC ameliorates Pb-induced depletion of monoamine neurotransmitters in HIP through its antioxidant activity.

Effects of Acupuncture at Zu-San-Li (ST36) on the Activity of the HypothalamicePituitaryeAdrenal Axis during Ethanol Withdrawal in Rats

Zheng Lin Zhao,Bong Hyo Lee,Feng Lin,YanQin Guo,Yi Yan Wu,Sang Mi Park,Sunghyeon In,Sang Chan Kim,Chae Ha Yang,Rong Jie Zhao 사단법인약침학회 2014 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.7 No.5

The current study investigated the effects of acupuncture at Zu-San-Li (ST36) on the hypothalamicepituitaryeadrenalaxis during ethanol withdrawal in rats. Rats were intraperitoneallytreated with 3 g/kg/day of ethanol or saline for 28 days. Following 24 hours ofethanol withdrawal, acupuncture was applied at bilateral ST36 points or non-acupoints(tail) for 1 minute. Plasma levels of corticosterone (CORT) and adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA), and the corticotropin-releasingfactor (CRF) protein levels in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus were alsoexamined by RIA 20 minutes after the acupuncture treatment. RIA showed significantlyincreased plasma levels of CORT and ACTH in the ethanol-withdrawn rats compared withthe saline-treated rats, which were inhibited significantly by the acupuncture at the acupointST36 but not at the non-acupoint. Additionally, ethanol withdrawal promoted CRFprotein expressions in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, which were alsoblocked by the acupuncture at ST36. These findings suggest that acupuncture at the specific acupoint ST36 can inhibit ethanol withdrawal-induced hyperactivation of hypothalamicepituitaryeadrenalaxis, and it may be mediated via the modulation of hypothalamicCRF.

Amygdaloid Corticotropin-releasing Factor is Involved in the Anxiolytic Effect of Acupuncture during Ethanol Withdrawal in Rats

Zheng Lin Zhao,XiuDong Jin,Yi Yan Wu,Xu Dong Yang,YanJi Xu,James ZhongJian Jiang,김상찬,이봉효,양재하,조용걸 사단법인약침학회 2013 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.6 No.5

In a previous study, acupuncture at acupoint HT7 attenuated ethanol withdrawal-induced anxiety-like behavior in rats by normalizing amygdaloid catecholamines. In the present study, the involvement of amygdaloid corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the anxiolytic effect of acupuncture was investigated during ethanol withdrawal. Rats were intraperitoneally treated with 3 g /kg/day of ethanol for 28 days, and the CRF mRNA levels in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CEA) were measured by using a RT-PCR analysis 72 hours after the last dose of ethanol. During ethanol withdrawal, the rats were bilaterally treated with acupuncture at acupoints HT7, PC6 or at a non-acupoint (Tail) for one min/day for three days. Also, rats were bilaterally injected with CRF into the CEA five minutes after the third acupuncture treatment , after which followed by the elevated-plus maze (EPM) test and the plasma corticosterone radioimmunoassay (RIA) were administered. The RT-PCR analysis showed a significant increase in the amygdaloid CRF mRNA levels in the ethanol-withdrawn rats compared with both the saline-treated rats and the rats treated with acupuncture at HT7, but neither acupuncture at PC6 nor acupuncture at a non-acupoint significantly inhibited the increased mRNA expression. The EPM test and the RIA also showed that the post-acupuncture infusion of CRF greatly reduced the anxiolytic effect of acupuncture at HT7. These results suggest that during ethanol withdrawal, the anxiolytic effect of acupuncture may be mediated through the modulation of amydaloid CRF during ethanol withdrawal.

rs10505474 and rs7837328 at 8q24 Cumulatively Confer Risk of Prostate Cancer in Northern Han Chinese

Zhang, Lin-Lin,Sun, Liang,Zhu, Xiao-Quan,Xu, Yong,Yang, Kuo,Yang, Fan,Yang, Yi-Ge,Chen, Guo-Qiang,Fu, Ji-Cheng,Zheng, Chen-Guang,Li, Ying,Mu, Xiao-Qiu,Shi, Xiao-Hong,Zhao, Fan,Wang, Fei,Yang, Ze,Wang, Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.7

Aims: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several risk variants for prostate cancer (pCa) mainly in Europeans, which need to be further verified in other racial groups. We selected six previously identified variants as candidates and to define the association with PCa in Northern Han Chinese. Methods: 749 subjects from Beijing and Tianjin in Northern China were included. Six variants (rs10505474, rs7837328, rs4242384, rs7813, rs486907 and rs1058205) were genotyped by high resolution melting (HRM) assays. The individual and cumulative contribution for of the risk of PCa and clinical covariates were analyzed. Results: Among the six candidate variants, onlyrs10505474, and rs7837328, both locating at 8q24 region, were associated with PCa in our population.rs10505474 (A) was associated with PCa ($OR_{recessive}=1.56$, p=0.006); and rs7837328 (A) was associated with PCa ($OR_{dominant}=1.38$, p=0.042/$OR_{recessive}=1.99$, p=0.003). Moreover, we observed a cumulative effects between them ($p_{trend}=2.58{\times}10^{-5}$). The joint population attributable risk showed the two variants might account for 71.85% of PCa risk. In addition, we found the homozygotes of rs10505474 (A) and rs7837328 (A) were associated with PCa clinical covariants (age at onset, tumor stage, respectively) ($p_{age}=0.046$, $P_{tumorstage}=0.048$). Conclusion: rs10505474 (A) and rs7387328 (A) at 8q24 are associated with PCa and cumulatively confer risk, suggesting the two variations could determine susceptibility to PCa in the Northern Chinese Han population.

Knockdown of Maternal Homeobox Transcription Factor SEBOX Gene Impaired Early Embryonic Development in Porcine Parthenotes

ZHENG, Zhong,ZHAO, Ming-Hui,JIA, Jia-Lin,HEO, Young-Tae,CUI, Xiang-Shun,OH, Jeong Su,KIM, Nam-Hyung The Society for Reproduction and Development 2013 The Journal of reproduction and development Vol.59 No.6

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P> A number of germ cell-specific transcription factors essential for ovarian formation and folliculogenesis have been identified and studied. However, the role of these factors during early embryonic development has been poorly explored. In the present study, we investigated the role of SEBOX, a maternal homeobox transcription factor, during early embryonic development in porcine parthenotes. mRNA for <I>SEBOX</I> is preferentially expressed in oocytes, and expression persists until embryonic genome activation (EGA). Knockdown of SEBOX by siRNA disrupted early embryonic development, but not oocyte maturation. Many maternal genes essential for early embryonic development were upregulated in SEBOX-depleted embryos. Moreover, some pluripotency-associated genes, including <I>SOX2</I> and <I>NANOG</I>, were upregulated when SEBOX was knocked down. Therefore, our data demonstrate that SEBOX is required for early embryonic development in pigs and appears to regulate the degradation of maternal transcripts and the expression of pluripotency genes.</P>

Characteristics of Mammary Paget's Disease in China: a National-wide Multicenter Retrospective Study During 1999-2008

Zheng, Shan,Song, Qing-Kun,Zhao, Lin,Huang, Rong,Sun, Li,Li, Jing,Fan, Jin-Hu,Zhang, Bao-Ning,Yang, Hong-Jian,Xu, Feng,Zhang, Bin,Qiao, You-Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.5

The aim of this study was to detail characteristics of mammary Paget's disease (PD) representing the whole population in China. A total of 4211 female breast cancer inpatients at seven tertiary hospitals from seven representative geographical regions of China were collected randomly during 1999 to 2008. Data for demography, risk factors, diagnostic imaging test, physical examination and pathologic characters were surveyed and biomarker status was tested by immunohistochemistry. The differences of demography and risk factors between PD with breast cancer and other lesions were compared using Chi-square test or t-test, with attention to physical examination and pathological characters. The percentage of PD was 1.6% (68/4211) in all breast cancers. The mean age at diagnosis was 48.1, and 63.2% (43/68) patients were premenopausal. There is no difference in demography and risk factors between PD with breast cancer and other breast cancer (P > 0.05). The main pattern of PD in physical exam and pathologic pattern were patients presenting with a palpable mass in breast (65/68, 95.6%) and PD with underlying invasive cancer (82.4%, 56/68) respectively. The rate of multifocal disease was 7.4% (5/68). PD with invasive breast cancer showed larger tumor size, more multifocal disease, lower ER and PR expression and higher HER2 overexpression than those in other invasive breast cancer (P < 0.05). These results suggested that PD in China is a concomitant disease of breast cancer, and that PD with underlying invasive cancer has more multiple foci and more aggressive behavior compared with other breast invasive cancer. We address the urgent needs for establishing diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for mammary PD in China.