The irradiation of radioactive γ-ray induces apoptosis of radiosensitive organs for homeostasis. In this study, we investigated the repair mechanisms for homeostasis in the small intestine after cell damage by ∨60Co γ-ray irradiation. The apoptosis was most frequently observed in the crypt cells of the small intestine after four and six hours by radioactive γ-ray irradiation, and the frequency of apoptosis was proportional to the amount of irradiation. Also, the number of apototic cells was coincident with expression pattern of p53.

The sacrum fused with ilium in a chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis) was observed. The sacrum consists of four sacral vertebrae which was fused each other. In the ventral part of the fused pelvis, on the left, there was a 20.19 mm gap at the dorsolateral part of the sacroiliac articular part which is in between the promontory and the cranial border of the first ventral sacral foramen. On the right, there was a 14.34 mm gap at the dorsal part of sacroiliac articulation. In the dorsal view of the fused pelvis, the wing of sacrum and the wing of ilium were fused tightly, so that the boundary of the two bones was not recognizable.

We studied the effects of trazodone on arterial blood pressure in anesthesized guinea pigs, and on vascular responses in isolated thoracic aorta. Trazodone produced a concentration-dependent relaxation in phenylephrine-precontracted endothelium intact (+E) rings, but not in a KCl-precontracted aortic rings. These relaxant effects of trazodone on +E rings were siginificantly greater than those on denuded (-E) rings. The trazodone-induced relaxation was suppressed by gilbenclamide and tetrabutylammonium, but not by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), methylene blue (MB), nifedipine, indomethacin, 2-nitro-4-carboxyphenyl-n,n-diphenylcarbamate (NCDC) and clotrimazole. In vivo, infusion of trazodone elicited a significant decrease in arterial blood pressure.

The effects of dietary Gleditschia on fatty acid composition, lipid oxidation, and pork quality were investigated. Pigs (n=40) were fed a diet containing 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 1% Gleditschia for 14 weeks and slaughtered at 110 kg average. The longissimus throracis et lumborum muscle was collected at 24 hr postmortem. Pork loin chops (3 cm thick) were packaged aerobically and stored at 4℃ for 7 days. Samples were analyzed for fatty acid composition, ultimate pH, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS), color (L*, a*, b*), drip loss and water-holding capacity.

We have examined distribution and expression of caveolin-3 (cav-3), one of three caveolin isoforms from 16-wks-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) compared with age-matched control wistar-kyoto (WKY) rats. The expression of cav-3 was increased, whereas expression of PKB/Akt and calcineurin (Cn) was not changed in cardiac tissues of SHR compared to WKY rats. Interestingly, expression of cav-3, PKB/Akt and Cn were decreased in plasma membrane fraction in SHR compared to WKY rats. In H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells treated with phenylephrine (50 μM, 48hr) or isoproterenol (10 μM, 48hr), the expression of cav-3 was markedly enhanced compared to nontreated cells.

Melatonin, the principal hormone of the vertebral pineal gland, participates in the regulation of cardiovascular system in vitro and in vivo. Lithium inhibits both inositol polyphosphate phosphatase (IPPase) and inositol monophosphatase (IMPase), which are involved in a wide range of signal transduction pathways. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of lithium on endothelial-dependent relaxation to melatonin and on the melatonin-induced inhibition of contraction by phenylephrine (PE) in isolated rat aorta. Melatonin induced a concentration-dependent relaxation in PE-precontracted in endothelium-intact (+E) aortic rings.

The disease causing colic is the greatest cause of deathe in the domestic horse population today and accidental deaths as a result of colic leads to decreased productivity and economic losses in the horse breeding industry. Large colon impaction is the most common cause of colic in horses. Horses may ingest sand either by eating from the ground in sandy locations, or because of its inclusion in hay. In certain areas sand impaction is relatively common. The horse (4 year, female) presented with abdominal pain, which was charactered by willing to lie down, pawing, and looking at flank. A month later, the horse died suddenly at sand paddock.

To elucidate the roles of phospho-IkB expression in the development and progression of EAE, we investigated the expression of phospho-IkB in the central nervous system (CNS) of rats during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. In Western blot analysis, the increased expression of phospho-IkB went parallel to severity of EAE. The expression of phospho-IkB increased significantly at the peak stage of EAE followed by gradual decrease. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the phospho-IkB immunoreactivity was mainly expressed in inflammatory cells (macrophages, T cells) and glial cells (astrocytes, microglial cells) at the peak stage of EAE and disappeared at the recovery stage.

The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) plays an important role in regulation of melanin pigment synthesis within mammalian melanocytes. Mutations within the gene encoding MC1R have been shown to explain coat color variations within several mammalian species including cattle. To develope a rapid and accurate method for the identification of Hanwoo meat, we performed a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis in Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene using TaqMan∨® MGB probe-based real-time PCR. Two specific probes (one for Hanwoo and the other for Holstein and Black angus) were designed.

13-week orally repeated dose toxicity was investigated to ascertain the toxic effects of Aristolochiae radix in F344 rats at dose levels of 0, 1 (0.003 AA, aristolochic acid, mg/kg), 5 (0.014 AA mg/kg), 25 (0.068 AA mg/kg), 125 (0.34 AA mg/kg), and 500 mg/kg (AA 1.36 mg/kg). No mortalities were found in any of the dose groups including vehicle control groups of both sexes during the study period. Hematologic and serum biochemical examinations revealed no changes related to the test item in any of the dose groups of both sexes. However, gross findings at necropsy implicated thickening of the stomach wall.