Fumonisins are a family of mycotoxins produced by the fungus Fusarium moniliforme which is a common contaminant in corn. Fumonisins are potent inhibitors of sphingosine and sphinganine N-acyltransferase (ceramide synthase), key enzymes in sphingolipid metabolism. The purpose of this study was to provide the evidence that the elevated levels of free sphingoid bases (primarily sphinganine) and depletion of complex sphingolipids were closely related to the inhibition of cell growth in LLC-$PK_1$ cells exposed to fumonisin $B_1$$(\leq 35 {\mu}M)$. Concentrations of fumonisin $B_1$ between 10 and $35 {\mu}M$ were known to inhibit cell growth without cytotoxicity in $LLC-PK_1$ cells (Yoo et al. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 114, 9-15, 1992). Cells exposed to 35$\mu M$ fumonisin B$_1$ for 48 and 72 hr developed a fibroblast-like (elongated and spindle-shaped) appearance and were less confluent than normal cells. At between 24 and 48 hr after exposure to fumonisin $B_1$ cells were beginning to show the inhibition of cell growth and at 72 hr the number of viable cells in fumonisin-treated cultures was about 50% of concurrent control cultures. During the 24 hr lag period preceding inhibition of cell growth, the free sphinganine levels in cells exposed to $35 {\mu}M$ fumonisin $B_1$ were highly elevated (approximately 230 fold higher than normal cells). The elevated levels of free sphinganine were $435\pm14$$pmoles/{10^6}$ cells at 48 hr and approximately TEX>$333\pm11$$pmoles/{10^6}$ cells in cells exposed to $35{\mu}M$ fumonisin$B_1$ at 72 hr, while the levels of free sphinganine in normal cells were less than 2$pmoles/{10^6}$ cells. Under the same condition, depletion of intracellular complex sphingolipids as a consequence of fumonisin inhibition of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis and turnover pathway was appeared. Content of free sphingold bases in dividing cells was more elevated than in confluent cells at 24-48 hr after cells were exposed to $20{\mu}M$ fumonisin $B_1$. The dividing cells were showing the inhibition of cell growth at 48-72 hr and $20{\mu}M$ fumonisin $B_1$. The results of this study support the hypothesis that the inhibition of cell growth is very well related to the disruption of sphingolipid metabolism in $LLC-PK_1$ cells.

The immune system is partially under the control of the sympathetic and parasymphathetic nervous systems through the regulatory feedback loop. Methamphetamine (MA) is a neurotoxic chemical which affects the neurotransmitter system. The objective of this study was to investigate the immunotoxic effect of MA on the major immune target organ and lymphocyte proliferation to the various mitogens. Female Balb/C mice, 15 to 20 g, were injected subcutaneously with 0, 0.5, or 5 mg MA/kg for 14 consecutive days. In MA treated mice, the body weight gain and relative spleen and thymus weight were decreased in doserelated manner. Histopathologically, there was a paucity of lymphold follicles and germinal centers in the spleen, and thymic cortical atrophy with lymphophagocytosis was prominent. Apoptosis also occurred in germinal centers of spleen and thymic cortex. The threshold and peak of lymphocyte proliferation at various concentration of mitogens showed similar patterns. However, the response to lipopolysaccaride (LPS) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) in the 5 mg MA/kg treated group showed threshold and peak proliferation at high concentration of mitogens (25${\mu}g$ LPS/ml for MA vs 15${\mu}g$ LPS/ml for control; 60${\mu}g$ PWM/ml for MA vs 45${\mu}g$ PWM/ml for control), which suggest that MA impairs T cell dependent-B cell function. This preliminary study indicated that MA affected the lymphold organs and immune function.

Several populations of lymphocytes possess receptors for autonomic neurotransmitter, which make lymphocytes susceptible to autonomic stimulation. This study was to evaluate the functional alternation of effector cells of the immune system. Female Balb/C mice, 15-20 g, were injected with MA subcutaneously under various conditions. Mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) showed certain T cell subsets were affected by MA. The level of interleukin-2 (IL-2) production was inhibited due to a defect in expression of the IL-2 receptor. In mice injected with 20 mg MA/kg, 1 day before assay, phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages showed $14.07\pm3%$, which was similar degree to 5 mg MA/kg treatment for 4 consecutive days. Phagocytosis was almost recovered to that of control after 4 day in 20 mg/kg injected mice. Maximum inhibition of plaque forming cell (PFC) occurred when MA was given early, indicating the inductive time point of antibody production was affected. The cortisol level increased in the MA treated group (0.05, 0.20, and $0.08{\mu}g$/dl for control, low, and high dose-MA treated mice, respectively). Based on these results, MA has general suppression effects on the immune systems by functional alteration of effector cells. Considering the increment of serum cortisol levels, MA partially impacts the neuroendocrine system to lead to failure of immune response.

Microsomes from human liver sample HL 110 oxidized aflatoxin $B_1$ $(AFB_1)$ to $AFB_1$ exo-8, 9-epoxide which was detected as a glutathione (GSH) conjugate with excess GSH S-transferase and to aflatoxin $Q_1$ ($AFB_1$; 3$\alpha$-hydroxyafiatoxin $B_1$), and testosterone to 6$\beta$-hydroxytestosterone. Anti-P450 3A4 nearly completely inhibited all of the reactions. Some fiavonoids inhibited all of the reactions. While other fiayonolds stimulated 8, 9-epoxidation and inhibited 3$\alpha$-hydroxylation. Gestodene inhibited all of the reactions when gestodene was metabolized by human liver microsomal P450 3A4 prior to adding substrate. But, ges-todene was added in the enzyme mixtures in the presence of $AFB_1$, it could not inhibit 8, 9-epoxidation of $AFB_1$. Nifedipine and troleandomycin inhibited both of the reactions of $AFB_1$ but only 3$\alpha$-hydroxylation was inhibited by the oxidation product of nifedipine. Although, troleandomycin was known as a mechanism-based inhibitor, the chemical did not show any detectable inhibitory effect on 6$\beta$-hydroxylation of testosterone. The results suggest that there are several different substrate-binding sites on P450 3A4.

Cyclophosphamide (CP) must be enzymatically activated by cytochrome P450(CYP)-linked mixed-function oxidation pathway to be either mutagenic or teratogenic. Influences of alterations in hepatic mixed-function oxidase acitivity and glutathione (GSH) content on the embryotoxicity of CP were studied in rat whole embryo culture system. The embryotoxicity of CP was compared using rat S-9 fraction (S-9) pretreated with chemicals inducing different CYP isozymes, acetone (ACE), Aroclor 1254 (ARO), $\beta$-naphthoflavone (NAF) and phenobarbital (PHE). When 10.5 day embryos were cultured in the immediately centrifuged rat serum for 48 hrs using general gas char{ging schedule, CP$(40{\mu}g/ml)$ with S-9 induced by either NAF or PHE increased the incidence of realformations and significantly decreased embryonic growth compared with the non-induced S-9 group. ACE or ARO induced S-9 group showed no significant difference in embryonic growth. These data suggest that PB and/or NAF inducible CYP isoenzymes are mainly involved in the activation of CP. To examine the effect of GSH on the embryotoxicity of CP, 10.5 day embryos were exposed to CP and S-9 after preincubation with 10 mM of GSH for 3 hrs. In the GSH pretreated group the growth of embryos increased significantly compared with that of the untreated group, suggesting that GSH may protect embryos in culture from some toxic effects of CP.

Effect of cadmium on the early amphibian development was analyzed through FETAX (Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay: Xenopus). Embryos manifested concentration-dependent mortality and realformations; shortage of anterior-posterior axis gut realformation, ocular anomalies, bent notochord, misshapen dorsal fin, and derreal blisters. The treatment with 1.5ppm cadmium solution caused 100% mortality and concentration of lppm did not kill the embryos that caused 100% anomaly. The teratogenic index (TI = LC50 /EC50) was 2.8 indicating that $CdCl_2$ is teratogenic for Xenopus laevis. Embryos that were pulsetreated with at early to late blastula stage (St. 3-9) and mid to late blastula stage (St. 6-10) showed relatively strong resistance to cadmium, but the embryos treated at gastrula stage (St. 10-13) showed high mortality. And the embryos treated at tailbud stage (after St. 25) showed highest mortality of any other early stages. Effects of temperature were studied through pulse- treatment during gastrula stage at $20^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$. The embryos treated with 7.5ppm at $30^{\circ}C$ and 15ppm at $20^{\circ}C$ caused 100% mortality respectively, indicating that higher temperature had more severe toxic effect. One of the most peculiar effect of cadmium at gastrulation was distortion of the tail. The probable cause of toxic effect of Cd was discussed.

The effects of metallothionein and cadmium ion on the hepatic aldehyde oxidase activity and brain lipid peroxidation were tested in vitro. The content of brain lipid peroxide at the condition of normal or $300{\mu}M$ Fe(II)-induced was remarkably reduced by the addition of metallothionein in the incubation mixture. The induced content of lipid peroxide by cadmium $(30{\mu}g/ml)$ ion was reduced by metallothionein $(100{\mu}g/ml)$. The activity of aldehyde oxidase was not affected by metallothionein, but cadmium ion $(8.38{\mu}g/ml)$ increased the activity of aldehyde oxidase about 80% compared to the control. The cadmium-induced activity of aldehyde oxidase was restored to the control level by metallothionein or penicillamine.

The present experiment was carried out to investigate whether X and Y chromosome dissociation in the primary spermatocytes of mice can be used as an in vivo assaying system that detect environmental mutagens. For this purpose, alkylating agents (EMS, MMS and MMC), which are strong mutagens, were administered to ICR male mice 12-15 weeks old. The mean frequencies of previously dissociated X-Y chromosomes and autosomes of the control group were 7.34-7.45% and 0.92-1.04%, respectively. The frequencies of X-Y dissociation in the mutagen-treated groups with 10.0 mM EMS and 5.0 mM MMS were about 3.3-4.6 times higher than that in the control group, but there were no significant differences in dissociation of autosomes in both the control and the mutagen-treated groups. These results suggest that X-Y dissociation in the primary spermatocytes of mice can be used as an in vivo short-term assaying system for environmental mutagens.

To investigate the ultrastructural changes of kidney and clarify to a cause of its changes in lead intoxicated rats, the 0.5% lead acetate administed orally to the rats and those were sacrifled at 2 day, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 week after the treatment of lead acetate. Each extirpated kidney was histopathologically examined under the electron microscopy and histochemical examination was also carried out. Concomitantly, the activity of free radical metabolizing enzyme was determined. The blood levels of lead concentration showed a gradual increase from the first group reaching the plateau at the one or two week group with the slightly decreasing value throughout the whole course of the experiment. And the urinary ALA concentration showed a gradual increase from the first group to the 8 week group. In the kidney tissue of rat sacrified at 6 week, the proximal tubular cells showed dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrial swelling, increased numbers of secondary lysosomes and myelin figure-like residual bodies on electron microscope and oxygen free radicals are identified by histochemistry on light microscope whereas there were no differences in the activity of catalase and glutathione peroxidase between the lead acetate treated group and control group. But the activity of xanthine oxidase was more increased in lead acetate treated rats than control group. Furthermore, the superoxide dismutase activity was significantly increased in the experimental group than the control group. In conclusion, it is assumed the kidney damage in lead intoxicated rat may be induced by free radicals.

N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA) receptor has been well known as an important mediator of several forms of neural and behavioral plasticity. But different results were reported about the effect of MK-801 or dextromethorphan on opioid dependence. The present studies examined whether NMDA receptor antagonists can alter the opioid dependence and tolerance in rodents. Naloxone precipitated withdrawal symptoms and changes of locomotor activities were observed in MK-801 or dextromethorphan pretreated morphine-dependent rats. Tail-flick assay was used for morphine analgesia and tolerance was found after 4 day's consecutive injections (10 mg/kg, s.c., twice/day) of morphine in mice. Locomotor activity was increased and the withdrawal symptoms were decreased by the pretreatment of MK-801 in morphine-dependent rats. But 0.3 mg/kg i.p. of MK-801 intensified the body weight loss and produced severe ataxia and rotation although some withdrawal signs were attenuated. Morphine induced analgesic tolerance was inhibited by the pretreatment of MK-801 and dextromethorphan. Dextromethorphan was more potent than MK-801 in inhibiting the development of the analgesic tolerance in mice. These results suggest that NMDA system may be involved in opioid withdrawal and analgesic tolerance but appropriate caution should be requested when MK-801 is used in combination with opioid because of untoward neurologic signs.

The present study was carried out to establish several spermatotoxicity test methods. For this purpose we investigated following parameters in the fertility study of DA-125, a new anticancer agent, in rats: testicular spermatid counts, epididymal sperm counts, daily sperm production rate, sperm morphology, and serum testosterone concentration. Motility and velocity of sperms were also measured using non-treated rats. At 0.3 mg DA-125/kg, spermatids per 1g testis and daily sperm production rate per 1g testis were significantly decreased, when compared with those of control group. Several types of abnormal sperms, such as no head, pin head, double head, hook at wrong angle, no tail, and small sperm, were found in both treated and control groups at a low frequency. Serum testosterone concentration at 0.3 mg DA-125/kg was close to the control value. Sperm motility and velocity measured with non-treated rats were in a good agreement with the results of other investigators. In our study established spermatotoxicity test methods can be used as a tool not only for the close examination of the cause of drug- or chemical-induced infertility, but also for the effective evaluation of reproductive toxicity.

Antigenic potential of genetically-engineered human erythropoietin (EPO) was assessed in guinea pigs (active systemic anaphylaxis [ASA] ; passive cutaneous anaphylaxis [PCA]) and in vitro (hemagglutination test [PHA]). In ASA, EPO at 70~700 U/kg elicited a weak anaphylactic response tvhereas the positive control ovalbumin (OVA) did cause intensive responses leading to death in 40% animals. However, the extract of CHO cells, to which EPO gene was introduced, did not cause any symptom. In PCA and PHA tests, neither EPO nor CHO cell extract induced positive responses. OVA, in contrast, produced high titers in both PCA and PHA tests. It was concluded that, in light of the fact that EPO was slightly antigenic only in ASA but not in PCA or PHA and also that human EPO is a foreign protein to guinea pigs, the present EPO may not be antigenic in humans.

A teratogenicity study of KTC-1, a new semisynthetic rifamycin antituberculous drug, was conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats. Dosages of KTC-1 0, 7, 21, and 63 mg/kg/day were administered to darns orally gayage from day 7 to day 17 of gestation. Two-third of dams per group were subjected to cesarean section on day 21 of pregnancy for examination of their fetuses, and the remaining one-third of darns per group were allowed to deliver naturally for postnatal examination of their offspring. At 21 mg/kg/day, an increase in the skeletal variations of F1 fetuses and a decrease in the body weight of F1 offspring were seen. At 63 mg/kg/day, a loss in body weight was observed in darns. An increase in fetal death rate, a decrease in litter size and body weight, and an increase in the incidence of visceral malforrnations and skeletal variations were found in F1 fetuses. In particular, lumar rib occurred at an incidence of 31%. In addition, an increase in the dead newborns at birth and neonatal deaths during the lactation period, a loss in body weight, and a decrease in spleen weight were observed in F1 offspring. There were no signs of maternal toxicity or embryotoxicity at 7 mg/kg/day. The results suggest that the no-effect dose level(NOEL)for dams is 21 mg/kg/day, and NOELs for F1 fetuses and offspring are 7 mg/kg/day.

A perinatal and postnatal study of KTC-1, a new semisyntheitic rifamycin antituberculous drug, was conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats. Dosages of KTC-1 0, 12, 27.6, and 63.5 mg/kg/day were administered to dams orally by gavage from day 17 of gestation to day 21 of lactation. All pregnant rats were allowed to deliver naturally for postnatal examination of their offspring. At 63.5 mg/kg/day, weakness, dark-red discharge around eyes, a loss in body weight, and a decrease in food and water consumption were observed in dams. An increase in the weight of adrenal gland and spleen, and a decrease in the weight of kidney and heart were also found. An increase in neonatal deaths during the lactation period, a loss in body weight, a delay in physical development, a decrease in traction ability, an increase in the number of errors and the time required for the multiple T-maze trial were found in F1 offspring. In addition, an increase in the incidence of visceral variations and retarded ossification were observed in F1 4 day old rats. An increase in the incience of skeletal anomalies was seen in F2 fetuses. There were no sings of maternal toxicity or embryotoxicity at 12 and 27.6 mg/kg/day. From the results mentioned above, it can be concluded that the no-effect dose levels(NOELs)for dams, F1 offspring, and F2 fetuses are 27.6 mg/kg/day.

Rat renal proximal tubule suspension was prepared from adult male Sprague Dawley rat (250-300g) by mechanical (non-enzymatical) method and evaluated as a pontential model for mechanistic studies and early screening of nephrotoxicity, using anionic antibiotics (cephaloridine). Cephaloridine (CPL) produced an increase in LDH release into media. This release results from decrease a proximal tubule cell viability and subsequently increase the permeability of cell viability and subsequently increase the permeability of cell membrane. Since loss of intracellular potassium and ATP into media is the sign of disruption of cell membrane, especially basolateral membrane (BLM), CPL induced proximal tubule cell compromise also appear be associated with BLM, maybe $Na^+-K^+$ ATPase. Also seen was significant depression in brush border membrane (BBM) ALP activity and no significantly increase in BBM GGT activities. The inhibition of typical anion, PAH accumulation (especially, CPL 5 mM) and cation, TEA (especially, 4hours incubation) were seen dose dependently. This is because of CPL accumulation in renal proximal tubule and increase of cytotoxicity.

Single intravenous and oral administration to SD rats and ICR mice of both sexes were performed to investigate the acute toxicity of DWC-751, a new parenteral cephalosporin. $LD_50$ values for ICR mice and SD rats administered intravenously with DWC-751 were as follows; 1151.1 mg/kg (male SD rat), 1183.5 mg/kg (female SD rat), 2698.1 mg/kg (male ICR mouse), 2833.0 mg/kg (female ICR mouse). It is suggested that $LD_50$ values in rats and mice of both sexes would be 5000 mg/kg in oral route. Major general symptoms induced by injection intravenously with DWC-751 are decreased motor activity, increased respiratory rate, tremor and convulsion. In oral route, piloerection and soft stool are observed to 4 day after administration. No significant body weight changes were observed at any level in the groups administered with DWC-751. The gross finding of rats administered intravenously was observed cecum distension.

In order to examine the mechanism of asbestos clastogenicity, CHO cells were treated with chrysotile and crocidolite. Crocidolite and chrysotile were able to induce lipid peroxidation in a dose dependent manner. Ultrafiltrate of culture media from CHO cells treated with chrysotile/crocidolite induced sister chromatid exchange in CHO cells. Ultrafiltrate of culture media from CHO cells treated with chrysotile induced chromosome aberration but it was not statistically significant. Simultaneous treatment of 3-Aminobenzamide (3-AB) or cytosine arabinoside (Ara C) with crocidolite had no effect on the frequency of chromosome aberration by crocidolite whetease posttreatment of caffeine significantly increased the chromosomel aberration by crocidolite. This indicated that DNA damage by asbestos took place at late stage of cell cycle. The results suggested that the ultrafiltrate of media contained clastogenic factor (CF) and lipid peroxidation might be involved in the formation of CF.

Sequential changes in cell proliferation during the development of epitherial kidney tumors induced in rats were investigated by autoradiographic determination of the $^3H$-thymidine-labeling index. Renal cell tumors were induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by oral administration of N-nitrosomorpholine at the concentration of 120 mg/l in the drinking water for 7 weeks. At different times between 12 and 34 weeks after withdrawal of the carcinogen (stop model) animals were sacrificed. According to cytological criteria, neoplastic lesions were classified into clear cell, acidophilic cell, basophilic cell and oncocytic tumors. The labeling index was found to be increased in all types of preneoplastic tubules as compared to their corresponding original tubules. A much stronger elevation of cell proliferation was ocurred during the development of renal cell tumors from preneoplastic tubules. Of four tumor types, acidophilic cell tumor showed the highest labeling index while oncocytoma exhibited the lowest proliferative activity. These findings are in good accordance with the clinical observations that acidophilic cell tumors have a worse prognosis than oncocytoma. The data presented in this study suggest that the individual proliferation rates may be an objective biological marker of kidney tumor aggressiveness.

HRccine(HFRS-virus vaccine) was administered subcutaneously or intragastrically to Spargue Dawley rats and subcutaneously to Japanese white rabbits to investigate the acute toxicity. $LD_50$ values were above 600 times the expected clinical dose in both animals. There were no differences in body weight changes, clinical signs and autopsy findings between all treated groups and control group in both animals. Therefore, it was concluded that HRccine is a very safe substance.

HRccine was administered subcutaneously to rats for 4 weeks at dose levels of 300, 60 and 12 times the expected clinical dose to evaluate the subacute toxicity. There were no treatment-related effects in clinical signs, body weight changes, food consumption, water consumption, urinalysis and blood biochemistry in any dose groups. In hematological examinations, increase of leucocyte counts and decrease of hemoglobin concentration were observed in the high dose-treated group. However, no treatment-attributable pathological changes were observed in microscopic examinations. The no-effect dose in subacute toxicity study of rats was considered to be 300 times the expected clinical dose.

HRccine was administered subcutaneously for 4 weeks to rabbits at dose levels of 300, 60 and 12 times the expected clinical dose to evaluate the subacute toxicity. There were no effects in clinical signs, body weight changes, food consumption, water consumption, urinalysis and blood biochemistry in any animals tested. In hematological examinations, decrease of lymphocyte counts and increase of platelet counts were observed in the medium- and high-dose treated groups. Absolute weights of thymus were tending to decrease, but no pathological changes were observed in microscopic examinations. The no-effect dose in subacute toxicity study of rabbits was considered to be 300 times the expected clinical dose.

A study on antigenicity of HRccine (formalin inactivated HFRS virus vaccine) was investigated in guinea pigs and mice. As a part of the safety evaluation of the HRccine, antigenicity tests were carried out according to the Estabilish Regulations of National Institute of Safety Research. In active systemic anaphylaxis (ASA) test no sign was detected when sensitized with up to 120 clinical dose and challenged with up to 1200 clinical dose in guinea pigs. In passive systemic anaphylaxis test guinea pigs showed no sign. In passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) test, HRccine specific IgE antibody was not detected when sensitized and challenged with up to 1200 clinical dose. Conclusively, there was no adverse antigenic potential at the clinical dose of 120 clinical dose alone and 120 clinical dose with Al(OH)3.

It has been found that various stress challenges induce the myocardial antioxidant enzymes and produce an acquisition of the cellular resistance to the ischemic injury in animal hearts. Most of the stresses, however, seem to be guite dangerous to an animal's life. In the present study, therefore, we tried to search for safely applicable stress modalities which could lead to the induction of antioxidant enzymes and the production of myocardial tolerance to the ischemia-reperfusion injury. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) were exposed to various non-fatal stress conditions, i.e., hyperthermia (environmental temperature of $42^{\circ}C$ for 30 min, non-anesthetized animal), iramobilization (60 min), treadmill exercise (20 m/min, 30min), swimming (30 min), and hyperbaric oxyflenation (3 atm, 60 min), once a day for 5 days. The activities of myocardial antioxidant enzymes and the ischemia-reperfusion injury of isolated hearts were evaluated at 24 hr after the last application of the stresses. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), were assayed in the freshly excised ventricular tissues. The ischemia-reperfusion injury was produced by 20 min-global ischemia followed by 30 min-reperfusion using a Langendorff perfusion system. In swimming and hyperbaric oxygenation groups, the activities of SOD and G6PD increased significantly and in the hyperthermia group, the catalase activity was elevated by 63% compared to the control. The percentile recoveries of cardiac function at 30 min of the post-ischemic reperfusion were 55.4%, 73.4%, and 74.2% in swimming, the hyperbaric oxygenation and the hyperthermia groups, respectively. The values were significantly higher than that of the control (38.6%). In additions, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and lactate dehydrogenase release were significantly reduced in the stress groups. The results suggest that the antioxidant enzymes in the heart could be induced by the apparently safe in vivo-stresses and this may be involved in the myocardial protection from the ischemia-reperfusion injury.