• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 1988

Follicular fluid(FF) prostaglandin $E_2$(PG$E_2$) and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ levels were compared in 3 groups of spontaneously ovulatory women undergoing ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate (CC) alone or with human menopausal gonadotropin(hMG) (14 patients), hMG(9 patients), or pure FSH/hMG(11 patients) for the purpose of in vitro fertilization. FF volume aspirated did not differ significantly according to the maturity of the oocyte. According to hyperstimulation regimens, the volume of FF from which preovulatory occytes were obtained was significantly less in the hMG-treated group than in the other groups. In follicles of preovulatory oocytes, FF PG$E_2$ values were significantly lower in the FSH treated group than in the Cc.treated or hMG-treated group, and FF $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ values were significantly higher in the hMG-treated group than in the CC-treated or FSH-treated group. In follicles of immature or atretic oocytes, there was no significant difference in FF PG$E_2$ and PG$F_{2{\alpha}}$ concentrations of the similar morphology of the oocyte according to hyperstimulation regimens. In all cycles, FF PG$E_2$ and PG$F_{2{\alpha}}$ values of preovulatory oocytes were not significantly different from those of immature oocytes, but those of atretic oocytes were relatively lower than those of fertilizable oocytes and it was statistically signifincant in PG$E_2$ values of CC-treated group. In all treatment groups, FF PG$E_2$ and PG$F_{2{\alpha}}$ levels did not show and close relationship with the success of fertilization in vitro and of pregnancy after embryo transfer. Above results suggested that FF PG$E_2$ and PG$F_{2{\alpha}}$ be involved in oocyte maturation and ovulation, but their relationship with the success of in vitro fertilization was not found.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 2004

Background : Cyclooxygenase is the main target enzyme for the nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that have been shown to suppress carcinogenesis in both experimental models and epidemiological studies. COX-2 plays an important role in solid tumor growth, invasiveness and angiogenesis, through, in part, the synthesis of prostaglandins, such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). In this study, the prognostic significance of an increase in COX-2 expression in lung cancer samples was evaluated. Material and Methods : The expression of COX-2, by immunohistochemistry, was studied in paraffin-embedded tumor blocks obtained from 84 patients(male 67, female 17, with a mean age of 63, ranging from 34 to 84 years) who had undergone surgery at Wonkwang University Hospital, between 1997 and 2002. For the evaluation of the relationships between COX-2 expression, and the clinical stage, metastasis to lymph nodes and survival, those cases showing the respective antigen expression in >10% of the tumor cells were considered positive. Result : Of the 84 patients, 61 (73%) exhibited more than 10% COX-2 immunoreactivities in the tumor and normal cells, whereas the remaining 23 showed no increase in the expression of COX-2. There was no significant relationship between the increased expression of COX-2 and the disease stage(p=0.1002) or cell type(p=0.152). The median survival was longer for the patients with a negative, compared to positive, COX-2 expression(36 compared to 24 months, p<0.05). The two year-survival rate was also higher in the patients with a negative COX-2 expression (78%) than those with a positive expression (47%, Kaplan-Meier, Log Rank, p < 0.05). Conclusion : The median survival was longer in the patients with a negative, compared to positive, COX-2 expression was longer than those with positive COX-2, having undergone complete resection due to primary non-small cell lung cancer.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.385-391
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• 1999

Changes in the levels of prostaglandian F$_{2a}$ (PGF$_{2a}$) and E$_2$ (PGE$_2$) in culture medium during in vitro ovulation of Rana dybowskii follicles were examined. The ovulation was induced by frog pituitary homogenate (FPH) or TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, a protein kinase activator) and the levels of PGs were measured by radioimmunoassay. When the ovarian follicles were cultured, only a few oocytes were ovulated by 12 h, but half of them were ovulated by 24 h in response to FPH, whereas around 30% of oocytes were ovulated by 12 h and maximum ovulation (around 50%) occurred by 24 h in response to TPA. Without any stimulation (control), no ovulation occurred. TPA elevated the level of PGF$_{2a}$ to high levels when compared to control (basal levels), but the increase by FPH was less evident. Likewise, the levels of PGE$_2$ increased markedly in response to TPA, but rather decreased by FPH treatment. Interestingly, PGF$_{2a}$ induced ovulation but PGE$_2$ suppressed FPH- or PGF$_{2a}$-induced oocyte ovulation. Basal levels of PGs Increased steadily during culture. When theca/epithelium (THEP) layer and granulosa cell-enclosed oocytes (GCEOs) were separated by microdissection and cultured independently, higher levels of both PGs were secreted by THEP than by GCEOS. Synthesis of PGs by follicle or follicular components was strongly suppressed by exogenous cAMP or indomethacin. These results suggest that: 1) PGF$_{2a}$ plays an important role in Rana ovulation, 2) protein kinase C is involved in PGs production, and 3) thecal epithelium layer is responsible for the PGs production in Rana.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.114-121
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• 2023

Selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibition is a novel strategy to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal side effects caused by conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, some selective COX-2 inhibitors have become apparent to increase the risk of severe cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to examine the anti-inflammatory effect of rosemary extract (RE) and confirm the safety of cardiovascular side effects. Inhibition of COX enzyme activity was assessed, and the levels of COX-2 and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and COX-1 and thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) were evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. The 40% RE group showed increased COX-2 inhibition activity in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the 50% RE group only exhibited at 100 ㎍/mL. In a cell-based study, COX-2 mRNA expression was similar in both RE groups and PGE₂ levels tended to decrease in the 40% RE group compared to the LPS group in the LPS pretreatment condition. In the LPS posttreatment condition, the COX-2 mRNA expression decreased in the 40% RE group, and PGE₂ levels were increased in the 40 and 50% RE groups. In both conditions, there was no significant difference in COX-1 and TXB₂ levels. In conclusion, 40 and 50% RE showed significant COX-2 inhibition, similar to the positive control group. It was confirmed that the inhibition of the COX-2 expression, but the effect did not affect the balance between prostacyclin and TXB₂. These results indicate that rosemary showed COX-2 inhibition activity with a low risk of cardiovascular diseases.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1072-1079
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• 1996

This study was performed to elucidate the mechanism of dietary protein level on renal function through lipid and eicosanoids metabolism. Male rats of 337.8$\pm$5.7g body weight were undergone unilateral nephrectomy or sham-operation. The rats were divided into high protein(40% casein), normal protein(15% casein) and low protein(8% casein) diet groups and fed experimental diets ad libitum for 24 weeks. The results are summarized as follows. Serum total lipid, cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol of rats in 15% and 40% casein groups were higher than those of 8% casein group. But serum triglyceride was affected neither by uninephrectomy nor by dietary protein level. Serum thromboxane(TX) B2 and 6-keto prostaglandin F1$\alpha$ increased with increasing dietary protein level. Serum prostaglandin(PG) E2 was not affected by uninephrectomy nor by dietary protein level. Urinary PGE2 and TXB2 excretion tended to be lower in uninephrectomized groups. Renal tissue concentration of TXB2 was lower in uninephrectomized groups and in high protein group. These results suggest the possibility that the effects of dietary protein level on renal function could be due to changes in lipid and eicosanoids metabolism.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2011

Lipid metabolites involved in cellular regulation as signaling mediators. Prostaglandins (PGs), metabolites of lipid are involved to pregnancy at the time of implantation but the functional roles of PGs on embryo development are still controversy and largely unknown. In previous report, the levels of $PGE_2$ and $PGF_{2a}$ at embryos of morula stage and blastocyst stage were explored (Cheon et al., 1998). In this study, the previous suggestion was confirmed and the possible downstream mediator of prostaglandin $E_2$ and prostaglandin $F_{2a}$ on the expansion and hatching of mouse embryo was examined. As expected, developmental rate of the blastocyst to expanded stage was a concentration-response curve that showed the highest expansion rate at 10 ${\mu}M$ $PGE_2$, but at 100 ${\mu}M$ $PGE_2$, the rate was decreased. In contrast to the $PGE_2$, $PGF_{2a}$ stimulated expansion without toxicity at highest concentration. Cotreatment of PGs with indomethacin overcame the inhibitory effects of indomethacin in expansion. Exogenous PGs also improved the development of expanded embryos to the hatching stage. Besides, PGs receptors' transcripts detected at blastocyst. $PGE_2$ was caused of calcium fluctuation in the blastocyst but $PGF_{2a}$ did not. The changes of intracellular calcium concentration were different between indomethacin pretreated embryos and non-treated embryos. Based on these results it is suggested that PGs work as paracrine and/or autocrine factors through calcium and the others which were not identified in this study.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.31-45
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• 2014

Objectives This study intends to clarify how Leejung-tang (here in after reffered to LJT) affect Wistar Rat whose osteoarthritis was induced by MIA. Methods Osteoarthritis was induced into rat by injecting MIA in its knee joint. Rats are divided into a total of 4 groups (n=6). Normal group are not treated at all without inducing osteoarthritis whereas control group were induced for osteoarthritis by MIA and oral medicated with 2 ml of physiological saline per day. Positive comparison group (Indomethacin) was injected with MIA and after 7 days, 2 mg/kg of Indomethacin was medicated. Experimental group (LJT) was injected with MIA and after 7 days that was medicated with 23 mg/kg of LJT. Indomethacin and LJT were oral medicated for each substance a total of 4 weeks with one time per day. After experiments (from 1 week after injection of MIA to 4 weeks elapsed), Hind paw weight bearing ability, Functions of liver and kidney, Serum prostaglandin $E_2$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6, Osteocalcin, TIMP-1, MMP-9, LTB4 and amount of cartilage were measured and histopathological variations for knee joint structures were observed. Results 1) Hind paw weight bearing ability of LJT administration group was increased but there was no statistical significance. 2) Functions of liver and kidney were not affected. 3) Serum prostaglandin $E_2$, IL-1${\beta}$, Osteocalcin, MMP-9 were significantly decreased and TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6, TIMP-1, LTB4 were also decreased but there were no statistical significance. 4) In H&E staining and Safranin-O staining, there were small histopathological changes in LJT administration group than control group. 5) In micro CT (computed tomography)-arthrography, cartilage destruction was more suppressed in LJT administration group than control group. Conclusions Based on all results mentioned above, Leejung-tang (LJT) is believed to be meaningful for suppressing the progress of osteoarthritis and its treatments because of its anti-inflammatory effects and alleviation of pain with histopathological effective efficacy.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.748-758
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• 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the change in activity and mounting behavior in Hanwoo (Korean Native Cattle) during the peri-estrus period and its application to estrus detection. A total of 20 Hanwoo cows were fitted with a neck-collar accelerometer device, which measured the location and acceleration of cow movements and recorded the number of instances of mounting behavior by the altitude data. The data were analyzed in three periods (24-, 6-, and 2-h periods). Blood samples were collected for 5 days after the prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) injection, and the concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Activity and mounting behavior recorded over 2-h periods significantly increased as estrus approached and were more efficient at detecting estrus than over 24- and 6-h periods (p < 0.05). Endocrine patterns did not differ with the variation of individual cows during the peri-estrus period (p > 0.05). Activity was selected as the best predictor through stepwise discriminant analysis. However, activity alone is not enough to detect estrus. We suggest that a combination of activity and mounting behavior may improve estrus detection efficiency in Hanwoo. Further research is necessary to validate the findings on a larger sample size.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.207-212
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• 2017

Objectives: Study of the mechanisms involved in cancer progression suggests that cyclooxygenase enzymes play an important role in the induction of inflammation, tumor formation, and metastasis of cancer cells. Thus, cyclooxygenase enzymes could be considered for cancer chemotherapy. Among these enzymes, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is associated with liver carcinogenesis. Various COX-2 inhibitors cause growth inhibition of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, but many of them act in the COX-2 independent mechanism. Thus, the introduction of selective COX-2 inhibitors is necessary to achieve a clear result. The present study was aimed to determine the growth-inhibitory effects of new analogues of chalcone epoxide as selective COX-2 inhibitors on the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell line. Methods: Estimation of both cell growth and the amount of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production were used to study the effect of selective COX-2 inhibitors on the hepatocellular carcinoma cell. Cell growth determination has done by MTT assay in 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, and PGE2 production has estimated by using ELYSA kit in 48 h and 72 h. Results: The results showed growth inhibition of the HepG2 cell line in a concentration and time-dependent manner, as well as a reduction in the formation of PGE2 as a product of COX-2 activity. Among the compounds those analogues with methoxy and hydrogen group showed more inhibitory effect than others. Conclusion: The current in-vitro study indicates that the observed significant growth-inhibitory effect of chalcone-epoxide analogues on the HepG2 cell line may involve COX-dependent mechanisms and the PGE2 pathway parallel to the effect of celecoxib. It can be said that these analogues might be efficient compounds in chemotherapy of COX-2 dependent carcinoma specially preventing and treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.75-88
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• 2007

Objectives : We investigated the effects of Hominis placenta Herbal acupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis. Methods : We investigated the Type II collagen-induced arthritis test, vascular permeability test, phenyl benzoquinone-induced writhing test, hot plate test, carbon clearance test, determination of prostaglandin $E_2$ content and cyclooxygenase-2 activity test. Results : Hominis placenta Herbal acupuncture suppressed Type II collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice and vascular permeability with 10.2% inhibition in ICR mice. We see the phenyl benzoquinone-induced writhing test and the hot plate test in the analgesic activity test. In the phenyl benzoquinone-induced writhing test, Hominis placenta Herbal acupuncture showed that it increased its analgesic effect more than the control(test?) by 85.5%. In the hot plate test, it was also shown that the analgesic effect increased more than the control(test) by 32.1%. In the carbon clearance test, the immuno-stimulatory effect showed more than the control(test) by 8.0%. The formation of prostaglandin $E_2$ was also reduced more than the control(test) by 10.1%. Finally, cyclooxygenase-2 activity was inhibitedwith 36.3%. Conclusions : Hominis placenta Herbal acupuncture may be useful for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis after injection.