https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/320 Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:33:10 GMT 2026-04-04T10:33:10Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/57279 Title: Development of neurospheres from olfactory receptor neuron precursors using a recombinant protein Author(s): Kim, Samhwan; Yoo, Seung Jun; Cho, Bongki; Choi, Seong-Kyoon; Jeon, Wonbae; Moon, Cheil Abstract: Neurospheres are spherical free-floating cell clusters and composed of neural progenitor cells and stem cell population so that can be differentiated into neurons by environmental modulations. However, the neurosphere culture system is sensitive to experimental conditions such as cell density and medium composition. In this research, we have introduced a new method for stable and reproducible generation of neurospheres, and characterized the neurospheres using primary cultures of rat olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). In order to establish stable and reproducible neurospheres, a recombinant protein (REP) was employed. The REP was designed for inducing fibronectin-integrin signaling pathway. Neurospheres were produced by incubating freshly dissociated rat ORN precursors on REP coated plates. ORN neurospheres formed on the plates were firstly characterized if stemness is maintained by immunocytochemistry (ICC) using stemness and proliferation markers. We next examined a physiological function of ORNs by performing calcium imaging in differentiated ORNs after neurospheres were moved to laminin coated plates. Also, electrical signals of ORNs activated by odorant stimulation were measured using micro electrode array (MEA) to verify a physiological function of ORNs. Expressions of nestin and Ki67 indicate that ORN neurospheres have innate characteristics of stemness and proliferation. And elevation of intracellular calcium levels upon odorant stimulation in ORNs after differentiation from neurospheres suggests that differentiated ORNs have innate function in odor detection. Moreover, we found that different activating patterns in distinct odors and similar activating patterns in same odors by analyzing electrical signals measured by MEA. Due to the introduction of REP, stable and reproducible neurosphere generation was realized. ORNs derived from neurospheres were steadily activated by odors, and which neurospheres maintain functions of ORNs during cultivation. Our results may facilitate ORN-based bioelectronic nose development for chemical detection and advanced researches for understanding odor encoding process in the mammalian olfactory system. Mon, 06 Jun 2016 15:00:00 GMT https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/57279 2016-06-06T15:00:00Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/57261 Title: Similar perceived odors may induce similar systemic brain activity Author(s): Bae, Ji Sub; Kang, Won-Seok; Choi, Ji-Woong; Cho, Bongki; Kim, So Yeun; Moon, Cheil Abstract: How we discriminate odors is an important question. According to previous studies, perceiving distinct odors begins with activating distinct combination of olfactory receptor (OR) repertoire in olfactory receptor neurons (ORN). This effect consecutively activates distinct ORN and these distinct ORN activities encode in olfactory bulb. Encoded odor information finally is processed in the brain so we can perceive and discriminate odors. However, the questions are still unsolved why different OR repertoires induce different brain activities, and similar neural encoding of the olfactory bulb induces distinct odor responses. To solve these questions, it is necessary to study the odor responses in the brain in which the odor information is lastly processed. Thus, this study focused on how similar perceiving odors process in the brain. We used two odors, 2-acetylpyrazine (AP) and 2, 3, 5-trimethly pyrazine (TP) that describe as similar perceptual descriptor but activating different OR repertoire. To measure the direct brain signal, EEG was used to understand how participants process odor in their brain. Power spectrum and event related spectral perturbation (ERSP) of EEG frequency bands are used to verify similarity between responses upon AP and TP treatment. Interestingly, AP and TP induce similar patterns of power spectrum in total electrodes. These results suggest that these odors activated similar regions in the brain. Also ERSP results of AP and TP suggest that AP and TP induce similar pattern of brain activity in the time-scale. These two results emphasize that AP and TP may activate similar olfactory pathway in the brain. However, total intensities of power spectrum are different between AP and TP. These differences may imply how people are able to distinguish these two odors. Based on these results, similar perceiving odors may induce similar systemic brain activity. and odors may be distinguished by different intensity of the brain activities. Mon, 06 Jun 2016 15:00:00 GMT https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/57261 2016-06-06T15:00:00Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/57260 Title: Different Responses of Fragrance depending on mild and severe Menopause symptoms in Women Author(s): Moon, Sun Ae; Bae, Ji Sub; Kim, Kwang Su; Cho, Si Young; Kwon, Gusang; Lee, Ran; Ko, Seungho; Lim, Soyeon; Moon, Cheil Abstract: Menopause is the critical periods of women. In this periods, women undergo rapid hormonal change and stop menstruation. Between late 40’s to early 50’s, most women cannot avoid the menopause. When menopause transition starts, women suffer from physical and emotional symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweat, insomnia, anxiety, mood swings and depressive moods. To be getting better these symptoms hormone replacement therapy and medications have been used however it has some potential side effects including breast cancer and stroke. Because of this concern, alternative approaches also have been tried to improve symptoms of menopause. Fragrance of essential oils have been reported about many effects such as releasing stress, improving depressive moods and relieving anxiety. These effects are related with menopausal symptoms. It can be helpful for menopausal women and it’s easy to use. Despite of these advantages, there are only few studies about its physiological and emotional effects in menopausal women. Furthermore, we need to expand our understanding of menopausal women’s odor perception to use fragrance properly and pleasantly. Preliminary studies reported that odor perception was changed during pregnancy or menstrual cycle. Menopausal period also need to check odor perception changes. Therefore, in this study, we confirmed relax effects of fragrances in menopause women. In addition, we checked physiological and odor perceptional responses of fragrance depending on the mild and severe symptoms of menopause. Mid-life women who are age in 45–55 were attend to this study. The Kupperman index which is widely used for checking seriousness of menopause symptom was used to divide into mild and severe group. Fragrance was chosen from essential oils by using pre-fragrance estimation. Fragrance L, P, O29 was used in this study. In consequence, first, mild and severe symptom of menopause group answered differently in fragrance preference and relaxation estimate. Second, the results of physiology and EEG showed similar pattern with fragrance estimate. Specifically, P has more relaxation effect in severe symptom group than mild symptom group. L was effective in mild symptom group. And new fragrance O 29 was effective both mild and severe symptom groups. Through this study, we notice that response and effects of fragrance may differ depending on severity of symptoms in menopause women. And we confirmed relax effects of fragrances L, P, O after stressful stimulus for menopausal women. Therefore, when we use fragrances to help menopausal women who are suffering from symptoms, we could choose suitable fragrance according to their symptoms of menopause. Fri, 01 Sep 2017 15:00:00 GMT https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/57260 2017-09-01T15:00:00Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/57259 Title: Systemic Brain Activity May Represent Processes of Odor Quality Author(s): Bae, Ji Sub; Kang, Won-Seok; Moon, Cheil Abstract: How we discriminate odors is an important question. According to previous studies, perceiving distinct odors begins with activating distinct combination of olfactory receptor (OR) repertoire in olfactory receptor neurons (ORN). This effect consecutively activates distinct ORN and these distinct ORN activities encode in olfactory bulb. Encoded odor information finally is processed in the brain so we can perceive and discriminate odors. However, these studies still remain the question why distinct OR repertoires induce distinct brain activities, and similar neural encoding of olfactory bulb induces distinct odor responses. To solve these questions, it is needed to study in the brain that lastly processes odor information. Thus, this study focused on how similar perceiving odors process in the brain. We used two odors 2-acetylpyrazine (AP) and 2, 3, 5-trimethly pyrazine (TP) that describe as similar perceptual descriptor and used heptanal (HA) which different category odor compare to AP and TP. To measure the direct brain signal, electroencephalography (EEG) signal was used to understand how participant process odor in the brain. Power spectrum and event related spectral perturbation (ERSP) of theta, alpha, beta and gamma frequency bands are used to verify similarity between AP and TP. Interestingly, AP and TP induce similar pattern of power spectrum in total electrodes but not in HA. These results suggest that these two odors activated similar region of brain. Also ERSP results of AP and TP suggest that AP and TP induce similar theta wave pattern in 0~500ms and similar alpha, beta pattern in 500~2000ms. In case of HA, signal became similar with AP and TP at 500~2000ms but not in 0~500ms. These results emphasize that AP and TP may induce similar brain activity especially in 0~500ms but this differences are diminished after 500ms. Based on these results, similar perceiving odors may induce similar systemic brain activity. Moreover, processing odor quality may end within 500ms. Fri, 01 Sep 2017 15:00:00 GMT https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/57259 2017-09-01T15:00:00Z