• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.261-269
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• 2003

목 적:본 연구에서는 생쥐 난소 주기에 따른Dazla 유전자의 발현 조절 양상을 관찰하고자 하였다. 연구재료 및 방법: 생후 27일된 암컷 미성숙 생쥐 (total 33EA; each 3 EA)로 부터 Pregnant Mare Serum Globulin (PMSG) 투여전, PMSG 투여 3시간, 6시간, 12시간, 24시간, 48시간 후 난소 조직과 hCG 투여 3시간, 6시간, 12시간, 24시간, 48시간 후 난소 조직을 획득하였다. 암컷 성숙 생쥐 난소와 (n=3) 수컷 성숙 생쥐 (n=3)로부터 고환 조직을 획득하여 대조군으로 사용하였다. 각각의 획득된 조직에서 Dazla mRNA 의 발현 여부를 RT-PCR과 in situ hybridization (ISH) 방법으로 확인하였다. 호르몬 투여 시기에 따른 Dazla 유전자의 발현 강도를 ISH 방법으로 비교하여 정상 난소주기에서 PMSG와 PMSG+hCG 에 의한 Dazla 유전자의 발현 조절 양상을 관찰하였다. 결 과: 미성숙 생쥐, 성숙 생쥐 난소 내 난자 모두에서Dazla 유전자의 발현이 관찰되었다. 성숙 생쥐 고환 내 정자에서도 Dazla 유전자의 발현이 관찰되었다. 미성숙 및 성숙 생쥐의 난포에서는 난포의 성장에 따라 Dazla 유전자의 발현 강도가 강하게 관찰되었다. 미성숙 생쥐에 투여된 PMSG와 PMSG+hCG에 의한 유전자의 발현 강도는 난포의 크기가 같을 경우 호르몬 투여전과 비교하여 차이가 없었다. 결 론: Dazla 유전자는 난소내 난자에서 특이하게 발현되며, 난포의 크기에 따라 난자에서의 dazla유전자 발현의 강도도 증가한다. 그러나 PMSG와 PMSG+hCG에 의하여 유전자 발현이 조절되지 않은 것으로 보아 난소의 배란주기에 따른 유전자의 발현 양상에 변화가 없는 것으로 생각된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.267-273
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• 2000

Objectives: We have previous reported that thawed testicular sperm and sperm extracted from seminiferous tubule could achieved optimal fertilization and pregnancy in azoospermic patients. However, thawed testicular sperm did not show motility in many cases. Therefore we studied viability of immotile sperm extracted from frozen-thawed seminiferous tubule using hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test and eosin-Y test. Materials and Methods: After sperm extraction using for ICSI, the remained sections of seminiferous tubules were frozen with a computerized freezer. For thawing and preparation of testicular sperm, the seminiferous tubules were thawed by removing from $LN_2$ and letting them at room temperature for 10 min followed by %37^{\circ}C$ water bath for 10 min. The prepared samples were washed for free of preservation medium and sperm preparation method described previous. Sperm was suspended in 0.1 ml hypoosmotic solution. After 30 minutes, the type of distally coiled sperm were assessed. Results: In 44 cases of cryopreservation of seminiferous tubules in obstructive azoospennic patients, the fertilization rates with 2PN were 71.4% and pregnancy rates were 34.1%. The presence of motile spermatozoa on subsequent post-thaw testicular sperm remarked 15.1% and were increased to 77.3% just before ICSI. After sperm extracted from frozen-thawed seminiferous tubule, 3 hrs later in in vitro culture, the cases of presence of motile sperm, reaction of hypo-osmotic swelling test and viable sperm were 63.6% (28/44), 93.2% (41/44), and 77.3% (34/44), respectively. Conclusions: Just after post-thawed testicular sperm did not showed motility. Although motility was gained after in vitro culture, many cases showed non-motile sperm until optimal insemination time. However, HOS test showed positive reaction in non-motile sperm. Therefore, HOS test is an alternative method for the selection of viable sperm for ICSI.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2003

Objective: This study was carried out to compare the clinical outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in patients with obstructive azoospermia according to sperm retrieval site and technique; microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA), percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA), testicular sperm extraction by open biopsy (TESE). Methods: The outcomes of ICSI and IVF-ET were evaluated and compared among 3 groups. Seventy three men suffering from infertility due to obstructive azoospermia had 107 ICSI cycles using MESA (21 cycles in 15 patients), PESA (26 cycles in 17 patients) and TESE (60 cycles in 41 patients). Results: In the clinical outcomes in patients undergoing ICSI with epididymal or testicular sperm, there were no significant differences in fertilization rate (66.1% vs. 60.5%), cleavage rate (94.9% vs. 97.6%), cumulative embryo score (CES) (51.3 vs. 58.8), implantation rate (7.9% vs. 6.1), and clinical pregnancy rate per ET (30.4% (14/46) vs. 25.4% (15/59)) between both groups. Also, in the clinical outcomes in ICSI patients using MESA, PESA, TESE, there were no significant differences in fertilization rate (61.8%, 69.4%, 60.5%), cleavage rate (92.1%, 97.3%, 97.6%), CES (38.1, 52.0, 58.8), implantation rate (9.5%, 6.6%, 6.1%), and clinical pregnancy rate per ET (35% (7/20), 26.9% (7/26), 25.4% (15/59)) among 3 groups. Conclusion: When compared with MESA or TESE, PESA, the clinical outcomes were similar in ICSI patients with obstructive azoospermia whatever the origin or the technique of sperm retrieval. However, we considered PESA is more time-saving and cost effective for ICSI in patients with obstructive azoospermia.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.171-177
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• 1998

The combination of testicular sperm extraction (TESE) with ICSI can achieve normal fertilization and pregnancy rate and is effective method in obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermic patients. But, when pregnancy was not occurred, repeated testicular biopsies are not evitable. Therefore, in this study, we observed the survival rate of testicular spemratozoa and spermatozoa extracted from the seminiferous tubules after cryopreserved-thawed used for next IVF cycle with ICSI. In a total of 23 cases, obstructive azoospermia was 17 cases and non-obstructive azoospermia was 6 cases. In obstructive azoospermia, after thawing, motile spermatozua was observed in 13 cases (76.5%). The fertilization rate with 2PN was 67.6% and 5 pregnancies (29.4%) were achieved. In non-obstructive azoospermia, motile spermatozoa was observed in 2 case (33.3%) after thawing. The fertilization rates with 2PN was 53.7% and 3 pregnancies (50.0%) were achieved. A comparison of the results of motile spermatozoa after thawed testicular spermatozoa and spermatozoa extracted from the thawed seminiferous tubule section were 3 cases (60.0%) and 12 cases (66.6%), respectively. The fertilization and pregnancy rates of thawed testicular spermatozoa and spermatozoa extracted from the thawed seminiferous tubule section were 69.4% and 20.0%, 62.5% and 38.8%, respectively. Conclusively, thawed testicular spermatozoa and spermatozoa extracted from the thawed seminiferous tubule section can achieve normal fertilization and pregnancy and cryopreservation of testicular spermatozoa and seminiferous tubule may avoid repetition of testicular biopsies in azoospermic patients in whom the only source of spermatozoa is the testis.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2004

The aim of this study was to evaluate the improvement of testicular sperm motility following different culture conditions such as human follicular fluid (hFF) and temperature. Testicular tissues obtained from azoospermia (n=21) were minced into small pieces by blade and recovered sperm suspension were cultured in Ham's F10 with or without 40% hFF at different temperatures (Group I: 37$^{\circ}C$/with hFF, Group II: 32$^{\circ}C$/withGroup III: 37$^{\circ}C$/without, Group IV:32$^{\circ}C$ /without The motility and viability of sperm were monitored during culture for 48 hours. Initial motility of testicular sperm was 10.9$\pm$1.9%. After 24 hours culture, sperm motility was 23.5$\pm$2.1% (Group I), 8.1$\pm$1.1% (Group II), 10.4$\pm$ 1.4% (Group III) and 4.0$\pm$0.8% (Group IV), respectively. After 48 hours, the motility had been changed as 32$\pm$2.3% (Group I), 14.3$\pm$1.7% (Group II), 5.3 $\pm$1.4% (Group III) and 4.3$\pm$0.9% (Group IV). In hFF group (I and II), sperm motility of group I cultured at 37$^{\circ}C$ was higher than those of group II at 32$^{\circ}C$. But, sperm viability of group I cultured at 37$^{\circ}C$ was lower than those of group II at 32$^{\circ}C$ (54.4$\pm$4.1% vs. 59.4$\pm$3.7%) after cultured for 48 hours. We acquired the best motility of testicular sperm when performed in vitro culture for 48 hours in hFF supplemented medium at 37$^{\circ}C$. Increase of sperm motility by in vitro culture could be useful tool fur human TESE-ICSI program.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.55-61
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• 2015

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the effects of Shingi-whan(SG) on the male reproductive and sexual function, so we measured the spermatogenesis and the testicular toxicity in mice and the vasorelaxation in isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle. Methods : To evaluate effect on the spermatogenesis in mice, we prepared two groups, control group and SG group that was orally administered SG(1,000mg/kg) for 20 days, and compared. To analyze testicular toxicity in mice, we also prepared two groups, doxo group that was injected with doxorubicin (3mg/kg) on three times and doxo + SG group that was injected with doxorubicin and SG for 20 days, and compared. To investigate sexual function of SG in mice, we prepared three groups, normal group and aging elicited group consisting of 18-month-old mice, SG treated aging group that was orally administered SG for 60 days, and compared using histochemical staining on mice corpus cavernous tissues. In order to define the relaxation effects of SG, rabbit corpus cavernous tissues were prepared in $2{\times}2{\times}6mm$ sized strip. Then the dose-dependent relaxation responses of SG at 0.01-3.0 mg/ml in contracted strips induced by phenylephrine were measured. Results : The sperm density in dutus epididymis and the diameter of seminiferous tubules of SG group was significantly increased when compared to control group. The testicular weight and the diameter and height of epithelial layer of seminiferous tubules of doxo + SG group was significantly increased when compared to doxo group. The cavernous strips were significantly relaxed by SG extract In SG treated aging group, ratio of smooth muscles to collagen fibers and red blood cell count in venous sinus was increased as compared to aging elicited group. Conclusions : Our findings have shown that SG extract have effect on spermatogenesis and mitigating effect on doxo-induced testicular toxicity. Further, it also have the vasorelaxant effect on rabbit corpus cavernosum.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.135-141
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• 2001

A paleomagnetic investigation was carried out to analyze magnetostratigraphic information and to evaluate the relationship between paleoenvironment and magnetic properties in sedimentary sequences of piston cores recovered from the abyssal basin of the southwestern Pacific. Pateomagnetic results revealed that the sediments had a stable remanent magnetization and recorded both normal and reversal polarities. The age of sediments was from late Pliocene and Pleistocene determined by matching the polarities with the geomagnetic time scale. The sedimentation rates were in the range of 0.63-1.85 mm/$10^3$ year which were extremely low rates. The results of the paleomagnetic analyses indicated that intervals of the magnetically stable layers as well as high value of susceptibility were significantly affected by the input changes which resulted input of large-quantity materials of relatively stable magnetic carriers.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.187-192
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• 1997

The survival rate and motility recovered after cryopreservation of testicular spermatozoa in testicular sperm extraction (TESE)-ICSI program is low. The purpose of this study was to assess the availability and efficiency of mouse empty zona pellucida in cryopreserving human TESE spermatozoa. Mouse empty zonae pellucidae were obtained by extraction of cytoplasm with or without cytochalasin B treatment. Motile sperm from proven-fertile donor and two azoospermic patients after TESE were individually inserted into empty zona pellucida and cryopreserved. Two to five days after cyropreservation, the frozen sperm were thawed and the rates of recovery and motility were observed. The ooplasmic extraction rates of control (N=80) and cytochalasin B treated oocytes (N=80) were 94.0% and 96.2%, respectively (p>0.05). The post-thaw recovery rates of spermatozoa and rates of motility recovery of ejaculate (N=70) and testicular (N=70) sperm were 97.1%, 97.1% and 95.7%, 94.3%, respectively (p>0.05). The results of this study showed that the mouse zone pellucida is useful for cryostorage of single testicular spermatozoa.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2021

Tephrochronology is the study of tephra layers to correlate and date geologic events. As tephra layers can be used as time-markers, they are essential for the dating of Quaternary deposits. In this study, two types of tephra layers were found in the upper and lower parts of marine terrace deposits distributed in the Sanha-dong and Jeongja-dong, Ulsan areas. Based on the morphological features of glass shards, refractive indices, major element compositions, and similarity coefficients, the upper and lower tephras were identified as AT (ca. 25 ka) and Ata (ca. 105-110 ka) tephra, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first official report of Ata tephra on terrestrial deposits in Korea. These results are expected to aidin the research of the Quaternary paleoclimate, paleoenvironment, and active faults in the southeastern part of Korea.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2001

Recently many studies have reported that total and bioavailable androgens reduced in male and female athletes and that physical exercise reduces the body weight and increases the reproductive abnormalities such as oligomenorrhea, anovulation, inadequate luteal phase, and delayed puberty in women by the inhibition of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis . In addition, high mileage endurance 겨nning, psychological stress, and military endurance training in men also reduce the secretion of reproductive hormones. To investigate the efffcts of physical endurance exercise on the secretion of reproductive hormones in men, androgenic hormones from adrenal glands and testis were measured in serum by the conventional radioimmunoassays after long-term (more than3 months), short-term (1 week), and acute (1${sim}$2 hours) physical exercises. Androgenic hormones from adrenal glands and testis such as total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (fT), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and androstenedione (A) decreased after thesestrenuous endurance trainings, whereas ACTH, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfetes (DHEAS) increased. Conadotropins (LH and FSH) were not idluenced by the physical exercises. Based upon the present results, we assume that the decrease in adrenal and testicular androgens by physical endurance exercises might be associated with the reproductive abnormalities in athletes by unknown factor(s) in addition to the HPG axis disturbance.