• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2003

The gonad index (GI), reproductive cycle with gonad developmental phases, first sexual maturity and the sex ratio of the jedo venus, Protothaca jedensis, on the coastal waters of Boryeong, Korea were investigated by histological study. Samples were collected from the subtidal zone of Boryeong, Korea from January to December, 1999. Monthly changes in the gonad index in femal and male clams gradually increased from February and reached the maximum in May, and then the values rapidly decreased from June and reached the minimum in November as seen in variations of the reproductive cycle. The spawning period of this species was once a year between May and July, there was a spawning peak between June and July when seawater temperature was over 20$^{\circ}C$. The reproductive cycle of this species in female and male clams can be classified into five successive stages: early active stage (December to March), late active stage (February to June), ripe stage (April to July), partially spawned stage (May to July) and spent/inactive stage (July to January). Percentages of first sexual maturity of female and male clams of 30.1-35.0 mm in shell length were 52.6% and 60.0%, respectively, and 100% for the clams over 45.1 mm in shell length. The sex ratio of individuals > 30.1 mm in shell length was 1:1 (X$^2$ = 0.40, p > 0.05).

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.117-125
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• 1999

We investigated the reproductive cycles of two freshwater fishes, Moroco oxycephalus and M. lagowskii, in Korea. Seasonal changes in gonadosomatic index (GSI) and gonads were investigated histologically from April 1998 to April 1999. The reproductive cycles of two species were not shown any differences. The reproductive cycle can be divided into 5 phases : phase I (spent phase), phase II (immature phase), phase III (early developing phase), phase IV (late developing phase), and phase V (ripe phase). In phase I, the gonads of two species began to lose distinctly their weights from mid April, and reached the lowest GSI in late July (phase II). In September, the GSI values of testis and ovary increased very slowly (phase III) and gonadal developments rested during the winter season (phase IV). In March, the GSI values of M. oxycephalus and M. lagowskii began to increase, and reached the maximum in April (phase V). From the cyclic changes in the GSI and histological analyses, the spawning period was between mid April and mid May.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.119-131
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• 2004

연구 목적: 난소에서 분비되는 스테로이드 호르몬인 에스트로젠과 프로게스테론은 포유동물의 생식기관 발달과 정상적인 생식 기능, 수정과 배아의 착상에 중요한 역할을 한다. 특히 에스트로젠은 자궁내액을 내강으로 분비하여 자궁부종 기작에 중요한 역할을 한다. 자궁내액은 정자의 수정능력 획득과 착상전 배아의 발달에 매우 중요하다. Aquaporin (AQP)은 막관통 물수송 단백질로서 여러 조직에 넓게 분포되어 있으며, 세포간 또는 상피세포간 물의 이동에 중요한 역할을 한다. 본 연구에서는 생쥐 자궁에서 스테로이드 호르몬에 의해 조절되는 자궁내액의 이동에 AQP 유전자가 관여하는지를 알아보았다. 연구 재료 및 방법: 난소 절제술을 시행한 생쥐에 스테로이드 호르몬을 피하주사하고 6, 12, 24시간 간격으로 자궁조직을 적출하였다. 대조군은 sesame oil만을 주사한 후 6시간째에 수획한 자궁조직을 사용하였으며, 실험군은 시간대별과 스테로이드 처리별로 채취한 자궁조직에서 역전사중합효소반응을 수행하였다. 역전사중합효소반응을 통해 막관통 단백질인 AQP-4, -5, -8 mRNA의 발현양상을 살펴보았다. 또한 mRNA의 위치를 살펴보기 위해 laser microdissection을 이용하여 RT-PCR을 수행하였다. 마지막으로 자궁조직내에서의 단백질 발현 부위를 관찰하기 위해 면역조직화학염색을 실시하였다. 결 과: AQP-4, -5, -8 mRNA은 프로게스테론을 처리한 군보다 에스트로젠을 처리한 군에서 많이 발현되었으며, 에스트로젠을 주사한 지 6시간째 발현정도를 대조군과 비교할 때 AQP-4, -5, -8 mRNA가 각각 7.9배, 2.8배, 3.8배로 나타났다. AQP-4, -5, -8 mRNA는 간충조직보다 자궁내 상피조직에서 스테로이드 호르몬의 영향을 받아 발현양상의 차이가 나타났으며, 주로 에스트로젠의 영향을 받아 발현이 증가하였다. AQP-4 단백질은 에스트로젠을 24시간 처리한 후 프로게스테론을 처리한 군의 자궁내 상피조직에서 많이 발현되었으며, AQP-5와 -8 단백질은 에스트로젠을 처리한 군의 자궁내 상피조직에서 발현이 증가하였다. 결 론: 이상의 결과를 통해 AQP-4, -5, -8은 주로 에스트로젠에 의해 자궁내 상피세포에서 발현이 증가되는 것으로 보아 에스트로젠의 영향하에 일어나는 자궁내액의 이동으로 인한 자궁부종기작에 이동통로로서 관여하는 것으로 사료된다.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.145-151
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• 2009

The ultrastructural changes in germ cells during oogenesis of the melania snail, Semisulcospira libertina libertina have been investigated by light and electron microscopy. The ovary is located on the surface of the hepatopancreas in the spiral posterior region. The ovary exhibited greenish color in the gonadal mature season. The ovary was composed of a number of oogenic follicles. Oogenesis was divided into five stages with histological features: (1) oogonia, (2) previtellogenic, (3) initial vitellogenic, (4) active vitellogenic, and (5) mature stages. Oogonia were oval in shape, $4-6\;{\mu}m$ in diameter, and had a large nucleus. Previtellogenic oocytes were about $20\;{\mu}m$ in diameter and the cytoplasm reacted with hematoxylin in H-E satin. Initial vitellogenic stage, oocytes were $60-80\;{\mu}m$ in diameter, and small yolk granules of low electron density are scattered in the cytoplasm. Oocytes in the initial vitellogenic stage were connected with ovarian follicle by egg stalk. Active vitellogenic oocyte were $100-120\;{\mu}m$ in diameter. Electron density, size and quantity of yolk granules that are distributed in the cytoplasm have increased from the previous stage. Result of TEM observations, the oocyte contains well-developed Golgi complex, endoplasmic reticula and tubular mitochondria in the cytoplasm. Cytoplasm of mature oocyte was filled with proteinaceous yolk globules of high electron density. In this stage, the length of microvilli in the egg envelope was approximately $1.1\;{\mu}m$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.1083-1089
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• 2016

During menopause, elderly woman experience physical and emotional symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, vaginal dryness, and mood swings. In this study, we investigated the effects of mixed herbal extracts containing Angelica gigas Nakai and Cuscuta chinensis Lam. on menopause symptoms in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Daily oral treatments of 500 mg/kg and 1,000 mg/kg in OVX rats for 8 weeks significantly reduced weight gain, inhibited hepatic lipid accumulation, and lowered serum lipid levels comparable to the effects induced by estradiol treatments. Mixed herbal extracts (named Jaeummidan) also prevented vaginal dryness as measured by increased vaginal weight. Increased vaginal weight was associated with enlarged epithelium thickness. These data show the preventive actions of Jaeummidan against menopause symptoms and further suggest the possibility of developing functional ingredients in elderly human populations experiencing menopause symptoms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.986-990
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• 2003

The living Glass puffers, Takifugu niphobles (Bogseom as Korean name), 10 specimens, were purchased at Tongyeong traditional fisheries market every month from November, 2001 to October, 2002, and tested anatomical distribution of the toxicity such as muscle, skin, intestine, liver and ovary by mouse bioassay method. Significant seasonal variations of the toxicity were not shown in muscle, skin, intestine and liver except having lower toxicity in spawning season (May and June) than non-spawning seasons. 92 specimens (76.7%) out of 120 ones were non toxic (below 10 MU/g) for the edible and 28 ones (23.3%) were weakly toxic (10 MU/g∼l00 MU/g) for the non-edible in muscle ranged between 0 MU/g and 46.4 MU/g. All of those toxicity were shown over 10 MU/g in skin for the non-edible in skin ranged from 10.0 MU/g to 674.4 MU/g. Toxicity range in intestine and liver was varied between non-toxic and strongly toxic (over 1,000 MU/g) for individual specimens. Toxicity range of the ovary found only in May (7 specimens) and June (1 specimens) was 84.2 MU/g to 2,191.3 MU/g.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.823-833
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• 1997

To clarify the annual reproductive cycle of the banded catfish, Pseudobagrus fulvidraco (Richardson), the seasonal changes in histological aspect of gonad and liver were examined. The adult fish was raptured from the upper stream of Young-San river, Chunnam in each month from May 1992 to June 1993. Based on the annual changes in GSI (gonadosomatic index), HSI (hepatosomatic index), CF (condition factor) and histological aspects of the gonads, the annual reproductive cycle were classified into 5 periods as follows: 1) Growing phase (from April to early May): The value of GSI increased and the size of oocytes in perinucleolus stage in oocytes increased gradually. Spermatogonia were developed actively from the epithelial tissues of seminiferous tubules. 2) Maturing phase (from Hay to early June): GSI levels increased rapidly in both sex. Oocytes at various developmental stages were observed. Appearance of active spermatogenesis were observed. 3) Mature and spawning phase (from June to August): High values of GSI remained static and oocytes accumulated significant quantitis of yolk globules. 4) Degenerating phase (from September to November): GSI levels decreased and ovaries were filled mostly with oocytes at the perinucleolus stage. Hepatic cells accumulated significant amounts of lipid droplets. 5) Resting period (from December to March) : Low values of GSI were kept and the size of oocytes at the perinucleolus stage did not increase. Spermatogenesis was not observed.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.159-166
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• 2012

The present study was performed to investigate the toxicity of low-dose-rate irradiation in BALB/c mice. Twenty mice of each sex were randomly assigned to four groups of five mice each and were exposed to 0 (sham), 0.02, 0.2, or 2 Gy, equivalents to low-dose-rate irradiation to 3.49 $mGy{\cdot}h^{-1}$. Urine, blood, and blood biochemistry were analyzed, and organ weight was measured. The low-dose-rate irradiation did not induce any toxicologically significant changes in mortality, clinical signs, body weight, food and water consumption, urinalysis, and serum biochemistry. However, the weights of reproductive organs including the testis, ovary, and uterus decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Irradiation at 2 Gy significantly decreased the testis, ovary, and uterus weights, but did not change the weights of other organs. There were no adverse effects on hematology in any irradiated group and only the number of neutrophils increased dose dependently. The low-dose-rate irradiation exposure did not cause adverse effects in mice at dose levels of 2 Gy or less, but the reproductive systems of male and female mice showed toxic effects.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.432-442
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• 1992

To identify the histological site of synthesis of yolk protein precursor, vitellogenin, by immunocytochemical method in the freshwater crab Eriocheir japonicus, we purified the yolk protein, vitellin, from crude egg extracts, and prepared the anti-rabbit serum against vitellin. Then, the site of vitellogenin synthesis was demonstrated by immunotytochemical method with PAP(peroxidase-antiperoxidase) reaction using the rabbit antiserum aganist vitellin. Female specific serum protein was identified in female serum by immunoelectrophoresis and Ouchterlony's immunodiffusion test for mature male and female sera. Based on the immunoelectrophoresis and Ouchterlony's diffusion test for mature male and female sera and crude egg extracts using antiserum against vitellogenic female serum absorbed with male serum, the female specific serum protein was identified as vitellogenin, detected in female serum only. The major yolk protein, vitellin, was purified from the crude egg extracts by DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography, followed by sepharose CL-4B gel filteration chromatography. The molecular weight of vitellin was estimated to be about 245,000 dalton by sepharose CL-4B gel filteration chromatography. from the results of immunological analysis for vitellin, it was found that the vitellin antiserum contained the antibody against vitellogenin. In the results of immunocytochemical reaction by PAP method with the rabbit antiserum against vitellin, the vitellogenic oocytes and the hepatopancreas of mature female showed positive PAP reaction, but not in follicle cells and previtellogenic oocytes nf ovary, muscle of female and mature male hepatopancreas. Therefore, it showed that the hepatopancreas of mature female is the site of vitellogenic synthesis.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.189-197
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• 2000

In this study, we investigated the preventive and therapeutic effects of antler-extract for osteoporosis. Rats were ovariectomized bilaterally and were fed up with Ca- and P-free diet in order to induce osteoporosis. Body weight, organ weight, the weight of femur and bone ash quantity were examined for 5 weeks. We also performed histological and electronical microscopic examinations. 1. After adminstration of female and male antler extract to osteoporosis-induced rats at the doses of 625 and 1250 mg/kg, respectively, the body weights were significantly increased compared with those of normal control group's which was 230.2:t2.3-281.0:t2.5g (p＜0.05). 2. The weights of both right and left femur of osteoporosis-induced rats, administered with female or male antler-extract, little decreased compared with those of normal control group. 3. The bone ash quanties of femur of osteoporosis-induced rats, administered with female or male antler-extract, little decreased compared with those of normal control group. 4. The weights of liver, spleen, and kidney of osteoporosis-induced rats, administered with female or male antler-extract, decreased compared with those of normal control group. 5. Histological and electronic microscopical findings were (1) that in normal control rats the connectional of lacunae appeared well and were without loss of bone mineral, (2) that in ovariectomized rats the connections of lacunae were mostly broken and were with loss of bone mineral compared with those of normal control rats, (3) that in osteoporosis-induced rats, administrated with female or male antler-extract, the shape of lacunae and the connections of them were similar to those of normal control rats. These findings suggest a possible protective and therapeutic effects of female or male antler extract against bone loss in ovariectomized rats.