• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.2995-3000
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• 2013

We investigated the effects of testosterone on the improvement of white adipose tissue explant and its molecular mechanism in adipose tissue of high fat diet-fed male castrated (CAST) mice. The CAST mice treated with testosterone had lower adipose tissue weights, the average size of adipocytes and mRNA levels of $C/EBP{\alpha}$ as well as adipocyte marker genes than the vehicle-treated CAST mice. These results suggest that testosterone prevent the expression of $C/EBP{\alpha}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$-mediated adipocyte marker genes, resulting in decreased adipose tissue mass and adipocyte metabolism in male CAST mice. Moreover, this study give a valuable molecular and biological knowledge on testosterone therapy in obese hypogonadal men.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2021

In this study, an analytical method was developed for estradiol-17��, testosterone, and progesterone, which are growth promoters as veterinary drug residues in animal food. The analytes were separated using liquid chromatography, and was injected into a mass spectrometer through the electrospray ionization(ESI) process and detected in multiple reaction monitoring(MRM) mode. As the method was validated by CODEX CAC/GL 71-2009 guideline, it met the acceptable. The analysis of beef, pork, and chicken distributed in Korea was conducted with an established method to confirm the applicability of the actual sample. It was confirmed that the developed method can be quickly and reliably in the analysis for the growth promoters identified in domestic distributed livestock products. Through subsequent research, a highly utilized analysis method will be completed if the number of growth promoters is expanded based on the method and the simultaneous analytical method is established by including all of it.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.37-42
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• 2015

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of licorice supplementation on muscle injury, plasma cortisol, testosterone and insulin sensitivity after high intensity resistance exercise. Methods : The fourteen health college male students were voluntarily participated in this study and were randomly divided into 2 groups: Control group (CON, n=7), Licorice group (LR, n=7). LR group ingested 2 g/time of licorice extract (mixed with 100 ml of water) two times/day for 10 days while the CON group ingested 100 ml of water. All subjects performed a high intensity resistance exercise (half-squat, 8 RM at 80% one-repetition maximum, 5 sets, 1min rest). Blood samples were collect before (-7) and after (0) licorice supplementation, and then 1 day, 2 day and 3 day post exercise. After 10 day treatment, plasma creatine kinase, cortisol, testosterone, glucose, insulin were measured. To determine the insulin sensitivity, HOMA-IR was calculated. Results : Plasma creatine kinase activities were significantly elevated after exercise, but there was not different between two groups. The plasma cortisol and testosterone levels were not significantly different between two groups. Plasma glucose levels were increased at 1 day and 2 day after exercise in the LR comparing with CON group (P<0.05) but plasma insulin levels were significantly lower in comparison with CON. HOMA-IR were significantly lower in the LR than CON group at 0 day to 3 day (P<0.05). Conclusions : The results of the current study suggest that licorice supplementation for 10 days might not attenuate the high-intensity exercise-induce muscle injury but may enhance the whole-body insulin sensitivity.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.281-286
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• 2010

Recent evidence has revealed that the intratesticular injection of hypertonic saline(20%) resulted in a chemically castrated state such as nadir testosterone levels in rats. To confirm the efficacy of this simple saline-injection method further, we investigated the changes in the gross and microscopic anatomy of testis. Our study comprised three groups; intact(control) group, orchidectomy group and saline-injection (experimental) group. Single dose of hypertonic saline (sterilized, $750{\mu}{\ell}/testis$) were directly administered into both testis of adult rats (about 300 g BW). Bilateral orchidectomy was performed at the same day of saline injection. Following 30 days post-injection, reproductive tissues were surgically removed, weighed and fixed for histological examination. The body weights were not changed in both orchidectomy group and saline-injection group when compared to those in intact group. The wet weights of testis were significantly decreased in saline-injection group when compared to those in intact group. The wet weights of epididymis and seminal vesicle and prostate were significantly decreased in orchidectomy group and saline-injection group when compared to those in intact group. Macroscopically, the testes exerted slight atrophy and the tunica albuginea seemed to be intact in saline injection group. Histologically, however, larger parts of testicular tissue underwent necrosis and were barely recognizable after hematoxylin-eosin staining. In the same section, only the opposite part of the injection site was stained showing abnormal state of cell layers mostly fibrosis and infiltrated leukocytes. Sloughing of immature germ cells from the basement membrane along with shedding cells in the intraluminal space was notable in most seminiferous tubules from the saline injected testis. The present study confirmed that the direct injection of hypertonic saline into testis can induce a castration-like, testosterone-depriving effects on accessory sex organs. Our findings suggest that the efficacy of this less expensive and minimally invasive method seems to be almost even with that of conventional orchidectomy and chemical castration, though more in-depth evaluation should be supported.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2006

Ethane 1,2-Dimethane sulfonate(EDS), a toxin which specifically kills Leydig cells(LC), has been widely used to prepare the reversible testosterone(T) depletion rat model. Previous studies including our own clearly demonstrated that the dramatic weight loss of the T-dependent accessory sex organs such as epididymis and seminal vesicle in this 'LC knock-out' rats. These weight loss could be derived from massive and abrupt death of the cells via apoptotic process. The present study was performed to test the effect of EDS administration on the expression of some apoptotic genes in the rat epididymis. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats($300{\sim}350$ g B.W.) were injected with single dose of EDS(75 mg/kg, i.p.) and sacrificed on Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Tissue weights and the numbers of the epididymal sperm were measured. The transcriptional activities of the bcl-2, bax, Fas and Fas ligand(Fas-L) were evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. As expected, the weights and the sperm counts of epididymis declined progressively after the EDS treatment during Week 1 and 2. These decrements were discontinued with a gradual return towards normal during Weeks $5{\sim}7$, although the maximal recoveries of the epididymal weights(71%) and sperm count(38%) were subnormal on Week 7. The initial level of bcl-2 transcripts persisted to Week 6 then elevated significantly on Week 7. The level of bax transcripts significantly decreased on Week 6, and no remarkable change was found in the rest of the experimental period. The transcripts for the Fas in epididymis elevated during Weeks $1{\sim}2$, returned to normal on Week 3, and the level persisted to the Week 7. Similarly, the level of Fas-L transcripts elevated during Weeks $1{\sim}3$ and returned to normal after Week 4. Our results demonstrated the transient T depletion by EDS administration could induce the changes in expression of the apoptotic genes in rat epididymis. The activation of Fas and Fas-L in the epididymis of EDS-treated rats might be responsible for the initial apototic process and consequently the tissue damage and the sperm loss. Future studies will attempt to determine the precise molecular mechanism(s) of apoptosis in the rat epididymis.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.1
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• pp.189-194
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• 1983

To investigate the effect of testosterone upon the body weight, feed intake, and creatinine and cholesterol content in the blood plasma, thirty rats which were three months old, were assigned into 6 groups of 5 rats. Those groups included one control group and 5 castrated groups which injected 0 to 4mg of testosterone each. The body weight gain in the control showed relatively higher value than the castrated, showing no significant effect between the groups. Also no significant effect in the feed intake between the groups, due to the amount of testosterone injection, was found. The creatinine content in the plasma showed a highly significant effect between the groups, giving a lower concentration in the castrated group compared with the control while the content in the hormone treated groups increased with increasing amount of testosterone injection. Otherwise the cholesterol concentration in the plasma was inversely proportional to the creatinine in each group.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.977-985
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• 2016

The captive breeding program of the Reeve's turtle (Mauremys reevesii), which is designated as an endangered category II species by the Korean Ministry of Environment, has developed, but the reproductive physiology of the species is still not fully understood. In this study, we investigated seasonal changes in the sex steroid levels, the number and size of follicles and eggs and male-female interactive behaviors of hibernated and non-hibernated turtles between November 2014 and October 2015. Plasma estradiol level in females increased from July and peaked in the period from August to October. Plasma testosterone level in males peaked between August and September and was the lowest in March, although there were some variations depending on the patterns of hibernation. Hibernated females had fully developed eggs between early May and middle July and laid eggs between early June and late July, but non-hibernated females had eggs between early April and early June and also between middle August and late November, and laid eggs in early June, mid-October, and early February. These results suggest that hibernation could be essential for normal follicular and egg developments. Male-female interactive behaviors including courtship intensified from late August and peaked in October and November. Our findings suggest that mating period of this species is directly related to increased steroid hormone levels, but follicular and egg developments in females are not. Our results could be very useful to the successful operation of captive rearing programs of the endangered Reeve' sturtles.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.142-148
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• 2017

Objectives The ratio of second to fourth digit length (2D : 4D) could be a potential epigenetic marker of sexual dimorphism reflecting prenatal testosterone exposure. Testosterone is known to affect the development of the brain through an epigenetic mechanism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exposure to fetal testosterone on the metabolic syndrome based on 2D : 4D of schizophrenia patients and the relationship with the age of onset of schizophrenia. Methods A total of 214 schizophrenia patients participated in this study. The participant's physical and blood tests were performed according to the American National Cholesterol Education Program's Third Amendment of the Metabolic Syndrome Diagnostic Criteria, and the 2D : 4D was measured by the method designed by McFadden. Data were statistically analyzed by t-test, Pearson's correlation analysis and multiple regression model analysis. Results 2D : 4D was significantly higher in female than male in both hands, and there was a statistically significant negative correlation between 2D : 4D and the age of onset of schizophrenia in male. However, 2D : 4D did not show statistically significant correlation with metabolic factors. Conclusions Fetal testosterone suggests the possibility of affecting the age of onset of schizophrenia through the epigenetic mechanism, but there is no clear relationship with metabolic factors.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2000

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are exogenous chemicals which interfere several aspects of natural hormone properties. EDs with estrogenic activity have been recently reported to cause animal reproductive problems. This study was performed to investigate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on the mouse spermatogenesis in vivo. Male ICR mice were orally injected on a daily basis with low dose of BPA 20 mg/kg, high dose of BPA 200 mg/kg, or corn oil (vehicle control) for 7 days, and litter size and weights of body, testis, and cauda epididymis were measured. The level of serum testosterone and the expression of TGF- $\beta$$_1$ mRNA were also analyzed using RIA and RT-PCR, respectively. Also, morphological differences of testes after treatments were examined. Sperm concentration and level of serum testosterone showed a decreasing tendency detected as untreated >corn oil >low >high dose BPA treated mice, although there were no significant statistical differences. Interestingly, in mice treated with a high dose of BPA, partial disappearance of spermatozoa in seminiferous tubular lumen and the expression of TGF-$\beta$$_1$ mRNA were observed. Spermatogenesis was disrupted through TGF-$\beta$ system in the seminiferous tubules, resulting in no development of germ cells. Similarly, the litter size treated with a high dose of BPA was significantly different from that of untreated control group. In conclusion, these results that a high dose of BPA (200 mg/kg) acts as an endocrine disruptor during apermatogenesis in male mice md that there are BPA-specific lesions in the adult male reproductive tract might represent a permanently altered responsiveness to testosterone by BPA in the affected target tissue.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.3983-3990
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• 2012

The hazardous effects of heavy alcohol intake and smoking to body systems have been identified by numerous studies, and there is many influencing factors on alcohol intake and smoking choices. The aim of this study is to identify the correlation between alcohol intake and digit ratio (2D:4D), as well as smoking and digit ratio (2D:4D) in university students. Participants were 121 male and 314 female university students. After filling in questionnaire related alcohol and smoking history, 2nd and 4th finger lengths were measured on both hands using vernier callipers with photocopy. This study showed 2D:4D of the males was 0.95, and that of the females was 0.96. There was a significant difference between male and female in digit ratio. The digit ratio according alcohol intake level significantly differed in only women's left hand. The digit ratio according smoking level significantly differed in only men's left hand. Moreover, The digit ratio was negatively associated with alcohol intake and smoking. The results of this study suggest that the digit ratio (2D:4D) affected with fetal testosterone concentration is negatively related to alcohol intake and smoking. Therefore, the digit ratio would be used in preventive program of alcohol intake and smoking of adolescent, or in antialcoholism /smoking cessation program as a biological basic data.