• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 1983

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effects of adrenalectomy and PMSG treatment on reproductive organs and serum steroid hormone level in immature female rats. The animals used in this experiment were 25 days old female rats weighing a, pp.oximately 70g. They were randomly divided into two groups of intact rat group (Int-) and adrenalectomized rat group (Adx-) and each group were subdivided into two groups of Non-PMSG (-Cont) and PMSG treated (-PMSG) group. The rat of PMSG-treated group (-PMSG) was administered subcutaneously with 25 IU PMSG on first day (9 a.m.) after adrenalectomy. The adrenalectomized rat groups were su, pp.ied with saline solution through the experiment period. The rate of ovulation and vaginal opening and reproductive organ weights were observed at 8, 32, 56, 80 and 104 hours after PMSG treatment. At the same time, the serum level of estradiol-17${\beta}$ and progesterone were measured by the radioimmunoassay. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Ovulation was shown at 56 hours after treatment in Int-PMSG group and Adx-PMSG group and Adx-PMSG group. The rate of ovulation was very low in PMSG-treated groups, but it was increased in 80 to 90% at 104 hours after treatment. However, there was no ovulation in Int-Cont group and Adx-Cont group. 2. Vaginal opening was shown at 56 hours after treatment in Int-PMSG group and Adx-PMSG group and a, pp.ared in 80% at 104 hours after treatment. The rate of vaginal opening in PMSG-treated groups was very low, but Int-Cont group and Adx-Cont group had no vaginal opening. 3. The weight of ovary and uterus in two PMSG-treated groups were increased with the elapse of time after treatment and were significantly heavy in all observation time, but changes in Int-Cont group and Adx-Cont group were not recognized. The weights of ovaries and utera in Adx-Cont group were increased with the elapse of time. 4. The level of serum estradiol-17${\beta}$ was remarkably increased in PMSG-treated groups (Int-PMSG and Adx-PMSG groups) compared with Int-Cont and Adx-Cont group, and significant difference was recognized between Non-PMSG group and PMSG-treated group in the experimental period. Especially, the highest levels of Int-PMSG groups and Adx-PMSG groups were shown at 80 and 56 hours after treatment and after ward estradiol-17${\beta}$ levels of PMSG-treated groups were decreased. However, changes of the levels did not a, pp.ared in Non-PMSG groups at 104 hours after treatment. 5. The level of serum progesterone in PMSG-treated groups was significantly increased between 80 and 104 hours after treatment. With the elapse of time, the level was increased in all observed groups except for Int-Cont and Adx-Conx group. And the order from the highest level at 104 hours after treatment was Int-PMSG, Adx-PMSG, Int-Cont and Adx-Cont group.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.276-286
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• 1999

In the present study, to understand how gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) affects ovarian functions in superovulated rats, we examined the effects of GnRH agonist on the ovulatory response, the morphological normality and nuclear maturation of ovulated oocytes, the ovarian weight, the ovarian histology, and the circulating steroid hormone ($17{\beta}$-estradiol, progesterone and testosterone) levels in immature rats pretreated with 30IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and supplemented with 10IU human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG). GnRH agonist was intravenously injected via jugular vein catheter every 20min for 4hrs in early follicular phase (from 6hr after PMSG) of superovulated rats. In addition, GnRH antagonist, Antide, was intravenously injected in combination with GnRH agonist to verify the effects of GnRH agonist on ovarian functions. All animals were sacrificed at 72hr after PMSG administration. The administration with GnRH agonist in early follicular phase of superovulated rats caused inhibition of ovulatory response, increased the proportion of abnormal appearing oocytes(especially, in the rats of the group treated with 500ng GnRH agonist), decreased ovarian weight and promote follicular atresia, compared to those from the rats of control regimen that were not treated with GnRH agonist. In addition, the treatment with GnRH agonist in the superovulated rat distinctly decreased serum steroid hormone ($17{\beta}$-estradiol, progesterone and testosterone) levels in preovulatory phase. On the other hand, the inhibitory effects of GnRH agonist treatment in superovulation-pretreated rats on ovarian functions were totally reversed by the combination with GnRH antagonist, Antide. The nuclear maturation of oocytes recovered from the oviducts in immature rats treated with GnRH agonist and/or GnRH antagonist was characterized by prematurity and asynchronization in early follicular phase, which was similar to control group. The overall results of this study indicate that GnRH agonist disturbs directly ovarian function in early follicular phase of superovulated immature rats in terms of ovulatory response and morphological normality of ovulated oocytes. This concept has been further evidenced by the findings of a great decrease in ovarian weight, a marked increase in follicular and a distinct decrease circulating steroid hormone ($17{\beta}$-estradiol, progesterone and testosterone) levels in GnRH agonist treatment regimen in early follicular phase.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 1985

This study was carried out to investigate reproductive traits and sex hormone levels by growth in Korean native goats. Serum levels of FSH, LH, prolactin, estradiol-$17{\beta}$ and progesterone were determined every 15 days from the 70 days of age to 190 days by radioimmunoassay. The age and weight at sexual maturity were 183.6 days and 14.3 kg; the length of estrous cycle and estrus period were 20.3 days and 36.7 hours, respectively. The gestation period, litter size and body weight at birth were 148.4 days, 1.4 head and 1.8 kg, respectively. The levels of serum LH were highest with 3.93 mIU/ml at 70 days of age, thereafter decreased gradually to 1.21 mIU/ml at 190 days of age. The concentrations of FSH in serum were below 1.25 mIU/ml throughout the experimental period. The levels of prolactin were lowest with 3.09ng/ml at 85 days of age and highest with 4.65 ng/ml at 175 days of age. The serum levels of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ were increased with age, thus highest with 7.95 pg/ml at 190 days of age. The serum progesterone concentrations were maintained low levels (below 1.0 ng/ml) throughout the experimental period.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.743-749
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• 2005

Estrogen is known to play an important role in maintaining bone mass, since the concentration of serum estrogen decrease after menopause and the estrogen deficiency results in bone loss. Phytoestrogens are plant compounds with estrogen-like biological activity, In this study, to investigate the bioactivities of phytoestrogen, which act on bone metabolism, we examined the effect of selected food-borne phytoestrogens (genistein, daidzein and resveratrol) on osteoblast proliferation and IGF-I production using MC3T3-El cells, a mouse calvaria osteoblast-like cell line. Cells were cultured in a serum free medium for 48 hr in the presence of genistein $(10^{-5}\;M)$, daidzein $(10^{-5}\;M)$ and resveratrol $(10^{-5}\;M)$. The effects of genistein, daidzein and resveratrol on the cell proliferation and growth were evaluated by total cell numbers, MTS assay and cell migration assay. Their effect was compared with the $17\beta-estradiol$. Genistein, daidzein and resveratrol exhibited stimulatory effects on the growth of MC3T3-El cells, and the most pronounced effect was shown with daidzein. In addition, these phytoestrogen increased alkaline phosphatase activity of MC3T3-El cells. These effects were similar to that of $17\beta-estradiol$ effects. Moreover, treatment with genistein, daidzein and resveratrol increased production of insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in conditioned media, indicating that the growth promoting effects of these phytoestrogen were related to the changes in production of IGF-I by MC3T3-El cells. These results show that genistein, daidzein and resveratrol have a stimulatory effect on osteoblast function, and that these findings in a cell model may prove relevant to protecting against the loss of bone mass and the development of osteoporosis in human subjects.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.263-271
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• 1990

This study was carried out to investigate the factors affecting maturation in vitro of follicular oocytes in Korean Native Cattle. The bovine ovaries were obtained at a slaughter house and the follicular oocytes were recovered by aspirating the follicular fluid from the visible follicles of 3~6mm. The bovine oocytes were matured in vitro in TCM-199 containing FCS and hormones. The effects of TCM-199 salt type, number of oocytes per drop, incubation time and co-culture with granulosa cells on maturation of oocytes, were investigated. The results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. The maturation rates of follicular oocytes cultured for 22, 25 and 28 hours in Hank's TCM-199 or Earle's TCM-199 were 59.3, 59.6, 80% and 80.0, 90.0, 93.7%, respectively. The maturation rate of follicular oocytes in Earle's TCM-199 was faster and higher than in Hank's TCM-199(P<0.05). 2. The maturation rates of oocytes were 54.5, 62.5 and 62.0% when cultured the oocytes number 10, 20 and 40 per 200${mu}ell$ drop for 18 hours. 3. The maturation of follicular oocytes in the Korean Native Cattle was induced at 14 hours culture, by giving the maturation rate of 90.0% after 20 hours. 4. The maturation rates were 63.3% and 66.7%, respectigely when the oocytes were co-cultured with granulosa cells from medium-size follicles used immediately after recovery in the presence or absence of hormones added(0.02AU/ml FSH, 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml LH and 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml estradiol 17-$\beta$). When the oocytes were co-cultured with granulosa cells from medium-size follicles cultured for 3 days, the maturation rates were 20.8% and 76.2%, respectively(P<0.05). 5. The maturation rate were 88.0% and 70.0%, respectively when the oocytes were co-cultured with granulosa cells from large-size follicles used immediately after recovery in the presence or absence of hormones added(0.02AU/ml FSH, 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml LH and 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml estradiol 17-$\beta$)(P<0.05). When the hormones added(0.02AU/ml FSH, 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml LH and 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml estradiol 17-$\beta$)(P<0.05). When the oocytes were co-cultred with granulosa cells from large-size follicles cultured for 3 days, the maturation rates were 41.2% and 73.3%, respectively(P<0.05).

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.6
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• pp.181-186
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• 1988

This experiment was conducted to examine the $PGF{2{\alpha}}$-induced changes in concentrations of ovarian and pituitary hormones of Korean native goats. Each goats received two injections of $PGF{2{\alpha}}$ (5mg each ; 3 hours apart) on day 10 of the estrous cycle. Jugular venous blood samples were collected at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours postinjection for quantification of LH, FSH, prolactin, progesterone and estradiol-$17{\beta}$. The results were summarized as follows ; The blood serum concentration of progesterone was decreased from pretreatment level of $4.15{\pm}1.8ng/ml$ to $2.52{\pm}1.2ng/ml$ (about 60%) within 3 hours and to $0.81{\pm}0.3ng/ml$ at 12 hours of the $PGF{2{\alpha}}$ injection. After 12 hours, the concentrations of progesterone were less than 1.02ng/ml by 72 hours postinjection. The concentrations of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ following treatment increased (p < 0.05) over the 72 hours. Initial concentration of LH was $3.0{\pm}0.3{\mu}IU/ml$. After treatment with $PGF{2{\alpha}}$, concentrations of LH increased within 12 hours but declined 12 and 72 hours from $4.1{\mu}IU/ml$ to $2.5{\mu}IU/ml$. Prior to administration of $PGF{2{\alpha}}$, mean concentration of FSH was $3.5{\pm}0.5{\mu}IU/ml$. Concentrations of FSH declined over time in goats treated with $PGF{2{\alpha}}$ on day 10 postestrus. The mean prolactin concentrations in the blood serum after $PGF{2{\alpha}}$ treatment were not significantly different from those of the pretreatment. It is concluded that the initial increase in LH is dependent on a decrease in serum progesterone and differences in patterns of secretion of gonadotropins might be caused by differences in progesterone or progesterone-estradiol ratio when luteal regression is induced on day 10 of the estrous cycle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.575-578
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• 1989

Estradiol-$17{\beta}$ and progesterone at the rate of 0.1 and 0.25 mg respectively, per kg body weight per day were administered s/c to each of the five infertile feifers for 3 consecutive days i.e. days 1 to 3, and 2 mg of reserpine were followed twice daily on days 8 to 11. Results indicated that three of the treated heifers were successfully induced into lactation. Progesterone concentrations in the blood plasma and defatted milk exhibited considerable variations.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.9 no.1_2
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• pp.55-68
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• 1982

The present investigation has been undertaken to understand the mechanism of implantation process, by demonstrating the role of ovarian steroids in connection with phosphatase activity in the differentiation of uterine endometrium for implantation. The results obtained are as followings: The differentiation of the uterine endometrial tissue was closely influenced by the ovarian steroid hormones; at first, 17${\beta}$-estradiol initiated the differentiation of the uterine luminal and glandular epithelial cells, and then progesterone induced differentiation of stromal cells, and thereby two steroids maintain decidualization of the uterine tissues. We observed that the phosphatase activities seem to be dependent upon the ovarian steroids; that is the activity showed higher level in progesterone treated group than in estradiol treated one, and the highest activity was found in the group treated with both estradiol and progesterone. Acid phosphatase showed the highest activity whereas alkaline phosphatase showed the lowest in the rat uterine endometrium during early pregnancy.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.138-141
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to diagnose the fertility of a female western lowland gorilla kept in Seoul Zoo, in accordance with age by analyzing the fecal sex hormone metabolites. The study was conducted in two period of times, when the animal was from 35 to 37 years old and when the animal was from 40 to 42 years old. Non-invasive method by using fecal samples was used for safe and efficient fertility diagnosis. We collected the feces from the enclosure at least three times a week. Then $17{\beta}$-estradiol and progesterone, which are fecal sex hormone metabolites, were measured by time-resolved fluoro-immunoassay to compare the menstruation cycle and the annual reproductive cycle. For the duration of the primary study (when the animal was 35~37 years old), irregular menstruation and high concentrations of estradiol and progesterone were observed. However, menstruation was hardly observed and the concentrations of both hormones were statistically very low in the period of secondary study (when the animal was 40~42 years old). This observed phenomenon in our study was very comparable to menopause in adult women; therefore, it was confirmed that our female gorilla has reached menopause because of the natural aging, as they become older.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.514-518
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• 1997

This study was designed to record the ovarian response towards a combined administration of heterologous buffalo FSH (buFSH) and LH (buLH) in goats. The impact of such a treatment on ovarian structures and on the plasma profile of the ovarian sex steroids (estradiol $17-{\beta}$ and progesterone) was studied. The buFSH and buLH were isolated from the buffalo pituitaries involving a procedure of ethanolic extraction, acetone precipitation followed by metaphosphoric acid - ammonium sulphate fractionation. Both gonadotrophin samples prepared were found biologically active and potent. There was an increase in the total number of follicles in the treated group ($12.66{\pm}1.24$) vis-a-vis the control group ($8.50{\pm}2.06$). However, the percentage ($51.48{\pm}6.37$) of large follicles were found reduced ($23.74{\pm}5.93$) following the treatment. Again the number of corpora lutea were observed significantly higher ($2.33{\pm}0.47C.L.$) in the treated group than (1 C. L.) in the control group. The peak plasma estradiol- $17{\beta}$ levels achieved, were much higher ($17.16{\pm}9.52pg/ml$) in the treated group, than the peak ($7.22{\pm}1.67pg/ml$) achieved in the control group. Similar trend was observed with respect to the progesterone levels (higher in the treated group). This study thus indicated that, a combined administration of heterologous buffalo FSH and LH to goats speeded up development of larger follicles nearing the ovulation stage. This population of the follicles subsequently got reduced and lead to the formation of the increased number of the corpora lutea observed in this study.