• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2004

To assess the estrogenicities of Korean arrowroot (Pueraria thunbergiana) the contents of nine phytochemicals which are known to present were analyzed by HPLC. Also the estrogenecities of these phytochemicals were assayed using estrogen receptor dependent transcriptional expression assay. Daidzein and puerarin are major compounds in arrowroot, which were contained in the order of: root>stem>leaf>flower>seed. Among the assayed phytochemicals daidzein, genistein, biochanin A, formononetin, puerarin and genistin were highly estrogenic. The total estrogenicities in different parts of arrowroot and those by regions in Korea were also assessed. Roots had the highest estrogenic effects. The estrogenicities also were shown in stem and leaf. The differences in the estrogenicities of arrowroots by regions in Korea were shown. These results demonstrated that the estrogenic phytochemicals content was the highest in Korean arrowroot and also present in stem and leaf.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.71-84
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• 2000

Annual reproductive cycle of the file fish, Thamnaconus modestus (Gunther), was histologically investigated. Samples were collected monthly in the coastal waters of Chungmun, south of Cheju Island, Korea from July 1997 to June 1999. In males and females of T. modestus GSI values reached the maximum in June and May, respectively. Reproductive cycle could be divided into the following successive stages: in females, growing stage (March to April), mature stage (April to May), spawning stage (May to June), degenerative and resting stage (July to February), and in males, growing stage (January to March), mature stage (April to May), spent stage (May to June), degenerative and resting stage (July to December), respectively. To clarify the spawning cycle of female in T. modestus, some were examined, that is, the weekly changes of GSI, detail developmental stages in the ovary and the weekly changes of sex steroid hormones ($E_2$ and T) levels in plasma during the spawning period. Throughout histological observation of the ovary during the spawning period, T. modestus belonged to an asynchronous and multiple spawner. Changes of plasma $E_2$ and T levels were similar to the changes of GSI and ovary maturity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3 s.67
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• pp.51-62
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• 2006

Objective: Although chronic non-bacterial prostatitis is a common disease, it is very difficult to treat effectively. Lygodium japonicum has traditionally been used in treatment of urinary tract inflammation and voiding disturbance. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and action mechanism of Lygodium japonicum in the rat model of non-bacterial prostatitis induced by castration and testosterone treatment. Methods: Five-month-old rats were treated with $17\beta-estradiol$ after castration for induction of experimental non-bacterial prostatitis, which is similar to human chronic prostatitis in histopathological profiles. Lygodium japonicum and testosterone were administered as an experimental specimen and a positive control, respectively. The prostates were evaluated by histopathological parameters including the epithelial score and epithelio-stromal ratio for glandular damage, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling index for cyto-proliferation and a TUNEL (deoxyuridine triphosphate biotin nick end-labeling) assay for cell apoptosis. Results: While prostates of control rats revealed severe acinar gland atrophy and stromal proliferation, the rats treated with Lygodium japonicum showed a lesser range of tissue damage. Epithelial score was improved in Lygodium japonicum than that of the control (P<0.05). The epithelio-stromal ratio was lower in Lygodium japonicum when compared to that of the control (P<0.05). Although there was no difference in PCNA and TUNEL positive cells of the glandular epithelia, we found an decreased number of PCNA positive cell and concurrent increase of TUNEL positive cells in the stroma of Lygodium japonicum treated rats (P<0.01). Conclusions: These findings suggest that Lygodium japonicum may protect the glandular epithelial cells and also inhibit stromal proliferation in association with suppression of cyto-proliferation and stimulation of apoptosis. We concluded that Lygodium japonicum may be a useful remedy agent for treating the chronic non-bacterial prostatitis.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.325-332
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• 2005

The developmental toxicity of water extract of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) was evaluated in rats. Licorice extract (500, 1,000 or 2,000 mg/kg) was dissolved in drinking water and orally administered to male rats from 9 weeks before mating to the day of copulation, and to females from 2 weeks before mating to gestational day 19. On gestational day 20, the animals were sacrificed for Cesarian section, and maternal and fetal abnormalities were examined. Licorice extract neither induce clinical signs, nor affect the body weight gain, feed and water intake, estrous cycle, copulation and fertility rates, blood $17\beta-estradiol$ level and organ weights of dams. Also, the implantation and development including body weights, absorption and death of embryos and fetuses were not influenced by in utero exposure to licorice. In addition, there were no increases in external, visceral and skeletal abnormalities of fetuses. Taken together, it is suggested that no observed adverse effect level of licorice extract is higher than 2,000 mg/kg, and that long-term in utero exposure to licorice might not cause developmental toxicities of embryos and fetuses.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.1403-1411
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• 2002

The aims of this study were, firstly, to analyze the biochemical compositions of serum and follicular fluid (FF) from prepubertal gilts after PMSG (1,000 IU) treatment. The concentrations of total proteins, lipids, cholesterol, glucose and sex hormones (progesterone, $P_4$; estradiol-$17{\beta}$, $E_2$; testosterone, T) were measured. Secondary, the effects of porcine FF (pFF) addition (40% and 100%) in IVM media and different culture conditions [Exp. 1: mBMOC-2+20% porcine serum (PS), fresh IVM medium, filtered IVMconditioned medium, or rabbit oviducts; Exp. 2: mBMOC-2+20%PS or stepwise medium replacement procedures (SMRP) cocultured with or without cumulus cells] on the in vitro development (IVD) of porcine oocytes were also examined. Results showed that no significant differences were found in total protein levels between serum and pFF from different sizes (large, >7 mm; medium, ~5-7 mm; small, <3-5 mm) of follicles (75-85 and 49-90 mg/dl; p>0.05). Total lipid concentrations remained constant in serum (395-472 mg/dl), and reduced significantly in the pFF from large follicles (287 mg/dl) at 132 h after PMSG treatment when compared to those at other time points (441-480 mg/dl). Basal cholesterol levels in serum and pFF at 12 h were similar (153-161 mg/dl), but increased at 36 h (186-197 mg/dl). Basal P4 and E2 levels in serum (0.1 ng/ml and 5.5 pg/ml) were low, but increased from 0.34 ng/ml and 12.13 pg/ml at 24 h to 0.81 ng/ml and 61.70 pg/ml at 98 h, respectively, after PMSG treatment (p<0.05). P4 levels increased linearly in pFF from large follicles during 12 through 132 h (138-1,288 ng/ml). A similar increase was also observed in $E_2$ levels (22-730 pg/ml) before 60 h post PMSG treatment, and then dropped afterwards (730-121 pg/ml). The development of the oocytes fertilized in 40% pFF-medium was greater than that in 100% pFF-medium group without gonaodtropin addition (31% vs 10%, p<0.05). However, both were lower than those in mBMOC-2+20%PS and in rabbit oviducts (p<0.05). When cocultured with cumulus cell monolayers, a greater cleavage rate was observed in the group cultured in filtered IVM-conditioned medium than the SMRP group (36% vs 18%, p<0.05). A similar phenomenon was also observed in the culture without cumulus cell monolayers (33% vs 19%, p<0.05). It is concluded that neither the fresh IVM nor filtered IVM-conditioned medium has positive effect on the IVD of oocytes. Coculture with cumulus cell monolayers and the SMRP were not beneficial to the development of IVF pig oocytes.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.261-268
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• 2011

To clarify the annual reproductive cycle of the Korean perch, Coreoperca herzi, the seasonal changes in gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI), histological aspects of gonad and liver, and plasma levels of sex steroid hormones were investigated from June 1994 to April 1996. The annual variations of GSI and HSI were positively related to the plasma levels of sex steroid hormones. Estradiol-$17{\beta}$ (E2) and testosterone levels were raised during the April to May. Based on the related results, annual reproductive cycle of the fish could be divided into five successive stages; 1) Growing stage (from February to March: GSI was increased rapidly and oocytes with yolk vesicle was increased. Nucleus migrates toward the animal pole. Spermatids were activated from the epithelial tissue of lobuli). 2) Maturation and spawning stage (from April to June: Oocytes were accumulated yolk globules. Active spermatogenesis was observed). 3) Degeneration or stagnation phase (from July to August). 4) Recovery phase (from September to November) and 5) resting phase (from December to January). The main spawning period was in May.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2007

A 2 years old female beagle dog was examined because of the vaginal discharge and vaginal swelling at 7th day after mating. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed multiple follicular cysts on both ovaries. Also, the ratio of superficial cells was above 90% based on vaginal cytology. She was still in standing heat, with the tail deflected up and flagging when a male sniffed the vulva and attempted to mount. The dog was diagnosed with multiple follicular cysts by vaginal cytology, clinical signs and ultrasonography. The dog was treated with GnRH $50{\mu}g$ injection by intramuscularly. The sizes of the cysts were decreased two weeks after GnRH treatment, and then the dog delivered an offspring at 68th day after last mating. To confirm the stage of estrous cycle, we performed hormone analyses, retrospectively $Estradiol-17{\beta}$ concentration was 78pg/ml at diagnosis. Progesterone concentration was 6.9ng/ml at the last mating, and 66.9ng/ml at diagnosis. Therefore, we confirmed that follicular cysts was observed during diestrous stage in a beagle dog.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.770-776
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• 2017

This study investigated the effects of recombinant eel gonadotropin hormone (rJeGTH) produced in silkworms, with and without a carboxyl-terminal peptide from equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), on the induction of sexual maturation in female eels Anguilla japonica. Experiments were conducted both in vivo and in vitro. In in vitro trials, germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) induction did not significantly differ between rJeFSH and $rJeFSH{\cdot}eCG$ treatments and the control group. However, previous studies did find that rJeLH and $rJeLH{\cdot}eCG$ treatments induced GVBD in female eels. Our in vitro exploration of $estradiol-17{\beta}$ ($E_2$) levels in immature ovarian tissues revealed significantly higher $E_2$ levels in the group treated with $rJeFSH{\cdot}eCG$ $1{\mu}g/mL$ than in the control group. In contrast, the in vivo experiments showed no effect of recombinant hormones on the sexual maturation of feminized eels. Previous studies and our own in vitro results have clearly shown that rJeGTH and $rJeGTH{\cdot}eCG$ have a positive effect on the sexual maturation of feminized eels. To develop the activity of rJeGTH in vivo, further studies should confirm circulation time and activity of these hormones in eels' bloodstream, modify the structure of the recombinant gene, and implement additional glycosylation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.463-470
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• 2011

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) gene is expressed at the anterior pituitary gland and plays a key role in gonad development. This study aimed to investigate molecular genetic characteristics of the GnRHR gene and elucidate the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of GnRHR gene on sex steroid level in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). We used polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and sequencing of the GnRHR gene in 75 individuals. We identified three SNPs in the GnRHR gene: P1 locus (C759A and C830T) in the coding region of exon2 which were both linked together and P2 locus (G984T) in the coding region of exon3, which added a new transcript factor (ADR1) and a new methylation site (CG). Only C830T of P1 leads to amino acid changes Thr266Ile. Statistical analysis showed that P1 was significantly associated with $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($E_2$) level (p<0.01) and gonadosomatic index (GSI) (p<0.05). Individuals with genotype BB of P1 had significantly higher serum $E_2$ levels (p<0.01) and GSI (p<0.05) than those of genotype AA or AB. Another SNP, P2, synonymous mutation, was significantly associated with GSI (p<0.05). Individuals with genotype AB of P2 had significantly higher GSI (p<0.05) than that of genotype AA. In addition, there was a significant association between one diplotype based on three SNPs and reproductive traits. The genetic effects for both serum $E_2$ level and GSI of diplotype D4 were super diplotypes (p<0.05). These results suggest that the SNPs in Japanese Flounder GnRHR are associated with $E_2$ level and GSI.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.57-69
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• 2003

It is well known that many pesticides possess hormonal activity, and affect the developments of wildlife and mammals including human. Currently, pyrethroid insecticides are in worldwide use to control in and outdoor pests, providing potential far environmental exposure. Hormonal activities of these pyrethroid insecticides, however, have been little studied, and the developmental effects of them were no reported. Therefore, we firstly examined the potential estrogenic activities of some pyrethroid insecticides (permethrin, cypermethrin, tetramethrin, deltamethrin, sumithrin, fenvalerate and bioallethrin) by immature rat uterotrophic assay, luciferase reporter gene assay and Calbindin-D$\sub$9k/ (CaBP-9k) gene expression assay. Uterine wet weights were increased by permethrin and the permethrin-induced weights were inhibited by ICI 182780 in the uterolrophic assay. On the other hand tetramethrin significantly reduced uterine and vaginal wet weights, and also inhibited the E2-induced weight increases at all doses tested. Cypermethrin and sumithrin had a tendency to increase uterine weights, although not statistically significant. Permethrin and cypermethrin dose-dependently increased the luciferase activity in reporter gene assay. Northern blot analysis showed that permethrin induced CaBP-9k mRNA expression whereas tetramethrin inhibted. Subsequent studies were conducted to investigate the possible developmental effects of four pyrethroid insecricides (permethrin, cypermethrin, sumithrin and teramethrin). Either diethlbestrol (DES) or 17${\beta}$ -estradiol (E2) was used as a reference control in this study. Pyrethroid insecticides were administered to Sprague Dawley rats via subcutaneous injection at 6 to 18 days of gestation or 1 to 5 days after birth. In utero treatment of permethrin (10mg/kg/day) in female rat resulted in significant increases in uterine and ovarian weights while significant decreases in serum E2 concentration, uterine and ovarian ER${\alpha}$ mRNA levels. Sumithrin and permethrin led to acceleration in vaginal opening of female rat, while delay in preputial separation of male after neonatal treatment. Anogenital distances of PND 18 were significantly reduced in sumthrin-treated, and permerhrin-treated male rats after neonatal treatment. All the pyrethroid insecticides tested caused significant increases in uterine weights on PND 18, while significant reductions in the first diestrus phase when neonataly treated. In addition, exposure to pyrethroids in neonatal period led to significant reduction in relative brain weight in female rat on PND 18, but its weight was recovered in diestrus phase. In summary, Our experimental data demonstrate the possibilities of developmental effects of pyrethroid insecticides via estrogenic or antiestrogenic activity.