• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제48권2호
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• pp.97-104
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• 2021

Male infertility has a complex etiopathology, which mostly remains elusive. Although research has claimed that oxidative stress (OS) is the most likely underlying mechanism of idiopathic male infertility, the specific treatment of OS-mediated male infertility requires further investigation. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a vitamin-like substance, has been found in measurable levels in human semen. It exhibits essential metabolic and antioxidant functions, as well as playing a vital role in mitochondrial bioenergetics. Thus, CoQ10 may be a key player in the maintenance of biological redox balance. CoQ10 concentrations in seminal plasma directly correlate with semen parameters, especially sperm count and sperm motility. Seminal CoQ10 concentrations have been shown to be altered in various male infertility states, such as varicocele, asthenozoospermia, and medical or surgical regimens used to treat male infertility. These observations imply that CoQ10 plays an important physiological role in the maintenance and amelioration of semen quality. The present article thereby aimed to review the possible mechanisms through which CoQ10 plays a role in the regulation of male reproductive function, and to concisely discuss its efficacy as an ameliorative agent in restoring semen parameters in male infertility, as well as its impact on OS markers, sperm DNA fragmentation, pregnancy, and assisted reproductive technology outcomes.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.29-42
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• 1998

$Mg^{2+}$ is one of the most abundant divalent cations in mammalian body(0.2~1.0mM) and the important physiological roles are : first, the cofactor of many enzyme activities, second, the regulator of glycolysis and DNA synthesis, third, the important role of bioenergetics by regulating of phosphorylation, fourth, the influence of cardiac metabolism and function. In this work we have investigated the regulation of the $Mg^{2+}$ induced by ${\alpha}_1-adrenoceptor$ stimulation in perfused guinea pig hearts and isolated myocytes. The $Mg^{2+}$ content of the perfusate or the supernatant was measured by atomic absorbance spectrophotometry. The elimination of $Mg^{2+}$ in the medium increased the force of contraction of right ventricular papillary muscles, and the left ventricular pressure. Phenylephrine also enhanced the force of contraction in the presence of $Mg^{2+}-free$ medium. ${\alpha}_1-Agonists$ such as phenylephrine and methoxamine were found to induce $Mg^{2+}$ efflux in both perfused hearts and myocytes. These effects were blocked by prazosin, an ${\alpha}_1-adrenoceptor$ antagonist. The $Mg^{2+}$ influx could also be induced by phenylephrine and R59022, a diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor. In the presence of protein kinase C(PKC) inhibitors, phenylephrine produced an increase in $Mg^{2+}$ efflux from perfused hearts. Furthermore, $Mg^{2+}$ efflux by phenylephrine was amplified by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA). This enhancement of $Mg^{2+}$ efflux by PMA was blocked by prazosin in perfused hearts. By contrast, the $Mg^{2+}$ influx could be induced by verapamil, nifedipine, ryanodine in perfused hearts, but not in myocytes. $W^7$, a $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin antagonist, completely blocked the phenylephrine-induced $Mg^{2+}$ efflux in perfused hearts. In conclusion, $Mg^{2+}$ is responsible for the cardiac activity associated with ${\alpha}_1-adrenoceptor$ stimulation. The mobilization of $Mg^{2+}$ is decreased or increased by ${\alpha}_1-adrenoceptor$ stimulation in guinea pig hearts. These responses may be related specifically to the respective pathways of signal transduction. A decrease in $Mg^{2+}$ efflux by ${\alpha}_1-adrenoceptor$ stimulation in hearts can be through PKC dependent and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ levels.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.165-178
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• 2017

Background: Traditional Korean Sasang constitutional (SC) medicine categorizes individuals into four constitutional types [Tae-eum (TE), So-eum (SE), Tae-yang (TY), or So-yang (SY)] based on biological and physiological characteristics. As these characteristics are closely related to the bioenergetics of the human body, we assessed the correlation between SC type and energy metabolism features. Methods: Forty healthy, young ($22.3{\pm}1.4$ years) males volunteered to participate in this study. Participants answered an SC questionnaire, and their face shape, voice tone, and body shape were assessed using an SC analysis tool. Thirty-one participants (10 TE, 10 SE, 3 TY, and 8 SY) were selected for further analysis. Collected blood samples were subjected to blood composition analysis, mitochondrial function analysis, and whole-exome sequencing. Results: The SY type showed significantly lower total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than the SE type. Cellular and mitochondrial Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were similar across types. All types showed similar basal mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates, whereas the TE type showed a significantly lower ATP-linked oxygen consumption rate than the other types. Whole-exome sequencing identified several genes variants that were exclusively detected in particular SC types, including 19 for SE, seven for SY, 11 for TE, and six for TY. Conclusion: SC type-specific differences in mitochondrial function and gene mutations were detected in a small group of healthy, young Korean males. These results are expected to greatly improve the accurate screening and utilization of SC medicine.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.237-245
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• 2006

강원도 평창군 일대에서 화전 후 묵밭의 식생 천이에 따른 식물량, 순 일차 생산성 및 P/B 비의 변화를 조사하였다. 초본의 지상부 식물량은 5년차 묵밭에서 3.8 ton/ha로 가장 많았다. 낙엽 건중량은 50년차 묵밭까지 증가한 다음 감소하는 포물선형 변화를 나타내었다. 천이가 진행됨에 따라 흉고 단면적은 로그 함수적으로 증가하는 경향을 나타내었다. 교목의 목본 수는 15년차 묵밭까지 빠르게 증가하다가 경과 년 수에 따라 자가 솎음질 과정을 거쳐 감소하는 경향이었다. 80년차 묵밭에서 DBH 등급에 따른 목본의 분포는 역 J 자형을 나타내었고, 우점종은 신갈나무이었다. 식물 현조량은 천이 초기와 후기 단계에서 완만한 증가를 나타내었고, 중기 단계인 $10{\sim}50$년차 묵밭에서 빠르게 증가하였다. 5, 10, 20, 50 및 80년차 묵밭의 식물 현존량은 각각 5, 14, 75, 251 및 373 ton/ha로 추정되었다. 연간 순 생산성은 초기 35년간 점진적인 증가 후 감소하여 점차 안정화하는 경향을 나타내었다. 연간 순 일차 생산성의 증가 속도는 천이 중기 단계 보다 초기 단계에서 빠르게 증가하였다. 5, 10, 20, 35, 50 및 80년차 묵밭의 순 일차 생산성은 각각 8.6, 9.3, 12.9, 15.1, 13.7 및 3.6 ton/ha/yr이었다. P/B 비율은 천이가 진행됨에 따라 지수 함수적으로 감소하는 것으로 추정되었다. 5, 10, 20, 50 및 80년차 묵밭에서 추정된 P/B 비율은 각각 0.60, 0.39, 0.19, 0.06 및 0.01이었다. 이러한 결과는 Odum(1969)이 제시한 삼림천이 과정의 생물 에너지론과 잘 부합하였다.