• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.189-195
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• 1987

This study was conducted in order to obtain the information of the histological changes in each of six segments of the epididymal ducts in Korean native goats. Thirty-two Korean native male goats were examined, dividing into seven groups, at 4 weeks intervals from 8 to 32 weeks of age. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The epididymal ducts showed histologically an abrupt growth at the age of 16 weeks being followed by almost full maturation at the age of 24 weeks. Diameter of the cauda was steadily larger than that of the caput and corpus of the epididymal ducts. 2. Spermatozoa in the lumen of epididymal ducts were first observable at the age of 16 weeks, thereafter showing sparse in the lumen of caput, whereas most dense in the lumen of cauda in the density of spermatozoa. 3. Ducts in the caput and corpus were lined by ciliated columnar epithelium until the age of 12 weeks, and later by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium which was composed of ciliated columnar cells, clear cells and basal cells. Ducts of cauda epididymis were lined by simple ciliated columnar epithelia until 12 weeks of age and later by simple or pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium, and two types of ducts (small ducts with high epithelium and large ducts with lower epithelium) were noted. Nucleus of the epithelial cells in the caput were located in the base of cells but in the corpus and cauda, those were located in the mid part of cells. cilia were most developed in the epithelia of the corpus.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.51-66
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• 1993

한국산 관박쥐(Rhinolophusfemmequinum koran의 웅성생식 pattern을 알아보기 위하여, 1년 주기를 통한 정소상체 이부로의 정자유입, 정자저장 및 정자소멸에 따른 상피세포와의 상관관계를 조사하여, 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. 정소로부터 정자유입과 정자저장 및 정자소멸에 관련하여 볼때, 정소상체 미부는 2단계의 정화기간(cleaning time)을 가진다. 첫째로, 동면 각성시기인 4월부터 6월까지는 오래된 저장정자를 파괴시켜 새로운 정자를 받아들이기 위한 준비단계로서 둘째로, 정차과정은 7월에서 8월까지 계속되는[tl 이는 7월부터 새로운 정자와 함께 유임된 기형 정자세포,기형 정자 및 기타 잔여 노페물질을 제거하여 성숙된 정자만을 보유함으로서 곧 교미기를 맞이하기 위한 준비단계로서 정화기간을 가진다. 따라서, 1년 주기를 통한 정소상체 이부의 정화기간은 동면 각성기인 4월부터 8월까지 약 5개월에 걸쳐 이루어진다. 한편, 교미가 끝난 11월부터 동면기를 거쳐 동연 각성기 전까지의 긴 기간동안에 정소상체 미부내의 저장된 정자는 급격한 변화를 가져오지 않았다. 이는 동면동안의 낮은 물질대사율과 관련이 있다고 생각된다. 이상의 결과로 미루어 보아 정자유입, 정자저장 및 정자소멸에 따른 정소상체 미부의 조직변화는 정소상체 미부내 상피세포의 분비 및 흡수의 조절작용에 의해 변학되는것이라 여겨진다.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.31-38
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• 2005

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Morindae officinalis Radix (巴戟) on the spermatogenesis and antioxidant activities in the Sprague Dawley (SD) rat. Materials and Methods: We choose the 2-month-old SD rats, and administered the extract powder of Morindae officinalis Radix once in a day for 28 days. The control rats were administered normal water in the same way and duration. We observed changes of body weight, surgically isolated testis, epididymis, vascular gland and prostate gland before and after administration of Morindae officinalis Radix extracts in SD Rats. Also we compared the testicular tissue, especially seminiferous tubules between the control and treated groups by histochemical methods. In addition, we examined the total, normal, morphologic and motile sperm in the cauda epididymis, and the activity of catalase and peroxidase in the isolated testis tissue. Results: There was no significant difference between control and treatment groups in the body weight, testis, vascular and prostate gland, but the weight of epididymis showed significant difference in the control group. The concentration of total sperm, the motility and normality of spermatozoa was significantly different when compared with the control group, respectively. In the histological examination of testicular tissues, the tendency of increasement of angiogenesis between seminiferous tubules was observed. And the concentration of spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocyte and sperm were higher than that of control testicular tissues. Finally, the activity of catalase and peroxidase related inhibitory molecules of oxidation were slightly increased in the treatment group than those of control group. Conclusions: This study shows that Morindae officinalis Radix has the beneficial effect on the concentration, morphology and motility of sperm, the important factor in male fertility. We can suggest that Morindae officinalis Radix has an effect on the spermatogenesis in the SD rat.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.290-303
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• 1989

The activities of $\beta$-glucosidase, $\beta$-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-$\beta$-glucosaminidase were measured to investigate the relationships of them to sexual maturity. Peritoneal injections of testosterone and dibutyryl cAMP to rats were carried out. As a result, the activities of $\beta$-glucosidase and N-acetyl-$\beta$-glucosaminidase were significantly decreased from the third day and that of P -glucurondiase on the seventh day in the castrated groups. In addition, ihe activities of these three enzymes were significantly increased in the testosterone treated groups for 7 days. In case of dbcAMP injection, the activities of these three enzymes were similar to those of castrated groups or had a tendency to be decreased. On electron microscopic examination, principal cells, basal cells and narrow cells were observed in all regions of epididymis. Principal cells were general forms of columnar epithelial cells. Narrow cells had a number of small vesicles and light cells showed low electron density in comparison to other epithelial cells in cauda epididymis. Halo cells were migrating leucocytes btween epithelial cells.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.49-62
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• 1998

To investigate the morphological changes of epithelial cells of ductus epididymides by sperm entrance, the Korean striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius coreae was studied with light and transmission electron microscopy. 1. The diameters of the caput epididymis (Cp) and its lumen were $135\sim145{\mu}(140{\pm}0.5{\mu})$ and $115\sim120{\mu}m(117{\pm}0.1{\mu}m)$. The length and width of the epithelium were $27.0\sim28.5{\mu}m(28.0{\pm}0.1{\mu}m)$ and $4.8\sim5.4{\mu}m(5.1{\pm}0.2{\mu}m)$. 2. The diameters of the corpus epididymis (Cr) and its lumen were $160\sim170{\mu}m(166{\pm}0.2{\mu}m)$ and $140\sim150{\mu}m(145{\pm}0.3{\mu}m)$. The length and width of the epithelium were $17.4\sim18.0{\mu}m(17.6{\pm}0.5{\mu}m)$ and $8.8\sim10.4{\mu}m(9.5{\pm}0.2{\mu}m)$. 3. The diameters of the cauda epididymis (Cu) and its lumen were $270\sim280{\mu}m(275{\pm}0.2{\mu}m)$ and $265\sim275{\mu}m(268{\pm}0.3{\mu}m)$. The length and width of the epithelium were $11.2\sim13.4{\mu}m(12.3{\pm}0.3{\mu}m)$ and $9.2\sim11.2{\mu}m(10.0{\pm}0.2{\mu}m)$. Therefore, the size of diameter and lumen of the ductus epididymides and the width of the epithelium increased from Cp and Cr to Cu, but the length of epithelial cells decreased from Ca and Cr to Cu. These data suggest that the morphological changes of epithelial cells of the ductus epididymides may be the results of the sperm entrance.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.335-340
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• 1993

The development of efficient method for the production of transgenic mice has been investigated in our laboratory. This study was conducted to develop the artificial insemination in the mouse. Spermatozoa were collected from the cauda epididymis of ICR males(age:12~15 weeks, Body weight : 30g) and artificially inseminated into the intrauterine via cervix of hormone-primed ICR females(age: 6~8 weeks, body weight: 25g) using the capillary tube, 200~300 $\mu$m in inner diameter. The effect of concentration of sperm(80$\times$104, 40$\times$104, 20$\times$104, 10$\times$104, 5$\times$104, 3$\times$104, 1$\times$104/20${mu}ell$. The artificial insemination was succeeded but fertilization rate was very low(5~15%) compared to the natural mating and 59 normal youngs born from 60 females. Therefore, our findings suggest that it is possible to produce the great number of mice from the same orgin of male by artificial inseminatin. However, the lower pregnancy rate has to be solved to used broadly the artificial insemination in mouse.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.304-310
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• 2007

Monocrotophos was administered orally to adult male albino mice at dose level of 3.0 mg/kg body weight/day/mice for 50 days. The treatment has found to affect spermatogenesis as well as the endocrine functions of the testis as indicated by gravimetric, histopathological and biochemical changes. The treatment has caused degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells of the testis and regression of the epididymis, seminal vesicle, vas deferens, prostate, Cowper's gland and levator ani. Similarly, cauda epididymal sperm count and sperm motility have shown significant reduction. There was a significant reduction in the protein, glycogen, sialic acid, acid and alkaline phosphatase and increase in cholesterol in the testis of monocrotophos treated mice compared with the control. The causative factors for these changes due to monocrotophos administration were discussed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 1999

Some of the information concerning sexual function in the male diabetes has been focused upon the problems of endocrine or semen parameters. However, the characteristics of acrosome reaction and spermatozoa concentration at the epididymis and vas deferens have scarcely been studied, and the causes of the infertility has not been critically identified. So, we designed to inspect the spermatozoa concentration and the characteristics of acrosome reaction at epididymis and vas deferens of diabetic Wistar rat induced by streptozotocin (STZ, 70 mg/kg, ip). Experimental animal was sacrificed at 3 days and 14 days after the STZ injection. In the diabetes-induced rat, the levels of insulin and glucose had a pattern of inverse proportion. The spermatozoa concentrations in caput and corpus epididymis were significantly decreased in all diabetic condition. In cauda epididymis, however, there was significant decrease in sperm concentration at 14 days onward. In diabetic rat, the spontaneous reaction rate of spermatozoa of cauda and vas deferens were significantly higher than the control group. The ARIC (acrosome reaction to ionophore challenge) value of caudal sperm was 28.7 at control, 22.1 at 3 days, and 8.3 at 14 days. In the present study the spermatozoa concentration was decreased and the spontaneous reaction rate was increased by diabetes. In ARIC-test, it is revealed that the fertility of spermatozoa of 14 days group was lower than control or 3 days group. Diabetes mellitus may be provoke the decreased fertilization rate and subsequent infertility and subsequent infertility.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.373-380
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• 2000

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of goat milk and fermented goat milk on reproductive function and stamina of male rodent. Methods: Experiment I: Male ICR mouse was divided into four groups. Group 1 none-treated control; Group 2 received saline; Group 3 received cow milk 10 ml/kg per day for 15 days; Group 4 received goat milk 10 ml/kg per day for 15 days. The cauda epididymal sperm motility and testicular sperm production were investigated. Experiment II: Male SD rat was divided into three groups. Group 1 received saline; Group 2 received goat milk 10 ml/kg per day for 28 days; Group 3 received fermented goat milk 10 ml/kg per day for 28 days. The cauda epididymal sperm motility and testicular sperm production were also investigated. The concentration of testosterone in serum at 1 and 3 weeks after treatment was determined using Immulite 2000 kit. Testes, epididymis, prostate, and seminal vesicle were weighed. Experiment III: Male ICR mouse was divided into four groups. Group 1 none-treated control; Group 2 received saline; Group 3 received goat milk 10 ml/kg per day for 4 weeks; Group 4 received fermented goat milk 10 ml/kg per day for 4 weeks. After treatment, the mouse was forced to swim to test for stamina. Results: In Experiment I, the cauda epididymal sperm motility after in vitro culture for 1 or 3 h was significantly (p<0.05) higher in cow milk and goat milk than in the control and saline. There was no significant difference in the cauda epidymal sperm motility between cow and goat milk. The testicular spermatid number was significantly (p<0.01) higher in goat milk (222.8${\times}10^6$) than in the control (108.6), saline (98.2), and cow milk (118.2). In Experiment II, the cauda epididymal sperm motility after in vitro culture for 1 h was significantly (p<0.05) higher in fermented goat milk than in saline and goat milk. There was no significant difference in the cauda epidymal sperm motility between saline and goat milk but goat milk showed slightly higher sperm motility than saline. After in vitro culture for 3 h, the cauda epididymal sperm motility was significantly (p<0.01) higher in fermented goat milk and goat milk than in saline. The testicular spermatid number was significantly (p<0.05) higher in goat milk than in saline, and significantly (p<0.01) higher in fermented goat milk than in saline. And the serum testosterone levels of rats administered with goat milk or fermented goat milk were increased but were no significant difference among three groups. Also the prostate weight was significantly (p<0.05) increased in the goat and fermented goat milk. In Experiment III, the swimming time in the goat milk and fermented goat milk groups was significantly (p<0.01) longer than in the control and saline. There was no significant difference in the swimming time between goat and fermented goat milk but the fermented goat milk showed slightly longer swimming time than the goat milk. Conclusion: The cauda epididymal sperm motility, the testicular spermatid number and stamina were improved when the mice and rats were drunk with goat milk or fermented goat milk.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.482-488
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• 2011

Cadmium (Cd) is well known as a spermatotoxic and gonadotoxic heavy metal ion. This study was performed to assess the possible protective effect of Enerbalance on Cd-induced spermiotoxicity and testicular damage. The control group received isotonic saline; Cd group received Cd (2 mg/kg BW per day) orally; extract-treated groups were orally administrated with Enerbalance (50 mg and 100 mg/kg BW per day) and Cd for 10 days. Morphological changes of testicular tissue, sperm characteristics, oxidative/antioxidative parameters from testis, and serum sexual hormone level were determined. Enerbalance was significantely increased sperm amount in cauda epididymis without changes of ratio of epididymis/body weight and testis/body weight. Cd caused a marked decrease in epididymal sperm concentration and chemotactic sperm motility, testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), Enerbalance was significantly ameliorated loss of epididymal sperm concentration, sperm chemotactic motility, antioxidative parameters, and male hormone whereas decreased abnormal architecture by testis damage. Enerbalance was successfully attenuated these adverse effects of Cd and offers a dose-dependent protection. Our study demonstrated that Enerbalance could proffer a measure of protection against Cd-induced testicular damage and spermiotoxicity by possibly reducing oxidative stress and increasing the antioxidant defense mechanism in mice.