• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.97-105
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• 2010

Annual gonad development of the rock shell, Thais clavigera distributed in Jeju Port was investigated over a 12 month period from March 1998 to February 1999. Monthly change in gonad development was examined using histology. Gametogenesis of T. clavigera in the study area initiated as early as in October and fully ripe eggs could be observed from May to July. Percent gonad area (PGA) also increased rapidly from May to July then dropped in August when the water temperature remained $22.6-24.5^{\circ}C$, suggesting that rock shell released their eggs during this period. All female rock shell collected during the course of study exhibited pseudo-penis in the head, indicating that a certain level of imposex had progressed in the study site. Relative penis size index (RPSI), an indicator of level of imposex phenomenon varied 59.5-173.4% and this value was relatively higher than the index reported from elsewhere. It was believed that such imposex phenomenon observed in T. clavigera was caused by endocrine disruption by chemical contaminants such as TBTs released from biocidal paints in the port environment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1557-1565
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• 2010

Methyl paraben (MP), which is used as a preservative in pharmaceutical and cosmetic (shampoo) products, foods and beverages, enters into the aquatic environment and can pose a potential fish health hazard. In this experiment, effects of MP were evaluated in adult male common carp (Cyprinus carpio) by exposing them to fractions (1/$143^{rd}$ to 1/29th) of the $LC_{50}$ dose with every change of water for 28 days. Vitellogenin induction, metabolic enzymes, somatic indices and bioaccumulation were studied at weekly intervals. The $96^{th}$ h $LC_{50}$ of MP in fingerlings was 120 mg/L. Compared to the control, except for increases (p<0.01) in alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1), alanine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.2) and liver size, there were decreases (p<0.01) in activity of acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2), aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1), and testiculosomatic index following exposure to any dose of MP. Vitellogenin induction was significantly higher (p<0.01) in exposed than unexposed (control) fish. The bioaccumulation of MP in testis, liver, brain, gills and muscle tissues of fish increased significantly (p<0.01) with increase of dose from 0.84 ppm to 1.68 ppm. Dose and duration of exposure (p<0.01) indicated that an exposure period of 1 to 2 weeks was sufficient to cause changes in the quantifiable parameters studied. Fish exposed to 4.2 ppm MP became lethargic after the $26^{th}$ d. Histologically, degeneration, vacuolization and focal necrotic changes in liver and fibrosis-like changes in testicular tissue were noted.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2014

Amphibians play a pivotal role in the ecosystem as a mediator between aquatic and terrestrial environment. Currently they are directly exposed to a variety of chemicals in the aquatic environment throughout their life cycle. Azole fungicides have been widely used in medical applications and agricultural activities. The direct exposure of azole fungicides causes an alarming situation for various ecosystem. Recently, teratogenesis and endocrine disruption by azole fungicides have been reported in amphibians. In an effort to provide the current information for amphibian toxicity of azole fungicides and to make the guidelines for safe usage of azole-based materials, the effects of azole fungicides including imidazole, triazole, thiazole, oxazole, and pyrazoleon on early development, differentiation and reproduction of amphibians were reviewed.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.103-112
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• 2011

Aquatic contamination by organic pollutants has been a suspected reason for rapid decrease of amphibian populations whose embryonic and larval stages are in an aquatic environment. Amphibian embryos can be a useful model to study the ecoctoxicologial impacts of aquatic pollutants. The obtained toxicological data are useful references for the management of aquatic pollutants in public health because amphibia share many developmental events with terrestrial vertebrates including humans. Safety guidelines for the toxicological effects of aquatic contaminants of chemicals identified as hazardous should be addressed at multiple endpoints. Alkylphenols have been widely-used in agricultural, industrial, and household activities; they contaminate and can persist in aquatic environments. Exposure to alkylphenols results in endocrine disruption in aquatic animals. In this review, we summarize the developmental toxicities of alkylphenols in amphibian embryos and larva according to the exposure route, chemical concentration, duration of exposure, and affected developmental stage together with mechanisms of toxicity and typical patterns of developmental abnormality. The merits of amphibian embryos as a toxicity test model for mid- to long-term exposure to aquatic pollutants are discussed proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2004

This study was carried out to survey the pollution of bisphenol A(BPA) and total organic carbon(TOC) in surface sediments around Gwangyang bay. BPA is suspected chemicals as endocrine disruption. Gwangyang bay Is located on the mid south coast of Korea. It is a semi-closed bay which Yeosu petrochemical industrial complex, POSCO(Pohang Steel Company) and Gwangyang container harbor are located. The surface sediments were collected at 15 stations with gravity corer at October, 1999, February, May and August, 2000. Also, the stream and intertidal sediment were collected at 5 sites at August, 2000. Concentrations of BPA in surface sediments were in the range of 0.46 to 24.59 ng/g dry wt.. Seasonal range(mean value) of BPA are 0.59 to 9.00(1.88) ng/g dry wt. at October, 0.99 to 2.97(1.57) ng/g dry wt. at February, 0.46 to 24.59(2.53)ng/g dry wt. at May and 0.54 to 2.46 (1.29)ng/g dry wt. at August. BPA was seasonally fluctuated, and the highest mean value and range were detected at May, 2000. BPA was highly distributed in the inner part of Kwangyang bay than Yosu sound. Concentrations of BPA in stream and intertidal sediments showed the highest value in downstream near Yochon petrochemical industrial complex and Yondung stream. It suggests that the source of BPA are industrial wastewater and municipal sewage. TOC in surface sediments were in the range of 0.09∼1.22%. There was no any correlation between the BPA and TOC.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.221-229
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• 2023

Extracted from the metropolitan area, the Paldang Lake, which supplies approximately 8 million tons of water, has achieved a BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) of 1.1 mg/L as a result of water quality preservation policies. However, concerning the COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) component that encompasses refractory organic matter, there has been an observable upward trend in concentration. The introduction of refractory organic matter into the water source of Paldang Lake brings potential increments in BOD, generates off-putting tastes and odors in tap water, increases THM (Trihalomethane) formation, and triggers algae proliferation. Moreover, if residual hazardous refractory pollutants persist in aquatic environments, they may induce endocrine disruption and phenomena such as antibiotic resistance. In this study, a monitoring campaign was executed to discern the concentration of refractory organic matter emissions from point and non-point sources within Paldang Lake and its upstream region, with the aim of managing refractory organic matter in Paldang Lake. By comparing refractory organic matter emission concentrations across monitored areas, the elimination efficiency at wastewater treatment plants was assessed. Additionally, employing the Pearson correlation correlation analysis technique, correlations among refractory organic matter indices, antecedent wet days, and antecedent dry days were explored. The concentrations of refractory organic matter in rivers and Paldang Lake exhibited a similar pattern. Wastewater treatment plant effluents exhibited higher concentrations compared to rivers and Paldang Lake. The assessment of refractory organic matter removal at wastewater treatment plants indicated a removal efficiency of 65.73%. However, no significant correlation emerged between refractory organic matter emission concentration and antecedent wet days or priory antecedent dry days. This absence of correlation is attributed to data scarcity, underscoring the need for long-term monitoring and data accumulation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.247-268
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• 1996

It has been known for a long time that gonadotropins and steroid hormones play a pivotal role in a series of reproductive biological phenomena including the maturation of ovarian follicles and oocytes, ovulation and implantation, maintenance of pregnancy and fetal growth & development, parturition and mammary development and lactation. Recent investigations, however, have elucidated that in addition to these classic hormones, multiple growth factors also are involved in these phenomena. Most growth factors in reproductive organs mediate the actions of gonadotropins and steroid hormones or synergize with them in an autocrine/paracrine manner. The insulin-like growth factor(IGF) system, which is one of the most actively investigated areas lately in the reproductive organs, has been found to have important roles in a wide gamut of reproductive phenomena. In the present communication, published literature pertaining to the intrauterine IGF system will be reviewed preceded by general information of the IGF system. The IGF family comprises of IGF-I & IGF-II ligands, two types of IGF receptors and six classes of IGF-binding proteins(IGFBPs) that are known to date. IGF-I and IGF-II peptides, which are structurally homologous to proinsulin, possess the insulin-like activity including the stimulatory effect of glucose and amino acid transport. Besides, IGFs as mitogens stimulate cell division, and also play a role in cellular differentiation and functions in a variety of cell lines. IGFs are expressed mainly in the liver and messenchymal cells, and act on almost all types of tissues in an autocrine/paracrine as well as endocrine mode. There are two types of IGF receptors. Type I IGF receptors, which are tyrosine kinase receptors having high-affinity for IGF-I and IGF-II, mediate almost all the IGF actions that are described above. Type II IGF receptors or IGF-II/mannose-6-phosphate receptors have two distinct binding sites; the IGF-II binding site exhibits a high affinity only for IGF-II. The principal role of the type II IGF receptor is to destroy IGF-II by targeting the ligand to the lysosome. IGFs in biological fluids are mostly bound to IGFBP. IGFBPs, in general, are IGF storage/carrier proteins or modulators of IGF actions; however, as for distinct roles for individual IGFBPs, only limited information is available. IGFBPs inhibit IGF actions under most in vitro situations, seemingly because affinities of IGFBPs for IGFs are greater than those of IGF receptors. How IGF is released from IGFBP to reach IGF receptors is not known; however, various IGFBP protease activities that are present in blood and interstitial fluids are believed to play an important role in the process of IGF release from the IGFBP. According to latest reports, there is evidence that under certain in vitro circumstances, IGFBP-1, -3, -5 have their own biological activities independent of the IGF. This may add another dimension of complexity of the already complicated IGF system. Messenger ribonucleic acids and proteins of the IGF family members are expressed in the uterine tissue and conceptus of the primates, rodents and farm animals to play important roles in growth and development of the uterus and fetus. Expression of the uterine IGF system is regulated by gonadal hormones and local regulatory substances with temporal and spatial specificities. Locally expressed IGFs and IGFBPs act on the uterine tissue in an autocrine/paracrine manner, or are secreted into the uterine lumen to participate in conceptus growth and development. Conceptus also expresses the IGF system beginning from the peri-implantation period. When an IGF family member is expressed in the conceptus, however, is determined by the presence or absence of maternally inherited mRNAs, genetic programming of the conceptus itself and an interaction with the maternal tissue. The site of IGF action also follows temporal (physiological status) and spatial specificities. These facts that expression of the IGF system is temporally and spatially regulated support indirectly a hypothesis that IGFs play a role in conceptus growth and development. Uterine and conceptus-derived IGFs stimulate cell division and differentiation, glucose and amino acid transport, general protein synthesis and the biosynthesis of mammotropic hormones including placental lactogen and prolactin, and also play a role in steroidogenesis. The suggested role for IGFs in conceptus growth and development has been proven by the result of IGF-I, IGF-II or IGF receptor gene disruption(targeting) of murine embryos by the homologous recombination technique. Mice carrying a null mutation for IGF-I and/or IGF-II or type I IGF receptor undergo delayed prenatal and postnatal growth and development with 30-60% normal weights at birth. Moreover, mice lacking the type I IGF receptor or IGF-I plus IGF-II die soon after birth. Intrauterine IGFBPs generally are believed to sequester IGF ligands within the uterus or to play a role of negative regulators of IGF actions by inhibiting IGF binding to cognate receptors. However, when it is taken into account that IGFBP-1 is expressed and secreted in primate uteri in amounts assessedly far exceeding those of local IGFs and that IGFBP-1 is one of the major secretory proteins of the primate decidua, the possibility that this IGFBP may have its own biological activity independent of IGF cannot be excluded. Evidently, elucidating the exact role of each IGFBP is an essential step into understanding the whole IGF system. As such, further research in this area is awaited with a lot of anticipation and attention.