• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2019

The epididymal fat of mouse is a part of visceral fat deposit and is divided into the distal or proximal part based on its histochemical characteristics. Even though the formation of the epididymal fat pad begins before the birth, a detailed adipogenic procedure of the epididymal fat has not been revealed. The epididymal fat pad becomes enlarged and expended with age, and expressional changes of numerous genes are associated with the maturation of fat tissues. In the present research, expressional patterns of adipose tissue-related genes in the distal epididymal fat of mouse at 2, 5, 8, and 12 months of postnatal age were determined by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The lowest transcript levels of fatty acid binding protein 4 (Fabp4), lipoprotein lipase (Lpl), delta like non-canonical Notch ligand 1 (Dlk1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparg), leptin (Lep), adiponectin (Adipoq), and resistin (Retn) were detected at 2 months of age, except fatty acid synthase (Fasn) showing the lowest level at 5 months of age. Even though expression of Lep and Fabp4 were gradually increased until 12 months of age, significant increases of Pparg and Adipoq transcript levels were continued until 8 months of age. The transcript levels of Lpl, Rent, Dlk1, and Fasn were significantly increased at 8 months of age, compared with those at 2 months of age. The current findings suggest that the expansion of the distal epididymal fat of mouse during postnatal period would be companied with differential expression of various adipocyte-associated molecules.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.175-183
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• 2023

The epididymal fat is a type of gonadal adipose tissue, which is localized closely to the testis. Even though it has been suggested that the epididymal fat is necessary for maintenance of spermatogenesis in the testis, the influence of epididymal fat on expression of testicular steroidogenic enzymes has not been examined. In the present research, expressional changes of steroidogenic enzymes in the mouse testis after 2 weeks of the surgical partial lipectomy of epididymal fat at different postnatal ages were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. The transcript levels of all molecules at 2 months of postnatal age were significantly increased by the lipectomy of epididymal fat. However, the lipectomy at 5 months of postnatal age resulted in decreases of expression levels of all molecules examined in the testis. Except a reduced transcript level of hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 3, there were no significant changes of expression levels of other steroidogenic enzymes by the lipectomy at 8 months of postnatal age. At 12 months of postnatal age, the lipectomy caused a significant increase of transcript level of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and a significant decrease of transcript level of hydroxy-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase, 3 beta- and steroid delta-isomerase 1, without any expressional change of cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage, hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 3, and hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 3 in the testis. These findings suggest that the substances derived from epididymal fat could differentially influence on expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the testis during postnatal period.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.70-77
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• 1990

The change of phosphatase activities of the epididymal spermatozoa has been examined during epididymal maturation in mouse. The quantitative analysis of phQsphatase activities have been carried out using the method modified by Emst(1975). The results of experiment were summarized as the followings. Total protein of the caput epididyrnal spermatozoa(CPS) was measured as 59.1 $\pm$8.4(mg/10 9 spermatozoa), and that of the cauda epididymal spermatozoa(CDS) was 14.0$\pm$12.3(mg/10 9 spermatozoa). When phosphatase activities of the CDS in basic reaction medium were 29.2% in alkaline phosphatase, 44.9% in ATPse and 53.8% in acid phosphatase. The activities were eminently decreased in all CDS in contrast to those of CPS. The alkaline phosphatase and ATPase activities of K+ -dependent were decreased in CDS when compared with caput epididymal spermatozoa, and alkaline phosphatase, ATPase and acid phosphatase activities of $Ca^2$+ -dependent were increased in homogenized spermatozoa when compared with intact spermatozoa. From these results, it may be concluded that the decrease of phosphatases activities in spermatozoa during epididymal maturation may play some significant roles in acquiring fertilizing capability.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate what protein(s) of porcine epididymal fluid (pEF) are able to enhance the nuclear maturation of porcine germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes in vitro. Proteins of pEF were fractionated by affinity, ion exchange, and gel filtration chromatography. Porcine cumulus-oocytes complexes (COC) from follicles were cultured in tissue culture medium (TCM 199) containing various fractions obtained by chromatography. Porcine COCs were also cultured in TCM 199 containing various meiosis inhibitors and pEF. After 24 or 48 h culture, oocytes were examined for evidence of GV breakdown, metaphase I, anaphase-telophase I, and metaphase II. When porcine COCs were cultured in the medium with meiosis inhibitor such as, dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) and forskolin (Fo), more than 80% of oocytes were unable to resume meiosis. However, porcine COCs supplemented with pEF were able to overcome the inhibitory effect of dbcAMP and Fo. Maturation rate of oocytes was significantly (p<0.05) increased in the media supplemented with cationic protein(s) during in vitro maturation than in those with anionic protein(s) (44.1% vs 20.0%). When oocytes were cultured in the TCM 199 with fractions obtained by gel filtration, the maturation rate of oocytes was significantly (p<0.05) higher in fraction 11 containing 18 kDa than other fractions. The present study suggests that 1) dbcAMP and Fo prevent the spontaneous maturation of oocyte after isolation from follicles, and that pEF contain a substance(s) that improves meiosis resumption in vitro of porcine COCs, 2) cationic 18 kDa protein(s) are responsible for promotion of Mil stage.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 1991

This study was designed to investigate age-related changes in body composition and cell mediated immunity. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed stock diet ad libitum and 12 rats were sacrified at 1, 4, 6, 12 months of age. Body weight Increased sharply from 1 to 4 months. and Increased steadily thereafter. The weights of liver, epididymal fat pads, and kidney increased in similar pattern as body weight, but their relative ratio to body weight decreased with age. The ratio of epididymal fat pads to body weight increased with age. The weight of extensor digitorium longus, coleus and plantaris increased from 1 to 4 months, but it decreased at 6, 12 months. The protein content of muscles decreased or increased through- out 12 months. The T cell proliferation response to Con A stimulation was significantly lower at 6 months than 1 month and lower at 12 months than 6 months.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.1196-1202
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• 2001

In boar spermatozoa, the head-to-head agglutinability changes in parallel with the development of the fertilizing ability. Namely, both abilities gradually increase in the distal caput and corpus epididymides, but are subsequently suppressed in the cauda epididymidis. It has been postulated that these changes of the agglutinability are controlled via sperm interaction with specific epididymal plasma factors including agglutination mediators (agglutinins) and inhibitors (anti-agglutinins). Expression of these abilities (sperm agglutination and capacitation) is hardly observed in spermatozoa immediately. after ejaculation, but it occurs during incubation in a capacitation medium. Recently, we have purified and characterized epididymal plasma anti-agglutinin for boar spermatozoa. Moreover, we have conducted a series of experiments to reveal biological significance and mechanism of the head-to-head agglutination and have accumulated data indicating that boar sperm agglutination is mediated by capacitation-supporting factors including calcium, bicarbonate and sterol acceptors. This review introduces our recent data and discusses a possible mechanism for suppression of the agglutinability in the distal epididymidis and relationship between agglutinability and fertilizing ability.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1977

The changes of the total body composition, internal organs, skeletal muscles, and epididymal fat pad in rats fed protein depletion diet and 4 different recovery diets were examined. Seventy-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing $212{\pm}2$ gr were used, and the results were as follows : A) After the 2 weeks of protein depletion, body weight decreased about 20% from the initial weight. It was mainey due to the total body lipid reduction. Among various organ weights, liver and spleen reduced $35{\sim}58%$, kidney and heart reduced $18{\sim}30%$, and muscles reduced $2{\sim}13%$, while brain, epididymal fat pad were not changed significantly. In regarding protein and lipid contents of these tissues, protein in liver, lipid in muscle, and both in spleen were markedly reduced. B) With the 2 weeks of feeding recovery diets, the increases of body weight were different among 4 Groups. High-fat group gained at the highest level (67%), and high-CHO group the lowest (30%). Total body composition (%) cf the standard and high-protein groups recovered to the level of 0 day protein depletion, while protein in the high-fat group and water in the high-CHO group decreased, and fat in these 2 groups increased. Weights of organs and muscles of the high-protein and high-fat groups were similar to the standard group and tllose of the high-CHO group were lower than the standard group. Composition of organs and muscle in the high-protein group was similar to the standard group, while the N contents of the high-fat and high-CHO groups were lower an the lipid content of the high-fat group was higher than the standard group. The weight and lipid content of epididymal fat pad were the highest in the high-fat group.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.404-415
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• 1990

This study is conducted to evalute the effect of ginseng fraction component (ginseng extract solution, GES; ginseng protein, GP; ginseng saponin, GSA; ginseng residue, GR) upon hyperlipidemia and fatty liver induced by high fat administration. In doing so, the serum, liver and epididymal adpoid tissue have been examined for lipid components level and lipoprotein fraction. Feces bile acid and neutral sterol excretion have been also measured. 1'he results obtained from this study are as follows. 1. Serum, liver, epididymal lipid components of GP and GSA group were significantly lower than the controlgroup. 2. During the feeding experiment, VLDL and LDL increase while HDL decrease in all group. However the degree of VLDL and LDL increase and HDL decrease were signficantly small in GP and GSA group compared with control group. 3. In the excretion of bile acid and neutral sterol, all experiment group showed increased excretion in the comparison of control group.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.197-204
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• 2019

This study was investigated to test whether the zygote recognized the topoisomerase II beta (TOP2B) mediated DNA fragmentation in epididymal spermatozoa or the nuclease degradation in vas deferens spermatozoa by testing for the presence of gammaH2AX (γH2AX). The γH2AX is phosphorylation of histone protein H2AX on serine 139 occurs at sites flanking DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs). The presence of γH2AX in the pronuclei of mouse zygotes which were injected with DNA broke epididymal spermatozoa was tested by immunohistochemistry at 5 and 9 h post fertilization, respectively. Paternal pronuclei that arose from epididymal spermatozoa treated with divalent cations did not stain for γH2AX at 5 h. On the other hand, in embryos injected with vas deferences spermatozoa that had been treated with divalent cations, γH2AX was only present in paternal pronuclei, and not the maternal pronuclei at 5 h. Interestingly, both pronuclei stained positively for γH2AX for all treatments and controls at 9 h after sperm injection. In conclusion, the embryos recognize DNA that is damaged by nuclease, but not by TOP2B because H2AX in phosphorylated in paternal pronuclei resulting from spermatozoa treated with fragmented DNA from vas deferens spermatozoa treated with divalent cations, but not from epididymal spermatozoa treated the same way.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.78-93
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• 1990

The ultrastructure of epididymal epithelium of 10, 20, 35 and 80 day-old mouse was observed to study the differentiation and function of the epithelial cells in connection with the absorption and secretion during sexual matruation. The differentiation of epididymis was divided into three phases of, 1) undiflerentiated phase until the day 20 after birth, 2) growing and differentiating phase between the day 20 and 35, and 3) maturating phase up to the adult. Each phase was closely related with the lumination of seminiferous tubule and the influx of spermatozoa within testicular fluid from testis. In adult, the ultrastructural features appeared an absorptive function in the principal cells of proximal caput epididymis, and a strong activity of protein synthesis and secretion in distal caput, corpus and cauda epididymis. Clear cells were predominantly located in corpus and cauda epidiymis, and plenty of absorption vesicles including membranous particles assumed to be the cellular residues from spermatozoa were observed at apical region. Therefore, the distribution of various cell types of epithelium and the ultrastructure even in the same type of epithelial cell, were different according to the epididymal regions.