• Applied Microscopy
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.12-25
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• 1994

This research was undertaken to determine the effects of the anticancer and immunosuppressive drug cyclophosphamide (CP) on the epididymis of the male rat in terms of ultrastructural alteration and protein analysis by SDS-PAGE at different groups; control group, 1 week group, 3 weeks group, 5 weeks group were treated with saline (control group) or CP at doses of 20mg/Kg/week, 1 time a week, respectively. In the cytoplasm of the principal cells on the epididymis, the mitochondrial outer and inner membranes were significantly swollen or disrupted. The cisterns of rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) were also swollen, and a number of Golgi vesicles were increased, respectively. It is suggested that treatment with CP alters the specific cell organelles in all segments of the epididymis. CP caused changes in protein concentrations in cauda of epididymis after CP treatment. Total proteins of 30 to 39 species such as lactate dehydrogenase, carnitine acetyltransferase and acid phosphatase were expressed in the cauda fluid. Then the more CP was increased, the more concentration of proteins caused to decrease, synthesize or increase in epididymal cauda. In contrast to the control group, in particular 29KD and the other 10 proteins in the cauda fluid were decreased or disappeared, respectively, whereas 89KD and the other 6 proteins in the cauda, were increased or synthesized, respectively. The other proteins are not showed distinctive difference. Therefore, it is possible that CP at a high dose accumulation alters epididymal function with dose-related increase or decrease in specific activity of marked proteins for all regions of the epididymis (particularly, specific segment of cauda). These alterations could be mediated by direct, toxic effects of the drug on the epithelium or be secondary to changes in the spermatozoa as a result of the CP treatment.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.757-762
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• 1993

The ovaries of Korean Native cows or heifers were obtained from an abattoir and kept on 20 to $25^{\circ}C$ and transported to laboratory within 2 hrs. The follicular oocystes were collected from 2~6mm follicles in diameter and classified into 3 grades by the morphology of cumulus cells attached. The oocytes were matured in vitro(IVM) for 24 hrs. in TCM-199 supplemented with $23{\mu}g/ml$ FSH, $10{\mu}g/ml$ LH, $1{\mu}g/ml$ estradio-17 ${\beta}$ and granulosa cells at $39^{\circ}C$ under 5% $CO_2$ in air. They were fertilized in vitro(IVF) by incubation for 12 hrs. of epididymal spermatozoa pretreated with heparin, and then the zygotes were co-cultured in vitro(IVC) with oviductal epithelial cells for 7 to 9 days. Assessment of maturation revealed that 93.0%(147/158) of grade I oocytes had expanded of cumulus cells, which was higher(p<0.05) than the 79.4%(85/107) of grade II oocytes. Compared to epididymal sperm(32.9%), the insemination with frozen and thawed sperm resulted in slightly lower(20.5%), but not significant, development to morulae and blastocysts from grade I oocytes. Co-culture of bovine IVF embryos with oviductal epithelial cells improved the development to transferable embryos significantly(38.1%), compared to co-culture with granulosa cells(20.0%). When VF bovine embryos were vitrified at blastocyst, the post-thaw survival rate was obtained higher resulf for 1 min. equilibration time(82.6%) or 2 min.(73.9%) than 3 min.(18.2%) in EFS solution.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.245-255
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• 2021

The spermatozoa become mature in the epididymis which is divided into initial segment and caput, corpus, and cauda epididymis. The water movement across the epididymal epithelium is important for creating luminal microenvironment for sperm maturation. Aquaporins (Aqps) are water channel proteins, and expression of Aqps is regulated by androgens. The current research was focused to examine expressional regulation of Aqp1 and Aqp9 by an androgenic-anabolic steroid, nandrolone decanoate (ND). The ND at the low dose (2 mg/kg body weight/week) or high dose (10 mg) was subcutaneously administrated into male rats for 2 or 12 weeks. Transcript levels of Aqp1 and Aqp9 were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses. In the initial segment, level of Aqp1 was decreased with 12 week-treatment, while Aqp9 level was decreased by the high dose treatment for 12 weeks. In the caput epididymis, Aqp9 expression was decreased by the low dose treatment. The 2 week-treatment resulted in an increase of Aqp1 level but a decrease of Aqp9 expression in the corpus epididymis. In the corpus epididymis, the 12 week-treatment at the low dose caused the reduction of Aqp1 and Aqp9 levels, but the high dose treatment resulted in an increase of Aqp1 expression and a decrease of Aqp9 level. In the cauda epididymis, Aqp1 expression was decreased by 2 and 12 week-treatments, while increases of Aqp9 levels was detected with the high dose treatment for 2 weeks and with 12 week-treatment. These findings indicate differential regulation of Aqp1 and Aqp9 expression among epididymal segments by ND.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.371-379
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• 1997

To investigate the movement of sperm head and the role of sperm neck in forward sperm motility in the Korean striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius coreae, the morphological characteristics of the cauda epididymal spermatozoa were examined by light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Spermatozoa of A. agrarius coreae were characterized by the conspicuous shape of the acrosome and the long tail compared with those of other rodents. Total length of the sperm was $133\mu{m}$. The sperm head had a curved falciform shape. The head was 8.0${\mu}$m in length, and about 4.0 ${\mu}$m in width. The shape of acrosome had an openerlike form. The sperm tail (125 ${\mu}$m) consisted of four major segments: neck (0.5 ${\mu}$m), middle piece (29.5 ${\mu}$m), and principal piece plus the end piece (95 ${\mu}$m). The outer dense fibers were arranged in a horseshoe fashion, and No. 1, 5, 6, and 9 of the outer dense fibers were larger than the others. The mitochondrial bundles of middle piece were composed of a pair of arms, which surrounded the axone of the middle piece by the 45 0 angled helical structure. The total number of mitochondrial gyres was 188. In particular, the microfilament structures existed in plasma membrane of the sperm, which was adjacent to the acrosomal region on the nuclear membrane. The segmented columns were surrounded by microfilament structures, and the microfilament bundles were adjacent to the outer membrane of the first mitochondria of middle piece. This study presents for the first time the existence of microfilament structures within the plasma membrane of sperm which is located from the adjacent acrosome region to the connecting piece in sperm neck of Korean striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius coreae. The present result suggests that the constriction and extension of microfilament in sperm neck as well as the wave-movement of sperm tail may play a role in the movement of sperm head.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.84-91
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• 1990

본 실험은 돼지난포란의 체외성숙과 체외수정 효과를 높일 수 있는 방법을 찾기 위하여 시도되었으며 직경 1~2mm와 3~7mm 난포로부터 채란된 난자를 mKRB(-BSA)에 돼지발정혈청(ESS), FCS 또는 투석돼지난포액(DFF)을 첨가한 성숙배양에서 24~48시간, 37$^{\circ}C$에서 배양하였다. 성숙된 난포란은 정소상체 정자와 24시간 배양 후 전핵행성 여부를 조사하였다. 36~48시간 배양에서 50~60%의 난자가 metaphase II에 도달되었고 난포 크기(1~2mm와 3~7mm)간에 체외성숙율의 차이는 없었으나 3~7mm 난포란에서 성숙분열이 다소 빨랐다. 체외성숙배양액에 5% ESS, 15% FCS 및 DFF 첨가시 대조구보다 다소 성숙율이 높았다. 체외수정율(전핵형성)은 5% ESS와 15% FCS 첨가 성숙시킨 난포란과 체내 수정능획득 정자와의 수정에서 각각 높은 경향이 있었다. 따라서 돼지난포란의 체외성숙과 수정에 ESS, FCS 및 투석난포액이 유효한 요인이 됨을 알 수 있다.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.372-379
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• 2017

This study was investigated to test whether paternal DNA that was destined for degradation was properly licensed by testing for the presence of mini-chromosome maintenance protein (MCM) 7 and origin recognition complex (ORC) 2 in the paternal pronuclei. ORC2 is one of the first licensing protein to come on and MCM7 is one of the last licensing protein to come on. Zygotes were prepared by injection of control and treated sperm injection (ICSI). To control for DNA breakage, epididymal spermatozoa were treated with DNase I to fragment the DNA, then injected into oocytes. The presence of MCM7 and ORC2 in the pronuclei of mouse zygotes was tested by immunohistochemistry, just before the onset of DNA synthesis, at 5 h after fertilization, and after DNA synthesis began, at 9 h post fertilization. We found that in all cases, both MCM7 and ORC2 were present in both pronuclei at 5 h after sperm injection, just before DNA synthesis began. This indicates that no matter how extensive the DNA damage, recruitment of licensing proteins to the origins of replication was not inhibited. Sperm DNA fragmentation does not prevent licensing of DNA replication origins. Furthermore, the embryo recognizes DNA that is damaged by nucleases. Our data indicate that the one-cell embryo does harbor a mechanism to prevent the replication of severely damaged DNA from spermatozoa, even though the embryos do not undergo classical apoptosis.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제64권3호
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• pp.500-514
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• 2022

The blood-epididymis barrier (BEB) forms a unique microenvironment that is crucial for the maturation, protection, transport, and storage of spermatozoa in the epididymis. To characterize the function of tight junctions (TJs), which are constitutive components of the BEB, we determined the expression and localization of TJ proteins such as zonula occludens (ZO)-1, 2, and 3, occludin, and claudin3 (Cldn3) during postnatal development in the goat epididymis. To assess the expression patterns of TJ proteins in immature (3 months of age) and mature (14 months of age) goat epididymides, two different experimental methods were used including immunofluorescence labeling and western blotting. We show that, ZO-1, 2, and 3, and occludin, were strictly expressed and localized to the TJs of the goat epididymis, whereas Cldn3 was present in basolateral membranes as well as TJs. All TJ proteins examined were more highly expressed in the immature epididymis compared to levels in mature tissue. In conclusion, our study indicates that at least five TJ proteins, namely ZO-1, ZO-2, ZO-3, occludin, and Cldn3, are present in TJs, and the expression strength and pattern of TJ proteins tend to be age dependent in the goat epididymis. Together, these data suggest that the distinct expression patterns of TJ proteins are essential for regulating components of the luminal contents in the epididymal epithelium and for forming adequate luminal conditions that are necessary for the maturation, protection, transport, and storage of spermatozoa in the goat epididymis.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.313-322
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• 2014

To investigate the effects of octylphenol and nonylphenol on the reproduction of the striped field mouse, the mice were subcutaneousely injected with 4-t-octylphenol 800 mg/kg (OP800), nonylphenol 900 mg/kg (NP900) or OP800 + NP900 (OPNP), respectively, in two times a week for 2 months. As the results, there were no differences between the control and the compound-treated groups in the body weight in both sexes, and the GSI (gonadosomatic index) and SVI (seminal vesicles index) in the adult males. But histological abnormalities of the reproductive organs in the mice seems to be related to the compound. This suggestion is supported by the facts that most mice treated with the compounds had only a small number of spermatozoa in the shrunken epididymal tubules. In addition, the shrunken reproductive organ in one mouse treated with the NP, suggests that the abnormalities in the wild striped field mice might be induced by the compound. Furthermore, it is indicated that the compounds must be toxicants to inhibit pregnancy, judging from the fact that all the mice treated with the compounds had failed to deliver.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.70-78
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• 1989

Mouse eggs recovered from oviducts at one hourly intervals between 10 and 20 hours after administration of hCG were fixed, stained and then investigated the rate of in vitro fertilization and nuclear maturation. In case of out- bred ICR mice, ovulations were occured between 11 and 13 hours after hCG injection. The stages of in vitro maturation of eggs recovered from female mice at various times after hCG injection were metaphase I, anaphase I, telophase I and metaphase II. However the majority was metaphase I(17.6 to 44.4%) and metaphase II(42.9 to 80.0%) stage. When the eggs were inseminated with epididymal spermatozoa, the fertilization rate was declined as the egg recovery time after hCG administration was delayed. That is, the proportion of eggs undergoing fertilization became higher(68.1 to 77.4%) in the eggs at 12 to 15hr after injection of hCG than those(17.5 to 56.4) at 16 to 20 hr after injection of hCG. Also, when nuclear maturation of the unfertilized eggs were observed at 8 hours after insemination, the majority was in metaphase I and metaphase II and no anaphase I and telophase I were observed.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.110-115
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• 1984

These experiments were carried out to obtain the information about the optimal pH osmolality affecting in vitro fertilization of the mouse eggs, to elucidate the 2-cell block to development in vitro and to find out the method of controlling the subsequent embryo development in vitro. pH and osomlality was adjusted by adding NaCl or NaHCO3 to the basic salt solution. In vitro fertilization were carried out by inroducting the cumulus masses to the suspension of epididymal spermatozoa at each pH, osmolality, and 10${\mu}$M-EDTA medium. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows: 1. The fertilization rates in vitro at each medium of 235, 252, 269, 286, 306, 323, 345, 368, 393 mosmol were 15.6, 38.2, 65.7, 75.6, 80.9, 74.3, 58.1, 35.1, 24.3, 11.1%, respectively. 2. The fertilization rates in vitro at each medium of pH 6.1, 6.4, 6.7, 7.0, 7.3, 7.6, 7.9, 8.1 were 11.8, 17.9, 32.4, 61.9, 79.5, 76.7, 53.5, 13.6%, respectively. 3. In case of ICR female x ICR male embryos, the development rate of 2-cell embryos to 4-8 cell embryos was 16.2% at normal medium, but the rate was increased to 49.3% in medium containging 10 ${\mu}$M-DETA; In case of C3H female x ICR male embryos, the development rate was 41.0% at normal medium, but the rate was increased to 71.7% at 10 ${\mu}$M-EDTA-medium.