• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제33권5호
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• pp.246-254
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• 2016

The objective of the present study is to determine whether blue honeysuckle lyophilized concentrated powder (BH) has favorable effects on hypothyroidism and related reproductive organ damage. Hypothyroidism was induced by 9 subcutaneous administration of propylthiouracil (PTU) for 28 days. Levothyroxine (LT4)-treated group was intraperitoneally injected with LT4 for the same period, while for BH (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) or Flos Lonicerae lyophilized aqueous extract (LF, 250 mg/kg)-treated groups, the test materials were orally administrated for 42 days: two weeks before PTU injection and during PTU administration. The changes in serum thyroid hormone levels, serum male sex hormone levels, and testis antioxidant defense system were observed by histopathology of the thyroid gland, epididymis, prostate, and testis. The oral administrations of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg of BH showed favorable effects compared to LF on hypothyroidism and related damages of reproductive organs through augmentation of the antioxidant defense system in the testis. In conclusion, BH is a promising new potent thyroid gland protecting agent.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.321-326
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• 2018

In this study, two epididymal spermatozoa recovery methods in relation to sperm number, motility, viability and acrosome reaction were examined. Seven bulls were castrated and 7 testicles with epididymides were transferred to the laboratoy. Epididymis in each bull was randomly used for flushing and mincing methods with semen extender (Optixcell, IMV, France). The recovered spermatozoa with adjusted sperm concentration to $40{\times}10^6cells/mL$ was diluted with optixcell and cryopreserved. In experiment 1, the difference in the total number of spermatozoa using flushing and mincing methods was insignificant (2570.0 and $2505.2{\times}10^6cells/mL$, respectively). For experiment 2, the percentage of motile spermatozoa and motility parameters between flushing and mincing methods were studied through the use of sperm class analyzer after frozen-thawing. The percentage of total motile sperm between flushing and mincing methods was almost the same with $89.5{\pm}12.8$ and $91.4{\pm}7.9%$, respectively. The same is the case with experiment 3 wherein the viability and acrosomal integrity of frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa by flushing and mincing was insignificantly different. The results from the study showed that both flushing and mincing methods can be used for epididymal spermatozoa recovery in bull.

• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.403-414
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• 2023

This study aimed to determine the anti-obesity effect of adding Wolfiporia extensa Ginns (W) to fermented pollack skin products in an obesity-induced animal model. The experimental groups were the normal diet group (C), high-fat diet group (HF), dried pollack skin (H1), fermented pollack skin (H2), and W of 0.1 (F2-WL), 0.3 (F2-WM), and 0.5 (F2), respectively. It was confirmed that adding W to fermented pollack skin reduced blood triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL levels, while increasing HDL levels. Wolfiporia extensa Ginns was effective in controlling weight and improving blood lipids in a dose-dependent manner. In histological analysis, findings of fatty liver induced by a high-fat diet were improved by the addition of H2 and W. Size and density of fat globules in the epididymis were decreased. In addition, the concentration of TNF-α was increased in the high-fat diet group, but decreased by the addition of fermented pollack skin and W. In conclusion, adding fermented dried pollack skin and Wolfiporia extensa Ginns was effective for weight control and blood lipid improvement. Thus, the use of by-products in functional foods is expected to have a high value in the future.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제82권5호
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• pp.1053-1065
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• 2021

음낭 종양은 고환, 부고환, 정삭, 고환막 등에서 발생하며 악성 가능성을 평가하는데 가장 중요한 요소는 병변의 위치이다. 추가적인 영상 소견과 임상 정보를 종합하여 효과적으로 진단할 수 있다. 초음파검사는 표재성 기관인 음낭을 관찰하기 용이하며, 우수한 영상 품질을 바탕으로 병변의 유무뿐만 아니라 위치와 성상까지 확인 가능하다. 초음파검사로 감별이 어려울 경우에는 자기공명영상을 이용하여 지방, 출혈, 섬유화, 조영증강 등 추가적인 종양의 특징을 확인하는 것이 진단에 도움이 된다. 전산화단층촬영은 고환암의 병기결정이나 복강 내 미하강고환의 위치를 탐색하는데 유용하다. 본 종설에서는 고환 내외에서 발생하는 음낭 종양의 영상 소견을 살펴보고자 한다.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.193-203
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• 1998

The toxicity of DA-125. a new anthracycline anticancer agent, on the male reproductive system was studied in Sprague-Dawley rats. Forty male rats were rando$m\ell$y assigned to Jour groups with ten rats in each group and given single intraveneous doses of DA-125 at dose levels of 0. 12.5. 25. and 50 mg/kg body weight. On day 56 after treatment the animals were allowed to mate. and their male reproductive Junctions and organs were examined in detail. Copulated females were sacrificed on day 20 of gestation for examination of embryo-fetal development. One out of ten rats in the 50 mg/kg group died on day 12 after treatment. Clinical signs such as emaciation. sedation, anorexia. swelling. dark material around eye. alopecia. and diarrhea were observed in the 25 and/or 50 mg/kg groups. Reduction in the body weight gain. decrease in the absolute weights of testes. epididymis and seminal vesicles. and/or decrease in the number of testicular sperm heads were also found. Although histopathological changes such as atrophy of seminiferous tubules. loss or decrease of spermatogenic cells. exfoliation of spermatogenic cells. vacuolization of Sertoli cells. decrease of sperm. and/or increase of necrotic spermatogenic cells in epididymal ducts were observed. no adverse effects on the motility and morphology of epididymal sperm. copulation index. fertility index. and embryo-fetal development were detected in the 25 and 50 mg/kg groups. There were no evidences of male reproductive toxicity in the 12.5 mg/kg group. These results show that single intravenouse doses of DA-125 produce significant dose-related testicular atrophy. histopathological changes. and oligozoospermia in rats and $LD_{10}$ for DA-125 appears to be 50 mg/kg body weight.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.163-172
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• 2000

Recently, there is a worldwide concern that a great number of man-made chemicals have a hormone-like action both in humans and in animals. DECD is developing screening programs using validated test systems to determine whether certain substances may have an effect in humans. In the present study. the establishment oj repeated-dose toxicity test method was tried. Flutamide. an anti-androgenic agent. was administered by gavage to Sprague-Dawley rats for 28 days at dose levels of 0. 0.5. 3 and 18 mg/kg body weight (10-15 rats/sex/group) to examine the effects on general findings. especially reproductive and endocrine parameters. Clinical signs. body weights, food consumption, and sexual cycle were checked and measured. For the gross and microscopic examinations. 10 rats/sex/group were sacrificed at the end of dosing period and the remaining animals of control and high dose groups (5 each) were sacrificed after 14 days recovery. Examinations for hematology and clinical chemistry were carried out at necropsy. There were no treatment-related changes in clinical signs. body weights, food consumption. gross necropsy. hematology and clinical chemistry at all doses of both sexes. The period and regularity of sexual cycle were not adversely affected at all doses by the test agent. At 18 mg/kg. both decreased weights of prostate, seminal vesicle and epididymis in males and increased weights of spleen and thymus in females were observed. In addition, decreased number of spermatids and sperms. increased serum testosterone concentration and increased incidence (100%) of interstitial cell hyperplasia were seen in males. At 18 mg/kg of the recovery group. decreased prostate weight. reduced sperm count and increased incidence (20%) of interstitial cell hyperplasia in males and increased thymus weight in females were observed. At 3 mg/kg. reduced sperm count was found. There were no adverse effects on parameters examined at 0.5 mg/kg of both sexes. The results suggested that the potential target organs of flutamide may be accessory sexual glands including testes for males and spleen and thymus for females. Taken together. this test method was found to be a useful screening test system for endocrine disrupting chemicals.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.435-440
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• 2013

Previous studies, including our own, have demonstrated that the intratesticular injection of hypertonic saline (20%) decreased serum testosterone level which was similar to the surgical castration in the rat, showing the state of chemical castration. In the present study, we further verify the efficacy of this less invasive method as an alternative of surgical orchidectomy in the andrological field. Sterilized 20% saline was directly injected into the adult male rats (750 ${\mu}l$ per testis). The tested rats were divided into 3 groups including intact group (intact), orchidectomy group (ORX) and saline injection group (SAL) after bilateral orchidectomy was performed at the same day of injection. All rats were sacrificed at 4 weeks after injection. The reproductive organs (testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostates) were collected and used for DNA and protein pattern analyses. Also, patho-histological studies on the testes were performed. In contrast to the intact group, similar DNA damages of testis and seminal vesicle were appeared in ORX group and SAL group. The DNA degradations seemed to be the results of necrosis rather than apoptosis. In the protein pattern analysis, all the testing tissues exerted similar patterns in the ORX group and the SAL group compared to the those of intact group. Patho-histological studies revealed that severe degenerative changes in testicular seminiferous tubules and massive infiltration of immune cells in SAL group. The present study confirmed that direct injection of hypertonic saline into the testis caused the equivalent biochemical changes in the accessory sex organs as shown in the orchidectomized animals. These results suggest that hypertonic saline injection model could be a useful castration model which can substitute for surgical castration when its safety is secured through further study in the future.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권5호
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• pp.2507-2511
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• 2016

Purpose: To study the diagnostic accuracies of serum human epididymis protein 4 (HE-4) levels, virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) parameters and endometrial volume in endometrial cancer cases. Materials and Methods: One hundred and seven patients (37 with endometrial cancer and 70 with benign endometrial pathology) were included in this study. VOCAL parameters and serum HE-4 levels were compared between the groups. Results: Area under the curve (AUC) values were 0.702, 0.658, 0.706 for vascularization index (VI), the flow index (FI) and the vascularization flow index (VFI), respectively. A cut off value of 0.568 for VI demonstrated 70% sensitivity, 72% specificity, 56% positive predictive value (PPV) and a81% negative predictive value (NPV). A cut off value of 25.8 for showed a senitivith of 70% and a specificity of 58% with aPPV of 46% and NPV of 78%, and with a cut off value of 0.12 for VFI 70%, 69%, 54% and 81%, respectively. The area under the curve for HE-4 was 0.814. A cut off value of 458 pmol/L was predictive of malignancy with 86% sensitivity and 63% specificity. Conclusions: VOCAL parameters and serum HE-4 levels were statistically significantly higher in the endometrial cancer patients. Serum HE-4 levels provided a greater sensitivity compared to power doppler angiography for predicting malignancy or benign endometrial pathology.

• 한국환경보건학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국환경보건학회 2004년도 International Conference Global Environmental Problems and their Health Consequences
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• pp.185-187
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• 2004

The co-administration of BPA and BBP induced slow weight gain compared with single administration in dams. Also, such mixture induced low neonatal body weights in next generation. The dams treated with BPA and BBP showed significant organ weight changes in liver, spleen exposed during lactational periods. But the dams exposed during lactational periods showed significant organ weight changes not only in liver, spleen but also in kidney, uterus and ovary. The F1 female rats exposed during lactation periods showed significant organ weight changes in liver, spleen, ovary. The F1 male rats showed significant organ weight changes in liver, kidney, epididymis, vesicular glands, prostate. However no clear synergistic effects of BPA and BBP could be found. Estrogen receptor ${\alpha}$ expression by BPA and BBP in the uterus(dam, F1 female) and testis(F1 male) were studied. There was no significant different $ER{\alpha}$ expression pattern between control and treated groups. But $ER{\alpha}$ expression were increased in F1 male testis and female uterus. F1 male showed distinct $ER{\alpha}$ expression, especially in the group of lactational combined exposure. Synergistic $ER{\alpha}$ expression was found by combined treatment of BPA and BBP.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.43-51
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• 2015

Connexin (Cx) is a complex which allows direct communication between neighboring cells via exchange of signaling molecules and eventually leads to functional harmony of cells in a tissue. The initial segment (IS) is an excurrent duct of male reproductive tract and expression of numerous genes in the IS are controlled by androgens and estrogens. The effects of these steroid hormones on gene expression in the IS during postnatal development have not extensively examined. The present research investigated expressional modulation of Cx isoforms in the IS by exogenous exposure to estrogen agonist, estradiol benzoate (EB), or androgen antagonist, flutamide (Flu), at weaning age. Two different doses of EB or Flu were subcutaneously administrated in 21-day old of male rats, and expressional changes of Cx isoforms in the adult IS were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Treatment of a low-dose EB ($0.015{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) resulted in an increased expression of Cx31 gene and a decreased expression of Cx37 gene. A high-dose EB ($1.5{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) treatment caused an increase of Cx31 gene expression. Increased levels of Cx30.3 and Cx40 transcripts were observed with a low-dose Flu ($500{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) treatment. Treatment of high-dose Flu (50 mg/kg body weight) led to expressional increases of Cx30.3, 40, and 43 genes. Our previous and present findings suggest differential responsiveness on gene expression of Cx isoforms in the IS by androgens and estrogens at different postnatal ages.