• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2015

Objectives: Taraxaci Herba (TH) have been used in oriental medicine for many centuries as a heat-clearing, detoxifying and stimulating milk secretion drug. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of TH on the sex hormone changes and lipid metabolism in the experimental model. Methods: The experimental model of menopause was induced by bilateral ovariectomy in rats. We used TH extract with freeze-dried and $200{\pm}20g$ female Sprague-dawley rats for this Study. The level of serum total cholesterol, serum triglyceride, serum HDL-cholesterol, serum total estrogen, serum progesterone, serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and body weight were measured. Results: The results of this study were obtained as follows; 1. Sample A and Sample B significantly decreased body weight and level of serum total cholesterol, and significantly increased level of serum total estrogen as compared with control group. 2. Sample A decreased level of serum triglyceride, and was increased level of HDL-cholesterol, serum progesterone, serum FSH as compared with control group. 3. Sample B significantly increased level of HDL-cholesterol, serum FSH as compared with control group. 4. Sample B decreased level of serum triglyceride, and was increased level of serum progesterone as compared with control group. Conclusions: These results suggest that TH could be applied effectively on the treatment of menopausal syndrome.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.100-108
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• 1986

Eik-Nes (1966) reported that the mechanism of spermatogenesis is controlled by FSH and LH and maintaned normally in scrotum terperautre which is 3-5$^{\circ}C$ lower than body termperature. But Ojeda and Ramirez (1972) have described that the abdominal testis was shrinked severely and lost its normal function in congenital cryptorchidism or surgically induced cryptorchidism. Ramirez and Sawyer (1974) reported that the compensatory hypertorphy occured in the remaining testis of unilateral castration and the scrotal testis of unilateral cryptorchidism. Cunninham et al. (1978) reported that the serum FSH levle increased after unilateral castration. Frankel and Wright (1982) reported that the serum LH level was unchanged greatly after unilateral castration. Gomes and Jain (1976) reported that the serum testosterone level increased temporarily but not varied after unilateral castration. On the other hand, Kormano et al. (1964) reported that the serum FSH level in unilateral cryptorchidism rat was unchanged in contrast with the control and Risbirdger et al. (1981) reported that the serum LH level was unchanged till 2 weeks after operation and after then increased to 77%. Kim (1984) reported that the serum testosterone level was somewhat lower than that fo control group but there was't significant different. There were many different reports on hormone levels among different investigators when the immarue rats were castrated unilaterally or induced cryptorchidism unilaterally. Liang and Liang (1970) and Cunningham et al. (1978) described that there were no true compenastory hypertrophy in the remaining testis of unilateral castration and scrotal testis of unilateral testis of unilateral cryptorchidism in rat but they grew faster than that of control. Kormano et al.(1964), Damber et al.(1976), Cunningham et al.(1978) and Karpe et al.(1981) reported that the testis weight, germinal epithelia height and seminiferous tubules diameter developed continuously and similarily in the control, the remaining testis of unilateral castration and scrotal testis of unilateral cryptorchidism increased, however, in the abdominal testis of the unilateral cryptorchidism, they were much smaller than those of other groups. In observation of the histological changes in the seminiferous epithelium of control, remaining tesis of unilateral castration and scrotal testis of unilateral cryptorchidism differentiated and developed fully(Cunningham et al., 1978). However, the abdominal testis of unilateral crytorchidism degenerated severely and only the germ cells in early stage and Sertoli cells were found in the seminiferous tubules. (Damber et al., 1976, Gomes and Jain, 1976 and Karpe et al., 1981). By electron microscopic observation, Nagano (1963) and Leason and Leeson (1970) found that the abdominal testis of unilateral cryptorchidism was thicked in boundary tissue, increased lipid droplet in the Sertoli cell, disarranged axial filament complex and increased lipid inclusions in the Sertoli cell.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.135-147
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• 1988

To compare the stimulation effect of the ratio in follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in induction of multiple follicular growth, the serum $E_2$ level, the diameter of follicle, number of aspirated follicles and cleavage rate of in vitro fertilized preovulatory oocytes as well as the pregnancy rate were evaluated. Forty one patients with irreparable tubal disease were stimulated by hMG(n=24) or FSH/hMG(n=17) for the purpose of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. The following results were obtained. 1. Serum estradiol($E_2$) levels on the day of hCG administration were $921.0{\pm}353.3\;pg/ml$ in hMG group and $1272.9{\pm}1060.6\;pg/ml$ in FSH/hMG group. The serum $E_2$ value of hMG group was significantly lower than that of FSH/hMG group. 2. The diameter of leading follicle by ultrasonogram on the day of hCG administration were $16.2{\pm}2.0\;mm$ in hMG group and $16.2{\pm}2.6\;mm$ in FSH/hMG group. No significant difference of follicle diameter between two groups was demonstrated. 3. The number of follicles with diameter above 10 mm by sonogram on the day of hCG injection were $3.91{\pm}2.32$ in hMG group and $6.52{\pm}3.86$ in FSH/hMG group. There was significant difference of number of follicles between two groups, (p< 0.01). 4. The number of oocytes found per patient at aspiration were $2.59{\pm}1.00$ in hMG group and 3. $76{\pm}2.31$ in FSH/hMG group. There was significant difference of number of aspirated oocytes between two groups. (p< 0.05). 5. The detection rate of preovulatory oocyte at aspiration were 68.4%(39/57) in hMG group (n=22) and 77.6%(38/49) in FSH/hMG group (n=13). 6. The cleavage rate of preovulatory oocyte at 44 hours after insemination were 74.4%(29/39) in hMG group(n=22) and 81.6%(31/38) in FSH/hMG group (n=13). When only hMG was used, one pregnancy was established in 15 patients to whom 29 zygotes were transferred. And a full term normal female baby was delivered by elective cesarean section. In the FSH/hMG group, five pregnancies out of 9 transferred patients were confirmed by serum ${\beta}-hCG$. Two pregnancies were spontaneously aborted before the 6th week of pregnancy. One patient aborted her baby at the 18th week of pregnancy because of incompetent internal os of the cervix. Two patients delivered two full term babies by elective cesarean section. From the above findings, paralell with the increase in the ratio of exogenous follicle stimulating hormone to luteinizing hormone, an increase in oocyte recovery was observed as well as an improvements in pregnancy rate. It was concluded that FSH enrichment early in the follicular phase had a beneficial effect in the controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.309-317
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• 2008

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) as a predictive marker for ovarian response and cycle outcome in IVF cycles. Methods: From Jan., to Aug., 2007, 111 patients undergoing IVF/ICSI stimulated by short or antagonist protocol were selected. On cycle day 3, basal serum AMH level and FSH level were measured. The correlation between basal serum AMH or FSH, and COH outcome was analyzed and IVF outcome was compared according to the AMH levels. To determine the threshold value of AMH for poor- and hyper-response, ROC curve was analyzed. Results: Serum AMH showed higher correlation coefficient (r=0.792, p<0.001) with the number of retrieved mature oocyte than serum FSH (r=-0.477, p<0.001). According to ovarian response, FSH and AMH leves showed significant differences among poor, normal, and hyperresponder. For predicting poor (${\leq}2$ oocytes) and hyperresponse (${\geq}17$ oocyets), AMH cut-off values were 0.5 ng/ml (the sensitivity 88.9% and the specificity 89.5%) and 2.5 ng/ml (sensitivity 85.7%, specificity 87.0%), respectively. According to the AMH level, patients were divided into 3 groups: low (${\leq}0.60\;ng/ml$), normal ($0.60{\sim}2.60\;ng/ml$), and high AMH (${\geq}2.60\;ng/ml$). The number of retrieved mature oocytes was significantly higher ($2.7{\pm}2.2$, $8.1{\pm}4.8$, $16.5{\pm}5.7$) and total gonadotropin dose was lower ($3530.5{\pm}1251.0$, $2957.1{\pm}1057.6$, and $2219.2{\pm}751.9\;IU$) in high AMH group (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in fertilization rates and pregnancy rates (23.8%, 34.0%, 37.5%) among the groups. Conclusions: Basal serum AMH level correlated better with the number of retrieved mature oocytes than FSH level, suggesting its usefulness for predicting ovarian response. However, IVF outcome was not significantly different according to the AMH levels. Serum AMH level presented good cut-off value for poor- or hyper-responders, therefore it could be useful in prediction of cycle cancellation, gonadotropin dose, and OHSS risk in IVF cycles.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.177-182
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• 1997

To make index on therapy or releasing from dairy holstein cows of reproductive disorder, the levels of serological sex hormones and total ALP, GOT, GPT, and serum protein were measured. The results obtained through the experiments are summarized as follows ; 1. The levels of FSH and estradiol in reproductive disorder group were significantly higher and lower than those in pregnant group and control group, respectively. (p<0.05) 2. The level of prolactin was showed mild difference in three groups and that of progesterone was reasonably higher in pregnant group with significance (p<0.05). 3. The activity of GPT was significantly higher and that of GOT was showed higher In reproductive disorder group, respectively ( p<0.05) 4. The level of total ALP was higher in reproductive disorder group, however no difference was showed between pregnant and control group. 5. The level of serum protein was followed as control, pregnant, and reproductive disorder with insignificance.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.271-280
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• 2018

Here, we evaluated the mode of programmed cell death during porcine oocyte maturation by comparing the two major pathways associated with programmed cell death, apoptosis (type I), and autophagy (type II). We investigated the expression and localization of major genes involved in autophagy and apoptosis at mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, the effect of hormonal stimulation on autophagy and apoptosis was analyzed. We found that the activity of autophagy-associated genes was increased in the cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) following follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) treatment, while the addition of luteinizing hormone (LH) reversed this effect. The expression of proteins associated with autophagy was the highest in FSH-treated COCs. On the other hand, caspase-3 protein level was maximum in COCs cultured with LH. The treatment with rapamycin resulted in the effect similar to that observed with FSH treatment and increased autophagy activity. Thus, hormonal stimulation of pig oocytes resulted in distinct patterns of maturation. The high-quality oocytes majorly relied on the type II pathway (autophagy), while the type I pathway (apoptosis) was more prominent among poor-quality oocytes. Further investigation of this distinction may allow the development of techniques to produce high-quality oocytes in porcine in vitro fertilization.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2015

This study investigated possible involvement of photoperiodic regulation in reproductive endocrine system of female olive flounder. To investigate the influence on brain-pituitary axis in endocrine system by regulating photoperiod, compared expression level of Kisspeptin and sbGnRH mRNA in brain and FSH-${\beta}$, LH-${\beta}$ and GH mRNA in pituitary before and after spawning. Photoperiod was treated natural photoperiod and long photoperiod (15L:9D) conditions from Aug. 2013 to Jun. 2014. Continuous long photoperiod treatment from Aug. (post-spawning phase) was inhibited gonadal development of female olive flounder. In natural photoperiod group, the Kiss2 expression level a significant declined in Mar. (spawning period). And also, FSH-${\beta}$, LH-${\beta}$ and GH mRNA expression levels were increasing at this period. However, in long photoperiod group, hypothalamic Kiss2, FSH-${\beta}$, LH-${\beta}$ and GH mRNA expression levels did not show any significant fluctuation. These results suggest that expression of hypothalamic Kiss2, GtH and GH in the pituitary would change in response to photoperiod and their possible involvement of photoperiodic regulation in reproductive endocrine system of the BPG axis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.340-350
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to determine whether peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$(PPAR${\gamma}$ is involved in the regulation of weaning to estrus of primiparous sows. Twelve sows composed of 6 groups of 2 full-sibs in a similar age (325.2 d), body weight (BW; 152.4 kg) and backfat thickness (BFT; 27.0 mm) at start of lactation, were allocated to accept 31 MJ (restricted group, R-group) or 53 MJ (control group, C-group) DE/d treatment, respectively. The experimental results indicated that the low energy intake resulted in excessive losses of BW and BFT during lactation in R-group sows, which may be related to decrease of serum 15-deoxy-${\Delta}^{12,14}$-prostaglandin $J_2$ (15d-$PGJ_2$), a ligand of PPAR${\gamma}$ The obvious peak and the frequency of LH, FSH and estradiol ($E_2$) were only observed in C-group sows. Except for $E_2$ at d 1 and 2, serum FSH, LH and $E_2$ concentrations in R-group were lower than those in C-group sows after weaning. However, the serum progesterone ($P_4$) level in R-group sows was always more than that in C-group. The expression abundances of PPAR${\gamma}$and GnRH receptor (GnRH-R) in pituitary, FSH receptor (FSH-R), LH receptor (LH-R), estrogen receptor (ES-R) and aromatase in ovary of anestrous sows were lower than those of estrous sows. Neither the BFT nor the BW was associated with the mRNA abundance of PPAR${\gamma}$in hypothalamus during lactation. Expressions of PPAR${\gamma}$in pituitary and ovary were affected evidently by the BFT changes and only by the loss of BW of sows during and after lactation. Furthermore, PPAR${\gamma}$mRNA level in ovary was significantly related to the expression abundances of GnRH-R, FSH-R, ES-R and aromatase, and GnRH-R was obviously associated with PPAR${\gamma}$expression in pituitary. However, PPAR${\gamma}$expression in hypothalamus likely has no effects on these genes expression and no obvious difference for all sows. Not serum $E_2$ or $P_4$ alone but the ratios of $E_2$ to $P_4$ and 15d-$PGJ_2$ to $P_4$, and serum FSH and LH were evidently related to PPAR${\gamma}$expression in pituitary and ovary. It is concluded that PPAR${\gamma}$is associated with body conditions, reproduction hormones and their receptor expression, which affected the functions of pituitary and ovary and ultimately the estrus after weaning of primiparous sows.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2004

Objectives: To investigate the effect of LH receptor in folliculogenesis, we confirm the expression level of LH receptor (LH-R) mRNA in human granulosa cells (GCs) and its expression levels were analyzed by comparison to embryo developmental rate and pregnancy rate. Materials and Methods: GCs were obtained at the time of oocyte retrieval from the patients undergoing IVF-ET program. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I (n=20) is poor responder (retrieved oocyte(s)$\leq$3ea), Group II (n=80) is normal responder (retrieved oocytes>3ea). After the extraction of total RNA, semiquantitative RT-PCR was performed and the expression level of LH-R mRNA was normalized by $\beta$-actin. Statistical analysis was performed by using $X^2$ test, Student's t-test and Pearson correlation. Results: In Group II, the relative values of LH-R mRNA (0.680 vs. 0.463, p<0.005) and pregnancy rate (54.7% vs. 23.1%, p<0.05) were significantly higher than in Group I. Number of retrieved oocyte(s) was gradually increased when the expression of LH-R mRNA was increased (p<0.05). But the quality of retrieved oocyte and transferred embryo were not related with the expression of LH-R mRNA. When the pregnancy rate was compared with FSH only group and FSH combined with hMG group in the ovarian stimulation protocol, FSH combined with hMG group was significantly higher than FSH only group in Group I (37.5% vs. 0%), and the expression of LH-R mRNA was significantly higher in hMG combined group than FSH only group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Expression level of LH-R mRNA has important role in ovarian function related with the response to gonadotrophin in human folliculogenesis. Furthermore these data might provide the evidence that additional use of hMG is helpful to poor responders.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2016

Objective: Ovarian reserve tests are commonly used to predict ovarian response in infertile patients undergoing ovarian stimulation. Although serum markers such as basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or random $anti-M{\ddot{u}}llerian$ hormone (AMH) level and ultrasonographic markers (antral follicle count, AFC) are good predictors, no single test has proven to be the best predictor. In this study, we developed appropriate equations and novel nomograms to predict the number of oocytes that will be retrieved using patients' age, serum levels of basal FSH and AMH, and AFC. Methods: We analyzed a database containing clinical and laboratory information of 141 stimulated in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles performed at a university-based hospital between September 2009 and December 2013. We used generalized linear models for prediction of the number of oocytes. Results: Age, basal serum FSH level, serum AMH level, and AFC were significantly related to the number of oocytes retrieved according to the univariate and multivariate analyses. The equations that predicted the number of oocytes retrieved (log scale) were as follows: model (1) $3.21-0.036{\times}(age)+0.089{\times}(AMH)$, model (2) $3.422-0.03{\times}(age)-0.049{\times}(FSH)+0.08{\times}(AMH)$, model (3) $2.32-0.017{\times}(age)+0.039{\times}(AMH)+0.03{\times}(AFC)$, model (4) $2.584-0.015{\times}(age)-0.035{\times}(FSH)+0.038{\times}(AMH)+0.026{\times}(AFC)$. model 4 showed the best performance. On the basis of these variables, we developed nomograms to predict the number of oocytes that can be retrieved. Conclusion: Our nomograms helped predict the number of oocytes retrieved in stimulated IVF cycles.