• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.189-195
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• 2012

Epimedii Herba is a traditional medicinal herb used in Korea and China and exerts estrogenic activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of peripubertal administration of Epimedii Herba on pubertal development in female rats using a modified protocol of the rodent 20-day pubertal female assay. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (21 days old after weaning, 10 rats per group) were divided into five groups: saline (Con), ethinyl estradiol (E2), Epimedii Herba ext (Ext), icariin (ICI), and icaritin (ICT), which were administered by oral gavage (E2 by subcutaneous injection) from postnatal day (PND) 21 through PND40. The time to vaginal opening (VO) was shorter for the Epimedii groups, particularly for the ICT group (p<0.05). Treatment with ICI and ICT significantly increased the duration of the estrus cycle (ICI, 2.78 days; ICT, 4.0 days; control, 1.78 days). Ovary weight was reduced by E2 treatment and increased by the Ext, ICI, and ICT treatments while the weight of the uterus and pituitary glands increased significantly only in the E2 and ICT groups. Although Epimedii Herba displayed relatively weak estrogenic activity, its repeated administration could affect pubertal development in female rats.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.83-91
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• 2021

The present study was performed to investigate the effect of maternal hypothyroidism and puberty onset in female rat pups. To do this, we employed propylthiouracil (PTU) to prepare a hypothyroid rat model. Pregnant rats were treated with PTU (0.025%) in drinking water from gestational day 14 to postnatal day 21 of offspring. Comparison of general indices such as body and tissue weights and puberty indices such as vaginal opening (VO) and tissue histology between control and PTU-treated rats were conducted. There was no significant difference in the date of VO between control and PTU group. The body weights of the PTU group were significantly lower, only 36.8% of the control group (p<0.001). Although the absolute thyroid weight was not changed by PTU treatment, the relative weight increased significantly about 2.8 times (p<0.001), indicating that hypothyroidism was successfully induced. On the other hand, the absolute weights of the ovary and uterus were markedly decreased by PTU administration (p<0.001), and the relative weight was not significantly changed. The ovarian histology of PTU group revealed the advanced state of differentiation (i.e., presence of corpora lutea). Inversely, the uterine histology of PTU group showed underdeveloped structures compared those in control group. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that our maternal hypothyroidism model resulted in minimal effect on pubertal development symbolized by VO despite of huge retardation in somatic growth. More sophisticatedly designed hypothyroidism model will be helpful to achieve a better understanding of pubertal development and related disorders.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.55-62
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• 2013

Puberty is the developmental period which animals obtain the ability of reproducing sexually for the first time in life. In commercially important aquaculture fish species, the onset of puberty is a matter of major interest due to controlling of sexual maturation to improve broodstock management. To investigate pubertal characteristics of female longtooth grouper (Epinephelus bruneus), specimens were classified into three groups by the bodyweight, including 1, 2, and 3 kg group. Thereafter, we focused on ovarian development and level changes of endocrine regulation factors (GnRH, GTHs, steroid hormone). In the non-breeding season (April), the levels of endocrine regulation factors showed increasing trends in accordance with bodyweight gaining; nevertheless, the oocytes were growth phase belongs to almost peri-nucleous stages in all groups. In the breeding season (June), the levels of endocrine regulation factors were fluctuated that decreases in levels of sbGnRH and $FSH{\beta}$ mRNA expressions along with serum $E_2$ concentrations in 3 kg of group. However, $LH{\beta}$ mRNA expression levels sustained increasing trends by the bodyweight. Moreover, the oocytes developed that 2 kg and 3 kg groups obtained plentiful vitellogenic oocytes while 1 kg group was still composed with greater part of pre-vitellogenic oocytes. Especially, the oocytes of 3 kg group reached over 450 ${\mu}m$ of diameters that indicating possibility to enter the final maturations. These results suggest that the progress of pubertal development in female E. bruneus could be classify into three phases via bodyweight, including pre-puberty (1 kg), early-puberty (2 kg) and puberty (3 kg).

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.30-35
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• 2006

Munc18, a mammalian homolog of C. elegans Unc, is essential for neurotransmitter release. The aim of this study was to identify estrogen-dependent expression of Munc18-1 and its role in the regulation of glutamate release for puberty onset. Hypothalamic munc18-1 mRNA levels were significantly increased by estrogen treatment in ovariectomized, immature female rats. During pubertal development, the munc18-1 mRNA levels dramatically increased between the juvenile period and the anestrous phase of puberty. Intracerebroventricular administration of an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide against munc18-1 mRNA significantly decreased glutamate release and delayed the day of puberty onset. These results suggest that Munc18-1, expressed in an estrogen-dependent manner, plays an important role in the onset of female puberty via the regulation of glutamate release.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.295-300
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• 2012

Manganese ($Mn^{2+}$) is a trace element that is essential for normal physiology, and is predominantly obtained from food. Several lines of evidence, however, demonstrated that overexposure to $MnCl_2$ exerts serious neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity and developmental toxicity, particularly in male. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of 0, 1.0, 3.3, and 10 mg/kg/day doses of $MnCl_2$ on the reproductive organs in the immature female rats. Rats (PND 22; S.D. strain) were exposed to $MnCl_2$ ($MnCl_2{\cdot}4H_2O$) dissolved in drinking water for 2 weeks. The animals were sacrificed on PND 35, then the tissues were immediately removed and weighed. Histological studies were performed using the uteri tissue samples. Serum LH and FSH levels were measured with the specific ELISA kits. Body weights of the experimental group animals were not significantly different from those of control group animals. However, ovarian tissue weights in 1 mg and 3.3 mg $MnCl_2$ dose groups were significantly lower than those of control animals (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Uterine tissue weights of 3.3 mg dose $MnCl_2$ groups were significantly lower than those of control animals (p<0.01), while the 1 mg $MnCl_2$ dose and 10 mg $MnCl_2$ dose failed to induce any change in uterine weight. Similarly, only 3.3 mg $MnCl_2$ dose could induce the significant decrease in the oviduct weight compared to the control group (p<0.05). Non-reproductive tissues such as adrenal and kidney failed to respond to all doses of $MnCl_2$ exposure. The uterine histology revealed that the $MnCl_2$ exposure could affect the myometrial cell proliferation particularly in 3.3 mg dose and 10mg dose group. Serum FSH levels were significantly decreased in 1mg $MnCl_2$ dose and 10 $MnCl_2$ mg groups (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). In contrast, treatment with 1 mg $MnCl_2$ dose induced a significant increment of serum LH level (p<0.05). The present study demonstrated that $MnCl_2$ exposure is capable of inducing abnormal development of reproductive tissues, at least to some extent, and altered gonadotropin secretions in immature female rats. Combined with the well-defined actions of this metal on GnRH and prolactin secretion, one can suggest the $Mn^{2+}$ might be a potential environmental mediator which is involved in the female pubertal process.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국식품위생안전성학회 2001년도 The Asia-Pacific Conference on Reproductive Biology and Environmental Sciences
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• pp.54-60
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• 2001

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.213-222
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• 2023

Cryopreservation is an option for the preservation of pre- or post-pubertal female or male fertility. This technique not only is beneficial for human clinical applications, but also plays a crucial role in the breeding of livestock and endangered species. Unfortunately, frozen germ cells, including oocytes, sperm, embryos, and spermatogonial stem cells, are subject to cryoinjury. As a result, various cryoprotective agents and freezing techniques have been developed to mitigate this damage. Despite extensive research aimed at reducing apoptotic cell death during freezing, a low survival rate and impaired cell function are still observed after freeze-thawing. In recent decades, several cell death pathways other than apoptosis have been identified. However, the relationship between these pathways and cryoinjury is not yet fully understood, although necroptosis and autophagy appear to be linked to cryoinjury. Therefore, gaining a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cryoinjury could aid in the development of new strategies to enhance the effectiveness of the freezing of reproductive tissues. In this review, we focus on the pathways through which cryoinjury leads to cell death and propose novel approaches to enhance freezing efficacy based on signaling molecules.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.159-165
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• 2020

Previously, we reported adverse effects of low-dose nonylphenol (NP) exposure on the reproductive parameters of F1 female mice. In the present study we further investigated the pathohistological effect of NP exposure on the reproductive organs in F1 female mice. NP exposures were continuously conducted from parental pre-mating period until the postnatal day (PND) 33 of F1 offspring for vaginal examination. Mice were sacrificed on PND 30 and the reproductive tissue weights were measured. The initial (at PND 21) body weights of the NP-50 group animals were significantly lower than those of control group animals, and the weight deficit were recovered when the terminal (PND 33) body weights were measured. Early vaginal opening was found in NP group animals (p<0.05). Pathohistological studies revealed that NP-treated F1 animals showed prominent increase in the ovarian follicle numbers (p<0.01), and decrease in the diameter of uterine myometrium (p<0.01), and increase in the diameter of luminal epithelium (p<0.05). The present study demonstrated that the subchronic low-dose NP exposure induced early beginning of puberty and pathohistological abnormalities in ovary and uterus of F1 mice. Further studies are needed to achieve a better understanding on the action mechanism of NP in pubertal onset and to find a way to avoid a hazardous situation provoked by NP exposure.

• 대한소아치과학회지
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.243-258
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• 2008

본 연구는 성장 중인 부정교합 환자의 진단이나 치료계획의 수립, 치료방법 및 시기, 예후 등을 결정하는데 중요한 판단 지침이 되는 치아 석회화 단계와 경추 및 수완부골 성숙도간의 연관성을 규명하여 개인의 보다 정확하고 효율적인 사춘기 성장 정도를 평가하기 위해 시행하였다. 전신 질환이 없고 교정 치료 경험이 없는 7-16세의 여아 154명, 남아 179명, 총 333명의 파노라마 방사선사진, 측모 두부규격 방사선사진, 수완부 방사선사진을 분석하여 평가하였다. 연구 결과, 파노라마 방사선사진의 치아 석회화 단계를 통하여 사춘기 성장 정도를 평가하는 것은 부정교합 환자의 진단 및 치료계획을 수립하는데 임상적으로 유용한 정보를 제공할 것으로 판단되었다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제59권sup1호
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• pp.121-124
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• 2016

Turner syndrome (TS) is a genetic disorder in phenotypic females that has characteristic physical features and presents as partial or complete absence of the second sex chromosome. Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a condition caused by insufficient release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland. The concomitant occurrence of TS and GHD is rare and has not yet been reported in Korea. Here we report 2 cases of TS and GHD. In case 1, GHD was initially diagnosed. Karyotyping was performed because of the presence of the typical phenotype and poor response to growth hormone therapy, which revealed 45,X/45,X+mar. The patient showed increased growth velocity after the growth hormone dose was increased. In case 2, a growth hormone provocation test and chromosomal analysis were performed simultaneously because of decreased growth velocity and the typical TS phenotype, which showed GHD and a mosaic karyotype of 45,X/46,XX. The patient showed spontaneous pubertal development. In female patients with short stature, it is important to perform a throughout physical examination and test for hormonal and chromosomal abnormalities because diagnostic accuracy is important for treatment and prognosis.