• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.297-304
• /
• 2014

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is a plant native to Europe and has been widely used as a carminative and gastric stimulant worldwide. This plant also has been used in cosmetic formulations as a fragrance component and skin conditioning agent. This study investigated the effect of peppermint oil on hair growth in C57BL/6 mice. The animals were randomized into 4 groups based on different topical applications: saline (SA), jojoba oil (JO), 3% minoxidil (MXD), and 3% peppermint oil (PEO). The hair growth effects of the 4-week topical applications were evaluated in terms of hair growth, histological analysis, enzymatic activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gene expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), known bio-markers for the enhanced hair growth. Of the 4 experimental groups, PEO group showed the most prominent hair growth effects; a significant increase in dermal thickness, follicle number, and follicle depth. ALP activity and IGF-1 expression also significantly increased in PEO group. Body weight gain and food efficiency were not significantly different between groups. These results suggest that PEO induces a rapid anagen stage and could be used for a practical agent for hair growth without change of body weight gain and food efficiency.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.200-205
• /
• 2023

Objective: Polycystic ovary (PCO), a diagnostic component of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), requires either an ovarian volume (OV) criterion or a follicle number per ovary (FNPO) criterion. This study investigated the association of OV and FNPO criteria with various manifestations of PCOS. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a university hospital among 100 patients newly diagnosed with PCOS (according to the revised Rotterdam criteria). Fasting blood samples were collected to measure glucose, total testosterone (TT), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), lipid, insulin, and hemoglobin A1c levels. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed. Transabdominal or transvaginal ultrasound of the ovaries was done, depending on patients' marital status. All investigations were conducted in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. OV >10 mL and/or FNPO ≥12 indicated PCO. A homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (IR) value ≥2.6 indicated IR, and metabolic syndrome (MS) was defined according to the international harmonization criteria. Results: Seventy-six participants fulfilled the OV criterion, 70 fulfilled the FNPO criterion, and 89 overall had PCO. Both maximum OV and mean OV had a significant correlation with TT levels (r=0.239, p=0.017 and r=0.280, p=0.005, respectively) and the LH/FSH ratio (r=0.212, p=0.034 and r=0.200, p=0.047, respectively). Mean OV also had a significant correlation with fasting insulin levels (r=0.210, p=0.036). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that IR (odds ratio [OR], 9.429; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.701 to 52.271; p=0.010) and MS (OR, 7.952; 95% CI, 1.821 to 34.731; p=0.006) had significant predictive associations with OV alone, even after adjustment for age and body mass index. Conclusion: OV may be more closely related to the androgenic and metabolic characteristics of PCOS than FNPO.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.159-168
• /
• 2000

Purpose: To elucidate the effects of the irradiation and calcium-deficient diet on expression of interleukin (IL)-1 during tooth formation of rat molar. Materials and Methods: The pregnant three-week-old Spague-Dawley rats were used for the study. The control group was non-irradiation/normal diet group, and the experimental groups were irradiation/normal diet group and irradiation/calcium-deficient diet group. The abdomen of the rats on the 9th day of pregnancy were irradiated with single dose of 350 cGy, The rat pups were sacrificed on the 14th day after delivery and the maxillae tooth germs were taken. The specimen were prepared to make sections for light microscopy, and some of tissue sections were stained immunohistochemically with anti-IL-l antibody. Results: In the irradiation/normal diet group, dental follicle showed fewer blood vessels, mononuclear cells, and fusions of mononuclear cells than in non-irradiation/normal diet group. Alveolar bone showed a few osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Periodontal ligament showed collagen fibers and fibroblasts with irregularity. Weak immunoreactivity for IL-l was shown in dental follicle, alveolar bone, and periodontal ligament. In the irradiation/calcium-deficient diet group, dental follicle showed sparse cellularity. Alveolar bone showed diminished number of osteoblasts. Periodontal ligament showed irregular collagen fibers and atrophy of cementoblasts and fibroblasts. No immunoreactivity for IL-1 was shown in dental follicle, alveolar bone, and periodontal ligament. Conclusion: Irradiation and calcium-deficient diet seems to cause disturbance of the expression of interleukin-l during tooth formation of rat molar.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.93-100
• /
• 2022

Objective: The impact of imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on ovarian follicles and several proteins related to follicular function and apoptosis was investigated in mice. Methods: Saline, cyclophosphamide (Cp; 50 or 75 mg/kg), or imatinib (7.5 or 15 mg/kg) was injected once intraperitoneally into female B6D2F1 mice (18 mice in each group). In multiple ovarian sections, the number of various types of follicles and the proportion of good-quality (G1) follicles were counted. The levels of six proteins (anti-Müllerian hormone [AMH], BCL-xL, BAX, acid sphingomyelinase [A-SMase], caspase-3, and α-smooth muscle actin [α-SMA]) within the whole ovaries were quantified using Western blots. Results: Compared to the saline group, a significant reduction of the primordial follicle count was observed in the group treated with imatinib 7.5 and 15 mg/kg, as well as in the group treated with Cp 75 mg/kg. Administration of Cp significantly decreased the proportion of G1 primordial follicles, but administration of imatinib did not. No differences in the AMH, anti-apoptotic BCLX-L, pro-apoptotic BAX, and A-SMase levels in the ovarian tissues were observed among the five groups. However, caspase-3 and α-SMA levels were significantly higher in the imatinib and Cp groups than in the saline group. Conclusion: The administration of imatinib to mice significantly reduced the primordial follicle count and increased the protein levels of caspase-3 and α-SMA. Our findings suggest that imatinib potentially exerts ovarian toxicity via apoptotic processes, similarly to Cp.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.347-351
• /
• 2021

Objective: We investigated the impact of vitamin D₃ (VD3) supplementation during mouse preantral follicle culture in vitro and the mRNA expression of 25-hydroxylase (CYP2R1), 1-alpha-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), and vitamin D receptor (VDR) in mouse ovarian follicles at different stages. Methods: Preantral follicles were retrieved from 39 BDF1 mice (7-8 weeks old) and then cultured in vitro for 12 days under VD3 supplementation (0, 25, and 50 pg/mL). Follicular development and the final oocyte acquisition were assessed. Preantral follicles were retrieved from 15 other BDF1 mice (7-8 weeks old) and cultured without VD3 supplementation. Three stages of mouse ovarian follicles were obtained (preantral, antral, and ruptured follicles). Total RNA was extracted from the pooled cells (from 20 follicles at each stage), and then reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to identify mRNA for CYP2R1, CYP27B1, and VDR. Results: The survival of preantral follicles, rates of antrum formation and ruptured follicles (per initiated follicle) and the number of total or mature oocytes were all comparable among the three groups. Both CYP2R1 and CYP27B1 were expressed in antral and ruptured follicles, but not in preantral follicles. VDR was expressed in all three follicular stages. Conclusion: VD3 supplementation in vitro (25 or 50 pg/mL) did not enhance mouse follicular development or final oocyte acquisition. Follicular stage-specific expression of CYP2R1, CYP27B1, and VDR was observed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.31-35
• /
• 2007

The main purpose of this study was to improve the efficiency and quality of in vitro embryo production in Korean Native Cows (KNC). We examined the effects of ovarian morphologies (Experiment 1) and the culture vessel (Experiment 2) on in vitro maturation (IVM). We measured the subsequent development rates and cell numbers of blastocysts. In Experiment 1, the ovaries of KNC were divided into six groups, based on follicle and corpus luteum (CL) morphology. The development rates to the 2- and 8-cell stages were similar among the six groups. The development rates to blastocyst stages were significantly higher in the group without a CL or follicle (WOCL/F) than in the groups with follicular cysts (FCs), regressive CLs (RCLs) or cystic CLs (CCLs) (p<0.05). The cell number of the inner cell mass (ICM) of blastocysts in the FCs and RCLs groups, and the number of cells in the trophectoderm (TE) in the WOCL/F group, FCs, growing CLs (GCLs) and RCLs were significantly higher than in other groups (p<0.05). The total cell number (TCN) in the WOCL/F, FC and RCL groups was also significantly higher than in other groups (p<0.05). The ICM cell number/TCN ratio was significantly higher in the FC and RCL groups than in the GCL and DF groups (p<0.05). In Experiment 2, oocyte IVM was carried out in culture dishes, in 0.25- or 0.5-ml straws used for freezing sperm. The development rate to the 2-cell stage was significantly higher in the 0.5-ml straw group than in the 0.25-ml straw group. The development rates to the blastocyst stage were similar in the dish and the two straw groups. There were no differences in the cell numbers of ICM, TE or TCN or ICM cell number/TCN ratios between groups.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.632-636
• /
• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of removal of all ovarian follicles through repeated transvaginal follicle aspiration (TVFA) on the subsequent follicular populations in buffaloes. This information is crucial for determining the optimum time interval between successive aspirations for recovering oocytes from live buffaloes through Transvaginal Oocyte Retrieval (TVOR). The oestrus of cycling buffaloes (n=5) were synchronized by a single PGF injection schedule. All the ovarian follicles were removed once every 7 days for 6 weeks through TVFA, starting from Day 7 of the oestrous cycle (Day 0 = day of oestrus). The number and size of individual ovarian follicles was recorded at Day 3 and Day 5 (Day 0 = day of TVFA) through transrectal ultrasonography. The follicles were classified on the basis of their diameter as small (3-5 mm), medium (6-9 mm) and large ($\geq$10 mm). There was no difference in the number of small and medium follicles, and the number of total follicles between Day 3 and Day 5. However, the number of large follicles was significantly higher (p<0.05) at Day 5 than that at Day 3. There was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the proportion of small follicles and an increase (p<0.05) in the proportion of large follicles from Day 3 to Day 5, with no change in the proportion of medium follicles. The number of total follicles at Day 3 or Day 5 did not differ during the 6 TVFA sessions. It can be concluded that an interval of 3 days is more suitable than that of 5 days between successive aspirations for recovering oocytes through TVOR in a twice weekly schedule and that repeated removal of follicles through TVFA does not adversely affect the number of total follicles 3 or 5 days after TVFA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.178-183
• /
• 2014

The objective of this study is to find out the effect of yeast on hair loss treatment and the role of hair follicle stem cell activator, which is important in hair growth. The authors have recently produced a substance, which has no disgusting odor, does not precipitates and does not easily corrupt, to use instead of yeast acquired from raw rice wine(Makgeolli). The substance is named Yeast Constituent Extract(YCE). In this research, the Produced YCE was applied on the hair loss area of 10 Androgenic alopecia patients, twice every day for 6 months, in order to test the effect of hair loss treatment and the role of stem cell activator. As a result, all of the patients showed a significant growth of hair after 3 months of test, and showed much more growing, thickening and strengthening of hair after 6 months. As a result of measuring the number of hair strings in the same scalp region of the patients after 6 months, it is found that the density of hair has increased, indicating that the hair loss treatment was effective. Also the hair follicle stem cell was isolated from the patients and the contents of growth factors (IGF, VEGF, FGF, HGF) derived from hair follicle stem cell were measured with ELISA. As result, the amount is found to be about 10 times greater than before the test. The hair follicle stem cell contains many growth factors that affect growth of hair, so it takes a highly important role in hair loss treatment. The YCE that the authors have produced was found to be effective in increasing the contents of growth factors that are derived from hair follicle stem cell. Thus it can be inferred that the YCE plays a role as a stem cell activator that activates the hair follicle stem cells. In conclusion, the YCE is considered to be highly effective for hair loss treatment and to have a role as a stem cell activator.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.33-35
• /
• 1987

This study was carried out to investigate the seasonal effect on the recovery rate of embryos in donors and on the conception rate in recipients following embryo transfer. The results obtained from this experiment were summarized as follows: 1. The ovulation point in winter and summer was 28.6 and 28.6, respectively. There was no difference in ovulation point between two seasons. More embryos recovered in the winter (27,0) than the summer (20.9). 2. The number of CL, unruptured follicle, hemorrhagic follicle, young born and pregnancy rate in the winter were 6.0,4.8,1.5,1.8 and 75%, and those in the summer were 2.9,5.7, 3.8, 2.2 and 46.7%, respectively. The rate of synchronization of recipients in the winter showed better results than that in the summer.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.149-153
• /
• 1996

Studies were Performed to determine whether the water fraction of Panax ginseng Protected radiation damage to hair medullar cells of N:GP(s) mice after in vivo irradiation with $^{60}Co{\;}{\gamma}-rays$. The hair follicles in the middle of the growth cycle were analysed 3 days after 3 Gy irradiation for the changes in the number of cells in the forming medulla of the hair in the region just above the germinal matrix of the growing (anagen) hair follicle. The radioprotective effect of ginseng was compared with the irradiation control. The medullar cell count per unit length ($100{\;}\mu\textrm{m}$) of hair follicle was higher in the pretreated-groups of ginseng, both oral (2 mg/ml of drinking water, p<0.05) and intraperitoneal (0.3 mg/head, p<0.001) treatments, than the irradiation control. These data suggested that the water fraction of Panax ginseng may reduce cell damages on the body surface caused by ${\gamma}-rays$.