• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.279-285
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• 1994

The objective of the present study was to characterize the cell cycles of granulosa cell populations during follicular maturation in cattle by using flow cytometer. Granulosa cells were isolated from bovine preovulatory antral follicles of F1(>10mm), F2(5~20mm), F3(3~4mm) and F4(1~2mm) diameter and fixed and stained with fluorochromes that selectively bine to DNA. Flow cytometer equipped with a laser excitation system was used to analyze the intensity of fluorescence from stained cells. Forward angle light-scatter(FSC) and 90$^{\circ}$light-scatter(SSC) signals were adopted to measure the size and the granularity of granulosa cells. As a results of FSC/SSC analysis, granulosa cell populations(G1 phase of cell cycle) from each follicle were relatively regular in size and granularity, regardless of follicular size. However, their distribution in granularity was greater than that in size. Most of granulosa cell populations collected from each follicle were distributed in G0/G1, S and G2/M phases. As the follicles approached to ovulation the percentage of cells in the proliferative phases of cell cycle (S and G2/M) decreased significantly, but there was a concomitant increase in the percentage of granulosa cells in G1 phase. Therefore, these data indicate the proportion of main populations to cell cycle of granulosa cells may be changed from proliferative phase to G1 phase during follicular maturation in cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.777-784
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• 2001

Evaluation of the granulosa cell (GC) monolayers developed from small (<5 mm) and large (>5 mm) follicles on the meiotic competence of caprine oocytes during in vitro maturation was done in this study in comparison to the granulosa cell coculture. Ovaries were collected from the local abattoir and follicular contents were aspirated for the monolayer culture. For IVM the oocytes were collected by puncturing the nonatretic follicles (>4 mm). Results revealed that at the same seeding rate, small follicular granulosa cell monolayer achieved confluence 24-48 h earlier than large follicular granulosa cell monolayer. GC monolayers significantly p (<0.05) improved the rate of meiotic resumption and nuclear maturation (84.76% vs 74.74%) after 27 h of culture in comparison to GC coculture. Statistically there was no significant difference in the maturation rate between the caprine oocytes matured over small or large follicular GC monolayers. It is concluded from the present study that GC monolayers support better nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of growing caprine oocytes which is evident by better maturation rate over GC monolayer as compared to the oocytes matured with GC coculture. Granulosa cells from small and large follicles can be used for IVM with more or less in the same efficiency after conditioning them with maturation media in 18-24 h before the onset of culture.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.157-164
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• 1997

To study the regulation of porcine follicular cell apostosis by gonadotropin, steroid, and nitric oxide, we analyzed DNA fragmentation, the hallmark of apoptosis, and nitrite production of porcine granulosa cells. Dissected indiidual follicles from ovary were separated in size (small, 2-3 mm; medium, 5-6 mm; large, 7-8 mm) and isolated granulosa cells were classified morpholocally as atretic or nonatretic. Nitrite concentration was measured by mixing follicular fluids with an equal volume of Griess reagent. Follicular nitric oxide (NO) concentration of healthy follicles was higher than that of atretic follicles. Apoptotic DNA fragmentation was suppressed in non-apoptotic granulosa cells. Follicular apoptosis was induced by androgen but prevented by gonadotropin in vitro. Apoptosis was confined to the granulosa cells. But it was not clear whether apoptosis of granulosa cells were isolated, incubated with or without gonadotropin, androgen and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), respectively at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 hrs. Cultured granulosa cells were used to extract genomic DNA and culture media was asssayed for nitrite concentration. Nitrite production of culture media was increased, while apoptotic DNA fragmentation was suppressed in PMSG, hCG, testosterone+SNP and SNP treated groups. Nitrite concentration in culture media was decreased, but apoptotic DNA fragmentation was induced in testosterone treated group. These data suggest that NO production and apoptosis may be involved of granulosa cell apoptosis induced by testosterone.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.315-329
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• 2016

Fas ligand (FasL) and its receptor Fas have been implicated in granulosa cell apoptosis during follicular atresia. Although interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) is believed to be involved in the regulation Fas expression in differentiated granulosa or granulosa-luteal cells, the expression of this cytokine and its role in the regulation of the granulosa cell Fas/FasL system and apoptosis during follicular maturation have not been thoroughly investigated. In the present study, we have examined the presence of IFN-${\gamma}$ in ovarian follicles at different stage of development by immunohistochemistry and related their relative intensities with follicular expression of Fas and FasL, and with differences in granulosa cell sensitivity to Fas activation by exogenous agonistic Anti-Fas monoclonal antibody (Fas mAb). Although IFN-${\gamma}$ immunostaining was detectable in oocyte and granulosa cells in antral follicles, most intense immunoreactivity for the cytokine was observed in these cells of preantral follicles. Intense immunoreactivity for IFN-${\gamma}$ was most evident in granulosa cells of atretic early antral follicles where increased Fas and FasL expression and apoptosis were also observed. Whereas low concentrations of IFN-${\gamma}$ (10-100 U/mL) significantly increased Fas expression in undifferentiated granulosa cells (from preantral or very early antral follicles) in vitro, very higher concentrations (${\geq}1,000U/mL$) were required to up-regulate of Fas in differentiated cells isolated from eCG-primed (antral) follicles. Addition of agonistic Fas mAb to cultures of granulosa cells at the two stages of differentiation and pretreated with IFN-${\gamma}$ (100 U/mL) elicited morphological and biochemical apoptotic features which were more prominent in cells not previously exposed to the gonadotropin in vivo. These findings suggested that IFN-${\gamma}$ is an important physiologic intra-ovarian regulator of follicular atresia and plays a pivotal role in regulation of expression of Fas receptor and subsequent apoptotic response in undifferentiated (or poorly differentiated) granulosa cells at an early (penultimate) stage of follicular development.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.171-178
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• 1989

These experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of a co-culture with granulosa cells on in vitro maturation, fertilization and development of bovine follicular oocytes. The bovine ovaries were obtained at a slaughter house and the follicular oocytes were recovered by aspirating the follicular fluid from the visible follicles of diameter 2-6mm. Bovine oocytes were matured in vitro for 24-26 hr and then fertilized in vitro using epididymal spermatozoa capacitated by preincubation for 2-3hr in BO solution containing BSA(5mg/ml) and caffein(25mM). Eight hours after insemination, the oocytes were cultured in a co-culture system with granulosa cells. The rates of maturation of the follicular oocytes cultured in a co-culture system with granulosa cells were 83.1%, the rate of fertilization of the follicular oocytes culture in a co-culture in a co-culture system with granulosa cells were 76.9%, respectively. No significant difference are observed between control and treatment in maturation and fertilization rates. The rates of embryos developed to 2-, 4-, 8-, 16-cell and monula stages after co-cultured with granulosa cells were 65.8, 57.9, 39.5, 34.2 and 34.2%, respectively. The value for 16-and morula stages were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of the embryos cultured in the basic medium.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.195-200
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• 2014

Endothelin 2 (EDN2) induces follicular rupture by constricting periovulatory follicles. In this study, it was investigated the mechanisms of EDN2 action on follicular rupture with respect of receptor using the conditionally granulosa cell specific EDN2 receptor type A (ETa) KO mice (gcETaKO; $ETa^{flox/-}{\cdot}Amhr2^{Cre}$). It was generated the gcETaKO mice by breeding with $ETa^{flox/-}$ mice after mono-alleic ETa knockout by $ZP3^{Cre}$ and $Amhr2^{Cre}$ mice. Fertility, ovulation and maturation rates of ovulated oocytes after super ovulation were investigated in the gcETaKO mice compared with wild-type mice ($ETa^{flox/flox}$ and $ETa^{flox/-}$) as a control group. In the gcETaKO mice, normal fertility after breeding with male mice was shown compared with wild-type mice. And, there was no significant differences in ovulation rates after super ovulation, however its maturation rates was lower than that of wild type mice. These findings show that EDN2 in follicular rupture for ovulation is related with an other ETa not in granulosa cells. Further studies are needed to investigate how EDN2 is acted in ovarian follicular rupture for ovulation.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.341-348
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• 2011

Sloan-Kettering virus gene product of a cellular protooncogene c-Ski is an unique nuclear pro-oncoprotein and belongs to the Ski/Sno proto-oncogene family. Ski plays multiple roles in a variety of cell types, it can induce both oncogenic transformation and terminal muscle differentiation when expressed at high levels. The aim of the present study was to locate Ski protein in rat ovaries in order to predict the possible involvement of Ski in follicular development and atresia. First, expression of c-Ski mRNA in the ovaries of adult female rats was confirmed by RT-PCR. Then, ovaries obtained on the day of estrus were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for Ski and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in combination with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL). Ski was expressed in granulosa cells that were positive for TUNEL, but negative for PCNA, regardless of the shape and size of follicles. Expression of Ski in TUNEL-positive granulosa cells, but not in PCNA-positive granulosa cells, was also verified in immature hypophysectomized rats having a single generation of developing and atretic follicles by treatment with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG). These results indicate that Ski is profoundly expressed in the granulosa cells of atretic follicles, but not in growing follicles, and suggest that Ski plays a role in apoptosis of granulosa cells during follicular atresia.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제17권12호
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• pp.1647-1651
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• 2004

The follicles (1.8 to 7.8 mm in diameter) were recovered from the ovaries in marketed pigs and the number of granulosa cells, the diameter of oocytes obtained from different development stages of the follicles and follicular fluid levels were determined. Correlations between size measurements and cell counts as well as the diameter of antral follicles and oocytes were also investigated. The results indicated that, while expanding in size, follicle numbers decreased with a greater atretic proportion. Granulosa cells increased in numbers continuously and remained unchanged beyond the size of 200 ${mm}^3$ in non-atretic follicles, whereas a sudden drop of granulosa counts was observed in atretic follicles. Follicular fluid, on the other hand, linearly increased its volume with follicle size and differed little between those of non-atretic and atretic follicles. Diameters of oocytes in non-atretic follicles increased to its maximum when follicles expanded to 150 ${mm}^3$ and maintained its size during later follicular expansion. It is concluded that, for in vitro culture, the optimal size of porcine follicle should be between 150 to 180 ${mm}^3$if they are collected from pre-pubertal gilts of marketing size slaughtered in an abattoir.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.35-40
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• 1989

In order to study the follicular atretic mechanism in mammalian ovary, the relationship between pyknotic index (PI) of granulosa cells and the steroid concentrations in the follicular fluid of atretic follicle was investigated. Follicles were isolated from porcine ovary according to their sizes and the reproductive phases. Steroid concentrations were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. As PI increased, the concentration of progesterone was significantly increased(p<0.05), whereas testosterone and estradiol showed no significant changes in their concentration. As follicular size was increased, PI of follicular GC in the luteal phase was increased significantly(p<0.05) and the molar ratio of progesterone to testosterone was increased in the follicles of follicular phase. It can be concluded that progesterone accumulated in the follicular fluid as atresia of the follicles was progressed, and that PI of granulosa cells could be used as one of convenient and pratical criteria for the identification of follicular atresia.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.571-584
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• 2004

난포폐쇄는 과립층세포와 난포막세포들의 아포토시스에 의해 이루어지고, 이 과정에 대식 세포는 아포토시스 소체들의 포식작용과 각종 사이토카인 분비를 통해 난포폐쇄의 개시와 완성에 직, 간접적으로 관여함이 널이 보고되어 있다. 그러나 난포 폐쇄시 일어나는 아포노시스가 어디에서부터 개시되고, 어떻게 파급되는지, 아포토시스 소체의 제거방법, 퇴화된 난모세포의 제거 방법, 이들을 제거하는 대식세포의 난포내 진입 시기와 방법 등에 대해서는 아직 확실히 밝혀져 있지 않다. 이에 저자들은 가임기 돼지(Yorkshire-breed)를 실험동물로 난소내 난포의 광학현미경적 및 투과전자현미경적 관찰과 TUNEL 및 돼지 대식세포 단크론항체 4E9를 이용한 면역조직화학적 방법으로 본 연구를 실시하였다. 본 연구 결과, 난포 폐쇄는 과립층세포의 아포토시스로부터 개시되고 그 시기에 난포막 속층 세포들의 아포토시스도 같이 일어나는 것으로 관찰되었다. 과립층세포의 아포토시스는 당해 세포의 과립층내 위치에 관계없이 핵농축으로부터 시작되고 짧은 시간안에 과립층 전체로 파급되고 난모세포를 둘러싸고 있는 괴립층세포의 아포토시스가 가장 마지막에 일어나는 것으로 보인다. 난포 과립층세포의 아포토시스는 핵의 농축과 변형, 세포내 소포들의 출현이 특징적이었고, 아포토시스 소체들은 인접한 정상적인 과립층세포와 대식세포들에 의해 포식되었다. 아포토시스 소체들을 포식한 정상 괴립층세포는 자신도 곧 아포토시스를 일으켜, 이들의 포식작용은 일시적인 것으로 생각된다. 또한 모든 아포토시스 소체들과 퇴화된 난모세포는 대식 세포들이 제거함을 알 수 있었다. 대식세포는 아포토시스의 개시와 함께 난포내로 진입하고, 그 진행과 함께 난포내 모든 부위로 이동하여 아포토시스 소체들과 퇴화 난모세포를 제거하는 것으로 보인다. 처음부터 난포막에 있던 일부 대식세포들은, 아포토시스를 일으켜 난포 바닥막을 와해시킨 난포막세포들의 아포토시스 소체들을 제거하여, 폐쇄된 난포의 난소 실질화를 통해 난포 폐쇄의 완성에 기여하는 것으로 보인다.