• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.336-343
• /
• 2011

The neurotrophins, required for the survival and differentiation of the nervous system, are known to be important for the development of the reproductive tissues. However, the signals initiating the growth of follicles, gamete development, and transport and the development of zygote in the reproductive system of cows remain ambiguous. The purpose of the present study was to identify the transcripts and proteins of Neurotrophin 4 (NT4) and its receptor tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) in bovine reproductive tissues. The transcripts and immunoreactivity of NT4 and TrkB proteins were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. Using immunohistochemistry, the specific immunoreactivity of NT4 and TrkB were detected in the oocytes of primordial follicles and in the growing primary follicles. The NT4 and TrkB immunoreactivity was predominantly observed in granulosa cells, cumulus granulosa cells, cumulus oocyte complexes, theca cells of mature follicles, as well as in the oviduct epithelial cells, uterine gland cell, and epithelium cells of the uterus during the follicular and luteal phases in cows. Expressions of NT4 and TrkB mRNAs were not significantly different among the ovary, oviduct, and uterus of the follicular phase. For the luteal phase, the expression of NT4 mRNA in the ovary was significantly higher than that in the oviduct and uterus, and the expression of TrkB mRNA in the oviduct was significantly higher than that in the ovary and uterus, as determined by fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The expression of NT4 mRNA was significantly higher than that of TrkB mRNA in the ovary and uterus, whereas NT4 mRNA expression was lower than that of TrkB mRNA in the oviduct during the luteal phase. The present study hypothesizes that NT4 participates in the regulation of both gonads and extra-gonadal reproductive tissues in cows.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.101-112
• /
• 1986

It is now common practice to attempt ovarian hyperstimulation in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) to promote the development of multiple preovulatory follicles and to maximize the number of mature egg available. There are several drugs for hyperstimulation such as clomiphene citrate only, clomiphene citrate and human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) and HMG only. Accumlated experience has shown that the hyperstimulation of the ovary in IVF-ET results in high pregnancy rate. But the hyperstimulation of the ovary in IVF-ET may cause the hyperandrogenism, so we must consider the adverse effect on pregnancy rate of the hyperandrogenism. Little is known about the functional significance of androgen for the follicular growth, however, the hyperandrogenism might interfere with oocyte maturation. The aim of the present investigation was to determine the serum profiles of estradiol, androstenedione and testosterone during the hyperstimulated menstrual cycles in IVF. The results were summarized as follows: 1. There was a gradual increase in the mean levels of serum estradiol, androstenedione, and testosterone approaching follicular maturation. 2. The mean serum estradiol levels in the hyperstimulated groups were significantly higher than that in the control group in late follicular phase and ovum retrieval (ovulation) day (p<0.01). 3. The mean serum androstenedione levels in the clomiphene citrate groups were significantly higher than that in the control group in late follicular phase (p<0.01). There was no statistically significant different in the mean serum androstenedione levels between the control group and the HMG group (p>0.05). 4. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean levels of testosterone among each group (p>0.05). 5. There was no statistically significant different in the mean levels of estradiol, androstenedione and testosterone between the fertilized patients and non-fertilized patients in clomiphene citrate and HMG group (p>0.05).

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.421-429
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study was to identify the change in the girth of anthropometric variables during menstrual cycle, and to provide basal data for health promotion program development during pre-menstrual phase and menstrual phase. Participants were 10 healthy women university students without menstrual irregularity, subjective premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, dymenorrhea, obstetrician and gynecologic disease. Chest girth(axillary and papillary), waist girth(half point between iliac crest and 12th rib, and navel), and hip girth were repeatedly measured in menstrual phase, follicular phase, luteal phase during single menstrual cycle. As a result, axillary chest girth in menstrual phase was significantly increased than that in luteal phase. Papillary chest girth and waist girth at half point between iliac crest and 12th rib in menstrual phase were significantly increased than those in follicular phase. No significance was shown in chest and waist girth between follicular and luteal phase. No significance was shown in hip girth during menstrual cycle. In conclusion, signicant difference was shown in chest and waist girth during menstrual cycle. And it is suggested that succeeding research should be carried out with reference to body weight, body fat, blood and local hormone concentration during menstrual cycle.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.85-92
• /
• 1989

The study was carried out to find out the changes of the sex hormone concentrations in the blood plasma and antrum of follicular and lutein cystic ovaries of Holstein cows. The progesterone, estradiol-17$\beta$, testosterone, FSH and LH from samples of the blood plasma and antrum of cystic ovaries of cows assayed by radioimmunoassay method. The results of this study were summarized as follows : 1. The concentrations fo progesterone and estradiol-17$\beta$ in the blood plasmaat estrous and luteal phase were 0.95$\pm$0.18ng/ml, 11.45$\pm$3.12pg/ml and 4.25$\pm$0.27ng/ml, 6.27$\pm$0.82pg/ml respectively. The concentrations of progesterone and estradiol-17$\beta$ in the antrum fluid of follicles at estrous and luteal phase were 24.8$\pm$4.12ng/ml, 54.3$\pm$7.25pg/ml and 21.7$\pm$3.79ng/ml, 14.3$\pm$2.72pg/ml respectively, and showed significant changes among the estrous and luteal phase and blood plasma and antrum fluid of follicles. 2. The concentrations of progesterone, estradiol-17$\beta$, testosterone and LH in the blood plasma of follicular cystic ovareis of cows were 0.85$\pm$0.25ng/ml, 9.23$\pm$2.72pg/ml, 17.12$\pm$3.26pg/ml and 3.78$\pm$1.02mIU/ml respectively. And the concentrations of progesterone, estradiol-17$\beta$, testosterone and LH in the antrum fluid of follicular cystic ovareis of cows were 284$\pm$48.21ng/ml, 389$\pm$67.23ng/ml, 12.84$\pm$0.29ng/ml and 1.84$\pm$0.17mIU/ml respectively, and showed significant changes between in the blood plasma and antrum fluid of cystic ovaries. 3. The concentrations of progesterone, estradiol-17$\beta$, testosterone and LH in the blood plasma of lutein cystic ovaries of cows were 3.40$\pm$0.78ng/ml, 4.02$\pm$0.42pg/ml, 10.72$\pm$2.74pg/ml and 0.76$\pm$0.12mIU/ml respectively. And the concentrations of progesterone, estradiol-17$\beta$, testosterone and LH in the antrum fluid of lutein cystic ovareis of cows were 427$\pm$35.79ng/ml, 0.76$\pm$0.07ng/ml, 3.45$\pm$0.57ng/ml and 0.29$\pm$0.07mIU/ml respectively, and showed significant changes between the blood plasma and antrum fluid of cystic ovaries. 4. Accordingly, the diagnosis of follicular and lutein cystic ovareis of cows from progesterone, estradiol-17$\beta$ and LH levels in the blood plasma and antrum of cystic ovaries of cows is thought to be possible a diagnostic means.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.45-51
• /
• 1995

In order to determine the optimum condition and timing for in vitro maturation of oocytes to metaphase of meiosis II (M II), the immatured follicular oocytes were recovered by puncturing the large(1.0~1.5 mm in diameter) and small(<1.0 mm in diameter) follicles in the ovaries of rabbits treated intramuscularly with a single dose of 100 TU PMSG 68 hours previously. The follicular oocytes were classified into three grades by the attachment of cumulus cells. The Grade I and II follicular oocytes from large follicles were cultured in BO-DM medium with 10% FCS, 35 $\mu$g /nl of FSH, 10 $\mu$g /ml of LH and 1 $\mu$g /ml of estradiol-17$\beta$ at 39t in a 5% $CO_2$ incubator for 11 to 23 hours. In 3 hours interval during the culture period, the oocytes were harvested and their cumulus cells were removed with hyaluronidase. The denuded oocytes were stained with Hoechst 33342 dye and their meiotic status and extrusion of the first polar body (PB) were examined under a fluorescence microscope. Also the fragmentation of the first PB and the distance between the first PB and nucleus were examined. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The mean recovery rate of follicular oocytes from the large and small follicles was 59. 9 and 31.3%, respectively. The mean number of oocytes recovered per rabbit and the Grade I percentage were 14.6 and 94.4% in large follicles, but 2.1 and 61.1% in small follicles, respectively. All the parameters examined were different significantly (p<0.05) between both the folliclular size. 2. Most of the follicular oocytes(86.8%) were matured in vitro to M II phase in 14 hours in Grade I oocytes, but the significantly(p<0.05) less oocytes(45.5%) were matured in Grade II oocytes. 3. The first PB was extruded in most of the oocytes(94.7%) in 14 hours of culture with the fragmentation rate of 29.6%, but the fragmentation rate of the first PB increased significantly (p<0.05) as the culture period for maturation was longer to 20 hours(63.5%). 4. The distance between the first PB and nucleus was increased linearly (p<0.05) as the maturation time passed from 14(7.1$\mu$rn) to 23 hours(58.4$\mu$m). 5. From the above results it was concluded that the optimum time for in vitro maturation culture might be 14 hours in the follicular oocytes from rabbit primed with PMSG for 68 hours, expecially when these follicular oocytes were used for recipient cytoplasms in embryo cloning.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.94-99
• /
• 1998

This study was carried out to determine the effects of uterus shortening on the duration required for estrus, the number of ovulation and the level of serum progesterone and prostaglandin $F_{2}{\alpha} (PGF_{2}{\alpha} $). The duration required for estrus after the surgical shortening of uterine horns and the interval between the following estrus was not affected by the surgical treatment but affected by luteal and follicular phase. The number of ovulations were increased by induction of superovulation to gilts with shortened uterine horns compared to the control. Serum progesterone concentration during the luteal phase was higher than that during the follicular phase with no difference between the control and me horns than that of the control. Findings of this study indicate that luteal formation and regressions and estrus cycle were normal when the unconnected parts of uterine horns were left in abdominal cavity. Therefore surgical shortening of uterine horns of sows helps embryo collections by non-surgical methods.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.79-84
• /
• 1989

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of LH-RH and Gn-RH treatment in Holstein cows with ovarian quiescence and follicular cystic ovaries. The cows with ovarian quiescence and follicular cystic ovaries injected intramuscularly with 100$\mu\textrm{g}$, 200$\mu\textrm{g}$ and 400$\mu\textrm{g}$ of LH-RH and 200$\mu\textrm{g}$ and 400$\mu\textrm{g}$ of Gn-RH respectively. The cows was diagnosed by repeated rectal palpation. The plasma progesterone and estradiol-17$\beta$ concentrations were assayed by radioimmunoassay methods. The resutls of this study were summarized as follows : 1. Ovulations were induced after treatment of LH-RH and Gn-RH. The concentrations of progesterone reached small peak level at luteal phase and estradiol-17$\beta$ reached obvious peak level with the development and maturation of the follicle during the periods of degeneration of the corpus luteum, and normal ovarian cycle activity started subsequently. 2. The cows with ovarian quiescence and follicular cystic ovaries were induced ovulation at 38.9$\pm$5.3 hrs. after treatment of LH-RH in 66.7% cows and at 52.7$\pm$7.9 hrs after treatment of Gn-RH in 60.0% cows respectively. 3. The good ovarian responses were indicated in treatment with 200$\mu\textrm{g}$ to 400$\mu\textrm{g}$ of LH-RH than those treated with 100$\mu\textrm{g}$ in cows with ovarian quiescence, and did not show difference of ovarian responses between treatments with 200$\mu\textrm{g}$ to 400$\mu\textrm{g}$ of Gn-RH in cows with follicular cystic ovaries.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.61-61
• /
• 2003

Aquaporins (AQPs)는 다양한 상피세포와 내피세포에 존재하며 다량의 물 수송을 촉진하는 막성단백질로 현재 11개의 AQP가 (AQP0-10) 발견되었으나, 아직 생리적, 기능적 분석은 불충분한 상태이다. 생쥐의 자궁내막은 발정주기 동안 호르몬의 자극에 따라 부풀어오르거나 수축하는 변화를 보이며 에스트로젠과 몇몇 혈관에 작용하는 매개체에 의해 자궁 혈관의 투수성이 증가한다는 보고는 있으나, 자궁액의 수송 메커니즘에 대해서는 뚜렷하게 밝혀진 바가 없다. 발정기의 생쥐 자궁은 자궁내막세포의 증식과 함께 수화되는 특징을 보이며 자궁내강으로 물이 수송되어 luminal fluid의 점성이 낮아지는 현상이 나타나는데, 이 때 AQP가 water channel로서 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 보고 본 실험에서는 면역조직화학법(immunohistochemistry)과 역전사중합효소연쇄반응(Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction)을 통해 발정기 자궁의 수화와 AQP 발현의 상관성에 대해 알아보고자 하였다. 면역조직화학법의 결과 발정주기의 다른 시기에 비해 발정기(estrus phase)에 자궁상피세포에 AQP4, 5, 8 protein이 다량 존재하는 것으로 밝혀졌고, 근육층(myometrium)에서의 발현은 발정주기 동안 차이가 없었다. Whole uterus로 RT-PCR을 수행한 결과 AQP4, 5, 8 mRNA는 luteal phase에 비해 follicular phase에 더 많이 발현하는 것으로 확인되었다. 또한 LCM(Laser Capture Microdissection) system을 이용하여 luminal epithelium과 stromal cell을 분리하여 RT-PCR을 수행한 결과 AQP4, 5, 8 mRNA는 stromal cell 보다는 luminal epithelium에 더 많이 발현하며, 이 역시 follicular phase에 발현량이 증가함을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과로 미루어 생쥐 자궁에서 AQP4, 5, 8은 발정주기 내막에 발현이 증가하며 이는 자궁내강 안으로 수분을 수송하는데 주요한 기작으로 사료되며 estrogen에 의한 조절 가능성을 암시한다.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.323-332
• /
• 1992

The present study was carried out to examine the effect of oviduct epithelium and its conditioned medium on e development of early bovine embryos in vitro. Oocytes obtained from ovarian follicles of slaughtered cows were cultured in TCM199 with 10% fetal calf serum for 22-24hrs and then fertillzed in vitro using frozen-thawed semen treated with BO-caffein, BO-BSA(20mM heparin added). Oviduct epithelium was collected in each stage of the estrus cycle and conditioned medium was the medium in which oviduct epithelium in early luteal stage was cultured. In vitro fertilized bovine embryos of 1～2 cell were co-cultured with oviduct epithelium from different estrus cycles, cultured in conditioned medium, and cultured in rabbit oviduct. The cleavage rates of in vitro fertilized early bovine embryos co-cultured with oviduct epithelial cell from early luteal, luteal and follicular phase of estrus cycle(67.2～70.8%) and cultured in conditioned medium(56.7%) were significantly(p<0.05) higher than that of the control(44.2%) The rate of development to morula or blastocyst stage in oviduct epithelial cell co-culture(15.3～32.5%) from three phase of estrus cycles and conditioned medium(14.5%) were significantly(p<0.05) higher than that of the control(5.2%). The oviduct epithelial cell from early luteal phase gave a significantly( p<0.05) higher rate of development to morula or blastocyst stage than both luteal and follicular phase. The results of in vivo culture in rabbit oviduct of early bovine embryos were 52.1% for the cleavage rate and 26.7% for the rate of development to morula or blastocyst stage.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.83-98
• /
• 1985

In order to study the mechanism of follicular atresia, the follicles of the porcine ovary were isolated according to the presence or absence of the corpus luteum and their size, and then classified to the normal? or atretic?follicle on the morphological observation such as the transparency, the vascularization of follicle, the nuclear phase of oocyte, and the homogeneity of the granulosa cell layer. The viability of granulosa cells was examined. The concentrations of progesterone ($P_4$), testosterone (T), and estradiol-17 beta ($E_2$) in each follicular fluid were estimated by the radioimmunoassay. The viability of granulosa cells in the atretic follicle was much lower than that of the normal one. The concentration of each steroid hormone increased as the follicular size was increased, was not different in quantity between the normal- and the atretic follicle of which diameter was below 3mm, and were much higher in the atretic follicle than those in the normal one of which diameter was above 7mm. The ratio of the concentration of E2 to T in the large atretic follicle valued higher than that in the normal one, but smaller in the small and medium atretic follicle than that in the normal one. The present study suggests that the mechanism of atresia of the large follicle may be different from that of the small and the medium follicle and that the amount of steroid hormones regarded as the one of the criteria for the atretic follicles.