• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.403-407
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• 2000

Ultrastructure and function of testis somatic cells in freshwater prawns Macrobrachium nipponense were studied. The paired testes of the prawn were elongated, united at their anterior end, which lay between the dorsal surface of the hepatopancreas and the heart. Each testis consisted of a large number of seminiferous cords compactly held together by connective tissue. A seminiferous cord was composed of an outer layer of simple squamous epithelium, a basement membrane, the closely packed germ cells and sustentacular cells of the germinal ridge, and an inner layer of simple cuboidal epithelial cells. Leydig cell-like cells in an angular areas filling the space of the seminiferous cords were observed. The nuclei of leydig cell-like cells were characterized by a distinct nucleolus. The simple squamous epithelial layer was composed of flattened cells tying on a basement membrane. The nuclei of the flattened cells were often overlapped in a layer, and the cytoplasm of the cells was observed just near the nuclei. The sustentacular cells were complex in morphology. These cells had relatively small cell bodies from which long cytoplasmic extensions ramified reached the space of germ cells in the germinal ridge. The nuclei of sustentacular cells usually exhibited angular profiles and located most commonly at the periphery of the cords. Cells of simple cuboidal epithelium located between germinal ridge and lumen of seminiferous cord, and part of the cells were adjacent to basal lamina, The cuboidal epithelial cells contained numerous mitochondria, the well-developed rER, the well-developed Golgi complex, and irregularly shaped nuclei. Transition vesicles appeared on the cis side of the Golgi complex. The large vesicles on the trans side of the complex appeared to fuse to form a membrane-bound structure. A number of pits on the cell apex suggested exocytotic activity for secretion of the sperm supporting matrix.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.63-74
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• 1995

The development of pale chub oocyte from the immature oogonium to mature oocyte was investigated by light and electron microscope. The cytoplasm of pale chub oogonia was acidic and many vesicles were located at inner side of nuclear membrane. In primary oocytes, yolk vesicles were distributed in cytoplasm. Also, fibrous materials and protuberances were distributed on the surface of zona radiata. The nucleus of secondary oocyte was enlarged and yolk vesicles in cytoplasm migrated to zona radiata. In early egg, yolk mass are formed and yolk vesicles were located at inner side of zona radiata. Three-layered zona radiata was about $3{\mu}m$ in thickness. The three layers were an outer fibrous material layer, a middle nurse cell layer in which microvilli of early egg cytoplasm contact with processes of nurse cells, and an inner layer with high electron density. In mature egg, euchromatin and a germinal vesicle were developed, mitochondria, free ribosomes, and yolk mass were distributed in cytoplasm. But, yolk vesicles were disappeared. Specially, zona radiata of matured eggs were better thin than the one of immature eggs In conclusion, it is summerized that the oogenesis of pale chub were the increase of cell size, the formation and accumulation of yolk, the decrease in nucleat electron density, changes of zona radiata, and the development of microvilli.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 2000

The morphological changes on nuclear phase of the germinal vesicle of porcine follicular oocytes during in vitro culture were examined. The high rates (75~77%) of the oocytes collected from follicles of 1~2mm or 6~100mm in diameter were at the GV-I to GV-II stages. When oocytes with or without cumulus cells after collection from follicles of 2~6mm in diameter were cultured for 5 h, the rates of oocytes at GV-IV to GV-Ⅵ stages were higher in oocytes with (52%) than in oocytes without (30%) cumulus cells. After 1 h of oocyte culture, there was no differences in the distribution of GV-IV to GV - Ⅵ stages in the media with or without catalase, xanthine and catalase＋xanthine. After 5 h of culture, however, the distribution of GV-IV to GV-Ⅵ stages were 46, 69, 69 and 70% for medium with none, catalase, xanthine and catalase＋xanthine. The highest rate of GVBD was also observed in the medium with catalase＋xanthine (6%). These results indicate that exposure of porcine follicular oocytes to catalase＋xanthine excels maturation to GV stage and enhances oocyte nuclear maturation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2014

As a tumor suppressor homologue during mitosis, Chk2 is involved in replication checkpoints, DNA repair, and cell cycle arrest, although its functions during mouse oocyte meiosis and early embryo development remain uncertain. We investigated the functions of Chk2 during mouse oocyte maturation and early embryo development. Chk2 exhibited a dynamic localization pattern; Chk2 expression was restricted to germinal vesicles at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage, was associated with centromeres at pro-metaphase I (Pro-MI), and localized to spindle poles at metaphase I (MI). Disrupting Chk2 activity resulted in cell cycle progression defects. First, inhibitor-treated oocytes were arrested at the GV stage and failed to undergo germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD); this could be rescued after Chk2 inhibition release. Second, Chk2 inhibition after oocyte GVBD caused MI arrest. Third, the first cleavage of early embryo development was disrupted by Chk2 inhibition. Additionally, in inhibitor-treated oocytes, checkpoint protein Bub3 expression was consistently localized at centromeres at the MI stage, which indicated that the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) was activated. Moreover, disrupting Chk2 activity in oocytes caused severe chromosome misalignments and spindle disruption. In inhibitor-treated oocytes, centrosome protein ${\gamma}$-tubulin and Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) were dissociated from spindle poles. These results indicated that Chk2 regulated cell cycle progression and spindle assembly during mouse oocyte maturation and early embryo development.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.252-257
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• 2017

The oogenesis of the Microphysogobio yaluensis was investigated using light microscopy. Various developmental oocytes appeared in the ovary of the M. yaluensis. The oogenesis is largely divided into four stages: nuclear-chromatin stage, peri-nucleoli stage, vitellogenesis (yolk vesicle and yolk granule stages), and mature stage. The nuclear-chromatin is distributed in a large germinal vesicle as threads. The peri-nucleoli stage has many acidic nucleoli lining at the inner side of the nuclear membrane and an egg envelope just weakly starts. As the oogenesis gradually proceeds, they change to the vitellogenesis stage. The oocyte become to drastically increase and the marginal area of the ooplasm is covered with many vacuoles showing no negative reactions with hematoxylin and eosin staining, called the yolk vesicle stage. Many yolk vesicles-owned oocyte largely increase and as the development continues, its ooplasm is changed from the yolk vesicles to the yolk granules of eosinophilic. At the mature stage, lots of granules merged into a big yolk mass, acidophilic. Even at the mature stage, the egg envelope was still thin between the ooplasm and the follicular layer of the oocyte.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 1999

The present study was carried out to evaluate the morphological changes in the degenerating primordial follicles induced by $\gamma$-radiation. The prepubertal female mice of three weeks old ICR strain were whole-body irradiated with a dose of $LD_{80(30)}$ (8.3 Gy). The ovaries were collected at 0 h, 3 h, 6 h, and 12 h post-irradiation. The largest cross sections were prepared with histological semi-thin sections and then observed microscopically. The ratio of normal to atretic follicles was reduced significantly after 6th post-irradiation. At 6 h post-irradiation, the number of degenerated primordial follicles increased. Germinal vesicles disappeared, and lipid droplets increased. No more ooplasmic membranes were seen. Granulosa cells became round in shape, and apoptotic cells started to appear. The ratio of normal to atretic follicles in the control group was 62.50%. The ratio decreased with time after irradiation. The ratio decreased down to 51.61 %, 48.97 %, 11.11 %, and 7.14 % at 0 h, 3 h, 6 h, and 12 h, respectively. Taken together, ionizing radiation acutely induced the degeneration of primordial follicles. The patterns of degeneration are 1) apoptosis of one or more granulosa cells with relatively intact oocyte, 2) apoptosis of oocyte with intact follicle cells, or 3) apoptotic degenerations of both cells. The Present study can provide morphological clues for the identification of degenerating primordial follicles.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.133-144
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• 1981

The ultrastructures of the pigment cells in the Asiatic land salamander (Hynobius leechi) dorsal skin were obtained by means of electron microscope. The results were as follows; 1. The pigment cells of the epidermis consisted of the melanocytes in the germinal layer and of the melanophores distributing to the keratinocyte layer. The traits of these cells in the epidermis were as follows: A. The nuclei of the melanocytes were round or oval in shape and appeared as partly small or large infoldings of the nuclear envelope. B. Rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulums and Golgi complexes were well developed in infranuclear cytoplasm. Many ribosomes were mainly distributed around the perinuclear portion. C. The melanosomes of the melanocytes were observed as a found or an oval shape and strong electron-dense or less electron-dense melanosomes were observed. D. The infoldings of the nuclear envelope in the melanophore were partly found deeper than those of the melanocyte. The cytoplasm of the melanophore filled with melanosomes caused organelles not to be observed in that. 2. The pigment cells in the dermis were composed of the xanthophores just beneath basement membrane and the melanophores in the connective tissue. The traits of these cells in the dermis were as follows: A. The xanthophores contained round or oval vesicles, and these vesicles were divided into 6 types (type I pterinosome, type II pterinosome, type III pterinosomes, type iv pterinosome, type V pterinosome, type VI pterinosome). B. Most of the nuclei of the melanophores in the dermis were elongate in shape, and a portion of the nuclear envelope was deep infolded. C. Becuase the cytoplasm was filled with the melanosomes of the same electron-density, organelles were not observed in the cytoplasm. D. Two processes of the melanophore in the dermis extended in parallel with a xanthophore and the cytoplasm in those processes were filled with the melanosomes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.789-793
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• 2012

Fertilization of the oocyte commences embryogenesis during which maternally inherited mRNAs are degraded and the embryonic genome is activated. Transcription of embryonic mRNA is initiated by embryonic genome activation (EGA). RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) is responsible for the synthesis of mRNAs and most small nuclear RNAs, and consists of 12 subunits, the largest of which characteristically harbors a unique C-terminal domain (CTD). Transcriptional activity of RNA Pol II is highly regulated, in particular, by phosphorylation of serine residues in the CTD. Here, we have shown the presence of RNA Pol II CTD phosphoisoforms in porcine oocytes and preimplantation embryos. The distribution pattern as well as phosphorylation dynamics in germinal vesicles and during embryogenesis differed in developmental stages with these isoforms, indicating a role of RNA Pol II CTD phosphorylation at the serine residue in transcriptional activation during both oocyte growth and embryonic genome activation. We additionally examined the effects of the RNA Pol II inhibitor, ${\alpha}$-amanitin, on embryo development. Our results show that inhibition of polymerase, even at very early stages and for a short period of time, dramatically impaired blastocyst formation. These findings collectively suggest that the functionality of maternal RNA Pol II, and consequently, expression of early genes regulated by this enzyme are essential for proper embryo development.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.184-191
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• 2000

Gametogenesis and the reproductive cycle of the marsh clam, Corbicula leana(Prime} were investigated monthly Hyongsan estuary, Korea from January to December 1998 by histological observation. C. leana had separate sexes, and oviparous. The gonads were located between the sub-region of mid-intestinal gland in visceral cavity and reticular cennective tissue. The ovary and testis were composed of a number of ovarian and testicular tubules, respectively, Mature oocytes were characterized by germinal vesicles with nucleoli and their sizes ranged $70\;to\;80{\mu}m$ in diameter. A number of mesenchymal tissues and pigment granular cells were distributed in the growing oocytes and spermatocytes during early developmental stages. With the further development of gonad, these tissuse and cells gradually disappeared. The monthly changes in the fatness index were closely related to reproductive cycle. Minimun size for sexual maturity was reached over 10.0 mm in shell length. The reproductive cycle could be classified into 6 stages : multiplicative (March to April): early growing and growing (May to June), mature (July to August), spent (September), degenerative (October) and recovery (November to February).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.656-660
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• 2001

Gametogenesis, the reproductive cycle, and the condition index of the soft clam, Mya arenaria were investigated monthly based on histological observation at Sachon Bay, south coast of Korea from May 1998 to September 1999 . M. arenaria is dioceious. The ovary and testis were composed of a number of ovarian sacs and testicular tubules, respectively. Ripe oocytes were characterized by germinal vesicles with nucleoli, and their sizes about $60{\mu}m$ in diameter. Monthly changes in condition index and water temperature were closely related to the annual reproductive cycle. The reproductive cycle can be classified into 5 stages: early active stage (february to March), late active stage (April to August), ripe stage (September), partially spawned and spent stage (September to October), inactive stage (November and January).