• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2013

Objective: Impairment of spermatogenesis has been identified as an inevitable side effect of cancer treatment. Although estrogen treatment stimulates spermatogenic recovery from the impaired spermatogenesis by suppressing the intra-testicular testosterone (ITT) level, side effects of estrogen are still major impediments to its clinical application in humans. Soybeans are rich in genistein, which is a phytoestrogen that binds to estrogen receptors and has an estrogenic effect. We investigated the effects of genistein administration on ITT levels, testis weight, and recovery of spermatogenesis in rats treated with a chemotherapeutic agent, busulfan. Methods: Busulfan was administered intraperitoneally to rats, and then a GnRH agonist was injected subcutaneously into the back, or genistein was administered orally. Results: The weight of the testes was significantly reduced by the treatment with busulfan. The testis weight was partially restored after busulfan treatment by additional treatment with either the GnRH agonist or genistein. Busulfan also induced atrophy of a high percentage of the seminiferous tubules, but this percentage was decreased by additional treatment with either the GnRH agonist or genistein. Treatment with genistein was effective at suppressing and maintaining ITT levels comparable to that in the GnRH agonist group. Conclusion: Genistein effectively suppressed ITT levels and stimulated the recovery of spermatogenesis in rats treated with a chemotherapeutic drug. This suggests that genistein may be a substitute for estrogens, for helping humans to recover fertility after cancer therapy without the risk of side effects.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.91-91
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• 2002

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2012

Kisspeptin has been implicated in the process of puberty onset in various animal groups. This peptide is encoded by a gene, Kiss1 in avian and mammalian species. Contrary to these higher vertebrates, however, fish appeared to have another gene, Kiss2 that also codes for the precursor peptide of kisspeptin. To figure out biological significance of this gene during the puberty onset in fish, the expression profile of Kiss2 gene was investigated in the brain of Nile tilapia together with genes of GPR54, GnRH receptorI (rGnRHI) and GTH subunits ($LH{\beta}$ and $FSH{\beta}$). Expression of Kiss2 mRNA significantly increased at 2 weeks post hatch (wph) and 13 wph ($P$<0.05). This increase coincided with the increases of GPR54 and rGnRH I gene expression. Detection of $LH{\beta}$ and $FSH{\beta}$ subunit gene expression was possible later than 13 wph, indicating the activation of gonadotrophs in the pituitary. Data obtained from this study strongly suggest that, in addition to Kiss1 gene, Kiss2 gene is deeply associated with the onset of puberty by the activation of hypothalamus pituitary gonadal axis in Nile tilapia.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.12a
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• pp.119.1-119.1
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• 2003

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.5-8
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• 2002

Photoperiodism is an important adaptive phenomenon in various physiological parameters including reproduction to cope with seasonal changes. Involvement of extraretinal photoreceptors in the photoperiodism in non-mammalian vertebrates has been well established. In addition, circadian clock system is known to be involved in the photoperiodic time measurement. The pathway consists of light-input system, time measurement system (circadian clock), gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) production in the hypothalamus, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) production in the pituitary, and final gonadal development. Recently, several laboratories reported photopigments newly cloned in the pineal, eyes and deep brain in addition to already known visual pigments in the retina. These are pinopsin, parapinopsin, VA-opsin, melanopsin, etc. All these photopigments belong to the opsin family having retinal as the chromophore. However, the function of these photopigments remains unknown. I reviewed the studies on the location of the photopigments by immunocytochemistry. I also discussed the results on the action spectra for induction of gonadal development in relation with the location of the photoreceptors. Various physiologically active substances distribute in the vertebrate brain. Such substances are GnRH, GnIH, neuropeptide Y, vasoactive intestinal peptide, c-Fos, galanin, neurosteroids, etc. I summarized the immunhistochemical studies on the distribution and the photoperiodic changes of these substances and discussed the route from the deep brain photoreceptor to GnRH cells.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 1998

From September 1993 to August 1997, we treated ovarian disorders in 1,782 repeat breeder cows after diagnosis by ultrasound on 35 farms in Kyeong-ki do. The rates of ovarian appearance were 59.8% of CL group, 16.7% of ovarian atrophy or hypofunction, 15.4% of luteal cyst, 4.3% of follicular cyst and 3.7% of follicle group in diagnosis with rectal palpation and ultrasound. The results of treatment for ovarian disorders were 1,316 cows(73.8%) in estrus, 348 cows(19.5%) in non-detected and 118 cows(6.6%) in unidentified. The rates of PGF$_2$$\alpha$, GnRH and mineral vitamin complex treatment to estrus were 79.6, 69.2 and 50.3%. Two groups were treated with 5 ml PGF$_2$$\alpha$ intramuscular injection(I.M.) and 1.5 ml PGF$_2$$\alpha$ intraovarian injection(I.O.), and the results of 1.5ml PGF$_2$$\alpha$ I.0. were significantly higher than that of 5ml PGF$_2$$\alpha$ I.M. in inductiom estrus(p<0.05). The pregnant rates were 29.8% in total repeat breeder cows with ovarian disorders following diagnosis and treatment. In summary, rectal palpation and ultrasonography were proven to be useful tools of diagnosis and treatment in ovarian disorders, and it was also suggested that the response to treatment with PGF$_2$$\alpha$ I.0. was better than PGF$_2$$\alpha$ I.M.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 1990

19-nortestosterone(NORA)와 19-norandrostenedione(NT)는 정소내 aromatization과정중 중간 대사물로 검출된다. 본 연구는 이들을 장기간 투여하여 정소 및 부속기관의 무게, 혈청내 testosterone(T)의 농도, 정자형성에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. NORA, NT 및 TE를 $300/50{\mu}l$농도로 주당 3회씩 12주간 정소에 직접 주사(intratesticular injection, i.t.)하였다. 또한 GnRH antagonist(RS68439)를 처리하여 혈청내 생식소자극호르몬 (GTH)을 감소시킨후 위 호르몬들을 동일방법으로 처리하여 이들의 보상작용을 조사하였다. NORA는 정소무게를 감소시키지 않았으나 GnRH antagonist를 처리하여 감소된 정소무게를 현저하게 보상하였다(P<0.05). NORA, NT, TE는 모두 부속기관의 무게를 증가시켰으며, RS68439가 감소시킨 부속기관의 무게를 현저히 증가시켰다. 그러나 이들은 부정소(epididymis)에는 영향을 주지않았으며 RS68439처리군에서는 보상작용을 나타내었다. 이들의 처리로 혈청내 LH농도는 완전히 감소하였으나 FSH의 농도에는 영향을 나타내지 않았다. 그리고 혈청내 T의 농도를 증가시켰다. NORA는 정자형성과정중 7단계의 spermatid의 수를 현저히 감소시켰다. 위 결과로 보아 NORA는 GnRH antagonist로 FSH의 분비가 억제된 쥐의 FSH분비를 촉진하며, T의 농도를 증가시켜 정자형성과정을 억제하는 것으로 추론된다.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 1997

the pupose of this study was to investigate the effects of gonadotropin and nitric oxide (NO) on the expression of mouse follicular bad and bax genes that are known induce apoptosis. Large and midium size follicles of immature mice were obtained at 0, 24, and 48 hours time intervals after Pregnant Mare's Serum gonadotropins(PMSG, 5 I.U.) injection. Preovulatory follicles collected at 24 hrs after PMSG injection were cultured with or without various chemicals such as gonadotropin, gonadotropin Releasing hormone(GnRH), testosterone, Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) for 24 hrs at $37^{\circ}C$. After 24 hrs culture, the culture media was used for nitrite assay and total RNA was extracted, subjected to RT-PCT for the analyses of bad and bax expression. We found that expression of bad and bax genes in follicles was markedly reduced before and after in vivo priming with hCG. When the preovulatory follicles were cultured for 24 hrs in culture media with PMSG and hCG, the expression of bad and bax genes was decreased. Moreover, SNP (NO generating agent) can significantly suppress the expression of bad and bax genes in follicles when apoptosis was induced by GnRH agonist and testosterone. At the same time, nitrite production of culture media was increased in GnRH agonist + SNP, testosterone + SNP and SNP treated groups than control group. These data demonstrated for the first time that peptide hormones and NO may play important roles in the regulation of mouse follicular differentiation and may prevent apoptosis via supressing the expression of bad and bax genes.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.175-180
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• 2001

The ectopic expression of gonadotropin releasing hormone(GnRH and luteinizing hormone(LH) in several tissues is a quite intriguing phenomenon. Recently, the presence of GnRH and its receptor has been clearly demonstrated in rodents and human mammary gland. In this context, one can postulate that the presence of local circuit composed of GnRH and LH in the gland. The present study was undertaken to elucidate whether there is a correlation between the LH expression in rat mammary gland and physiological status during the process of mammary differentiation. LH contents in mammary gland from cycling to weaning rats were measured by radioimmunoassay(RIA). In cycling rats, changes of the LH level in both serum and mammary gland showed similar pattern as the highest level in proestrus and the lowest level in diestrus II stage. While the serum LH levels were fluctuated from pregnant through involution stage, a sharp decline of mammary LH contents was observed in the lactating rats. This decrement was recovered in involuting rats to the level of proestrus stage. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern blot analyses demonstrated that the transcriptional activities of the mammary LH and GnRH were increased from diestrus I stage to estrus stage, and the increased levels were maintained in pregnant, lactation and involution stages. To test the hypothesis that the alteration in mammary LH expression might be steroid-dependant, ovariectomy(OVX) and steroid supplement model was employed. As expected, supplement of estradiol(E$_2$) after OVX remarkably decreased serum LH level compared to that in serum from vehicle-only treated rats. Likewise, administration of E$_2$ significantly reduced the mammary LH content. The present study demonstrated that (i) the LH expression in mammary gland could be altered by some physiological parameters such as estrous cycle, pregnancy, lactation and involution, and (ii) ovarian steroid especially estrogen seems to be one of major endocrine factors which are responsible for regulation of mammary LH expression.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.91-91
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• 2001