• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2015

Two species of crabs, Cycloes granulosa and Pugettia vulgaris, are described and illustrated for the first time in Korea. The former is the first species of calappoid genus Cycloes and characterized by having a minute lateral spine on the margin of carapace. The latter is a species of majoid crab and similar to P. pellucens. However, it can be distinguished by shorter rostral spines, a smaller hepatic spine, and a carapace entirely covered with short setae. In Korea the calappoid crab now includes seven species of three genera (Calappa, Mursia, and Cycloes) and the majoid genus Pugettia consists of six species.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.179-187
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• 1998

In mammal, lots of follicles start simultaneously their growth but only a few oocytes are ovulated in every sexual cycles. Most of matured and grown oocytes are destined to degenerate by atresia. However, the molecular and physiological mechanisms are not elucidated yet. The present study was designed to establish an induction method of follicular atresia with ketamine or pentobarbitone and evaluate the effect of these anesthetics on oocyte maturation and granulosa cell apoptosis of the mouse ovarian follicle. The percentages of degenerated oocyte and apoptotic granulosa cell in ketamine treated groups were significantly higher than that in controls (58.9% vs 33.5%, p<0.01, degeneration; 44.9% vs 26.6%, p<0.01, apotosis). Futhermore, it was revealed that the concentrations of progesterone in both groups were markedly higher than that in control. In cunclusion, it is considered that ketamine induce an atresia as pentobarbitone, and may be useful for inducing follicular atresia.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 1992

In order to study the mechanism of follicle growth and maturation, and also to supplement the criteria identifying the follicle state of normal of atretic, the histochemical investigation on the ovarian follicles according to the ovarian cycle of mouse, rat and pig has been done. The intercellular space of granulosa cells, especailly Call-Exner body, and follicular fluid in the antrum showed positive to PAS, and blue stain by trichrome dye. The resutls suggest that the mucous polysaccharide was synthesized by the granulosa cells, and secreted into the antrum through Call-Exner body so as to be the components of the follicular fluid as the follicles proceeded to growth and maturation. The further the follicles proceeded to atresia the more densely their theca externa were stained blue by follicles proceeded to atresia the more densely their theca externa were stained blue by trichrome dye, and the more densely the granulosa cells were stained red by oil red 0 dye. Therefore, these staining methods can be applied to the criteria identifying the follicle atresia.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

The oocyte quality is of great importance in infertility as it reflects the follicle developmental potential and further affects the embryo development, clinical pregnancy outcomes. The analysis of gene expression in somatic cells is an important study to better clinical in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in embryo selection reflecting the appropriate communication between the oocyte and somatic cells. Specifically, somatic cell transcriptomic technology can help assess biomarkers of oocyte and embryo ability. The present article aims to overview the basic aspect of folliculogenesis and review studies involving changes in candidate gene expression of cumulus or granulosa cell related to clinical outcomes in human IVF.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2005

To investigate the influence of relaxin and insulin on the ovarian steroid secretion of porcine granulosa cells, we used porcine granulosa cells partially luteinized in a primary culture and examined the production of progesterone and $17{\beta}-estradiol$. Porcine granulosa cells were cultured in the presence of serum for 48 h after attachment and subsequently in the absence of serum fur 24 h. To confirm the dose dependency of relaxin or insulin, various concentrations (10, 100, 1000 ng/ml) of relaxin or insulin were added in the medium for the last 24 h, respectively. To investigate the combinational effect of relaxin and insulin, 100 ng/ml relaxin and/or 100 ng/ml insulin were added in the medium for the last 24 h in the presence or absence of luteinizing hormone (100 ng/ml). The medium was collected and used for radioimmunoassay to measure the production of progesterone and $17{\beta}-estradiol$. Relaxin or insulin increased the production of progesterone by dose dependency, respectively while they had no effect of the production of $17{\beta}-estradiol$. Relaxin (100 ng/ml) and/or insulin (100 ng/ml) significantly increased the production of progesterone in the presence of luteinizing hormone while they had no effect of the production of $17{\beta}-estradiol$. In conclusion, relaxin and/or insulin increased the progesterone secretion of porcine granulosa-lutein cells in vitro while had no effect on the production of $17{\beta}-estradiol$ and had no synergism on the effects. The effects of relaxin and/or insulin on the production of progesterone were augmented by the presence of luteinizing hormone.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.182-182
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• 2008

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.213-221
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• 1994

한국산 산호충류의 계통분류학적 연구의 일환으로 1969년부터 1986년까지 우리나라의 삼면 연안과 도서 지방으로부터 채집된 돌산호류 중 대한해협의 미포에서 그물에 의해 채집된 나무돌산호 과의 1종이 신속, 신종으로 밝혀져 미립이분지돌산호(dichopsammia granulosa)라고 명명하고 기재한다. 이들의 완모식 표본과 대부분의 부모식 표본들은 이화여자대학교 자연과학대학 생물과학과에 보관되어 있고, 일부 부모식 표본은 이화여자대학교 자연사박물관에 보관되어 있다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.184-193
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• 2007

In mammalian ovary, steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein mediates the true rate-limiting step of transport of cholesterol from outer to inner mitochondrial membrane. Appropriate expression of StAR gene represents an indispensable component of steroidogenesis and its regulation has been found to be species specific. However, limited information is available regarding StAR gene expression during estrous cycle in buffalo ovary. In the present study, expression, localization and hormonal regulation of StAR mRNA were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in buffalo ovary and partial cDNA was cloned. Total RNA was isolated from whole follicles of different sizes, granulosa cells from different size follicles and postovulatory structures like corpus luteum and Corpus albicans. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analyses showed StAR mRNA expression in the postovulatory structure, corpus luteum. No StAR mRNA was detected in total RNA isolated from whole follicles of different size including the preovulatory follicle (>9 mm in diameter). However, granulosa cells isolated from preovulatory follicles showed the moderate expression of StAR mRNA. To assess the hormonal regulation of StAR mRNA, primary culture of buffalo granulosa cells were treated with FSH (100 ng/ml) alone or along with IGF-I (100 ng/ml) for 12 to 18 h. The abundance of StAR mRNA increased in cells treated with FSH alone or FSH with IGF-I. However, effect of FSH with IGF-I on mRNA expression was found highly significant (p<0.01). In conclusion, differential expression of StAR messages was observed during estrous cycle in buffalo ovary. Also, there was a synergistic action of IGF-I on FSH stimulation of StAR gene.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.1529-1540
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• 2011

Silencing of a specific gene using RNAi (RNA interference) is a valuable tool for functional analysis of a target gene. However, information on RNAi for analysis of gene function in farm animals is relatively nil. In the present study, we have validated the interfering effects of siRNA (small interfering RNA) using both quantitative and qualitative gene silencing in buffalo granulosa cells. Qualitative gene knockdown was validated using a fluorescent vector, enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) and fluorescently labeled siRNA (Cy3) duplex. While quantitatively, siRNA targeted against the luciferase and CYP19 mRNA was used to validate the technique. CYP19 gene, a candidate fertility gene, was selected as a model to demonstrate the technique optimization. However, to sustain the expression of CYP19 gene in culture conditions using serum is difficult because granulosa cells have the tendency to luteinize in presence of serum. Therefore, serum free culture conditions were optimized for transfection and were found to be more suitable for the maintenance of CYP19 gene transcripts in comparison to culture conditions with serum. Decline in fluorescence intensity of green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was observed following co-transfection with plasmid generating siRNA targeted against EGFP gene. Quantitative decrease in luminescence was seen when co-transfected with siRNA against the luciferase gene. A significant suppressive effect on the mRNA levels of CYP19 gene at 100 nM siRNA concentration was observed. Also, measurement of estradiol levels using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) showed a significant decline in comparison to control. In conclusion, the present study validated gene silencing using RNAi in cultured buffalo granulosa cells which can be used as an effective tool for functional analysis of target genes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1496-1500
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• 2004

In the mammalian ovary the follicular fluid contains proteins and peptides which play an important role in growth, development and maturation of oocytes. The gonadotropins and some other factors work synergistically and regulate ovarian functions. In the present study the effect of follicular fluid proteins (FFP) and gonadotropins on progesterone secretion by granulosa cells (GC) from buffalo ovary, was investigated during culture. The follicular fluid was collected from small (<5 mm), and medium (5-8 mm) follicles obtained from buffalo ovaries. The follicular fluid from medium follicles was fractionated with ammonium sulphate at 80% saturation. The precipitated protein fraction was further resolved in to minor (peaks I, III) and major (peak II) proteins using gel filtration (Sephadex G-200). The FFP from small follicles and major FFP (peak II) at a dose of 200 $\mu$g/well, significantly stimulated progesterone secretion by pooled GC (3${\times}10^{5}$ cells/2 ml medium/well). The minor FFP did not show any stimulatory effect. There was a significant increase in progesterone secretion by pooled GC in presence of FFP and LH (10 ng/well), however, FSH (20 ng/well) with FFP exhibited an inhibitory effect. The major FFP and gonadotropins were also studied for their effect on progesterone production by GC isolated from medium and large size follicles. The GC from medium follicles were more responsive to FSH and FFP whereas GC from large follicles exhibited enhanced progesterone secretion with LH and FFP. These results indicated that FFP have their own stimulatory effect and also act synergistically with gonadotropins. The significantly different response shown by GC, for steroid hormone secretion, is based on their stage of growth and differentiation. The purification and characterization of such steroidogenic proteins may help in elucidating their role in growth and differentiation of granulosa cells.