• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 1986

Various TSH RIA kit components were prepared. Conditions for $^{125}I$ labelling of h-TSH were optimized by diminishing the amount of chloramine-T, ertending reaction time and lowering reaction temperature. Yield, specific activity, and immunological activity could be maintained moderately under such mild reaction conditions. The mixture of polyethyleneglycol(PEG) and second antibody worked effectively as a B/F separation agent. Even though the mixture was made with more diluted PEG and second antibody than those of using the sole component separately, the tine required for the B/F separation was shorter in case of using the mixture. The sequential saturation technique was efficient than those of applying ordinary equilibrium saturation technique in assay sensitivity and assay precision points of view.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.403-409
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• 1991

This experiment was carried out to develop a sensitive, rapid, solid-phase microtitre plate assay of progesterone using the monoclonal antibody to this hormone. Monoclonal antibody to progesterone was much higher titre and binding affinity about 10 times than conventional polyclonal antibody to progesterone. Dot-blot analysis of monoclonal antibody revealed a single precipitation band when reacted with anti-mouse IgM and anti-mouse K. A competitive reaction was used with a reaction time of 2 hours. The standard dose-response curve was linear through 1,000pg/well. This ELISA system approach is applicable to evaluation for the rapid assessment of luteal function and reproductive status in both clinical and research in a wide variety of species.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.447-455
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• 2008

Recombinant yeast estrogenicity (YES) assay was used as a bioanalytical tool in order to screen $17{\beta}$-estradiol in the soil samples collected from different sites of South Korea. Solvent extraction and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) methods were compared for the extraction of the estradiol from the soils. Most high detection of the estradiol based on YES assay was observed in the soils extracted with methanol. Different types of estrogenic hormones including $17{\beta}$-estradiol were suggested to be possibly exiting in the soils, since the methanol extracts of the soils showed an estrogenic activity that was not observed in the hexane extracts of the soil. SFE extracts showed estrogenic activity in some of the samples but methanol extract showed best activity.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.317-322
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• 2005

Isoflavones are reported to playa role in menopausal women as a phytoestrogen, which can replace estradiols in hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Recently; due to the risk of breast cancer by HRT, phytoestrogens (e.g. isoflavones) have been focused as an alternative therapy in menopause. In the study, we investigated whether isoflavones derived from Sophorae fructus (SISO) have more benefit than that of soybean isoflavones in estrogen deficient rats. We found that SISO effectively controled $H_2O_2$ comparing with the baseline (p<0.01 vs. post value of OVX-Cont), and the blood sugar and weight were also controlled with decreasing patterns. Additionally, in LDH assay for cytoprotective effect in Neuro-2a cell line, SISO protected cells from the damage by SNAP (p<0.05). In conclusion, SISO may have more beneficial effect in enhancing the menopausal signs than that of soybean isoflavones and the cytoprotective effect in neuron cells suggests that SISO can play a certain role in neuroprotection after menopause.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.372-377
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• 2007

The orphan nuclear receptor, SF-1, plays a pivotal role in the development and differentiation of the endocrine and reproductive systems, and also regulates the transcription of a host of genes, including those encoding several steroidogenic enzymes and gonadotropins. We found that a previously unidentified repressor, EID-1, is an SF-1-interacting protein that inhibits the transactivation of SF-1. A transient transfection assay revealed that EID-1 inhibits SF-1, but not LRH-1, $ERR{\gamma}$, or mCAR. Using the yeast two hybrid and GST pull-down assays, we determined that EID-1 interacted strongly with SF-1. In addition, it colocalized with SF-1 in mammalian cells and interacted specifically with the AF-2 domain of SF-1, competing with SRC-1 to inhibit SF-1 transactivation. EID-1 is expressed in the mouse testis, and its expression decreases during testis development. The results of the present study suggest that EID-1 can act as a repressor, regulating the function of SF-1.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2020

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate melanogenesis inhibition of ethanol extract of Polyporus (EP) by using B16F10 melanoma cells. Methods : We measured antioxidant effect of EP by using 1,1-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and we confirmed melanin contents and tyrosinase activity of EP in cells. Additionally, the expression of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1) and TRP-2 was observed by Western blot. Results : EP showed significantly high radical scavenging activity and inhibition of melanogenesis in dose-dependent manner by decreasing cellular tyrosinase activity and melanin content with or without α-melanin stimulating hormone. TRP-1 and TRP-2 expressions were also suppressed by EP in B16F10 cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that EP inhibits the melanogenesis and it could be a new organic ingredient for hyper-pigmentation.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 1989

The effect of SV40 and murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) enhancers on the general and tissue-specific gene expression was investigated. Recombinant plasmids containing these transcriptional engancers downstream of a structural gene for chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) were constructed. The transient expression of CAT gene from these plasmids was measured in monkey (CV1PD) and HeLa cells. Both SV40 and MCMV engancers activated the expression of CAT gene by more than 20 and 150 folds, respectively, compared with engancerless plasmids. When the SV40 promoter, upstream of CAT gene, was replaced with 2.2 kbp of promoter regulatory region of bovine growth hormone (bGH) gene, there was no expression of CAT even in the presence of enhancers, reflecting the tissue-specific expression of bGH genes. However, when the bGH regulatory region was shortened to 230 bp, the expression level increased dramatically in the presence of SV40 enhancers. In contrast, the expression from the shortened promoter was only marginally activated by the stronger MCMV enhancer.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2021

Objective: In this study, the effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus on testosterone (TES), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), androgen-binding protein (ABP), factor-associated apoptosis (FAS), and total cholesterol (TC), as well as histopathological changes, were investigated in male rats fed a high-cholesterol diet. Methods: The study included three groups. The control (C) group was fed standard-diet for 8 weeks. The hypercholesterolemia (HC) group was fed a 2% cholesterol-diet for 8 weeks. The therapeutic group (HCL) was fed a 2% cholesterol-diet for 8 weeks and administered L. acidophilus for the last 4 weeks. FSH, TES, and FAS levels in testicular tissue were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while another sample was examined histopathologically. LH and ABP levels were determined using ELISA, and serum TC levels were assessed via an autoanalyzer. Results: In the HC group, the TC levels were significantly higher and the LH levels were lower (p<0.05) than in the C group. The ABP levels were lower (p>0.05). In the HCL group, the LH and ABP levels were higher (p>0.05) and the TC level significantly lower (p<0.05) than in the HC group. The TES and FSH levels were lower, and the FAS levels were higher, in the HC than in the C group (p<0.05). In the HCL group, levels of all three resembled control levels. Histologically, in the testicular tissue of the HC group, the cells in the tubular wall exhibited atrophy, vacuolization, and reduced wall structure integrity. However, in the HCL group, these deteriorations were largely reversed. Conclusion: Supplementary dietary administration of an L. acidophilus to hypercholesterolemic male rats positively impacted testicular tissue and male fertility hormone levels.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.244-253
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• 2022

Background: The indiscriminate use of pesticides in Nigeria may have harmful effects on reproductive health of farmers. Objectives: This study assessed the awareness of reproductive health, serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, estradiol, progesterone and sperm characteristics of male farmers occupationally exposed to pesticides. Methods: Eighty four male farmers were recruited for the study. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain the socio-demographic data. Blood and semen samples were collected from the subjects in the morning for hormonal assays and semen analysis using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method and SQAV sperm quality analyzer. Data were analyzed using chi square, Student's-t-test, and Regression analysis. Results: Serum FSH (p<0.01), LH (p<0.005) and Estradiol (p<0.001) were significantly higher while prolactin (p<0.02) and testosterone (p<0.001) were significantly lower among pesticides exposed farmers than nonexposed subjects. Some 34/84 (40.5%) of the pesticides exposed farmers had serum testosterone levels below the lower limit of the reference range. Those with low testosterone levels (p<0.001), also had FSH (p<0.05), LH (p<0.001) and Estradiol (p<0.002) significantly lower than those with normal testosterone levels. The sperm count among pesticides exposed farmers; total motility and percentage morphology were significantly lower than non-pesticides exposed subjects. Some 14/84 (16.7%) of the pesticides exposed farmers had sperm count below 15 million/mL (oligozoospermia). More than 70% of the farmers were not aware of the reproductive health risks associated with pesticides and only 23.8% of the farmers were using protective devices. Conclusions: Deliberate efforts to improve awareness, knowledge, personal hygiene, and interventions necessary to lessen both pesticides exposure and health risks by adopting safe practices are suggested.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1052-1056
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• 2012

Undaria pinnatifada has been used as a natural diet food with few calories and as a source of iodine. Even though U. pinnatifida has been regarded as a diet food, the mechanisms of its inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation and the accumulation of fat in adipocytes are poorly understood. In this study, the effect and mechanism of U. pinnatifida ethanol extract on 3T3-L1 differentiation into adipocytes were investigated. The effects of U. pinnatifida ethanol extract on cell viability and the anti-adipogenic effect were investigated via MTT assay, Oil red O staining, RT-PCR, and western blot. The U. pinnatifida ethanol extract did not show toxicity up to a concentration of 50 ${\mu}g/ml$. The addition of U. pinnatifida ethanol extract decreased triglyceride contents by 40% when 50 ${\mu}g/ml$ of U. pinnatifida ethanol extract was added during 3T3-L1 differentiation and adipocyte triglyceride formation. The transcription and expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$), leptin, and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) as adipocyte-specific proteins were determined by RT-PCR and western blot. The overexpression of $PPAR{\gamma}$ could accelerate adipocyte differentiation. Also, leptin was secreted for triglyceride accumulation in the adipocytes and the increase of adipocyte cell size. Thus, $PPAR{\gamma}$ and leptin were used as indicators of obesity. $PPAR{\gamma}$ and leptin were repressed by the increased addition of U. pinnatifida ethanol extract. This indicates that U. pinnatifida was effective as an anti-obesity agent by repressing the differentiation of 3T3-L1 into adipocytes and inhibiting triglyceride formation in adipocytes.