• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.80.2-80.2
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• 2001

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.203-210
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• 1995

Many oocytes fail to fertilize and cleave in vitro and many embryos transferred back to uterus fail to implant or maintain implantation. Chromosomal abnormalities in the male and female gametes may contribute to this loss. The higher incidence of meiotic chromosomal abnormalities bas been found in oocytes than in sperm. The wide range of incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in unfertilized oocytes has been reported in human IVF program (26-63%). However, factors affecting chromosomal abnormalities are not well understood. The present study has been conducted to investigate effects of the method for ovarian hyperstimulation, women's age, and the number of oocytes retrieved per patients on the incidence of numerical chromosomal abnormalities. Five hundred eighty four unfertilized metaphase II oocytes were subjected to chromosomal analysis. Included unfertilized oocytes were from 220 patients (mean $age=32.7{\pm}3.0$) and three hundred thirty oocytes were legible for analysis. Two hundred fourty five oocytes out of 330 (73.3%) were normal, while 38 (11.5%) were hyperploidy, 35 (10.6%) were hypoploidy, and 12 (3.6%) were diploidy. Significant difference in chromosomal abnormalities was not found between two patient groups stimulated by follicular stimulating hormone/human menopausal gonadotrophin (FSH/HMG) (25.9%) and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist/follicular stimulating hormone/human menopausal gonadotrophin (GnRHa/FSH/HMG) (28%). There was a tendency of increasing chromosomal abnormalities in unfertilized oocytes from older patients (<30 yrs: 20.3%, 30-34yrs: 26.9%, >34 yrs: 35.3%). The number of oocytes retrieved per patient had no effect the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities (1-5: 31. 4%, 6-10: 29.8%, 11-15: 28.6%, > 15: 16.5%). These results from the present study suggest that the chromosomal abnormalities observed in the unfertilized oocytes has not affected by the stimulation methods, patient's age, and the number of oocytes retrieved per patients.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1987

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) was known to play a key role in the regulation of cumulus expansion and oocyte maturation of mammalian cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC's) in vivo and in vitro. The present experiments were conducted to know how intracellular level of cAMP in these cells is controlled. Intracellular cAMP level was modulated by culturing mouse CGC's with an adenylate cyclase stimulator, forskolin, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methyixanthine (IBMX), human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), or follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). The rate of cumulus expansion and germinal vesicle break-down (GVBD) was checked after culture and used as a biological end point. Forskolin in the medium began to stimulate the expansion of the complexes at 1 nM and induced maximum expansion (80~90%) at 0 1~10 $\mu$M. The expansion rate was reduced to 60% when forskolin concentration was increased to 100 $\mu$M. Oocyte GVBD occurred normally (75~82%) in the presence of 10 $\mu$M of forskolin, but partial suppression was appeared at 100 pM of the drug (40%). IBMX also stimulated the expansion from the concentration of 0.01 pM and induced full expansion (81~89%) between the concentration of 1-1000 $\mu$M. Meiotic resumption was occurred normally under 10 $\mu$M of IBMX, but suppressed drastically from the concentration of 100 $\mu$M. The minimum exposing time to hormone or drugs required to trigger cumulus expansion was two minutes with HCG, 15~30 minutes with FSH and fors kolin, and two hours with IBMX. The data presented here seemed to imply that intracellular cAMP level in cumulus cells is regulated by both adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase and cumulus expansion is induced by a peak of cAMP while meiotic arrest is maintained by continuous presence of cAMP.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 1988

Follicular fluid(FF) prostaglandin $E_2$(PG$E_2$) and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ levels were compared in 3 groups of spontaneously ovulatory women undergoing ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate (CC) alone or with human menopausal gonadotropin(hMG) (14 patients), hMG(9 patients), or pure FSH/hMG(11 patients) for the purpose of in vitro fertilization. FF volume aspirated did not differ significantly according to the maturity of the oocyte. According to hyperstimulation regimens, the volume of FF from which preovulatory occytes were obtained was significantly less in the hMG-treated group than in the other groups. In follicles of preovulatory oocytes, FF PG$E_2$ values were significantly lower in the FSH treated group than in the Cc.treated or hMG-treated group, and FF $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ values were significantly higher in the hMG-treated group than in the CC-treated or FSH-treated group. In follicles of immature or atretic oocytes, there was no significant difference in FF PG$E_2$ and PG$F_{2{\alpha}}$ concentrations of the similar morphology of the oocyte according to hyperstimulation regimens. In all cycles, FF PG$E_2$ and PG$F_{2{\alpha}}$ values of preovulatory oocytes were not significantly different from those of immature oocytes, but those of atretic oocytes were relatively lower than those of fertilizable oocytes and it was statistically signifincant in PG$E_2$ values of CC-treated group. In all treatment groups, FF PG$E_2$ and PG$F_{2{\alpha}}$ levels did not show and close relationship with the success of fertilization in vitro and of pregnancy after embryo transfer. Above results suggested that FF PG$E_2$ and PG$F_{2{\alpha}}$ be involved in oocyte maturation and ovulation, but their relationship with the success of in vitro fertilization was not found.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 1997

This study was designed to investigate the effects of superovulation on the growing and mature follicles following gonadotrophin treatments in mature rat by immunohistochemical methods. Eighteen mature rats (Sprague-Duwely, 190~230gm) were randomly alloted into 3 groups. One group was control group, another FSH-treated group was injected intramuscularly with 0.5 units of follicular stimulating hormone(FSH) / rat, and third PMS and HCG-treated group was injected intramuscularly with 20~25IU of pregnant mare serum(PMS) / rat and then at the 48 hrs later, with 20~25IU of human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG) / rat. Half the number of rats were administrated intraperitoneally with bromodeoxyuridine(Brdur, 0.2mg/gm BW once) at 2 hours before exanguination and the remainder of rats were sacrified without Brdur administration. The investigation by immunohistochemical methods using paraffin sections of ovaries was performed by using anti-Brdur antibody and PCNA(proliferating cell nuclear antigen) antibody for labeling proliferating cells in follicles. In immunohistochemical findings, follicles squeezed by peripheral corpus luteum or follicles large follicles with loosly and irregularly distributed granulosa cells and although with compacted granulosa cells, middle follicles with dilated round or oval follicular antrum were confirmed as atretic follicles. The proportions of atretic follicles in control group were 29.8%, 21.7% and 14.2% respectivley at large, middle and small follicles and mean proportions of these all 3 grade follicles were 26.7%. The proportions of atretic follicles in FSH-treated group were 35.4%, 24.9% and 10.4% respectively at large, middle and small follicles and mean proportions of these all 3 grade follicles were 28.1%. The proportions of atretic follicles in PMS and HCG-treated group were 44.7%, 24.0% and 12.7% respectively at large, middle and small follicles, and mean proportions of these all 3 grade follicles were 29.7%. The above findings reveal that the group with higher proportion of atretic follicles were ordered as large, middle and small follicles in size, and these proportions were increased in hormone treated two groups with more number of more growing and mature follicles when compared with control group.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 1986

Follicular flxid (FF) and their matched oocytes were obtained from 58 follicles of 27 women who underwent an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure with ovarian hyperstimulation by clomiphene citrate(n=8), hMG(n=9),FSH/hMG(n=10). Follicular aspiration was performed 36 hours after human chorionic gonadotropin administration. The concentcation of androstendione (ADD), testosterone (T) was correlated with hyperstimulation regimens, the morphology of the oocyte-corona-cumulus complex (OCCC), oocyte fertilization, and the incidence of pregnancy after embryo transfer. The results were as follows. 1. According to hyperstimulation regimens, there was no significant differance in FF ADD and T concentrations of the similar morphology of OCCC. 2. In clomiphene-treated and FSH/hMG-treated cycles, FF ADD concentrations of preovulatory oocytes were 43.09${\pm}$9.53 ng/ml and 59.46${\pm}$9.09 ng/ml, those of immature occytes were 96.98${\pm}$16.55 ng/ml and 116.13${\pm}$36.81 ng/ml, those of atretic oocytes were 246.5 ${\pm}$9.25 ng/ml and 634.25${\pm}$9.25 ng/ml respectively, reflecting the significant relationship between FF ADD level and morphologic maturity of OCCC (p<0.05). But in hMG-treated cycles, such relationship was not found (p>0.1). In clomiphene-treated and FSH/hMG-treated cycles, FF T concentrations of preovulatory oocytes were 11.37${\pm}$2.38 ng/ml and 11.68${\pm}$1.73 ng/ml respectively which were significantly lower than those of atretic oocytes (25.1${\pm}$7.50 ng/ml and 23.25${\pm}$0.95 ng/ml respectively) (p<0.05). But in all cycles, FF T concentrations of immature oocytes were not significantly different from those of preovulatory oocytes, artetic oocytes (p>0.1). 3. In hMG-treated and FSH/hMG-treated cycles, FF ADD concentrations of fertilized oocytes were 32.43${\pm}$4.09 ng/ml and 42.61${\pm}$4.82 ng/ml respectively which were significantly lower than those of non-fertilized oocytes (72.18${\pm}$17.31 ng/ml and 108.09${\pm}$17.32 ng/ml respectively) (p<0.05), but in clomiphene-treated cycles there was no significant difference (p>0.1). In FSH/hMG-treated cycles, FF T concentration of fertilized oocytes was 7.33${\pm}$1.06 ng/ml which was significantly lower than that of non-fertilized oocytes (20.3${\pm}$6.21 ng/ml) (p>0.02), but in clomiphne-treated and hMG-treated cycles there was no significant difference (p>0.1). 4. In all cycles FF ADD and T concentrations did not correlated with the success of pregnancy after embryo transfer. Above results suggested that FF ADD and T may play an important role in oocyte maturation and fertilization, but their relationship with the success of psegnancy was not found.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 1977

Radioiodine labelled human follicle stimulating hormone has been prepared using chloramine-T, with the approximate labelling yield of 65%. The labelled product is purified by means of a starch gel electrophoresis, and a Sephadex gel filtration, and the separation efficiencies are assessed for the effective use in radioimmunoassay. The results indicate that the gel filtration is efficient in view of the separation time, simplicity and bindability of the labelled hormone to the antibody. In determining the ratio of the free to the antibody hound labelled hormone, a double antibody technique is applied in comparison with a chromatoelectrophoresis. The ratio could be obtained only in the case of applying the double antibody technique.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 1999

There have been many reports to date regarding the role of GnRH as a local regulatory factor of ovarian function as studies of human and rat ovaries revealed GnRH and its receptor. In recent studies it has been shown that GnRH directly causes apoptosis in the granulosa cells of the rat ovary, and such results leads to the suggestion that the use of GnRH agonist for more stable long term ovarian hyperstimulation in human IVF-ET programs causes granulosa cell apoptosis which may lead to follicular atresia. Therefore this study attempts to determine if granulosa-luteal cell apoptosis occurs in patients during IVF-ET programs in which GnRH agonist is employed for ovarian hyperstimulation. The quality of oocyte-cumulus complexes obtained during ovum pickup procedures were assessed morphologically and then the fertilization rate and developmental rate was determined. Apoptotic cells among the granulosa-luteal cells obtained during the same procedure were observed after staining with Hematoxylin-eosin. The fragmentation degree of DNA extracted from granulosa-luteal cells was determined and comparatively analyzed. There was no difference in the average age of the patients, the number of oocytes retrieved, and fertilization and developmental rates between the FSH/hMG group and GnRH-long group. There was also no difference in the apoptosis rate and pyknosis rate in the granulosa-luteal cells between the two groups. However, when the oocyte-cumulus complexes were morphoogically divided into the healthy group and atretic group without regard for the method of hyperstimulation, the results showed that the number of oocytes obtained averaged $11.09{\pm}8.75\;and\;10.33{\pm}4.53$ per cycle, respectively, showing no significant difference, but the fertilization rate (77.05%, 56.99%, respectively, p<0.01) and developmental rate (65.96%, 41.51%, respectively, p<0.01) was significantly increased in the healthy group when compared to the atretic group. The degree of apoptosis in the granulosa-luteal cells showed that in the healthy group it was 2.25% which was not significantly different from the atretic group (2.77%), but the pyknosis rate in the atretic group (27.81%) was significantly higher compared to the healthy group (11.35%, p<0.01). The quantity of DNA fragmentation in the FSH/hMG group was 32.22%, while in the GnRH-long group it was 34.27%, showing no significant difference. On the other hand the degree of DNA fragmentation was 39.05% and 11.83% in the healthy group and atretic group, respectively, showing significantly higher increase in the atretic group (p<0.01). The above results suggest that death of granulosa-luteal cells according to the state of the oocyte-cumulus complex is more related to pyknosis rather than apoptosis. Also, the GnRH agonist used in ovarian hyperstimulation does not seem to directly affect the apoptosis of retrieved oocytes and granulosa-luteal cells, and which is thought to be due to the suppression of the apoptogenic effect of GnRH agonist as a result of the high doses of FSH administered.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2 s.32
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• pp.48-57
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• 1996

This study is to review the oriental medical literatures about Chungye and endocrinologic literatures about menstration, pregnancy, menopause and male-sex cycle. The conclusions obtained are as follows; First, according to Naegyung, Chungye exists in both male and female, it makes human fertile. It comes with starting menstration and is exhausted with menopause. Second, it was said that the name of Chungye originated in Chun of Chunjinjiki(energy of genuine cosmos) and Gye of Imgyejisu(water of Imgye). Third, some authors advocated that Chungye is menstration. But it was criticized by other authors and it is not accepted at the present time. Forth, there was an assertion that Chungye is Eumjung. The assertion has been developed as the hypothesis that Chungye may be a endocrinologic substance relavant to menstration and pregnancy. Fifth, there was an interpretation that Chungye is FSH. But this interpretation might be unreasonable if it is based on the results observed by endocrinologic researches. According to the current endocrinologic researches, Chungye may be GnRH, when Chungye is the necessary endocrinologic substance to menstration and pregnancy, exists in male and female and is exhausted with menopause.