• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.311-317
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• 2001

YHB6211, a newly developed recombinant human granulocyte colonystimulating factor, was administered at dose levels of 0, 3, 15, and 75 $\mu$g/kg/day intravenously to the pregnant New Zealand White rabbits (20 rabbits per group) during the organogenetic period, days 6 to 18 of gestation. All dams were subjected to Caesarian section on day 28 of gestation and their fetuses were examined for external, visceral, and skeletal abnormalities. No abnormalities in clinical signs, body weight changes, gross findings, mortality, and external appearance were found in all dams and fetuses exposed to 0, 3, and 15 $\mu$g/kg/day of YHB6211. However, in the group treated with 75 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg/day of YHB6211, maternal body and uterine weights, fetal body weights and length, and the number of live fetuses were significantly decreased and further fetal mortality was remarkably increased. It is suggested that YHB6211 may have no side effect up to the dose level of 15 $\mu$g/kg/day, and there would be no teratogenicity for fetuses of rabbits up to 75 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg/day even if it may have some toxic effects over 75$\mu\textrm{g}$/kg/day for dams and fetuses of rabbits.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.579-583
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• 2023

In human fetuses, the left hepatic artery (LHA) issues the marginal artery that runs along the umbilical vein and, sometimes, reaches the umbilicus. The further observation demonstrated that, in 5 of 12 Japanese midterm fetuses (crown-rump length mm: 46, 50, 54, 59, 102), the marginal artery issued not only a thin umbilical branch but also a liver parenchymal branch that took a posterosuperior recurrent course in a peritoneal fold and supplied the anterior surface of the liver left lobe (segment III). However, in 22 Spanish fetuses of which gestational ages corresponded to the Japanese ones, we did not find the parenchymal branch. Therefore, between human populations, there seemed to be a considerable difference in the incidence as to whether or not the marginal artery issues the liver parenchymal branch. The parenchymal branch might be degenerated at the later stages due to friction between the liver free surface and growing diaphragm.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.301-309
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• 1996

LBD-001, a recombinant human interferon ${\gamma}$ produced by genetically engineered yeast as a host system, was intravenously administered to pregnant female rats (Sprague-Dawley) from day 7 to 17 of gestation at dose levels of 0.35$\times$10$^{6}$ , 0.69$\times$10$^{6}$ , and 1.38$\times$10$^{6}$ I.U./kg/day. As the control groups, hydrocortisone sodium succinate (5 or 10 mg/kg/day) was also similarly administered. Teratological effects of the test agents on fetuses and development of offsprings (F1 rats) were investigated. (1) No significant changes by the treatment of LBD-001 were observed in body weight, food and water consumption, feeding and nursing behaviors, and autopsy of pregnant or lactating mother rats. However, in hydrocortisone sodium succinate (10 mg/kg/day)-treated group, significant decreases of body weight on day 16, 18, and 20 of gestation and food consumption on day 20 of gestation and outstanding atrophy of thymus and adrenals were observed in two rats autopsied on day 20 of gestation. (2) No significant changes in resorption rate, skeletal or visceral development of fetuses, and physical or sensory development of offsprings (Fl) by the treatment of LBD-001 were detected. In hydrocortisone sodium succinate (10 mg/kg/day)-treated group, however, there were significant decreases of body weight of fetuses, delay of ossification, temporary delay of body weights of offsprings (F1) on day 1 and 3 of lactation, and increased tendency of stillborn rate and malformation rate of bone. The results show that LBD-001 at the dose of 1.38$\times$10$^{6}$ I.U./kg/day or less is not teratogenic in organogenesis of fetuses and the development of offsprings (F1). Meanwhile, hydrocortisone sodium succinate (10 mg/kg/day) seems to delay ossification of fetuses and temporarily retard the development of offsprings (Fl).

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.266-273
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• 2018

The ganglion cardiacum or juxtaductal body is situated along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve in the aortic window and is an extremely large component of the cardiac nerve plexus. This study was performed to describe the morphologies of the ganglion cardiacum or juxtaductal body in human fetuses and to compare characteristics with intracardiac ganglion. Ganglia were immunostained in specimens from five fetuses of gestational age 12-16 weeks and seven fetuses of gestational age 28-34 weeks. Many ganglion cells in the ganglia were positive for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; sympathetic nerve marker) and chromogranin A, while a few neurons were positive for neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS; parasympathetic nerve marker) or calretinin. Another ganglion at the base of the ascending aorta carried almost the same neuronal populations, whereas a ganglion along the left common cardinal vein contained neurons positive for chromogranin A and NOS but no or few TH-positive neurons, suggesting a site-dependent difference in composite neurons. Mixtures of sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons within a single ganglion are consistent with the morphology of the cranial base and pelvic ganglia. Most of the intracardiac neurons are likely to have a non-adrenergic non-cholinergic phenotype, whereas fewer neurons have a dual cholinergic/noradrenergic phenotype. However, there was no evidence showing that chromogranin A- and/or calretinin-positive cardiac neurons corresponded to these specific phenotypes. The present study suggested that the ganglion cardiacum was composed of a mixture of sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons, which were characterized the site-dependent differences in and near the heart.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2004

Objectives: Despite severe oligospermia, males with Y chromosome microdeletion can achieve conception through ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection). However, ICSI may not only result in the transmission of microdeletions but also the expansion of deletion to the offspring. The purpose of this study was to screen vertical transmission, expansion of microdeletions and de novo deletion in male fetuses conceived by ICSI. Materials and Methods: A total of 32 ICSI treated patients with their 33 (a case of twin) male fetuses conceived by ICSI were used to make this study group. Sequence-tagged sites (STSs)-based PCR analyses were performed on genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood of fathers and from the amniocytes of male fetuses. Ten primer pairs namely, sY134, sY138, MK5, sY152, sY147, sY254, sY255, SPGY1, sY269 and sY158 were used. The samples with deletions were verified at least three times. Results: We detected a frequency of 12.5% (4 of the 32 patients) of microdeletions in ICSI patients. In 4 patients with detected deletions, two patients have proven deletions on single STS marker and their male fetuses have the identical deletion in this region. Another two patients have two and three deletions, but their male fetuses have more than 3 deletions which include deletions to their father's. Meanwhile, seven male fetuses, whose fathers were analyzed to have all 10 STS markers present, have deletions present in at least one or more of the markers. Conclusions: Although the majority of deletions on the Y chromosome are believed to arise de novo, in some cases a deletion has been transmitted from the fertile father to the infertile patient. In other cases the deletion was transmitted through ICSI treatment, it is likely that one sperm cell is injected through the oocyte's cytoplasm and fertilization can be obtained from spermatozoa. Our tests for deletion were determined by PCR and our results show that the ICSI treatment may lead to vertical transmission, expansion and de novo Y chromosome microdeletions in male fetuses. Because the sample group was relatively small, one should be cautious in analyzing these data. However, it is important to counsel infertile couples contemplating ICSI if the male carries Y chromosomal microdeletions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.90-110
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• 2006

In the natural course of events, most human exposure to MeHg is through fish/shellfish consumption. The methylmercury exposure levels depends on the amount and species of fish/shellfish consumed daily. The developing brain in the late gestation period is known to be most vulnerable. Further, more methylmercury accumulates in the fetuses than in mothers. Therefore, efforts must be made to protect the fetuses from the risk of methylmercury, especially in populations which consume a lot of fish/shellfish.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.288-293
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• 2024

The temporal fascia is a double lamina sandwiching a thick fat layer above the zygomatic bony arch. To characterize each lamina, their developmental processes were examined in fetuses. We observed histological sections from 22 half-heads of 10 mid-term fetuses at 14-18 weeks (crown-rump length, 95-150 mm) and 12 near-term fetuses at 26-40 weeks (crown-rump length, 215-334 mm). The superficial lamina of the temporal fascia was not evident at mid-term. Instead, a loose subcutaneous tissue was attached to the thin, deep lamina of the temporal fascia covering the temporalis muscle. At near-term, the deep lamina became thick, while the superficial lamina appeared and exhibited several variations: i) a mono-layered thick membrane (5 specimens); ii) a multi-layered membranous structure (6) and; iii) a cluster of independent thick fasciae each of which were separated by fatty tissues (1). In the second and third patterns, fatty tissue between the two laminae was likely to contain longitudinal fibrous bands in parallel with the deep lamina. Varying proportions of the multi-layered superficial lamina were not attached to the zygomatic arch, but extended below the bony arch. Whether or not lobulation or septation of fatty tissues was evident was not dependent on age. The deep lamina seemed to develop from the temporalis muscle depending on the muscle contraction. In contrast, the superficial lamina developed from subcutaneous collagenous bundles continuous to the cheek. Therein, a difference in development was clearly seen between two categories of the fasciae.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.1_2
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• pp.167-173
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• 1997

LBD-001, a recombinant human interferon $\gamma$ produced by genetically engineered yeast as a host system, was intravenously administered to pregnant female rabbits (New Zealand White strain) from day 6 to 18 of gestation at dose levels of $0.35 \times 10^6$, $0. 69 \times 10^6$, and $1.38 \times 10^6$ I.U./kg/day. Hydrocortisone sodium succinate (0.3 mg/kg/day) was also given in the same way. Teratological effects of the test agents on the organogenesis of fetuses and the development of offsprings (F1 rabbits) were investigated. The results were as followings: (1) No significant changes by the treatment of LBD-001 or hydrocortisone sodium succinate were observed in the body weights, the food and water consumption, the lactating or nurshing behaviors, and the autopsy of the pregnant rabbits. (2) No significant changes in the resorption rate, the fetal organogenesis, and the normal develpoment of offsprings (F1) by the treatment of LBD-001 or hydrocortisone sodium succinate were detected. The results show that LBD-001 at the dose of $1.38 \times 10^6$ I.U./kg/day or less and hydrocortisone sodium succinate at the dose of 0.3 mg/kg/day are neither teratogenic in the organogensis of the fetuses and the development of the offsprings (F1) nor toxic to the mother rabbits.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.157-175
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• 1996

The development of flexor digital tendon of the hand was studied by electron microscopy in human fetuses ranging from 9 mm to 260 mm crown rump length. The primordium of tendons was first identified as discrete collection of mesenchymal cells at 25 mm fetus. Synovial sheath formation had commenced by 40 mm fetus and was complete by 70 mm fetus. Cell junction or adhesion sites at all ages were noted between the tendon cells. When dilatation of the synovial cavity occurred, two types of synovial cells were observed. A-type cells had numerous vesicles and large vacuoles. In contrast, B-type cells were characterized by abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum and well-developed Golgi complex. By $150mm{\sim}260mm$ fetuses, a mojority of the synovial cells were type B. The most remarkable difference between the synovial cells of full-term fetus and adult was the larger amount of collagen fibers in the latter. The vascular buds were first observed between the individual fibril bundles in the interfascicular space at 150 mm fetus. At 25 mm fetus, collagen fibrils were first noted within narrow cytoplasmic recesses which were continued with the extracellular space. Collagen fibrils were filled in almost entire extracellular space at 150 mm fetus. Besides collagen fibrils in the extracellular space small elastic fibers were also identified and followed in their development.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.82-88
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• 1998

LBO0014, a new recombinant human erythropoietin, was at dose levels of 0, 120, 600, and 3,000 IU/kg/day administered intravenously to pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats during the organogenetic period. All dams were subjected to caesarean section on day 20 of pregnancy, Effects of test substance on dams and embryonic development of Fl fetuses were examined. No treatment-related changes in clinical signs, body weight, and food consumption were observed at all doses tested. At necropsy spleen enlargement was found at 3,000 lU/kg. There was an ulcrease in the spleen weight at 600 and 3,0007/kg. Developmental toxicity was evident as increased resorptions at 3,000 lU/kg. At 600 and 3,000 RJ/kg, retarded ossification of fetuses occurred at an incidence of 31.3% and 64.7%, respectively. In addition, there was a delay in ossification of sternebrae and sacrocaudal vertebrae at 600 and 3,000 lU/kg. A decrease in the number of metacarpi and metatarsi was also seen at 3,000 nJ/kg. The results show that the no observed adverse effect dose level (NOAEL) for material toxicity was over 3,000 IU/kg/day and the NOAEL for developmental toxicity was 120 IU/kg/day.