• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.71-78
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• 2017

Nesfatin-1/NUCB2 is known to take part in the control of the appetite and energy metabolism. Recently, many reports have shown nesfatin-1/NUCB2 expression and function in various organs. We previously demonstrated that nesfatin-1/NUCB2 expression level is higher in the pituitary gland compared to other organs and its expression is regulated by $17{\beta}-estradiol$ and progesterone secreted from the ovary. However, currently no data exist on the expression of nesfatin-1/NUCB2 and its regulation mechanism in the pituitary of male mouse. Therefore, we examined whether nesfatin-1/NUCB2 is expressed in the male mouse pituitary and if its expression is regulated by testosterone. As a result of PCR and western blotting, we found that a large amount of nesfatin-1/NUCB2 was expressed in the pituitary and hypothalamus. The NUCB2 mRNA expression level in the pituitary was decreased after castration, but not in the hypothalamus. In addition, its mRNA expression level in the pituitary was increased after testosterone treatment in the castrated mice, whereas, the expression level in the hypothalamus was significantly decreased after the treatment with testosterone. The in vitro experiment to elucidate the direct effect of testosterone on NUCB2 mRNA expression showed that NUCB2 mRNA expression was significantly decreased with testosterone in cultured hypothalamus tissue, but increased with testosterone in cultured pituitary gland. The present study demonstrated that nesfatin-1/NUCB2 was highly expressed in the male mouse pituitary and was regulated by testosterone. This data suggests that reproductive-endocrine regulation through hypothalamus-pituitary-testis axis may contribute to NUCB2 mRNA expression in the mouse hypothalamus and pituitary gland.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.235-251
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• 2012

The reproductive activity in male mammals is well known to be regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis. The hypothalamic neurons secreting gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) govern the reproductive neuroendocrine system by integrating all the exogenous information impinging on themselves. The GnRH synthesized and released from the hypothalamus arrives at the anterior pituitary through the portal vessels, provoking the production of the gonadotropins(follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)) at the same time. The gonadotropins affect the gonads to promote spermatogenesis and to secret testosterone. Testosterone acts on the GnRH neurons by a feedback loop through the circulatory system, resulting in the balance of all the hormones by regulating reproductive activities. These hormones exert their effects by acting on their own receptors, which are included in the signal transduction pathways as well. Unexpected aberrants are arised during this course of action of each hormone. This review summarizes these abnormal phenomena, including various mutations of molecules and their actions related to the reproductive function.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women, which is characterized by the oligo/anovulation, hyperandrogenism (HA) and polycystic ovarian morphology which are diagnostic criteria. PCOS has diverse clinical aspects in addition to those diagnostic criteria including increased risk for cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes and impaired fertility. Because of the heterogeneity of the disease, the pathogenesis of the disease has not been elucidated yet. Therefore, there is no cure for the endocrinopathy. HA and insulin resistance (IR) has been considered two major pillars of the pathogenesis of PCOS. Recent advances in animal studies revealed the critical role of neuroendocrine abnormalities in developing PCOS. Several pathways related to neuroendocrine origin have been investigated such as hypothalamus pituitary ovarian axis, hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis and hypothalamus pituitary adipose axis. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the role of HA and IR in developing PCOS. In addition, we review the results of recent genome wide association studies for PCOS. This new perspective improves our understanding of the role of neuroendocrine origins in PCOS and suggest a novel potential therapeutic target for the treatment of PCOS.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.97-105
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• 2008

Vinclozolin (VCZ)은 침투성 살균제로써 과일, 채소, 와인산업에 널리 사용된다. VCZ와 그것의 대사산물들인 butenoic acid (M1)과 enanilide (M2)는 안드로겐 수용체를 놓고 항 안드로겐 물질로 작용한다. VCZ가 수컷의 생식생리와 병리에서 내분비계 장애물질(endocrine disrupting chemical, EDC)로 작용함에 대한 증거는 많이 있지만, 암컷 생식생리에 미치는 VCZ의 효과에 대한 증거는 전무하다. 본 연구자들은 이전 연구에서 VCZ가 미성숙 암컷 흰쥐의 사춘기 개시를 유의하게 지연시킴을 보고한 바 있는데, 이는 VCZ에 의해 시상하부-뇌하수체-난소(hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary, H-P-O) 생식 호르몬 축의 활성이 지연되거나 약화됨을 시사한다. 본 연구에서는 미성숙 암컷 흰쥐들의 VCZ 투여가 암컷 흰쥐의 시상하부-뇌하수체 축의 생식 호르몬 관련 유전자들 활성에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. VCZ (10 mg/kg/day)를 생후 21일부터 첫 번째 질구개방이 관찰되는 날까지 매일 복강주사하였다. 시상하부와 뇌하수체의 표적 유전자들의 전사적인 변화량을 측정하기 위하여, total RNA를 추출하였고 반 정량적 역전사 중합효소반응(RT-PCR)을 실시하였다. VCZ 투여군에서 시상하부의 gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)의 분비를 조절함이 알려진 nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS-2)의 전사활성은 대조군보다 유의하게 감소하였다(p<0.01). 유사하게, VCZ 투여군의 시상하부에서의 KiSS-1, G protein-coupled receptor54 (GPR54) 그리고 GnRH mRNA 수준도 감소하였다(p<0.01). 예상대로, VCZ 투여군의 뇌하수체 luteinizing hormone-${\beta}$ (LH-${\beta}$)과 follicle stimulating hormone-${\beta}$ (FSH-${\beta}$) 전사활성도 대조군에 비하여 유의하게 감소하였다(p<0.01). 이번 연구를 통해 미성숙 암컷 흰쥐의 VCZ 노출시 사춘기 개시의 지연효과는 시상하부-뇌하수체 신경내분비 축의 GnRH와 KiSS-1같은 성선자극호르몬들과 그들의 상위조절인자들의 전사 활성의 감소에 의해 야기되고, 아마도 nitric oxide (NO) 신호전달경로에 의해 조절됨을 시사한다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.340-350
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to determine whether peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$(PPAR${\gamma}$ is involved in the regulation of weaning to estrus of primiparous sows. Twelve sows composed of 6 groups of 2 full-sibs in a similar age (325.2 d), body weight (BW; 152.4 kg) and backfat thickness (BFT; 27.0 mm) at start of lactation, were allocated to accept 31 MJ (restricted group, R-group) or 53 MJ (control group, C-group) DE/d treatment, respectively. The experimental results indicated that the low energy intake resulted in excessive losses of BW and BFT during lactation in R-group sows, which may be related to decrease of serum 15-deoxy-${\Delta}^{12,14}$-prostaglandin $J_2$ (15d-$PGJ_2$), a ligand of PPAR${\gamma}$ The obvious peak and the frequency of LH, FSH and estradiol ($E_2$) were only observed in C-group sows. Except for $E_2$ at d 1 and 2, serum FSH, LH and $E_2$ concentrations in R-group were lower than those in C-group sows after weaning. However, the serum progesterone ($P_4$) level in R-group sows was always more than that in C-group. The expression abundances of PPAR${\gamma}$and GnRH receptor (GnRH-R) in pituitary, FSH receptor (FSH-R), LH receptor (LH-R), estrogen receptor (ES-R) and aromatase in ovary of anestrous sows were lower than those of estrous sows. Neither the BFT nor the BW was associated with the mRNA abundance of PPAR${\gamma}$in hypothalamus during lactation. Expressions of PPAR${\gamma}$in pituitary and ovary were affected evidently by the BFT changes and only by the loss of BW of sows during and after lactation. Furthermore, PPAR${\gamma}$mRNA level in ovary was significantly related to the expression abundances of GnRH-R, FSH-R, ES-R and aromatase, and GnRH-R was obviously associated with PPAR${\gamma}$expression in pituitary. However, PPAR${\gamma}$expression in hypothalamus likely has no effects on these genes expression and no obvious difference for all sows. Not serum $E_2$ or $P_4$ alone but the ratios of $E_2$ to $P_4$ and 15d-$PGJ_2$ to $P_4$, and serum FSH and LH were evidently related to PPAR${\gamma}$expression in pituitary and ovary. It is concluded that PPAR${\gamma}$is associated with body conditions, reproduction hormones and their receptor expression, which affected the functions of pituitary and ovary and ultimately the estrus after weaning of primiparous sows.

• 한국해양생명과학회지
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.41-49
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• 2016

Kisspeptin (Kiss) and its cognate receptor, kisspeptin receptor (KissR; G protein coupled receptor 54, GPR54), have recently been recognized as potent regulators of reproduction in teleosts. Additionally, leptin plays an important role in energy homeostasis and reproductive function in teleosts. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the concentration of the hormones of the Kiss/KissR system and leptin and the expression of their underlying genes, all of which are involved in the sexual maturation of female goldfish, Carassius auratus, following treatment with Kiss. The expression levels of KissR increased after the Kiss injection. Furthermore, the peptide hormone leptin also increased after the injection (in vivo and in vitro). Additionally, the expression of GnRH and GTHs (GTHα, FSHβ, and LHβ) increased in the brain and pituitary (in vitro and in vitro). These results support the hypothesis that Kiss plays important roles in the direct regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis and leptin in goldfish. Therefore, we suggest that Kiss system gene expression is correlated with energy balance and reproduction.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.2-2
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• pp.83.1-83.1
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• 2003

The heterotrimeric G protein subunits (G ) are region-specifically expressed in brain such as hypothalamus and pituitary gland in abundant, suggesting that is may be associated with “stress-axis”. This study was designed to examine the effect of stress on the region-specific expression of various G subunits in rat brain. The localization of mRNAs encoding seven of G and striking region-specific patterns of expression were observed in 12 different regions of both non-stressed and stressed rat brain; (1) frontal cortex area, (2) cerebral cortex area, (3) striatum, (4) hippocampus area, (5) thalamus, (6) brain stem, (7) cerebellum area, (8) hypothalamus, (9) septum, (10) amygdala, (11) preoptic area, and (12) pituitary gland. (omitted)

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.61-75
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• 2005

Physical and psychological events can produce stress response in various degrees. Stress affects many aspects of physiology including both brain and peripheral elements which is represented as hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. Brain elements consist of corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH), locus ceruleus(LC)-norepinephrine(NE)/autonomic system. Peripheral elements include pituitary-adrenal axis and the autonomic nervous system, which coordinate the stress response. Current trend of the stress researches is emphasizing the mechanisms of the stress response which is adaptive or become maladaptive. This review introduces 1) the concepts of stress, 2) physiological and behavioral aspects of stress responses, 3) the consequences of stress response, 4) the measurements of stress and 5) stress management for those interested in stress research.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.172-186
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• 2003

Acupuncture therapy has demonstrated efficacy in several clinical areas, and of these areas the understanding of pain has progressed immensely in the last two decades. The underlying mechanisms of acupuncture in general and the analgesic effect in particular are still not clearly delineated. The leading hypothesis include the effects of local stimulation, neuronal gating, release of endogenous opiates, and the placebo effect. Accumulating evidence suggests that the central nervous system(CNS) is essential for the processing of these effects, via its modulation of the autonomic nervous system, neuro-immune system, and hormonal regulation. These processes tap into basic survival mechanisms. As such, understanding the effects of acupuncture within a neuroscience-based framework becomes vital. We propose a model which incorporates the stress-induced hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis(HPA-axis) model of Akil et al., the cholinergic anti-inflamatory observations of Tracey et al., and Petrovic et al.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.207-215
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• 2009

시상하부-뇌하수체-생식소(hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad, HPG) 호르몬 축의 활성에 영향을 미치는 수많은 인자들은 생식 기능을 조절하고, 사춘기 개시와 폐경기 진입과 같은 뚜렷한 생식 능력의 단계 전이를 초래한다. 지방세포로부터 분비되는 다기능적 호르몬인 leptin의 발견 이후, 곧 이어 생식과 신체의 에너지 균형 사이의 긴밀한 관계에 대한 증거들이 밝혀졌다. 위장관으로부터 분비되는 또 다른 다기능 호르몬인 ghrelin은 이미 알려져 있던 growth hormone secretagogue receptor(GHSR)의 내인성 리간드이며, 에너지 항상성의 조절에서 leptin에 상응하는 물질로 알려졌다. 예상대로, ghrelin 또한 HPG 축의 활성의 조절을 통해 생식 능력을 조절함이 증명되었다. 이 논문은 ghrelin의 발견과 유전자 구조, 조직 내의 분포, 그리고 역할과 HPG 축에서의 생식 호르몬 분비 조절에 대한 포유동물의 생식에서의 ghrelin-GHSR 신호에 관한 최신 정보를 요약한 것이다. 뇌하수체에서의 POMC 유전자 발현과 유사하게, preproghrelin 유전자는 alternative splicing과 번역 후 변형(posttranslational modification)을 거치는 복잡한 레퍼토리의 전사체들과 펩티드 산물을 만들어 낸다. 에너지 항상성을 제외한 신체 생리 기능의 조절에서의 preproghrelin 유전자 산물의 역할에 관한 정보는 제한적이지만, 신진 대사와 생식 사이에서의 ghrelin의 상호작용에 관해서는 충분한 증거들이 있다. 흰쥐와 인간에서, ghrelin 수용체인 GHSRs(GHSR1a와 GHSR1b)의 분포는 본래 ghrelin의 표적으로 여겨진 시상하부와 뇌하수체뿐만 아니라 정소와 난소에서도 확인되었다. 뇌와 생식소에서도 preproghrelin 유전자 발현이 확인되었는데, 이것은 HPG 축에서 ghrelin이 국부적인 역할을 담당할 가능성을 시사한다. 비록 뇌하수체에서의 기능은 아직 확실치 않지만, ghrelin은 시상하부의 GnRH, 뇌하수체의 생식소자극호르몬과 생식소의 성 스테로이드 호르몬 분비에 대한 음성적인 조절자로서의 역할을 수행하는 것으로 보인다. 최근의 연구들은 사춘기 개시, 그리고 아마도 폐경기 진입의 조절에서 ghrelin의 관여를 시사한다. 이제 ghrelin이 '뇌-위장관' 축의 필수적인 호르몬 요인이며, 신 진 대사와 생식 사이를 연결하는 조절 물질이라는 가능성은 매우 높다. '배부름'을 반영하는 leptin 신호와는 정반대인 ghrelin 신호는 신체 에너지 균형 상태로 볼 때 '배고픔'을 표현하는 것으로 생각되며, 항상성의 유지에서 최우선 사항으로 고려되지 않는 생식으로의 에너지 투자가 이루어지지 않도록 하는데 필수적일 것으로 사료된다. 생식능력 조절에 있어서 ghrelin의 보다 명확한 작용 메커니즘과 역할에 대한 깊은 통찰력을 얻고 성공적인 생의학적 적용을 위해서는 향후 더 많은 연구들이 필요하다.