• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.146-146
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• 2004

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.1 s.56
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• pp.57-64
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• 2007

Nanomaterials have been used to create unique devices at the nanoscale level. However, the toxicities of nanomaterials have not been fully tested and the risk of nanomaterials has been raised as an emerging issue in these days. In this study, the cytotoxicity of silver nanoparticles was tested using cultured mouse leydig cells. As results, silver nanoparticles showed cytotoxicity with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). With the increased level of ROS, intracellular glutathione level was decreased. DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activation suggested the apoptotic mechanism of cell death in leydig cells treated with silver nanoparticles.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.241-250
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• 1975

The light and electron microscopic observations were carried out in order to know the morphological changes of the testicular Leydig cells in the mouse injected with testosterone propionate for a long period. The results obtained were as follows: With the light microscopic study, atrophy of the Leydig cells and larger sudanophilic lipid granules in the experimental group than normal were observed. 2. By the electron microscopic finding, the small spherical or oval mitochondria, large lipid droplets, a decrease in number of smooth endoplasmic reticutum and distended saccular or vacuolar smooth endoplasmic reticulum were observed in the experimental group. Membranous whorls with droplet increased in number and size in the experimental group.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2003

목적: 오가피가 mouse testis에서 유래된 Leydig 세포주에서 에탄올에 의해 유발된 아폽토시스에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 방법: TM3 세포주에서의 아폽토시스 변화를 관찰하기 위해서 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), DNA fragmentation assay, 및 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) 방법을 이용하였다. 결과: MTT assay를 이용하여 분석한 결과 농도에 따른 세포독성의 효과가 에탄올 투여부터 관찰되었다. 또한 오가피로 전처치하고 에탄올을 처치하였을 때 세포독성이 크게 감소되었다. DAPI staining에서 오가피 투여군은 에탄올 투여군에 비해서 fragmentation이 억제되었다. RT-PCR의 분석에 의하여 caspase-3 mRNA 발현이 오가피 투여군은 알코올 투여군보다 유의성있게 억제됨을 보여주었다. 결론: TM3 Leydig 세포주에서 에탄올에 의해 유발된 아폽토시스는 전형적인 세포사멸 형태를 나타내었다. 반면에 오가피 투여군은 에탄올에 의해서 유발된 아폽토시스에서 세포보호 효과가 있음이 확인되었다.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.541-549
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• 2003

The present study investigated the effects of aging on Leydig cells of Sprague Dawley rats. Rats of 3, 6, 12 and 18 months of age were used. Testes of rat were fixed by whole body perfusion using a fixative containing 2.5% glutaraldehyde in cacodylate buffer, processed and embedded in epon-araldite. Using $1{\mu}m$ sections stained with methylene blue, qualitative and quantitative morphological studies were performed. Testis incubations were used to determine luteinizing hormone (LH; 100 ng/ml) stimulated testosterone secretory capacity per testis in vitro. Testosterone levels in the incubation medium, and testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels in serum of these four groups of rats were determined by radioimmunoassay. Morphological studies revealed that Leydig cells were more abundant in the testis interstitium at 6, 12 and 18 months when compared with 3 months. The volumes of Leydig cells per testis was significantly higher, at 6, 12 and 18 months of age than those at 3 months. The number of Leydig cells per testis was doubled at 6, 12 and 18 months of age compared with 3 months. The average volume of a Leydig cell was not significantly different between 3 and 6 months of age, however, at 12 and 18 months a significantly lower value was observed. LH-stimulated testosterone production per testis in vitro was reduced by 45% at 6 months of age compared with 3 months; a further significant reduction was observed at 12 and 18 months. Serum testosterone and LH levels were not significantly different between 3 and 6 months of age but at 12 and 18 months a significantly lower value was observed in both groups for these hormones. These results showed that signs of aging are apparent in Leydig cells of Sprague Dawley rats at 12 months of age.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.66-66
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• 2003

Protein tyrosine kinases는 표적단백질의 tyrosine 잔기를 인산화하는 효소로서 다양한 종류의 성장인자, peptide 호르몬, cytokine 수용체 하위의 세포 내 신호전달에 관여한다. Non-receptor tyrosine kinase의 일종인 c-Src는 세포막에서 발생한 ligand-receptor 상호작용 하위의 신호전달에서 중요한 역할을 하며 C-terminal Src kinase (Csk)는 Src kinase의 C-terminal tyrosine 잔기를 인산화시켜 Src kinase의 활성을 저해한다. 이러한 Src-Csk loop를 통한 세포 내 신호전달과정은 세포의 증식과 분화, 사멸 조절에 중요한 기능을 갖지만 정소의 발생과 분화 과정에서 Src-Csk loop의 발현 및 정자형성 과정에서의 기능은 밝혀지지 않았다. 본 연구에서는 생쥐 정소에서 출생 후 성적 성숙과정에서 Csk의 발현과 Src kinase 활성의 변동을 조사하였다. Csk mRNA 발현은 생 후 2주령 이하의 미성숙 정소에서 다량으로 발현되었고 사춘기 정소 이후에는 오히려 감소하였다. Csk 단백질의 발현 양상은 mRNA 발현양상과 일치하였다. c-Src kinase 활성은 생 후 2주에 급격히 증가하고 이 후 4주령에서 감소하다가 성체 (8주령)에서 다시 증가하여 가장 높았다. 성체 조직의 Csk 단백질 현존량이 미성숙 개체보다 적은 반면 Src kinase 활성은 가장 높아 Csk 발현의 감소는 Src kinase 활성을 증가하는 것으로 사료된다. 면역조직화학방법으로 정소 조직 내 Csk의 발현양상을 조사한 결과 Leydig cell, Sertoli cell, germ cell 등 도처에서 발현되었으며 Sertoli cell 에서의 발현은 세정관 상피의 구성에 따른 차이가 확인되었다. 성체의 세정관 내에서는 감수분열 이후의 정세포(spermatid)를 감싸고 있는 Sertoli cell의 강소측에서 강한 Csk 활성이 검출되어 생식세포의 분화과정 동안 세정관 상피의 조직재구성에 관여하는 것으로 사료된다. Leydig cell에서의 발현은 생후 1주령까지는 미미하였으나 이후 2주령 이후에는 다량으로 발현함이 확인되어 adult type Leydig cell에서 진행되는 steroidogenesis와의 관련성을 추측할 수 있다. 미성숙 정소로부터 분리한 Sertoli cell-enriched culture에 200 nM testosterone을 처리하였을 때 Csk mRNA의 발현의 증가를 확인할 수 있었으므로 androgen에 의한 Sertoli cell의 분화과정에 Csk가 관여하고 있음을 알 수 있다. 결론적으로 성적 성숙에 따른 생쥐 정소 내 Src-Csk loop의 발현과 Src kinase 활성의 변동은 정소 내 간충조직, 세정관 상피의 증식 및 기능적 분화 과정을 매개하는 생리적 활성분자 수용체 하위의 신호전달 과정에 Src-Csk loop에 의한 조절가능성을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.56-61
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• 1985

This study was conducted in order to obtain the number and size of Leydig cell in the testis in accordance with the growth of Korean native goat. Twenty-one Korean native male goats were examied, and was divided into seven groups by 4 weeks interval from 8 to 32 weeks of age. The results were as follows: 1. The number of Leydig cells in the interstitial tissue were increased in accordance with age. The number of cells were increased twice from 1.3 cells at 8 weeks to 2.6 cells at 12 weeks of age, from 2.6 cells at 12 weeks to 5.5 cells at 24 weeks, respectively. And the cells were slightly increased from 5.5 cells at 16 weeks to 6.7 cells at 32 weeks. 2. The smallest cells were found in goats at 8 weeks of age, being 8.2${\mu}$m, and it showed noncontinual growth among groups of 12, 16 and 20 weeks of age, recording 9.18, 8.82 and 9.05${\mu}$m respectively. Leyding cells in 24, 28 and 32 weeks of age showed matured size being 10.42, 10.81 and 10.67${\mu}$m respectively. 3. Rows or clusters of Leydig cells were scattered in the loose connective tissue around lymphatic simusoids and blood vessels. Nuclei of Leydig cells were found to have 2 types, one type was stained pale and the other were stained dark. As a result of this study, Leydig cells found in the interstitial tissue were considered to grow until 20 weeks of age after birth, and reached to almost full maturated form by 24 weeks of ages.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.353-362
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• 1999

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a plasticize. known as one of endocrine disruptors. The present study was carried out to investigate the ultrastructural changes of prepubertal rat testis after oral administration of DEHP in dosages of 1 g/kg, 3 g/kg or 5g/kg in 0.5 ml of corn oil daily for a week. This study revealed the DEHP inhibited the development of seminiferous tubules and induced structural changes on various cell types of the rat testis. Leydig cells, Sertoli cells and the developing germ cells seemed to be impaired their differentiations in terms of the structural changes of cell organelles. The increase of heterochromatin in amount were common features in all 3 cell types. In addition, the Leydig cells were characterized by the increases in number and size of lysosomes and the scantiness of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The Sertoli cells became irregular in nuclear envelope and the cytoplasm decreased, but the number of lysosomes and vacuoles seemed to be increased. There were some indications of necrosis of the germ cells, such as vacuolized nucleus and segregated nucleolus. These detrimental effects of DEHP on the rat testis were dose dependent and suppressed spermatogenesis decreasing developing germ cells in number and appearances. The effect of DEHP on ultrastructure of rat testis, as its known physiological functions, seems come from the decreased level of testosterone by Leydig cells, followed by the abnomalities of Sertoli cells and the germ cells.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2001

This study was performed to report a direct dose dependent stimulatory effect of the Flavonoid(F) on basal testosterone secretion and a dose dependent effect on LH induced testosterone production by Leydig cell of matured rats in vitro culture. F was obtained kom the Rhus vernicifua through aceton extraction and silica gel adsorption column chromatography. Leydig cells (1$\times$10$^{6}$ cells/well) from 12 weeks old rats were incubated with or without F(0, 20, 40, 80, 160 ng) or insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I) in the presence or absence of LH(10, 100ng). 1. The maximal stimulatory concentrations of testosterone in culture media were showed at 24hr of culture. but these testosterone level were decreased at 36 hr of culture. 2. Flavonoid(80ng) were significantly(P ＜ 0.05) increased testosterone production compared with control groups for 12 hr culture. 3. Testosterone secretion by Leydig cells stimulated with LH(10, 100ng) for 6 hr and 12hr culture compared with 3 hr culture. 4. LH 10 ng augmented testosterone were increased by addition of F 40 ng for 12 hr culture. 5. F(0 and 40 ng) also enhanced LH 10 ng stimulated testosterone for 3 hr Leydig cells culture. 6. Addition of IGF-I 100 ng to the culture medium for 6 hr were increased the concentration of testosterone by Leydig cells stimulated with 100 ng LH. These results indicate that Flavonoid has a direct stimulatory effect on basal testosterone secretion in rat Leydig cells, and also modulates LH mediated testosterone. Therefore, Flavonoid may act as a modulator on gonadal development or gonadal steroidogenesis in direct or indirect.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2003

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), is a widespread environmental pollutant. In this study, we investigated the effect of DDT on testosterone production through aromatase and investigated its molecular mechanism in testicular leydig cell, R2C. We investigated that the effects of DDT on testosterone production and its effects on aromatase activity in R2C cell by radio immunoassay (RIA). As the results, the potent leyding cell activator LH increased testosterone production compared to the control. DDT exposure significantly decreased testosterone production in R2C cell and DDT alone affected T reduction in a dose-dependent manner in R2C cell slightly. In addition, DDT was found to increase aromatase activity in R2C cell in a dose dependent manner. In order to assess whether the suppressive effects of DDT on LH-inducible testosterone production might be influenced by the ER, ICI 182.780, a pure antiestrogen, was used, and it was found that these inhibitory effects of DDT were antagonized by ICI 182.780, implying that the ER mediates the suppressive effects of DDT. Furthermore, the inducible effects of DDT on aromatase might be influenced by the ER, ICI 182.780 was used, and it was found that these enhancing effects of DDT were antagonized by ICI 182.780, implying that the ER mediates the inducible effects of DDT. Our results indicated that DDT inhibition of LH-inducible testosterone production in R2C is mediated through aromatase. However, the precise mechanisms by which DDT enhance in leyding cell remains unknown. The current study suggests the possibility that DDT might act as a modulator aromatase gene transcription.