• FLOWER RESEARCH JOURNAL
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.62-65
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• 2010

This study was carried out to estimate the size and exine pattern of pollen grains in seven species of the genus Lilium by using scanning electron microscope. Exine of pollen grains, which were all monad, took the prolate forms with a pollen aperture. However, there were various L/W ratio between length (L) and width (W) of pollen grains among selected Lilium species. The pollen of L. distichum was oblong shape which had the highest L/W ratio of 2.59. On the other hand, that of L. concolor var. partheneion was broadly elliptical shape close to circle which had the lowest L/W ratio of 1.82. The surface patterns of exine were reticulate in all Lilium species that have showed diverse forms in their lumina. Pollen length and width in L. lancifolium had the greatest value, 115.90 and $46.54{\mu}m$, respectively, in comparison with those of L. tsingtauense, 70.33 and $38.72{\mu}m$, respectively. Except L. distichum and L. leichtlinii var. maximowiczii which had a similar pollen length within standard errors, the others in Lilium species showed different sizes, respectively. Therefore, these results indicated that pollen length could be a better standard for the classification of Lilium species than exine surface patterns or pollen dissection area.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.22 no.1 s.35
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• pp.87-95
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• 2006

Immunohistochemical and ultrastuructural experiments were conducted to find out heavy metal accumulation in the intestine of an Antarctic gastropod Nacella concinna. According to the immune-histochemical experiment the apical cytoplasm of the intestinal epithelium showed positive reactions to anti-MT (rnotallothionein), indicating the presence of MT, a metal-binding protein involved in metal detoxifying process. In the transmission electron microscopic observations, the epithelial cells of the intestine exposed to Cd for over three hours showed irregular nuclear membranes, secretory granules, and probable metal granules. According to the SEM-EDS experiments on the intestine, concentration of Pb in the apical epithelium was in inverse proportion to that in the intestinal lumen. After exposing to Cd for over three days, S was rapidly reduced. Ca and Zn were rapidly increased after exposure to Cd. These elements are supposed to be concerned with the MT-reaction in the intestine. laken together, these data suggest that N. concinna could be used as a potential biomarker species.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2011

Some characteristics of the formations of acrosomal vesicles during the late stage of spermatids during spermiogenesis and taxonomical charateristics of sperm morphology in male two species (Saxidomus purpurata and Meretrix petechialis) in the family Veneridae were investigated by electron microscope observations. In two species, the morphologies of the spermatozoa have the primitive type and are similar to those of other bivalves in that it contains a short midpiece with five mitochondria surrounding the centrioles. The morphologies of the sperm nuclear types of S. purpurata and M. petechialis in Veneridae have the curved cylindrical and cylinderical type, respectively. And the acrosome shapes of two species are the same cap-shape type. In particular, the axial filament is not found in the lumen of the acrosome of two species, however, subacrosomal material are observed in the subacrosomal spaces between the anterior nuclear fossa and the acrosomal vesicle of two species. The spermatozoon of S. purpurata is approximately 46-$52{\mu}m$ in length, including a curved sperm nucleus (about $3.75{\mu}m$ in length), a long acrosome (about $0.40{\mu}m$ in length),and a tail flagellum (about 45-$47{\mu}m$ long). And the spermatozoon of M. petechialis is approximately 47-$50{\mu}m$ in length including a slightly curved sperm nucleus (about $1.50{\mu}m$ in length), an acrosome (about $0.56{\mu}m$ in length) and tail flagellum (44-$48{\mu}m$ in length). In two species, the axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum of each species consists of nine pairs of microtubules at the periphery and a pair of cental doublets at the center. Therefore, the axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum shows a 9 + 2 structure. In particular, taxonomically important some charateristics of sperm morphologies of two species in the family Veneridae are acrosomal morphology of the sperm, The axial filament is not found in the acrosome as seen in a few species of the family Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta. The acrosomal vesicle is composed of right, left basal rings and the apex part of the acrosomal vesicle. In particular, right and left basal rings show electron opaque part (region), while the apex part of the acrosomal vesicle shows electron lucent part (region). These charateristics belong to the subclass Heterodonta, unlikely a characteristic of the subclass Pteriomorphia showing all part of the acrosome being composed of electron opaque part (region). Therefore, it is easy to distinguish the families or the subclasses by the acrosomal structures. The number of mitochondria in the midpiece of the sperm of S. purpurata and M. petechialis in Veneridae are five. However, the number of mitochondria in the midpiece of the sperm in most species of Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta are four. Therefore, the number of mitochondria of the sperm midpiece of two species are exceptionally 5, and it is only exceptional case in the species in Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta. Except these cases, the number of mitochondria in the sperm midpiece in all families in the subclass Heterodontaare are 4, and now widely used in taxonomic analyses.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.93-97
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• 2014

Biodegradable drug-eluting stent has dual functions of supporting the lumen and treating internal tumor preventing the restenosis by releasing drug. In this study, the polycaprolactone (PCL) based three dimensional (3D) mesh loaded with paclitaxel (PTX) was presented by rapid prototyping (RP) technique of solid freeform fabrication (SFF) for biodegradable drug-eluting stent application. PCL has many advantageous properties such as good biocompatibility, good mechanical properties, and good drug permeability. PTX is widely used in the cancer treatment by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation. Analytical methods of HPLC and NMR were used for simultaneous quantification of PTX. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to observe the architecture and morphologies of 3D mesh. The cytotoxicity assay results indicated released PTX's biological activity. This study provided that PCL based 3D mesh loaded with PTX by RP technique has great potential for biodegradable drug-eluting stent application.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.1-19
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• 2017

Objectives: The object of this study is to observe the possible ameliorating effects of Nokyongdaebo-tang (NYDBT) on the experimental subacute hemorrhagic anemia (SHA) in rats. Methods: In the present study, SHA in rats was induced by exsanguinations from orbital plexus, and ameliorating effects of NYDBT was observed based on the changes of body and hematopoietic organ (spleen, liver and femur) weights, red blood cell (RBC) related hematological values, smear cytology, histopathological changes and immunohistochemistrical analysis of hematopoietic stem cells in the femur bone marrow, liver and spleen. In addition, the gastrointestinal motility and the surface mucosa thicknesses of remnant fecal pellets in the colon lumen, mucosa thicknesses and the mucous producing cell numbers in the colonic mucosa were analyzed to observe the digestive disorders, especially on the constipation, the major discomfort problems in iron supplement. Results: SHA related abnormal anemic signs were markedly and dose-dependently inhibited by oral administration of NYDBT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg in a condition of this experiment. In addition, no meaningful changes on the gastrointestinal motilities and mucous component on the colon and remnant feces were noticed in all three different dosages of NYDBT treated rats as compared with intact vehicle and SHA control rats in this study. Conclusions: It, therefore, is expected that NYDBT will be promising as a novel alternative hematopoietic and therapeutic agent for anemia.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2012

We constructed the fibroin H-chain expression system to produce Discosoma sp. red fluorescent protein variant2 (DsRed2) in transgenic silkworm cocoon. Fluorescent cocoon could be made by fusing DsRed2 cDNA to the heavy chain gene and injecting it into a silkworm. The DsRed2 fusion protein, each with N- and C-terminal sequences of the fibroin H-chain, was designed to be secreted into the lumen of the posterior silk glands. The expression of the DsRed2/H-chain fusion gene was regulated by the fibroin H-chain promoter. The use of the 3xP3-driven EGFP cDNA as a marker allowed us to rapidly distinguish transgenic silkworms. The EGFP fluorescence became visible in the ocelli and in the central and peripheral nervous system on the seventh day of embryonic development. A mixture of the donor and helper vector was micro-injected into 1,020 Kumokjam, bivoltin silkworm eggs. We obtained 6 broods. The cocoon was displayed strong red fluorescence, proving that the fusion protein was present in the cocoon. Accordingly, we suggest that the DsRed2 fluorescence silk will enable the production of novel biomaterial based on the transgenic silk.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.568-573
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• 2021

This study identified genomic factors associated with endoplasmic reticulum protein (ERp)29 gene expression in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of genetic variants, including single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In total, 373 European genes from the 1000 Genomes Project were analyzed. SNPs with an allelic frequency of less than or more than 5% were removed, resulting in 5,913,563 SNPs including in the analysis. The following expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) from the long noncoding RNA LOC105372577 were strongly associated with ERp29 expression: rs6138266 (p<4.172e10), rs62193420 (p<1.173e10), and rs6138267 (p<2.041e10). These were strongly expressed in the testis and in the brain. The three eQTL were identified through a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) and showed a significant association with ERp29 and osteosarcoma amplified 9 (OS9) expression. Upstream sequences of rs6138266 were recognized by ChIP-seq data, while HaploReg was used to demonstrate how its regulatory DNA binds upstream of transcription factor 1 (USF1). There were no changes in the expression of OS9 or USF1 following ER stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.559-565
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• 2022

In this study, we intend to develop a granulation tissue formation model. As a pilot experiment, a contrast agent was injected into the pylorus in 3 rats, the normal pylorus lumen size was confirmed, and a stent was placed. Stent migration was confirmed in to the duodenum within 1 week. In this experiment, stent was sutured and fixed to induce granulation tissue formation after gastrostomy under a fluoroscopic guidance. Twenty rats were divided into Healthy Group / Gastrostomy Group. After anesthesia of the Gastrostomy Group, an abdominal incision was performed, and gastrostomy was performed under a fluoroscopic guidance, and a stent was placed into the pylorus. In order to prevent stent migration due to peristalsis, suture between the pylorus and the proximal end of the stent was performed. Postoperative behavior and weight changes were monitored daily. Four weeks after surgery, gastrointestinal fluoroscopy imaging was performed and rats were sacrifices. To evaluate the degree of granulation formation, the stent was sectioned transversely. Gastrostomy group was statistically significantly higher than Healthy Group in granulation area ratio (all p<.001). In conclusion, it is considered that the level of tissue overgrowth formation for preclinical evaluation of the pylorus stricture model through gastrostomy is appropriate as a research evaluation tool.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.16
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• 2023

Background: In vitro culture of preantral follicles is a promising technology for fertility preservation. Objectives: This study aims to investigate an optimized three-dimensional (3D) fetal bovine serum (FBS)-free preantral follicle culture system having a simple and easy operation. Methods: The isolated follicles from mouse ovaries were randomly divided in an ultra-low attachment 96-well plates supplement with FBS or bovine serum albumin (BSA) culture or encapsulated with an alginate supplement with FBS or BSA culture. Meanwhile, estradiol (E₂) concentration was assessed through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of culture supernatants. The diameter of follicular growth was measured, and the lumen of the follicle was photographed. Spindle microtubules of oocytes were detected via immunofluorescence. The ability of oocytes to fertilize was assessed using in vitro fertilization. Results: The diameters were larger for the growing secondary follicles cultured in ultra-low attachment 96-well plates than in the alginate gel on days 6, 8, and 10 (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the E2 concentration in the BSA-supplemented medium was significantly higher in the alginate gel than in the other three groups on days 6 and 8 (p < 0.05), and the oocytes in the FBS-free system could complete meiosis and fertilization in vitro. Conclusions: The present study furnishes insights into the mature oocytes obtained from the 3D culture of the preantral follicle by using ultra-low attachment 96-well plate with an FBS-free system in vitro and supports the clinical practices to achieve competent, mature oocytes for in vitro fertilization.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2023

This study was performed to understand the reproductive ecology of cephalopods, described the microanatomical structure of the male reproductive organs and spermatophore in the common squid, Todarodes pacificus, a major cephalopods in Korea. The common squid was gonochorism and had sexual dimorphism, the color of the reproductive organs reflected on the mantle and the presence of the hectocotylus. Male reproductive organs were composed of testis, primary vas deferens, spermatophoric gland (seminal vesicle), spermatophoric sac (Needham's sac) and secondary vas deferens. The male has specialized reproductive organs such as the spermatophore forming organ, spermatophoric gland. Testis was histologically a seminiferous tubule type. The primary vas deferens was a thin and inverted triangular spring-like form that connected from the rear of the testis to the spermatophoric gland. Inside, it was filled with sperm of basophilic in H-E stain. The spermatophoric gland is an irregular oval connected to the primary vas deferens and spermatophoric sac, and there were a number of tubular glands. The spermatophoric sac is a tubular structure located between spermatophoric gland and secondary vas deferens, and a number of spermatophores have been identified in the lumen. The secondary vas deferens was connected to the posterior of the spermatophoric sac and had a spermatophore inside. The spermatophore was a long, transparent tube about 22 mm long, with a sperm mass inside.