• Development and Reproduction
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.301-309
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• 2014

Nesfatin-1, an anorexic nucleobindin-2 (NUCB2)-derived hypothalamic peptide, controls appetite and energy metabolism. Recent studies show that nesfatin-1/NUCB2 is expressed not only in the brain but also in gastric and adipose tissues. Thus, we investigated the distributions of nesfatin-1/NUCB2 in various tissues of male and female mice by real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining. Real-time PCR analyses showed that NUCB2 mRNA was predominantly expressed in the pituitary and at lower levels in the hypothalamus, spleen, thymus, heart, liver, and muscle of both male and female mice. Expression was much higher in reproductive organs, such as the testis, epididymis, ovary, and uterus, than in the hypothalamus. Western blot analysis of the nesfatin-1 protein level showed similar results to the real-time PCR analyses in both male and female mice. These results suggest that nesfatin-1/NUCB2 have widespread physiological effects in endocrine and non-endocrine organs. In addition, immunohistochemical staining revealed that nesfatin-1 was localized in interstitial cells, including Leydig cells and in the columnar epithelium of the epididymis. Nesfatin-1 was also expressed in theca cells and interstitial cells in the ovary and in epithelial cells of the endometrium and uterine glands in the uterus. These results suggest that nesfatin-1 is a novel potent regulator of steroidogenesis and gonadal function in male and female reproductive organs. Further studies are required to elucidate the functions of nesfatin-1 in various organs of male and female mice.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.69-73
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• 2007

To establish the indoor-rearing system of the emma field cricket, Teleogryllus emma, the effects of temperature on development and reproduction of the emma cricket have been studied. The influence of temperature on developmental periods of emma field cricket was investigated under the eight temperatures of 15, 18, 21, 25, 27, 29, 31 and $35^{\circ}C$, under $60{\pm}5%$ R.H. and 16L:8D photoperiod. The developmental periods of T. emma nymphs had a range of 124.8 days to 44.4 days at the temperature of $21^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$, respectively. At $15^{\circ}C$ and $18^{\circ}C$, however, all tested individuals died before emergence. The highest survival rate was 90% at $25^{\circ}C$, but there were no statistically significant differences among the temperatures. The adult weight increased with increasing temperatures although the weight at $35^{\circ}C$ was decreased. In addition, the influence of temperature on reproduction of emma field cricket was investigated under three temperatures $22^{\circ}C,\;25^{\circ}C\;and\;28^{\circ}C$, under $60{\pm}5%$ R.H. and 16L:8D photoperiod. The longevity of female/male adults were 65.8/79.2 days, 68.5/67.8 days, 46.8/57.4 days at the temperature $22^{\circ}C,\;25^{\circ}C\;and\;28^{\circ}C$, respectively. The preoviposition periods were 32.5 days at $22^{\circ}C,\;22.9^{\circ}C$ days at $25^{\circ}C$ and 22.1 days at $28^{\circ}C$. The highest average fecundity per female was 737.3 at $25^{\circ}C$.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.267-274
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• 2016

Cichlid fish species exhibit characteristic sexual behaviors according to not only reproductive stages but also social status. In a reproductive season, Astatotilapia burtoni males compete for females and a small number of dominant winners finally obtain the chance of spermiation. In addition to the characteristic behaviors, the dominant males have relatively bigger gonadotropin-releasing hormone 1 (GnRH1) neurons in the preoptic area (POA) of brain compared to those of subordinate males. Although the stimulatory effect of GnRH1 in vertebrate reproduction is well established, little is known about the triggering signal pathway to control GnRH1 neurons and GnRH1-mediated sexual behavior. In the present study, we evaluated the potential effect of TOR inhibitor rapamycin in relation to the cichlid male behaviors and GnRH1 neuron. After 14 h and 26 h of intraventricular injection of rapamycin, behavior patterns of chasing and courtship display did not show significant changes between rapamycin- and DMSO-injected males. Behaviors of spawning site entry increased in rapamycin-injected fish at 26 h post-injection than at 14 h post-injection significantly (P<0.05). Meanwhile, there was a tendency that GnRH1 neurons' soma size in the POA shrank by rapamycin injection, whereas the testes did not show notable changes. Taken together, these results suggest the possible role of TOR signal on GnRH1-mediated sexual behavior in cichlid dominant males, although further biological characterization of the TOR signaling pathway will be required to clarify this matter.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2008

The efficient strategies to cope with unpredictable and/or harmful environmental changes have been developed by every organism in order to ensure its survival and continuity of it's own species. As a results, all living things on earth maintain dynamically internal stability via a process termed 'homeostasis' among physiological parameters despite of external environment changes. Stress is an emotional and physical response to threat homeostasis. Stress may have not only transient but rather permanent effect on the organism; recent evidence clearly show that prenatal stress could organize or imprint permanently physiological systems without any change in genetic codes, a process known as 'epigenetic programming'. In this review, a series of reproduction-associated events occurred in prenatally stressed male rats such as alteration in the structure of sexually dimorphic brain regions, modification of neurotransmitter metabolism, changes in reproductive endocrine status, and finally, disorders of sexual behavior will be introduced. The fetal brain is highly sensitive to prenatal programming and glucocorticoids in particular have powerful brain-programming properties. The chronic hyperactivation of fetal brain by maternal stress-induced glucocorticoid input will provide new program via increasing the neuroplasticities. This 'increased neuroplasticities' will be the basis for the 'increased phenotypic plasticities' rendering the organism's better adaptation to environmental challenges. In conclusion, organism who experienced 'harsh' environment in his fetal life seems to give up a certain portion of reproductive competence to make good chance of survival in his future life by epigenetic (re)programming.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 1999

A study was conducted to estimate the effects of parity of dam, sex, year and season of birth on gestation length and birth weight in Korean native and Yanbian yellow cows. A total of 1,206 reproduction records (587 Korean native cows, 619 Yanbian yellow cows) were collected from Daekwamyeong Branch Institute, National Livestock Research Institute in Korea and Yanbian region in China from 1995 to 1998. The least square means for gestation length and birth weight of Korean native cows and Yanbian yellow cows were 287.3$\pm$0.60 and 282.3$\pm$0.80 days, 24.9$\pm$0.25 and 25.2$\pm$0.24kg, respectively. Gestation length and birth weight were increased significantly as parity of dam progressed in Korean native cow(p＜0.01), but were not significant in Yanbian yellow cow. Birth weight of male calf was heavier than that of female calf in Korean native cow and Yanbian yellow cow(p＜0.01). Gestation length of Korean native cow born male calf was longer than that of Korean native cow born female calf(p＜0.01), but was not significant in Yanbian yellow cow. Effect of birth year on birth weight was significant in Korean native cow and Yanbian yellow cow(p＜0.01), but effect of birth year on gestation length was not significant. Birth weight of spring-born calf was the heaviest and that of fall-born calf was the smallest in Korean native cow and Yanbian yellow cow(p＜0.01).

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2004

In this study, we examined effects of environmental endocrine disruptor bisphenol A on the reproduction of Xiphophorus maculatus. We exposed the males of X. maculatus to the bisphenol A adjusted to the various concentrations such as 100 ppb, 200 ppb, 400 ppb and 800 ppb for 3 months for the experimental groups and then inbreeded with normal females that was not any treated. We counted the number of second generation for confirmation of fertilizing ability of first generation. Also, we observed the ratios of female and male, the abnormality and mortality, and spermatogenesis of the second generation was exposed to bisphenol A for 6 months. As the result, the number of fry in the second generation was $11.50{\pm}2.22$ in 100 ppb, $6.40{\pm}2.76$ in 200 ppb, $5.70{\pm}1.34$ in 400 ppb and $3.70{\pm}2.11$ in 800 ppb at the experimental groups while it was $19.00{\pm}3.02$ at the control group which was not treated with bisphenol A. This result showed that the experimental groups exhibited a decreasing tendency according to the increase of bisphenol A concentration comparing with the control group. The ratio of female and male of the second generation had no relations with the concentration of bisphenol A, and the ratios of abnormality and mortality were 0%. The spermatogenesis of experimental groups was normal in 800 ppb as well as 100 ppb, 200 ppb, 400 ppb after even 6 months.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2008

A total sample of 215 specimens of the Iksookimia koreensis was collected monthly from June 2004 to June 2005 in the Namdae stream, Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea. The age of every individual sample was estimated by the number of annual rings on the scales. A significant decrease of gonadosomatic index was noted between May and June reflecting the reproduction during this period. I. koreensis exhibited a strong bias to female (female : male, 1 : 0.56). The maximum age observed was 3 years old for male & female, both. The von Bertalanffy growth curves were expressed as $L_t=126.30[1-\exp\{-0.576(t+0.940)\}]$ for females and $L_t=100.19[1-\exp\{-1.119(t+0.695)\}]$ for males.Growth curve of weight was expressed as $W_t=11.567[1-\exp\{-0.576(t+0.940)\}]^{3.199}$ for females, $W_t=5.514[1-\exp\{-1.119(t+0.695)\}]^{3.199}$ for males. On the other hand, a significant difference in the growth rate between both sexes was found(i.e. females grew faster than males).

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.861-866
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• 2011

Using skeletochronology in the Daejung-eup, Jeju, we determined the age structure of Kaloula borealis. The study was performed during the breed season in June 2009. We measured the snout-vent length(SVL) and body weigth(BW) and analyzed the age structure of 38 male and 58 female frogs. The mean value of SVL is $43.69{\pm}3.44mm$ in males and $46.32{\pm}4.23mm$ in females. The age at first reproduction was estimated to be 2 years of age in males and 3 years in females. The oldest males and females were 8 and 10 years of age, respectively. Therefore, the longevity in this species was estimated to be more than 8 years for males and 10 years for females. So, females live longer than males. Also, this difference between the male and the female in age structure was significant. We estimated the growth curve for Kaloula borealis using von Bertalanffy growth model. The growth coefficient (K) was 0.56 in male and 0.41 in female. The asymptotic size was 46.41 mm in male and 50.22 mm in female.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.197-205
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• 2016

Adipose tissue is one of the major endocrine gland. More recently, local production of steroids in adipocytes differentiated from mouse 3T3-L1 cell-line was reported. We hypothesized that rat adipocytes have steroidogenic machinery and the expression patterns of the components might be differentially regulated, depending on the distribution and sex. To verify this hypothesis, we collected the adipose tissues depot-and sex-specifically at postnatal day (PND) 30, and performed quantitative RT-PCRs. In overall aspects, the abundances of the transcripts were lower in the brown adipose of both sexes. $3{\beta}-HSD$ transcript levels in female abdominal and reproductive adipose, CYP17 transcript levels in female reproductive adipose, $17{\beta}-HSD$ transcript levels in female abdominal and reproductive adipose, and CYP19 transcript levels in female abdominal adipose were significantly lower than those of male counterparts. Similar to steroidogenic factors, the abundance of the $ER-{\alpha}$ transcripts were generally lower in the brown adipose of both sexes. $ER-{\beta}$ transcripts were more abundant in male white adipose depots than their female counterparts. The levels of LHR transcripts in female reproductive adipose were significantly higher than those of male counterpart. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the expressions of steroidogenesis-related genes were depot- and sex-specifically occurred in the immature male and female rat adipose tissues. Our study suggested that the adipose tissues are not only targets but de novo synthesizing sites of sex steroid(s), though the synthesizing activities could be much less than in gonads. Further researches in this field will be helpful for understanding the adipose physiology and for medical application such as sex-specific steroid supplement therapies for older populations.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.297-305
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• 2017

An experiment was conducted to investigate the annual reproductive cycle of a Korean endemic species, Acheilognathus majusculus, from Jeokseong-myeon located in Seomjin River. The reproductive cycle is examined histologically regarding water temperature and day length of the habitat, the gonadosomatic index (GSI), the female ovipositor length index (OLI), monthly variation in egg diameter distribution, and developmental characteristics of female and male gonads. The maximum GSI was found in $19.21{\pm}2.32$ and $6.90{\pm}0.53$ for female and male respectively when water temperature ($14^{\circ}C$) and day length (11.1hr) began to rise. On the other hand, the minimum level was reached during August ($1.87{\pm}0.67$ for female and $0.88{\pm}0.50$ for male). No samples represent with measurable ovipositor between September and November, while the longest ovipositor length index was in April ($79.68{\pm}4.69%$). We compared and calculated the stages of testis and ovary development process in order to determine the germ cell development characteristics and the reproductive cycle. According to the result, we classified the female Acheilognathus majusculus reproductive cycle into four stages: Ripe (April) and spawning phase (May to June), degenerative phase (July), growing phase (August to December), and mature phase (January to March). The annual reproductive cycle of male Acheilognathus majusculus was categorized into five stages viz. Ripe and spawning phase (May to June), degenerative phase (July to August), resting phase (September to November), growing phase (December to February), and mature phase (March to April).