• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.143-148
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• 1995

To present and assess the efficacy of combination of microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration(MESA) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI) for the treatment of infertility due to unreconstructable obstructive azoospermia or congenital bilateral agenesis of vas deferens (CBAVD), MESA was performed in the 45 husbands ( 16 CBAVD, 29 unreconstructable genital tract obstruction), followed by ICSI of oocytes recovered from the wives hyperstimulated by GnRH agonist in combination with hMG and FSH. Cleaving embryos were transfered to the uterine cavity or follopian tube(ZIFT) 18 or 24 hours after ICSI procedure. In 45 cycles of MESA, 492 oocyte complexes were recovered. ICSI was carried out on 355 metaphase II oocytes and 226 oocytes (63.7%) showed normal two pronucleus fertilization. After 198 embryos were transferred in 43 cycles, an average of 5 per cycle, 20 patients presented a positive HCG and intrauterine pregnancy was confirmed by US. So, the clinical ongoing pregnancy rate per transfer was 46.5%. Until now, 8 patients have given birth to 9 babies, 5 male and 4 female, including 1 twin. The babies were all healthy except 1 twin female baby. There was 1 miscarriage at 7 weeks and chromosomal study of abortus revealed as 45X, monosomy. These results suggested that it was possible to achieve high normal fertilization and pregnancy rate by ICSI using epididymal sperm.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.53-59
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• 2000

내분비계 장애물질은 생체내에서 호르몬 등의 내분비계에 영향을 주기 때문에 미량으로도 생식기능에 이상을 가져 올 수 있고, 급ㆍ만성 독성과는 달리 차세대에 그 영향이 발현될 수 있다. 대부분의 내분비계 장애물질은 에스트로겐 유사물질로 알려져 있으며, 내분비계 장애물질의 하나인 bisphenol A (BPA)도 이러한 성질을 가진 물질이다. 본 연구는 BPA가 생쥐의 정자형성과정에 어떤 영향을 미치는가를 분석하고자, 농도별 (저농도, 20 mg/kg, 고농도 200 mg/kg) 구강투여를 실시하였다. 정자수와 테스토스테론 농도 및 산자수가 대조군에 비해 처리군에서 점진적으로 감소하는 경향을 보였으며, 산자수에서 유의적인 차이(P<0.01)를 나타내었다. 특히 국부적이긴 하지만 세정관 내강에서의 정자세포 소실 양상은 정자수의 감소 원인으로 사료된다. 성성숙 이후 정소에서의 발현이 소실되는 것으로 알려진 TGF-$\beta$계에서는 TGF-$\beta$1이 고농도의 BPA투여시 발현되었지만, 그 외의 리간드와 수용체의 발현은 관찰되지 못했다. 결론적으로 고농도의 BPA노출은 웅성생식계에 영향을 미칠 수 있으며, 이는 정자형성에 장애를 일으켜 불임을 유발할 수도 있을 것으로 보여진다.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제55권4호
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• pp.249-255
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• 2013

Intercellular interactions are important for the proper development and regulation of tissue function. This is especially necessary in the epididymis, a part of male reproductive tract where sperm become mature and acquire their fertilizing capacity. The caput region of the epididymis consists of several types of cells, including principal, basal, and apical cells. Direct intercellular communication is thus required to precisely regulate the functions of the caput epididymis. In this regard, connexin (Cx) is a molecule that forms channels, which allow the direct exchange of small molecules between cells, enabling intercellular communication. In this study, the expression of Cx isoforms in the caput epididymis at different postnatal ages was determined by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Nine of 13 Cx isoforms were detected. The transcript levels of Cx30.3, 31, 31.1, 32, and 40 were highest at 45 days of age, while the expression of Cx43 and 45 gradually decreased with age. A substantial fluctuation of Cx26 expression was detected, with significant decreases before and during puberty, followed by a transient increase at adult-hood and rapid decreases at an old age. A significant increase in Cx37 transcript was observed at 25 days of age, followed by gradual decreases at adult and old ages. These results indicate the significant differential expression of various Cx isoforms in the caput epididymis during postnatal development. It further suggests that the functional regulation and developmental maturation of the caput epididymis are highly related to the postnatal age-related differential expression of Cx isoforms.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제23권12호
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• pp.1566-1577
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• 2010

Nandrolone, 19-nortestosterone, is a synthetic androgenic-anabolic steroid promoting muscle growth. Nandrolone is also present in pig meat and sera at non-negligible levels. A number of scientific reports have suggested a positive relationship between incidence of infertility and increased meat consumption in humans. The present study was designed to determine out the effect of feeding nandrolone on the testis of the male reproductive tract. Mixtures of food and nandrolone at different concentrations (0.005 ppm and 0.5 ppm) were supplied to pubertal male rats for 6 weeks. Body weight was recorded every week during the entire experimental period. At the end of the treatment, the testis, epididymis, and epididymal fat were collected and weighted. Sperm numbers in the caudal epididymis were counted. Differential gene or protein expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the testes among experimental groups was determined by semi-quantitative real-time PCR or western blotting analysis, respectively. Histological changes of the testis induced by nandrolone treatment were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Immunohistochemical analysis was employed to detect changes in the localization of steroidogenic enzymes in the testes among experimental animals. There were no significant changes on body, testis, epididymis, and epididymal fat weights among experimental groups. A significant increase of caudal sperm number was found in the 0.5 ppm nandrolone-treated group. Histological examination of the testes noted a high frequency of germ cell sloughing in seminiferous tubules of 0.5 ppm nandrolone-treated rats. Even though transcript levels of $3{\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) I, $17{\beta}$-HSD4, and $17{\alpha}$-hydroxylase were influenced by nandrolone treatments, protein levels of all molecules examined in the present study were not significantly affected. Immunohistochemical analysis showed no visible changes in the localization of steroidogenic enzymes in the testes among experimental groups. The current study showed that oral intake of nandrolone in male rats for 6 weeks did not cause significant damage to the testis. It is considered that a feeding effect of nandrolone on male fertility would not be remarkable.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.115-121
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• 2001

Some of endocrine disruptors with sexual hormone-like effects have been increasingly reported to be immunotoxic in many species in recent several years. Phthalate esters have possible effects on the endocrine system. Prenatal exposure to di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) has been reported to impair the androgen-dependent development of the male reproductive tract in rat. Therefore, the immunomodulatory effect of DBP was investigated in the developing immune system of fetal and neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats. Timed-bred pregnant SD rats were given to the doses of 0, 250, 500, and 750 mg DBP/kg$\cdot$ body weight /day by gavage once a day from gestational day (GD) 5 to 18. On GD19 or GD22/postnatal day one (PD1), the dams were euthanized, and the changes in organ weights and thymus phenotypes were examined for their offsprings. At 750 mg DBP/kg$\cdot$b.w./day in maternal exposure group, GD19 fetuses showed decreases in body weight. The spleen/body weight ratios were reduced in GD 19 fetuses from the dams exposed to 500 and 750 mg DBP/kg$\cdot$b.w./day. There were no significant changes in thymus and spleen cellularities though these cellularities showed a tendency to decrease in a dose dependent way. In the DBP-exsposed GD22/PD1 offsprings, the body weights, the relative organ weights and the cellularities did not exhibit alteration. Additionally, the percentages of CD3$^{+}$(CD4$^{+}$CD8$^{+}$, CD4$^{+}$CD8$^{-}$, CD4$^{-}$CD8$^{+}$, and CD4$^{-}$CD8$^{-}$) and CD3$^{-}$(CD4$^{+}$CD8$^{+}$, CD4$^{+}$CD8$^{-}$, CD4$^{-}$CD8$^{+}$, and CD4$^{-}$CD8$^{-}$) thymocyte subsets were not changed in any DBP-treated group. The proliferative responses of splenic T cells to Con A and B cells to LPS were decreased in all DBP-exposed GD22/PD1 offsprings.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.441-448
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• 2017

Bisphenol-A(BPA) is a member of alkylphenol family, and shows adverse effects including reduced fertility, reproductive tract abnormalities, metabolic disorder, cancer induction, neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity. In the present study, we conducted Hershberger assay to evaluate whether the two candidates to replace BPA have androgenic or antiandrogenic activity. The assay was carried out using immature castrated Sprague-Dawley male rats. After 7 days of the surgery, testosterone propionate (TP, 0.4 mg/kg/day) and test materials (low dose, 40 mg/kg/day; high dose, 400 mg/kg/day) were administered for 10 consecutive days by subcutaneous (s.c.) injection and oral gavage, respectively. Test materials were BPA, isosorbide (ISO) and cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM). The rats were necropsied, and then the weights of five androgen-dependent tissues [ventral prostate, seminal vesicle, levator ani-bulbocavernosus (LABC) muscle, paired Cowper's glands, and glans penis] and three androgen-insensitive tissues (kidney, spleen and liver) were measured. All test materials including BPA did not exhibit any androgenic activity in the assay. On the contrary, antiandrogen-like activities were found in all test groups, and the order of the intensity was CHDM > BPA > ISO in the five androgen-sensitive tissues. There was no statistical difference between low dose treatment and high dose treatment of BPA group as well as ISO group. In CHDM group, high dose treatment exhibited most severe weight reduction in all measured tissues. There was no statistical difference in androgen-insensitive tissue measurements, except BPA groups. Since the effects of ISO treatment on the accessory sex organs were much less or not present at all when compared to those of BPA, ISO could be a strong candidate to replace BPA. CHDM treatment brought most severe weight reduction in all of androgen-sensitive tissues, so this material should be excluded for further screening of BPA substitute selection.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.15-24
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• 2007

본 연구의 목적은 생후 발달과정에서 숫 백서 생식기의 일부인 efferent ductules (ED)에서 다양한 connexin 이형질체의 발현과 양상을 알아보았다. 1주, 2주, 1개월, 3개월 그리고 6개월령의 백서의 ED로부터 total RNA을 분리하였으며, semi-quantitative RT-PCR 방법을 사용하여 총 14개 connexin 이형질체의 mRNA 발현 양상을 알아보았다. 백서의 ED에서 연구된 14개 중 6개 connexin 이형질체의 발현이 보여졌으며, connexin 26과 30의 mRNA 발현은 연령에 따라 심한 변화를 보여주었다. Connexin 31.1의 발현은 1달령의 ED에서 가장 낮게 나타났으며, connexin 37과 45는 주로 초기 발달 과정에서 높은 수준으로 발현됨을 보여주었다. 또한, connexin 43의 발현은 1주령에서 가장 낮았으며 2주령 이후에는 큰 변화없이 일정한 수준을 유지하였다. 본 연구는 백서의 ED에서 다양한 종류의 connexin 이형질체가 발현되며, 이러한 발현은 생후 연령에 따라 서로 다르게 조절됨을 보여준다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.21-30
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• 1991

간흡충의 충체 부위별 항원성을 알아보고자 면역조직화차적 방법을 이용하여 간흡충의 소화기관, 생식기관, 배설기관, 흡반, 표피 등의 염색강도를 비교 관찰하였다. 간흡충 실험 감염 후 2~8주 된 토끼에서 담관 내 충체를 포함하는 간 조직을 얻어 중성 포르말린 용액에 고정하고 파라핀으로 포매한 다음 4 $\mu\textrm{m}$두께로 잘라 항원으로 이용하였다. 항-간흡충 항체(1차 항체)는 실험 감염 10주 된 고양이 혈청을 희석하여 사용하였고 peroBidaseconjugated goat anti-cat IgG를 2차 항체로 하여 간접 면역효소 염색을 시행하였다. 가장 적합한 1차 항체의 희석 농도는 1 : 1,000~1 : 2,000, 2차 항체의 희석 농도는 1 : 1,000이었다. 충체의 장 상피세포, 장 내용물 및 배설낭은 1차 항체 희석 농도 1 : 1,000~1 : 2,000에서 강한 양성 반응을 보인 반면, 자궁 및 일부 자궁 내 충란, 난관선, 웅성 생식기관 등은 1차 항체 회석 농도 1 : 1,000에서 미약한 양성 반응을 나타내었다. 한편, 흡반, 표피, 표피하 세포, 충체 실질 등은 1차 항체 회석 농도 1 : 1,000에서도 음성 반응을 나타내었다. 이상의 결과를 종합하면, 간흡충 감염시 숙주의 항체 반응은 충체의 소화-분비 기관에서 유래된 이른바 분비-배설 항원에 의해 가자 강력하게 유발되는 것으로 추측된다.