• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.135-142
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• 2019

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer, known as Korean Red Ginseng (KRG), is one of the important age-old traditional herbs used in boosting libido and improving male fertility. In this study, the effects of Rg3-enriched KRG extract (KGC04P) on heat stress-induced testicular damage in experimental rats was evaluated. Methods: Male rats (Sprague-Dawley) were divided into four groups (n = 10): normal control (NC), heat-stressed control (HC), heat-stressed plus KGC04P-100 mg/kg (HK100), and heat-stressed plus KGC04P-200 mg/kg (HK200) groups. Starting 1 week prior to heat stress, animals were administered orally with KGC04P (100 and 200 mg/kg) mixed with a regular pellet diet and continued for 25 weeks. Heat stress was induced to HC, HK100, and HK200 groups by intermittently exposing the animals to high temperatures ($32{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, 2 h/day). After 6 months, animals were euthanized under general anesthesia with carbon dioxide and evaluated for various parameters in serum and testicular tissue by using Western blotting, biochemical kits, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results: Significant (p < 0.05) alterations in several parameters, such as body/organ weight, sperm kinematics, and lipid metabolism marker levels, in the serum and testis of rats were observed. Further, the expression of testicular antioxidant enzymes, inflammatory cytokines, sex hormonal receptors, and spermatogenesis-related genes were also affected significantly (p < 0.05) in the heat-stressed group. However, KGC04P prevented the heat stress-induced changes in rats significantly (p < 0.05) at both concentrations. Conclusion: KGC04P attenuated heat stress-induced testicular damage by a multifunctional approach and can be developed as an excellent therapeutic agent for hyperthermia-mediated male infertility.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.935-944
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• 2021

It has been suggested that bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disruptor, interferes with the endocrine system, causing reproductive dysfunction. Recently, BPA has been found in waste water due to incomplete sewage purification, possibly threatening health through its ingestion via tap water. In this study, young male mice (6 - 7 weeks old) were administered water containing BPA (50 mg·kg^-1) for four weeks, while control mice consumed water without BPA. Serum, epididymal spermatozoa and testicular sections were assessed after sacrificing the mice on day 28. No significant differences were obtained between the groups in the body, testis and seminal vesicle weights. However, the epididymal sperm motility and count levels were significantly reduced in BPA-fed mice. Significantly higher hepatotoxicity levels were also observed in mice ingesting BPA as compared to the control mice. The level of serum testosterone was reduced, and testicular sections revealed incomplete and irregular spermatogenesis in BPA-ingested mice. The sperm proteasomal-proteolytic activity level has been implicated in sperm function and is measured in motile spermatozoa using fluorometric substrates. High ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase activity levels were observed in the control mice without BPA. During a mating trial, a low pregnancy rate (71.4%) was observed in females mated with males who had consumed BPA (100% in the control mice). Overall, BPA adversely affected spermatogenesis and quality, as indicated by decreased sperm motility, concentration and serum testosterone levels, resulting in reduced fertility competence.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.151-158
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• 1994

To evaluate the reproductive ability of gynogenetic diploid male. Paralichthys olivaceus. histological analysis of testis. cytological analysis of spermatozoa and fertilization test with normal aggs were studied and the results are as follow; The gonads of gynogenetic diploid male were histologically normal. and many spermatozoa were observed in their testis. Number of spermatozoa from the control and gynogenetic diploid male were $2.58\times10^9$ and $2.42\times10^9$ cells per 1 ml of milt. respectively (P> 0.05). Amount of milt per kg body weight from the gynogenetic diploid male was significantly higher (P< 0.01) than that from the control male (8.3ml). Size and morphology from the two experimental groups were not different (P>0.05). More than $80\%$ of fertilization rates and hatching rates were observed when the eggs from the control were fertilized with the gynogenetic diploid male sperms.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.125-139
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• 1993

Korea has successfully achieved a lowered fertility level owing to the strong population control policy and effective family planning program. Along with fertility decline and decreased number of children in family, average number of household members has decreased and nontraditional households such as one person household and households composed of unrelated individuals have prolifirated, even though the absolute number of them are found minimal in Korea. However in recent years several data and survey results suggest that one person households are gradually in the increasing trend. The study aimed at investigating the real state of one person households in Korea and next analyzing the proportional distribution of one person households by a few socioeconomic characteristics, thus providing basic for eatablishing far-singhted population and social welfare policy in the future. Korea has experienced high growth rate of economy through government-led development plans starting from the 1960s. During the past three decades, Korea has shifted from the agricultural state to the industrialized one. In compliance with the economic growth, urbanization and industrialization have brought about rural-to-urban migration and a great bulk of young population migrated to urban areas, who are seeking for educational and job opportunities. Korean society has also been under drastic change in every aspect of life involving norms, tradition, and attitude, etc. Therefore, in spite of the prejudice on 'living alone' still remaining, young people gradually leave parents and home, and further form nontraditional households in urban areas. Current increase in the number of one person households is partly attributable to the increase in high female educational attainment and female participation in economic activities. As the industrial structure in Korea changes from primary into secondary and tertiary industries, job opportunities for service/sales and manufacturing are opened to young female labor force in the process of industrialization. Contrary to the formation of one person households by young people, the aged single households are composed when children in family leave one by one because of marriage, education, employment. In particular, a higher proportion of aged female single households occur in rural areas due to the mortality difference by sex. Based on the data released form the 1990 Population and Housing Census and National Fertility and Family Health Survey in 1985 and 1991, the study tried to examine the state of one person households in Korea. According to Census data, the number of one person households increased to 1, 021, 000 in 1990, comprising 9.0 percent of total households. And the survey reveal that among total 11, 540 households, 8.0 percent, 923 households, are composed of one person households. Generally, the proportion of female single households is greater than that of male ones, and a big proportion of one person households is concentrated in the 25-34 age bracket in urban areas and 65 years and more in rural areas. It is shown than one person householders in urban areas have higher educational attainment with 59.2 percent high schooling and over in 1991, Job seeking proved to be the main reason for leaving home and forming one person households. The number of young female single households with higher education and economic self-reliance are found nil and the study did not allow to analyze the causal realtionship between female education and employment and one person household formation. However more research and deep analysis on the causal facors on one person household formation using statistical method are believed to be necessary.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.131-141
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• 1995

This study was designed to determine the relationship between sperm acrosome reaction following ionophore challenge(ARIC) and hamster ovum sperm penetration assay(SPA) as assessment of fertilizing capacity of male. ARIC test and SPA were performed in 23 fertile and 19 subfertile men. The results were as follows; Sperm concentration was significantly higher in fertile group compared with subfertile group: $114.6{\pm}64.40$ vs $61.3{\pm}46.50{\times}10^6/ml$. However, there were no significantly differences in seminal volume, motility and motility index, respectively. There was a significantly correlation between spontaneous and induced AR in fertile and subfertile group, respectively. ARIC value was significantly higher in fertile group, compared with subfertile group: $12.0{\pm}5.57%$ vs $2.6{\pm}4.96%$. Both Penetration rate(PR) and Penetration index(PI) were significantly higher in fertile group, compared with subfertile group: $97.4{\pm}7.40%$ vs $64.9{\pm}36$. 20% and $5.4{\pm}2.88$ vs $1.5{\pm}1.47$, respectively. The Positive predictive value(PPV), Negative predictive value(NPV), sensitivity and specificity of ARIC test (cut-off: 8.5) and SPA(PI cut-off : 3.0) in predicting fertility were 95.0%, 81.8%, 82.6%, 94.7% and 95.2%, 85.7%, 87.0% and 94.7%, respectively. There was no significantly difference in predicting fertility between ARIC test and SPA. In conclusion, ARIC test was shown to have a predictive value for fertilizing capacity comparable to that of the hamster ovum sperm penetration assay. Therefore, ARIC test may be a simple and cost-effective addition to existing semenology instead of SPA.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.129-142
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• 1986

Fifty-five local collections of buck wheat, Fagopyrum esculentum, were investigated their ratios of long-styled (LS) and short-styled (SS) flowers, fertility, meiosis of megaspore and microspore mother cell, female and male gametogenesis, and egg apparatus in accordance with the sowing seasons (spring, summer), altitudes (20m, 50-100m, 300m), and parent style types (L, S). Also they were embryologically investigated the fertility, fertilizing phenomenon and proembryogenesis by the legitimate and illegitimate pollination. There were no differences in the ratios of long-styled and short-5tyled flowers along with altitudes, but more irregularness was observed in plain area than that in the mountaineous or coastal area. LS versus SS ratios by sowing seasons were significantly separated into 1 : 1 in the summer sowing (P 0.1), but they were irregularly separated in the spring sowing. The segregating ratios by parent style types showed more number of short-styled flower in the spring sowing, and were statistically seperated into 1 : 1 in the summer sowing (P 0.25), regardless to parent style types. In the artificial legitimate union, the seed setting rates of the summer sowing (59-61%) were much higher than those of the spring sowing (about 30%), but in the artificial illegitimate union the seed setting rates were only fructified about 0.8-1.8% in the spring sowing. The seed setting rates in accordance with flowering stages were larger in turn early, middle, late, in the summer sowing. The grain number and grain weight per plant of short-styled flower were more than those of long-styled one regardless to style types. The 1,000 grain weight of long-styled flower was heavier than that of short-styled one in large grain, but it was lighter than that of short-styled flower in small or medium grain. The percentage of normal female and male gametogenesis in the summer sowing were higher than those in the spring sowing. The ovule was atropous and two polar nuclei were a synkarion before flowering. The pollens germinated at 30 minuts after pollination and the pollen tube grew continually and penetrated into micropyle at 1.5-2 hours and the two male nuclei fertilized with egg nucleus at 3 -5 hours after pollination. Flertilizing times in summer were shorter than in autumn. The fertilized egg was divided in a small apical cell toward the interior of the embryo sac and a large basal cell toward the micropyle cell at 15-24 hours after pollination, and division times in summer were shorter than in autumn. The proembryo began the embryogenesis at 7-8 days and formed itself into the perfect embryo at 15 days after pollination.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2004

This study was carried out to develop the efficient methods for the subsequent progeny of intersectional hybrid between Oriental and Asiatic lily hybrids. The pollen fertility and germination ability of 3 different allotetraploids (OAOA) after somatic chromosome doubling was ranged from 0 to 80 percent on artificial pollen germination medium. The number of BC$_1$ progeny using allotetraploid of F$_1$ OA-hybrid as male and female parent was different. The efficiency of BC$_1$ progeny production was increased when F$_1$OA-hybrids was used as male rather than as female parent. And in back crosses of F$_1$ OA-hybrids with the Asiatic and Oriental hybrids, Asiatic hybrids showed higher efficiency on BC$_1$ progeny production. The ploidy level between 2x or 4x Asiatic hybrid and allotetraploid F$_1$ OA-hybrid was determined and showed higher progeny production in 2x-4x crosses rather than 4x-4x.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.219-224
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• 2009

Objective: Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) is an uncommon cause of male infertility. We investigated the outcome of gonadotropin therapy for restoring fertility and pregnancy outcomes in patients with HH. Methods: Medical charts of 10 infertile male patients with HH treated with gonadotropin were reviewed. Initial testicular volume were estimated. Semen analysis parameters (semen volume, sperm counts, motility), serum leutenizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone were determined before and after human chorionic gonadotropin/human menopausal gonadotropin (hCG/hMG) treatment. Differences were analyzed statistically. Results: Of 10 patients, 7 (70%) succeed at pregnancy (nature pregnancy in 4). Semen analysis parameters, serum FSH, and testosterone were increased significantly after treatment. The population was stratified according to initial testicular volume into a small testis subset (testicular volume less than 10 cc in 4) and a large testis subset (testicular volume 10 cc or greater in 6). Semen analysis parameters and serum testosterone were increased significantly after treatment in large testis subset. Conclusion: Infertile men with HH initiate and maintain spermatogenesis with gonadotropin (hCG/hMG alone or combined) therapy, thus gonadotropin therapy is good choice in infertile men with HH.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.779-791
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• 2023

This study aimed to assess the effects of embryonic developmental stage, quality grade, and fresh or frozen/thawed conditions on the pregnancy rate and sex ratio of live offspring in Hanwoo (Bos taurus coreanae) cows. The quality and developmental stage of in vivo-derived (IVD) transferred embryos were evaluated using the standard criteria of the International Embryo Technology Society. The recipient cows were synchronized using conventional (estradiol benzoate and progesterone) protocols before embryo transfer. Embryos were transferred to 297 cows, and pregnancy was monitored for 60-70 days after embryo transfer. The pregnancy rates of fresh and frozen/thawed embryos were 56.90% and 52.49%, respectively. Pregnancy rates varied according to embryo quality (56.18% for grade 1 vs. 36.67% for grade 2). Pregnancy rates also varied by developmental stage and cryopreservation (67.86% vs. 63.49% for stage 4-1, 64.00% vs. 54.72% for 5-1, and 50.00% vs. 47.83% for 6-1, in fresh embryos vs. frozen/thawed embryos, respectively). For stage 7-1, the pregnancy rates were 72.73% for fresh embryos and 20.00% for frozen/thawed embryos. In 66 fresh embryos, the sex ratio of live offspring was 5:5, whereas it was 4(female):6(male) for frozen/thawed embryos among the 95 frozen/thawed embryos. The miscarriage rate was approximately 3% higher for frozen/thawed embryos than for fresh embryos (18.1% for fresh vs. 21.1% for frozen). Seasonal fertility rates were 33.3% in spring, 55.67% in summer, 52.8% in autumn, 60.0% in winter. The following male-to-female ratios were observed in different seasons: 6.7:3.3 in spring, 4.0:6.0 in summer, 5.5:4.5 in autumn, and 3.3:6.7 in winter. The current data revealed no significant differences in pregnancy rates between fresh and frozen/thawed IVD embryos. However, there was a lower pregnancy rate with advanced-stage frozen/thawed embryos (stage 7-1). The current study provides comprehensive results for the better optimization of embryo transfer in Hanwoo cattle to obtain the desired fertility rate, pregnancy rate, and sex ratio of calves. These results provide important insights into the factors that influence the viability and success of IVD embryo transfer in Hanwoo cows and may have practical applications for improving breeding programs and reducing production costs.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.413-417
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• 1993

This study was conducted to breed various cytoplasmic genetic male sterile (CGMS) and restorer lines with backgrounds of Korean japonica rice varieties. The CGMS line BT-CMS was crossed with the restorer line AR-3. The fertile $F_1 was emasculated and crossed with the Korean japonica rice varieties of the early maturing Sobaegbyeo, Odaebyeo, Gwanagbyeo and Daeseongbyeo, and of the medium maturing Hwajinbyeo, Paldal, Suwon 224 and Iri 386, and of the late maturing Nagdongbyeo, Palkweng, Hwacheongbyeo and Milyang 97. Each of the three way cross $F_{1S} was segregated into fertile and sterile individuals. The sterile individuals in each cross were discarded and the fertile individuals were emasculated and backcrossed with the Korean japonica rice varieties. The same process was applied from BC$_1$F$_1$ to BC$_4$F$_1$ generation. In the ${BC_4}{F_1}of each cross, the male sterile individual was crossed with the recurrent Korean japonica variety which was maintainer of male sterility. The male sterile lines of ${BC_6}{F_1}were named as Sobaegbyeo R, Odaebyeo R, Gwanagbyeo R, etc. The fertile individuals homozygous in pollen fertility were selected from the ${BC_4}{F_2}generation and named as Sobaegbyeo R, Odaebyeo R, Gwanagbyeo R, etc. Agronomic characteristics of the CGMS, restorer lines with backgrounds of Korean japonica, and the recurrent Korean japonica rice varieties grown in the field condition were compared. Culm length of the CGMS lines tended to be shorter than that of the recurrent parent, however no significant differences in heading date, panicle length and yield component were found among the CGMS, restorer and recurrent lines.