• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.79-79
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• 2006

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.57-62
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• 2001

One of recent advances of mammalian fertilization is the understanding of the molecular basis of fertilization. Several proteins localized in sperm nucleus or on sperm surface are necessary for the fertilization process. Protamines, sperm nuclear proteins, are required for normal sperm function that leads to fertilization. Fertilin and cyritestin are sperm surface proteins and essential for sperm-egg binding. Fertilin is also required for sperm transport in the female reproductive tracts. Metalloproteses on sperm plasma membrane are found to play a role in sperm-egg fusion. The functional analysis of these proteins provides a new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying mammalian fertilization and male fertility.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2016

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), is a protein mainly secreted by a liver. The PCSK9 plays an important role in low density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism acting as a repressor of LDL receptor through transportation of the LDLR to the lysosome for degradation. Thus, the PCSK9 inhibitor suppresses PCSK9-regulated degradation of the LDL receptor as a LDL-lowering medicine. However, little is known about the role of PCSK9 in the reproductive system. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated Pcsk9 expression in male reproductive tracts including penises, prostates and testes using rats in response to their diets between a normal diet and a high-fat diet with cholesterol. Based on our previous study, the high-fat diet elevates concentration of total cholesterol and LDL in serum whereas it reduces the concentration of plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL). In addition, it dramatically affects to morphological changes of the male reproductive organs. Consistent with these results, the expression of Pcsk9 was substantially decreased in the penile tissues (P < 0.001) from rats fed a high fat diet as compared to a normal diet. Moreover, it slightly reduced in the prostate and testes (P < 0.05) of rats in response to a high fat diet. Localization of Pcsk9 was predominantly detected in urethral epithelium of penises, cylinder-shaped cells of prostate glands, and spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatid of testes of rats. Collectively, results of current study provide invaluable insights into the Pcsk9 gene with respect to its tissue- and cell-specific expression by a high fat diet with cholesterol.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.281-285
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• 2016

Cluster-of-differentiation antigen 9 (CD9) gene expressed in the male germ line stem cells is crucial for sperm-egg fusion, and was therefore selected as a candidate gene to investigate Duroc boar semen motility and kinematic characteristics. This study was performed to investigatetheir association with semen motility and kinematic characteristics. DNA samples from 96 Duroc pigs with records of sperm motility and kinematic characteristics [Total motile spermatozoa (MOT, $82.27{\pm}5.58$), Curvilinear velocity(VCL, $68.37{\pm}14.58$), Straight-line velocity(VSL, $29.06{\pm}6.58$), the ratio between VSL and VCL(LIN, $47.36{\pm}8.42$), Amplitude of Lateral Head displacement(ALH, $2.88{\pm}0.70$)] were used in present study. A single nucleotide polymorphism (g.358A>T) in intron 6 was associated with MOT, VCL, VAP and ALH in Duroc population (p<0.05). Therefore, we suggest that the porcine CD9 may be used as a molecular marker for Duroc boar semen quality, although its functional effect was not clear yet. These results will improve the understanding of the functions of the CD9 in spermatogenesis within the reproductive tracts, and will shed light on CD9 as a candidate gene in the selection of good sperm quality boars.