• Development and Reproduction
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.117-125
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• 2014

Vitrification method is widely used in oocyte cryopreservation for IVF but the birth rates are lower than that of the fresh oocyte. One of the known main reasons is structural instability of meiotic spindle and chromosome systems of mature oocyte. To get the best way for keeping competence of matured oocytes, we studied the best conditions for vitrification focused on equilibration times. The mature oocytes were underwent vitrification with current popular method and analyzed the survival rates, microtubule stability and DNA integrity. The survival rates of recovered oocyte are almost same between groups and are more than 93%. The structural configuration of meiotic spindle was well kept in 10 min equilibration group and the stability rate was almost same with that of control. The chromosomal breakdown was observed in all experimental groups, but the chromosomal stability was higher in 10 min equilibration group than the other groups. The 10 min equilibration group showed best condition compared with the other groups. Based on these results, the equilibration time is one of the key factors in successful keeping for competence of mature oocyte. Although, more fine analysis about the effects of physical stress on oocyte during vitrification is needed to define the optimal condition, it is suggested that the optimal equilibration time to get competent oocyte in mouse is 10 min. Information acquired this study may provide insight into intracellular structural events occurring in human oocytes after vitrification and application for cryopreservation of human oocyte.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 2012

It is suggested that carbohydrate metabolites may involve in the development of morula to blastocyst but many of the mechanisms are not unmasked. Two-cell stage embryos were collected and examined the effects of lactate on the development of blastocyst in vitro. The expression profiles of lactate dehydrognase (Ldh) genes and aquaporin (Aqp) genes were analyzed with RT-PCR. The successful development from morula to blastocyst was dependent on lactate concentrations. The expression profiles of Ldh genes were changed by the lactate concentration. Ldha was expressed in morula stage at 10 mM lactate, and in blastocyst stage at lactate free condition. Ldhb was expressed in morula stage at 10 mM and 20 mM lactate, and in blastocyst stage at 10 mM lactate. Aqp genes were also showed different expression patterns by the lactate concentrations. Aqp3 was expressed in hatching embryo at 120 hr post hCG administration (hph) which was cultured in BWW medium and lactate free condition. Aqp7 was expressed in hatching embryos at 120 hph which was cultured at 10 mM lactate condition. Also Aqp8 was expressed in hatching embryo at BWW and 20 mM lactate condition. Aqp9 was expressed in morula at BWW and 10 mM lactate condition, and in blastocyst at BWW. Based on these results, it is suggested that concentration of lactate in the medium and the level of lactate synthesis in embryo is critical factor for blastocoels formation. In addition it is suggested that LDH may involve the AQPs expression in embryos.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2015

This study investigated possible involvement of photoperiodic regulation in reproductive endocrine system of female olive flounder. To investigate the influence on brain-pituitary axis in endocrine system by regulating photoperiod, compared expression level of Kisspeptin and sbGnRH mRNA in brain and FSH-${\beta}$, LH-${\beta}$ and GH mRNA in pituitary before and after spawning. Photoperiod was treated natural photoperiod and long photoperiod (15L:9D) conditions from Aug. 2013 to Jun. 2014. Continuous long photoperiod treatment from Aug. (post-spawning phase) was inhibited gonadal development of female olive flounder. In natural photoperiod group, the Kiss2 expression level a significant declined in Mar. (spawning period). And also, FSH-${\beta}$, LH-${\beta}$ and GH mRNA expression levels were increasing at this period. However, in long photoperiod group, hypothalamic Kiss2, FSH-${\beta}$, LH-${\beta}$ and GH mRNA expression levels did not show any significant fluctuation. These results suggest that expression of hypothalamic Kiss2, GtH and GH in the pituitary would change in response to photoperiod and their possible involvement of photoperiodic regulation in reproductive endocrine system of the BPG axis.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.253-264
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• 2012

Nesfatin-1 is a recently discovered anorexigenic peptide which is distributed in several brain areas implicated in the feeding and metabolic regulation. Recently, it has been reported that nesfatin-1 is expressed not only in brain, but also in peripheral organs such as digestive organs, adipose tissues, heart, and reproductive organs. Nesfatin-1 is markedly expressed in the pancreas, stomach and duodenum. Eventually, the nesfatin-1 expression in the digestive organs may be regulated by nutritional status, which suggests a regulatory role of peripheral nesfatin-1 in energy homeostasis. Nesfatin-1 is also detected in the adipose tissues of humans and rodents, indicating that nesfatin-1 expression in the fat may regulate food intake independently, rather than relying on leptin. In addition, nesfatin-1 is expressed in the heart as a cardiac peptide. It suggests that nesfatin-1 may regulate cardiac function and encourage clinical potential in the presence of nutrition-dependent physio-pathologic cardiovascular diseases. Currently, only a few studies demonstrate that nesfatin-1 is expressed in the reproductive system. However, it is not clear yet what function of nesfatin-1 is in the reproductive organs. Here, we summarize the expression of nesfatin-1 and its roles in brain and peripheral organs and discuss the possible roles of nesfatin-1 expressed in reproductive organs, including testis, epididymis, ovary, and uterus. We come to the conclusion that nesfatin-1 as a local regulator in male and female reproductive organs may regulate the steroidogenesis in the testis and ovary and the physiological activity in epididymis and uterus.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.701-710
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• 2012

We present optimum design for truss and frame structures subject to constraints on stresses, displacement, and natural frequency. The optimum design procedure is used discrete and continuous design variables and Genetic Algorithms. Genetic Algorithms is used the method of Elitism and penalty parameters in order to improved fitness in the reproduction process, and optimum design is used steel(W-section) and pre-made discrete cross-section. Truss and frame structures optimization examples are used for 10-Bar truss, 25-Bar truss, 1-bay 2-story frame, 1-bay 7-story frame, and these examples are employed to demonstrate the availability and serviceability of Genetic Algorithms for solving optimum design of truss and frame.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.1453-1457
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• 2002

The experiment was conducted to find out the effect of 4 feeding systems on growth, feed intake, eating behavior, lactation performance, gestation period, post-partum heat period, conception rate and parasitic infestation of Black Bengal goat. Twenty four does of approximately 1 year of age were randomly selected for 4 treatment (feeding systems) groups having 6 replications in each. Treatments were stall feeding ($T_1$), tethering ($T_2$), restricted grazing ($T_3$) and grazing ($T_4$). $T_1$ group was housed continuously and adequate amounts of natural grass were supplied for ad libitum feeding. $T_2$ group was tethered for grazing natural grass from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. being moved at one hour intervals. Goats of $T_3$ group were allowed grazing from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. $T_4$ group was grazed from 8 a. m. to 4 p.m. Concentrate supplement was given at the rate of 150 g per day per goat for all of the treatment groups. Duration of experiment was 219 days. Daily live weight gain was significantly (p<0.05) higher in case of stall fed goats than that of others. DM intake also significantly (p<0.05) differed among the treatment groups and was 3.40 3.95, 3.76 and 4.05 per cent of their live weight for stall feeding, tethering, restricted grazing and grazing groups, respectively. Rate of rumination was significantly (p<0.05) higher in case of tethering group of goats than that of others. Birth weight of kids, milk yield, lactation period and post-partum heat period were significantly higher in case of stall fed goats than others. Tethering group showed significantly (p<0.05) higher litter size than others. Infestation rate of Fasciola was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the grazing group. In conclusion, it may be stated that among these feeding groups overall performance of stall fed goats was more satisfactory, and that the tethering group showed better performance than the others.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2012

Previously, we identified that the overexpression of IEX-1 induces apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. Herein we report a new binding partner of IEX-1, CATHEPSIN B, as a lysosomal enzyme which contributes to the various apoptotic signaling in tumor cells. To investigate how IEX-1 regulates cellular survival and death event, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening of rat ovarian cDNA library using IEX-1 as the bait and found CATHEPSIN B. In the present study, CATHEPSIN B and IEX-1 proteins were overexpressed in 293T cells and their specific association was determined by immunoprecipitation and immunoblot analysis. In addition, the endogenous interaction between CATHEPSIN B and IEX-1 was confirmed in HeLa cells. The current finding of lysosomal CATHEPSIN B as the IEX-1-binding partner implies that IEX-1 may involve in lysosome-mediated apoptotic signaling pathways.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.67-71
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• 2016

Two Korean Rhodeus bittering fishes are known as having a unique reproduction system that the female deposits its egg inside freshwater mussels. Among them, R. ocellatus and R. uyekii show an ecological difference in feeding items and micro-habitat. Through a light microscope, the visual cells of the retina in the two species were investigated to get information between vision and environment related with habitat. The two fishes' eyes are spherical and R. ocellatus has relatively larger eyes. For the two species, the visual cells of the retina consisted of long single cones, short single cones, unequal double cones and rods. In the cones, all show a row mosaic pattern. Although the two species have a different micro-habitat in the wild, the component of the visual cells was very similar to each other.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.5-24
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• 2001

This paper is intended to explore femininity the ideal beauty of body and the features in fashion pursued in the Fashion system and the Anti-Fashion Movement in the Victorian period, on which the modern fashion is based. For the informative facts needed in this paper, books on history, fashion history, feminism, art history of aestheticism and the ideal beauty of body are referred to. On the part Ⅱ of this paper, the femininity and the ideal beauty of body implied in the Aesthetic Movement and Rational Dress Movement as the anti-fashion movement in the Victorian period will be reviewed. Following are the conclusion : First, the works in Aesthetic Movement mainly include the image of sensual female. The essence of femininity is categorized by cultural value, poetic spirit. appetite for sex and self-expression. The ideal beauty of body pursued in this movement is the beauty of immatured body, which means rejection of maternity as well as appetite for sex in the form of metaphor of the power and enthusiasm of female. The features of Aesthetic Movement emphasize the image of sensual and characteristic woman. These features are expressed in the natural waist line and the vertical H silhouette of high waist, natural exposure of body by means of drapery, simplicity and decency by design without fixed forms and seemingly faded colors. Second, Rational Dress Movement attempted to evaluate the femininity in a different way and ultimately pursued masculinity. Therefore, morality, liberty, intelligence, spirituality, self-control, willingness, which had been believed to exclusively belong to male, are added to the categories of femininity. The ideal beauty of body is expressed in the form of Venus Coelestic which is refined and strong. This symbolizes woman's freeing from the fate of reproduction and subordinate relationship with male, morality, decision of one's own and willingness. The features of Rational Dress Movement represent the image of strong-willed and moral woman in its internal meaning. The features of its fashions represent the concealment of the body, emphasis on activeness in pants without decoration and simplicity in its external form. All these features resulted from the pursuit of masculinity.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate what protein(s) of porcine epididymal fluid (pEF) are able to enhance the nuclear maturation of porcine germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes in vitro. Proteins of pEF were fractionated by affinity, ion exchange, and gel filtration chromatography. Porcine cumulus-oocytes complexes (COC) from follicles were cultured in tissue culture medium (TCM 199) containing various fractions obtained by chromatography. Porcine COCs were also cultured in TCM 199 containing various meiosis inhibitors and pEF. After 24 or 48 h culture, oocytes were examined for evidence of GV breakdown, metaphase I, anaphase-telophase I, and metaphase II. When porcine COCs were cultured in the medium with meiosis inhibitor such as, dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) and forskolin (Fo), more than 80% of oocytes were unable to resume meiosis. However, porcine COCs supplemented with pEF were able to overcome the inhibitory effect of dbcAMP and Fo. Maturation rate of oocytes was significantly (p<0.05) increased in the media supplemented with cationic protein(s) during in vitro maturation than in those with anionic protein(s) (44.1% vs 20.0%). When oocytes were cultured in the TCM 199 with fractions obtained by gel filtration, the maturation rate of oocytes was significantly (p<0.05) higher in fraction 11 containing 18 kDa than other fractions. The present study suggests that 1) dbcAMP and Fo prevent the spontaneous maturation of oocyte after isolation from follicles, and that pEF contain a substance(s) that improves meiosis resumption in vitro of porcine COCs, 2) cationic 18 kDa protein(s) are responsible for promotion of Mil stage.