• Title/Summary/Keyword: Natural reproduction

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Dispersal Polymorphisms in Insects-its Diversity and Ecological Significance (곤충의 분산다형성-그의 다양성과 생태학적 의의)

  • 현재선
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.42 no.4
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    • pp.367-381
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    • 2003
  • Dispersal polymorphism in insects Is a kind of adaptive strategy of the life history together with the diapause, consisting of the “long-winged or alate forms” of migratory phase and the “short-winged or apterous forms” of stationary phase. Dispersal polymorphism is a polymorphism related with the flight capability, and has three categories ; the wing polymorphisms, flight muscle polymorphisms, and flight behavior variations. Phase variation is another type of dispersal polymorphism varying in morphology, physiology and wing forms in response to the density of the population. The dispersal migration is a very adaptive trait that enables a species to keep pace with the changing mosaic of its habitat, but requires some costs. In general, wing reduction has a positive effect on the reproductive potential such as earlier reproduction and larger fecundity The dispersal polymorphism is a kind of optimization in the evolutionary strategies of the life history in insects; a trade-off between the advantages and disadvantages of migration. Wing polymorphism is a phenotypically plastic trait. Wing form changes with the environmental conditions even though the species is the same. Various environmental factors have an effect on the dispersal polymorphisms. Density dependent dispersal polymorphism plays an important role In population dynamics, but it is not a simple function of the density; the individuals of a population may be different in response to the density resulting different outcomes in the population biology, and the detailed information on the genotypic variation of the individuals in the population is the fundamental importance in the prediction of the population performances in a given environment. In conclusion, the studies on the dispersal polymorphisms are a complicated field in relation with both physiology and ecology, and studies on the ecological and quantitative genetics have indeed contributed to understanding of its important nature. But the final factors of evolution; the mechanisms of natural selections, might be revealed through the studies on the population biology.

Ultrastructural Study of Spermatogenesis and Reproductive Cycle of Male Razor Clam, Solen grandis on the West coast of Korea (한국 서해산 수컷 대맛조개, Solen grandis의 정자형성과정의 미세구조적 연구 및 생식주기)

  • Chung, Ee-Yung;Park, Gap-Man
    • Development and Reproduction
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.101-109
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    • 1998
  • Spermatogenesis and reproductive cycle of the razor clam, solen grandis, were investigated monthly by histological and cytological observations. Samples were collected from natural intertidal population at Oshik-do, Kunsan, Korea, for one year, beginning from January to December, 1993. solen grandis is dioecious. Morphological structures of the spermatozoon of this species ar esimilar to those of other bivalve spermatozoa having a primitive type; i.e., a small head, a cap-shaped acrosome and a short mid-piece with four mitochondria surrounding axial filament. The head of spermatozoon is approximately 2 \mu m in length and sperm tail is about 20 \mu m long. The axoneme of tail flagellum consists of nine pairs of peripheral microtubules at the periphery and a pair of central microtubules at the center. Four spherical mitochondria form the paranucleus. Spawning occures once a year between early June and July, and the main spawning was observed in July when seawater temperature reaches above 20 \circ C. The reproductive cycle of male razor clam can be divieded into fivesuccessive stages; early active (December to january), late active (January to march), mature (March to early August), partially spawned (June to July), and spent/inactive stage (August to December).

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Effect of Selenium on Oocyte Maturation and Viability in vitro in Mouse (체외 배양시 생쥐난자의 성숙과 생존에 미치는 Selenium의 영향)

  • Choi, Eun-Jin;Hong, Soon-Gab;Kim, Hae-Kwon;Yoon, Yong-Dal;Lee, Joon-Yeong
    • Development and Reproduction
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    • v.10 no.2
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    • pp.115-125
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    • 2006
  • The present experiment was performed to confirm the effects of selenium on maturation and viability of mouse oocyte. Maturation of oocytes was observed by microscope, Germinal vesicle breakdown(GVBD) and polar body formation(PB) were confirmed at 2.5, 13 hours after in vitro culture. Viability of oocytes was observed by microscope. Normal and abnormal oocytes were distinguished by morphological change in vitro culture for 72 hours. Glutathione(GSH) content of collected oocytes from individual stage also was measured by glutathione assay using spectrophotometer. The results obtained were as follows; The low concentration of selenium($0.005\;{\mu}g/mL{\sim}0.5\;{\mu}g/mL$) increased the maturation rate of germinal vesicle(GV) oocytes to GVBD and PB oocytes. The high concentration of selenium($5\;{\mu}g/mL$) decreased the maturation rate. The low concentration of selenium increased the viability rate of PB oocytes. The high concentration of selenium did not affect the viability rate. The low concentration of selenium increased the GSH content in PB oocytes. The high concentration of selenium decreased GSH content. GSH content in PB oocyte was much higher than that in GVBD oocyte. The results indicate that the low concentration of selenium increases the maturation rate by helping quality elevation of oocyte and minimizing damages of oxidative stress generated from metabolism process. The low concentration of selenium also increases the viability rate by increasing GSH content.

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Embryogenesis in the Octopus minor (낙지(Octopus minor)의 배 발생)

  • Kim, Dong-Soo;Kim, Jae-Man
    • Development and Reproduction
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    • v.10 no.2
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    • pp.135-140
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    • 2006
  • The small octopus(Octopus minor), a species in the cephalopod class spawns the fewer eggs compared with its relatives such as Octopus vulgaris and Octopus ocellatus and exerts special efforts in nursing eggs hiding in the deep cave beneath the mud flat. Correspondingly, its embryogenic process had been hardly observed. In this study, we induced the small octopus to spawn its eggs in the artificial spawning tube and to nurse the developing embryos under the periodical observation. The early embryogenic change in the fertilized eggs was appearance of blastodisc on the animal pole at 4 days after spawning. A mass of rudiments of several organs developed in the middle of the yolk sac at 28-th day and it moved gradually toward the animal pole. At 38 days after spawning, two eyes appeared on the head and the trunk with heart developed on the apical part of the yolk sac. At 45-th day of embryonic development, the trunk and head occupied a half of the egg capsule and consequently the yolk sac was reduced to a half of its original size. Two eyes became prominent at the bottom of the trunk with several spots at day 60. Embryonic development was completed at about 80 days after spawning and the arms stuffed the lower half of egg capsule. The young fry squeezed out of the egg capsules with their long and slender arms first and mantles later. Soon after hatching, it swam actively and squirted ink.

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Morphological Development of Embryo, Larvae and Juvenile in Yellowtail kingfish, Seriola lalandi

  • Yang, Sang Geun;Hur, Sang Woo;Ji, Seung Cheol;Lim, Sang Gu;Kim, Bong Seok;Jeong, Minhwan;Lee, Chi Hoon;Lee, Young-Don
    • Development and Reproduction
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    • v.20 no.2
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    • pp.109-118
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    • 2016
  • This study monitored the morphological development of embryo, larvae and juvenile yellowtail kingfish, Seriola lalandi, for their aquaculture. The fertilized eggs obtained by natural spawning were spherical shape and buoyant. Fertilized eggs were transparent and had one oil globule in the yolk, with an egg diameter of $1.35{\pm}0.04mm$ and an oil globule diameter of $0.32{\pm}0.02mm$. The fertilized eggs hatched 67-75 h after fertilization in water at $20{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$. The total length (TL) of the hatched larvae was $3.62{\pm}0.16mm$. During hatching, the larvae, with their mouth and anus not yet opened. The yolk was completely absorbed 3 days after hatching (DAH), while the TL of post-larvae was $4.72{\pm}0.07mm$. At 40 DAH, the juveniles had grown to $30.44{\pm}4.07mm$ in TL, body depth increased, the body color changed to a black, yellow, and light gray-blue color, and 3-4 vertical stripes appeared. At 45 DAH, the juveniles were $38.67{\pm}5.65mm$ in TL and $10.10{\pm}0.94mm$ in body depth. The fish were green with a light orange color, with 7 faint green-brown stripes on the sides of their body. At 87 DAH, the juveniles had grown to 236.11 mm in TL, 217.68 mm in fork length, and 136.5 g in weight. The fish resembled their adult form, with a light yellow-green body color, loss of the pattern on the sides of their body, and a yellow coloration at the tip of the caudal fin.

Amniotic Fluid Bisphenol A Level and Its Relationship with Pregnancy Outcomes (임신 중 내분비계 장애물질 Bisphenol A의 양수 내 농도와 임신결과와의 상관관계)

  • Yoon, Jeong-Mi;Kwon, Ja-Young;Yoon, Yong-Dal;Kim, Sei-Kwang
    • Development and Reproduction
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    • v.16 no.2
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    • pp.95-100
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    • 2012
  • Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical with weak estrogenic activity is reported to affect preimplantation embryos, fetuses and alter their postnatal development. This study amied to determine the relation between the levels of BPA in the amniotic fluid and pregnancy outcomes. ELISA was used to measure amniotic fluid BPA in 120 pregnant women who underwent genetic amniocentesis at 15~20 weeks gestation. The most common indication for amniocentesis was advanced maternal age (35 yrs or older). BPA was detected in all amniotic fluid. The range of amniotic fluid BPA concentrations was from 0.89 ng/mL to 37.13 ng/mL with a mean level of 7.24 ng/mL. We compared the means of amniotic fluid BPA concentrations according to maternal age (${\geq}35$ vs. <35 yrs), fetal sex (male vs. female), gestational age at birth (${\geq}37$ vs. <37 weeks), and infant birth weight (${\geq}2.5$ vs. <2.5 kg). No significant differences were found in these outcomes. This is the first report of amniotic fluid BPA levels in Korean pregnant women. Our findings suggest that BPA may not affect the pregnancy outcomes such as fetal sex, preterm delivery and low birth weight. Whether prenatal exposure to BPA can have teratogenic effect on developing embryo needs to be studied.

Production and Breeding of Transgenic Cloned Pigs Expressing Human CD73

  • Lee, Seung-Chan;Lee, Haesun;Oh, Keon Bong;Hwang, In-Sul;Yang, Hyeon;Park, Mi-Ryung;Ock, Sun-A;Woo, Jae-Seok;Im, Gi-Sun;Hwang, Seongsoo
    • Development and Reproduction
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    • v.21 no.2
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    • pp.157-165
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    • 2017
  • One of the reasons to causing blood coagulation in the tissue of xenografted organs was known to incompatibility of the blood coagulation and anti-coagulation regulatory system between TG pigs and primates. Thus, overexpression of human CD73 (hCD73) in the pig endothelial cells is considered as a method to reduce coagulopathy after pig-to-non-human-primate xenotransplantation. This study was performed to produce and breed transgenic pigs expressing hCD73 for the studies immune rejection responses and could provide a successful application of xenotransplantation. The transgenic cells were constructed an hCD73 expression vector under control porcine Icam2 promoter (pIcam2-hCD73) and established donor cell lines expressing hCD73. The numbers of transferred reconstructed embryos were $127{\pm}18.9$. The pregnancy and delivery rate of surrogates were 8/18 (44%) and 3/18 (16%). The total number of delivered cloned pigs were 10 (2 alive, 7 mummy, and 1 died after birth). Among them, three live hCD73-pigs were successfully delivered by Caesarean section, but one was dead after birth. The two hCD73 TG cloned pigs had normal reproductive ability. They mated with wild type (WT) MGH (Massachusetts General Hospital) female sows and produced totally 16 piglets. Among them, 5 piglets were identified as hCD73 TG pigs. In conclusion, we successfully generated the hCD73 transgenic cloned pigs and produced their litters by natural mating. It can be possible to use a mate for the production of multiple transgenic pigs such as ${\alpha}-1,3-galactosyltransferase$ knock-out /hCD46 for xenotransplantation.

Platycarya strobilacea S. et Z. Extract Has a High Antioxidant Capacity and Exhibits Hair Growth-promoting Effects in Male C57BL/6 Mice

  • Kim, Eun Jin;Choi, Joo Yeon;Park, Byung Cheol;Lee, Bog-Hieu
    • Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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    • v.19 no.3
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    • pp.136-144
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    • 2014
  • This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Platycarya strobilacea S. et Z. (PSE) extract on mouse hair growth and to determine the mechanism of action of PSE. PSE was purchased and its antioxidant activities, such as electron donating ability, total polyphenol content, and flavonoid content were tested. Toxicity during topical treatment was determined by the CCK-8 assay, a cell viability test. Fifteen 4-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were assigned to receive one of three treatments: dimethyl sulfoxide (negative control), minoxidil (positive control) or PSE. Test materials were topically applied to the shaved dorsal skin of each mouse daily for 3 weeks. After 21 days, we observed skin tissue hair follicle morphology and length, mast cell number, and stem cell factor (SCF) expression using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), toluidine blue, and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. Furthermore, the expression of cytokines involved in hair growth [i.e., insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$] was determined by PCR. PSE was found to have very high antioxidant activity. The cell viability rate of PSE-treated mice was markedly higher than that of mice in the control group. We also observed an increase in hair follicle length, strong SCF staining, and a decrease in mast cell number in the PSE group. In addition, PSE-treated mice had higher IGF-1 and KGF expression and lower TGF-${\beta}1$ expression than mice in the minoxidil-treated group. These results suggest that topical application of PSE promotes hair growth by intensifying SCF, suppressing mast cell production, and increasing hair growth-promoting cytokine expression.

The Estimation of Climax Index for Broadleaved Tree Species by Analysis of Ecomorphological Properties (생태형태학적(生態形態學的) 특성(特性) 분석(分析)에 의한 활엽수종(闊葉樹種)의 극성상지수(極盛相指數) 추정(推定))

  • Kim, Ji Hong
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.82 no.2
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    • pp.176-187
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    • 1993
  • Based on the analysis of ecomorphological characters for 84 tree and shrub species, climax indices were estimated so as to interpret the position of the successional sere for the species in the natural deciduous forest. Nineteen ecomorphological characters, considered to be associated with successional gradient in the forest, were selected for the study. One of 2 to 4 steps per character for each species was given on a standardized scale of increasing climaxness, and the index was computed by percent of the sum of the scoring values for total score. Calculated mean value of 54.2 for all indices. Carpinus laxiflora had the highest index value of 83.3, and Populus davidiana recorded the lowest of 18.8. The most climax group, greater than 70 of the index, contained only 9 species, intermediate group, between 40 to 70 of the index, had 58 species, and the most pioneer group, less than 40 of the index comprised 17 species. The result has noticed that the large number of species would take advantage of most diverse resource and niche in the intermediate stage of the sere in the forest. The three components, i.e., light absorption, reproduction, and wood quality were used as axes for a 3-dimensional projection of the relative position for 44 species by principal component analysis. Along the similar ecomorphological characters, four recognized species group were classified by cluster analysis. The distribution pattern of plant families on the index gradient showed that the Betulaceae and Aceraceae had the widest seral amplitude, and the Salicaceae was a family typified as pioneer. There were no families specializing entirely with climax niche.

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Induction of Fas-Mediated Apoptosis by Interferon-g is Dependent on Granulosa Cell Differentiation and Follicular Maturation in the Rat Ovary

  • Lee, Hye-Jeong;Kim, Ji Young;Park, Ji Eun;Yoon, Yong-Dal;Tsang, Benjamin K.;Kim, Jong-Min
    • Development and Reproduction
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.315-329
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    • 2016
  • Fas ligand (FasL) and its receptor Fas have been implicated in granulosa cell apoptosis during follicular atresia. Although interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) is believed to be involved in the regulation Fas expression in differentiated granulosa or granulosa-luteal cells, the expression of this cytokine and its role in the regulation of the granulosa cell Fas/FasL system and apoptosis during follicular maturation have not been thoroughly investigated. In the present study, we have examined the presence of IFN-${\gamma}$ in ovarian follicles at different stage of development by immunohistochemistry and related their relative intensities with follicular expression of Fas and FasL, and with differences in granulosa cell sensitivity to Fas activation by exogenous agonistic Anti-Fas monoclonal antibody (Fas mAb). Although IFN-${\gamma}$ immunostaining was detectable in oocyte and granulosa cells in antral follicles, most intense immunoreactivity for the cytokine was observed in these cells of preantral follicles. Intense immunoreactivity for IFN-${\gamma}$ was most evident in granulosa cells of atretic early antral follicles where increased Fas and FasL expression and apoptosis were also observed. Whereas low concentrations of IFN-${\gamma}$ (10-100 U/mL) significantly increased Fas expression in undifferentiated granulosa cells (from preantral or very early antral follicles) in vitro, very higher concentrations (${\geq}1,000U/mL$) were required to up-regulate of Fas in differentiated cells isolated from eCG-primed (antral) follicles. Addition of agonistic Fas mAb to cultures of granulosa cells at the two stages of differentiation and pretreated with IFN-${\gamma}$ (100 U/mL) elicited morphological and biochemical apoptotic features which were more prominent in cells not previously exposed to the gonadotropin in vivo. These findings suggested that IFN-${\gamma}$ is an important physiologic intra-ovarian regulator of follicular atresia and plays a pivotal role in regulation of expression of Fas receptor and subsequent apoptotic response in undifferentiated (or poorly differentiated) granulosa cells at an early (penultimate) stage of follicular development.