• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.347-353
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• 1997

This study was to test whether in vitro/in vivo survival of vitrified mouse blastocysts was influenced by culture conditions and ET method. Mouse blastocysts were obtained from in vitro fertilization and cultured for 4 days in M16 medium, and they were vitrified in EFS40 which contained 40% ethlyene glycol, 18% Ficoll and 0.5 mol sucrose in PBS. In experiment I, in vitro and in vivo survival rate of these embryos were evaluated in different culture condition after thawing. When thawed embryos were cultured in M16 medium as a control, m-CR1 medium contained 20 amino acids (2% BME amino acis and 1% MEM non-essential amino acids solution) and 4 mg/ml BSA and cumulus monolayer cell co-cultured condition in mCR1 medium (10% FBS), their in vitro survival at 24 hr after thawing was not affected by culture condition (75.6, 83.1, 82.4%). However, in vivo survival rates of implantation in m-CR1 medium (80.4%) were significantly higher than those of M16 medium (51.2%), co-culture (57.1%) condition, although there was no difference in live fetuses rates on day 15 gestation (39.0, 49.0, 38.1%). In experiment II, the in vivo development potential of embryos by ET methods was examined. When blastocysts were transferred to the day 2, 3 pseudopregnant recipient without culture soon after thawing, no pregnant recipient was obtained on the day 2 pseudopregnancy, and 50% of pregnancy rates and 15.4% of live fetus rates were obtained on the day 3 pseudopregnant recipients. These results were significantly lower than those of transferred group (day 3 pseudopregnant recipients) after culture for 16 hr post thawing (73.5, 57.1%) (p<0.05). In experiment III, to elevate usability of delayed embryos in vitro/in vivo survival of vitrified embryos (day 4 early, day 5 early and expanding blastocyst) were examined. in vivo survival rates (live fetus, total implantation) were higher in day 4 early blastocysts (33.3, 66.7%) than in day 5 expanding blastocysts (29.0, 38.7%), although the highest in vitro survival rates were obtained in the day 5 expanding brastocysts (78.3%). Therefore, these results suggest that the in vitro/in vivo survival rates of vitrified embryos could be improve by the culture condition and ET method and that the in vivo development rates of delayed embryos were decreased with longer culture duration in vitro. It means that more effective cryopreservation was obtained in day 4 early blastocysts than in day 5 expanding blastocysts.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2010

Objective: This study was performed to clarify the role of HomeoboxA (HOXA) and its related signaling molecules in the decidualization of primary cultured endometrial cells. Methods: Human endometrial tissues were obtained by curettage of hysterectomy specimens from patients with conditions other than endometrial diseases. Tissues were minced and digested with Trypsin-EDTA for 20 min, $37^{\circ}C$. Cells were cultured with DMEM/F12 medium in $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ incubator for 24 hrs. Cells were treated with HOXA10 siRNA and added transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ (10 ng/mL) for 48 hrs to induces decidualization in vitro. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis was accomplished to observe the expression of HOXA10, prolactin, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor (PPAR)-$\gamma$, and wingless-type MMTV integration site family (Wnt). Results: HOXA10 expression was increased (1.8 fold vs. non-treated control) in TGF-${\beta}1$ treated cells. Decidualization marker, prolactin, was significantly increased in TGF-${\beta}1$ treated cells compared with HOXA10 siRNA treated cells. Endometrial cell differentiation marker, COX-2 was down-regulated by HOXA10 siRNA even if cells were treated with TGF-${\beta}1$. Wnt4 was down-regulated by treated with HOXA10 siRNA, this expression patters was not changed by TGF-${\beta}1$. Expression of PPAR-$\gamma$ was down regulated by TGF-${\beta}1$ in regardless of HOXA10 siRNA treatment. Conclusion: TGF-${\beta}1$ which is induced by progesterone in endometrial epithelial cells may induces stromal cell decidualization via HOXA10 and Wnt signaling cascade.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.293-303
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• 2007

Objective: Previously, we identified differentially expressed genes between GV and MII stage mouse oocytes using ACP technology. When we study one of GV selective genes, Obox family, we found Obox4 mRNA expression in ovaries that has been reported as expressed exclusively in testis. Therefore, this study was conducted for characterization and functional analysis for Obox4. Methods: Expression of Obox4 mRNA was examined in gonads and oocytes by RT-PCR. To determine the role of Obox4 in oocyte maturation, Obox4 dsRNA was microinjected into the cytoplasm of GV oocytes followed by 16 h of incubation in the plain medium or by 24 h of incubation in the medium containing IBMX. After RNAi, phenotypes and maturation rates were observed, change in mRNA expression was evaluated, and chromosomal status was confirmed by orcein staining. Results: Obox4 has minimal expression in the ovary compared to that of the other family members. When oocytes were cultured for 16 h in M16 medium after RNAi, maturation rate was not changed significantly, compared with that of non-injected or buffer-injected control oocytes. Surprisingly, however, when oocytes were cultured for 24 h in M16 containing IBMX, in which oocytes were supposed to arrest at GV stage, Obox4 RNAi oocytes were advanced to MI and MII. Spindle structure was disappeared and the chromosomes were condensed in the oocytes after Obox4 RNAi. Conclusions: This is the first report on the expression of Obox4 in the ovary and oocytes. Results of the study suggest that Obox4 plays a crucial role in spindle formation and chromosome segregation during meiosis in oocytes. In addition, Obox4 may play an important role in cAMP-dependent signal cascades of GV-arrest in mouse oocytes.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.293-316
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• 1995

Nitrogen fertilization and cutting practice were studied on turfgrasses and cover plants to investigate the possibility of maintaining green color during the growing season. Research also involved the effect of the nitrogen on a few morphological characteristics of leaf performance elements which might give an information to coloration and life-span of turf leaves. Treatments in the first experiment undertaken on pot included one N level: 350kgN /ha applied as compound fertilizer in split applications of one-half in mid-May and the rest both in late June and August, and four spring-summer cuts: late May, late June, late July and late August. The soil filled in pot a moderately well-drained sandy loam. In the second experiment(field observation) leaf length and width, inflorescence and flowering, and color performance were also investigated. With nitrogen fertilizer applied on turfs, desirable turf color was maintained during a period of poor coloration in specific seasons such as mid-summer for cool season grasses and late fall for warm season grasses comparing to the non-treatment. However, this was not stimulated by cutting treatment to nitrogen status existed. Cutting effect on coloration was more remarkable in both Korean lawngrass and Manilagrass than in cool season turfgrasses such as Italian rye-grass, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue. Especially down-slide of leaf color in cool season turfgrasses could he detected in mid-summer /early fall season ranging up to mid-September. In early November as well as mid-September, Italian ryegrass, perennial ryegrass and tall fes-cue retained a high level of green color as followed by nitrogen application and cutting treatment, and little detectable variation of leaf color notation between cool season turfgrasses was obtained. However, Korean la'vngrass and Manilagrass failed to retain the green color until early November. Color notations in cool season turfgrasses investigated early November on the final date of the experiment ranged from 5 GY 3/1 to 4/8 in 'Ramultra' Italian ryegrass, 'Reveile' perennial ryegrass and 'Arid' tall fescue, but those in Zoysiagrasses were 7.5 YR 4/8 in Korean lawngrass and 2.5 y 5 /6 in Manilagrass. Life-span of leaves was shorter in Italian ryegrass, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue than in beth Korean lawngrass and Manilagrass with and without nitrogen application. In general, leaves appeared in early May had a long life-span than those appeared in late April or mid-June. Nitrogen application significantly prolonged the green color retaining period in perennial ryegrass, Italian ryegrass, Korean lawngrass and Manilagrass, and this was contrasted with the fact that there was no prolonged life-span of leaves emerging in early May and mid-June in tall fescue. SPAD reading values in 48 turfs and cover plants investigated in the field trial were increasing until late June and again decreasing till September. Increasing trends of reading value could be observed in the middle of October in most of grasses. On the other hand, clovers and reed canarygrasses did not restore their color values even in October. Color differences between inter-varieties, and inter-species occurred during the growing season under the field condition implicated that selection of species and /or cultivars for mixture should be taken into consideration. In Munsell color notation investigated in the final date in the middle of November, 32 cultivars belonged under the category of 5 GY and 10 cultivars under the category of 7.5 GY. This was implying that most of cool season turfs and cover plants grown in the center zone of Korean Peninsula which are able to utilize for landscape use can bear their reasonable green color by early or mid-November when properly managed. The applicable possibilities of SPAD readings and Munsell color notation to determine the color status of turfgrasses and cover plants used in this study were discussed.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.97-108
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• 2002

The use of land at the time of investigation of groundwater quality in the rapidly urbanized Bu-chon city is classified into 5 categories based on the change process of land use. The difference in groundwater quality according to the land use and its usage period is tested by non-parametric statistical procedures. The seven constituents of water quality with the highly frequent detection in the area for this study are used for the statistical test. The shallow groundwater quality within the areas of the same land use at the time of investigation varies significantly according to the period of land usage. The concentration of KMnO$_4$consumed and hardness is significantly higher in the old residential area (of more than 20 years old) than in the younger one (of less than 10 years old). The quality of the shallow groundwater is also significantly different among the three categories with the similar period of land usage (of more than 15 years old). The concentration of No$_3$-N, hardness and total solid is significantly higher in the residential area than in the agricultural one (namely, the area used as paddy fields 2 to 5 years ago). The median concentration of these constituents is 2.2 to 3.8 times higher in the residential area than in the agricultural one. The concentration of NO$_3$-N, KMnO$_4$, consumed and Cl is significantly higher in the industrial area than in the agricultural one. The median concentration of these constituents is 5.5 to 18 times higher in the industrial area than in the agricultural one. The concentration of KMnO$_4$consumed is significantly higher in the industrial area than in the residential area. The median concentration of these constituents is 12 times higher in the industrial area than in the residential one. The spatial distribution of shallow groundwater quality in the rapidly urbanized area is closely related to the period of land usage as well as the land use, which is presumed to be attributed to the difference in the concentration and leakage rate of the contaminants leaking from damaged sewer into shallow groundwater.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.235-246
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• 2009

This study theoretically reviews the basin storage coefficient and concentration time using the Nash model, a simple unit hydrograph theory. First, the storage coefficient and concentration time of Nash instantaneous unit hydrograph (IUH) are derived based on their definitions, whose characteristics as well as their relationship are also reviewed. Additionally, several empirical equations of storage coefficient and concentration time commonly used in Korea are evaluated by comparing them with those for the Nash IUH. Major results of this study are summarized as follows. (1) The concentration time of Nash IUH is approximately linearly proportional to the number of linear reservoirs, but the storage coefficient non-linearly to the square root. That is, if increasing the number of linear reservoirs by four times, the concentration time becomes also increased by about four times, but the storage coefficient only about two times. This result has a special meaning to understand the effect of basin subdivision on the concentration time and storage coefficient. (2) The storage coefficient and concentration time of Nash IUH are not independent each other, so their independent estimation does not make any physical sense. As the concentration time among the two is more sensitive to the number of linear reservoirs, which should be estimated first, then the storage coefficient considering the concentration time estimated. (3) Empirical equations of concentration time can be divided into two groups, one following the linear channel theory and the other not, whose equation forms are also found to be very similar. This result indicates that the characteristic factors dominating the concentration time are very similar, indicating the possibility of its regionalization over a basin with consistent equation forms. (4) Those for storage coefficient like the Russell formulae are found to consider the physical characteristics of a basin, so their unreasonable applications could sufficiently be excluded.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.99-104
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• 2008

To utilize non-heat treated alcoholic by-products of brown rice (Goami) as food sources, the quality characteristics changes according to the treatment conditions of cellulase were evaluated. Results showed that the increase of hydrolysis temperature correspondingly increased the soluble solids and total sugar amounts in the by-products of Goami, and total dietary fiber amount was found to be around 0.67% Reducing sugar concentration was the highest at the hydrolysis temperature of $70^{\circ}C$. Maltooligosaccharides amounts were detected to be the highest at the hydrolysis temperature of $80^{\circ}C$ and were also, maltopentose and maltopentose were found. In the soluble solid, total dietary fiber, reducing sugar and total sugar according to the cellulase concentration, the content of hydrolysates with enzyme were higher than control, and the content of hydrolysates with enzyme was similar (6.30 and 0.69% 3,600 and 5,500 mg% respectively). The content of maltooligosaccharides was increased with the increase of enzyme concentration, and the content was similar at more than 0.6%(w/w) of enzyme concentration. The soluble solids and total dietary fiber by hydrolysis time were found to be 6.25% and 0.70%, respectively at more than 60 min. of hydrolysis. The content of reducing sugar, total sugar and maltooligosaccharides were increased with the increase of hydrolysis time, and the content was similar at more than 120min. of hydrolysis (3,800, 5,680 and 1,950 mg% respectively). Based upon these results, the byproducts of Goami are expected to be valuable as various food sources showing the highest dietary fiber and maltooligosaccharides contents by the hydrolysis at $80^{\circ}C$ for 120 min. with the addition of 0.6%(w/w) of cellulase.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.134-144
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• 2015

The anti-diabetic effects of Allium tuberosum Rottler extracts (ATE) and ATE fermented with lactic acid bacteria in db/db mice were evaluated. The electron donating activity of ATE fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus casei, respectively, increased compared to that of ATE, but the superoxide radical scavenging activity of the ATE incubated with L. plantarum decreased. The superoxide radical scavenging activity of the ATE fermented with both L. plantarum and L. casei was similar to that of the ATE. Therefore, fermented ATE (FATE) was prepared for in vivo testing by incubating it with both L. plantarum and L. casei. The db/db mice were divided into six groups: normal (non-diabetic mice), diabetic control (DM), and four experimental groups administered 200 or 400 mg/kg/day ATE (ATE200 and ATE400) and 200 or 400 mg/kg/day FATE (FATE200 and FATE400). Weight gain was significantly inhibited in the FATE200 group compared with that in the other db/db mice groups (p<0.05). The areas under the curve of the ATE400 and FATE400 groups were significantly smaller than that of the DM group in the glucose tolerance evaluation. The serum glucagon-like peptide-1 levels in the ATE400 and FATE400 groups increased. These results indicate that administering ATE and FATE may be effective against anti-hyperglycemia by regulating insulin resistance. In particular, FATE may be beneficial for controlling obesity in type 2 diabetes.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.784-792
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• 2010

Mild heat treatment was applied to ginger rhizomes to achieve shelf-life extension for fresh minced ginger. The rhizomes were treated at 45, 50, 55, or $60^{\circ}C$ for different periods of time, minced, and stored at $10^{\circ}C$ for 9 days. Microbial levels in minced fresh ginger decreased with increases in temperature and duration of heat treatment. The non-treated and treated samples did not significantly differ in color at the initial stage of storage. Changes in color were detected after 3 days, and accelerated after that time. The ${\Delta}E$ value of control samples reached 12.42, whereas that of treated samples (except when $45^{\circ}C$ was applied for 60 min) ranged from 7.67 to 10.96, after 9 days. There was no significant difference in initial pH value between control (pH 6.09) and treated (pH 6,046.20) samples. The pH of control samples increased to 8.02 after 9 days, whereas pH values of samples treated at $50^{\circ}C$ and $60^{\circ}C$ ranged from pH 6.807.83 after 9 days. The percentage of control drip was 25.65% at the initial stage of storage, which was lower than those of treated samples. Drip increased to 38.63% in the control and to 34.20~38.44% in treated samples after 9 days. The sensory characteristics of the control samples were similar to those of treated samples at the initial stage of storage. After 6 days, the control and some treated samples developed off-flavors and discoloration. However, samples treated at $50^{\circ}C$ for 60 min retained favorable quality characteristics for 9 days after storage.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.250-256
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• 2013

To verify the multiplication of microorganisms on the surface of strawberries, the fate of E. coli $DH5{\alpha}::gfp$ at different temperatures, times and strawberry extract concentrations were measured. The population of E. coli $DH5{\alpha}::gfp$ rapidly increased by 7.36~7.78 log CFU/g at $25{\sim}30^{\circ}C$ for 24 hr and slowly increased by 6.49~8.49 log CFU/g at $10{\sim}20^{\circ}C$ for 48 hr. However, E. coli $DH5{\alpha}::gfp$ did not grow at $10{\sim}15^{\circ}C$ on the surface of the strawberries, regardless of the contact times with the bacterial suspension. E. coli $DH5{\alpha}::gfp$ reached 1.52~3.26 log CFU/g at $20^{\circ}C$ as the contact frequency increased from two to six times. The contact frequencies did not significantly differ. In the case of the six-time contact on the surface of the strawberry at 25 and $30^{\circ}C$, the E. coli $DH5{\alpha}::gfp$ increased by 5.17 and 5.01 log CFU/g. The effects of the strawberry extracts on the growth of E. coli $DH5{\alpha}::gfp$ showed that sterilization and non-sterilization do not affect the growth of microorganisms for 96 hr. In the minimal broth, the growth of E. coli $DH5{\alpha}::gfp$ increased by 1 log CFU/g for 96 hr. In less than 50 percent of the strawberry extracts, the growth rate of E. coli $DH5{\alpha}::gfp$ was higher than in the control and increased by 4 and 5 log CFU/g at 50 and 25 percent of strawberry extracts, respectively. Therefore, E. coli $DH5{\alpha}::gfp$ can multiply and survive on the surface of strawberries when it comes into contact with the fruit extract.