• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.135-141
• /
• 2011

Objective: Ovarian angiogenesis plays an important role in folliculogenesis. However, little is known about the expression of angiogenic factors during follicular development according to female age. Stromal cell derived factor-$1{\alpha}$ (SDF-$1{\alpha}$) plays a role in granulosa cell survival and embryo quality as an angiogenic chemokine. Leptin is also involved in folliculogenesis and angiogenesis. This study examined expression of SDF-$1{\alpha}$ and leptin, and their effects on the expression of angiogenic factors in the ovary during follicular development according to female age. Methods: Ovaries were collected from C57BL mice of two age groups (6-9 weeks and 24-26 weeks) at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after 5 IU pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) injection. The expression of ovarian SDF-$1{\alpha}$ and leptin mRNA was evaluated by RT-PCR. In the organ culture experiment, the ovaries were cultured in transwell permeable supports with Waymouth's medium treated with various doses of SDF-$1{\alpha}$(50-200 ng/mL) or leptin (0.01-1 ${\mu}g$/mL) for 7 days. Then, mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and visfatin were examined in the cultured ovaries. Results: Expression of SDF-$1{\alpha}$ and leptin in the ovary was significantly lower in the aged mouse group compared to the young mouse group ($p$ <0.05). Expression of these two factors increased with follicular development after PMSG administration. SDF-$1{\alpha}$ treatment stimulated visfatin expression in a dose-dependent manner, while leptin treatment significantly increased eNOS expression. Conclusion: These results suggest that decrease of ovarian SDF-$1{\alpha}$ and leptin expression may be associated with aging-related reduction of ovarian function. SDF-$1{\alpha}$ and leptin may play a role in follicular development by regulating the expression of angiogenic factors in mouse ovaries.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.15-24
• /
• 1992

The effects of CC the ovulatory response, oocyte normality, ovarian steroidogenesis and subsequent embryo developmental potential were examined in PMSG-treated rats. On Days of 25~27 of age, immature female Sprague Dawley rats were treated with three different doses(0.05, 0.1 or 1.0mg /day) of clomiphene citrate or vehicle. The females subsequently received 4IU PMSG on Day 28 and/or 10IU hCG on Day 30, and were killed on Day 31. Some females given 0.1mg CC or vehicle with 4IU PMSG were then mated and killed on Days 2, 3, 4 and 5 of pregnancy. Compared to vehicle(control) group, by increasing the doses of CC, there were a significant decrease in the ovulatory response as judged by both the proportion of rats ovulating and the mean number of oocytes per rat and a marked reduction of ovarian weight. The increasing doses of CC substantially promoted the degeneration(%) of oocytes ovulating in a dose-dependent manner. The CC-mediated inhibitions of the ovulatory response and ovarian weight were oompletely overcome by a subsequent treatment of hCG. Increasing doses of CC resulted in a siginificant elevation of serum estradiol with the decreased levels of progesterone and androgens. The additive treatment with hCG was effective to reduce the elevation of estradiol and to increase the reduction of progesterone produced by high dose(1.0mg) of CC. The preimplantation embryos recovered from 0.1mg CC-treated pregnant rats demonstrated a progressive early loss from Day 3 of pregnancy with a significant increase in the percentage of degeneration during all periods examined, compared to controls. The rate of progressive embryo cleavage in the CC-treated rats were slower than that in controls from Day 3 of pregnancy. Additionally, the percentage of the cleaved embryos recovered from the CC-treated rats remained significantly lower consistently from Day 2 of pregnancy, compared to control regimen. These results demonstrate a possible mechanism of CC-mediated inhibition of ovulatory response in the rats which may include the attenuation or blockade of the endogenous secretion of gonadotropins and also suggest that its detrimental effects observed on oocyte normality and embryonic development may be caused by abnormal follicular steroidogenesis( especially elevated estradiol) preceding fertilization.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.555-560
• /
• 2008

The effects of utilizing evaporative cooling system equipped with tunnel ventilation on postpartum ovarian activities, energy balance and milk production of early lactating dairy cows under hot and humid climates were studied from parturition to 22 wk postpartum. Thirty-four crossbred Holstein-Friesian (93.75% HF$\times$.25% Bos indicus) primiparous cows were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Cooled cows (n = 17; treatment) were housed in the tunnel ventilated barn equipped with evaporative cooling system and uncooled (n = 17; control) were housed in the naturally ventilated barn without supplemental cooling system. Cooled cows had greater (p<0.05) dry matter intake and milk production than uncooled cows. Days to the energy balance (EB) nadir did not differ between groups. However, days to equilibrium EB for uncooled cows was longer (p<0.05) than for cooled cows. There was no significant difference in postpartum anovular condition between cooled and uncooled cows. The interval from parturition to first postpartum ovulation did not differ between groups ($31.4{\pm}4.3$ and $26.1{\pm}3.6$ day, respectively). These results suggest that the evaporative cooling and tunnel ventilation has the potential to decrease the severity of heat stress and improve both milk production and metabolic efficiency during early lactation without affecting reproductive function in dairy cows under hot and humid climates.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.163-173
• /
• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to characterize a validated model for predicting oocyte retrieval in controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) and to construct model-based nomograms for assistance in clinical decision-making regarding the gonadotropin protocol and dose. Methods: This observational, retrospective, cohort study included 636 women with primary unexplained infertility and a normal menstrual cycle who were attempting assisted reproductive therapy for the first time. The enrolled women were split into an index group (n=497) for model building and a validation group (n=139). The primary outcome was absolute oocyte count. The dose-response relationship was tested using modified Poisson, negative binomial, hybrid Poisson-E_max, and linear models. The validation group was similarly analyzed, and its results were compared to that of the index group. Results: The Poisson model with the log-link function demonstrated superior predictive performance and precision (Akaike information criterion, 2,704; λ=8.27; relative standard error (λ)=2.02%). The covariate analysis included women's age (p<0.001), antral follicle count (p<0.001), basal follicle-stimulating hormone level (p<0.001), gonadotropin dose (p=0.042), and protocol type (p=0.002 and p<0.001 for short and antagonist protocols, respectively). The estimates from 500 bootstrap samples were close to those of the original model. The validation group showed model assessment metrics comparable to the index model. Based on the fitted model, a static nomogram was built to improve visualization. In addition, a dynamic electronic tool was created for convenience of use. Conclusion: Based on our validated model, nomograms were constructed to help clinicians individualize the stimulation protocol and gonadotropin doses in COS cycles.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.457-461
• /
• 2008

DNA damage checkpoint is an important self-defense mechanism for the maintenance of genome stability. Defects in DNA damage signaling and repair lead to various disorders and increase tumor incidence in humans. In the past 10 years, we have identified many components involved in the DNA damage-signaling pathway, including the product of breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1). Mutations in BRCA1 are associated with increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers, highlighting the importance of this DNA damage-signaling pathway in tumor suppression. While it becomes clear that BRCA1 plays a crucial role in the DNA damage responsive pathway, exactly how BRCA1 receives DNA damage signals and exerts its checkpoint function has not been fully addressed. A series of recent studies reported the discovery of many novel components involved in DNA damage-signaling pathway. These newly identified checkpoint proteins, including RNF8, RAP80 and CCDC98, work in concern in recruiting BRCA1 to DNA damage sites and thus regulate BRCA1 function in G2/M checkpoint control. This review will summarize these recent findings and provide an updated view of the regulation of BRCA1 in response to DNA damage.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.353-362
• /
• 2009

GnRH and its receptor are known to express locally in the ovary and to regulate the ovarian function by affecting on granulosa and lutein cells. It has been reported that GnRH directly causes apoptosis in the granulosa and lutein cells of the ovary. However, whether the apoptosis of the cells by GnRH is recovered by FSH as an anti-apoptotic factor is not yet known. In this study, we evaluated the apoptosis and the production of progesterone $(P_4)$ and estradiol $(E_2)$ after treatment with 5, 50, and 100 ng/$m\ell$ GnRH and 1 IU/ml FSH in the granulosa-lutein cells that are obtained during oocyte-retrieval for IVF-ET. Results of DNA fragment analysis and TUNEL assay demonstrated that DNA fragmentation and the rate of apoptotic cells were increased in a dose-dependent manner showing a significant increase in the cells treated with 100 ng/$m\ell$ GnRH. In addition, we found that FSH suppresses the apoptosis of the cells induced by GnRH. In the results of chemiluminescence assay for $P_4$ and $E_2$, $P_4$ production was decreased by GnRH treatment, whereas $E_2$ production was not changed. We also demonstrated that FSH inhibits the suppressive effect of GnRH on $P_4$ production as the result of apoptosis. The present results suggest that GnRH agonist using in ovarian hyperstimulation protocol might induce the dysfunction of the ovary, but its function could be recovered by FSH. These results also will be expected to use as the basic data to elucidate the physiological role of GnRH and to develop new ovarian hyperstimulation protocols for IVF-ET.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.733-737
• /
• 2018

Cucurbitacin-I, a natural triterpenoid derived from Cucurbitaceae family plants, exhibits a number of potentially useful pharmacological and biological activities. Indeed, the previous study demonstrated that cucurbitacin-I reduced the proliferation of colon cancer cells by enhancing apoptosis and causing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. CD44, a type I transmembrane protein with the function of adhering to cells, mediates between the extracellular matrix and other cells through hyaluronic acid. Recent studies have demonstrated that an overexpression of the CD44 membrane receptor results in tumor initiation and growth, specific behaviors of cancer stem cells, the development of drug resistance, and metastasis. The aim was to examine the effect of cucurbitacin-I on CD44 expression human ovarian cancer cells because the effect of cucurbitacin-I on CD44 expression has not been reported. The expressions of CD44 mRNA and protein were detected using a quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and a Western blot analysis, respectively. Treatment with cucurbitacin-I inhibited the expression of CD44 mRNA and protein. A subsequent analysis revealed that cucurbitacin-I blocked the phosphorylation of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor kappa-B ($NF-{\kappa}B$), which are key regulators of CD44 expression. Taken together, the data demonstrate that cucurbitacin-I regulates the AP-1 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathways, leading to decreased CD44 expression.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.211-218
• /
• 2010

The mammalian ovary is innervated by sympathetic and sensory neurons which contribute to regulating several aspects of ovarian function, including blood flow, steroidogenesis and follicular development. The existence of a neural connection between central neurons and the ovary has been rarely reported, but the mechanism underlying integration of ovarian activity to broader neuroendocrine responses has not been reported. We have now used a viral transneuronal tracing technique combined with a conventional retrograde labeling procedure of CT-HRP to demonstrate that oxytocin-producing neurons of the hypothalamus are synaptically connected to the ovary. Since ovarian activity is suppressed but the activity of oxytocin neurons is increased during breast feeding. Our finding that the oxytocinergic neural connection is likely to provide a direct transsynaptic mechanism by which the central nervous system maintains the state of infertility that accompanies lactation in mammals.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Bioinformatics Conference
• /
• 2005.09a
• /
• pp.23-28
• /
• 2005

The high-dimensionality and insufficiency of gene expression profiles and proteomic profiles makes feature selection become a critical step in efficiently building accurate models for cancer problems based on such data sets. In this paper, we use a method, called Discrete Function Learning algorithm, to find discriminatory feature vectors based on information theory. The target feature vectors contain all or most information (in terms of entropy) of the class attribute. Two data sets are selected to validate our approach, one leukemia subtype gene expression data set and one ovarian cancer proteomic data set. The experimental results show that the our method generalizes well when applied to these insufficient and high-dimensional data sets. Furthermore, the obtained classifiers are highly understandable and accurate.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.233-237
• /
• 2006

The clinical features of the Mayer-Rokitansky-K$\ddot{u}$ster-Hauser(MRKH) syndrome include normal female secondary sex characteristics, normal genitalia, congenital absence of vagina, rudimentary or bipartite uterus, normal ovarian function and normal ovulation, 46, XX, karyotype, frequent association of renal, skeletal and other congenital anomalies. We experienced a case of a premature infant with MRKH syndrome who had imperforate anus and unilateral renal agenesis.