• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권12호
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• pp.865-872
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• 2014

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a long-term adverse effect of chemotherapy treatment. However, current available treatment regimens are not optimal. Emerging evidence suggests that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) could restore the structure and function of injured tissues, but the homing and restorative effects of BMSCs on chemotherapy injured ovaries are still not clear. In this study, we found that granulosa cell (GC) apoptosis induced by cisplatin was reduced when BMSCs were migrated to granulosa cells (GCs) in vitro. Chemotherapy-induced POF was induced by intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin in rats. BMSCs labeled with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) were injected into the rats via the tail vein to investigate the homing and distribution of BMSCs in vivo. The number of BMSCs in the ovarian hilum and medulla was greater than in the cortex, but no BMSCs were found in the follicles and corpus lutea. In addition, the BMSCs treatment group's antral follicle count and estradiol levels increased after 30 days, compared with the POF group. Hence, our study demonstrates that intravenously delivered BMSCs can home to the ovaries, and restore its structure and function in POF model rats.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.83-89
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• 2013

Objective: To investigate outcomes of stimulated IVF cycles in which GnRH antagonist was omitted on the ovulation triggering day. Methods: A total of 86 women who underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with recombinant FSH and GnRH antagonist flexible multiple-dose protocols were recruited and prospectively randomized into the conventional group (group A) or cessation group (group B). The GnRH antagonist, 0.25 mg/day of cetrorelix, was started when the leading follicle reached 14 mm in diameter and was continuously administered until the hCG triggering day (group A, 43 cycles) or until the day before hCG administration (group B, 43 cycles). The maturity of oocytes, fertilization rate, embryo quality, and implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were evaluated. Results: The duration of ovarian stimulation, total dose of gonadotropins, serum estradiol levels on hCG administration day, and number of oocytes retrieved were not significantly different between the two groups. The total dose of GnRH antagonist was significantly lower in group B than group A ($2.5{\pm}0.9$ vs. $3.2{\pm}0.8$ ampoules, p<0.05). There was no premature luteinization in any of the subjects. The proportion of mature oocytes and fertilization rate were not significantly different in group B than group A (70.7% vs. 66.7%; 71.1% vs. 66.4%, respectively). There were no significant differences in the implantation or clinical pregnancy rates. Conclusion: Our prospective randomized study suggested that cessation of GnRH antagonist on the hCG administration day during a flexible multiple-dose protocol could reduce the total dose of GnRH antagonist without compromising its effects on pregnancy rates.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.211-217
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• 2006

Heavy metals are well known as important environmental pollutants and also considered as endocrine disrupters. This study was performed to evaluate the direct effects of heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cobalt (Co), and arsenic (As) on the various steroidogenic enzymes in frog ovarian follicles. Ovarian follicles from Rana catesbeiana were isolated and cultured for 18 hours in the presence of frog pituitary homogenate (FPH, 0.05 gland/ml) or various steroid precursors with or without heavy metals (0.01-100 ${\mu}M$), and steroid levels in the follicle or culture medium were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Thus, the steroidogenic enzyme activities were indirectly evaluated by measuring the converted steroid levels from the added precursor steroid. Among heavy metals, Hg, Cd and Zn significantly inhibited FPH-induced pregnenolone ($P_5$) production by the follicles ($EC_{50},\;4.0{\mu}M,\;25.6{\mu}M\;and\;5.7{\mu}M$, respectively ), and also suppressed the conversion of testosterone (T) to estradiol $17{beta}\;(E_2)\;(EC_{50},\;4.2{\mu}M,\;7.5{\mu}M\;and\;80.0{\mu}M) while Pb, Co and As are not or less effective in the inhibition. Other enzymes such as $C_{17-20}$ lyase and $17{\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase ($17{\beta}$-HSD) were suppressed only in the high concentration of Hg, Cd and Zn. Taken together, these data demonstrate that cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage (P450scc) and aromatase are much more sensitive to heavy metals than other steroidogenic enzymes and Hg, Cd and Zn show stronger toxicity to follicles than other heavy metals examined.

• 한국패류학회지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.113-121
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• 2015

Gametogenesis, mating behaviour and spawning of Octopus ocellatus were investigated by histological study. This species is dioecious, and showed a protandry phenomenon. Ooogenesis (in females) and spermatogenesis (in males) can be classified into 3 stages, respectively. O. ocellatus copulates in one of two ways: a male may leap upon a female, mounting her mantle, or a male may sit near the female and extend the hectocotylized third right arm toward her. Spawning occurred between April and June in females, and between March and May in males of O. ocellatus. The spawning period was once a year and the peak took place between May and June. A number of flatened follicle cells, which were attached to an oocyte, were involved in vitellogenesis in the cytoplasm of the vitellogenic oocyte (maturing oocyte), and formation of chorion membrane (secondary egg membrane) of the ovarian eggs. Fecundity per female closely related to GSI was 294-660 eggs (average, 429 eggs). The diameters of the ovarian eggs surrounded by chorion membrane were approximately in the range of 10.10-2.50 mm. Each ovarian egg laid by a female was connected to an egg string. Each egg string was 1-5.5 cm (average 3.6 cm). The total number of eggs laid by a female of this species ranged 218-314, the egg sizes were independent to the size of female adult. this species has a life mode showing some special reproductive characteristics of an annual semelparity as shown in Octopodidae species because we have never seen a female spawning a second time.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.98-102
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• 2011

Objective: To investigate the effects of pioglitazone on controlled ovarian stimulation (COS), IVF outcomes, and follicular fluid (FF) cytokine concentrations in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: Eighty-six infertile patients with PCOS resistant to clomiphene citrate were randomized to receive pioglitazone (30 mg/day) or placebo on the starting day of oral contraceptive (OC) pretreatment, followed by an IVF protocol using a GnRH antagonist. Pioglitazone or placebo was administered once daily from the starting day of OC to the day of hCG injection. Results: Total dose and days of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone administered, and the numbers of retrieved and mature oocytes, were significantly lower in the pioglitazone group than in the control group. FF tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations at oocyte retrieval were also significantly lower in the pioglitazone group. The clinical pregnancy rate was higher and the incidence of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome was lower in the pioglitazone group, but the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Pioglitazone reduces FF TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 levels, and may improve ovarian response to COS in patients with PCOS.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.146-151
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• 2017

Objective: To identify differences in the expression of the genes for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $(PPAR)-{\gamma}$, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ in granulosa cells (GCs) from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients and controls undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation. Methods: Nine patients with PCOS and six controls were enrolled in this study. On the day of oocyte retrieval, GCs were collected from pooled follicular fluid. Total mRNA was extracted from GCs. Reverse transcription was performed and gene expression levels were quantified by realtime quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: There were no significant differences in age, body mass index, and total gonadotropin dose, except for the ratio of luteinizing hormone to follicle-stimulating hormone between the PCOS and control groups. $PPAR-{\gamma}$ and COX-2 mRNA was significantly downregulated in the GCs of PCOS women compared with controls (p= 0.034 and p= 0.018, respectively), but the expression of IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA did not show significant differences. No significant correlation was detected between the expression of these mRNA sequences and clinical characteristics, including the number of retrieved oocytes, oocyte maturity, cleavage, or the good embryo rate. Positive correlations were found among the $PPAR-{\gamma}$, COX-2, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA levels. Conclusion: Our data may provide novel clues regarding ovarian GC dysfunction in PCOS, and indirectly provide evidence that the effect of $PPAR-{\gamma}$ agonists in PCOS might result from alterations in the ovarian follicular environment. Further studies with a larger sample size are required to confirm these proposals.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.10-14
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological features of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) associated with chromosomal abnormalities. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of POI patients with chromosomal abnormalities diagnosed between January 2009 and December 2017. The definition of POI is based on hypergonadotropinism of 40 or greater in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) measurements at age 40 years or less. FSH was measured twice at least 4 weeks apart. Karyotyping using peripheral blood for chromosomal testing was conducted in all patients diagnosed with POI. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and genetic causes of patients who were diagnosed with POI. Results: Forty patients were diagnosed with POI including 9 (22.5%) with identified chromosomal abnormalities. The mean age at diagnosis was $23.1{\pm}7.8years$ (ranging between 14 and 39). Three patients did not experience menarche. The presenting complaints were short stature in one case, one case of amenorrhea with ambiguous external genitals, one case of infertility, and six related to menstruation such as oligomenorrhea or irregular rhythm. Turner syndrome was diagnosed in four cases, Xq deletion in one case, trisomy X in two cases, and 46,XY disorder of sexual development in two other patients. Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with POI carrying the same type of chromosomal abnormality manifest different phenotypes. The management protocol also needs to be changed depending on the diagnosis. A karyotype is indicated for accurate diagnosis and proper management of POI in patients, with or without stigmata of chromosomal abnormalities.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.319-329
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• 2022

The paramyxean parasite Marteilioides chungmuensis infects the cytoplasm of the eggs of Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas , resulting in spawning failure of the infected females. Such infected eggs appear as bump-like nodules on the body in late fall when most of the uninfected females complete spawning. In this study, we estimated the quantity of the infected eggs using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which is destroyed by M. chungmuensis parasitism. In December, the infected oysters collected from Tongyoung on the south coast exhibited numerous yellowish bump-like nodules as signs of infection. In histology, the infected oysters exhibited mature eggs in the follicle, which were heavily infiltrated by hemocytes. ELISA indicated that the infected egg mass accounted for 7.52±5.50 percent of the body weight, suggesting the ovarian parasite causes substantial reproductive loss. Histology also indicated that the infected oysters are in a poor nutritional condition, as the digestive gland atrophy (DGA) level is comparatively higher than the uninfected oyster. The total carbohydrate contents in the infected oysters (108.68±44.41 mg/g dry wt) were significantly lower than in uninfected oysters (269.76±50.97 mg/g dry wt), suggesting that M. chungmuensis parasitism also affected the energy storage capacity of the host during the resting stage.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.159-167
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• 1995

The relationship between palpable ovarian structure and milk progesterone levels were determined in 144 dairy cows. Depending on the ovarian structure and diseases were divided into two groups, Group I (absence of functional luteal tissue in ovary and <2ng/ml in milk progesterone levels) and Group II(presence of functional luteal tissue in ovary and ${\geq}2ng/ml$ in milk progesterone levels) 1. Among 69 cows of group I, dysfunction of ovary, atropy of ovary, follicle is ovary, follicular cyst and corpus luteum albicans were 17(11.8%), 19(13.2%), 14(9.7%), 3(2.1%) and 16 cows(11.1%), and among 75 cows of group II, corpus luteum A, B and C were 16(11.1%), 17(11.8%) and 42 cows(29.2%), respectively. 2. In Group I, milk progesterone concentrations were <1ng/ml in 55 cows(79.9%). Conversely in Ggroup II, milk progesterone concentrations were ${\geq}4ng/ml$ in 55 cows(73.3%). 3. The mean(${\pm}SE$) concentrations of milk progestsrone in the Group I and II were $1.62{\pm}0.45$ and $7.64{\pm}0.68ng/ml$, respectively, and CR test showed the difference in milk progesterone concentrations between the two groups to be statistically significant(p<0.01). 4. The mean(${\pm}SE$) concentration of milk progesterone in cows with corpus luteum A, B and C were $8.11{\pm}1.83$, $8.48{\pm}1.30$ and $7.12{\pm}0.82ng/ml$, respectively, there was no significant relationship between palpable corpora luteum structure and milk progesterone concentration. 5. The accuracy of ovarian diagnosis was 82.6 and 20.2% in the Group I and II, respectively, and Chi-square test showed the difference in accuracy between the two groups to be statistically significant (p<0.001). 6. The agreement between the rectal palpation and milk progesterone concentrations in ovarian disease was 50%.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.117-130
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• 2003

본 연구는 6 MeV LINAC에서 발생한 X-선을 생쥐 생체에 조사한 후, 방사선 조사선량에 따른 난소 조직의 미세구조적 변화를 광학 및 전자현미경으로 관찰하였다. X-선을 200 cGy의 선량을 조사한 후 적출한 난소조직에서 성장난포의 과립층세포는 핵이 응축되어 나타났고, 난자를 둘러싸고 있는 투명층은 정상 대조군에서보다 경계가 불규칙하게 관찰되었다. 400 cGy로 조사된 난소조직에서 과립층세포는 대부분 응축된 핵을 가지고 있었으며, 피폭된 과립층세포의 사멸에 의한 세포질의 단백질 변성이 확인되었다. 600 cGy의 선량을 조사한 난소의 조직표본에서 성장난포는 위축되어 있었으며, 난포동에는 백혈구가 침윤되어 있었고, 난포액은 정상난포와 달리 불균질한 물질로 채워져 있었다. 투과전자현미경으로 관찰한 결과, 200 cGy의 방사선을 조사한 성장난포에서 과립층세포는 정상난포와는 달리 불규칙한 모양을 하고 있었다. 과립세포 사이의 난포동에는 많은 세포성분의 부스러기가 산재하여 있었으며, 이들 주변에 호중구와 대식세포가 관찰되어, 이 시기에 이미 방사선 피폭에 의한 세포사의 기작이 진행되고 있음이 확인되었다. X-선을 600 cGy로 조사한 난소조직의 과립층세포는 세포의 형태나 핵의 변형이 현저하여, 일부 세포는 핵의 분절화가 진행되는 등, apoptosis의 전형적인 특징이 관찰되었다. 특히 성장난포의 난포동에서는 염증반응에 관여하는 호중구가 잘 관찰되었으며, 주변에 산재된 세포 파쇄물 및 apoptotic body와 함께 대식세포의 출현도 확인되었다.