• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.385-391
• /
• 1999

Changes in the levels of prostaglandian F$_{2a}$ (PGF$_{2a}$) and E$_2$ (PGE$_2$) in culture medium during in vitro ovulation of Rana dybowskii follicles were examined. The ovulation was induced by frog pituitary homogenate (FPH) or TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, a protein kinase activator) and the levels of PGs were measured by radioimmunoassay. When the ovarian follicles were cultured, only a few oocytes were ovulated by 12 h, but half of them were ovulated by 24 h in response to FPH, whereas around 30% of oocytes were ovulated by 12 h and maximum ovulation (around 50%) occurred by 24 h in response to TPA. Without any stimulation (control), no ovulation occurred. TPA elevated the level of PGF$_{2a}$ to high levels when compared to control (basal levels), but the increase by FPH was less evident. Likewise, the levels of PGE$_2$ increased markedly in response to TPA, but rather decreased by FPH treatment. Interestingly, PGF$_{2a}$ induced ovulation but PGE$_2$ suppressed FPH- or PGF$_{2a}$-induced oocyte ovulation. Basal levels of PGs Increased steadily during culture. When theca/epithelium (THEP) layer and granulosa cell-enclosed oocytes (GCEOs) were separated by microdissection and cultured independently, higher levels of both PGs were secreted by THEP than by GCEOS. Synthesis of PGs by follicle or follicular components was strongly suppressed by exogenous cAMP or indomethacin. These results suggest that: 1) PGF$_{2a}$ plays an important role in Rana ovulation, 2) protein kinase C is involved in PGs production, and 3) thecal epithelium layer is responsible for the PGs production in Rana.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.17-24
• /
• 2011

Lipid metabolites involved in cellular regulation as signaling mediators. Prostaglandins (PGs), metabolites of lipid are involved to pregnancy at the time of implantation but the functional roles of PGs on embryo development are still controversy and largely unknown. In previous report, the levels of $PGE_2$ and $PGF_{2a}$ at embryos of morula stage and blastocyst stage were explored (Cheon et al., 1998). In this study, the previous suggestion was confirmed and the possible downstream mediator of prostaglandin $E_2$ and prostaglandin $F_{2a}$ on the expansion and hatching of mouse embryo was examined. As expected, developmental rate of the blastocyst to expanded stage was a concentration-response curve that showed the highest expansion rate at 10 ${\mu}M$ $PGE_2$, but at 100 ${\mu}M$ $PGE_2$, the rate was decreased. In contrast to the $PGE_2$, $PGF_{2a}$ stimulated expansion without toxicity at highest concentration. Cotreatment of PGs with indomethacin overcame the inhibitory effects of indomethacin in expansion. Exogenous PGs also improved the development of expanded embryos to the hatching stage. Besides, PGs receptors' transcripts detected at blastocyst. $PGE_2$ was caused of calcium fluctuation in the blastocyst but $PGF_{2a}$ did not. The changes of intracellular calcium concentration were different between indomethacin pretreated embryos and non-treated embryos. Based on these results it is suggested that PGs work as paracrine and/or autocrine factors through calcium and the others which were not identified in this study.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.557-563
• /
• 2011

Platycodon grandiflorum (Korean name, Doraji) has been widely used in traditional herbal medicine as an expectorant for pulmonary disease and a remedy for respiratory disorders in Asia. Here, we investigated the effects of BtOH extract saponin fraction of P. gradiflourm (PGS) on phagocytosis and anti-tumor activity with related cytokine productions in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. The results showed that PGS increased phagocytosis, anti-tumor activity, TNF-${\alpha}$ and nitric oxide (NO) production without direct tumor cell cytotoxicity. To further investigate whether NO is involved in anti-tumor and phagocytic activities of PGS, cells were co-treated with specific iNOS inhibitors, L-NIL (N6-(1-iminoethyl)-L-lysine, dihydrochloride), to block NO production. PGS decreased anti-tumor activity in L-NIL-treated cells, whereas phagocytic activity was not inhibited under the same conditions, indicating that the anti-tumor activity by PGS appears to be conducted by NO. These findings suggest that P. grandiflorum could be used a potential nutrition therapeutic agent for cancer patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.85-90
• /
• 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare fresh and frozen-thawed euploid blastocyst transfer protocols following preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) in cases of advanced maternal age. Methods: A total of 330 patients were examined retrospectively. PGS was performed on the embryos of 146 patients for whom fresh transfers were chosen. In contrast, frozen-thawed euploid single embryo transfer (ET) was selected after PGS for 184 patients, and their embryos were vitrified. The percentage of euploid embryos and rates of implantation, pregnancy, and pregnancy continuity, as well as clinical and biochemical abortion rates, were compared. Results: The numbers of retrieved oocytes, metaphase II oocytes, and fertilized ova were greater in the frozen-thawed group. The percentages of euploid embryos were comparable between the fresh and frozen-thawed groups (32% vs. 34.8%, respectively). The rates of implantation (46.6%vs. 62.5%), pregnancy (50% vs. 66.8%), ongoing pregnancy (38.4% vs. 53.8%), and live birth percentage (37.0% vs. 53.8%) were significantly higher in the frozen-thawed group. However, no significant differences were found in the clinical and biochemical abortion rates. Conclusion: The use of frozen-thawed single euploid ET is associated with increased implantation and pregnancy rates compared to fresh single euploid ET with PGS.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.735-745
• /
• 2024

Avian influenza is a serious threat to both public health and the poultry industry worldwide. This respiratory virus can be combated by eliciting robust immune responses at the site of infection through mucosal immunization. Recombinant probiotics, specifically lactic acid bacteria, are safe and effective carriers for mucosal vaccines. In this study, we engineered recombinant fusion protein by fusing the hemagglutinin 1 (HA1) subunit of the A/Aquatic bird/Korea/W81/2005 (H5N2) with the Bacillus subtilis poly γ-glutamic acid synthetase A (pgsA) at the surface of Lactobacillus casei (pgsA-HA1/L. casei). Using subcellular fractionation and flow cytometry we confirmed the surface localization of this fusion protein. Mucosal administration of pgsA-HA1/L. casei in mice resulted in significant levels of HA1-specific serum IgG, mucosal IgA and neutralizing antibodies against the H5N2 virus. Additionally, pgsA-HA1/L. casei-induced systemic and local cell-mediated immune responses specific to HA1, as evidenced by an increased number of IFN-γ and IL-4 secreting cells in the spleens and higher levels of IL-4 in the local lymphocyte supernatants. Finally, mice inoculated with pgsA-HA1/L. casei were protected against a 10LD50 dose of the homologous mouse-adapted H5N2 virus. These results suggest that mucosal immunization with L. casei displaying HA1 on its surface could be a potential strategy for developing a mucosal vaccine against other H5 subtype viruses.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2003.04a
• /
• pp.268.2-269
• /
• 2003

Prostaglandins (PGs) and NO (nitric oxide) are important elements to keep homeostasis and host defense system in human beings. When PGs and NO are overproduced by cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), respectively, they can cause chronic inflammation, tissue damage, and carcinogenesis. On this line, we are interested in finding agents that can inhibit the production of PGs and NO from natural products for devloping anti-inflammatory and cancer chemopreventive agents. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 1993.04a
• /
• pp.83-83
• /
• 1993

생체내 기능조절에 중요한 역할을 하는 prostaglandins(PGs)는 신경계 세포, 순환기계세포, 거삭세포, 섬유아세포 및 암세포 등 여러 부위에 널리 분포되어 있다. 본 연구에서는 PGs생체내 전구체인 arachidonic acid와 구조유사체인 eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) 및 docosahexaenoic acid(DHA)에 의한 순환기계효과를 TXA$_2$ 생합성과 관련하여 규명하고져 하였다. 또한 여러 가지 면역요법 중 암세포 살해능이 있는 lymphokine activated killer(LAK) 세포의 생성력과 생체내 면역세포 중 암세포의 일차적인 방어작용을 하는 것으로 알려진 natural killer(NK) 세포의 활성도를 PGs생성과 연관시켜 검토하므로써 암환자에 저하되어 있을 면역기구와 PGs와의 상관관계를 규명하고자 하였다.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
• /
• v.56 no.11
• /
• pp.1967-1971
• /
• 2007

In this paper, we verified basic forms and equivalent circuits of spiral inductors and various kinds of parasitics of equivalent circuits by using HFSS and Nexxim program that were 3-D EM analysis tools, and fabrication on-chip spiral inductors using Hynix's 0.25um 1-poly and 5-metal CMOS process. Comparing with PGS(patterned ground shield) and NPGS(non patterned ground shield) of spiral inductors of 3.5 turn, 4.5 turn and 5.5 turn, etc, the application of PGS could improve maximum Q value by 8-12%.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2003.06a
• /
• pp.15-18
• /
• 2003

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.168-173
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study is to report a successful twin pregnancy and delivery in a female patient with X-linked dominant incontinentia pigmenti (IP) who underwent assisted reproductive technology followed by preimplantation genetic screening (PGS). A 29-year-old female with IP had a previous history of recurrent spontaneous abortion. A molecular analysis revealed the patient had a de novo mutation, 1308_1309insCCCCTTG(p.Ala438ProfsTer26), in the inhibitor of the kappa B kinase gamma gene located in the Xq28 region. IVF/ICSI and PGS was performed, in which male embryos were sexed using array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). After IVF/ICSI and PGS using aCGH on seven embryos, two euploid male blastocysts were transferred with a 50% probability of a viable male pregnancy. The dizygotic twin pregnancy was confirmed and the amniocentesis results of each twin were normal with regard to the mutation found in the mother. The patient delivered healthy twin babies during the 37th week of gestation. This case shows the beneficial role of PGS in achieving a successful pregnancy through euploid male embryo gender selection in a woman with X-linked dominant IP with a history of multiple male miscarriages.