• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

Stress coping mechanisms are critical to minimize or overcome damage caused by ever changing environmental conditions. They are designed to promote cell survival. The unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway is mobilized in response to the accumulation of unfolded proteins, ultimately in order to regain endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis. Various elements of coping responses to ER stress including Perk, Ask1, Bip, Chop, Gadd34, Ire1, Atf4, Atf6, and Xbp1 have been identified and were found to be inducible in oocytes and preimplantation embryos, suggesting that, as a normal part of the cellular adaptive mechanism, these coping responses, including the UPR, play a pivotal role in the development of preimplantation embryos. As such, the UPR-associated molecules and pathways may become useful markers for the potential diagnosis of stress conditions for preimplantation embryos. After implantation, ER stress-induced coping responses become physiologically important for a normal decidual response, placentation, and early organogenesis. Attenuation of ER stress coping responses by tauroursodeoxycholate and salubrinal was effective for prevention of cell death of cultured embryos. Further elucidation of new and relevant ER stress coping responses in periimplantation embryos might contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the regulation of normal development of embryonic development and potentiation of embryonic development in vitro.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제24권7호
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• pp.919-928
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• 2011

The pig exhibits true epitheliochorial placentation, where the fetal membrane maintains attachment throughout pregnancy but does not invade into the maternal uterine endometrium. Accordingly, the expression and function of cell adhesion molecules are very important for embryo implantation and the establishment of pregnancy. In our recent microarray analysis, we found that activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM) was expressed in the uterine endometrium during pregnancy in pigs. To better understand the roles of ALCAM in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy, we examined ALCAM expression in the uterine endometrium during the estrous cycle and pregnancy in pigs. Real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that ALCAM was differentially expressed in the uterine endometrium during the estrous cycle and pregnancy, with the highest levels on D12 of pregnancy. ALCAM mRNA was localized to the luminal and glandular epithelial cells and to the trophectoderm of conceptuses during early pregnancy. The steroid hormones estrogen and progesterone had no effect on ALCAM expression in an endometrial explant culture study. Further, we found that ALCAM expression in the uterine endometrium from gilts with somatic cell nuclear transfer-derived embryos was not different from that in gilts with embryos from natural mating. ALCAM was expressed in a pregnancy stage- and cell type-specific manner in the uterine endometrium and conceptuses during pregnancy. These findings suggest that ALCAM may play a role in the establishment of pregnancy. Further analysis of ALCAM will provide insight into the implantation process and establishment of pregnancy in pigs.

• BMB Reports
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• 제44권8호
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• pp.535-540
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• 2011

Reprogramming errors, which appear frequently in cloned animals, are reflected by aberrant gene expression. We previously reported the aberrant expression of TIMP-2 and PBEF in cloned placenta and differential expression of PBEF genes during pregnancy. To examine the epigenetic modifications that regulate dynamic gene expression in developing placentae, we herein analyzed the mRNA and protein expression levels of PBEF and TIMP-2 in the placentae of normal mice during pregnancy and then examined potential correlations with epigenetic modifications. DNA methylation pattern analysis revealed no difference, but ChIP assays using antibodies against H3-K9/K14 and H4-K5 histone acetylation revealed that the H3-K9/K14 acetylation levels, but not the H4-K5 acetylation levels, of the TIMP-2 and PBEF loci were significantly correlated with their gene expression levels during placentation in normal mice. These results suggest that epigenetic changes may regulate gene expression level in the developing placentae of normal mice and that inappropriate epigenetic reprogramming might be one cause of the abnormal placentae seen in cloned animals.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.263-273
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• 2018

Aquaporin (AQP) 3, a facilitated transporter of water and glycerol, expresses in placenta and fetal membranes, but the detailed localization and function of AQP3 in placenta remain unclear. To elucidate a role of AQP3 in placenta, we defined the expression and cellular localization of AQP3 in placenta and fetal membranes, and investigated the structural and functional differences between wild-type and AQP3 null mice. Gestational sacs were removed during mid-gestational period and amniotic fluid was aspirated for measurements of volume and composition. Fetuses with attached placenta and fetal membranes were weighed and processed for histological assessment. AQP3 strongly expressed in basolateral membrane of visceral yolk sac cells of fetal membrane, the syncytiotrophoblasts of the labyrinthine placenta and fetal nucleated red blood cell membrane. Mice lacking AQP3 did not exhibit a significant defect in differentiation of trophoblast stem cells and normal placentation. However, AQP3 null fetuses were smaller than their control litter mates in spite of a decrease in litter size. The total amniotic fluid volume per gestational sac was reduced, but the amniotic fluid-to-fetal weight ratio was increased in AQP3 null mice compared with wild-type mice. Glycerol, free fatty acid and triglyceride levels in amniotic fluid of AQP3 null mice were significantly reduced, whereas lactate level increased when compared to those of wild-type mice. These results suggest a role for AQP3 in supplying nutrients from yolk sac and maternal blood to developing fetus by facilitating transport of glycerol in addition to water, and its implication for the fetal growth in utero.

• 농업과학연구
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.353-358
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• 2013

To demonstrate that follistatin treatment enhances the efficiency of nuclear transfer (SCNT), cell allocation and preimplantational development were determined in bovine SCNT embryos in the present study. Treatment of activated SCNT embryos with 10 ng/ml follistatin significantly increased the proportion of blastocyst development compared to untreated SCNT embryos. In addition, an increase in trophectoderm (TE) cell numbers and relatively higher proportion of TE cells to total cells were observed, but the number of inner cell mass (ICM) cell and total cell numbers were not changed (P < 0.05). No significant effect of other doses of follistatin was observed for the above endpoints. However, treatment with 1 and 10 ng/ml follistatin reduced the proportion of nuclear transfer blastocysts with an ICM ratio of > 60% relative to untreated nuclear transfer blastocysts at Day 7. No significant effect of follistatin treatment on proportions of nuclear transfer blastocysts with ICM ratio of 20-40% or 40-60% was observed. Taken together, these results suggested that follistatin can be used to increase developmental competence of SCNT embryos in terms of cell allocation, particularly TE cells, during preimplantation stages, subsequently enhancing placentation and birth of live offspring.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.155-162
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• 2010

The trophectoderm is one of the earliest cell types to differentiate in the forming placenta. It is an important for the initial implantation and placentation during pregnancy. Trophoblast stem cells (TBSCs) develop from the blastocyst and are maintained by signals emanating from the inner cell mass. However, several limitations including rarity and difficulty in isolation of trophoblast stem cells derived from blastocyst still exist. To establish a model for trophoblast differentiation, we isolated TBSCs from human term placenta ($\geq$38 weeks) and characterized. Cell cycle was analyzed by measuring DNA content by FACS analysis and phenotype of TBSCs was characterized by RT-PCR and FACS analysis. TBSCs have expressed various markers such as self-renewal markers (Nanog, Sox2), three germ layer markers (hNF68, alpha-cardiac actin, hAFP), trophoblast specific markers (CDX-2, CK7, HLA-G), and TERT gene. In FACS analysis, TBSCs isolated from term placenta showed that the majority of cells expressed CD13, CD44, CD90, CD95, CD105, HLA-ABC, cytokeratin 7, and HLA-G. Testing for CD31, CD34, CD45, CD71, vimentin and HLA-DR were negative. TBSCs were shown to decrease the growth rate when cultured in conditioned medium without FGF4/heparin as well as the morphology was changed to a characteristic giant cell with a large cytoplasm and nucleus. In invasion assay, TBSCs isolated from term placenta showed invasion activities in in vivo using nude mice and in vitro Matrigel system. Taken together, these results support that an isolation potential of TBSCs from term placenta as well as a good source for understanding of the infertility mechanism.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.255-265
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• 2022

The cellular communication network factor (CCN) family proteins regulate many biological events such as angiogenesis, tumor growth, placentation, implantation, and embryogenesis. The expression and function of CCN1, CCN2, and CCN3 at the maternal-conceptus interface are established in humans and rodents, but little is known about the role of CCN4 to CCN6 in the reproductive organs in any other species. Several studies in transcriptome analysis in pigs have shown that the expression of CCN4 and CCN6 increases in the endometrium during early pregnancy. However, their expression, regulation, and function in the endometrium throughout the estrous cycle and pregnancy have not been fully understood in pigs. Thus, we determined the expression, localization, and regulation of CCN4 and CCN6 during the estrous cycle and at the maternal-conceptus interface in pigs. We found that the levels of CCN4, but not CCN6, changed during the estrous cycle. The levels of CCN4 were greater during mid- to late pregnancy than in the early stage, and the levels of CCN6 were greatest on Day 15 of pregnancy. CCN4 and CCN6 were detected in conceptus tissues during early pregnancy and in chorioallantoic tissues during the later stage of pregnancy. CCN4 mRNA was mainly localized to epithelial cells, CCN6 mRNAs to epithelial and stromal cells in the endometrium. In endometrial explant cultures, CCN4 expression was increased by progesterone, and CCN6 expression by interferon-𝛾. These results suggest that CCN4 and CCN6 may play roles in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy by regulating the endometrial epithelial cell functions in pigs.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제24권5호
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• pp.49.1-49.15
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• 2023

Background: Hystricomorpha rodents display a similar placentation model to humans. The present study was carried out considering the scarcity of information concerning the placental development in agouti. Objective: Describe the microscopy of the placenta, subplacenta and yolk sac of agoutis in early pregnancy and report on the inversion of the yolk sac. Methods: Fifteen females between the 14^th-32^nd day of gestation were used following euthanasia. Gestational buttons were collected, fixed, processed, stained to optical microscopy or immunohistochemistry. Results: Chorioallantoic placenta (CP) ranged from conical to a half-sphere, as follows: from the 14^th to 17^th day, the CP displays an inverted "V" shape, predominantly formed by cytotrophoblasts; from 20 to 22 days, formed almost entirely by cytotrophoblasts; at 28 days, a half sphere, with distinct lobes and interlobular area, numerous maternal gaps delimited by syncytiotrophoblasts and trophoblast giant cells; at 32 days, globose and undergoing the maturation process. Subplacenta, located between decidua and CP, initially presents septa consisting of simple columnar epithelium and after 17 days, comprising stratified epithelium. Visceral yolk sac (VYS) is attached to two CP projections between 14 and 17 days, formed by a simple cubic epithelium and inverted. Between 20 and 22 days, the epithelium displays apical villous projections with cytoplasmic vacuoles and a vascularized mesoderm. After the 24^th day, the VYS near the placenta is pleated, very vascularized and villous, with decreased villi sizes further away from the placenta. Conclusion: The agouti CP displays similar characteristics to other hystricomorpha, including placenta lobulation, a subplacenta and an inverted vitelline placenta.

• 한국작물학회지
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.146-157
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• 1994

본 연구는 항암식물로 효능이 인정되는 와송에 대한 기초적인 연구로 와송의 해부형태적 관찰, 대량증식을 위한 발아실험, 자생지의 토양분석 및 토양적응실험을 실시하였다. 와송의 잎은 끝에 가시가 있는 건생형이며, 엽세포엽록체는 유관속주위에 집중분포하고, 크고 엽록체를 갖지 않는 저수조직을 갖고 있으며 기공이 양면에 있는 양면기공엽이다. 줄기는 외사포위형유관속이며 중심주는 원기둥상이고 원생중심주이다. 뿌리는 다원형이며, 원생목부가 후생목부주위에 환상으로 배열되어 있고 외원형이다. 꽃의 구조는 꽃잎이 5개, 수술은 10개, 자방은 5개이며, 자방상위이고, 2심피 중축태좌이다. 와송종자 발아적온는 명상태 $25^{\circ}C$에서 22.5%로 가장 좋았고, 휴면타파는 5$^{\circ}C$에서 6~8일, $GA_3$ 100 ppm처리에서 가장 효과가 좋았다. 와송 자생지 토양분석결과 적정수준의 밭토양보다 유기물, 유효인산 석회 등은 높았고, 보비력, 치환성가리는 차이가 없었으며, 고토는 낮았다. 토양적응실험에서 돌가루 조합과 기와가루 조합에서 돌가루와 기와가루가 많이 첨가될수록 생육상태가 불량하였고, 배수가 양호한 처리구에서는 생육상태가 양호하였다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.181-189
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• 2010

태반 (placenta)은 임신기간 동안에만 존재하는 태아유래 일시적인 기관으로, 모체와 태아간의 정확한 조절 기전을 통해 태아의 발달을 수행하는 중요한 기관이다. 영양막세포 (trophoblast)는 임신 초기 빠른 분열 및 분화 과정을 거쳐 태반을 형성하는 주요 세포이다. 영양막세포의 역할은 초기 배아 착상 시기부터 40주간의 임신기간 동안 태반의 형성 과정에서 다양하게 변화된다. 착상은 모체 자궁내막층으로의 포배의 가장 밖에 존재하는 분화된 영양막세포(예, 합포영양막세포)의 침윤에 의해 이루어진다. 또한, 영양막세포은 임신기간 동안 배아의 성숙과 발달에 필요한 영양분과 노폐물 등을 모체와 태아 양방향으로 적절하게 전달할 뿐 아니라 태반 내에서 침윤과 다양한 물질들의 합성 혹은 분비에 관련된 대사작용에 관여한다. 이 기간 동안 영양막세포의 기능 이상은 태아의 선천적인 기형뿐 아니라 자간전증 등을 포함하는 다양한 산과질환을 유발하기도 한다. 그러므로, 영양막세포는 태반과 태아의 발달에 결정적인 요인으로 작용한다. 본 고찰에서는 다양한 영양막세포들의 기능을 이해하기 위해 분류 및 그 종류별 특징 등을 살펴보고, 착상 단계와 태반 발달에 따른 영양막세포의 고유한 역할에 대해 알아보고 향후 활용될 수 있는 연구 분야에 대해 알아보고자 한다.