• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.368-375
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• 2020

Objectives: Some animal studies have reported that methyl mercury causes developmental toxicities such as placental and fetal weight loss, but the mechanism is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the developmental toxicities of methyl mercury, focusing on placental endocrine function and fetal growth retardation in rats. Methods: Positively same-time-mated female Sprague-Dawley rats were purchased on gestational day (GD) eight and treated with 0, 5, 10 and 20 ppm of methyl mercury (n=5) dissolved in tap water from GD eight through 19. During treatment, the drinking water (methyl mercury) intake and body weight of each pregnant rat was measured daily. On day 19, caesarean sections were performed and blood samples were collected. Developmental data such as placental and fetal weights, fetus numbers, and placental efficiency (fetal weight/placental weight) were also collected. Placental prolactin-growth hormone (PRL-GH) family, such as placental lactogen (PL) -Iv, II, and prolactin-like protein (PLP) -B, levels in serum were analyzed by ELISA. Also, placental tissues were assigned to histochemistry. Results: The mean cumulative methyl mercury exposure for the 5, 10, and 20 ppm groups were 2.37, 4.63, and 9.66 mg, respectively. The mean daily exposure of the 5, 10, and 20 ppm groups were 0.24, 0.47, and 0.97 mg, respectively. Maternal body weight increased in accordance with GD. There was no significant difference in weight gain among the experimental groups. Histopathologic changes were not observed in placental tissues among the experimental groups. However, mean placental and fetal weights were lower in the 10 and 20 ppm exposed groups compared to the control. Placental efficiency was also lower in the 10 and 20 ppm exposed groups compared to the control. Serum PL-Iv and II levels were lower in the 10 and 20 ppm exposed groups than the control, in accordance with the changing pattern of placental and fetal weights and placental efficiency. Conclusion: The inhibitory effects of methyl mercury on the serum levels of placental PRL-GH family such as PL-Iv and II may be secondary leads to the reduction of placental efficiency and fetal growth retardation in rats.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.233-243
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• 1984

The present study was carried out to determine the changes of the sex hormone levels in serum throughout the estrous cycle and the gestation period on the Landrace gilts. The blood samples were taken from the vein of six gilts. LH, FSH, prolactin, progesterone, $estradiol-17{\beta}$ and cortisol in serum were analyzed by the radioimmunoassay methods. The results obtained on this study were summarized as follows; 1. The age at puberal estrus was 179.5 days, the weight at puberal estrus was 88.2kg, the length of estrous cycle was 21.3days, the gestation length was 114days and the litter size was 9.5 head in the Landrace gilts. 2. During the estrous cycle, the serum LH and prolactin concentrations were below 1.56mIU/ml and 2.4ng/ml, respectively, under the limit of detection of the assay. The FSH concentrations ranged from 1.50 to 2.20mIU/ml for day 6~15 after the estrus and they were below 1.25mIU/ml from day 3 to day + 3, with day 0 being the first day of the estrus. 3. Progesterone concentrations were 1.90ng/ml at day 0 of the estrus and increased about 13.1ng/ml at day 3 of the estrus, and reached peak levels at day 9. $Estradiol-17{\beta}$ concentrations were below 27.2pg/ml throughout the luteal phase, and reached about 27.2pg/ml at day 0 and day 18. Cortisol concentrations reached peak levels at dey 0 and ranged from 24.65 to 28.57ng/ml throughout the luteal phase. 4. During the gestation period, the concentrations of LH, FSH and prolactin ranged of 3.10~4.37mIU/ml, 1.30~1.80mIU/ml and 2.60~6.70ng/ml, respectively. 5. Progesterone concentrations declined from 38.90~16.85ng/ml throughout the pregnancy to 1.90ng/ml at the time of parturition. $Estradiol-17{\beta}$ concentrations increased from 27.20pg/ml at 15 days after the pregnancy to 620.17pg/ml at the time of parturition. Cortisol concentrations reached peak levels at the time of parturition and ranged from 13.58 to 22.31ng/ml throughout the pregnancy.

• Journal of Interdisciplinary Genomics
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.18-23
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• 2023

Conventional evaluation method for identifying the organic cause of short stature has a low detection rate. If an infant who is small for gestational age manifests postnatal growth deterioration, triangular face, relative macrocephaly, and protruding forehead, a genetic testing of IGF2, H19, GRB10, MEST, CDKN1, CUL7, OBSL1, and CCDC9 should be considered to determine the presence of Silver-Russell syndrome and 3-M syndrome. If a short patient with prenatal growth failure also exhibits postnatal growth failure, microcephaly, low IGF-1 levels, sensorineural deafness, or impaired intellectual development, genetic testing of IGF1 and IGFALS should be conducted. Furthermore, genetic testing of GH1, GHRHR, HESX1, SOX3, PROP1, POU1F1, and LHX3 should be considered if patients with isolated growth hormone deficiency have short stature below -3 standard deviation score, barely detectable serum growth hormone concentration, and other deficiencies of anterior pituitary hormone. In short patients with height SDS <-3 and high growth hormone levels, genetic testing should be considered to identify GHR mutations. Lastly, when severe short patients (height z score <-3) exhibit high levels of prolactin and recurrent pulmonary infection, genetic testing should be conducted to identify STAT5B mutations.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 1987

The present investigation has been undertaken to understand the mechanism of implantation process, by demonstrating the role of ovarian steroids in the differentiation of uterine endometrium for implantation. In particular, an attempt was made to examine the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the either luminal, stroma or endometrium tissue sites under the pseudopregnant state induced by ovarian steroid hormones. Attempt was also made to demonstrate the correlate function of ovarian steroids with the cAMP concentration and prolactin level. The higher activity of ALP in the uterine endometrium was observed on day 3. However, the higher activity of ALP in the stroma and epithelium was observed on Day 6. This study, therefore, clearly demonstrates that progesterone is consecutive effect in stroma differ entiation. The cAMP concentrations on Day 3 treated with E or P was lower than those of control. On the other hand concentration on Day 6 treated with hormones was increased than those of control. It is, therefore, concluded that the concentration of cAMP in the uterine tissue undergoing differentiation is decreased. The prolactin level of the treated groups was the lower levels than those of the control groups. It is indicated that there is no effect of ovarian steroid hormone on the prolactin synthesis in this pseudopregnant state.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.131-135
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• 2015

The thyroid hormones act on nearly every cell in the body. Moreover, the thyroid gland continuously interacts with the ovaries, and the thyroid hormones are involved in almost all phases of reproduction. Thyroid dysfunctions are relatively common among women of reproductive age, and can affect fertility in various ways, resulting in anovulatory cycles, high prolactin levels, and sex hormone imbalances. Undiagnosed and untreated thyroid disease can be a cause of subfertility. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), also known as mild thyroid failure, is diagnosed when peripheral thyroid hormone levels are within the normal reference laboratory range, but serum thyroid-stimulating hormone levels are mildly elevated. Thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) is characterized by the presence of anti-thyroid antibodies, which include anti-thyroperoxidase and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. SCH and TAI may remain latent, asymptomatic, or even undiagnosed for an extended period. It has also been demonstrated that controlled ovarian hyperstimulation has a significant impact on thyroid function, particularly in women with TAI. In the current review, we describe the interactions between thyroid dysfunctions and subfertility, as well as the proper work-up and management of thyroid dysfunctions in subfertile women.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.963-967
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• 2002

Eighteen crossbred goats were selected from the Institute's goat herd to determine the changes in hormones, blood metabolites and yield and composition of milk during lactation. The blood and milk samples were collected from each goat in a heparinized vacutainer tubes at fortnightly interval for a period of 150 days. In milk samples, fat, protein and lactose contents were estimated while in blood plasma hormones viz., prolactin, GH, cortisol, insulin, $T_4$ and $T_3$ were measured using radioimmunoassay methods. The plasma concentration of prolactin, GH and cortisol were high during early lactation when the goats acquired peak milk yield. During remainder of lactation their concentration varied. The high NEFA concentration during early lactation indicated mobilization of body reserves as the body weights also decrease during early lactation. However, with the advancement of lactation, the body weights of the goats and the concentration of NEFA declined which indicated utilization of NEFA for energy yielding purposes in addition to fatty acid synthesis. The ambient temperatures did not influence plasma concentration of prolactin, GH, insulin, $T_3$ and $T_4$ during the lactation cycle. The fat content of milk varied significantly (p<0.01) but protein and lactose content of milk remains unchanged during different stages of lactation. Growth hormone was positively correlated with insulin (p<0.05) during lactation while prolactin had a positive correlation with lactose and plasma NEFA (p<0.01) and negative correlation with $T_3$ (p<0.05).

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2003.08a
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• pp.163.4-163
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• 2003

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.307-313
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• 2006

The development of in vitro assays has been recommended to screening and testing the potential endocrine disruptors (EDs). These assay systems focus only on identifying the estrogenic or antiestrogenic activity of EDs, whereas a few studies have been carried out to screen the thyroid hormone (TH) disruptors. The aim of this study was to evaluate a test system to detect TH disruptors using rat pituitary tumor $GH_3$ cells. The test system is based on the TH-dependent increase in growth rate. As expected, L-3,5,3-triiodothyronine ($(T_3)$ markedly induced a morphological change in $GH_3$ cells from flattened fibroblastic types to rounded or spindle-shaped types. $T_3$ stimulated $GH_3$ cell growth in a dose-dependent manner with the maximum growth-stimulating effect being observed at a concentration $1{\times}10^9M$. In addition, $T_3$ increased the release of growth hormone and prolactin into the medium of the $GH_3$ cells culture. Using this assay system, the TH-disrupting activities of bisphenol A (BPA) and its related compounds were examined. BPA, dimethy/bisphenol A (DMBPA), and TCI-EP significantly enhanced the growth of $GH_3$ cells in the range of $1{\times}10^{-5}M\;to\;1{\times}10^{-6}M$ concentrations. In conclusion, this in vitro assay system might be useful for identifying potential TH disruptors. However, this method will require further evaluation and standardization before it can be used as a broad-based screening tool.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.336-344
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• 2000

Objective : The treatment for prolactin secreting pituitary adenoma(prolactinoma) include pharmacology, surgery, radiation therapy or radiosurgery. The recent development of radiological imaging and microsurgery has made transsphenoidal microsurgery the treatment of choice for most prolactin secreting pituitary adenoma. Despite its low morbidity and mortality, relatively high recurrence and failure rate have been reported. Recent advances in neuroimaging provide a precise targeting in radiosurgery for treatment of prolactin secreting pituitary adenoma. In this regard, Gamma knife radiosurgery has been proposed as an alternative primary treatment modality or adjuvant therapy. Patients and Methods : Twenty three patients with prolactin secreting pituitary adenoma have been treated with Gamma knife radiosurgery in our institute from March 1992 to September 1998. We analyzed clinical, radiological and endocrinological changes in 21 patients who were followed up for an average of 35.7 months. Results : The mean age was 34.9 years and 16 patients were treated with Gamma knife radiosurgery as primary treatment and 5 patients underwent Gamma knife radiosurgery for residual tumors after microsurgery. The margin of the tumor was incorporated within the 40 to 80% and the mean marginal dose was 24.5 Gy. Clinical improvement in the last follow-up were present in 17 cases(81.0%) and 3 of 5 infertility patients became pregnant after Gamma knife radiosurgery. Tumor control rate after Gamma knife radiosurgery was 100%. Endocrinological normalization in the last follow-up were obtained in 12 cases(57.1%). In three cases, hormonal normalizations were present in early period(3-32 months) but serum hormone levels were elevated subsequently. Conclusion : We conclude that the Gamma knife radiosurgery for prolactin secreting pituitary adenoma seems to be safe and effective as adjuvant therapy after microsurgery and primary treatment modality in selective patients.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2012

The release of hormones and the metabolism of human body are controlled by the circadian rhythm related to sleep-wake cycle. Growth hormone, prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone, cortisol, glucose, and insulin-secretion rates fluctuate according to the sleep-wake cycle. In addition, sleep is related to the appetite regulation and carbohydrate and other energy metabolism. Hypocretin (orexin), an excitatory neuropeptide, regulates waking and diet intake, and the poor sleep increases diet intake. The short sleep duration increases one's body mass index and impairs the function of the endocrine and metabolism, causing increases in the risk of glucose intolerance and diabetes. The poor sleep quality and sleep disorders have similar impact on the metabolic function. In short, the sleep loss and the poor quality of sleep have a detrimental effect on the endocrine and energy metabolism. The improvement of sleep quality by the future research and appropriate clinical treatment would contribute to the decrease of the metabolic diseases such as diabetes.