• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.17-25
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• 1984

Hypothalamic-pituitary function in patients of 6 selected groups of amenorrhea was evaluated by performing premarin test. Selected amenorrheic patients were divided into 6 groups of Turner's syndrome(5), adrenogenital syndrome(3), Sheehan's syndrome(4), moderate hyperprolactinemia(3), severe hyperprolactinemia(9) and functional oligoamenorrhea(9) the diagnoses of which were performed according to modified our own protocol for management of amenorrheic patients. As control 20 normally cycling women in mid follicular phase determined by their symptothermal charts during last 6 months designed by WHO were compared. The premarin test which is one of the tests evaluating the hypothalamic-pituitary function by the principle of negative and positive feed back effect's of estrogen was performed by injecting 20 mg of premarin in volus intravenously. The levels of serum LH before, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours after injection of premarin were measured by double antibody technique radioimmunoassay the reagents of which were supplied by WHO. The results were as follows: 1. Both negative and positive feed back effects by exogenous estrogen were well preserved even in the patients of gonadal dysgenesis although the baseline levels were much higher than normal. 2. In the patients of Sheehan's syndrome one could observe the minimal response of feed back effect in the case with minimal pituitary function. 3, Androgens in adrenogenital syndrome and prolactin in hyperprolactinemia may suppress mainly the positive feed back effect rather than the negative one. The suppressive effect can be abolished by proper treatments which can eliminate those suppressive hormones. 4. This premarin test may be beneficial for predicting the result of clomiphene in ovulation induction.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2010

Mammalian reproduction is regulated by a feedback circuit of the key reproductive hormones such as GnRH, gonadotropin and sex steroids on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. In particular, the onset of female puberty is triggered by gain of a pulsatile pattern and increment of GnRH secretion from hypothalamus. Previous studies including our own clearly demonstrated that genistein (GS), a phytoestrogenic isoflavone, altered the timing of puberty onset in female rats. However, the brain-specific actions of GS in female rats has not been explored yet. The present study was performed to examine the changes in the activities of GnRH neurons and their neural circuits by GS in female rats. Concerning the drug delivery route, intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection technique was employed to eliminate the unwanted actions on the extrabrain tissues which can be occurred if the testing drug is systemically administered. Adult female rats (PND 100, 210-230 g BW) were anaesthetized, treated with single dose of GS ($3.4{\mu}g$/animal), and sacrificed at 3 hrs post-injection. To determine the transcriptional changes of reproductive hormone-related genes in hypothalamus, total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). ICV infusion of GS significantly raised the transcriptional activities of enhanced at puberty1 (EAP-1, p<0.05), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67, p<0.01) which are known to modulate GnRH secretion in the hypothalamus. However, GS infusion could not change the mRNA level of nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS-2). GS administration significantly increased the mRNA levels of KiSS-1 (p<0.001), GPR54 (p<0.001), and GnRH (p<0.01) in the hypothalami, but decreased the mRNA levels of LH-$\beta$ (p<0.01) and FSH-$\beta$ (p<0.05) in the pituitaries. Taken together, the present study indicated that the acute exposure to GS could directly activate the hypothalamic GnRH modulating system, suggesting the GS's disrupting effects such as the early onset of puberty in immature female rats might be derived from premature activation of key reproduction related genes in hypothalamus-pituitary neuroendocrine circuit.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.293-297
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• 1998

Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, or the lack of function of the testis or ovary secondary to the lack of pituitary and or hypothalamic trophic hormones, is also sometimes generally termed Kallmann's syndrome. Whether such deficiencies arise from an inborn error of hypothalamic organization and pituitary connection or damage to the hypothalamic pituitary system in prepubertal life, the manifestations of a eunuchoid or apubertal individual with potentially competent pituitary and gonadal function will result. Beyond the achievement of puberty, a similar situation can be recreated by the administration of a long-acting GnRH analog or by conditions of secondary hypothalamic dysfunction such as anorexia nervosa where shutdown of GnRH and its resultant effects cause cessation of gonadal function and even a regression of secondary sexual characteristics. Technically, these conditions are not Kallmann's syndrome but one must recognize the similarities. We have experienced a case of isolated gonadotropin deficiency which showed a negative KALIG-1 gene in infertile patient with primary amenorrhea. So we report this case with a brief review of literatures.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.58-61
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• 2015

Objective: The XIST gene is considered to be an attractive candidate gene for skewed X-chromosome inactivation and a possible cause of primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the XIST gene promoter mutation is associated with idiopathic POI in a sample of the Korean population. Methods: Subjects consisted of 102 idiopathic POI patients and 113 healthy controls with normal menstrual cycles. Patients with the following known causes of POI were excluded in advance: cytogenetic abnormalities, prior chemo- or radiotherapy, or prior bilateral oophorectomy. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Results: The mean age of onset of ovarian insufficiency was $28.7{\pm}8.5years$ and the mean values of serum luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones and estradiol in the POI group were $31.4{\pm}18.2mIU/mL$, $74.5{\pm}41.1mIU/mL$, and $30.5{\pm}36.7pg/mL$, respectively. We found no cytosine to guanine (C43G) variation in the XIST gene in both POI patients and controls. Conclusion: The C43G mutation in the promoter region of the XIST gene was not present in the Korean patients with idiopathic POI in our study, in contrast to our expectation, suggesting that the role of XIST in the pathogenesis of POI is not yet clear.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.391-397
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• 2006

This study correlated changes in estradiol-l7$\beta$ ($E_2$), testosterone (T), 17$\alpha$,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP), and vitellogenin (VTG) levels with changes in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and ovarian histology during the annual reproductive cycle of the wild marbled sole, Limanda yokohamae. Synchronous oocyte development occurs in this fish. Ovary maturity was classified into four periods, based on histological observations: the spawning (December to February), post-spawning (February to April), recovery (May to August), and vitellogenic (September to November) periods. Seasonal changes in the GSI were inversely correlated with water temperatures and reflected the degree of ovarian maturity. Plasma VTG levels were correlated with changes in the GSI, which increased from September to a peak in January, and levels remained comparatively high until February. Estradiol-17$\beta$ was at baseline levels (<0.11 ng/mL) during the spring and summer, and peaked rapidly (1.55$\pm$0.445 ng/mL) from October to January. Plasma T and DHP levels had a similar profile; they rose markedly during the spawning period and remained low (or were not detectable) from spring through autumn. These data indicate that changes in plsama steroid hormones and VTG levels are correlated with the annual ovarian activity of the marbled sole. Based on these results and published reports, it appears that in this species DHP is the most important maturation-inducing steroid and that T is also related to final maturation.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2016

In many fish species, including Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), gonadal development occurs at the expense of stored energy and nutrients. Therefore, reproductive systems are inhibited by limited food supply. It has been well established that reproductive function is highly sensitive to both metabolic status and energy balance. Nothing is known about the possible mediated connection between energy balance and reproduction. Kisspeptin, a neuropeptide product of the Kiss gene has emerged as an essential gatekeeper of reproduction and may be possibly be linked to energy balance and reproduction in non-mammalians. Thus, in this study, the effect of fasting (10 days) on the expression of kisspeptin and the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) gene were assessed in Nile tilapia (male and female) using qRT-PCR. In addition, plasma levels of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ ($E_2$) and 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) in adult tilapia were measured by ELISA. In male tilapia, fasting reduced Kiss2 and GnRH I mRNA expression in the brain and 11-KT level in comparison with the fed tilapia (p < 0.05). In females, however, there were no significant differences in GnRH I mRNA expression and $E_2$ between fish subjected to fasting and those fed (p > 0.05). These data indicate the impact of nutritional states on kisspeptin as a potential regulatory mechanism for the control of reproduction in male Nile tilapia.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.297-303
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• 1994

The effect of radiation on the steroidogenesis of rat ovary was investigated. For this purpose, female rats aged 7-8 weeks were exposed to a single dose of ${\gamma}$ radiation(320 rad or 800 rad) by the cobalt-60. At fourth(day of the first estrus) and eighth(day of the second estrus) days after irradiation, the concentrations of serum steroid hormones were determined by radioimmunoassays (RIA). The correlation between survival rate(Y) and radiation dose(X) was Y=-0.06X+100(r=0.89, n=10). Lethal dose$(LD)_{50(30)}$ and $LD_{20(30)}$ were 833.33rad and 333.33rad respectively. The weights of body and ovary was decreased significantly by the $LD_{50(30)}$ irradiation during the 4 days, but both weights were recovered at day 8. The serum levels of 17a-hydroxyprogesterone(170HP) and estradiol($E_2$) in the irradiated rats were not generally different from those of control. However, the levels of testosterone(T) and 19-norterstosterone(19NT) in the irradiated rat at $LD_{50(30)}$ and $LD_{20(30)}$ radiation doses were decreased, while progesterone levels in serum of the irradiated rats were slightly increased. These results suggest that irradiation may inhibit the first step of steroidogenesis, especially the conversion of P to T, in the rat ovary.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.199-206
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• 2005

연구목적: 난포가 폐쇄되는 동안의 생화학적 변화를 규명하기 위하여 미성숙 돼지의 정상 및 폐쇄 난포 내 lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 활성도 변화 및 동일 난포액 내 스테로이드호르몬의 농도변화를 알아보기 위하여 본 연구를 시행하였다. 재료 및 방법: 난포액 (FF), 과립세포 (GC), 협막세포 (TC) 내 LDH의 활성도를 측정하였으며, 난포액 내 progesterone ($P_4$), testosterone (T), estradiol ($E_2$)의 농도변화를 방사면역측정법으로 정량하였다. 결　과: 정상 및 폐쇄 난포에서 $P_4$의 농도변화를 보이지 않았다. 그러나 폐쇄 난포액 내 T의 농도($3.85{\pm}1.50ng/ml$)는 정상 난포 ($1.29{\pm}0.54ng/ml$)에 비해 현저히 높았으며 정상 난포 내 $E_2$의 농도 ($43.29{\pm}19.51ng/ml$) 는 폐쇄 난포 ($18.82{\pm}7.27ng/ml$)에 비해 현저히 높은 것으로 나타났다. 정상 난포액 내 $P_4$의 농도는 난포의 크기에 정의 상관관계 (r=0.75)를 보였다. 정상 난포 내 T:$P_4$의 비율 ($8.14{\pm}3.35$)은 폐쇄 난포 ($1.39{\pm}0.60$)에 비해 현저히 높았으며, 정상 TC ($433.63{\pm}102.40{\mu}U/{\mu}g$ DNA) 및 FF ($246.86{\pm}58.96{\mu}U/{\mu}l$) 내 LDH 활성도는 폐쇄 난포 (각각 $83.7{\pm}10.5$와 $38.71{\pm}9.00$)에 비해 현저히 높게 나타났다. 정상 난포의 GC 및 FF 내 LDH 활성도는 $E_2$의 농도와 부의 상관관계를 보였지만, 폐쇄 난포의 TC 내 LDH 활성도는 $P_4$, T, $E_2$의 농도에 대해 정의 상관관계를 나타내었다. 결　론: 본 실험의 결과, 미성숙 돼지 난포의 폐쇄는 TC 내 LDH 활성도 감소와 밀접한 관계를 갖는 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.116-121
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare serum fetuin-A levels and oxidative stress markers, as indicators of insulin resistance, in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and in healthy controls. Methods: This prospective case-control study included 46 patients with PCOS and 48 age- and body mass index-matched control women. Levels of serum hormones, fetuin-A, and oxidative stress markers were measured in blood samples taken during the early follicular period from each participant. Results: Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), total testosterone levels, and the LH/FSH ratio were found to be significantly higher in women with PCOS than in controls. Serum total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, and oxidative stress index parameters all indicated significantly higher levels of oxidative stress in PCOS patients than in controls. Serum fetuin-A levels, which were analyzed as an indicator of insulin resistance, were higher in the PCOS group than in the control group ($210.26{\pm}65.06{\mu}g/mL$ and $182.68{\pm}51.20{\mu}g/mL$, respectively; p= 0.024). Conclusion: The data obtained from the present study suggest that higher levels of both serum fetuin-A and oxidative stress markers might be related with PCOS.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2011

Low temperature stress is one of the major negative factors affecting vegetative and reproductive growth of rice. To better understand responses of rice plants to low temperature we analyzed transcriptome expression patterns in glumous flower of cold-tolerant japonica rice variety, Stejaree45, and cold-susceptible variety, HR19621-AC6 at booting stage under cold water irrigation. A total of 2,411 probes were differentially expressed by low temperature in glumous flowers of the two varieties. Some important genes involved in hormone biosynthesis showed variety-specific regulation. Expression of GA20ox3 and GA2ox, among the genes involved in GA biosynthesis, was regulated differentially in the two varieties. Among the genes involved in IAA biosynthesis, YUCCA1 and TAA1:1 showed variety-specific regulation. Among the genes involved in cytokinin biosynthsis and signaling, expression of LOG, HK1 and HK3 was significantly down-regulated only in the cold-susceptible variety. Among the genes involved in ABA biosynthesis, NSY and AAO3 were down-regulated only in the cold-tolerant variety. In general, genes involved in GA, IAA and cytokinin biosynthesis responded to cold temperature in such a way that capacity of those bioactive hormones is maintained at relatively higher levels under cold temperature in the cold-tolerant variety, which can help minimize cold stress imposed to developing reproductive organs in the cold-tolerant variety.