• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.398-402
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• 2007

Abstract Female mice post weaning were exposed to 20 kHz sawtooth electric and magnetic fields (EMF) with $6.25{\mu}T$ peak intensity for 6 weeks. Estrous cycles were checked using vaginal smears over the last 10 days of the experimental period. The vaginal smears from EMF-exposed mice revealed an increase in the frequency of one or two phases persisting. The number of estrous cycles less than 1 was more in the EMF-exposed group than in the sham control group. Furthermore, in the EMF-exposed group, the duration of proestrous and metestrous stages of the estrous cycle was significantly increased compared with the control group. In conclusion, our results suggest that exposure to 20 kHz sawtooth EMF may affect normal cycling of the estrous cycle by disrupting the female reproductive endocrine physiology. We should not disregard the possible adverse reproductive effect of the 20 kHz sawtooth EMF generated under the occupational exposure situation in females.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.59 no.11
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• pp.24.1-24.14
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• 2017

Over the past decades, in vitro culture media have been developed to successfully support IVF embryo growth in a variety of species. Advanced reproductive technologies, such as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), challenge us with a new type of embryo, with special nutritional requirements and altered physiology under in vitro conditions. Numerous studies have successfully reconstructed cloned embryos of domestic animals for biomedical research and livestock production. However, studies evaluating suitable culture conditions for SCNT embryos in wildlife species are scarce (for both intra- and interspecies SCNT). Most of the existing studies derive from previous IVF work done in conventional domestic species. Extrapolation to non-domestic species presents significant challenges since we lack information on reproductive processes and embryo development in most wildlife species. Given the challenges in adapting culture media and conditions from IVF to SCNT embryos, developmental competence of SCNT embryos remains low. This review summarizes research efforts to tailor culture media to SCNT embryos and explore the different outcomes in diverse species. It will also consider how these culture media protocols have been extrapolated to wildlife species, most particularly using SCNT as a cutting-edge technical resource to assist in the preservation of endangered species.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.15-23
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• 2003

Interest in the regulation of body weight and the pathological physiology of obesity has been rekindled by the cloning of the obese(ob) gene and identification of its product, leptin, in 1994. The first publication appeared in Nature and is a milestone of obesity research. The remarkable metabolic effects of leptin in rodents are: a) inhibition of food intake, b) stimulation of energy expenditure, and c) reversal of obesity. These effects, though mostly desirable, have not been fully demonstrated in humans. The central action of leptin in the regulation of body weight includes two pathways in rodents: a) When the body weight increasing, more leptin is secreted from adipose tissue, which acts on hypothalamus, probably through a POMC or MSH pathway via M4 receptor, initiates a series of response to obesity, i.e. sympathetic tone increased, energy expenditure enhanced and food intake reduced. b) When body weight reduced, leptin concentration decreased with the shrinkage of fat mass, which may also act on the hypothalamus, probably through a NPY-Y5 receptor pathway. Then a cascade of response to hungry was induced, i.e. increase of parasympathetic tone and food intake, decrease of energy expenditure and body temperature, as well as shut-down of the reproductive function.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.335-340
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• 2006

A large number of toxicological substances and pharmacological and physical agents can cause reproductive intervention at the cellular and molecular level. The present study was designed to assess the effect of mercury ($HgCl_2$) at 50 to $550{\mu}M$ concentration ranges, in vitro, on the sperm membrane and DNA integrity, viability, and acrosomal status of normal bull spermatozoa. The samples were processed for sperm analyses using semen-diluting fluid (PBS, pH 7.2). We recorded a sharp increase in the lipid peroxidation/LPO rate; the highest was at $550{\mu}M$ mercury concentration, indicating a deleterious effect of mercury on the sperm membrane intactness. There was also a strong negative correlation between LPO rate and % viable spermatozoa (R = 0.987, p<0.001). Data obtained from a comet assay technique revealed that mercury is capable of inducing DNA breaks in the sperm nuclei. Interestingly, 92% of DNA breaks were double-stranded. The correlation between LPO rate and % DNA breaks was 0.984. Performing the gelatin test indicates that mercury is able to alter the integrity of acrosomal membranes showing an abnormal acrosome reaction. In this regard, a strong link was found between LPO rate and % halos (R = 0.990, p<0.001). Collectively, mercury proved to be a potent oxidant in the category of environmental factors affecting bull spermatozoa. Hence, considering the wide spread use of mercury and its compounds, these metals should be regarded with more concern.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.417-424
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• 2011

Ketoconazole (KET) is an antifungal drug with a broad spectrum of activity that also induces reproductive toxicity in humans and animals. KET inhibits C17-20 lyase which blocks the conversion of 17 ${\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone to androstenedione. The effect of Cuscutae semen(CS) extract against KET-induced testicular damage was evaluated in male rats. CS extract was administered orally (100 and 200 mg/kg) for 26 days. Three weeks after CS extract administration, KET was CS-administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 100 mg/kg once a day for 5 days. KET-induced reproductive toxicity was associated with clear reductions of the weights of testes and epididymides, sperm indices and serum testosterone levels. In addition, marked oxidative damage to testicular lipids and alterations of natural antioxidant enzymes were reported in association with KET toxicity. Most of the KET-induced effects were greatly decreased with the concomitant application of CS extract. This study suggests a protective role of Cuscutae semen extract that could be attributed to its antioxidant properties.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.76-82
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• 2013

Objective: To compare the blood glucose levels, insulin concentrations, and insulin resistance during the two phases of the menstrual cycle between healthy women and patients with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Methods: From January of 2011 to the August of 2012, a descriptive cross-sectional study was performed among students in the School of Medicine of Jahrom University of Medical Sciences. We included 30 students with the most severe symptoms of PMS and 30 age frequency-matched healthy controls. We analyzed the serum concentrations of glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance by using the glucose oxidase method, radioimmunometric assay, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance equation, respectively. Results: No significant differences between the demographic data of the control and PMS groups were observed. The mean concentrations of glucose of the two study groups were significantly different during the follicular and luteal phases (p=0.011 vs. p<0.0001, respectively). The amounts of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance of the two study groups were significantly different in the luteal phase (p=0.0005). Conclusion: The level of blood glucose and insulin resistance was lower during the two phases of the menstrual cycle of the PMS group than that of the controls.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.377-381
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• 1999

Objectives: Recent studies, including our own, demonstrated that the novel expression of LH gene in rat gonads and uterus, indicating that the local production and action of the LH-like molecule. In the present study, we investigated whether human uterus also expresses the LH gene. Design: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplified the cDNA fragments coding $LH_{\beta}$ polypeptide from human endometrium but not from myometrium. Presence of the transcripts for the ${\alpha}$-subunit in human endometrium was also confirmed by RT-PCR. Results: Transcripts for $LH_{\beta}$ subunit were detected in endometrial samples from women with endometriosis. The gene for LH/hCG receptor was expressed in both endometrium and myometrium, showing good agreement with previous studies. Increased level of $LH_{\beta}$ transcript was determined in the endometrium from follicular phase compared to that from luteal phase. Conclusion: Taken together, our findings demonstrated that 1) the genes for LH subunits and LH/hCG receptor are expressed in human uterus, 2) the uterine LH expression was changed during menstrual cycle, suggesting that the uterine LH may playa local role in the control of uterine physiology and function(s).

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 2018

The seed yield of summer plants is affected by climate change due to high temperature. High temperature during the reproductive growth period decrease pod, seed weight in soybean. This study was conducted at National Institute of Crop Science (NICS) during the growing season. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of high temperature on growth and seed yield responses of soybean varieties using a temperature gradient chamber (TGC). In 2017, the Daewonkong (DWK), Pungsannamulkong (PSNK), and Deapungkong (DPK) were grown in three TGCs. Four temperature treatments, Ta (near ambient temperature), Ta+1 (ambient temperature+$1^{\circ}C$), $Ta+2^{\circ}C$ (ambient temperature+$2^{\circ}C$), $Ta+3^{\circ}C$ (ambient temperature+$3^{\circ}C$), $Ta+4^{\circ}C$ (ambient temperature+$4^{\circ}C$), were established by dividing the rows along which the temperature gradient was created. In all three cultivars, beginning bloom (R1) delayed at elevated temperature in $Ta+4^{\circ}C$. In addition, the days to beginning of seed fill and maturity were longer under higher temperature. The numbers of pod, 100 seed weight, and seed yield increased at elevated temperature in DWK. In contrast, seed yield components of PSNK and DPK were reduced in $Ta+4^{\circ}C$. The results suggest that 100 seed weight and seed size of soybean was low by increased temperature in $Ta+4^{\circ}C$ of PSNK and DPK.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.115-123
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• 2003

Oviposition and egg laying is an important physiological and behavioural event in the life cycle of the silkworm, Bombyx mori (L). Oviposition and egg laying is dependent on a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors viz., neural, hormonal, environmental, physical, behavioral etc for the perpetuation of population. Although, the virgin female moths have fully developed embryos but active egg laying begins under the influence of mating which provides essential copulation stimulus for oviposition. After mating drastic biochemical changes occurred that incites egg laying under the influence of optimum environmental conditions. Weight of pupae as well as larval density has significant role on oviposition and egg laying behaviour in the silkworm wherein high pupal weight and inadequate rearing space affects not only the biology, morphology and physiology but also the oviposition and egg laying. Surface topography, plane of inclination, mating length, age of male moth, temperature and photoperiod etc has significant effect on reproductive physiology of silkworm. An attempt has been made in this review article to elucidate briefly the works carried out on mating behaviour, direct and indirect copulation stimulus, vitellogenesis, influence of environmental factors besides effect of weight of pupae and or pharate adult and larval density on oviposition and egg laying behavior in the silkworm, B. mori and its significance in silkworm seed production.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.100-100
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• 2002

As an preliminary experiment for making transgenic animals producing human follicle stimulating hormone (hFSH), we tried to express recombinant hFSH gene in vitro. hFSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone produced in the anterior pituitary gland. The hormone is essential in the regulation of reproductive processes, such as follicular development and ovulation. Genes encoding the common gonadotrophin alpha subunit and FSH-specific beta subunit were inserted into retroviral vectors under the control of the rat beta actin promoter. Gene transfer to the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was done by infection of the retroviruses harvested from PT67 packaging cells transfected with recombinant retrovirus vector DNA. After selection with G4l8, PCR and RT-PCR analyses of the G4l8-resistant CHO cells showed successful transfer and expression of both ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ fragments of the FSH gene.