• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.120-126
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with Pediococcus acidilactici (P. acidilactici) ZPA017 as a probiotic on reproductive performance, fecal microbial flora and serum indices in sows during late gestation and lactation. Methods: A total of 94 sows (Large White×Yorkshire, average 4.50 parities) were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments: control diet and the diet supplemented with P. acidilactici ZPA017 (2.40×10⁹ colony-forming unit/kg of diets). The study started at d 90 of gestation and conducted until d 28 of lactation. Results: Compared to sows fed the control diet, supplementation of P. acidilactici ZPA017 increased the number of weaning piglets, weaning weight of litter and piglets, survival rate of piglets at weaning (p<0.05), and decreased diarrhea rate of piglets in lactation (p<0.05). Dietary P. acidilactici ZPA017 increased fecal Lactobacillus populations (p = 0.030) and reduced fecal Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus populations (p<0.05) of sows at weaning. Moreover, the supplementation of P. acidilactici ZPA017 increased serum concentrations of immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin A and total protein (p<0.05), while decreased serum haptoglobin concentration and alanine aminotransferase activity (p<0.05) of sows at weaning. Conclusion: Administration of P. acidilactici ZPA017 in diets during late gestation and lactation had positive effects on the reproductive performance, intestinal microflora balance and immunity of sows.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.379-388
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• 2011

The mechanism by which gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and dopamine (DA) control gonadotropin (GTH) release was studied in male and female rainbow trout using cultured pituitary cells obtained at different reproductive stages. The mechanisms of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) release by GnRH and DA could not be determined yet. However, basal and salmon-type GnRH (sGnRH)- or chicken-II-type GnRH (cGnRH-II)- induced luteinizing hormone (LH) release increased with gonadal maturation in both sexes. LH release activity was higher after sGnRH stimulation than cGnRH-II stimulation at maturing stages in both sexes. The GnRH antagonist ([Ac-3, 4-dehydro-$Pro^1$, D-p-F-$Phe^2$, D-$Trp^{3,6}$] GnRH) suppressed LH release by sGnRH stimulation in a dose-dependent manner, although the effect was weak in maturing fish. The role of DA as a GTH-release inhibitory factor differs during the reproductive cycle: the inhibition of sGnRH-stimulated LH release by DA was stronger in immature fish than in maturing, ovulating, or spermiated fish. DA did not completely inhibit sGnRH-stimulated LH release, and DA alone did not alter basal LH release. Relatively high doses ($10^{-6}$ or $10^{-5}M$) of domperidone (DOM, a DA D2 antagonist) increased LH release, which did not change with reproductive stage in either sex. The potency of DOM to enhance sGnRH-stimulated LH release was higher in maturing and ovulated fish than in immature fish. These data suggest that LH release from the pituitary gland is controlled by dual neuroendocrine mechanisms by GnRH and DA in rainbow trout, as has been reported in other teleosts. The mechanism of control of FSH release, however, remains unknown.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2002

Reproductive activity of golden hamsters(Mesocricetus auratus) is regulated by the photoperiod. They are sexually active in summer and inactive in winter. Melatonin, a pineal hormone, has been known to mediate sexual activities in seasonal breeding animals. Melatonin receptor was recently identified in several animal species including hmm. But little has been known about it in relation to the reproductive activities of golden hamsters. By using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) methods, a portion of the melatonin receptor gene(309 nucleotides) was identified in golden hamsters. The nucleotide sequence of the melatonin receptor and the amino acid sequence deduced were compared to those reported in other animals. Melatonin receptors were obviously detected in hypothalamus, pituitary containing pars tuberalis, blood, and spleen. Although the testicular weights and the levels of reproductive hormones were dramatically affected by photoperiods, the expression of melatonin receptor was not markedly changed by them. These results suggest that the action of melatonin in regulating reproduction might be mainly due to the affinity of melatonin receptor rather than the density fi melatonin receptor.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 1992

Development in vitro of 2-cell mouse embryos was examined after appropriate exposure to oviductal milieu to demonstrate biological activity present in the oviducts. ICR and ($C57Bl/6{\times}Balb/c$) $F_1$ hybrid mice were superovulated and mated for the recovery of early embryos. Embryos were recoverd at every 2h intervals from 32h post-hCG(hph) to 56 hph. The proportions of developmental stages were determined in the recovered embryos. Development in vitro of 2-cell embryos was more rapid in $F_1$ hybrid than in ICR, showing high proportions of 4-cell embryo and blastocyst at 120 hph. 100% of blastocyst development was obtained at 38hph in $F_1$ hybrid and at 50 hph in ICR when 2-cell embryos were cultured upto 120hph in vitro. Moreover, in vitro culture of oviducts containing 2-cell embryos in ICR mice for 12h from 34hph to 46hph increased developmental capacity of ICR mouse embryo in vitro. The results indicate that oviductal environment contains substances having mitogenic activity and overcoming early cell block in vitro. The mitogenic activity is effective in vitro as well as in vivo.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2003

Objective: Present study was aimed to verify the effect of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in the preimplantation development of mouse embryos and the involvement of the mitogen activated protein kiase (MAPK) in the GM-CSF signaling. Methods: Two-cell embryos were cultured for 96 h in the presence or absence of GM-CSF (0, 0.4, 2, 10 ng/ml) and PD98059, a MEK inhibitor (10 ${\mu}M$). Morphological development, cell number per blastocyst, and apoptotic nuclei, were eamined. MAPK activity of embryonic immunoprecipitate by MAPK (ERK1/2) antibody was measured by in vitro phosphorylation of myelin basic protein. Results: At post hCG 122 h the embryonic development among the experimental groups was significantly different (p=0.018). The rate of blastocyst development and cell number per embryo were the highest in 2 ng/ml GM-CSF treatment group. The percent of apoptotic cells of the GM-CSF-treated embryos was the lowest among the group. In blastocysts, GM-CSF treatment transiently increased MAPK activity. PD098059 attenuated the effect of GM-CSF on the morphological development, increase in cell number per blastocyst, down regulation of apoptosis, and upregulation of MAPK activity, suggesting that activation of MAPK cascade possibly mediated the embryotropic effect of GM-CSF. Conclusion: This result suggested that GM-CSF potentiated the development of preimplantation mouse embryos by activation of MAPK.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.159-164
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• 1993

The tissue levels of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) during the estrous cycle and pregnancy were investigated in the pig. Sexually mature female cycling pigs were used. One animal was sacrificed on estrous cycle days 3, 10, 17, 18, 19, 20 and during pregnancy on day 11. 12, B. 14, 18, 19, 20, 48, 50 and 52. Tissues from the hypothalamus, pituitary, uterus, ovary and skeletal muscle were removed. They were homogenized in buffer, and supernatants were used for measurement of protein concentration and ODC activity. The release of $^14$CO$_2$ from radiolabeled ornithine was proportional to the amout of protein added over the range of 0.125~4mg and to the incubation time. ODC appered to have some relationship with the biological functions of the pituitary, ovary and uterus during the reproductive period, especially on day 19 of the estrous cycle, while it showed no such activities in hypothalamus and skeletal muscle of mature pigs. Uterine tissues had significantly more ODC activity than other tissues tested(p < 0.05).

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2009

The antifertility activity of methanol extract of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. stem (MECR) and Corchorus olitorius Linn. seed (MECO) were studied on male Swiss albino mice. The extracts were found to decrease sperm count, percentage of motile sperm and testosterone level in treated mice when compared with vehicle control after 17 days of treatment. The weight of gonads, epididymis were decreased whereas no significant changes of the body weight of mice were observed after methanol extract treatments. The fertility test showed 100% negative result in MECR and MECO treated mice at medium and high dose level of treatment. MECR and MECO in low (25 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg, respectively), medium (50 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg, respectively) and high (75 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg, respectively) dose level caused a simultaneous fall in testicular ${\Delta}5$-$3{\beta}$-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities which are involved in testicular steroidogenesis. Total cholesterol and ascorbic acid content in testis were increased significantly in gonads. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase, malic dehydrogenase and ascorbic acid oxidase were reduced whereas that of carbonic anhydrase was increased significantly in the testis of MECR and MECO treated mice. All these observations indicate that the methanol extract of C. reflexa stem and C. olitorius seed produced antifertility activity in sexually matured male mice, which may be due to inhibition of gonadal steroidogenesis. This activity may be attributed due to the presence of flavonoids and steroids, respectively.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.155-161
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• 2012

Germ cell-specific hyaluronidases such as sperm adhesion molecule 1 (SPAM1) and hyaluronoglucosaminidase 5 (Hyal5) are in part responsible for dispersal of the cumulus cell mass, which is a critical step in establishing fertilization in mammals. In this study, we identified two testis-hyaluronidases, SPAM1 and Hyal5, in hamster and rat. These two genes were expressed specifically in the testis. At the protein level, hamster SPAM1 and Hyal5 display 78.7% and 75.4% identity with mouse SPAM1 and Hyal5. Further, the activity of the enzymes with respect to cumulus cell dispersion did not differ, although we observed that the enzymatic activity differed in pH range. These studies suggest that different sperm hyaluronidases are capable of dispersing the cumulus cell mass despite differences in enzyme activity.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2006

The developmental regulation of the preimplantation mammalian embryos is a fundamental step for preparing the implantation and it may be regulated by several autocrine and paracrine factors including platelet-activating factor. PAF improved the embryonic survival and implantation but its role during blastocyst development is still largely unknown. In this study, the effects and the possible pathway of PAF on developmental regulation of blastocyst to hatching stage were investigated. Developmental pattern in hatching embryo was a concentration-response curve showing maximal activity at 1 nM PAF, with decreasing activity at higher concentrations. $50{\mu}M$ 1-(5-isoquinolimnesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazinme dihydrochloride (H-7), a PKC inhibitor, inhibited the progression of blastocyst to hatching embryo. In addition H-7 blocked the PAF effects on the blastocyst development. Besides tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA), a PKC activator stimulated development of blastocyst to the hatching stage. These finding revealed that PAF support the blastocyst development to the hatching embryo. Also it is suggested that PAF action pathways in hatching supporting include the PKC signaling pathway.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.499-502
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• 2011

Aurora A kinase is a mitotic serine/threonine kinase whose proposed functions include the maturation of centrosomes, G2/M transition, alignment of chromosomes at metaphase, and cytokinesis. In this study, we investigated the effect of MLN8237, an aurora A kinase inhibitor, on the postovulatory aging of oocytes based on the frequency of oocyte fragmentation, cdk1 kinase activity, and cyclin B degradation. The fragmentation of ovulated oocytes during prolonged culture was inhibited by treatment with MLN8237 in a concentration-dependent manner. The frequency of fragmented oocytes was significantly lower in oocytes treated with 2 ${\mu}M$ MLN8237 (13%) than in control oocytes (64%) after two days of culture. Most of the control (non-fragmented) oocytes (91%) were activated after two days of culture. In comparison, only 22% of the MLN8237-treated oocytes were activated; the rest of the oocytes (78%) were still in metaphase with an abnormal spindle and dispersed chromosomes. Next, cdk1 activity and the level of cyclin B were examined. The level of cyclin B and cdk1 activity in MLN8237-treated oocytes were nearly equal to those in control oocytes. Our results indicate that MLN8237 inhibited the fragmentation of ovulated oocytes during prolonged culture, although it blocked the spontaneous decrease in activity of cdk1 and degradation of cyclin B. This mechanism of inhibition is different from that in oocytes treated with nocodazole, which have high levels of cdk1 activity and cyclin B.