• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.105-115
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• 2002

Objective : To evaluate the effects of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated with a xanthine (X) and xanthine oxidase (XO) system on sperm function, the change of sperm characteristics, lipid peroxidation, and DNA fragmentation in bovine spermatozoa. Materials and Methods: ROS were produced using a combination of 1000 uM X and 50 mU/ml XO. The ROS scavengers: superoxide dismu tase (SOD) (200 U/ml) and catalase (500 U/ml) were also tested. Spermatozoa were incubated for 2 hours in BWW medium with a combination of X-XO supplemented with or without ROS scavengers at $37^{circ}C$ under 5% $CO_2$ incubator. Sperm movement characteristics by CASA (computer-aided sperm analysis), HOST (hypoosmotic swelling test), Caionophore induced acrosome reaction, malondialdehyde formation for the analysis of lipid peroxidation, the percentage of DNA fragmentation using the method of TdT-mediated nick end labelling (TUNEL) by flow cytometry were determined after 2 hours incubation. Results: The action of ROS on bovine spermatozoa resulted in a decreased in capacity for sperm motility, Ca-ionophore induced acrosome reaction and membrane integrity, an increased in malondialdehyde formation and the percentage of sperm with DNA fragmentation. In the effects of antioxidant, catalase completely alleviated the toxic effects induced by the ROS in terms of sperm function and characteristics, however SOD exhibited no capacity to reduce the toxic effects. Conclusion: The ROS can induce significant damages to sperm functions and characteristics. The useful ROS scavengers can minimized the defects of sperm function and various damages of spermatozoa.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.119-124
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• 2019

Objective: It is widely accepted that aging decreases women's fertility capacity. The aim of this study was to assess correlations between maternal age and the morphokinetic parameters and cleavage pattern of embryos. Methods: The morphokinetics of embryos derived from women < 30, 30-35, 36-40, and > 40 years of age were compared retrospectively in terms of time of second polar body extrusion, time of pronuclei appearance, time of pronuclei fading, and time of two to eight discrete cells (t2-t8). Furthermore, abnormal cleavage patterns such as uneven blastomeres at the two-cell stage, cell fusion (Fu), and trichotomous mitoses (TM) were assessed. Results: Only t5 occurred later in women aged 36-40 and > 40 years when compared with those aged < 30 and 30-35 years (p< 0.001). Other morphokinetic timing parameters, as well the presence of uneven blastomeres, were comparable between the groups (p> 0.05). However, Fu and TM were more common in women aged > 40 years than in younger women (p< 0.001). Conclusion: Maternal age was correlated with the cleavage pattern of embryos. Therefore, evaluating embryo morphokinetics may contribute to optimal embryo selection, thereby increasing fertility in patients with advanced maternal age.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2022

Objective: Oxidative stress and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) have been linked to idiopathic male infertility (IMI). Various antioxidants have been tried to improve semen parameters and fertility potential in IMI patients, but with inconsistent results. The study aimed to compare the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and Centrum multivitamins on semen parameters, seminal antioxidant capacity, and SDF in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia (OA). Methods: This prospective controlled clinical study involved 130 patients with idiopathic OA and 58 fertile controls. The patients were divided randomly into two groups: the first group received CoQ10 (200 mg/day orally) and the second group received Centrum multivitamins (1 tablet/day) for 3 months. Semen parameters, CoQ10 levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase, SDF, and serum hormone levels (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and prolactin) were compared at baseline and after 3 months. Results: Both CoQ10 and Centrum improved sperm concentration and motility, but the improvement was greater with Centrum therapy (p<0.05). Similarly, both therapies improved antioxidant capacity, but TAC and catalase improvement was greater (p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively) with CoQ10, whereas ROS (p<0.01) and SDF (p<0.001) improvements were greater with Centrum administration. Centrum therapy was associated with reduced serum testosterone (p<0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, both CoQ10 and Centrum were effective in improving semen parameters, antioxidant capacity, and SDF, but the improvement was greater with Centrum than with CoQ10. Therefore, Centrum-as a source of combined antioxidants-may provide more effective results than individual antioxidants such as CoQ10 in the treatment of infertile men with idiopathic OA.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.69.2-70
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• 2004

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.301-314
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• 2005

Objective: Rebamipide is a propionic acid derivative that has an action of the inhibition of superoxide production and removal of hydroxyl radical with the sperm incubation and cryopreservation. In the present study, to investigate whether rebamipide is useful to treat male infertility and sterility, the author observed the antioxidative effects in patient with male infertility and also examined its absorption and distribution in rat genital organ. Methods: To measure the distribution of rebamipide in reproductive organ in the rat, carbon indicated rebamipide, $^{14}C-OPC-12759$, was orally administered to 10 Spraque-Dawley rats and its organ concentration in serum, liver, kidney, stomach, duodenum, colon, urinary bladder, seminal vesicle, epididymis and testicle were measured each time after 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours by using HPLC fluorescent method. The concentrations in semen were measured by HPLC fluorescent method in a sample of 50 infertile males who took 900 mg of rebamipide daily for 3 months. To measure the antioxidative effect and fertility rate for 3 months, each month before and after the treatment, sperm motility, vitality, the oxygen free radical formation, level of peroxidation, fetilizing capacity of semen sample which were obtained from infertile male patients by masturbation after at least 48 hours abstinence were analyzed by computer assisted semen analyzer, eosin-nigrosin stain, chemiluminescence, thiobarbituric acid method and hypo-osmotic swelling test. Simultaneously in a sample that wanted baby, both pregnancy and delivery were researched. Results: The $^{14}C-OPC-12759$ concentration in the body of white rats was highest in gastrointestinal organ like stomach, smal intestine and duodenum and followed by genital organ like seminal vesicle, testis and epididymis. The rebamipide concentration in semen of infertile males was $220.77{\pm}327.84ng/mL$ (SD) which showed a large deviation but it was higher than serum which was $126{\pm}76ng/mL$ (SD). In the infertile males, after the treatment with rebamipide, the level of seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation have significantly decreased in duration of the treatment (p<0.05) and sperm vitality and fertilizing capacity except sperm motility significantly improved on post treatment of 2~3 months (p<0.05). Out of the 41 cases who hoped for pregnancy, 15 cases (36.6%) became pregnant and 12 cases had childbrith, 2 cases had miscarriage and one case is ongoing. The side effect was observed in 1 case (2%) which experienced diarrhea but it was lost spontaneously. Conclusions: We conclude from this study that rebamipide showed relatively high tendancy of absorption and excretion in the genital organ. In infertile males who had elevated ROS in semen, by specifically inhibiting the cell damage from the antioxidation, a way to preserve sperm motility, vitality and fertilizing capacity was confirmed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2020

Objective: Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of male infertility. But, the adverse effects of oxidative biomarkers on sperm quality remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the levels of nitric oxide (NO), 8-hydroxydesoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) oxidative biomarkers in seminal plasma and their relationship with sperm parameters. Methods: A total of 77 volunteers participated in the study, including fertile (n = 40) and infertile men (n = 37). NO, 8-OHdG, and TAC levels were measured using the ferric reducing ability of plasma, Griess reagent method and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, respectively. Results: The mean values of sperm parameters in the infertile group were significantly lower than those in the fertile group (p< 0.001). The mean 8-OHdG in the seminal plasma of infertile men was significantly higher (p= 0.013) than those of controls, while the mean TAC was significantly lower (p= 0.046). There was no significant difference in NO level between the two groups. The elevated seminal 8-OHdG levels were negatively correlated with semen volume, total sperm counts and morphology (p< 0.001, p= 0.001 and p= 0.052, respectively). NO levels were negatively correlated with semen volume, total sperm counts and morphology (p= 0.014, p= 0.020 and p= 0.060, respectively). Positive correlations between TAC and both sperm count and morphology (p= 0.043 and p= 0.025, respectively) were also found. Conclusion: These results suggested that increased levels of NO and 8-OHdG in seminal plasma could have a negative effect on sperm function by inducing damage to the sperm DNA hence their fertility potentials. Therefore, these biomarkers can be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.19-22
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• 2002

Life table studies were conducted in the laboratory for the eulophid gregarious pupal parasitoid, Tetrastichus sp., on Hyphantria cunea Drury at a constant temperature of 28.2$\pm$2$^{\circ}C$, 50-60% RH to evaluate their impact on the host and their potential biological control. Development of immature stage took 20.1$\pm$2.7 d: adult females lived for 23.2$\pm$2.2 (range, 16-27)d and produced a mean of 53.6$\pm$26.6 adult progeny per female, with a sex ratio of 1: 9.5 (M:F). The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r$_{m}$) was 0.178/ female/day; the net reproductive rate (R$_{o}$), 46.74; the capacity for increase (r$_{c}$) 0.177; the finite rate of increase (λ) 1.19/female/day; thus each female contributed 46.74 individuals to the population in a mean generation time of 21.6 d. Biological factors in determining the life history trait variation of the parasitoid were discussed.d.d.d.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.581-585
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• 1985

This study was carried out with blue mussels at Otsuchi Bay in Japan from August 1981 to May 1982, in order to investigate the effect of the parasitic pea crab (Pinnotheres pholadis) on the reproductive capacity of host blue mussels (Mytilus edulis galloprovincialis). The results show that pea crabs delay gonad development of host mussels about one month and lower their fatness rate by intercepting nutrients. The parasitization with pea crabs is thought not to prevent spawning activity itself, but to reduce the number of germ cell resulting in the reduced space of gonads.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.187-192
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• 2017

Although the survival rate of hematologic malignancies in young patients is very high, cytotoxic therapies such as chemotherapy and total body irradiation therapy can significantly reduce a patient's reproductive capacity and cause irreversible infertility. Early ovarian failure also commonly occurs following additional cancer treatment, bone marrow transplantation, or autologous transplantation. Because the risk of early ovarian failure depends on the patient's circumstances, patients with a hematologic malignancy must consult health professionals regarding fertility preservation before undergoing treatments that can potentially damage their ovaries. While it is widely known that early menopause commonly occurs following breast cancer treatment, there is a lack of reliable study results regarding fertility preservation during hematologic malignancy treatment. Therefore, an in-depth discussion between patients and health professionals about the pros and cons of the various options for fertility preservation is necessary. In this study, we review germ cell toxicity, which occurs during the treatment of hematologic malignancies, and propose guidelines for fertility preservation in younger patients with hematologic malignancies.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.215-221
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• 2017

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia, MC) has been used in traditional Korean medicine in treating diabetes. In addition, some reports were emerged, showing the antifertility activities of MC in mammals. We investigated the effects of ethanolic MC extract on the reproductive activity of golden hamsters whose spermatogenetic capacity is controlled by their photoperiods. The animals were divided into 4 groups: long photoperiod (LP) control, short photoperiod (SP) control, and LP animals treated with MC. The animals were orally ingested with low (0.03 g/kg) or high (0.15 g/kg) concentrations of the ethanolic extracts for 8 weeks on the daily basis. The control animals received the vehicle. The animals were then mated with age-matched females, experienced pregnancy. As results, the LP control animals showed active large testes but SP control animals displayed remarkably reduced testes. The animals treated with both concentrations of MC extracts demonstrated large testes, indicating fertile activity as animals in LP. LP control animals had litters as expected, but SP controls had no litters at all. MC extract showed the same results as LP animals in generating offsprings. These results suggest that the MC extract does not change the photoperiodic influence on reproductive activity of male golden hamsters.