• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.88-93
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the seminal fluid of the male partners in couples undergoing intrauterine insemination and to evaluate correlations between these values and their semen parameters. Methods: The study was conducted at Vamsam Fertility Center, Coimbatore, India and enrolled 110 male patients from whom semen samples were collected. ROS production was measured by a thiobarbituric acid reactive species assay, and TAC was measured by a 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical assay. The differences in the TAC and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels between the subfertile and fertile groups were analysed. Correlations between sperm parameters and TAC and MDA levels were statistically analysed, and cutoff values with respect to the controls were determined. All hypothesis tests used were two-tailed, with statistical significance assessed at the level of p< 0.05. Results: A total of 87 subfertile and 23 fertile men were included in the study. The mean MDA level was significantly higher in the subfertile subjects than in the fertile subjects, and the mean antioxidant level was significantly lower in the subfertile subjects than in the fertile subjects. Seminal MDA levels were negatively associated with sperm concentration, motility, and morphology, whereas the opposite was seen with TAC levels. Conclusion: Measurements of seminal TAC and ROS are valuable for predicting semen quality, and hence predicting the outcomes of fertility treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.149-157
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• 2002

Objectives: To assess the scavenging effect of carnitine derivatives on oxidative damage to sperm during sperm processing, cryopreservation and thawing. Materials and Methods: Fresh semen samples from 20 normal healthy volunteers were collected by masturbation after at least 48 hours abstinence. After liquefaction of semen samples at room temperature, the specimens were diluted with sperm wash media (Ham's F-10, Life technologics) to a uniform density of $20{\times}10^6/ml$. L-carnitine or acetylcarnitine were added with various concentration of $0{\mu}M$, $10{\mu}M$, $30{\mu}M$ in semen sample or cryoprotectant. All specimens were cryopreservated at $-196^{circ}C$ $LN_2$ for 3 days. Sperm motility, vitality, fertilizing capacity, reactive oxygen species formation and the level of lipid peroxidation were analyzed by computer assisted semen analyzer, eosin-nigrosin stain, hypoosmotic swelling test, chemiluminescence and thiobarbituric acid method, respectively, during sperm processing, cryopreservation and thawing. Results: The sperm motility was only increased in proportion to the concentration of acetylcarnitine with no statistical significance (p>0.05). The sperm vitality was also significantly improved in proportion to the concentration of acetylcarnitine with statistical significance (p<0.05). The sperm fertilizing capacity was significantly increased in proportion to the concentration of L-carnitine and acetylcarnitine and reactive oxygen species generation and lipid peroxidation were significantly decreased with same fashion (p<0.05). On comparison of effects between L-carnitine and acetylcarnitine, acetylcarnitine was superior to L-carnitine on the improvement of sperm motility and vitality as well as the suppression of reactive oxygen species generation and lipid peroxidation. Conclusions: These results suggest that carnitine derivatives have a scavenging effect against oxidative damages during sperm processing, cryopreservation and thawing. Therefore, carnitine derivatives may be useful as an oral antioxidant in patients with male infertility due to increased ROS generation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 1987

The Radionuclide test (RN test) using radioactively labelled human albumin microspheres was developed recently to evaluate the patency and functional capacity of the fallopian tubes. 57 infertile women underwent this procedure as a part of their infertility work up. The results of the radionuclide evaluation were compared with those of the hysterosalpingography (HSG) and further the surgical findings of the laparoscopy and laparotomy. In 64.9%(37/57) of the cases, there was complete agreement between radionuclide test (RN test), hysterosalpingography(HSG) and surgical findings. In comparison with surgical findings, RN test showed a complete agreement rate of 89.4%(51/57), a partial agreement rate of 5.3%(3/57) and no agreement rate of 5.3%(3/57), respectively. Likewise, HSG revealed a complete agreement rate of 80.7%(46/57), a partial agreement rate of 10.5%(6/57) and no agreement 8.8%(5/57), respectively. It would appear that as opposed to the traditional HSG, RN test may give a better understanding of the functional capacity of the tube and may prove a useful method before and after tubal surgery.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.131-141
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• 1995

This study was designed to determine the relationship between sperm acrosome reaction following ionophore challenge(ARIC) and hamster ovum sperm penetration assay(SPA) as assessment of fertilizing capacity of male. ARIC test and SPA were performed in 23 fertile and 19 subfertile men. The results were as follows; Sperm concentration was significantly higher in fertile group compared with subfertile group: $114.6{\pm}64.40$ vs $61.3{\pm}46.50{\times}10^6/ml$. However, there were no significantly differences in seminal volume, motility and motility index, respectively. There was a significantly correlation between spontaneous and induced AR in fertile and subfertile group, respectively. ARIC value was significantly higher in fertile group, compared with subfertile group: $12.0{\pm}5.57%$ vs $2.6{\pm}4.96%$. Both Penetration rate(PR) and Penetration index(PI) were significantly higher in fertile group, compared with subfertile group: $97.4{\pm}7.40%$ vs $64.9{\pm}36$. 20% and $5.4{\pm}2.88$ vs $1.5{\pm}1.47$, respectively. The Positive predictive value(PPV), Negative predictive value(NPV), sensitivity and specificity of ARIC test (cut-off: 8.5) and SPA(PI cut-off : 3.0) in predicting fertility were 95.0%, 81.8%, 82.6%, 94.7% and 95.2%, 85.7%, 87.0% and 94.7%, respectively. There was no significantly difference in predicting fertility between ARIC test and SPA. In conclusion, ARIC test was shown to have a predictive value for fertilizing capacity comparable to that of the hamster ovum sperm penetration assay. Therefore, ARIC test may be a simple and cost-effective addition to existing semenology instead of SPA.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제48권2호
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• pp.150-155
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• 2021

Objective: Oxidative stress (OS) plays a key role in the etiology of unexplained male infertility. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a potent antioxidant that may improve semen quality and OS in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia (OAT), but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of CoQ10 on OS markers and sperm DNA damage in infertile patients with idiopathic OAT. Methods: This prospective controlled study included 50 patients with idiopathic OAT and 50 fertile men who served as controls. All patients underwent a comprehensive medical assessment. Patients and controls received 200 mg of oral CoQ10 once daily for 3 months. Semen and blood were collected and analyzed for sperm parameters, seminal CoQ10 levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, total antioxidant capacity, catalase, sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), and serum hormonal profile. Results: The administration of CoQ10 to patients with idiopathic OAT significantly improved sperm quality and seminal antioxidant status and significantly reduced total ROS and SDF levels compared to pretreatment values. Conclusion: CoQ10, at a dose of 200 mg/day for 3 months, may be a potential therapy for infertile patients with idiopathic OAT, as it improved sperm parameters and reduced OS and SDF in these patients.

• 한국작물학회지
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.97-102
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• 2000

This experiment was conducted to investigate the changes of harvest index and the relationship between harvest index and yield determination factors by different planting times in the determinate soybean cultivars, Shinpaldal and Danbaeg. Optimum planting were 23 May in 1995 and 1996. Late planting were 13 June in 1995 and 6 June in 1996. Growth period from planting to physiological maturity (R7) was shortened as planting time was delayed in two cultivars due to shortening of reproductive growth period in Shinpaldal, and of vegetative growth period in Danbaeg. Stem weight was distinctly decreased in late planting compared to optimum planting, but seed weight of both cultivars was not different between planting times. Also, seed number per pod and harvest index were significantly increased in late planting and the high correlation was found between two factors. It was suggested that increase of harvest index in late planting would be related with high assimilate use efficiency due to increase of sink capacity. The results of correlation and principal component analysis for yield determination factors showed that main factor on yield determination was pod number per plant at R5 stage associated with dry matter accumulation during early reproductive growth period, seed number per pod and harvest index were the second factor, and one hundred seed weight was the third factor. The result of this experiment indicated that yield determination in soy-bean was dependent mainly on pod number per plant related to dry matter accumulation by early reproductive growth period, and the increase of seed number per pod and harvest index could compensate for yield decrease by shortening of vegetative growth period in late planting. Such result suggests that optimum planting date can be delayed from mid May to early June in improved soybean cultivars in Korea.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.41-51
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• 2020

Objectives : US extract is a mixture of each extract of Ulmi cortex and Smilacis rhizoma. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and ovoprotective effects of US extract in in vitro model to identify potential candidates for improving female reproductive function. Methods : The antioxidant activity of US extract was measured using 1,1-diphenyl- 2-picrylhydrazyl free radical and superoxide anion radical scavenging assays. The anti-inflammatory effect of US extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were determined with a nitric oxide (NO) assay, enzyme linked immunosorbent assays, and western blots analysis. The antibacterial activity of US extract against vaginitis infection microorganisms were determined with disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration assays. The ovoprotective effect of US extract on 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD)-induced ovotoxicity in CHO-K1 cells were evaluated with a cell viability assay. Result : US extract showed good antioxidant capacity and inhibited LPS-induced NO production as well as iNOS and COX-2 expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 without affecting the cell viability. It showed significant clear zones for Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans but did not indicate the clear zones for Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium. VCD-induced ovotoxicity in CHO-K1 cells was significantly reduced by US extract pre-treatment. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that US extract has antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects on the LPS-stimulated macrophages, antibacterial activity against vaginitis infection microorganisms, and protective effects on the ovarian cells against VCD-induced ovotoxicity. These findings suggest that the US extract can be used as new prescriptions, supplements, functional foods, and cosmetics for improving female reproductive function.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.253-261
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• 2012

We investigated the reproductive capacity of starry flounder Platichthys stellatus from the Uljin (UJ) marine ranching area and compared it to that of P. stellatus from the coastal waters of Pohang (PH). In UJ, female gonadosomatic index (GSI) peaked in October ($3.14{\pm}0.87$) and male GSI was high in October and December. In PH, female GSI peaked in January ($18.64{\pm}2.15$) while male GSI began to increase in October and remained high until March. Most ovaries of UJ females were immature with perinucleus oocytes, although the testes of UJ males were ripe in January. Both the ovaries and testes of PH starry flounders were ripe from January to March. The plasma estradiol-$17{\beta}$ ($E_2$) levels of UJ females were highest in October ($4.09{\pm}1.90$ ng/mL) although the testosterone (T) levels of UJ males were highest in December ($3.81{\pm}0.78$ ng/mL) and decreased gradually until April. The $17{\alpha}$,$20{\beta}$-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one ($17{\alpha}20{\beta}P$) levels of UJ females were not detected. The E2 levels of PH females were highest in December ($36.25{\pm}33.07$ ng/mL) and $17{\alpha}20{\beta}P$ levels were highest in March ($5.51{\pm}0.95$5 ng/mL). The T levels of PH males were highest in December ($4.03{\pm}1.34$ ng/mL) and decreased gradually until October. Taken together, these results suggest that most females from UJ did not reach maturation with a spawning period that was considered to be between December and January.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.71-76
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• 1998

본 연구는 소 미성숙난자를 electron microscope (EM) grid와 동해제인 EFS30을 이용하여 초급속 동결하였을 때 정상적인 배 발달의 유도가능성 여부를 조사하고자 실시하였다. 동해제는 30% ethylene glycol, 18% ficoll, 0.5 M sucrose와 10% FBS 등이 PBS에 첨가되어 제작된 EFS30을 사용하였다. 난자 생존의 평가기준으로는 성숙, 수정 및 배발달을 조사하였다. 본 연구에서 얻어진 결과는 다음과 같다. 초급속동결-융해 후, 소 미성숙란의 생존율은 43.2%을 나타내었다. 동결-융해군의 체외 성숙 (84.1%)과 정상 자웅전핵 형성율 (57.5%)은 대조군의 결과 (92.5, 65.0%)와 비교하여 볼 때 유의한 차이는 없었다. 또한, 동결군의 체외수정 이후의 $\geq2$-세포기 형성 (65.0%)과 배반포형성율 (30.8%)도 대조군(73.7, 35.7%)의 결과와 유의한 차이를 나타내지 않았다. 따라서 소 미성숙난자는 EM grid와 EFS30 동결액을 이용한 초급속 동결방법에 의해 정상적인 배발달이 유도될 수 있다는 것을 알 수 있었다.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.39-45
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• 2004

Six demographic parameters including life span (LS), maturation time (MT), net reproduction rate (Ro), mean generation length (G), innate capacity for increase $(r_m)$ and finite rate of increase $(\gamma)$ were estimated in the rotifer (Brachionus rotundiformis) cultured at three salinities of 5, 20 and 34 PSU and under a constant temperature of $28^{\circ}C$. The maximum life spans at salinities of 5, 20 and 34 PSU were 17, 12 and 13 days, respectively. The shortest maturation time (24 hr) was recorded at 5 PSU, and the rotifer at 20 PSU showed a most delayed maturation (192 hr). The maximum reproduction rate was 42 offspring per female in rotifer cultured at 5 PSU, while the longest generation length (8 days) was observed at 20 PSU. Maximum and minimum values of $r_m$ (1.56 and 0.46 individual per day) and $(\gamma)$ (6.67 and 1.70 individuals per day) were calculated at 5 and 34 PSU, respectively. Salinity also showed strong effect on correlation of the demographic traits examined. ANOVA revealed significant differences (P<0.05) between demographic parameters of the rotifer at the three salinity condition. Considering the higher values of life span, innate capacity and finite rate of increase, and shortest maturation time at 5 PSU, the rotifer we examined had a higher reproductive potential and longer life span at 5 PSU rather than at 20 or 34 PSU.