• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제33권1호
• /
• pp.41-48
• /
• 2009

Placenta is the main nutrition source for the fetus during pregnancy. Thus, it has a pivotal function in the pregnant process. Many functions of the placenta have been elucidated. An abnormal placenta is associated with a high rate of pregnancy failure in somatic cloned bovine. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were examined in a comparison between normal and cloned bovine placenta using annealing control primer (ACP)-based GeneFishing PCR. Using 120 ACPs, nearly 80 genes were identified and the fragments of 42 DEGs were sequenced. 38 of these genes were known genes and four were unknown. To determine the DEGs result, six target clones expressing on one-side of a normal and a clone placenta were selected. Through an analysis of the target genes using the real-time PCR, the expressing pattern was found to be somewhat different from the DEGs. Additionally, several genes appeared with the same expression pattern. Taken together, this suggests that the target genes would be essential for research into what influences the placental formative mechanisms during fetal development.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제33권1호
• /
• pp.49-54
• /
• 2009

The current study was designed to evaluate the effects of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated with a xanthine (X) and xanthine oxidase system (XO) on sperm function and DNA fragmentation in porcine spermatozoa. ROS were produced by a combination of $1,000{\mu}M$ X and 50 mU/ml XO. The ROS scavengers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) (200 U/ml) and catalase (CAT) (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 antioxidants at $37^{\circ}C$ under 5% $CO_2$ incubator. Ca-ionophore-induced acrosome reaction, the proportion of swollen spermatozoa under hypo-osmotic condition, malondialdehyde formation for the analysis of lipid peroxidation, and the proportion of DNA fragmentation were determined after 2 hours incubation. The action of ROS on porcine spermatozoa resulted in decreased Ca-ionophore-induced acrosome reaction and membrane integrity, increased the formation of malondialdehyde, and the proportion of sperm with DNA fragmentation(p<0.05). The toxic effects caused by ROS were completely alleviated by CAT in terms of sperm function and characteristics, however SOD did not serve the same scavenger effect as CAT. To conclude, the ROS can cause significant damage to porcine sperm functions and characteristics, which can be minimized by the use of antioxidants.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• 제40권2호
• /
• pp.89-106
• /
• 2016

Many plant species have two modes of reproduction: sexual and asexual. Both modes of reproduction have often been viewed as adaptations to temporally or spatially variable environments. The plant should adjust partitioning to match changes in the estimated success of the two reproductive modes. Perennial plants showed that favorable habitats in soil nutrients or water content tend to promote clonal growth over sexual reproduction. In contrast, under high light-quantity conditions, clonal plants tend to allocate more biomass to sexual reproduction and less to clonal propagation. On the other hand, plants with chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers provides with a greater tendency of the opportunity to ensure some seed set in any stressful environmental conditions such as low light, low soil nutrients, or low soil moisture. It is considered that vegetative reproduction has high competitive ability and is the major means to expand established population of perennial plants, whereas cleistogamous reproduction is insurance to persist in stressful sites due to being strong. Chasmogamous reproduction mainly enhances established and new population. Therefore, the functions of sexual and asexual propagules of perennial or annual plants differ from each other. These traits of propagule thus determine its success at a particular region of any environmental gradients. Eventually, if environmental resources or stress levels change in either space or time, species composition will probably also change. The reason based on which the plants differ with respect to favored reproduction modes in each environmental condition, may be involved in their specific realized niche.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제27권12호
• /
• pp.1684-1690
• /
• 2014

Estrogen and its receptors are essential hormones for normal reproductive function in males and females during developmental stage. To better understand the effect of estrogen receptor (ER) gene in yak (Bos grunniens), reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out to clone $ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$ genes. Bioinformatics methods were used to analyze the evolutionary relationship between yaks and other species, and real-time PCR was performed to identify the mRNA expression of $ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$. Sequence analysis showed that the ER open reading frames (ORFs) encoded 596 and 527 amino acid proteins. The yak $ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$ shared 45.3% to 99.5% and 53.9% to 99.1% protein sequence identities with other species homologs, respectively. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that $ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$ were expressed in a variety of tissues, but the expression level of $ER{\alpha}$ was higher than that of $ER{\beta}$ in all tissues, except testis. The mRNA expression of $ER{\alpha}$ was highest in the mammary gland, followed by uterus, oviduct, and ovary, and lowest in the liver, kidney, lung, testis, spleen, and heart. The $ER{\beta}$ mRNA level was highest in the ovary; intermediary in the uterus and oviduct; and lowest in the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, mammary gland, and testis. The identification and tissue distribution of ER genes in yaks provides a foundation for the further study on their biological functions.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제28권1호
• /
• pp.57-65
• /
• 2009

CDC48 is a member of the AAA ATPase superfamily. Yeast CDC48 and its mammalian homolog p97 are implicated in diverse cellular processes, including mitosis, membrane fusion, and ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation. However, the cellular functions of plant CDC48 proteins are largely unknown. In the present study, we performed virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) screening and found that silencing of a gene encoding a tobacco CDC48 homolog, NgCDC48, resulted in severe abnormalities in leaf and shoot development in tobacco. Furthermore, transgenic tobacco plants (35S:anti-NgCDC48), in which the NgCDC48 gene was suppressed using the antisense RNA method, exhibited severely aberrant development of both vegetative and reproductive organs, resulting in arrested shoot and leaf growth and sterile flowers. Approximately 57-83% of 35S:anti-NgCDC48 plants failed to develop mature organs and died at early stage of development. Scanning electron microscopy showed that both adaxial and abaxial epidermal pavement cells in antisense transgenic leaves were significantly smaller and more numerous than those in wild type leaves. These results indicate that NgCDC48 is critically involved in cell growth and development of tobacco plants. An in vivo targeting experiment revealed that NgCDC48 resides in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in tobacco protoplasts. We consider the tantalizing possibility that CDC48-mediated degradation of an as-yet unidentified protein(s) in the ER might be a critical step for cell growth and expansion in tobacco leaves.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제27권2호
• /
• pp.242-257
• /
• 1994

In Korea, female workforce has reached more than 40% of total working population, but the effects of work on spontaneous abortion are yet to be examined. This study as conducted to investigate the occupational effects on spontaneous abortion. Medical insurance claim data were used to examine the effects of the employment status and industry of employment on spontaneous abortion. The study population was composed of females, aged $15{\sim}44$, who were the beneficiary of medical insurance in the month of June, 1993. The working females covered by medical insurance for industrial workers, had the highest age-adjusted Spontaneous Abortion rate (SAB rate=claim frequency of spontaneous abortion/claim frequency of complication of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium), 6.65% whereas female dependants of medical insurance for industrial workers had the lowest age-adjusted SAB rate, 4.54%. Among industrial workers, the workers in manufacturing industry had the highest age-adjusted Spontaneous Abortion ratio(SAB ratio=claim frequency of spontaneous abortion/claim frequency of completly normal delivery), 43.2/100 whereas those in financing and service industry had age-adjusted SAB ratio, 16.2/100 and 20.5/100, respectively. The results of the study suggest the adverse effect of manufacturing Industry on reproduction. Work environments such as chemical exposures, overwork, awkard posture, and job stress should be further studied for their effects on reproductive functions of female.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제33권4호
• /
• pp.211-216
• /
• 2009

A cell frequently utilizes glucose as a fuel of energy and a major substrate of lipid and protein syntheses. A regulation of glucose movement into and out of the cells is precisely controlled by cooperative works of passive and sodium-dependent active processes. At least 13 glucose cotransporter (Slc2a, GLUT) isoforms involve in passive movement of glucose in cells. The efferent ductules (EDs) play in a number of important functions for maintenance of male fertility. In the present study, using real-time PCR analysis, we determined gene expression of five Slc2a isoforms in the EDs. In addition, we compared expression levels of these Slc2a isoforms according to postnatal development ages, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months. Results from the current study showed that expression of Slc2a1, Slc2a3, and Slc2a5 mRNAs reached the highest levels at 1 month of age, followed by a transient decrease at 3 months of age. In addition, the level of Slc2a4 mRNA reminded at steady until 1 month of age and was significantly reduced at 3 months of age, whereas the highest level of Slc2a 8 mRNA was detected at 2 weeks of age. Data from the present study indicate a differential expression of various Slc2a isoforms in the ED according to postnatal ages. Thus, it is believed that glucose movement through the epithelial cells in the ED would be regulated by the coordinated manner among Slc2a isoforms expressed at a given age.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제33권4호
• /
• pp.243-248
• /
• 2009

To examine the differential expression of proteins during the cycling (70~80% confluences) and G0/G1 (full confluences) phases in porcine fetal fibroblast cells, we used a global proteomics approach by 2-D gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and MALDI-TOF-MS. Cycling cell were harvested at approximately 70% to 80% confluent state while cells in G0/G1 phase were recovered after maintenance of a confluent state for 48 hr. Cellular proteins with isoelectric points ranging between 3.0~10.0, were analyzed by 2-DE with 2 replicates of each sample. A total of approximately 700 spots were detected by 2.D gels stained with Coomassie brilliant blue. On comparing the cell samples obtained from the cycling and G0/G1 phases, a total of 13 spots were identified as differentially expressed proteins, of which 8 spots were up-regulated in the cycling cell and 5 were up-regulated in the G0/G1 phase. Differentially expressed proteins included K3 keratin, similar to serine protease 23 precursor, protein disulfide-isomerase A3, microsomal protease ER-60, alpha-actinin-2, and heat-shock protein 90 beta. The identified proteins were grouped on the basis of their basic functions such as molecular binding, catabolic, cell growth, and transcription regulatory proteins. Our results show expression profiles of key proteins in porcine fetal fibroblast cells during different cell cycle status.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제36권1호
• /
• pp.55-64
• /
• 2012

Peroxiredoxin II (Prdx II; a typical 2-Cys Prdx) has been originally isolated from erythrocytes, and its structure and peroxidase activity have been adequately studied. Prdx II has been reported to protect a wide range of cellular environments as antioxidant enzyme, and its dysfunctions may be implicated in a variety of disease states associated with oxidative stress, including cancer and aging-associated pathologies. But, the precise mechanism is still obscure in various aspects of aging containing ovarian aging. Identification and relative quantification of the increased proteins affected by Prdx II deficiency may help identify novel signaling mechanisms that are important for oxidative stress-related diseases. To identify the increased proteins in Prdx $II^{-/-}$ mice, we performed RBC comparative proteome analysis in membrane fraction and cytosolic fractions by nano-UPLC-$MS^E$ shotgun proteomics. We found the increased 86 proteins in membrane (32 proteins) and cytosolic (54 proteins) fractions, and analyzed comparative expression pattern in healthy RBCs of Prdx $II^{+/+}$ mice, healthy RBCs of Prdx $II^{-/-}$ mice, and abnormal RBCs of Prdx $II^{-/-}$ mice. These proteins belonged to cellular functions related with RBC lifespan maintain, such as cellular morphology and assembly, cell-cell interaction, metabolism, and stress-induced signaling. Moreover, protein networks among the increased proteins were analyzed to associate with various diseases. Taken together, RBC proteome may provide clues to understand the clue about redox-imbalanced diseases.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 대한불임학회 2000년도 제39차 춘계 학술대회
• /
• pp.37-42
• /
• 2000

Objective: To determine whether particular semen characteristics in various clinical diagnoses of infertility are associated with high oxidative stress and whether any group of infertile men is more likely to have high seminal oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in sperm physiological functions, but elevated levels of ROS or oxidative stress are related to male infertility. Design: Measurement of sperm concentration, motility, morphology, seminal ROS, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in patients seeking infertility treatment and controls. Setting: Male infertility clinic of a tertiary care center. Patient(s): One hundred sixty-seven infertile patients and 19 controls. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Semen characteristics, seminal ROS, and TAC in samples from patients with various clinical diagnoses and controls. Result(s): Fifteen patients (9.0%) were Endtz positive and 152(91.0%) Endtz negative. Sperm concentration, motility, and morphology were significantly reduced in all groups compared with the controls (P = .02), except in varicocele associated With infection group. Mean (${\pm}$SD) ROS levels in patient groups ranged from 2.2 ${\pm}$ 0.13 to 3.2 ${\pm}$ 0.35, signilicantly higher than controls (1.3 ${\pm}$ 0.3; P<.005). Patient groups had a significantly lower mean (${\pm}$SD) TAC from 1014.75 ${\pm}$ 79.22 to 1173.05 ${\pm}$ 58.07 than controls (1653 ${\pm}$ 115.28, P<.001), except ill the vaseclony reversal group (1532.02 ${\pm}$ 74.24). Sperm concentration was negatively correlated with ROS both overall and within all groups (P${\leq}$.007), with the exception of idiopathic infertility. Conclusion(s): Irrespective of the clinical diagnosis and semen characteristics, the presence of seminal oxidative stress in infertile men suggests its role in the pathophysiology of infertility. Medical or surgical treatments for infertility in these men should include strategies to reduce oxidative stress.