• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.21-28
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• 2024

Present study aimed to investigate the temporal changes in expression of some reproductive hormones in testis, originally found in hypothalamus and pituitary. Rats were sacrificed on postnatal day 23 (PND23; immature), pubertal (PND53) and PND 81 (young adult). The testicular RNAs were extracted, and semi-quantitative PCRs for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), kisspeptin 1 (KiSS1), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), LH subunits and LH receptor were performed. Transcript levels of GnRH and KiSS1 at PND23 were significantly higher than levels of PND53 and PND81 (p<0.001). PACAP mRNA level at PND23 was significantly lower than those of PND53 and PND81 (p<0.001). The mRNA levels of both testis type and pituitary type luteinizing hormone β subunit (tLHβ and pLHβ, respectively) at PND23 were significantly lower than levels of PND53 and PND81 (p<0.001). The mRNA level of glycoprotein hormone common alpha subunit (Cgα) at PND23 was significantly lower than those of PND53 and PND81 (p<0.001). Present study revealed the intratesticular expression of KiSS1 and GnRH showed a very similar trend while the expression of PACAP in the testis showed reversed pattern. The expressions of LHβ subunits (tLHβ and pLHβ) were very low during immature stage then increased significantly during puberty and early adulthood. Our attempt to study the local role(s) of intratesticular factors will be helpful to achieve precise understanding on the testis physiology and pathology.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.94-100
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• 2020

The inverse correlation between maternal age and pregnancy rate represents a major challenge for reproductive endocrinology. The high embryo ploidy error rate in failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles reflects genetic misfires accumulated by older oocytes over time. Despite the application of different follicular recruitment protocols during IVF, gonadotropin modifications are generally futile in addressing such damage. Even when additional oocytes are retrieved, quality is frequently poor. Older oocytes with serious cytoplasmic and/or chromosomal errors are often harvested from poorly perfused follicles, and ovarian vascularity and follicular oxygenation impact embryonic chromosomal competency. Because stimulation regimens exert their effects briefly and immediately before ovulation, gonadotropins alone are an ineffective antidote to long-term hypoxic pathology. In contrast, the tissue repair properties (and particularly the angiogenic effects) of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are well known, with applications in other clinical contexts. Injection of conventional PRP and/or its components (e.g., isolated platelet-derived growth factors as a cell-free substrate) into ovarian tissue prior to IVF has been reported to improve reproductive outcomes. Any derivative neovascularity may modulate oocyte competence by increasing cellular oxygenation and/or lowering concentrations of intraovarian reactive oxygen species. We propose a mechanism to support intrastromal angiogenesis, improved follicular perfusion, and, crucially, embryo ploidy rescue. This last effect may be explained by mRNA upregulation coordinated by PRP-associated molecular signaling, as in other tissue systems. Additionally, we outline an intraovarian injection technique for platelet-derived growth factors and present this method to help minimize reliance on donor oocytes and conventional hormone replacement therapy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.283-294
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• 2021

A genetic etiology of male infertility is identified in fewer than 25% of infertile men, while 30% of infertile men lack a clear etiology, resulting in a diagnosis of idiopathic male infertility. Advances in reproductive genetics have provided insights into the mechanisms of male infertility, and a characterization of the genetic basis of male infertility may have broad implications for understanding the causes of infertility and determining the prognosis, optimal treatment, and management of couples. In a substantial proportion of patients with azoospermia, known genetic factors contribute to male infertility. Additionally, the number of identified genetic anomalies in other etiologies of male infertility is growing through advances in whole-genome amplification and next-generation sequencing. In this review, we present an up-to-date overview of the indications for appropriate genetic tests, summarize the characteristics of chromosomal and genetic diseases, and discuss the treatment of couples with genetic infertility by microdissection-testicular sperm extraction, personalized hormone therapy, and in vitro fertilization with pre-implantation genetic testing.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.85-90
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• 2021

We present data from three Caucasian men with Zinner syndrome who attended our center for the treatment of primary couple's infertility. Each patient was scheduled for conventional testicular sperm extraction (cTESE) and cryopreservation. Sperm analysis confirmed absolute azoospermia. Patient 1 had right and left testis volumes of 24 mL and 23 mL, respectively; left seminal vesicle (SV) agenesis, severe right SV hypotrophy with right renal agenesis. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was 3.2 IU/L. Patient 2 exhibited right and left testis volumes of 18 mL and 16 mL, respectively; a left SV cyst of 32 × 28 mm, ipsilateral kidney absence, and right SV agenesis. FSH was 2.8 IU/L. Patient 3 showed a testicular volume of 10 mL bilaterally, a 65 × 46 mm left SV cyst, right SV enlargement, and left kidney agenesis. FSH was 32.0 IU/L. Sperm retrieval was successful in all patients. Nevertheless, cTESE should be performed on the day of oocyte retrieval.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.157-162
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• 2013

Methoxychlor (MXC) was developed to be a replacement for the banned pesticide DDT. HPTE [2,2-bis (p-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane], which is an in vivo metabolite of MXC, has strong oestrogenic and anti-androgenic effects. MXC and HPTE are thought to produce potentially adverse effects by acting through oestrogen and androgen receptors. Of the two, HPTE binds to sex-steroid receptors with greater affinity, and it inhibits testosterone biosynthesis in Leydig cells by inhibiting cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme activity and cholesterol utilisation. In a previous study, MXC was shown to induce Leydig cell apoptosis by decreasing testosterone concentrations. I focused on the effects of MXC on male mice that resulted from interactions with sex-steroid hormone receptors. Sex-steroid hormones affect other organs including the kidney and liver. Accordingly, I hypothesised that MXC can act through sex-steroid receptors to produce adverse effects on the testis, kidney and liver, and I designed our experiments to confirm the different effects of MXC exposure on the male reproductive system, kidney and liver. In these experiments, I used pre-pubescent ICR mice; the puberty period in ICR mice is from postnatal day (PND) 45 to PND60. I treated the experimental group with 0, 100, 200, 400 mg MXC/kg b.w. delivered by an intra-peritoneal injection with sesame oil used as vehicle for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the mice were sacrificed under anaesthesia. The testes and accessory reproductive organs were collected, weighed and prepared for histological investigation. I performed a chemiluminescence immune assay to observe the serum levels of testosterone, LH and FSH. Blood biochemical determination was also performed to check for other effects. There were no significant differences in our histological observations or relative organ weights. Serum testosterone levels were decreased in a dose-dependent manner; a greater dose resulted in the production of less testosterone. Compared to the control group, testosterone concentrations differed in the 200 and 400 mg/kg dosage groups. In conclusion, I observed markedly negative effects of MXC exposure on testosterone concentrations in pre-pubescent male mice. From our biochemical determinations, I observed some changes that indicate renal and hepatic failure. Together, these data suggest that MXC produces adverse effects on the reproductive system, kidney and liver.

• 한국동물학회지
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.220-229
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• 1995

uftraspirocle (usa) gene product (Uspl is a member of the superfamilv of steroid hormone receptors in Drosophila melonogaster which mediate the hormone action by heteromerization with ecdvsone receptor (EcR). Based on the genetic and molecular characterization of usp, it has been proposed that Usp funtions in at least three significant developmental pathway: embrvogenesis, eve morphogenesis, and female reproduction. In this study, the expression patterns of Usp were investigated by immunohistochemistrv in individual tissues from diHernt developmental stases of Drosophila. Usp is localized in the nucleus with ubiquitous distribution throughout development. Usp expression is detected throughout embrvogenesis. Usp is expressed in imaginal and lanral tissues from late third instar 18nra. The expression pattern of Usp is overlapped by those of EcR. Also Usp is expressed in differentiating adult reproductive organs. This result suggests that Usp is not a transcriptional regulatory factor modulating hormonal response during development, but also play some roles in female and male reproduction of Drosophila.

• BMB Reports
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.393-398
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• 2011

Polydnaviruses are a group of double-stranded DNA viruses and are symbiotically associated with some ichneumonoid wasps. As proviruses, the replication of polydnaviruses occurs in the female reproductive organ at the pupal stage. This study analyzed the effects of two developmental hormones, juvenile hormone (JH) and ecdysteroid, on the viral replication of Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV). All 23 CpBV segments identified contained a conserved excision/rejoining site ('AGCTTT') from their proviral segments. Using quantitative real-time PCR based on this excision/rejoining site marker, initiation of CpBV replication was determined to have occurred on day 4 on the pupal stage. Pyriproxyfen, a JH agonist, significantly inhibited adult emergence of C. plutellae, whereas RH5992, an ecdysteroid agonist, had no inhibitory effect. Although RH5992 had no effect dose on adult development, it significantly accelerated viral replication. The results of immunoblotting assays against viral coat proteins support the effects of the hormone agonists on viral replication.

• 대한추나의학회지
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.125-137
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• 2000

the aim of this study was to investigate whether osteoporosis can be advanced after cerebral infarction Of not and role of female sex hormone. all animals were classified 4 groups; group of ovariectomy (OVXgroup) group of cerebral infarction( INF group), group of combination ovariectomy and cerebral infarction(OVX + INF group), naturally intact group for control data (NOR group ). cerebral infarction was made by Chen,s method with some modification and ovariectomy was performed by Wayforth,s method. experimental data was collected at 15 days, 1 month, 3 months and 6months after starting observation. serum 17 ${{\beta}-estradiol\;(E_2)}$ was determined by radioimmunoassay, for comparision of osteoporosis formation, bone density, serum osteocalcin, Serum total calcium and phosphorus, Serum AST Concentration, Serum ALT Concentration, Creatinine Concentration were also calculated. we have found that cerebral ischemia decreases not only the serum concentration of 17 ${{\beta}-estradiol\;(E_2)}$ and inhibits but also the physiologically compensatory function of the ovariectomized rats and that the decreased estrogen concentration followed by cerebral infarction have not produced osteoporosis, regretfully.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.174-182
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• 2015

Objectives : AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) is considered a sensitive marker of ovarian reserve, and it tends to be included among basic fertility tests. This paper is to report four pregnancies which were achieved by subfertile women with low AMH level after Korean medical treatments. Methods : Four cases of pregnancy by subfertile women, aged 34 to 37, with low AMH level (0.04 to 0.76 ng/mL), after Korean medical treatments between July 2012 and May 2015, were analysed. The patients were diagnosed as Kidney deficiency (腎虛), Blood extravasation (瘀血) and/or Liver Qi stagnation (肝氣 鬱結). Herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture and moxibustion treatments were applied. Results : The four subfertile women with low AMH level achieved pregnancy after Korean medical treatments. Conclusions : The case report suggests that Korean medical treatment can be an effective option for subfertile women with low AMH level before Assisted Reproductive Technology.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한불임학회 2006년도 The 5th Biannual Meeting of Pacific Rim Society for Fertility and Sterility
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• pp.6-11
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• 2006

Our previous study demonstrates a rapid activation of atypical PKC${\zeta}$ by the ovulatory dose of LH/hCG. The present study was therefore designed to identify PKC${\zeta}$ regulated-genes in rat ovarian preovulatory granulosa cells. Preovulatory granulosa cells cultured in the presence of myristoylated PKC${\zeta}$ pseudosubstrate peptide were subjected to identify differentially expressed genes by using anneling control primer RT-PCR. As a result, among sixteen genes identified, six genes (testin, glypican-4, retrovirus SC1, connective growth factor, aminolevulinic acid synthase1 and serum- inducible kinase) were rapidly stimulated by hCG. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that all these genes were rapidly stimulated by hCG and declined thereafter. In situ hybridization analysis revealed the expression of these genes in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles. The present study demonstrates time- and cell-specific expression of PKC${\zeta}$-regulated genes, and may imply that these genes play a specific role(s) during LH-induced ovulation.