• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2011

Low temperature stress is one of the major negative factors affecting vegetative and reproductive growth of rice. To better understand responses of rice plants to low temperature we analyzed transcriptome expression patterns in glumous flower of cold-tolerant japonica rice variety, Stejaree45, and cold-susceptible variety, HR19621-AC6 at booting stage under cold water irrigation. A total of 2,411 probes were differentially expressed by low temperature in glumous flowers of the two varieties. Some important genes involved in hormone biosynthesis showed variety-specific regulation. Expression of GA20ox3 and GA2ox, among the genes involved in GA biosynthesis, was regulated differentially in the two varieties. Among the genes involved in IAA biosynthesis, YUCCA1 and TAA1:1 showed variety-specific regulation. Among the genes involved in cytokinin biosynthsis and signaling, expression of LOG, HK1 and HK3 was significantly down-regulated only in the cold-susceptible variety. Among the genes involved in ABA biosynthesis, NSY and AAO3 were down-regulated only in the cold-tolerant variety. In general, genes involved in GA, IAA and cytokinin biosynthesis responded to cold temperature in such a way that capacity of those bioactive hormones is maintained at relatively higher levels under cold temperature in the cold-tolerant variety, which can help minimize cold stress imposed to developing reproductive organs in the cold-tolerant variety.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1666-1674
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• 2022

Objective: Letrozole, a potent aromatase inhibitor, is known to have the potential to modify male reproductive function by altering sex hormone levels. This study aimed to evaluate the semen and testicular characteristics and hormonal profile of aged Mrakhoz bucks (Capra hircus) treated with letrozole. Methods: Twelve Markhoz male goats, aged between 4.5 to 5.5 years with an average body weight (BW) of 61.05±4.97 kg were used for the study. Animals were randomly divided into two equal groups and subcutaneously received either 0.25 mg/kg BW of letrozole or a control every week for 2 months. The semen collections were performed every 10 days, and blood samples and testicular biometric records were collected at 20 days intervals. Results: Letrozole causes increased testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels, testosterone to estradiol ratio, semen index and reaction time during the period from 20th to 60th days (p<0.05). Furthermore, letrozole-treated bucks had higher semen volume, sperm concentration, and total sperm per ejaculate from 30th to 60th days (p<0.05). However, no differences occurred between the groups in scrotal circumference, relative testicular volume, semen pH, abnormality, acrosome integrity, and membrane integrity of sperm during the study (p>0.05). The serum luteinizing hormone levels, sperm viability, motility, and progressive motility increased, and estradiol levels decreased after 40th to 60th days of letrozole treatment (p<0.05). Conclusion: Letrozole application to aged Markhoz bucks provokes reproductive hormonal axis which, in turn, induces enhancement of semen production and quality.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.192-199
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• 2023

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate chromosomal abnormalities and their correlations with clinical and radiological findings in females with primary amenorrhea (PA). Methods: Detailed forms were recorded for 470 females, including the construction of three-generation pedigrees. Peripheral venous blood was drawn, with informed consent, for cytogenetic analysis. Results: An abnormal karyotype was found in 16.38% of participants. The incidence of structural abnormalities (6.8%) exceeded that of numerical abnormalities (6.15%). Turner syndrome represented 45% of all numerical abnormalities. Furthermore, the Y chromosome was detected in 5% of females with PA. Among the structural chromosomal abnormalities detected (n=32) were mosaicism (25%), deletions (12.5%), isochromosomes (18.75%), fragile sites (3.12%), derivatives (3.12%), marker chromosomes (3.12%), and normal variants (29.125%). An examination of secondary sexual characteristics revealed that 29.6% of females had a complete absence of breast development, 29.78% lacked pubic hair, and 36.88% exhibited no axillary hair development. Radiological findings revealed that 51.22% of females had a hypoplastic uterus and 26.66% had a completely absent uterus. Abnormal ovarian development, such as the complete absence of both ovaries, absence of one ovary, one absent and other streak, or both streak ovaries, was observed in 69.47% of females with PA. Additionally 43.1%, 36.1%, 67.4%, and 8% of females had elevated levels of serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and prolactin, respectively. Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of karyotyping as a fundamental diagnostic tool for assessing PA. The cytogenetic correlation with these profiles will aid in genetic counseling and further management of the condition.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.479-487
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• 2014

Leptin plays an important role in energy homeostasis and reproductive function in fish, especially in reproduction. Migrating fish, such as salmonoids, are affected by external environmental factors, and salinity changes are a particularly important influence on spawning migrations. The aim of this study was to test whether changes in salinity affect the expression of leptin, estrogen receptors (ERs), and vitellogenin (VTG) in chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta). The expression and activity of leptin, the expression of ERs and VTG, and the levels of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ and cortisol increased after the fish were transferred to FW, demonstrating that changes in salinity stimulate the HPG axis in migrating female chum salmon. These findings reveal details about the role of elevated leptin levels and sex steroid hormones in stimulating sexual maturation and reproduction in response to salinity changes in chum salmon.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.115-133
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• 1998

Recently public concerns about the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) have resulted in the increased legistrative and regulatory attentions in many countries. Endocrine disrupter is an exogeneous chemical interfering the synthesis, transport binding, action or elimination of natural hormones in the body, which are responsible for the maintenance of homeostasis, reproduction, development and/or behavior. Reported possible harmful effects on human and animal lives, possible developmental anomalities, reproductive malfunctions and behaviors, and the ways of EDC accumulation in animal kingdom are reviewed. The current scientific papers and knowledges on the global contamination of EDCs demonstrates the conclusive data that EDCs have the potentials to cause the calamitous extermination of human and animal species by the global contamination.

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2003

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women in Western countries, and its prevalence is also increasing in Asia. The major risk factor for breast cancer can be traced to reproductive events that influence the lifetime levels of hormones. However, a large percentage of breast cancer cases cannot, be explained by these risk factors. The identification of susceptibility factors that predispose individuals to breast cancer (for instance, if they are exposed to particular environmental agents) could possibly give further insight into the etiology of this malignancy and provide targets for the future development of therapeutics. The most interesting candidate genes include those that mediate a range of functions. These include carcinogen metabolism, DNA repair, steroid hormone metabolism, signal transduction, and cell cycle control. We conducted a hospital-based case-control study in South Korea to evaluate the potential modifying role of the genetic polymorphisms of selected low penetrance genes that are involved in carcinogen metabolisms (i.e., CYP1A1, CYP2E1, GSTM1/T1/P1, NAT1/2, etc.), estrogen synthesis and metabolism (i.e., CYP19, CYP17, CYP1B1, COMT, ER-$\alpha$, etc.), DNA repair (i.e., XRCC1/3, ERCC2/4, ATM, AGT, etc.), and signal transduction as well as others (i.e., TGF-$\beta$, IGF-1, TNF-$\beta$, IL-1B, IL-1RN, etc.). We also took into account the potential interaction between these and the known risk factors of breast cancer. The results of selected genes will be presented in this mini-review.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.83-89
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• 2018

The interplay of plant hormones is one of the essential mechanisms for plant growth and development. A recent study reported that Brassinosteroids (BR) and ABSCISIC ACID (ABA) interact antagonistically in early seedling developments through the BR-mediated epigenetic repression of ABSCISIC ACID-INSENSITIVE 3 (ABI3). However, the other physiological roles of the BR-mediated regulation of ABI3 and ABA responses beyond early seedling developments remain largely unknown. Here, we showed that the activation of BR signaling by high temperatures promotes flowering time through the suppression of ABI3 expressions. Elevated ambient temperature induced early flowering in wild type Col-0 plants, but not in BR-defective bri1-116 mutant plants. Conversely, a hyper BR biosynthetic dwf4-D mutant displayed more sensitive thermomorphic long shoot elongation and early flowering. Both expression patterns and physiological responses supported the biological roles of ABI3 in the regulation of floral transition and reproduction under high temperature conditions. Finally, we confirmed that the lowered expressions of the transcript and protein levels of ABI3 brought on by elevated temperature were correlated with warmth-induced early flowering phenotypes. In conclusion, our data suggest that the BR- and warmth-mediated regulation of ABI3 are important in thermomorphic reproductive phase transitions in plants.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.251-256
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• 2011

Human growth hormone (hGH), one of the most important hormones in medicine, is secreted from anterior pituitary gland. Its broad physiological function includes body growth, cell regeneration, increasement of muscle volume, bone density, body fat reduction, and so on. Due to the wide range of therapeutic effects, the hGH produced from E. coli has been commercialized already. In this study, we asked whether it is possible to produce recombinant hGH efficiently from various cultured mammalia cells. To meet this purpose, we chose a retrovirus vector system for transfer and expression of the hGH gene in various mammalian cells. Analyses of RT-PCR, ELISA, and Western blot to determine expression of the hGH gene showed the highest production of the hGH was determined from chicken embronic fibroblast (CEF) cells with the concentration of 8.58 ${\mu}g$/ml. The biological activity of the hGH was similar to the commercially available counterpart. These results suggest that mass production of hGH is possible not only in the E. coli but also in the various mammalian cells.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 1998

To study the effect of induced hypothyroidism on fertility status of male Black Bengal goats, 10 adult healthy mature males were divided into control and treated groups. Hypothyroidism was induced successfully by injecting thiourea subcutaneously initially for 15 days at the rate of 100 mg/kg body weight, followed by 66.7 mg/kg body weight for the subse quent 15 days. This resulted in a decrease (p < 0.01) in plasma tri-iodothyronine, thyroxine and testosterone levels, with increasing duration of thiourea treatment. It also adversely affected semen quality, ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, motility and viability. Live percentage declined to 75% for treated and control remained at 90%. Artificial insemination fo female goats with semen of thiourea-treated goats, resulted in failure of conception. However, females inseminated with semen of male goats of control group showed 100% conception. These observations indicate that, thyroid hormones play a key role in maintaining the normal reproductive processes of male goats.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2006

Development of placenta is a complex process that is critical for the pregnancy and controlled by many factors including cytokines, hormones, growth factors and apoptotic molecules. Recently, it has been shown that progranulin (PGRN) functions in growth of embryo and trophectoderm as well as cell migration. To initiate understanding the role of PGRN in human placental development, we investigated the expression of PGRN mRNA and protein in early and late gestation human placentas, term cytotrophoblast cells and two choriocarcinoma cell lines, JEG-3 and Jar. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction identified mRNAs derived from the PGRN gene in all samples. Immunoblot analysis showed that PGRN proteins are present in early and late gestation human placentas with decreasing levels over gestation and that PGRN proteins are present in normal and transformed trophoblast cells. Immunohistochemical analysis using paraformaldehyde-fixed tissue sections taken from early and late stages of pregnancy showed that PGRN proteins are present in cytotrophoblast cells, syncytiotrophoblast and extravillous cytotrophoblast cells and that expression pattern of PGRN differed according to the stage of cell differentiation. The results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that PGRN proteins have critical roles in placental development and suggest that PGRN may function in trophoblast cell growth and differentiation.