• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.199-203
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• 2013

This experiment was conducted to investigate the genetic effects of candidate genes on the growth of spleen and liver tissues using dietary Curcuma longa (C. longa) supplementation. Expression analyses of candidate genes regarding animal growth was performed in order to determine the factors affecting the growth related to immune components of Curucumin, Turmerone, and Zingiberene as the bile secretion Paratolyl methyl carbinol (PTMC). The animals were divided into four groups of five chicks supplied with experimental diets of C. longa at 0.25, 0.5 and 1% and controls. The 19 growth-related genes were known to cell maturation, differentiation significant expression patterns in this analysis. Expression of growth response-related genes in chicks supplemented with 1% of C. longa showed better growth performance than chicks with 0.25 and 0.5% in spleen (p<0.05). The IGF1, MSTN, POU1F1, ADCYAP1 gene were known to central roles in mediating gonadotropin function, regulating steroidogenesis and promoting oocyte growth and maturation. Sex steroids, androgen and estrogen can affect sex differentiation and also can affect muscle development. On the other hand, GHSR and FABP3 gene showed significant expression patterns in this analysis. The results would be used as basic information for the variation of growth-related genes expression on the cell growth, sex cell growth, and sex hormones according to dietary supplementation with C. longa in chickens.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.305-311
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• 2018

Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) centrally plays a role in control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis-related hormone secretions in the reproductive neuroendocrine system. In addition, hormone receptors like luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) are important element for hormones to take effect in target organ. However, ageing-dependent changes in terms of the distribution of GnRH neurons in the brain and LHR expression in the acyclic ovary have not been fully understood yet. Therefore, we comparatively investigated those ageing-dependent changes using young (1-5 months), middle (11-14 months) and old (21-27 months) aged female mice. Whereas a number of GnRH positive fibers and neurons with monopolar or bipolar morphology were abundantly observed in the brain of the young and middle aged mice, a few GnRH positive neurons with multiple dendrites were observed in the old aged mice. In addition, acyclic ovary without repeated development and degeneration of the follicles was shown in the old aged mice than others. LHR expression was localized in theca cells, granulosa cell, corpora lutea and atretic follicle in the ovaries from young and middle aged mice, in contrast, old aged mice had few positive LHR expression on the follicles due to acyclic ovary. However, the whole protein level of LHR was higher in the ovary of old aged mice than others. These results are expected to be used as an important basis on the relationship between GnRH and LHR in old aged animals as well as in further research for reproduction failure.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.437-445
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• 2021

Roughscale sole (Clidoderma asperrimum) is only wild caught because basic reproductive research on this species is lacking and gamete production in an artificial setting has not been successful. Exogenous hormone treatment has been used to induce gonadal maturation and final spermiation in wild-caught individuals. In this study, the effects of an exogenous hormone on spermiation in roughscale sole was investigated by implanting different concentrations of a salmon gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analog (sGnRH; 0, 25, 50, and 100 ㎍/kg body weight) into male fishes. The control group did not produce sperm after 21 days post-implantation, and the duration of spermiation was shorter compared to the other groups. The spermiation period and milt amount differed among the hormone-treated groups according to the hormone concentration used. Milt volumes in the groups treated with 25 and 100 ㎍/kg sGnRH increased compared to the control group, whereas exogenous hormone treatment had no effect on the movable sperm ratio. The spermatocrit was high at the beginning of spermiation in all groups and then tended to decrease gradually over time except in the experimental group treated with 100 ㎍/kg sGnRH. Plasma levels of testosterone, 11-ketotestosterone, 17α, 20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one were not significantly affected by the sGnRH treatments. Our results demonstrate that it is possible to prolong the spermiation period and increase milt volume by treating male roughscale soles with an exogenous hormone. In addition, the artificial hormone treatment did not affect sperm motility.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 2023

It has been addressed that heat stress due to high atmospheric temperature during summer in Korea induces impaired release of reproductive hormones, followed by occurring abnormal ovarian cyclicity, lower pregnancy ratio, and reduced litter size. Therefore, the present study attempted to compare seasonal change (spring versus summer) of the ovarian aromatase expression, an enzyme for converting testosterone into estrogen. While serum estrogen level in summer group was significantly lower than that of spring group, testosterone was not different between groups. Consistent with estrogen level, the ovarian aromatase expression in summer at follicular phase was significantly lower than the counterpart of spring. The ovarian aromatase expression was positively related with serum estrogen level significantly (r=0.689; P=0.008) and strongly negative correlation was identified (r=-0.533; P=0.078) with atmospheric temperature. The ovarian aromatase expression was not detected in immature ovarian follicles but specifically localized in the granulosa cell layers in both seasons. However, the aromatase intensity in the granulosa cell layers was stronger in spring than summer. Because testosterone level was not different between groups, it could be concluded that the lower level of estrogen during summer might be derived by not lack of substrate but lower expression of ovarian aromatase by heat stress.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.28 no.1
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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.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.195-198
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of hormones treated (progesterone, and combination of progesterone and estradiol) on the reproductive performance of dairy cattle. The intravaginal CIDR was inserted in the vagina of cow on day 14 (P-7, PE-7), 16 (P-5, PE-5) and 18 (P-3, PE-3) post-insemination to stimulate progesterone secretion with (PE) and without estradiol(P). The CIDR was removed on 7 (P-7, PE-7), 5 (P-5, PE-5) and 3 (P-3, PE-3) days after. The cows for control group were not treated with CIDR or hormones. Conception rate, the duration needed for conception after AI and the number of AI services needed for conception were measured. Conception rate in control, CIDR without estradiol (P-7, P-5 and P-3) and CIDR treated (PE-7, PE-5 and PE-3) cows were 15.8%, 40.0%, 31.5%, 28.6%, 62.5%, 50.0% and 0%, respectively. The days needed for conception after AI in control, P-7, P-5, p-3, PE-7, PE-5 and PE-3 were 64.9, 63.0, 59.1, 8.0, 0.0, 18.9 and 83.3 days, respectively. The days needed for conception in cows treated with CIDR (PE-7) has shown longer than control and PE-3 (p<0.05). The number of AI services needed for conception in control, CIDR (PE-7, PE-5 and PE-3) and CIDR without estradiol treated cows (P-7, P-5 and P-3) were 27, 2.3, 1.9, 1.3, 1.0, 1.7 and 2.8 times, respectively. The number of AI services needed for conception have shown significantly lower in PE-7 compared to control and PE-3.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.115-119
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of hormones (progesterone, and combination of progesterone and estradiol) on the reproductive performance of dairy cattle. The intravaginal CIDR was inserted in the vagina of cow on day 14 post-insemination to stimulate progesterone secretion with and without estradiol. The CIDR was removed on the day of next expected estrus. The cows for control group were not treated with CIDR or hormones. Conception rate, estrus interval, estrus intensity and serum progesterone were measured. Conception rates in control, CIDR without estradiol and CIDR treated cows were 15.4, 38.9 and 60%, respectively. Estrus interval in cows treated with CIDR was 26.5 days compared with 37.1 and 48.5 days in control and CIDR without estradiol treated cows. Estrus signs were more intense in cows treated with CIDR compared with control and CIDR without estradiol treated cows. Pregnant cows treated with CIDR showed higher serum progesterone concentration than pregnant and non-pregnant cows in control group. Particularly, serum progesterone was significantly higher in CIDR treated pregnant cows compared to non-pregnant cows at days 1, 2 and 6 of gestation. It may be concluded from present results that CIDR treatment is better than CIDR without estradiol to improve conception rate in dairy cattle.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.279-286
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• 2001

Objective: To elucidate 1) whether there are any differences in the urine concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites between patients with leiomyoma and normal controls 2) the correlation between urinary profiles of steroid hormones and leiomyomas of the uterus according to their type, location, volume, and weight. Materials of Methods : The study population consisted of 37 premenopausal patients with uterine leiomyoma and the control group consisted of 25 premenopausal normal volunteer women without uterine leiomyoma. Confirmation of the existence of uterine leiomyoma was done by ultrasonography and histopathological examination after surgery. The volume of the leiomyoma was estimated by trans-abdominal and/or trans-vaginal ultrasonography. The Leiomyomas were divided into 3 types (subserosal, intramural and submucosal). Seventeen patients had subserosal type of leiomyoma, 10 with the intramural type and 10 with the submucosal type. The locations of the leiomyoma were also divided into 3 groups (fundus, body and isthmus). Seventeen patients showed a fundus location, 10 in body, and 10 in isthmus. We compared urinary profiles of the endogenous steroids between patients with leiomyomas and normal controls, and also investigated the relationship between urinary profiles of the endogenous steroids and leiomyomas according to their type, location, volume and weight by using highly sensitive Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) system. Results: The mean ages of the patients with leiomyomas and the control group were $43.1{\pm}5.6$ and $40.6{\pm}7.2$ years, the weights were $63.4{\pm}7.3$ and $59.4{\pm}8.1\;kg$, and their heights were $155.4{\pm}4.8$ and $159.3{\pm}4.8\;cm$ respectively. Seventeen patients had subserosal, 10 had intramural, and 10 had submucosal leiomyomas. There were 17 patients with leiomyoma located in fundus, 10 in body and 10 in isthmus. $17{\beta}$-estradiol, 5-AT, 11-keto ET, $11{\beta}$-hydroxy An, $11{\beta}$-hydroxy Et, THS, THA, THE, a-cortolone, a-cortol, $\beta$-cortol, $11{\beta}$-OH Et/$11{\beta}$-OH An and E2/E1 were significantly increased in patients with leiomyoma than in the control group. $17{\beta}$-estradiol was significantly increased in the intramural and the submucosal types than in the subserosal type. There was no significant difference in the concentrations of urinary steroids according to the locations of leiomyomas. There was no significant relationship between the concentration of urinary steroids and the volume of the leiomyomas. $17{\beta}$-estradiol significantly decreased as the weight of uterus increased (r=-0.322, p=0.04). Conclusion: The concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites were generally increased in patients with leiomyoma but were not significantly related to the volume and weight of the leiomyomas. Our study suggests that steroid hormones may be involved in the initiation of leiomyomas but may not be involved in their progression. In addition, the concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites are not related to the leiomyoma type and location.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2006

Vaginal cytology was examined in 12 Shih-tzu bitches to establish the accurate basic data for estimate to the optimal mating time and ovulation time. The mean duration of proestrus and estrus were $9.09{\pm}0.83\;(mean{\pm}SD)$ days and $7.36{\pm}0.47$ days in pregnant bitches. The gestational length in the 12 pregnant bitches was $65.2{\pm}0.5$ days in pregnant bitches when Day 0 was timed from the first day of male acceptance. Characteristic features of vaginal cytology during the estrous cycle were the high proportion of large intermediate cell, superficial cell, anuclear cell and erythrocyte in proestrus, superficial cell, anuclear cell and erythrocyte in estrus, and parabasal cell, small and large intermediate cell and leukocyte in diestrus, respectively. Cornification index (CI) was the high proportion in proestrus and estrus, then it decreased in diestrus and anestrus. When Day 0 was timed from the day of the first male acceptance, the CI peak was Day 2 and maintained above 80% between Day -4 and Day 6 during 11 days, and above 90% between Day -1 and Day 5 during 7 days. In relationship between CI and reproductive hormones, CI showed peak at the first day after plasma estradiol-$17{\beta}$ concentration peak and plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml at Day 0 which was the first day after CI peak. In conclusion, ovulation in Shih-tzu bitches occurred at the first day after CI peak. Vaginal cytology is the simple and reliable method for estimating estrous cycle, optimal breeding time and ovulation time in Shih-tzu bitches.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.330-336
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• 2005

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogen-like environmental endocrine disrupter, on the placental function and reproduction in rats. The mRNA levels of the placental prolactin-growth hormone(PRL-GH) gene family, placental trophoblast cell frequency and reproductive data were analyzed. Methods : The pregnancies of F344 Fisher rats ($160g{\pm}20g$) were detected by the presence of the copulatory plug or sperm in the vaginal smear, which marked Day 0 of pregnancy. Pregnant rats were divided into three groups. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with a sesame oil vehicle. The two remaining groups were injected with 50 or 500 mg/kg B.W/day of BPA, resuspended in sesame oil, on either days 7 to 11 or 16 to 20 of pregnancy, with the rats sacrificed on either day 11 or 20, respectively. The mRNA levels of PRL-GH and Pit-1a and b isotype genes were analyzed by Northern blot hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The hormone concentrations were analyzed by radioimmunoassay, and the frequency of the placental trophoblast cells observed by a histochemical study. Reproductive data, such as the placental weight and litter size, were surveyed on day 20. The fetal weight was surveyed for 4 weeks after birth. A statistical analysis was carried out using the SAS program (version 8.1). Results : The mRNA levels of the PRL-GH gene family, such as placental lactogen I, Iv and II, prolactin like protein A, C and Cv, and decidual prolactin-related protein were significantly reduced due to BPA exposure. The mRNA levels of the Pit-1a and b isotype genes, which induce the expression of the PRL-GH gene family in the rat placenta, were also reduced due to BPA exposure. The PL-Iv and PL-II concentrations were reduced in the BPA exposed group. During the middle to last stage of pregnancy (Days 11-20), a high dose of BPA exposure reduced the frequency of spongiotrophoblast cells, which are responsible for the secretion of the PRL-GH hormones. Reproductive data, such as the placental and fetal weights and the litter size, were reduced, but that of the pregnancy period was extended in the BPA exposed compared to the control group. Conclusions : BPA disrupts the placental functions in rats, which leads to reproductive disorders.