• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.97-107
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• 2014

The placenta is a temporary fetomaternal organ capable of supporting fetal growth and development during pregnancy. In particular, abnormal development and dysfunction of the placenta due to cha nges in the proliferation, differentiation, cell death, and invasion of trophoblasts induce several gynecological diseases as well as abnormal fetal development. Autophagy is a catalytic process that maintains cellular structures by recycling building blocks derived from damaged microorganelles or proteins resulting from digestion in lysosomes. Additionally, autophagy is necessary to maintain homeostasis during cellular growth, development, and differentiation, and to protect cells from nutritional deficiencies or factors related to metabolism inhibition. Induced autophagy by various environmental factors has a dual role: it facilitates cellular survival in normal conditions, but the cascade of cellular death is accelerated by over-activated autophagy. Therefore, cellular death by autophagy has been known as programmed cell death type II. Autophagy causes or inhibits cellular death via the other mechanism, apoptosis, which is programmed cell death type I. Recently, it has been reported that autophagy increases in placenta-related obstetrical diseases such as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation, although the mechanisms are still unclear. In particular, abnormal autophagic mechanisms prevent trophoblast invasion and inhibit trophoblast functions. Therefore, the objectives of this review are to examine the characteristics and functions of autophagy and to investigate the role of autophagy in the placenta and the trophoblast as a regulator of cell death.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.79-88
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• 2020

This study was carried out to obtain information on the developmental biology and the management of biological resources of the abalone Haliotis gigantea in Korea. The sex ratio (female:male) in the present study was 1:1.7 and the proportion of females was 36.6% (n=106/290). Their gonadal structures displayed definitive seasonal changes which were similar in pattern to the changes in the gonad index (GI). The GI showed a pattern of definitive seasonal changes in both males and females it was high in the fall and low in the spring. The reproductive cycle could be categorized into the following six stages: inactive, early active, late active, ripe, spent, and degenerative stage. Based on the monthly changes in GI and stages of gonadal development, October to November was determined to be the main spawning period for H. gigantea on Jeju Island, Korea.

• 한국산림과학회지
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• 제107권2호
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• pp.126-139
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• 2018

생식구조를 중심으로 나자식물의 바르지 않은 한국어 용어를 바로 잡고 국제용어에 상응하는 나자식물의 한국어 용어를 제안하여 정리하였다. 즉, 나자식물 용어에 '꽃(花)'이나 '열매(果實)'의 의미가 들어 있는 용어를 중심으로 바로 잡았다. 예를 들어, '열매' 또는 '구과(毬果)'라고 부르는 'cone'은 '종구(種毬)'로 수정하고, '종린(鍾鱗)' 또는 '실편(實片)'이라고 부르는 'cone scale', 'ovuliferous scale'은 '종린(種鱗)' 하나로 정리하고, '화분낭(花粉囊)'으로 부르는 'microsporangium', 'pollen sac'은 '소포자낭(小胞子囊)'으로 부르고, 화분(花粉)이라고 부르는 'pollen'은 '소포자(小胞子)' 또는 '웅성배우자체(雄性配偶者體)'로 수정할 것을 제안했다. '암꽃', '자화수(雌花穗)', '구화수(毬花穗)', '구상화서(毬狀花序)', '자화서(雌花序)' 또는 '자성구화수(雌性毬花穗)' 등으로 부르는 'female cone', 'ovulate cone'은 '암종구(種毬)', '자종구(雌種毬)', '자성종구(雌性種毬)'로 정리했으며, 나자식물에는 '꽃(花)'이 없음에도 불구하고 '화수(花穗)', '화서(花序)' 등으로 부르는 'strobilus'는 '포자수(胞子穗)' 또는 '포자낭수(胞子囊穗)'로 정리했다. 생식구조와 관련이 없는 용어로 '구과식물(毬果植物)' 또는 심지어 '침엽수(針葉樹)'라고 부르는 'conifers(coniferous plants)'는 '종구식물(種毬植物)' 또는 '송백류(松栢類)'로 정리했다.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제65권5호
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• pp.922-938
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• 2023

The current study was designed to evaluate the effect of sequential low and high dietary linseed oil (LO; as omega-3 enriched fatty acid; FA) before and post insemination, respectively, on different plasma variables of ewes. Fat-tailed Qezel ewes were assigned randomly to be fed a diet enriched with 3% LO (n = 30) or the saturated FA (SFA; n = 30) three weeks before insemination (Day 0). The lipogenic diet supplemented with 6% LO or SFA was fed after insemination until Day +21. The control ewes were fed an isocaloric and isonitrogenous diet with no additional FA during the study. Estrus was synchronized by inserting a vaginal sponge (Spongavet^®) for 12 days + 500 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG; Gonaser^®), and ewes were inseminated via laparoscopic approach 56-59 h after eCG injection. The size of ovarian structures was assessed by transvaginal ultrasonography at -21, -14, -2, 0, and +10 days. Blood samples were collected weekly to measure the plasma's different biochemical variables and FA profile. Treatment did not affect the amounts of glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, interleukin-10, interleukin-2, and non-esterified FA (p > 0.05). Conversely, concentrations of triglyceride, cholesterol, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and insulin-like growth factor-1 were higher in SFA-fed ewes relative to control animals (p < 0.05). LO feeding resulted in greater amounts of n-3 FA isomers in plasma, while higher amounts of stearic acid were detected in SFA fed group 0 and +21 (p < 0.05). The number of ovarian follicles and corpora lutea also were not affected by treatment. Other reproductive variables were not affected by treatment except for the reproductive rate. It seems that LO or SFA feeding of fat-tailed ewes peri-insemination period was not superior to the isocaloric non-additional fat diet provided for the control group during the non-breeding season.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.40.1-40.19
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• 2024

Importance: The creation of robust maternal-embryonic interactions and implantation models is important for comprehending the early stages of embryonic development and reproductive disorders. Traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems often fail to accurately mimic the highly complex in vivo conditions. The employment of three-dimensional (3D) organoids has emerged as a promising strategy to overcome these limitations in recent years. The advancements in the field of organoid technology have opened new avenues for studying the physiology and diseases affecting female reproductive tract. Observations: This review summarizes the current strategies and advancements in the field of 3D organoids to establish maternal-embryonic interaction and implantation models for use in research and personalized medicine in assisted reproductive technology. The concepts of endometrial organoids, menstrual blood flow organoids, placental trophoblast organoids, stem cell-derived blastoids, and in vitro-generated embryo models are discussed in detail. We show the incorportaion of organoid systems and microfluidic technology to enhance tissue performance and precise management of the cellular surroundings. Conclusions and Relevance: This review provides insights into the future direction of modeling maternal-embryonic interaction research and its combination with other powerful technologies to interfere with this dialogue either by promoting or hindering it for improving fertility or methods for contraception, respectively. The merging of organoid systems with microfluidics facilitates the creation of sophisticated and functional organoid models, enhancing insights into organ development, disease mechanisms, and personalized medical investigations.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.295-303
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• 2004

식물체에 여러 유기성분을 함유하는 발향성 식물인 토마토는 표피조직에 여러 형태의 이형세포가 발달한다. 유용식물인 토마토에 대하여는 많은 영역에서 활발하게 집중 연구되고 있으나, 표피조직에 발달하는 이형세포에 촛점을 두고 구조적으로는 자세히 연구되어 있지 않고 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 토마토 표피조직, 특히 생식기관의 표피조직에 발달하는 이형세포들의 구조 및 분화 발달양상을 주사전자현미경적 방법으로 연구하였다. 토마토 표피조직에는 불규칙형 기공과 방사형 돌출기공의 두 유형의 기공이 발달하였으며, 모용은 분비성과 비분비성의 다양한 4가지 형태로 분화하였다. 분비성 모용은 peltate 형과 capitate형 분비모로 대별되었고, 비분비성 모용은 단상모와 원좌형 기저세포의 장상모로 발달하였다. 특히, 화경에는 돌출기공의 발달이 현저하였고, peltate형 분비모는 꽃받침과 자방 표피조직에 뚜렷하였다. 이후 분비모용과 돌출기공에 대한 세포학적 측면에서의 구조적인 연구가 병행되어 본 결과와 접목되면 구조와 기능간의 관계규명에 많은 도움을 줄 것이며, 유용성분의 자원화 및 기능물질 개발에 있어 더욱 의미있는 연구가 될 것이다.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.101-109
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• 1998

1993년 1월부터 12월까지 한국 서해 군산시 오식도 조간대에서 채집한 대맛조개를 대상으로 정자형성과정 및 생식주기를 조직학적 및 투과형전자현미경으로 조사하엿다. 대맛조개(Solen grandis)는 자웅이체이다. 본 종의 완숙정자의 형태 구조는 다른 이매패의 정자들이 갖는 원시형(primitive type)으로 작은 두부와 한 개의 두모첨체를 가지며, 편모축사를 둘러싸고 있는 4개의 미토콘드리아로 이루어진 짧은 중편을 갖는 것이 관찰되었다. 완숙정자 두부의 길이는 대략 2 \mu m정도였고, 정자 미부의 길이는 약 20 \mu m 정도였다. 정자 미부 편모의 axoneme은 중앙의 2개의 미세소관(microtubule)과 주변에 위치한 9쌍의 미세소관으로 구성되어 있었다. 본 종의 방정기는 6월과 7월 사이로써 주된 방정시기는 해수수온이 20 \circ C 이상 상승하는 7월에 일어났다. 생식주기는 초기활성기 (12-1월), 후기 활성기 (1-3월), 완숙기 (3-8월), 부분방정기 (6-7월), 퇴화 및 비활성기 (8-12월)의 연속적인 5단계로 구분할 수 있었다.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 1998

Morphology and reproduction of the two similar Acrosorium species, A. polyneurum and A. yendoi, were studied based on specimens collected from Korea. The morphology of the former species was very variable, depending on its habitat, and in some cases shown superficial resemblance to that of A. yendoi. Also its reproductive structures were essentially the same as those of the latter. However, the two species appear to be distinguished by some vegetative features found in fully developed stage, such as thallus size, vein structures and branching pattern. Acrosorium polyneurum has comparatively large thallus (6-8cm) with three to five cell-layered macroscopic veins, together with palmately dichotomously branching, whereas A. yendoi is of smaller thallus (3-6cm) with microscopic veins of one to three cell layers, and shows irregularly dichotomously or pinnately branching. This result, together with recent data based on PCR technique, suggests that the two entities are distinct.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제29권5호
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• pp.959-962
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• 2008

We have performed FlexX docking experiments to predict the best docking poses of 5-androst-16-en-3-ol or 5-androst-16-en-3-one to Boar salivary lipocalin (SAL). Since no steroids were found inside of the binding pocket of the X-ray structure of 1GM6, we tried to find docking structures after opening the pocket using the random tweak option implemented in SYBYL. This operation allowed the ligand to enter the pocket. The best poses generated from FlexX were different from the structures reported earlier, which calculated docking poses by manual docking followed by minimization. Analysis of docking poses allowed us to identify pharmacophores. From this information, virtual screening experiments using UNITY were performed. Among six candidates, 3-(3,7-dimethyloct-6-enylamino)propane-1,2-diol (Leadquest code name: 5755) was chosen for further development. Future work will involve synthesis of some derivatives of 5755 and biological experiments if any derivatives can control the biostimulation and improve reproductive efficiency in pigs.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.725-734
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• 2018

Ovaries of 21 bitches presented with gynecopathies were surgically removed and histologically examined. Standard histological, as well as immunohistochemical, classification of 193 cystic structures resulted in the classification of 72 cysts of subsurface epithelial structures (SES), 61 follicular cysts (FCs), 38 cystic rete ovarii (CRO), 13 lutein cysts (LCs), and 9 non-classifiable cysts (NCCs). In addition to the histological classification, results were interpreted according to subject medical history, clinical examination outcome, and macroscopic observations during ovariohysterectomy. Dogs with ovarian cysts (OCs) and associated reproductive perturbations were mostly nulliparous, of large breed, and had an average of $9.5{\pm}3$ years. Prolonged or shortened inter-estrus intervals of past heats, however, seemed to be relatively low-risk factors for the development of OCs in dogs. Furthermore, we provide histological observations of a rarely seen canine LC including a degenerated oocyte in the central cavity.