• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.269-288
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• 1996

Coicis Semen is one of the oriental medicine that has been used for the treatment of the diseases such as pulmonary abscess, periappendicular abscess and wart since ancient times. However, the mechanism of the action of the drug is not well studied. This study was done to investigate the effects of Coicis Semen on the host defence mechanism. Effects of Coicis Semen on the immune responses were analysed by measuring the contact hypersensitivity, hemagglutinin, hemolysin and rosette formation, cytotoxicity, and reactive oxygen intermidiates production. As the results, water extract of Coicis Semen administration enhanced the antibodies (hemagglutinin and hemolysin) formation and the appearance of rosette forming cells of the spleen. Also Coicis Semen increased the allogeneic immune response in the mouse, showed cytotoxic activity against human leukemia cell line(K562) and decreased the contact hypersensitivity against dinitroflurobenzene. Also administration of Coicis Senlen slightly increased NK cell activity and enhanced the production of such reactive oxygen intermediates as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide from the macrophages in vivo and in vitro. The above results demonstrate that Coicis Semen has enhancing effects on cellular and humoral immune responses against disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.586-592
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• 2023

Oxidative stress is a critical factor affecting the quality and viability of sperm during boar semen storage. Oxidative stress is also a significant concern during the process of freezing semen. The process of semen storage involves exposing the sperm to various stressors, including temperature changes, cryoprotectants, and extended periods of incubation. In addition, oxidative stress can lead to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the sperm, resulting in oxidative damage to cellular components, such as lipids, proteins, and DNA. Striking a balance between ROS production and the antioxidant defense system is crucial for maintaining sperm viability and functionality during semen storage. Moreover, the prolonged storage of boar semen leads to an increase in ROS levels, which can impair sperm motility, membrane integrity, and DNA integrity. ROS-induced lipid peroxidation affects the fluidity and stability of sperm membranes, leading to decreased sperm motility. Moreover, oxidative damage to the DNA can result in DNA fragmentation, compromising the genetic integrity of the sperm. In conclusion, oxidative stress is a significant challenge in maintaining sperm quality during boar semen storage. Understanding the mechanisms underlying oxidative stress and their impacts on sperm function is crucial for developing effective strategies to minimize oxidative damage and improve sperm storage outcomes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.343-346
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• 1990

A study was conducted to determine the effect of prostaglandin $F_2$ alpha ($PGF_2$ alpha) on the reaction time and seminal characteristics of buffalo bulls. Semen was collected from three Murrah bulls in three periods: pre-treatment, treatment and post-treatment. During the treatment period each bull was administered 2 ml $PGF_2$ alpha (Synchrocept, Fenprostalene) im, 1 hour prior to semen collection. In the post-treatment, semen was collected 7 days after the last injection of $PGF_2$. Semen samples were evaluated immediately after collection. Pre-collection injection of $PGF_2$ alpha has no significant effect on reaction time, semen volume, percentage motility, sperm concentration and total number of sperms per ejaculate. Fluctuations in semen color and consistency were observed. There is a significant (p<0.05) increase in the mean percentage of normal spermatozoa during the treatment and post treatment periods. Likewise, administration of PG results into a significant (p<0.05) rise on the average percentage of live sperms but this effect was not manifested in the post-treatment period. Improvement in mass activity was observed during the treatment and post-treatment periods.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.702-707
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• 1999

A percoll density gradient technique was developed for producing high quality turkey semen and improving the fertility by removing deleterious cellular components, including spermiophages, bacteria, abnormal or dead spermatozoa, and other cellular debris. The combination of three different percoll densities, 1.05, 1.07, and 1.08 showed the best resolution and was selected to prepare a discontinuous percoll density gradient to obtain healthy spermatozoa from semen smples. Bacteria, spermiophages, and abnormal or dead spermatozoa were detected from the density range from 1.05, 1.05 to 1.07, and 1.07 to 1.08, respectively. Healthy spermatozoa were collected from the density greater than 1.08. Spermatozoa obtained from percoll density gradient centrifugation showed better sperm motility than those from unprocessed pooled semen. Bacteria including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Proteus spp., were predominant contaminants in turkey semen, and the numbers of cells were approximately $5{\times}10^5$ to $1{\times}10^9cfu/ml$. The overall fertility rates in hens inseminated with processed percoll density gradient were higher than those in hens with unprocessed semen especially for unhealthy sperm. In conclusion, semen quality can be improved by percoll density gradient centrifugation, which augmented the fertility of turkey breeders.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2014

Artificial insemination technique has been contributed immensely for production of livestock worldwide as a critical assisted reproductive technique to preserve and propagate excellent genes in domestic animal industry. In the past decade, methods for semen preservation have been improved mostly in liquid preservation method for boar semen and freezing method for bull semen. Among many factors affecting semen quality during preservation, reactive oxygen species, produced by aerobic respiration in sperm for survival and motility, are unfavorable to sperm physiology. In mammalian cell as well as in the sperm, antioxidant system plays a role in degradation of reactive oxygen species. Magnetized water forms smaller stabilizing water clusters, resulting in high absorption and permeability of the cell for water, implicating its application for semen preservation. Therefore, this review focuses on preservation methods of boar and bull semen with respect to improvement of extender and reduction of reactive oxygen species by using magnetized water and supplementation of antioxidants.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.210-217
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• 2024

Objective: This study investigated the efficacy of different concentrations of gelatin supplementation in long-term semen extender on boar semen quality during storage for 10 days at 17℃. Additionally, oxytocin was added to stored semen to enhance fertility. Methods: In Experiment 1, boar semen was collected, diluted with gelatin at concentrations between 0% and 2.5% (w/v) and mixed with a semen extender. Then, it was kept in a refrigerator at 17℃ and stored for 10 days. In Experiment 2, the sperm quality was examined after adding 0, 5, and 10 IU oxytocin per artificial insemination dose to the most effective semen extender from Experiment 1 and placing it in a refrigerator at 17℃ for 10 days. In Experiment 3, the fertility potential in terms of non-return rate and litter size was determined using the most effective solid-stored semen supplemented with oxytocin. Results: The results indicated that sperm quality decreased with increasing storage time (p<0.05). The sperm quality in terms of total motility, progressive motility, and viable sperm with intact acrosomes and high mitochondrial potential was the highest with 1.5% gelatin supplementation (p<0.001) on all days of storage. Treatment with oxytocin did not affect sperm quality (p>0.05). The non-return rate and litter size after insemination with semen supplemented with 1.5% gelatin and 10 IU of oxytocin after 8 to 10 days of storage were comparable to those of the control group (p>0.05). Conclusion: A semen extender as a solid medium supplemented with 1.5% gelatin successfully preserved boar semen for a long storage duration. Treatment with oxytocin did not affect sperm quality. In addition, the fertility capacity using 1.5% gelatin with 10 IU oxytocin and stored for 8 to 10 days was acceptable and comparable to that of short-term storage.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.844-854
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• 2021

Objective: The potential of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), betaine (BET), and ginger (GIN), as natural antioxidants, in reducing negative effects of heat stress on physiological responses, antioxidant capacity, semen quality and fertility of bucks under heat stress were investigated. Methods: Forty adult Animal Production Research Institute line rabbit bucks were distributed randomly into four experimental treatments of ten rabbits each. The first treatment was fed the commercial pellet diet (CPD) without supplementation and served as a control. The other three treatments were fed CPD supplemented with EVOO (300 mg), BET (1,000 mg), and GIN (200 mg) per kg diet for 3 consecutive months during the summer season. Results: Supplementation of EVOO, BET, or GIN improved (p<0.05) the sexual desire, progressive motility, vitality, intact acrosome and membrane integrity, sperm cell concentration, sperm outputs and fertility. Seminal plasma total proteins, globulin, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione and glutathione S-transferase, and initial fructose increased (p<0.05), while total lipids, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases and malondialdehyde decreased (p<0.05) compared with the control. In comparing the natural antioxidants treatments, GIN evoked the largest improvement. Conclusion: The inclusion of GIN (200 mg/kg diet) appeared to improve the sexual desire, semen quality and oxidative stress of bucks. This may be a beneficial supplement for the management of rabbit bucks used in natural mating or artificial insemination.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1387-1392
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• 2018

Objective: In a nucleus breeding scheme, the sire of dam's pathway plays an important role in producing genetic improvement. Selection proportion is the key parameter for predicting selection intensity, through truncating the normal distribution. Semen sexing using flow cytometry reduces the number of vials of sperm that can be obtained from a proved bull. In addition, a lower fertility of this kind of sperm is expected because of the lower sperm dosage in sex sorted semen. Both of these factors could affect the selection proportion in the sire of dam's pathway ($p_{SD}$). Methods: In the current study, through a deterministic simulation, effect of utilizing sex sorted semen on selection ($p_{SD}$) was investigated in three different strategies including 1: continuous use of sex sorted semen in heifers (CS), 2: the use of sex sorted semen for the first two (S2) and 3: the first (S1) inseminations followed by conventional semen. Results: Results indicated that the use of sex sorted semen has a negative impact on the sire of dams (SD) pathway due to increase in selection proportion. Consequently selection intensity was decreased by 10.24 to 20.57, 6.38 to 8.87 and 3.76 to 6.25 percent in the CS, S2, and S1 strategies, respectively. Conclusion: Considering the low effect of sexed semen on genetic improvement in dam pathways, it is necessary to consider the joint effect of using sex sorted semen on the sire and dams pathway to estimate about the real effect of sexed semen on genetic improvement in a nucleus breeding scheme.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.615-624
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• 2022

In this study, we assessed anti-oxidant activity, anti-microbial, inhibition of biofilm formation and inflammatory factors(nitric oxide, interleukin-6, interleukin-8) inhibitory effect of Perillae semen hydrothermal extract(PSW) and three kinds of Perillae semen supercritical fluid extract(PSSs) extracted by controlling temperature with no variation of pressure. Compared with PSW, PSSs had significantly lower minimal inhibitory concentrations(MICs) against Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) and the ability of PSSs to inhibit formation of biofilm was also superior. PSSs reduce the production of inflammatory mediator and inflammatory cytokines significantly compared to PSW. We suggest, therefore, Perillae semen supercritical fluid 45℃ extract which showed the best anti-microbial, inhibition of biofilm formation, and inhibition of inflammatory factors production among the supercritical fluid extracts could be used for protecting patients with atopic dermatitis from pruritus and transepidermal water loss as a functional ingredient from nature.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1311-1314
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• 2006

This study was peformed to investigate possible mechanisms underlying possible effect of Coicis Semen composition (CSC) on inflammatory diseases using in vivo model of RA in the mice. Results are summarized as follows. In production of inflammatory cytokines, INF-${\gamma}$ in the spleen and IL-6 in the serum were decreased by CSC treatment. TNF-${\alpha}$ in serum was significantly decreased, IL-4 in the spleen was significantly increased by CSC treatment. In production of rheumatoid factors, IgM and IgG were significantly decreased by CSC treatment. The present data suggest that CSC treatment can improve pathological damage by CIA. So we expect that CSC should be used as a effective drugs for not only rheumatoid arthritis but also another autoimmune disease. Therefore we have to survey continuously in looking for the effective substance and mechanism in the future.