• Animal Bioscience
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• 제37권5호
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• pp.852-861
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• 2024

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation on ram sperm quality during storage at 4℃ in vitro. Methods: Tris-citric acid-glucose solution containing different doses of NMN (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 µM) was used to dilute semen collected from rams and it was stored at 4℃. Sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity as well as acrosome integrity were evaluated at 0, 24, and 48 h time points after storage at 4℃. In addition, sperm mitochondrial activity, lipid peroxidation (LPO), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, glutathione (GSH) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and apoptosis were measured at 48 h time point after storage at 4℃. Results: Results demonstrate that the values obtained for sperm motility, acrosome integrity, and plasma membrane integrity in the NMN treatments were significantly higher than control (p<0.05). The addition of 60 µM NMN significantly improved ram sperm mitochondrial activity and reduced LPO, MDA content, and ROS content compared to control (p<0.05). Interestingly, sperm GSH content and SOD activity for the 60 µM NMN treatment were much higher than those observed for control. NMN treatment also decreased the level of Cleaved-Caspase 3, Cleaved-Caspase 9, and Bax while increasing Bcl-2 level in sperm at 48 h time point after storage at 4℃. Conclusion: Ram sperm quality can be maintained during storage at 4℃ with the addition of NMN at 60 µM to the semen extender. NMN also reduces oxidative stress and apoptosis. Overall, these findings suggest that NMN is efficient in improving the viability of ram sperm during storage at 4℃ in vitro.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.159-164
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• 2007

대구근교 외식업체 25곳의 고객에게 제공되고 있는 음용수의 위생실태를 조사한 결과 약 60%가 총균수의 허용한도는 100 CFU/mL를 초과하였으며, 외식업체를 경영하는 CEO 50명을 대상으로 음용수에 관한 설문조사를 한 결과 음용수에 대한 위생의식은 매우 부족하였다. 보리차, 결명차, 옥수수, 메밀, 둥굴레, 캐모마일, 현미녹차, 페파민트를 사용하여 제조한 음용수의 색, 맛, 향, 종합적기호도는 생수에 비해 전반적으로 기호성이 증가하였으며, 종합적 기호도는 둥굴레차가 가장 좋았으며, 옥수수차, 결명자 차, 보리차 순으로 양호하였다. 시판 현미녹차, 둥굴레차, 보리차, 결명차, 옥수수차를 이용하여 음용수를 제조하여 플라스틱 물병에 분주하여 $10^{\circ}C$와 $25^{\circ}C$에 저장하면서 총균수의 변화를 검토한 결과 $10^{\circ}C$에서 대조구는 저장 4일 이후 $10^2 CFU/mL$이상을 나타내어 음용수로서 부적절하였으며, 현미녹차, 둥굴레차, 결명차, 옥수수차는 저장기간 동안 미생물의 증가 현상이 거의 나타나지 않았다. $25^{\circ}C$에 저장한 경우 대조구는 저장 2일 이후 $10^2 CFU/mL$이상을 나타내었으며. 옥수수차, 둥굴레차, 보리차, 결명차에서 오히려 미생물의 성장이 촉진되는 현상을 나타내었으나, 현미녹차의 경우 전 저장기간 동안 생균수의 증가현상은 나타나지 않았다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.35-43
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• 2009

목 적: 정액 내 tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) 농도와 정자 DNA 손상 및 정액 검사 소견과의 관련성을 평가하고자 하였다. 연구방법: 정액 표본은 45명의 건강한 남성에서 자위에 의하여 획득하였다. 정자의 상태는 컴퓨터 정액 분석기를 이용하여 판정하였으며, 두부의 DNA 손상은 TUNEL 분석방법에 의해 측정하였다. TNF-${\alpha}$ 농도는 동결-융해된 정장액에서 ELISA법으로 측정하였다. 결 과: 정자 DNA 손상율은 1.9%에서 53% (mean ${\pm}$ SD, 12.4${\pm}$9.6%)로 매우 광범위하게 나타났다. 단변량분석에 의하면 DNA 손상 정도와 정자의 농도, 운동성과는 관련이 없었으나, 직진운동성 (linearity)과는 음의 상관 관계를 나타내었으며 (r=-0.325, p=0.03) 연구 대상 남성의 연령과는 양의 상관 관계를 나타내었다 (r=0.484, p=0.001). 정액내에 존재하는 TNF-${\alpha}$ (>1 pg/mL)는 연구 대상 남성의 73.3% (33/45)에서 검출되었으며 평균 농도는 4.9 pg/mL, 범위는 1.1에서 22.6 pg/mL이었다. 정액 검사 상의 정자 상태와 정자 DNA 손상과는 유의한 관련성이 나타나지 않았다. 결 론: 본 연구에서는 정자 DNA의 손상이 남성의 연령과 관련성이 있음을 확인하였으나, TNF-${\alpha}$와의 관련성은 확인할 수 없었다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.318-325
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• 2010

Two experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of the amino acids glycine and cysteine on cryopreservation of ram spermatozoa. After primary evaluation of collected ejaculates, the semen samples were pooled and diluted 1:4 before cooling (experiment 1) and freezing (experiment 2) with Tris-Citrate-Fructose-Yolk (TCFY) extender supplemented with different concentrations of glycine and cysteine (5, 10, 15 and 20 mM). As the control, semen was diluted and frozen in the extender without amino acids. Motility, viability and membrane integrity were assessed as the parameters for semen quality in the first experiment. In the second experiment, motility, progressive motility, viability, membranes and acrosome integrity were evaluated after the freezing-thawing process. The results of the first experiment indicated that the addition of 10 and 15 mM cysteine compared to the control (basic) extender significantly increased (p<0.01) the motility, viability and membrane integrity of spermatozoa after cooling. However, further increasing these amino acids up to 20 mM had a significant negative effect (p<0.05). Our results showed no significant differences (p>0.05) between 5 mM glycine compared to 5 mM cysteine and between 20 mM glycine and 20 mM cysteine. The results of experiment 2 showed that the amino acids significantly improved post-thaw motility, progressive motility, viability, membranes and acrosome integrity of ram spermatozoa. These positive effects were observed at concentrations between 5 to 15 mM of glycine and cysteine, with the best results at 15 mM. Further increasing of amino acid concentrations significantly decreased the post-thaw characteristics of spermatozoa, but the results showed that cysteine was better than glycine and control extenders. The data indicated that addition of glycine or cysteine to the freezing extender can be recommended for cryopreservation of ram spermatozoa. However, further studies are still needed to determine the effect of such addition on fertility in farm animals.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.88-93
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the seminal fluid of the male partners in couples undergoing intrauterine insemination and to evaluate correlations between these values and their semen parameters. Methods: The study was conducted at Vamsam Fertility Center, Coimbatore, India and enrolled 110 male patients from whom semen samples were collected. ROS production was measured by a thiobarbituric acid reactive species assay, and TAC was measured by a 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical assay. The differences in the TAC and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels between the subfertile and fertile groups were analysed. Correlations between sperm parameters and TAC and MDA levels were statistically analysed, and cutoff values with respect to the controls were determined. All hypothesis tests used were two-tailed, with statistical significance assessed at the level of p< 0.05. Results: A total of 87 subfertile and 23 fertile men were included in the study. The mean MDA level was significantly higher in the subfertile subjects than in the fertile subjects, and the mean antioxidant level was significantly lower in the subfertile subjects than in the fertile subjects. Seminal MDA levels were negatively associated with sperm concentration, motility, and morphology, whereas the opposite was seen with TAC levels. Conclusion: Measurements of seminal TAC and ROS are valuable for predicting semen quality, and hence predicting the outcomes of fertility treatment.

• 한국식품조리과학회지
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.557-567
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• 2000

An optional ingredient, jasoja(Perillae semen), was adopted to improve the quality of Dongchimi. The final weight percentage of jasoja in Dongchimi was adjusted to 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, or 1.0%, per radish, and sensory and microbiological characteristics were determined during fermentation at 10 for 45 days. The effect was varied depending on the amounts of jasoja, but Dongchimi fermented with 0.5% jasoja was most favored for color, flavor, taste, texture, and overall acceptability in sensory evaluation. According to a quantitative descriptive analysis for the product, the liquid portion of Dongchimi steadily became clearer and less sour in proportion to the amount of added jasoja. However, a strong off-taste was detected from 1.0% treatment. The viable cell numbers of total and lactic acid bacteria drastically increased during the first 2 days, and then gradually increased to their maximum values during fermentation and slowly decreased at the later stage. Dongchimi with 0.5% treatment showed a distinctive high number of microorganisms at the 15th-day of fermentation and this trend was maintained until the completion of fermentation. The lactic acid bacteria isolated and identified from Dongchimi were; Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactococcus faecalis, and Lactococcus lactis. The combined number of Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus plantarum began to increase right after preparation to as much as 10$\^$7/CFU/㎖, then decreased to 10-10$^3$CFU/㎖ afterward. This study showed that the addition of jasoja retarded the initial fermentation of Dongchimi; however, too much jasoja at above 1% weight level per Chinese radish might accelerate fermentation at the later fermentation stage and shoud be avoided. A comparable fermentation pattern was observed among the samples; however, more acceptable Dongchimi could be prepared by fermenting for 11 to 30 days at 0.5% jasoja concentration per radish.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.13-18
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• 2013

The increase in the meat quality and milk production of cows, which breed Korean Native Cow (KNC) and Holstein cow, is not improving reproductive efficiency. In this study, we examined the effect of interferon (IFN) supplementation on motility of frozen-thawed semen and pregnancy rate after artificial insemination of KNC and Holstein cow. In experiment 1, we investigated the effect of IFN-tau concentration (10,000 IU and 20,000 IU) on the percentage of total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PM) of frozen-thawed spermatozoa. In experiment 2, KNC were infused 20,000 IU IFN-tau at insemination or after insemination. In experiment 3, KNC or Holstein cow were inseminated with frozen-thawed semen and infused 20,000 IU IFN-gamma or -tau after insemination. In experiment 1, the average of TM (23.9% to 30.9%) and PM (18.5% to 21.9%) were similar between control and treatments. In experiment 2, the pregnancy rates of IFN infusing times were not different from 45.8% to 53.6%. In experiment 3, the pregnancy rates of Holstein cow infused different kinds of IFN were similar (control, IFN-gamma, IFN-tau; 42.9%, 40.5%, 48.0%). In the case of KNC, however, the pregnancy rate of control was 55.6%, which was significantly lower than that of IFN-gamma (68.9%; p<0.05). Thus, IFN is effective on the improvement of reproductive efficiency, but further study is needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.127-137
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• 2008

Objectives : These days, herbal acupuncture therapy is widely applied to many diseases and symptoms by Korean medical doctors in Korea. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of Carthami-Semen herbal acupuncture(CSHA) on chronic constipation. Methods : This single-blind placebo-controlled randomized parellel study enrolled 24 adults with chronic constipation. After one week's run-in period, they were randomly assigned to receive CSHA therapy, or placebo therapy for 4 weeks by 2 times per week. After completing 4 week's therapy, 2 week's follow-up period was continued. During study, defecation frequency, consistency and ease of evacuation were checked before study, every week and follow-up periods. Also, the VAS of constipation, quality of life(QoL) and heart rate variability(HRV : low frequency, high frequency) were checked 3 times totally. Finally, 21 subjects completed the protocol and 20 subjects were analyzed.(1 subject is excluded for analysis because of not following the protocol.) Results : In CSHA group, defecation frequency(continued after 1 week), consistency and ease of evacuation(at 1 week after and follow-up) were increased significantly. The VAS of constipation in CSHA group was significantly decreased. There was no significant change at QoL and HRV. Conclusions : CSHA therapy was effective in treating adults with chronic constipation. Study that have larger case number and longer follow up will be needed in the future.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.9-15
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• 2022

The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2) appears to be widely expressed in cells in the testes, predominantly in spermatogonia, Sertoli cells, and Leydig cells, and its co-expression with transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) is essential for the entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). For this reason, the male reproductive system could be considered a potential target for SARS-CoV-2, as well as a possible reservoir of infection. However, to date, there is very little evidence about the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen and testicular samples. The aim of this paper was to review the current evidence regarding the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on male fertility and sexual health, with a particular focus on reproductive hormones, the presence of the virus in seminal fluid and testis, and its impact on fertility parameters. We found very limited evidence reporting the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen and testicular samples, and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on reproductive hormones and fertility parameters is unclear. The quality of the examined studies was poor due to the small sample size and several selection biases, precluding definitive conclusions. Hence, future well-designed prospective studies are needed to assess the real impact of SARS-CoV-2 on male reproductive function.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.65-70
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• 1993

To maintain a good sperm motility is one of the key factors for the successful artificial insemination in retrograde ejaculation, and the sperm motility has been shown to be affected by various environmental factors, including change in pH and osmolarity. Herein we have analyzed the effect of change in pH and osmolarity in urine and normal saline on sperm motility by Sperm Quality Analyzer and Makler counting chamber. Semen, which sampled by masturbation from a 28 year old male and showed normal finding on semen analysis, was used for this study. The results were as follows: 1. When osmolarity was fixed to 300mOsm, pH did not show a definite effect on the sperm moility. However, the motility was generally a bit better in alkaline urine and saline than in acid, particularly than in pH 5.0. 2. When pH was fixed to 7.5, sperm motility was best in urine and saline of 300mOsm. Hyperosmolarity had more adverse.effect on the motility than hypoosmolarity. 3. The sperm motility was worse in the urine than in saline under the same pH and osmolarity. In conclusion, osmolarity has a definite effect on sperm motility, where as pH has relatively little effect. And certain components of urine other than pH and osmolarity might affect the sperm motility.