• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2011

Objective: To determine whether characteristics of sperm motility obtained by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) could predict pregnancy after intrauterine insemination (IUI) in couples with unexplained infertility. Methods: Three hundred eighty-three cycles of intrauterine insemination with superovulation were retrospectively analyzed. Semen analysis was performed with CASA before and after swim-up and the parameters were compared between pregnant and non-pregnant women. Results: The pregnancy rate per cycle was 14.1%. Pregnant and non-pregnant women were comparable in terms of age, infertility duration, the number of dominant follicles. While sperm concentration, motility, and parameters such as average path velocity (VAP) and percentage rapid (RAPID) before semen preparation were significantly different between the pregnancy and non-pregnancy groups, there were no differences in sperm parameters when comparing the two groups after preparation. Using a receiver operating characteristic curve to measure sensitivity and specificity, the optimal threshold value for the predictors of pregnancy was revealed to be a concentration of ${\geq}111{\times}10^6/mL$, a motility of ${\geq}$ 51.4%, and RAPID ${\geq}$ 30.1% before preparation for IUI. Conclusion: Sperm parameters including concentration, motility, and RAPID before sperm preparation could have predictive value for pregnancy outcome after intrauterine insemination with superovulation in couples with unexplained infertility, and would be helpful when counseling patients before they make the decision to proceed with IVF/ICSI-ET.

• ANNALS OF ANIMAL RESOURCE SCIENCES
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.150-157
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• 2018

The Zygote arrest 1 (ZAR1) gene is known to affect early embryonic development in various vertebrates. In this study, we performed the association analysis to check whether there is any significant relationship between semen kinematic characteristics and the ZAR1 gene. To determine semen kinematic characteristics, we measured motility (MOT), straight-line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), average path velocity (VAP), linearity (LIN), straightness (STR), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH), and beat cross frequency (BCF) of spermatozoa in boars. In order to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we extracted genomic DNA from multiple Duroc boars, and then subsequently used them in sequencing reactions. As a result, three SNPs were detected in the intronic region of ZAR1 gene (g.2435T>C in intron 2, g.2605G>A and g.4633A>C in intron 3 ). SNPs g.2435T>C and g.2605G>A were significantly associated with MOT (p<0.01) and VSL (p<0.05), and g.4633A

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2018

This study was conducted to determine the effect of pentoxifylline levels on sperm motility, survival rate, sperm membrane integrity of frozen semen and fresh-extended equine semen in Jeju cross-bred horses. As a result of sperm characteristic comparison depending on pentoxifylline levles at 30 minutes post-thaw, the progressive motilities were $53.25{\pm}2.87$ (4mM pentoxifylline) and $50.28{\pm}2.14$ (8mM pentoxifylline) and significantly higher compared to the control group($40.09{\pm}5.15$) and other treatment group (16mM pentoxifylline, $41.27{\pm}2.82$). The progressive fast motility were $22.44{\pm}1.62$ (4mM pentoxifylline,) and $22.74{\pm}3.07$ (8mM pentoxifylline) and significantly higher compared to the control group ($13.47{\pm}1.48$) and other treatment group (16mM pentoxifylline, $14.66{\pm}3.68$) (p<0.05). As a result of sperm characteristic comparison depending on pentoxifylline levles at 30 minutes post-thaw were $68.96{\pm}1.64$ (4mM pentoxifylline) and $67.90{\pm}6.72$ (8mM pentoxifylline) and significantly higher compared to the control group ($53.48{\pm}4.84$) and other treatment group (16mM pentoxifylline, $58.14{\pm}2.65$) (p<0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that treatment groups with 4mM and 8mM pentoxifylline were higher compare to equine seperm mobility and the control group and treatment groups with more than 16mM pentoxifylline has a negative effect on sperm characteristics. After thawing, the total motility in post-thawed equine sperm has increased by 10 percent for 1 hour. these results suggest that pentoxifylline contributes to the improvement of the equine sperm motility and characteristics in post-thawed semen.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.116-123
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• 2018

The sperm quality is determined by the kinetic characteristics and acrosome integrity of the sperm. In the previous studies, analysis of semen quality had large errors because those experiments by using microscope had been conducted by people. In recent years, the molecular biological methods have been newly developed to complement the previous techniques. The ZAR1 gene is known to be a gene that affects early embryonic development in vertebrates, but there is no study of the association with semen. In this study, we analyzed the association between the kinetic characteristics and ZAR1 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype. To detect the SNPs, we performed sequencing using genomic DNA from the whole bloods of Duroc pigs. We identified an SNP in the ZAR1 gene g.2540T>C. ZAR1 SNP genotypeing in 105 pigs revealed that the major and minor alleles were T and C, respectively. After we analyzed the association between the kinetic characteristics of sperm and the ZAR1 SNP genotype, we found a significant association in MOT (p<0.01), VSL (p<0.05) of the kinetic characteristics in the Duroc boars. It was confirmed that the boars with T allele were lower in MOT and VSL than C allele. Therefore, pigs with C allele are judged to be better at the MOT and VSL of semen. Based on these results, ZAR1 SNP genotyping may be a useful molecular biomarker to improve semen quality by applying molecular breeding technology.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of Korean Native Cattle sperm frozen-thawed with L-cysteine and/or catalase. The semen from bulls was collected by the artificial vagina method, and Triladyl containing 20% egg-yolk and/or L-cysteine (L), catalase (C) and L-cysteine + catalase was added to the diluted semen for cryopreservation. The results showed that sperm viability was significantly higher in the L-cysteine + catalase ($69.49{\pm}3.16%$) group than in the control ($60.5{\pm}3.94%$) group (p<0.05). Acrosome damage was significantly lower in the L-cysteine ($17.12{\pm}1.08%$) group than in the control ($21.46{\pm}1.14%$), catalase ($20.54{\pm}0.76%$), and L-cysteine + catalase ($19.29{\pm}0.65%$) groups (p<0.05). In addition, the level of intact mitochondria in the spermatozoa was significantly higher in the L-cysteine ($58.65{\pm}1.39%$) group than in the control ($50.63{\pm}2.37%$) group (p<0.05). The hydrogen peroxide level in the frozen-thawed sperm was significantly lower in the L-cysteine ($3.74{\pm}1.66%$), catalase ($4.65{\pm}1.87%$), and L-cysteine + catalase ($8.11{\pm}2.15%$) groups than in the control ($13.22{\pm}1.6%$) group (p<0.05). The glutathione level was significantly higher in the L-cysteine ($1.33{\pm}0.03%$) group than in the control ($1.08{\pm}0.06%$), catalase ($1.05{\pm}0.02%$) and L-cysteine + catalase ($1.11{\pm}0.03%$) groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, L-cysteine and catalase could protect the membrane of Korean Native Cattle sperm from damage during sperm cryopreservation. Especially, L-cysteine was more effective for keeping acrosomes and mitochondria intactness during sperm cryopreservation.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.77-84
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• 2004

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effects of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate(DEHP) on reproductive characteristic, blood hematological and chemical values in mice. The male mice were intraperitoneally injected DEHP in negative control(no treatment), positive control(corn oil, 3ml/kg B.W), 0.5, 1.0 and 10.0mg DEHP/kg B.W and the female mice were injected DEHP in control(corn oil, 3ml/kg B.W), 0.5, 1.0 and 10.0mg DEHP/kg B.W with 5 times for 15 days on 3 days interval. The administration of DEHP in male mice were not affect on body weight, epididymis, vesicular gland and coagulating gland weight. The testis weight were slightly higher in DEHP treatment groups than in control. The semen characteristics(sperm concentration, viability, motility and abnormality) of male mice were not difference in all experimental groups. The RBC, Hb, HT, MCV, MCH, MCHC< PLT, albumin, BUN and total protein of blood hematological and chemical values were not affect the administration of DEHP in mice. The WBC values in 10.0mg DEHP group was slightly difference in all experimental group(P>0.05). The histological evaluation of testis, ovary and affevt the reproductive characteristic, blood hematological and chemical values.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.556-563
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• 2008

Peripheral nerve injuries are a commonly encountered clinical problem and often result in a chronic pain and severe functional deficits. The expression of c-Fos is sometimes used as a marker of increased neuronal activity. We have prepared the aqueous extract of amygdalin from Armeniacae semen for pain control. In the present study, we investigated the effects of amygdalin on the recovery rate of the locomotor function and on the expression of c-Fos in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) region following sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats. Walking track analysis for the evaluation of functional recovery and immunohistochemistry for the c-Fos expression were used in this study. In the present results, characteristic gait change with dropping of the sciatic function index (SFI) was observed and c-Fos expression in the vlPAG was suppressed following sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats. Amygdalin enhanced SFI value and restored c-Fos expression in the vlPAG to the control value. The present our study indicated that amygdalin activates neurons in the vlPAG, and it facilitates functional recovery following peripheral nerve injury.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.255-261
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to investigate sperm motility and its changes after preparation as predictors of pregnancy in intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. Methods: In total, 297 IUI cycles from January 2012 to December 2017 at a single tertiary hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patient and cycle characteristics, and sperm motility characteristics before and after processing were compared according to clinical pregnancy or live birth as outcomes. Results: The overall clinical pregnancy rate per cycle was 14.5% (43/297) and the live birth rate was 10.4% (30/289). Patient and cycle characteristics were similar between pregnant and non-pregnant groups. Sperm motility after preparation and the total motile sperm count before and after processing were comparable in terms of pregnancy outcomes. Pre-preparation sperm motility was significantly higher in groups with clinical pregnancy and live birth than in cycles not resulting in pregnancy (71.4%±10.9% vs. 67.2%±11.7%, p=0.020 and 71.6% ±12.6% vs. 67.3%±11.7%, p=0.030, respectively). The change in sperm motility after processing was significantly fewer in the non-pregnant cycles, both when the comparison was conducted by subtraction (post-pre) and division (post/pre). These relationships remained significant after adjusting for the female partner's age, anti-Müllerian hormone level, and number of pre-ovulatory follicles. According to a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, an initial sperm motility of ≥72.5% was the optimal threshold value for predicting live birth after IUI. Conclusion: Initial sperm motility, rather than the motility of processed sperm or the degree of change after preparation, predicted live birth after IUI procedures.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2004

The objective of this study was to assess that the effects of DEHP administration on reproductive characteristics and blood hematological and chemical values in pups born after DEHP administration in pregnant mice. DEHP was administrated to pregnant mice by intraperitoneally injection with 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 10.0mg/kg B.W, 5 times at 3 days interval from Day 1 to Day 16 in the gestation period. The body weight and reproductive organ weight(testis, epididymis and coagulating gland) in male pups on 45 day after birth was not affected in all experimental groups, but vesicular gland in DEHP groups was significantly lower than that of control group(P<0.05). The semen characteristics of male pups were not affected in DEHP treatment groups. The WBC, HB, HT, MCH and albumin values in male pups were not affected in all experimental groups, but RBC MCV, MCHC, PLT and total protein values were significantly different among the experimental groups(P<0.05). In female pups, the effects of DEHP administration were not affected the body and uterus weight, but the left ovary in 10.0mg DEHP group was significantly heavier than in control and 0.5mg DEHP group(P<0.05). The WBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC, PLT, albumin, BUN and total protein values in female were not different in all experimental groups. The RBC, HB and HT values were significantly different among the experimental gruop(P<0.05). The historical evaluation of testis in male pups that were grown to 45 days after birth was not different in all experimental groups. The ovary in female pups had many corpus luteum in 10.0mg DEHP group. The endometriosisi of uterus was significantly decreased in DEHP group. There results suggest that low concentration of DEHP administration in pup born after DEHP administration in pregnant mice was not affered on reproductive characteristic, but was affected on blood hematological and chemical values.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2002

Objective : This study was designed to investigate the interrelationship and clinical usefulness of sperm morphology by strict criteria (SM), acrosome reaction following ionophore challenge test (ARIC) and sperm penetration assay (SPA) using zona-free hamster ova as prognostic factors in in vitro fertilization. Materials and Methods: Semen samples were provided by 83 patients undergoing IVF. We first evaluated the differences between normal fertilization group and poor fertilization group on three andrologic tests. Secondly, we analyzed the relationship between the three andrologic tests and in vitro fertilization on IVF settings. Finally, we evaluated the effectiveness of the three andrologic tests as the prognostic indicators for fertilizing ability. Results: The fertilization rate of all men in the poor fertilization group was less than 30%; but there was no evidence that this poor fertilization was due to oocyte defects. The results of three andrologic tests were significatly higher in normal fertilization group. Fertilization rate (%) in vitro was highly correlated (p<0.001) with % normal sperm by SM, ARIC value (%), and SPA result. By using Receiver-Operator-Characteristic curve (ROC), we evaluated the effectiveness of these three tests. The sensitivity and specificity of SM, ARIC test and SPA in predicting fertilization potential in IVF setting were 76% and 75%, 84% and 90%, and 76% and 95%, respectively. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the three andrologic tests can be reliable tools as prognostic factors of sperm fertilizing ability. Among these test, ARIC test and SPA gave more accurate information on fertilizing capacity. ARIC test was shown to have a predictive value for fertilizing ability comparable to that of SPA that appears to be a simple and cost-effective addition to current andrology laboratory. Combined application of these three tests may give more information on predicting sperm fertilizing capacity.