• Applied Microscopy
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.157-165
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• 2001

정상 성인 고환의 버팀세포(Sertoli cell)는 비분열세포이며, 정세관(seminiferous tubule)단면에서 비교적 불분명하게 관찰되고, 정세관 세포 성분의 $10\sim15%$를 차지하고 있다. 전자현미경적으로 버팅 세포는 특징적인 핵소체와 원형질막 및 세포질 소기관을 갖고 있다. 원형질막은 사춘기에 발달한 두 종류 즉 버팅세포와 버팀세포 및 버팅세포와 생식세포 사이의 세포연접을 가지고 있다. 그러나 태이에서 버팅세포의 정확한 미세구조에 대한 기술은 드물다. 이에 본 저자는 태아 고환의 발생 제 14주부터 제27주 사이의 17예를 수집하여 정상 미세구조를 확인하고, 태아기 버팀세포의 분화 양상을 알아보고자 하였다. 태아기에서 버팀세포와 생식세포 및 버팀세포와 버팀세포 사이의 세포연접은 부착반점과 비슷한 구조로 이루어져 있었고, 이들은 관찰 대상인 태령 제14주부터 관찰되었다. 태아기 버팅세포의 세포소기관의 발달은 전반적으로 미약하였다. 비교적 풍부하게 사립체가 태령 제14주부터 관찰되었고, 무과립세포질세망이 소수, 그리고 과립세포질세망이 비교적 풍부하게 관찰되었다. 지방소포의 수는 비교적 일정하게 관찰되었고, 포도당입자는 발생 단계에 따라 점차 증가하는 소견을 보였다. 미세섬유와 Charcot-Bottcher의 결정소체는 본 연구대상에서는 관찰되지 않았다. 결론적으로, 태아기의 버팀세포에서는 어른에서 관찰되는 특징적인 소견들이 관찰되지 않았으며, 어른과는 다소 다른 전자현미경 소견을 나타냈다. 하지만 버팅세포의 분화양상을 정확히 알기 위해서는 태령 제27주 이후부터 사춘기까지의 연구가 추가되어야 할 것으로 생각한다.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제33권5호
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• pp.373-377
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• 2000

조피볼락, S. schlegeli 치어에 $estradiol-l7{\beta}\;(E_2)$와 $17{\alpha}-methyltestosterone$ (MT) 그리고 고수온을 처리하여 성분화에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 실험어는 출산 후 56일부터 72일까지 $E_2\;20,\;40,\;60\;{mu}g/g\;diet$ 농도로 경구투여 하였고, MT는 $20, 50{\mu}g/g diet$ 농도로 경구투여 하였다. 고수온 처리는 대조구 그리고 호르몬 처리구와 비교하여 약 $10^{\circ}C$ 이상인 $27.0{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$로 사육하였다. 출산 후 56일까지 성분화 과정에서, 생식소는 대부분 생식원세포로 구성되어 있어 성적으로 미분화 단계였다. 그러나 출산후 128일째에, 난소는 난소강파 난소박판으로 구성되어 있고, 난원세포와 주변인기난모세포는 난소박판에 분포하고 있다. 그리고 정소는 많은 정세관으로 이루어 졌고, 이들 세관내에는 정원세포들이 무리를 지어 분포하고 있긴 또한 색소포들이 정소의 수질층과 기부에 드문드문 분포하고 있다. 성비에 있어, 대조구와 비교하였을 때 모든 $E_2$, 처리구는 더 많은 암컷이 관찰되었고, 반면에, 모든 MT 처리구와 고수온 처리구에서는 더 많은 수컷이 관찰되었다. 이러한 결과들에서, 성스테로이드 호르몬의 농도와 종류 그리고 고수온 사육이 조피볼락의 성분화 과정에 있어서 성결정에 영향을 주고 있다고 볼 수 있다.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.8-16
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• 1998

1995년 11월부터 1996년 10월까지 경남 삼천포 인근해역에서 채집된 불볼락의 성숙 및 생식주기를 주로 조직학적 방범에 의해 연구하였다. 난소내부는 난소외막으로부터 시작된 여러겹의 난소박판으로 구성되며 이곳에서 난원세포가 유래한다 난모세포는 성장하면서 난소박판 내부에서 부터 난소강쪽으로 돌출되어 난병에 의해 난소박판에 연결된다. 정소의 내부조직상은 다수의 정세관으로 구성된다. 각각의 정세관은 여러개의 소낭구조를 가지는데 각 소낭내의 생식세포들은 같은 단계의 발달상태를 보인다. 생물학적 최소형은 암컷은 전장 19.5cm, 수컷은 전장 21.5cm이다. 암컷의 생식소중량지수는 3월에 9.56으로 연중 최고치를 나타냈으며, 8월에는 0.15로 최저치를 나타냈다. 수컷의 생식소중량지수는 2월에 0.25로 최고치를 나타냈으며, 7월에는 0.04로 연중 최저치를 나타냈다. 생식주기는 암컷은 성장기 ($10\~11$월), 성숙기 ($12\~2$월), 임신기 (3월), 출산 및 회복기 ($4\~6$월) 그리고 휴지기 ($7\~9$월)로 나눌 수 있다. 수컷의 생식주기는 성장기 ($9\~11$월), 성숙기 ($12\~1$월), 완숙 및 교미기 ($2\~3$월) 그리고 퇴화 및 휴지기 ($4\~8$월)로 나눌 수 있다.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.485-492
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• 2003

The pathological mechanism of impaired spermatogenesis after vasectomy has not been completely investigated. In this study, we examined pathological changes of the testis and the Fas-Fas ligand (FasL) mediated signaling pathway in apoptotic germ cell death after vasectomy in rats. Ten-weeks old Sprague-Dawley rats were underwent bilateral vasectomy and sacrificed after 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks of surgery and the testes were removed. Histopathological evaluation of spermatogenesis was performed by hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff-hematoxylin staining. To elucidate the pathophysiology of seminiferous tubule damage, terminal dUTP nick end labeling staining, electrophoresis assay of DNA fragmentation, and Western blotting analysis for Fas-FasL were performed. Relative weights of testes were decreased from 5 days after vasectomy. Germ cell degeneration were first found in the spermatogonia and spermatocytes at stages I-VI, and XII-XIV seminiferous tubules. Mean incidence of apoptotic germ cells after vasectomy progressively increased to peak in 5 days, and then gradually decreased to the control levels in 2 weeks after vasectomy. The expression of Fas-FasL reached maximum level at 5 days after vasectomy and then declined. In conclusion, impaired spermatogenesis after vasectomy associated with an increase in germ cell apoptasis, which is partly mediated by the activation of Fas-FasL.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.127-133
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• 2003

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological aspects of testicular tissue before and after freezing-thawing by light and transmission electron microscopy. Methods: Tissue biopsies were carried out on mouse testis for freezing. Samples in medium containing 20% glycerol were frozen by computer-controlled freezing program. The effect of freezing-thawing on the structural change of testicular tissues were examined by light and electron microscopy. Results: The freezing-thawing procedure had no significant effect on tubular diameter. However, it caused folding of the lamina propria, and notable damage to Sertoli cells, spermatogonia and spermatocytes. The cells were detached, desquamated from the basal lamina and had increased vacuolization. Round spermatids, elongated spermatids and spermatozoa were less affected, and most of them maintained their normal structure. Conclusions: The structure of spermatogonia, spermatocyte and basal compartments in seminiferous epithelium was significantly altered by freezing-thawing procedure of mouse testicular tissues. Thus, we need to develop a more reliable method for the cryopreservation of testicular tissues.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.161-167
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• 2020

Objective: Oxidative stress has been suggested as a possible mechanism for the adverse effects of heavy metal toxicity on male reproduction. Cichorium intybus L. is used in Iranian folk medicine as a hepatoprotective agent as well as for its supposed fertility-enhancing properties. The present study was performed to investigate whether the ethanolic extract of C. intybus leaves could protect male rats against lead-induced testicular oxidative stress. Methods: In this experimental study, adult Wistar rats were treated with 0.1% lead acetate in drinking water alone or with 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg body weight of C. intybus extract via gavage once daily for 70 days. The weight of their reproductive organs, levels of serum hormones, histometric parameters of the seminiferous tubules, epidydimal sperm quality, and oxidative stress status were evaluated. Results: The testis weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, epididymal sperm count, serum testosterone level, and testicular levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly reduced (p< 0.05) in the lead-treated rats. Moreover, significantly (p< 0.05) higher levels of malondialdehyde were observed in the lead-exposed group compared to the control. However, the co-administration of C. intybus ethanolic extract in lead-treated rats was associated with a significant improvement in reproductive parameters. Conclusion: We conclude that C. intybus leaf extract has the potential to prevent lead-induced testicular toxicity and to suppress the adverse effects of lead on male reproductive health.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.211-220
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• 2021

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the possibility that curcumin (CMN) protects against methotrexate (MTX)-induced testicular damage by affecting the phospho-p38 (p-p38) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways. Methods: Eighteen male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups. The control group was given an intragastric administration of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) daily for 14 days, the MTX group was given a single intraperitoneal dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) on the 11th day, and the MTX+CMN group was given intragastric CMN (100 mg/kg/day, dissolved in DMSO) for 14 days and a single intraperitoneal dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) on the 11th day. At the end of the experiment, all animals were sacrificed and the testicular tissues were removed for morphometry, histology, and immunohistochemistry. Body and testicular weights were measured. Results: Body weights, seminiferous tubule diameter, and germinal epithelium height significantly decreased in the MTX group compared to the control group. Whereas, the number of histologically damaged seminiferous tubules and interstitial space width significantly increased in the MTX group. In addition, the number of p-p38 MAPK immunopositive cells and the immunoreactivity of NF-κB also increased in the MTX group compared to the control group. CMN improved loss of body weight, morphometric values, and histological damage due to MTX. CMN also reduced the number of p-p38 MAPK immunopositive cells and the NF-κB immunoreactivity. Conclusion: CMN may reduce MTX-induced testicular damage by suppressing the p38 MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한불임학회 1997년도 제34차 추계 학술대회
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• pp.70.1-70.1
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• 1997

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.107-111
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• 1991

The testicular volume measured by a Prader orchidometer was compared with sperm count in semen, the levels of serum FSH, LH, testosterone, prolactin, estradiol and progesterone in 59 nonobstructive infertile men. 1. The causes of infertility were primary hypogonadisms in 50 patients (35 unknown, 9 Klinefelter syndromes, 6 varicocels) and secondary hypogonadism in 9 (5 isolated FSH deficiencies, 1 hyperprolactinerriia, 3 pituitary hypogonadisms). 2. Decreased levels of serum FSH (less than 4 mIU/ml) did not correlate with testis volume but increased level of serum FSH (more than 20 mIU/ml) were mostly noted in the testis less than 10ml. 3. Decreased level of serum testosterone (less than 3 ng/ml) were distinguishably noted in the atrophied testis less than 5 ml. 4. There was no correlation between the testicular volume and the levels of serum prolactin, estradiol, and progesterone. Coclusively, testicular volume less than 11 ml suggests poor spermatogenesis, but normal testicular volume dose not nessarily rule out poor spermatogenesis. Function of Leydig cell is relatively well preserved in atrophied testis of 5 to 10 ml comparing with that of seminiferous tubule.

• Journal of Interdisciplinary Genomics
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.24-30
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• 2022

Klinefelter's syndrome (KS) is a syndrome with extra X chromosome(s), in XY individuals, characterized by gynecomastia, small testes, and infertility. Additional X chromosomes can be present as variable karyotypic forms, including mosaicism (47,XXY/46,XY). The reported prevalence of KS ranges from one in 500 to one in 1,000 live males, but is probably underestimated. The classic phenotype is small, firm testes and infertility resulting from seminiferous tubule dysgenesis and androgen deficiency. The spectrum of KS includes tall stature with relatively long legs and arm span, decreased body hair, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, poor motor skills, and other important medical issues, such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, certain neoplasia. The increased risk of certain medical problems in KS can be attributed to a direct effect of the extra X chromosome, the combined action of multiple genomic and epigenetic factors, or the hormonal imbalances. Typically, chromosome analysis is not ordered for adult patients with general medical conditions, except for suspected cases of hematologic and lymphoid disorders. Even though it was found during work-up for certain disorders in adult patient, most physicians do not suspect KS or consider its impact. Therefore, understanding the pathophysiology and variable manifestation in KS is necessary, and discussions with multidisciplinary teams will help to diagnose and treat males with KS.