• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.39-46
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• 2016

Objectives: The present study aimed at investigating the effects of Schisandrae Fructus (SF) on menopause symptoms in ovariectomized mice. Methods: 6 weeks old female mice were ovariectomized (OVX), and the OVX mice were fed with a three doses of SF (25, 100, and 400 mg/kg, respectively) or $17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2, 0.5 mg/kg) 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Body weight was measured at every week and uterus weight was also measured at the end of experiment. Lipids and osteocalcin levels in serum were analyzed. Results: The uterine weight was not changed in SF treated group, while E2 intake increased the reduced uterine weight by OVX. Although Body weight was increased since two weeks after ovariectomy compared with sham operated group, there was no change in SF or E2 treated group compared with OVX. But LDL was significantly reduced in SF (400 mg/kg) or E2 fed mice and SF or E2 treatment decreased enhanced osteocalcin level by OVX. Conclusion: These results indicated that SF would be effective in the improvement of LDL level and osteoporosis on menopause.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.3_spc
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• pp.457-462
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Enteromorpha powder supplementation on reproduction-related hormones and genes in the late laying period of Zi geese. Methods: A total of 312 (1-year-old) Zi geese with similar laying rate were randomly divided into 2 groups with 6 replicates each, each with 21 female geese and 5 male geese. The control group was fed with a basal diet and the test group was fed with a diet containing 3% Enteromorpha powder. The trial period lasted for 7 weeks. Results: Our results showed that the laying rate was improved in the test group at each week of trial (p<0.01), and the levels of estradiol in serum and prolactin in ovary were increased compared with the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on above results, Enteromorpha powder supplementation at 3% could promote reproductive performance during the late laying period of Zi geese.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2002

Leptin, a product of the obese gene, is associated not only with obesity but also with female reproductive function, but it has not yet been ascertained whether leptin acts directly on the ovary or indirectly via the hypothalamus-pituitary pathway. Therefore, the object of this study was to investigate the expession of leptin and its receptor in the rat ovary by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR during the estrous cycle. Immunohistochemistry results showed that leptin was stained in the theca cells and in part of granulosa cells in atretic follicles, whereas leptin receptor was localized in the interstitial cells and ova in preantral follicies. In particular, leptin and its receptor in atretic follicles displayed more intensive staining compared to those in normal follicles. During the estrous cycle, the mRNA expression of leptin and its receptor in the ovary was detected by RT-PCR and estradiol, progesterone, and leptin levels in the serum was measured by ELISA. The leptin level in the serum on metestrous phase was significantly higher than that on estrous phase. Similar to leptin level, progesterone level increased on metestrous phase. Leptin mRNA was not detected throughout the estrous cycle, whereas leptin receptor mRNA was expressed on all phases of estrous cycle excepting the diestrous phase. These results suggest that leptin might be directly involved in the regulation of ovarian function in rat.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.353-361
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• 2008

We aimed to investigate whether the extracts of Lycii fructus, Lycii folium, and estradiol can attenuate on the level of cholesterol on serum and ultrastructure alteration of hepatocytes isolated from ovariectomized rats. Experimental groups are divided into five: Sham (sham-operated), OVX (ovariectomized animal), LCF (OVX, Lycii fructus), LCL (OVX, Lycii folium), and $E_2$ (OVX, estradiol). The body weights of OVX group showed increase compared with Sham, LCF, and LCL groups. The levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were significantly decreased in the LCF and LCL groups compared with those of OVX group. Moreover, the High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level was increased in the LCL group. As the results of electron microscopical observation, lipid droplets in the OVX group showed increase compared with Sham group. But in the LCF group not showed lipid droplets. In conclusion, administration of Lycii fructus or Lycii folium lowers the serum cholesterol content of the ovariectomized rats and also the damage of the hepatocytes and formation of lipid droplets.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2006

Women's aging made a functional decline at ovary, This functional problem causes estrogen deficiency and many disorders, such as, sexual dysfunction, obesity, osteoporosis, urinary incontinence, skin and all body's aging, etc. We determined the ameliorative effects of some herbal extracts mixture on postmenopausal symptoms in ovariectomized Sprague Dawley rats. Nine-weeks-old female rats were ovariectomized and treated with singled pomegranate extracts (0.40, 1.20 g/kg/day) and mixed pomegranate extracts (1.08, 3.24g/kg/day) for 8 weeks. Oral administration of pomegranate extracts for 8 weeks were increased serum estradiol level and improved the serum osteocalcin, ALP activity and bone specific ALP level. And pomegranate extracts were reduced body weight, adipose tissue. Uterus weight in treated group tended to improve. In addition, the concentrationl of triglyceride and total cholesterol were lower after 8 weeks. HDL-cholesterol levels improved with does-dependency in treated groups. Collagen level on skin and cartilage showed a slight increase at treatment for 8 weeks. $^{\infty}These$ results showed that both of singular extract treatments and extracts mixture treatments were effective on general postmenopausal symptoms at overiectomized rats, and especially, the mixture treatments were more effective than singular treatment. $^{\infty}In$ conclusion, these herbal extracts' mixture showed improvement effect in general factors related with postmenopausal disorders.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.225-234
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• 2004

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of GnRH antagonist cetrorelix in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and to determine changes in serum hormone concentrations during cetrorelix administration. Methods: We performed a clinical trial on 30 patients undergoing COH with highly purified follicular stimulating hormone (HP-FSH) and gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist (GnRHant), cetrorelix. FSH was administrated from day 2 or 3 of cycle with fixed dose and adjusted according to individual response. 0.25 mg of cetrorelix was injected daily subcutaneously from stimulation day 5 until the day of hCG administration. Daily ultrasound monitoring was performed for growing follicles and serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol ($E_2$) and progesterone were measured daily during cetrorelix administration. Up to 4 embryos were transferred. Results: Mean age of enrolled patients was $32.0{\pm}3.4$ years (mean $\pm$ S.D.). All of 30 patients underwent oocyte pick-up, and embryo transfer was done in 28 patients. The total and mean numbers of received oocytes were 196 and $6.5{\pm}4.7$, the number of fertilized eggs was 111, and the fertilization rate was 56.6%. Total duration of FSH administration was $9.2{\pm}2.2$ days and mean of $24.3{\pm}7.7$ ampules of HP-FSH was administered. Total duration of cetrorelix administration was $5.7{\pm}1.9$ days. Serum LH and progesterone levels were maintained in the range of $1.4{\sim}2.9\;mIU/mL$ and $0.3{\sim}0.6\;ng/mL$, which respectively reflected effective prevention of premature LH surge. Clinical pregnancies were achieved in 9 patients, and overall clinical pregnancy rate was 30.0% per oocyte retrieval, and 32.1% per embryo transfer. Conclusion: GnRH antagonist is safe and convenient for COH for IVF-ET and effective with optimal pregnancy rate.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.104-111
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• 1997

The traditional herbal medicine, Jackyakgamcho-tang(JGT), was reported to decrease serum testosterone levels and make pregnancy possibel in anovulatory woman and rat. JGT contains Paeoniae Radix(PR) and Glycyrrhizae Radix(GR) in equal amount. This study was designed to investigate the effect of JGT and its components(PR, GR, paeoniflorin and glycyrrhizin) on uterine and ovarian responses, follicular development, and estrogen secretion in the immature rat. The samples(water extracts of JGT, PR, GR; pure compound of paeoniflorin and glycyrrhizin) were administered orally to rats from the 21th day of age to the 28th or 30th days of age for 7 or 9 days. JGT(400mg/kg) and PR(100mg/kg, 200mg/kg) treatments significantly increased serum estradiol above levels in control rats, but both GR and glycyrrhizin had no effect on this parameter. Gross observation and histological analysis revealed that an increased number of growing follicules was observed in the ovaries of JGT and PR treated rat. However the lutenized follicles and ova present in the oviducts were not observed in all rats except one treated with estrogen as a positive control. These results indicate that JGT stimulates the estrogen production and follicular maturation in the immature rat and PR is the main component to induce such reaction.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.595-602
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• 1997

Treatment of newborn female rats with gonadal steroids induces permanent sterility in adulthood. We investigated the alteration in expression patterns of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in neonatally estrogenized sterile rats (ESR). Newborn female rats received daily injections of 17${\beta}$-estradiol (E, 10 ${\mu}$g) from the day of birth (day 1) to postnatal day 5. Controls were subjected to vehicles over the same period. All animals were sacrificed on week 7 after birth. Hypothalamic GnRH mANA levels were markedly higher in all ESR than in controls, while hypothalamic GnRH contents in ESR increased in proportion to the frequency of daily administration of E. However, both pituitary LH6 mRNA and serum LH levels were inversely decreased by the same treatment. The data indicate that neonatal exposure of E equally elevates the expression of GnRH gene, but reduces the secretion of GnRH, accordingly leading to attenuation of LH6 gene expression and circulating LH levels. The temporal effect of E and/or progesterone (P) on GnRH and LH6 mRNA levels was also examined in ESR. Newborn female rats were daily injected with E (10 ${\mu}$g) or vehicle for five successive days from day 1 and ovariectomized at week 5. They were implanted with E (235 ${\mu}$g/ml) two days prior to week 7, injected with P (1 mg) 42 h later, and sacrificed 7 h after P administration. In ovariectomized controls, hypothalamic GnRH mRNA levels were dropped to half by treatment of E and restored by subsequent treatment of P. The negative feedback action of E on GnRH mRNA levels observed in ovariectomized rats was completely blocked by neonatal exposure of E. The change in pituitary LH mRNA levels was similar to that in hypothalamic GnRH mRNA levels. Taken together, the results suggest that neonatal treatment of E alters the synthesis and release of GnRH in adulthood and furthermore blocks the negative feedback regulation of E which occurs normally after ovariectomy.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.568-579
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• 2020

BACKGROUD/OBJECTIVES: Hepatic steatosis is the most common liver disorder, particularly in postmenopausal women. This study investigated the protective effects of standardized rice bran extract (RBS) on ovariectomized (OVX)-induced hepatic steatosis in rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: HepG2 cells were incubated with 200 µM oleic acid to induce lipid accumulation with or without RBS and γ-oryzanol. OVX rats were separated into three groups and fed a normal diet (ND) or the ND containing 17β-estradiol (E2; 10 ㎍/kg) and RBS (500 mg/kg) for 16 weeks. RESULTS: RBS supplementation improved serum triglyceride and free fatty acid levels in OVX rats. Histological analysis showed that RBS significantly attenuated hepatic fat accumulation and decreased hepatic lipid, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Additionally, RBS suppressed the estrogen deficiency-induced upregulation of lipogenic genes, such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, fatty acid synthase, glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1. CONCLUSIONS: RBS and γ-oryzanol effectively reduced lipid accumulation in a HepG2 cell hepatic steatosis model. RBS improves OVX-induced hepatic steatosis by regulating the SREBP1-mediated activation of lipogenic genes, suggesting the benefits of RBS in preventing fatty liver in postmenopausal women.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.341-349
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• 2012

This study was aimed to investigate whether or not black soybean supplements affect levels of lipid profiles and female hormone (estradiol; E2, estrogen; Es) in 57 middle-aged women (in their 40s and 50s). All subjects were randomly assigned to the control or black soybean supplement group (BSS group). The BSS group was allocated to use dietary black soybean supplements (100 g/day) for 8 weeks. The BSS subjects were divided into two subgroups; 14 women were in the premenopausal group and 15 were in the postmenopausal group. We measured lipid profiles, female hormones and nutrient intakes at 0 weesk and 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was significantly decreased (P<0.01) and the athrogenic index (AI) was significantly increased (P<0.01) in control group. In BSS group, triglyceride (TG) (P<0.05), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (P<0.01) and LDL-HDL ratio (LHR) (P<0.01) were significantly decreased. However, E2 and Es were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared to the control group, the BSS group revealed statistically significant improvements in the levels of TG, HDL-cholesterol, AI, LHR, E2 and Es (P<0.05). In the premenopausal group, HDL-cholesterol (P<0.05), E2 (P<0.01) and Es (P<0.05) were significantly increased and AI (P<0.01) and LHR (P<0.01) were significantly decreased after 8 weeks. In the postmenopausal group, E2 (P<0.05), and Es (P<0.05) were significantly decreased. However, total cholesterol (TC) was increased (P<0.01). Compared to the postmenopausal group, the premenopausal group was significantly improved on HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and LHR (P<0.05). In conclusion, black soybean supplements may have beneficial effects on improving lipid profiles and female hormones.